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.

[ladyjane]

If you like butternut squash, have you tried honeynut squash? It was developed at Cornell and is about half the size of butternut. It’s sweeter and has two to three times the beta-carotene. It’s really good and you can cook it like an Acorn squash. Trader Joe’s used to carry it but we save the seeds. That seems to work.

[Qiviut]

I went Keto/Carnivore to keep from developing Type 2 a couple of years back. I lost 60 lbs. With all that’s gone on with breaking my kneecap, dad passing away & driving 13,000 miles in ‘24 moving everything but the heavy furniture to our new place, I gained a decent amount back. I’ve been working on getting rid of it, with intention since January. I’m down to the last 20 lbs. The folks at church are commenting on the weight loss so it’s definitely noticeable (yay!).

Thanks for the info on DiW .... the storms will be moving in here tomorrow afternoon/evening. We’re going from Summer to November next week.

[Qiviut]

I have not tried it - will keep it in mind for future gardening :-)

[ladyjane]

I am a squash eater and the honeynut squash is much better than the big butternut. It’s sweeter, smaller and easier to handle and has a thinner skin. I cook it like an acorn squash.

[Paul R.]

It’ll be interesting to see if your guy (met) is right: NWS is showing us at slightly above normal in the 6-10 day prediction (high’s around 80-82 deg, I’m guessing) and then a bit warmer yet in the 8-14 day forecast. If the humidity is moderate, that’d actually be great!

We have one big producing (nuts) walnut tree. I suppose I should try to harvest some of the nuts...

Mowing over any of them (nut types) on the ground can be downright dangerous to anything or anyone nearby!

(Dems or libs who might read this, no, I’m not talking about you, but, OTOH...)

NWS still says we’ll hit 98 deg. today, but it’s breezy and not humid. It wouldn’t be too bad if not for all the red chaff blowing here from the grain elevators across the road - it’s really heavy today. :-(

[Paul R.]

FR has been quite variable with posting speed for me today. It seems ok again, now...

[gleeaikin]

My son said I really should get rid of my closets of old clothes, so I had a few porch sales and discovered there really is a good local market for vintage clothing in good condition, or for some even in bad condition. I also travel regularly to my east coast beach town property and discovered some really good spots to buy good used and older clothing. Now I am setting up an in house, by appointment, vintage and good used clothing part time business.

Some items were really nice so I decided to find out how much on line outlets like Poshmark, Mercuri, and EBay were selling them for. In the process I also discovered how to use AI when the option was offered to Ask a Question. I find AI very friendly and helpful, as well as complementing and encouraging. No wonder some people are using AI instead of paying a therapist when in distress and troubled. I have not yet tried AI out on gardening/farming issues, but imagine it could be useful for that too. The key is to ask the questions the right way.

If anyone would like advice on how to ask the right questions to price and sell their clothing collections in person, feel free to ask, just so long as you don’t live in my local east coast urban market neighborhood. ;-)
I have stashed some long AI conversations in FR PM, so would be able to forward if desired.

[gleeaikin]

I have everything but sugar. I wonder how it would be using dark brown sugar? Not light, and perhaps not lemony, so maybe flavored with maple flavor or cinnamon? I actually have maple syrup, so perhaps could use 1/4 cup with the brown sugar? Any thoughts?

[Qiviut]

Per the recipe, you can use honey. I think maple syrup would be similar to honey, but you’d definitely get a different flavor. I don’t know about brown sugar - give it a try & see what happens!

Per recipe:

“Vanilla or Honey: For a more subtle sweetness, replace the granulated sugar with honey or vanilla flavorings.”

[AFB-XYZ]

I’m sort of late to the party this week, but isn’t there normally sort of a “reminder” a ping to everyone each Saturday, even though this is a monthly thread? Just wondered, since I didn’t get one today . . .

[gleeaikin]

The Peruvians had a lot of interesting kinds of potatoes, including colors. Two years ago Trader Joe’s was selling multi-color Peruvian potato chips that were becoming addictive for me. Unfortunately they no longer sell them. In other information they have some interesting names. One very lumpy, irregular, hard to peel type was called “Makes New Bride Cry.”

[Qiviut]

I think Diana’s internet is out due to storms - she does the pings.

[gleeaikin]

I know that Home Depot and probably Lowes sell a liquid that you can pour or spread on rotten wood areas that firms up really hard. However, I think you have to start with completely dry wood. So either get it under better cover, or remove the damaged part inside and dry it thoroughly.

