Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 20) May 27

Free Republic | 5-21-2011 | Red_Devil 232

[Red_Devil 232]

Good morning gardeners. I apologize to all Freepers for the flame skirmish that occurred on the thread last week. This thread is intended to give like minded Freepers a place to share their gardening experiences and knowledge - a respite from the everyday problems we all encounter without encountering more on a benign gardening thread. Please be civil to your fellow gardeners, Thank You.

Ok, back to gardening. Every one of my plants I started from seed are doing great! This includes two varieties of paste tomatoes and three varieties of winter squash and a few pepper plants. Unfortunately some of the beneficial flowers, I started in a small raised planter were raided by a digging Cashmere (Irish Setter) hiding her Milk Bones.

My garden received a nice drenching rain shower yesterday afternoon. It supplied a good soak for thirsty roots.

If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.

[Red_Devil 232]

Weekly Gardening Thread

FREE SEED EXCHANGE

 

This EXCHANGE is brought to you by FReeper 

Mrs. Don-o

Thrifty? Gifty? Curious? Generous? Spare seeds? Rare seeds? For a tiny plot? Or a flower- pot? Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

 

If you have garden seeds you can offer other FReepers for free, for a SASE, and/or in exchange for other seeds, please send me your info. (Private Message Mrs. Don-o) and I will add you to this list, which I will post on the garden thread from time to time. Please also Private Message me to be removed when you no longer have the seeds to offer. FReepo-seedoholics can contact each other by Private Message to arrange any transactions.

Remember that old seeds may have reduced germination. (Although I’ve had great luck with them. And for free, you can’t lose...) If possible, list year and variety.

Mrs. Don-o

I CAN OFFER a few of these seeds (say, 10) for free to anybody who wants to send me a SASE:

Basil (“Genovese” 2010)

Beans (“Jackson Wonder Butterbean “2011)

Broccoli (“Bonanza” 2011) Chard (“Bright Lights” 2010)

Fennel (“Florence” 2011)

Kale (“Redbor Hybrid” 2010)

Squash (“Acorn 2009”… and I had really good germination with it, this year!)

Squash “(Georgia Candy Roaster” 2011.. a terrific winter squash!)

Tomato (“Brandy Boy” 2011)

INTERESTED IN

Seeds for Fall

Anything (surprise me!)

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I HAVE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS (FREEPER TDSCPA) from about 75 popular, open-pollinated heirloom varieties. Tell me via PM what varieties you’re interested in, and if I have them I could send you a few seeds (10?) if you will send me a SASE.

Don’t know what variety to grow? I can make suggestions, if you want to grow plants from seed. Contact Tdscpa

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If anyone needs or wants okra seeds (says JustaDumbBlonde)… please let me know. I saved a ridiculous amount in the fall of 2010. Two different varieties, Clemson and Jade, are both are heirloom variety so that you will be able to save seeds from your plants. Both are spineless and heavy producers. Jade is a bit darker green than Clemson and the pods are a bit shorter and fatter. Both are good for frying, soups, freezing, dehydrating or canning. Don’t be shy, l have more than plenty to share! Tip for planting okra: soak your seeds for 24 hours before planting. Okra seeds are hard like peppercorns and soaking will assist in quicker germination. Contact JustaDumbBlonde

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I have some black-seeded Simpson lettuce seeds and some Buttercrunch lettuce seeds if anyone’s interested. (says Oberon), And... anybody have any Gold Nugget yellow cherry tomato seeds? I’m interested. Contact Oberon

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I have about 100 Canna seeds that I would be glad to share (says Dacula), These plants are tropical and last up to the first frost. I live north of Atlanta and my cannas grow up to 6 feet and have beautiful flowers. I leave them in the ground over winter, but you can take the bulbs and over winter them. . In order to get the seeds to germinate, you have to lightly sand the outside of the seed and soak them overnight. Contact Dacula

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Free Winter Squash or Stevia seeds or Heirloom Tomato/Pepper Seeds (says Black Agnes) The ‘Patio Marconi’ seeds are container peppers that are sweet and good for salads, sandwiches or frying. Open pollinated if that interests you. Cilantro seeds too. It’s good used fresh to detox heavy metals. Contact Black Agnes

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Weekly Gardening Thread

[Red_Devil 232]

Ping to the Weekly Gardening Ping List.

I hope all of you will stop by.

This is typically a low volume ping list. Once a week for the thread and every once in a while for other FR threads posted that might be of interest.

If you would like to be added to or removed from the list please let me know by FreepMail or by posting to me.

[momtothree]

Good morning, gardening FReepers!! We finally had a day without rain. I had been waiting and waiting to paint the shed BEFORE planting the ten Knock Out Roses around it. Boy, did I have a lot of help! Who would have thought a five year old was such a good painting buddy. We will plant the bushes today and start on rototilling this weekend.

[Gabz]

Good morning. It’s a beautiful sunny morning here on the lower end of DelMarVa. We broke 90 yesterday and I expect it will do so again today.

I broke out my Jerry Baker Tonics book and have started whipping up some of his critter control mixtures. It’s almost time for the Japanese beetles to show up and the ticks have been absolutely HORRID.

