Posted on 07/01/2026 5:19:22 AM PDT by 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.
That is too stinkin’ CUTE! LOVE the purple Cauliflower in there! You don’t see that enough in Appetizers, IMHO.
We all do Diana.
Yeah, these were skinned brats, but, I kinda like frying them and then cutting them up into the little chunks with skin on. The flavor seems slightly different, for whatever reason(s). But, either way works.
My tomato plants are very inconsistent this year. I have big healthy plants with no fruits yet (much as if they got too much nitrogen) and scrawny plants with smallish fruits (as if they got too much phosphate too soon, or, the vendor had held them in too small containers too long), and then the Patio plants and Early Girls seem fairly well balanced. Yet I’ve tried to handle them all pretty consistently. Maybe the garden soil in bags varies a bit?
That t-storm complex that appeared it would surely whack us looked on radar like it ran into a wall. It just broke up and dissipated remarkably quickly for such a large area of heavy storms.
It was an impulse buy.... one of my seed source companies emails about closeouts mentioned them.
I got the last two, 2 foot tree starts.
I was concerned how the last 2 of anything might look but they were packaged professionally and arrived in perfect condition.
Do you ever just sit back with a cup of coffer in hand and smile while the men work..... since we moved to Texas and the wife retired, this is the 1st time I’ve had an actual “housewife”
I’m enjoying doing stuff for her and enjoying having dinner hitting the table as I get home from work.....although I still cook the meals on weekends....I couldn’t let that go!
Cute garden patch for the table. Love it.
Hubby always used bulk pack sweet italian sausage for spaghetti sauce. Sister used half and half ground pork and ground beef. Her hubby was Italian and she learned from his mother. Me, I like the half and half recipe.
Some miniature plastic white picket fence would be over the top.
Happy 4th and 250th to all! After 5 days of this HEAT I swear my tomato plants have all doubled in size. Also picked my first cuke.
“Do you ever just sit back with a cup of coffer in hand and smile while the men work...”
Every chance I get! But I am always on Clean-up Detail, so there’s not a lot of time to sit around.
I am LOVING the sound of hammering and sawing that’s coming from the deck this morning, though! :)
The crops all around us are doing the same! Second cutting of alfalfa happened this week, but now it’s been rained on and will be again, so it will sit for a few days while Junior Farmer Ryan fluffs it.
My tomatoes are VERY happy and the coons are FINALLY leaving them alone, though still digging up some flowers. Brats!
I have two volunteer Sunflowers that are going to be absolutely HUGE - can’t wait for those later this summer.
Made a Cinnamon Coffee Cake this morning and a Rhubarb Custard Pie is now in the oven. Planning ahead for more company this upcoming weekend. Looks like Beau will be here past the 6th - he’s got a few more mowing jobs lined up and then working on the porch rehab.
Things are happening around here! Yay! :)
The weather forecast for today is an Extreme Heat Warning with a heat index up to 109.
We have company coming Monday the 6th & I haven’t mowed since June 15. Between rain & other reasons, I haven’t been able to get it done, but now it’s “do or die” time, heat or no heat.
This morning, I was watering my plants by 6:30, then gassed up the mower. It was quite pleasant outside & I left the shop doors open to catch the morning breeze so it wouldn’t be so stuffy inside. By 7, I was mowing. I don’t like mowing wet grass, but it was too early for drying to have occurred.
The bargain with myself was I would quit when I started getting sweaty or 10 am when the Extreme Heat Advisory kicked in, whichever came first. I was off the mower at 9:30, watered the potted hostas in the front of the house & was in the house at 10. Mom was trimming & came in just before 10 as well.
I got enough mowed that I should have no trouble finishing the mowing early tomorrow morning & there will be a Heat Advisory again. The heat wave will be starting to taper off Sunday. Anyone without AC the last couple of days has been suffering.
Yesterday, I got replacement flowers (Amazon) for my hummer feeders. The old ones are so brittle they break if you touch them. My worry was that the new flowers wouldn’t fit, but they do. I have 3 feeders & only one in operation because of broken flowers on the other two. With 16 replacement flowers, all 3 will be operational :-)
:-)
Heat index (forecast 112, here.) Just one more round of semi-serious work outside to go, this morning, and then I’m gonna call “Retreat!”
I am going through about a quart a day in my one feeder. They will appreciate it.
Diana that might be a thread idea, gardening, and homesteading memories from my childhood. I love reading these. And I have a bunch.
I meant a thread theme not a separate thread.
After an hour and 45 minutes it’s up to almost 120 degrees. It will max out the thermometer. I’ll have to get one from the wood stove.
Mmmmmm....your ribs sound yummy.....what spices do you use on them?
Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce / from the Karo people
Ing 1 c ketchup 3 tbl apple cider vinegar 2½ tbl Worces 6 tbl dk br/sugar ¼ c Karo® Light 2 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp ea gar/powder, onion powder, mustard powder, fine sea salt. ½ tsp pepper
METHOD Combine and BTB over med. Simmer/stir on low heat 15 min. Cool offheat--
thickens as it cools. Fridges airtight in glass jar 2 wks. For BBQ'ed ribs or chicken wings.
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