The Victory Garden Thread - September, 2026

September 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.

[MomwithHope]

Wishing you lots of success today.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

One more day of my 'Mini Yav-Cay' and then I pick Beau up at the airport in the morning. Revising my To-Do List for the day for some food prep, garden raiding and general straightening up around here. So HAPPY he's coming home all in one piece with no Grizzly Bear bites! But then he leaves again - with most of the dogs, YAY! - back up to Bear Training Camp. So, two full days of House-wifery, then right back to my usual schedule of All-Day Jammies, Daytime Martinis, Cigarettes, Bon Bons and Soap Operas. ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

‘Belstar’ is a very popular broccoli variety. You know I LOVE my ‘Lieutenant’ broccoli, but it does get pretty big. 12 heads took up 2/3 of one bed, with the pole beans growing UP beside them.

Next year, more Paste Tomatoes (Mariana) and decent red slicers (Wisconsin 55 and Celebrity) and my favorite Chef’s Orange are going to be it. Again, ‘Famous Last Words.’ ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Can’t wait to hear how it all shakes out. Great idea for donating Dad’s clothing and doing a good deed.

I still have a few each of both my Dad’s and Grandpa’s flannel shirts. So COMFORTING to wear them (around the house) in the winter months. Those would be very hard for me to part with. ;)

After 80 degrees today, we are in for a TREAT of High 60’s and Low 70’s for the next 10 days, but rain on M-T-W...which is needed and will finish off the animal feed crops nicely. (Corn, Soybeans, Alfalfa) Farmer Dan is looking at a FOURTH bailing of alfalfa hay. THAT is a huge bonus! :)

[left that other site]

"All-Day Jammies, Daytime Martinis, Cigarettes, Bon Bons and Soap Operas. ;)

You left out the Potato Chips. A Day Isn't complete without them! 😀

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Cheese Doodles* are more indulgent and they leave their mark...on your SOUL! ;)

*Does not contain any actual cheese...

[FamiliarFace]

*** So, two full days of House-wifery, then right back to my usual schedule of All-Day Jammies, Daytime Martinis, Cigarettes, Bon Bons and Soap Operas. ;)***

This made me LOL, for real.

Rainy day so far here today. I hope it keeps up. We need rain badly.

I found a monarch caterpillar in J- formation one evening about a week or so ago on the swamp milkweed in the meditation garden. A few stalks away was another chrysalis already formed! (Not sure if I mentioned this before). The next morning the caterpillar had formed its chrysalis. So I’ve been waiting and watching. Well, Thursday morning, I saw the butterfly from the first chrysalis emerge. This was my first time to see that in the wild vs in a habitat. “Monica” flew away before I realized she was ready.

Then yesterday, Monty arrived. I watched and watched. I missed his big moment emerging, and then missed his flight, too. I think this was the last of the caterpillars for this season. There were a total of 12 caterpillars on my plants this year, not quite the plethora from last year which had to have been around 80 (34 which I rescued and had them in the habitat).

Two of the Cherry tomato plants are producing well, but about 1/4 of them have splits in them. The shishitos are also doing well. I’m not overloaded with them. The pace has been about right for what we can consume here.

Have a great weekend!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad to hear of more Monarch Butterfly successes; you’re so good at it. :)

Overcast here, but no rain. Doesn’t look like we’ll hit the predicted 80 degrees and I can live with that! :)

[Qiviut]

I got rid of most of my yarn stash, sold 2 bracelets I never wear, & 1 crochet wine bottle carrier. I made enough to buy compost for my last metal bed :-) Mom sold a couple of items incuding 2 pairs of dad's shoes (New Balance & another special pair of tennis).

Here is a picture of my 2 purchases & 1 freebie. I really love the table ($8). It's very sturdy & tall & will make a wonderful plant stand. I also bought ($1) some sort of tin stand - cake? plant? vase of flowers? The pretty glass bowl was at a cousin's booth - he gave it to me when I asked the price. I was looking for a pretty serving bowl for the potlucks & this is the only one I saw that caught my eye.

This is what is on top of the tin stand - perfect for my niece who raises flowers to sell at Farmers Markets & a home stand. I think she's going to love it.

[MomwithHope]

Wow very nice!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I love it all. Great purchases. That table has LEGS for DAYS, LOL! :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I had some Lt. broccoli last year but they got big and outgrew the row covers and the cabbage loopers found their way in. I did manage to pick the heads before they were damaged, but they could have been bigger. Hopefully the Belstars can stay under their covers.

Amish paste (grown in my garden) has great taste! It did ramble a lot before it started producing but I think that had to do with the hot temperatures here and that delayed fruit set. I do not think you would have that problem with the cooler weather. I have seen comments about Opalke and San Marzano as paste tomatoes. The San Marzanos I grew had problems with either splitting or blossom end rot, I do not recall which. I thought they were small and probably better for sun drying (IIRC).

I do not know about the opalke since I did not grow it, but I would prefer larger tomatoes rather than small ones. Easier processing.

Chef’s orange is a good tasting variety! I have grown it.

[FamiliarFace]

I love your finds!

[MomwithHope]

Getting huge genovese tomatoes. First year growing them. Best flavor. I’ll take a picture this afternoon.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I used to grow Opalka as my main paste tomato - not sure why I stopped, but I’m sure it was due to it being such a large plant and a lack if disease resistance.

Mom? What’s the one we grew year before last that we liked so much? I don’t feel like digging through my ‘tomato files’ right now, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

'Costoluto Genovese' has been a past favorite of mine, too. That 'Grandma's Pick' that I like so much is bred using the CG tomato.

Both are available from 'Totally Tomatoes:'

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My Sunday starts with a trip to the airport to fetch Beau who is back from Alaska - no Moose, though they saw a few and lots of cows and calves. If you want to cull a moose, the rack has to be FIFTY inches across, and they didn't see any that big. They saw no Grizzlies - thank goodness!

Then it's back here for a few outdoor chores I need help with before the Packer Season Opener at 4:30. Finally! I am SO READY for Football!

[MomwithHope]

It was sabre or sabelka. My sabelka plants did not make it and the sabres took off. Getting ready to can stewed tomatoes. and I will have some pictures. Yes mine are the Costoloto Genovese and from totally tomatoes. Big and gnarly.

[MomwithHope]

I only have two genovese plants but they are loaded. Pic of what I am canning this morning as stewed tomatoes. Sabres in separate jars. I did not need 4 smaller genovese to fill up 7 pints which is what my smaller canner will hold. Water bath. 7 pints would hold me for a year and I still have more tomatoes out there. Two genovese, 3 sabre plants and one Belarussian Heart tomato. Also loaded and big. That's it 6 bushes. Not counting the camparis - 3. Taking a boatload of them to church for our annual BBQ. The biggest genovese was 1 pound 3 oz. I will probably dehydrate after this.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"The pretty glass bowl was at a cousin's booth - he gave it to me when I asked the price."

Its nice to live among family!

Nice table, but also looks very breakable! (Not for someone with a large dog with a tail)

Will you keep it the same color?