The Victory Garden Thread - June, 2026

June 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The MONTHLY Victory Garden Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Victory Garden Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.

[Paul R.]

;-)

[FamiliarFace]

Tooo cute!

Our local orchard, about 2 miles from our home, not only grows apples, but now corn, strawberries, a multitude of other vegetables (green beans, potatoes of all kinds, zucchini, etc). So right now is strawberry picking time, soon to be followed by raspberries. July they have a corn festival. Then there’s a Sunflower festival in August, and Apple festival in September.

All are a lot of fun for kids and grownups alike.

[FamiliarFace]

Taco salad (bowls) are on the menu tonight!

[metmom]

You’re not alone.

[metmom]

DANG!!!

I just found a tick on one of my asparagus plants!

I knew I had picked them up in the garden in prior years. I did see some on onions in the past. Course, they go for a swim in soapy water, too.

[Qiviut]

“Also a member of the Daisy, or Composite, plant family, Coneflowers are wonderful deer-resistant additions to the landscape.”

*********

Except if you have the deer we have around here! My cousin planted coneflowers & they were doing beautifully ... until the deer came last night & bit the buds off.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I haven’t seen any Indigo Buntings yet, but I did have Bluebirds at the platform feeders a number of weeks ago. That was a treat!

The Hummingbirds flit around the jelly feeder, but they find the sugar water and then It’s All Good. ;)

Last week the Lady Orioles were busy ‘feathering their nests’ and they would leave behind hair from Ithaca’s tail and mane, dried grasses and any kind of ‘fluff’ they found in their travels. It was kinda cute! There was a Lady Hummer at the feeder yesterday and she had a bunch of fluff stuck to her face while she was feeding. I’ve never seen that before.

That girl was BIZZY, LOL!

Every animal and bird and fish an fowl on this planet KNOWS what to do and when to do it. What happened with Humans?

*SMIRK*

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We had Taco Salads on Friday. I didn’t cook on Saturday as we had TWO afternoon Graduation parties to go to, so we ate all afternoon. And guess what? One party’s offerings for lunch was a Taco Bar! Wheeee!

(Still haven’t gotten the stains out of Beau’s good shirt!)

And while I KNOW it’s Taco Tuesday, we are having, ‘Hamburguesas con salsa de champiñones.’

‘Hamburgers with Mushroom Gravy.’

Sounds MUCH more exotic in Spanish, LOL!

I’m phoning it in this week. Beau leaves on Friday and I don’t have to cook for TEN DAYS! *DELIGHTED SQUEAL*

And I am eating Mexican NINE of those ten days!

[MomwithHope]

One of my favorite meals lately has been a small salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and asparagus on top. One bowl, potatoes on the side. Ground beef, 1 egg, bread crumbs, spices. I cook the thin patty light sear, then take it out of the pan, then saute the mushrooms. Take out. Make the gravy - beef broth, better than bouillon beef, spices, thicken at the end with a little corn starch slurry. Put the meat and mushrooms in the skillet and simmer about 15 minutes while I am mashing the potato. Saute the asparagus separately and I like it still green and crunchy.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That is EXACTLY how I made supper tonight - sans the Asparagus. We had mixed veggies as a side.

I used the last of the (male) Asparagus in the Quiche I made for Brunch.

All the, ‘Asparagus Ladies’ are now left to get their frond on, LOL! :)

[MomwithHope]

All part of my “Aim small Cook small” initiative I came up with years ago. Its in high gear now

[FamiliarFace]

That sounds like a winner!

[MomwithHope]

With credit to Mel Gibson.

[Qiviut]

I have been making Nagi’s Salisbury Steak recipe. Same procedure - sear off ‘steak’ & remove, make mushroom gravy & add steak back in to simmer & finish cooking.

I had company coming a month ago, not sure of exact arrival time. I seared steaks & put in the crockpot, made the gravy & poured it over. The crockpot was on 3-4 hours. The steaks cooked & the food was nice & hot at dinner time. I served with mashed potatoes & smothered green beans. I don’t have asparagus unless I buy them.

I love this dinner - to me, it’s ‘old fashioned’ comfort food & an economic use of ground meat. I actually use venison & no one has noticed :-)

https://www.recipetineats.com/salisbury-steak-with-mushroom-gravy/

[FamiliarFace]

😁

[MomwithHope]

Yes and thanks, when you posted the link awhile back I tried it. Its a regular now.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Aim small Cook small” - I love that!

I am looking forward to these next 10 days with no meal prep. I will be eating strictly from the pantry and the freezer.

The only reason I would need to shop would be for milk for Grover, but that’s just a stop at Kwik Trip for gas and milk and I will probably do that Friday after he and the dogs hit the road for Canada. I am taking Emma Jolene to a Bench Show on Saturday evening (that’s why I need gas) so she can earn some more points towards being a Bench Champion. Excited! (Hallie will show her for me - I don’t know how)

I tell ‘Mr. Meat & Potatoes’ all the time that my grocery bill would be about $100/month if I was only feeding myself. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Mandan did another excellent job last night - no damage to the garden that I can see. Good Boy! Woof!

On the docket for today is watering the garden. It's so dry out there - not even any dew on my shoes when I put the bird feeders out at 7am! Supposedly, rain on Friday.

I need to harvest some lettuces that are starting to bolt, but those can go to the chickens.

Still need to get that last planting of beans in. I see my 'Saychelles' green pole beans are up - so far Mr. Chippie hasn't found them. I have more seed if I need to replant.

I will also start some cucumbers because I found seed that I didn't know I had, and 'Dear Old Mom' was so bummed that I didn't have any planted.

Lawn is mowed; did that Monday. A little trimming to do. I used my Sun Joe trimmer to clean up around the grape vines. Beau cut them back for me and 4 of the six are coming back, but that will still be PLENTY of grapes for future juicing for just the two of us. The Nanking Bush Cherries that he accidentally mowed down last fall came back just fine. I suspected they would. They are now WELL MARKED for the, 'Madman on a Mower!'

I need to 'bungee' the tomato cages together for extra support. That system works well for me.

What else? Well, I still have 12 bags of mulch that can be put down where needed and I have a TON of Peonies that can be cut for more bouquets. And there's ALWAYS weeding to do!

[MomwithHope]

Good luck Emma Jolene!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Came back to consult my list!

Water Garden - DONE!

Start Cucumbers - DONE!

Feed Beau - DONE!

Tie up Grape Vines - DONE

Bungee tomato cages together - DONE!

Cut more Peonies - DONE!

Weeding - Here and there. Weeded behind the Jackmanii Clematis that is about to bloom and guess what?

SNAKE! Just a Garter snake, but that ended that! :)