Posted on 01/20/2012 9:56:41 AM PST by JustaDumbBlonde
It was just a couple of weeks ago that I was really glad that the last of my garden had frozen. Being blessed with a long growing season is not always what it's cracked-up to be. You understand ... gardening is hard work! When it lasts from March or April until December, it can get tedious.
Then, yesterday, my first order of seeds that I don't need came in from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds. Four beautiful little envelopes that sound like maracas; Baby Lincoln Leeks, Tres Fine Maraichere Endive, Beaumont Broccoli, and Large Fruited Mixture Ornamental Gourds.
I am stoked.
Yep, that's all it takes to get the soil coursing through my veins once again. Newspaper pots are about to be made ... my plastic trays need to be washed in a sudsy bleach solution. Clean off a couple of shelves in the garage and hang up the grow lights. Now, if I could just remember where I put that 55 quart bag of moisture control potting soil ...
.
.
Last week, the Weekly Gardening Thread welcomed the 500th member of the ping list. What a great way to begin our 2012 gardening season! More members = more information to share. Let's grow!
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly 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.
This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you wont be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isnt asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
A Lews-e-ann-a cookout sure sounds tempting. LOL. I shouldn’t be belly aching about the snow. We’ve hardly had any this year, and the farmers need it for next year.
Hopefully you didn’t have a long hard ground freeze. Is there a chance the hibiscus can recover?
My wife suffers all through allergy season, too, which seems to be 10 months per year. I think that she has it the worst of anyone that I have ever seen. We have gotten regular rains here recently and that seems to help her by washing the woods down and putting the wet pollens on the ground and out of the air. Plus, she is going to do a sleep study to see if apnea is the cause of her joint pains.
Wife has said that I can have the grow lights back for seed starting. :) She had been using them on the enclosed back porch keeping the container plants happy through the cold season.
I actually knew the answer about aloe vera because I grew that in Houston too.
Interesting trivia: While the single hibiscus blossom lasts merely one day, the double flower is longer lasting for 2-3 days.
That’s nice!
As much rain as we’ve had since Christmas, I expected the pollen to be washed away. Doesn’t seem to have had much affect.
Thanks for the ping ....... Stay safe !
Gardening has been cancelled due to 3.5 inches of rain in Benderville...
You are quite the green thumb. Not to mention a good photographer.
Snowmobiles = paperweights right now...LOL!
We'll be back to bare ground in a few days as temps head for the mid-40's!!! by Monday...yahoo! New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont ski areas are freaking out...no sign of any more snow over the next fifteen days...I would love to see a record set for least snow EVER for a winter season...
Baby peppers are putting forth true leaves...cauliflower looking good.
It was me all along who was confused. I need to find a better chart ... I was looking at the red way up north!
We’re been wanting to use our season lift passes in Montana, but they are just now getting enough snow to be good. Looks like we’ll head up there around Feb 1.
Awesome...may Montana receive ALL the snow that was originally destined for New Hampshire, Amen...I have YET to use a snow shovel this winter.
Thank you! Since my business is all brain work, I find gardening very relaxing. A labor of love, the gratification is a handsome yard, eye appealing gardens, delicious fruits and vegetables, along with lots of compliments and some flattering copycat behavior by friends and neighbors.
Florida has a pretty broad range but just a few spots are zone 11 (most of these are in the lower keys )
Really there is almost no difference between 10b and 11 as 10b almost never sees frost
I miss hearing from Diana where has she been?
74° here in Mississippi.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.