Posted on 05/24/2013 3:09:29 PM PDT 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.
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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Until I know which plants I'm going to grow fall and spring and get the container garden set up and food growing in those containers, to prove I can grow them, I'm still a black thumb. I'm at the bottom of the totem pole on this gardening thread every week.
I’m at the bottom of the totem pole on this gardening thread every week.
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Not so. You are a number 1 when it comes to inspiration and entertaining posts.
I went out to see what I have in the back yard besides weeds. Some pretty purple nodding columbine I winter sowed a couple years ago have filled in under an heirloom rose. It's surrounded by daisies.
My Austin roses are ok along a long strip but the grass has crowded out a lot of my iris. I have a HUGE rose bush I rooted. Baptisia blooming. Some of that lamium I should get pulled, the one with the yellow flowers. Other kinds are more t ame.
Some pretty Veronica in front. But best of all are some black raspberries I winter sowed when I did the columbine. I planted them in a circle on the edge of a round leaf compost heap. They have filled in beautifully to the point they should crowd all but the worst weeds. They're between blossoming and setting fruit, hope enough got pollinated because it's been so cool this spring.
I see you have some the gray green, think it's artemesia, would have to look it up to be sure. Mine wouldn't grow where I put it but my daughter has gotten divisions from the ones I gave her, and they really set off the flowers.
It is 10:10 pm central time here and I just got a message from Johnny’s daughter and he sent a message his power is out but he is fine. He had said earlier they were getting storms tonight.
Just looked at the weather channel but they have some program on rather than the weather. I know Johnny has battery backup so he’s got light and I hope he can power a fan because it is hot. I’ll let you know when I hear from him.
Ok thanks.
Lots of rain, bringing our drought down to “moderate”—YIPPEE! from “severe”, which is what it dropped to after the record April snows, from “exceptional”.
Still have to put in the 2 Nan-King bush cherries; corn, cowpeas, black oilseed sunflowers, and cukes & zukes. May plant some cowpeas & okra, too.
We’ve put in 2 grapes; 5 black raspberries; 18 more asparagus plants...and found & transplanted 4 volunteers from seeds of one my “male” Jersey Knights that flowers & fruits every year. That brings us to 40 asparagus plants.
The grey-stripe sunflowers are sprouting, and will need thinned; I used the Earthway seeder, with the corn plate, which planted about 450 seeds in a space allotted to about 200-250; I had planned on using the Lima bean plate, because of the wider spacing, but it wouldn’t pick up the seeds.
The Carmine Jewel sweet bush cherry is full of blossoms, the first time it’s flowered since we planted it. I don’t really expect fruit this year, but it is a promise of things to come.
The big planting of Sugar Snap Peas is coming along nicely, and the produce manager at one of the local markets is interested in buying some of them when ready, if they are decent.
Current project is getting a chicken yard enclosed, so they can be outside during the day.
I dug out 2 small rhubarbs today that I had transplanted into a “temporary” bed 6 or 8 years ago, and discovered they had divided into 14 or 15 separated plants. “Worse” I have 6 or 8 more of them to dig & move.
Nice! My green onions are pretty spindly ...pitiful...shoul have planted leeks.
Great news about the improved drought situation. You have made great progress with you gardening this spring. Just reading the post makes me wish I had more energy, because I’d probably be passed out from all the effort.LOL
I think we went overboard on tomatoes this year. We went to the Arboretum and bought three grape varieties, one cherry, two slicer, beefsteak and paste. First cherry was ripe today, let my hubby try it.
Well, I can’t say that I am any better. I grew 9 different heirlooms last year, and Hubby grew 4. LOL. I have yet to decide which ones to narrow my standard supply down to.LOL
Hey /johnny its late Friday night and we are getting a nice steady rain here in the DFW area. Much better than last years hot and fairly dry spring.
I think we will be overloaded with the grape and cherry ‘maters. Wonder if I can turn these into sun dried for cooking later?
Two days ago it was 90, today it was 42. And rain. My “from seed” plants (not many) that I started indoors are still waiting till June 1 to be planted. I have snow peas and strawberries up and doing. Carrots and peas planted seed to soil last week, and a lot of garden prep left to do.
Lots of action on the peach tree. Raspberry plant looks lovely so far. Almond tree is on it’s second full year and I have no idea what to expect-but it is alive. Apple trees look better this year, but I don’t expect apples yet for at least two more years. Damn apples.
The very worst thing is that my neighbors garden is perfect.
Probably. For sure you can dehydrate them on a dehydrator or very very low oven.
Yes, the season has been strange this year. My immediate neighbors don’t have a garden, but some of the one’s up the street do.
I don’t go up the street, so our gardens are the best ones I see.LOL
Well, that covers more than one week; I was too busy to post last week, and maybe not the week before.
I did forget to mention that we have 40 eggs in the incubator that have about a week to go.
Well, I had another interesting week. Long story short, I had a bad reaction to medication and got to ride in an ambulance for the first time! That was my second time in the ER this month. I really hope that doesn’t become a habit.
Thursday I was feeling better, so I replanted the stuff in the back garden that never sprouted, and snipped out one of the tomato plants that had sprouted two in the same hole. That variety doesn’t root from cuttings as easily as some, so I’ve got it soaking in water for now. If it roots, I do have room in the bed for it, and if not, at least its brother will grow strong!
I have 4 tomatoes in the back garden, 2 of which are from varieties known to bury me with their productivity. So, naturally, my dad bought some hybrid grafted ones to plant in the front garden. We didn’t get tomatoes last year due to the drought, I think we’ll be making up for it!
Hoping to get out to my land tomorrow, but we’ll see.
Sorry to hear about your emergency. Take care of yourself, and stay safe. Don’t over exert yourself - take it easy till you are back to normal.
Forty eggs? That’s a lot of chicks.
...or a lot of rotten eggs! Last batch of 18, none hatched. These do look to be doing better, though.
Not much freezer space right now, but lots of empty canning jars over & above what we normally use. We also have friends that like chicken. ;-’)
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