Posted on 02/15/2013 10:46:41 AM PST by greeneyes
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.
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I'm cool with the potting soil bag thing. I've seen it done in professional greenhouses. One thing about tomato transplants... plant them deep. They are one of the few plants you won't kill if you bury most of the plant and leave just a few leaves showing. I've found that they put out roots from what used to be stem. And the healtier the root system, the healthier the plant. I normally transplant them so that only 4 leaves are showing.
I'm growing garlic. I got my bulbs from the kid's extended family. I break them into cloves without damaging the cloves and plant pointy side up about an inch deep.
Some grocery garlic is sprayed with chemicals to keep it from sprouting, so those won't work. If you can find some with green tips in the grocery store, use those. Little late for planting garlic, but it can't hurt to try.
/johnny
My first Yorkie died when she was 17 yrs. old. It’s still too sad to think about often. I got a pet casket and she is in my garden with a marble stone marker with her name.
I now have Yorkie, Prissy, and she is my best friend and 5 lb. watch dog.
/johnny
Sorry to hear about your loss. Pets are such dear friends. We lost our dear ragdoll kitty, Reina, about 6 years ago. I still feel a little teary if I think about it too much.
The bales have been watered daily. They're nice and hot on the inside, doing what they're supposed to do.
I went out this morning and pulled open the top of a bale, ready to plunge my hand in, only to be greeted by squirming maggots! YUK!
None of the straw or hay bale gardening sites mention maggots, so I've sprinkled each bale with food grade DE. It kills fleas, maybe it will destroy maggots too.
/johnny
I've been outside cleaning up some potting soil all morning. I think I'll re-pot my snapdragons today and maybe plant the dahlia and other bulbs my wife just surprised me with. Speaking of the wife: for Valentines Day I got her live plants, an orchid and some tulips.
/johnny
Progress on green house sounds like it is on track. Ditto - cold and overcast weather makes me grouchy.
Eww, maggots! My wife would have freaked—and I don’t I would have an entirely calm reaction either!
Sounds like your pre planting season is going well. I too am so ready for warmer weather. Cold weather makes my bones ache.
Will add you to the ping list. I post every Friday afternoon.
I am not familiar with Huckle berry. If you could let us know what zone you are located in, someone may be able to give you some advice about transplanting it.
Thanks for the link. I am sure many of the gardeners will find it useful.
The greenhouse was homebuilt. It’s very small—70X70, just big enough to slip over the square-foot garden and for my wife to move around inside. We just framed PVC pipe together, covered it in plastic sheeting, and slipped it over some rebar at each corner of the garden. The roof is securely fastened with PVC snaps, but the side panels are fastened with velcro for easy removal. We can easily slip it on and off, and adapt it as a shade when the summer months come.
Duck is on the menu tomorrow or Sunday.
/johnny
Sorry for your loss. Will pray for you. Pet’s are special members of our family too.
Will add you to the ping list. I post on Friday afternoons.
/johnny
You mean like this:
I don't know about your climate, but I tried to grow plants in the 5 gallon buckets ( a similar technique)and the heat in central Texas caused them to go dormant. The plants grew, but wouldn't produce.
On the brighter side, I got my PINK Ruger 22LR rifle~
Pink? That's just so wrong. ;)
3/4 PVC.
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