I have a problem needing advice. I have a hillside urban back yard, 20 x 60 feet where I have fought bamboo for years. Part is level, but I had two cinder block walls with steps on one side built across the yard. The first wall was moved several feet beyond the level areas, and earth was filled into the empty area as the trench was dug for the lower wall. This past year I had several emergencies this spring and the summer was too hot for my 88 year old self to walk up there and do yard work. Now I have a huge overgrowth of year old bamboo, and the biggest poke berry bushes I have ever seen. There is good space behind the 2nd terrace wall, and I have been laying the cut bamboo stalks behind that wall and cutting the poke “trees” up and laying the straight stems there mixed with the bamboo. I was surprised to see that some year old dead poke stem had dried black and were hard as wood, and have thrown them in too. Can anyone recommend a good soil amendment to sprinkle on this mix to make it rot faster and turn into mulch? I have access to Home Depot, Lowes, and if I visit land I have in WV can go to a farm supply store.

The man who built the walls for me wanted to give me broken bricks and other rubble to help fill in that space now occupied by a lot of bamboo and poke. I told him I did not want more broken bricks, there are already some at the bottom. But I might take the broken fairly small pieces of plaster and drywall as it will break down, especially if it filters down through the bamboo stalks and poke branches especially when it rains and snows. I suspect when the rotting is done there will be space for at least a foot of earth on top. Would this kind of construction waste mixed with the yard waste cause a toxic problem a foot below earth dirt?

I might want to plant some dwarf fruit trees there before I die, but would not want to grow poison fruit. I already have a fig tree starting to grow figs on the upper flat level and growing in the predominantly clay soil in this Zone 7 growing area.

[gleeaikin]

When I answered your rotten wood question I was focused on atv, not trailer, so it might be too big for a garage or shed to dry out. At any rate you can probably find something smaller than a gallon if you do not need Marine grade.

[AFB-XYZ]

Many thanks for your response! Much appreciate the info.

[gleeaikin]

The first time I fixed vegetables in a meal for my future husband of 44 years, he looked up, surprised, and said, “These are really good.” He did not like his mother’s vegetables very much, I asked him how she cooked them. They had a big garden living in the Middle West during the Depression. They would pick the string beans on Saturday, then serve for Sunday dinner, then reheat for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Then pick a fresh batch again on Saturday. Ugh.

My mother was a very good cook and I learned from her. Unfortunately she was also a complainer and a critic. My husband once said, “You can forgive Ellen a lot for her cooking.” Glad I didn’t learn to complain and criticize much.

[gleeaikin]

Perhaps microwave them to partly cooked. I do this with Brussle Sproouts in a dish with a little water. When slightly tender I am slicing them and then frying in olive oil and butter with red onion slices until cooked. Probably would work with roasting, just test how pre done they should be prior to roasting.

[MomwithHope]

Thanks for the tips on the wood. we had to finish yesterday, time contraints. Used old motor oil and a double taro that was longer than just the one. Should help a lot.

for All - I posted yesterday, Dianas internet is out. Text again last night - it won’t be a quick fix. She will answer you all eventually.

[Qiviut]

Since you mentioned Brussels Sprouts, you may be interested in this recipe. People rave about the sauce. It has a teaspoon each of honey & maple syrup so not loaded with sugar. It might be a little spicy, but you can reduce the red pepper flakes. The Brussels Sprouts are blanched until fork tender before roasting. I may try this with carrots.

https://www.cucinabyelena.com/longhorn-steakhouse-crispy-brussels-sprouts/

Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
½ teaspoon chili powder or Calabrian chili powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon honey

[Liz]

Homemade Cinnamon Dolce Syrup / clone of the pricey coffee shop syrup

Ing: 1 c brown sugar 2 c water 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cinnamon sticks

Method On med heat, stir ing to a boil. Boil 30 sec, then cool offheat. Steep and cool an hour or more. Remove cinnamon sticks; strain thru fine-mesh strainer. Fridge in sealed glass bottle several weeks.

Notes: Yields about 2 cups; easily doubled. You could use 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon instead of cinnamon sticks but I find that you get a thick gloopy substance that is fine but not ideal. If you do use ground cinnamon, strain the liquid with cheesecloth or a coffee filter before adding to a sealable bottle.

Uses for Cinnamon Dolce Syrup: Flavor latte or coffee. Or hot chocolate, tea. Add to vanilla frosting. Use on cinnamon rolls or cupcakes. If you imbibe, mix w/ a little bourbon for a sweet nightcap. Use on pancakes or waffles (add to batter or as a syrup). Add to whipped cream.

Store in a glass bottle or jar. Seal tightly. Keeps several weeks in the fridge. Label and date the bottle.