The Victory Garden Thread - July, 2026

July 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.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

S.C. Thanks! Nice passage!

July 4th! In honor of the contributions of Rome to our system of government and our cuisine, Diana has provided a Bruchetta themed Flag! ( See posts 2 and 13. Thank you Diana!)

Panorama of Sulmona against the backdrop of the Apennines.

(panorama by Lorenzo Testa)

Statute of Ovid appears to be contemplating the wave pattern in the masonry of town square of Sulmona.

10 minutes from Sulmona, the Peligna Valley is where Abruzzo’s wine soul really shines. Tucked between the Gizio and Sagittario rivers and surrounded by the Apennines, this peaceful pocket is packed with family-run vineyards crafting bold Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds and crisp Trebbiano whites.

10 minutes from Sulmona, the Peligna Valley is where Abruzzo’s wine soul really shines. Tucked between the Gizio and Sagittario rivers and surrounded by the Apennines, this peaceful pocket is packed with family-run vineyards crafting bold Montepulciano d’Abruzzo reds and crisp Trebbiano whites.

(Sorry...unable to adjust size! Rome slide over....returning to the U.S. and the 4th of July!)

[Jet Jaguar]

Wonderful photos.

[SunkenCiv]

Nice pics! width=500 (click reply and list source if that makes no sense)

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[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’ve got the ‘Tropical’ stuff down pat. We Yankees are envious. ;)

[Liz]

QUICK GREEK BREAD / appy w/ drinks, or side

3-11 oz cans lge buttermilk biscuits 1 c butter 1/2 c ea chp black olives, green/red pepper,
1 c chp green onions, 1/2 lb cooked crumbled bacon 1/4 c chp chives 1/2 c Parm, Greek Seasoning

Method: Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Saute vegetables in butter. Mix rest ing (except the Greek seasoning). Turn biscuits into ungreased large Bundt pan; mix in vegs, bacon, cheese. Lightly sprinkle w/ Greek seasoning. Bake 325 deg 45 min.

[Bon of Babble]

LOL, don’t be - I’m envious of the beautiful varieties of tulips, crocuses and other bulbs that need a hard freeze. Also, I think your stone fruit is better than our varities.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We call that ‘Monkey Bread’ because you pull it apart and eat it with your hands like a monkey. ;)

So many variations. This one would be extra yummy.

Right, Mom? Extra olives, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m also envious of your upcoming trip to Hawaii. (Take lots of pictures to share with us, PLEASE!)

I’ve been there twice and it is so amazingly amazing in so many ways. :)

[antceecee]

I buy books for my grandkids on this site for past 3 years. Very satisfied. I ordered a book a few years back that arrived and was not in good condition…they refunded me right away and told me to throw it out.
They will also buy used books you might want to get rid of.

[antceecee]

I use to have hibiscus here in the OC but they became infested with spider mites🥲
Love hibiscus…. Gardener told me the pest could have been in the soil.

[lee martell]

Maybe I can unload some of those books I got on mental hocus pocus, back when I listened to Art Bell on the radio.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Well I still haven’t gotten a tomato out of my garden yet because as you know I’m running super late again this year after the fire. But I have some really good looking tomatoes on the vine and you should see how many watermelon and cantaloupe are on the trellis system I have set up. I don’t know if you remember but my watermelon and cantaloupe are just amazing I have really good dirt for melons.

I grew cucumbers again this year but I’m just eating them I’m not going to make any pickles because I have so many left out from last year and I think the fire killed my okra seeds that I let fall in the okra garden bed because I only had one volunteer this year and I usually have more volunteers than I can deal with but luckily I harvested seeds last year. I scattered seeds and raked them in and watered it and 48 hours later I had all my okra starts popping up so that was fantastic.

My jalapenos and poblanos are doing well they’re just starting to set fruit.

I purchased two arbaquino olive trees from one of my seed sources online and going to eventually move them into Giant clay pots probably next year. Right now I am up potted into larger plastic pots.

I am hoping that I’ll have olives growing in 2 years

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad to hear you’re having some successes after your fire.

I never thought of growing olives, though I couldn’t up here unless I had a heated greenhouse - which ain’t gonna happen. ;) I hope that works out for you!

Waiting on the rain this morning - so I won’t have to water. But I will if the rain misses us. I need to get started on mowing today, too.

‘The Guys’ are going to do some kitchen/pantry/laundry ceiling repairs for me today where they installed new lighting a few weeks back and then RUMOR HAS IT they are starting on the porch rehab which is LONG overdue!

I’ll be in my usual clean up and ‘go-fer’ role, as well as food prep and handing out beer and Gatorade. ;)

[Bon of Babble]

We were plagued with white flies for years in my area on our hisbiscus - local gardening guru strongly suggested not to plant them.

I treat my hibiscus with worm castings spread around the base - apparently the enzymes in the castings send up fumes that drive off the white flies. I haven’t seen them on my hibiscus since I started doing this. I get “Worm Gold” at Armstrong’s.

I’ve seen beautiful hibiscus in Orange County - awesome plumerias too.

[Paul R.]

Howdy, July! It’s hot as a firecracker, and, traditionally I MUST play this LOUDLY before noon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udt3nJGu2T4

(A favorite anthem from my youth.) :-)

[Paul R.]

but I know the heat is on its way.

Well, that means we in the Mid-South "should" then cool down a bit... Hopefully...

[Paul R.]

Noted!

Trombocini, eh? I might have to try it out next year. (Too late this year.)

[Qiviut]

My SIL & I (we lived next to each other) gave up growing squash in the Spring due to infestations of squashbugs we just couldn’t keep up with - I tried all the ‘tricks’ plus chemicals, etc. I love yellow squash so it was a bitter pill to swallow not to be able to grow it.

My SIL started some yellow squash in the summer & planted it in a large pot in August. She ended up with a squashbug free crop. Part of my reward for dog sitting was being given any squash ready to pick during that week she was away.

If I hadn’t moved, I probably would have been planting squash in August the following year. I suspect having it in a pot & off the ground was also a factor in keeping any bugs away.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"I purchased two arbaquino olive trees"

Ern...This is excellent! Go for it!

[Liz]

Dark Chocolate Cream Pie / decidedly chocolate / whipt cream dollop would be decadent

Ing 1 chocolate or vanilla wafer crust 8 oz cream cheese, 1/2 c conf 1 1/2 c chp sweet
dark baking chocolate (or use baking chips) 1/3 c heavy cream 8 oz tub Cool Whip

Method Ganache: Micromelt chocolate/cream 45-60 sec; stir. Filling: W/ mixer, cream softened cr/cheese/conf. Mix in ganache, reserving 1/4 c for drizzle. On low speed, mix in Cool Whip then pour filling into crust. Drizzle reserved chocolate over. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.