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Weekly Gardening Thread -- Vol. 13, March 31, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012 | JustaDumbBlonde

Posted on 03/31/2012 4:00:04 PM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde

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Good evening, FRiends and gardeners! I deeply apologize for the delay in posting this week's thread ... this is an extremely busy time here on our farm, and when you've got just a handful of folks farming 3,000 acres, there are times when it is all hands on deck all night long. The rain has been spaced exactly right to be wrong, and we were down to the wire getting our corn crop planted.

With that out of the way, how in the world is everybody doing with their gardens and plans for gardens? We have so many members with interesting projects underway that I'm looking forward to details.

For the most part, I'm going to direct sow my garden because it is certainly warm enough to do so. I have a few tomatoes that I seeded in newspaper pots, but mostly flowers. This week I will plant about an 1/2 acre of sweet corn and a 1/4 acre each of various cow peas and butterbeans. It is my intention to have several plantings of each, about 10-14 days apart, so that all of my harvest doesn't come at once. It is already too warm for the sweet peas to make, so those will be a fall crop.

Now that I am spending so much time in the beeyard, I've decided to plant a full compliment of veggies for our personal use and canning, but only sell 5 or 6 different things. Those will be sweet corn, a few varieties of peas, speckled and green butterbeans and okra. Those are the least work with the greatest reward. I will also be selling honey.

So far this spring, I have planted 2 pear trees, 13 red raspberries, 10 gold raspberries, 5 blackberries, and 5 blueberries. My last order of fruit trees came in yesterday and includes 3 additional mayhaw trees (we currently have 5), an italian white fig (I already have 2 brown turkey figs), an elberta peach to compliment my other 2 peach trees, a bing cherry, and a montmorency cherry to go with my stella sweet cherry that I planted last year. I ordered these from Ty Ty Nursery in Ty Ty, Georgia, and they are about the best looking stock of trees that I've ever received! We are very excited.

The most fun I had this week was a trip to a local nursery where I found ... get this ... a dwarf redwood tree!!! It was amazing to me that there was a redwood tree that would grow in Louisiana! It is about 8 ft. tall now that I have it in the ground and is supposed to be very fast growing. Final height will be somewhere around 70 ft. Label reads that it will grow in zones 6 through 10, and we are in zone 8, so I have high hopes.

Have a great week, and I hope to see y'all all on time next week.

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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 won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t 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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening
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To: SumProVita
Curious so I looked up the Lowes policy.

You are right active duty and retired get the discount 365 and all they have to do is show their Military ID and ask for the discount.

Non retired Vets only get the discount on Memorial Day, July 4 and Veterans Day. Lowes does not issue an ID for regular Vets. So something like a DD 214 or possibly an membership ID from a Veterans Organization would have to be shown. The local Lowes has signs at each cash register that inform the person buying that if they want the Military Discount they must inform the cashier they are going to use the discount at the beginning of the transaction or the discount will not be honored.

81 posted on 04/02/2012 9:41:21 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde
The crazy weather continues in Central Missouri. Temps in the 80's most of last week. I took advantage and got some planting done.

Cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower are all in. Potatoes are in. Carrots and sweet corn are in.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

82 posted on 04/02/2012 10:56:47 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Augie

That is really pretty!


83 posted on 04/02/2012 1:52:35 PM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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To: Augie

unnnnng... and we are trying to recover from 7” of rain in 3 days. I need a drink


84 posted on 04/02/2012 2:58:43 PM PDT by tubebender (I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.)
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Could not resist . . .

85 posted on 04/02/2012 4:07:41 PM PDT by Petruchio (I Think . . . Therefor I FReep.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Looking forward to seeing how these new ‘dwarf tomato’ plants turn out...I was able to track all thirteen down, and they are growing quite nicely. Very stocky...they look like little trees. I am also giving the new ‘blue’ tomato called ‘Indigo Rose’ a try...just shy of 150 kinds of ‘maters this year. Fun times...keeps my mind off the country going down the crapper.


86 posted on 04/02/2012 7:54:40 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

“...they must inform the cashier they are going to use the discount at the beginning of the transaction or the discount will not be honored.”

__________________

Yes, you have to let them know so that a supervisor can enter the override into the register. It has to do with the computer system of the cash register. A few weeks ago, there was a whole line of people with military ID waiting at one register... for the supervisor. They were all good people and joked and chatted while waiting.

Spouses’ military ID’s are honored as well.


87 posted on 04/03/2012 4:16:40 AM PDT by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Our extended two day drought of 2012 is about to end. We set a new March rainfall record. I have never seen my garden cover crop look so good but the Garlic does not appear to be happy


88 posted on 04/03/2012 8:16:18 AM PDT by tubebender (I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.)
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To: who knows what evil?

First time in my life I’ve ever tried to garden. Went for 4 different heirloom tomatoes, and one happens to be Indigo Rose. Planted ten seeds and had 90% germination. Down to 7/10 now and they are doing well. They are in peat pots sitting under a grow light during the night and out on the patio during the day. Very happy with the way they’re coming along.....


89 posted on 04/03/2012 6:49:02 PM PDT by colinhester
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To: colinhester

Let them get some sleep...they need a daily cycle of darkness. If they are outside all day; give them some grow light for a few hours in the evening; then lights out.


90 posted on 04/03/2012 7:21:22 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: who knows what evil?

I didn’t know that. Will do......


91 posted on 04/03/2012 7:43:54 PM PDT by colinhester
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To: colinhester

12 to 16 hours of light daily for tomato seedlings is plenty...remember to keep the light close to prevent ‘leggy seedlings’...


92 posted on 04/03/2012 8:08:33 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: tubebender; JustaDumbBlonde
Sorry, for delay-my computer died. Sneaking a quick FREEP on hubby's machine.

Tubebender, Our male kiwi died this winter, so we have a replacement now, but probably no fruit this year. sigh. Females look like they are going to have nice blooms.LOL

JADB, Well I don't know if we will ever do the xmas trees, we are just brainstorming. My lemon tree has been enjoying the unseasonablely warm weather out side these last few days. Had to bring it in today, since we had a dip in the temperature. Last year we only got 1 fruit, but I am encouraged for this year.

93 posted on 04/05/2012 5:53:50 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: tubebender; JustaDumbBlonde
Sorry, for delay-my computer died. Sneaking a quick FREEP on hubby's machine.

Tubebender, Our male kiwi died this winter, so we have a replacement now, but probably no fruit this year. sigh. Females look like they are going to have nice blooms.LOL

JADB, Well I don't know if we will ever do the xmas trees, we are just brainstorming. My lemon tree has been enjoying the unseasonably warm weather out side these last few days. Had to bring it in today, since we had a dip in the temperature. Last year we only got 1 fruit, but I am encouraged for this year.

94 posted on 04/05/2012 5:54:11 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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