[doodad]

Much needed rain here to combat the high temps and dry air. All is going good in our plot. Tons of lettuce still thanks to the earlier cool weather, good showing of collard and chard. Peppers and tomatoes are putting out fruit. Only downside is the flea beetles are already targeting my eggplant.

[stefanbatory]

trying to get the garden wrapped up here. One of my customers has said she would take my beds and the soil I mixed up. She’s coming on Monday for that. Then my wife and I pack up the car wednesday morning, shaking off the dust from our shoes at the Georgia/Florida line, and heading up to WI...conveniently, just in time to start gardening...:D

One project i want to try is planting a potato in a tire and then adding tires on top of the original (with dirt) until the stack is 5 or six feet tall. Also will need to build my tomato watering devices that i want to try out. Will prolly need to get some seedlings from somewhere up there as there wont be time to start them from seed.

Fortunately, my parents have 15 acres and not all of it is in use for pasture and lawn and whatnot.

[jocon307]

Hi Gardening freepers, I definitely need some advice.

I planted perennials (day lillies, black eyed susans, button flowers), they are very small (I hope they grow!).

How much water do I give them at the start? Every day? Every other day?

Also, I should mulch them, yes?

Your guidence will be appreciated. I’m leaving for work now, but I’ll check back later.

Thanks all!

[rightly_dividing]

After spending all day at two different gov offices yesterday, I did not venture into the garden, but Mrs.r_d did and she reported several small tomatos and some baby peppers growing, too. I am going out and check shortly to see what varieties are they are. I have some store bought plants in addition to some seedlings that I started, so I am curious to see what we have.

My neighbor's garden has been very prolific this season. He has kept us in green onion and green tomatoes for about 3weeks or more, along with some potatos and green beans. Another neighbor said his yellow squash is nearing maturity along with many tomatos.

And thats the morning garden reports from Conroe Texas

[Gabz]

When my daughter was that age she was my best painting buddy as well. Now, she’ll be 13 in July, she makes herself VERY scarce when she even hears mention of painting :)

[momtothree]

Ah, a teen. Yes, she could completely mess up her nails, don’t you know? Or, someone may see HER helping you PAINT! How will she ever LIVE that down? I figured the painting job took at least 3X the amount of time but I enjoyed it. I know it won’t be long before she stops holding my hand, wants to spend more time with her friends etc... Why do they grow up?!!!!

[Ladysmith]

Welcome to Wisconsin! All conservatives warmly received ... by other conservatives, that is. ;o)

[Former MSM Viewer]

Hello all...great thread...

Im a long time wanna be gardener...got my 10X10 behind the garage back in action this year.

I live outside of Houston. I planted 11 tomato plants in early March this year and was picking tomatoes by the end of April...earliest ever for me.

The spinach I planted was delicious. My squash and zucchini have been poor.

We havent had 2 rains since I planted, but 10x10 is easy to water by hose.

Thanks for the thread. I will stop by again.

[momtothree]

The perennials that I plant needed water initially (a good soaking) and then I watered once a week if it didn’t rain. I didn’t mulch immediately since I found it hindered the initial growth. I did put some mulch down later after they had a good sprouting. Day Lillies are very vigorous and do well in my clay soil. In fact, I have to divide them every two years or they seem to want to take over. Black Eyed Susans (Maryland’s State Flower) is a great choice. We Marylanders joke that we chose that flower because it is a pretty weed. By that, I mean it does very well without a lot of fretting over. This has been my experiences but there are definitely other Garden FReepers who have tons more experience than me. Good luck!

[sneakers]

It’s been raining steadily here since last night.

Almost everything is planted and coming up well. We’ve been eating lettuce, spinach and green onions and have harvested a couple of strawberries. We put up a second trellis to handle the pole beans and chinese long beans, and have one more raised bed box to build and fill. I’ll be planting my Roma tomatoes in that. Other than that, I have to find homes for extra tomato seedlings. I told myself I wouldn’t overdo it this year! Oh well!

[Gabz]

LOL! Why indeed!

Earlier in the year she and her best offered to help me paint the kitchen.........the painting isn’t finished yet.

She attended her first “formal” dance last Friday.......and had a “date.”

[texanyankee]

Good morning...

Still praying for rain here. Temps are gonna be close to 100 degrees this afternoon.

As usual, I got the soaker hose running on my okra.

Green beans are really producing...tomatoes....and cukes. Squash has slowed down dramatically.

[momtothree]

Her first formal dance and a DATE?! Okay, how much Malox did you have to take? The shopping trip for the dress alone would require several Margaritas that evening. My eleven year old daughter recently asked me when she would be allowed to date. My answer: when you’re married. Boy, did I get the eye rolls and gasps of disgust!!

[Red_Devil 232]

Come back as often as you like and have some fun. The thread lasts all week until the new thread is posted on Friday morning.

[Texas Fossil]

raided by a digging Cashmere (Irish Setter)

Had a similar problem with Molly (Australian Shepherd). She is my son's dog, but she is with my wife and I most of the time. When I put out my strawberry plants in our new strawberry bed she dug up two of them. No damage because now they are really spreading and doing well.

Dogs don't sweat to keep cool, that is why they pant. But cool damp earth is something they really like. Hence her attraction to my strawberry bed.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

When growing vegetable plants from seeds, how does one prevent them from becoming leggy (stringy)? My broccoly become very long and tall and sometimes fall over.