Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 Vol. 18 June 4

Free Republic | 06-04-2010 | Red_Devil 232

[JustaDumbBlonde]

While I found that quite interesting — malathion and a bug light are far cheaper to use, but they don’t produce power ... that much is true. What to do, what to do?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I learned about diatomaceous earth when I had several very large aquariums. It will filter water so sparkling clear that you can't even tell there is water in the tank. Don't inhale it, but other than that it is harmless. I've probably even inhaled some over the years, and it certainly didn't kill me ... yet.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Do you have any old coffee cans or something similar? If you take out both the top and bottom, you can push it into the soil and it will protect tender plants from the wind. Old plastic pails that are cracked are good for this purpose also.

[who knows what evil?]

...another great idea...this wind has been blowing for about two months; it seems. When we planted our lettuce and spinach; the wind blew away the soil and scattered the seed around. We have some awesome lettuce and spinach going on, but the strangest rows you will ever see. Spinach plant in the peas; red lettuce in with spinach, etc...I put some three-gallon buckets over the smaller squash and pumpkin plants, but the wind came up ‘out of the blue’ late this morning, and before I could get the buckets, SNAP! It’s a good thing I had the larger tomato plants staked...ye gads. We’ve never seen wind this persistent...we actually had another confirmed tornado in northern NH on Saturday. That’s two in two years; including one that killed a local woman last year. That is very unusual for this area...

[tubebender]

Please do a lookup for ground oyster shells as deterrent to slugs and snail as It is cheep cheep cheep and inexpensive and it doesn’t cost a lot and it lasts and lasts and lasts.

Yes, I know how to spell cheap but I wanted to get your attention and yes I am on my second glass of good red wine and I will increase that one glass a day until the sun shines for three days in a row...

[tubebender]

You are invited to view my post # 165...

[tubebender]

Of course you already knew that I was referring to post #265 right?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I pray that you will get some consecutive days of sunshine or, in the alternative and without waiving the foregoing, that you inherit a case of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. Cheers my FRiend.

[who knows what evil?]

I am hoping that my wife comes home with some ice cream for her husband...failing that; I believe there is a little wine kicking around that I could embrace in my disappointment...

[who knows what evil?]

Woo-hoo...ice cream!!!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Are you sending a curse here? It is STILL raining. Our manufacturing plant desperately needs a new roof. We just have no $$$ for it and no loans forthcoming. We have buckets and even a child’s swimming pool set up all over catching water. Everything important is judiciously moved away from the Falling Water. And we have a visitation from a customer tomorrow who has nothing to do except find fault. Arrrrggggh! My husband is up there right now straightening things to look nicer. When the rain stops, we get out the wet vac, but it doesn’t do much good if it is still raining.

Maybe we could get the place declared a national landmark. After all, Wisconin native, Frank Lloyd Wright, built a famous house called Falling Water, and it leaks too.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I am on my second glass of good red wine

This California native has become allergic to the sulphites in wine in her mature years. I don't even drink it at Communion any more. So, I'd have to toast you with Dr. Pepper!

[afraidfortherepublic]

BTW, it rained so much today that I couldn’t even get out to the garden to harvest my cauliflower which you folks informed me was beyond its prime and good only for soup! Next year I’ll know.

[tubebender]

I keep a tub of Raspberry Swirl Sherbet in the freezer and I make sure the guests see me eating it directly out of that tub so they know to eat the Oreo cookies. It was another lost gardening day here but wife did get 2 pots on the patio filled and planted and I did a little cleanup in the garden as tomorrow is garbage pickup day. The corn is out growing the protective cages so they will be coming off soon and Remay going on in their place...

[tubebender]

NO NO NO! You can still steam it and serve it with butter or melted cheese as the stems are still fresh and firm. The outer flower(?) is also still eatable just not prime. Give it a try...

[who knows what evil?]

Haven’t had a soda in years, but I USED to enjoy a cold Dr. Pepper! I’m convinced high fructose corn syrup is behind the type-2 diabetes plague...)

[who knows what evil?]

ANGRY tomatoes around New England this morning...only 43 degrees, and I am sure it is colder further north...

[afraidfortherepublic]

You've just saved me from spending all morning making soup! The pieces are cut a little small (I was planning on pureeing it), but still suitable for including as a crunchy in a salad, or making a nice side dish smothered in cheese. I have the choice of cheddar or mozzarella. Your suggestion?

The 3 heads weighed just under a lb. I suddenly realized the other day that I know nothing about harvesting my veggies, as I've never grown anything besides tomatoes and herbs before. I looked up cauliflower and the Web said that I was supposed to pull up and clip the outer leaves over the head as it was developing to keep it white. ??? It also said that I shouldn't expect huge heads like we buy in the store. Why not, I ask?

On the scale (Picture shows hole in leaf.) There are no discernable bugs, but a giant earthworm crawled out of the square when I cut one of these heads. Do earthwroms nibble on leaves?

Ready to cook.

The rose garden after I got back from VA last Wednesday. After 2 days of rain, it is a mess today with the roses all beaten down and petals falling, so I won't post a picture. I've had no time to get out and weed. I posted a picture before of this same garden in it's "tulip dress", but now it's in its "rose clothes".

[afraidfortherepublic]

I meant to include you all in my ping to #278.

[afraidfortherepublic]

ANGRY tomatoes around New England this morning

It was cold and raining last night here -- around 50 F and heading down -- and I noticed that my hibiscus on the front porch didn't look too happy. It was too late and I was home alone, so I didn't pull them in; and they are Ok this AM. I imagine the Jade plant didn't like it out there either. This may be the last year for these hibiscus. They've grown out of their 4th pot, and they are too heavy to move indoors for the winter. I'm sick of messing with them.