WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 21, 2013

Free Republic | May 24, 2013 | greeneyes

[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.

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!

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[greeneyes]

Glad to hear you missed the worst of the storms. Your garden sounds like it’s off to a good start. I am so behind with where I would like to be.

Between the bad weather and lack of energy, I haven’t planted nearly enough stuff, but I do have a tendancy to bite off more than I can chew.LOL

[greeneyes]

I wish they were all perrenials. LOL

[greeneyes]

I have just seen a strange sight. Some of the watermelon seeds I started indoors have sprouted and the seed is attached to the leaf and above the soil.

Did you ever have anything like that happen?

[greeneyes]

I have no idea what that tree is. The flowers look a lot like the ones on my Mock Orange.

[JRandomFreeper]

That happens a lot with the sunflowers, squash, and gourds. I let the plant take care of it. I've tried to remove the seed husk, and just managed to mangle the plant.

/johnny

[CJ Wolf]

I’ve enjoyed the tree the last couple of years since I moved in. Very pretty in spring. I just have no idea what it is. I took a branch with leaves/fruit to the county, they had no idea either. Maybe it’s the only one, haha.

[TEXOKIE]

“Forgot to label”
LOL!

I have only labeled a few of my several pots! When I water, I rehearse to remind myself which one is who! LOL!

Wishing they were perennials too!

Thanks for the encouragement and recounting of your own past experiences with parsley and dill. I’m not as concerned about the dill, because I really don’t know how to use it very well!

*AHEM* Maybe Johnny can give some dill pointers/recipes?

(Please?)

[TEXOKIE]

Are you describing that the two initial leaves are still inside the seed case as it pushes up?

If so, then some of my sunflowers, beans, and squash have done that, and Darlin’ showed me how to carefully wet them to soften them and then gently pry the seed “clamshell” apart to liberate the leaves without damaging the plant.

[JRandomFreeper]

I'm not growing dill this year. I don't use it much except for some fish dishes.

I label EVERYTHING, or I won't remember which is what. I also annotate my garden calendar to indicate when I planted what, or I'll forget. Today I started the mushrooms. I annotated it on the calendar, and noted to add the cover soil on the 12th of next month.

I've finally got my basic herbs, rosemary, thyme, and oregano going again. They were wiped out 2 years ago during the drought.

/johnny

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks, Johnny! I feel much better about feeling like dill is not a to be heavily used spice. We do occasional fish, and I use it for that too, but was wondering what, if any uses it might have other than that!

I’m glad your herbs are back.

Thanks for the pointers on using a calendar for garden. I started a journal, but not a calendar. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

[fidelis]

OK, Mrs. fidelis finally sent me the link to here low-carb zucchini bread. This is the original recipe as she found it on line so she's tweaked the recipe a little to taste by using all zucchini instead of half carrot and half zucchini so she just calls it Zucchini Loaf:

Low-carb carrot cake loaf

Enjoy!

[tubebender]

Fresh Dill is used in canning pickles and dilly beans. We planted it one year and it has come up every year since... in places where Lady Bender want it.

[tubebender]

It must be some tropical tree but it sure looks interesting. Does it have a aroma?

[greeneyes]

thanks for the link.

[greeneyes]

No, the seed is sticking to the edge of a leaf about an inch about the dirt. I mean it doesn’t even make sense looking at it.

[greeneyes]

ok. thanks. I’ll just transplant them and see how it goes.

[greeneyes]

I use a lot of dill because Hubby likes dill pickles.

[greeneyes]

Ya know I am pathetic. In addition to labeling each pot, I also make notes on the garden plot that I have on graph paper. Also make notes on my calendar.

Somehow I always have an issue or so that lends uncertainty to my project. Like I lost last falls graphic plot, so now I’m trying to use my memory to see what plant rotation I need to do.

I also lost the spring planting design and had to redo it. Then there’s just the forgetting to jot it on the calendar or wherever. LOL

Still I have the majority kinda nailed down, so I know about 80-95 percent most of the time.

[TEXOKIE]

LOL! I’m having a hard time visualizing it. Have you taken pics? If not for us, at least for your own records?

I understand about the dill pickles. While we will on occasion eat them, neither one of us craves them, so dill is not high on our list of must-haves. But things can changes, and I think it would be fun to try to grow some.

QUESTION:
I’ve tried starting some more amaranth, and have a bunch of seedlings all clumped together in my pot. Do you know anything about the space these guys need? I have never tried this before this year!

[Just mythoughts]

I have just seen a strange sight. Some of the watermelon seeds I started indoors have sprouted and the seed is attached to the leaf and above the soil. Did you ever have anything like that happen?

The 'shell' of the seed is what is attached. The best I can explain is that through the process of germination the actual seed got to the right temperature and moisture and 'opened', germinated yet the hull or the shell that protects the actual seed stayed attached to the newly formed plant. Yes, I have had it happen with melons and even tomatoes.