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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 24 JUNE 14, 2013
f | June 14, 2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 06/14/2013 12:44:34 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!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: Marcella
Be specific for my detailed, organized, brain.

I tried them. They didn't work.

Good for Wayne taking care of his momma on father's day.

No, the bag of dirt should be fine.

I keep telling you, and you keep ignoring me... It's not about the plants or the fertilizer. It's about the biota in the soil.

Once you figure that out, your hard head will see the points I've been trying to make.

I'm in the middle of a war waged at micrometer ranges.

/johnny

241 posted on 06/16/2013 5:18:27 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

OK, ‘splain biota for my organized, detailed brain. I don’t know what damn biota is because you have never ‘splained it exactly in detail.


242 posted on 06/16/2013 5:31:14 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella

Look there are different kinds of those spikes with different stuff in them. Since you don’t go for detail, you probably used the wrong ones. I’ll see if I can find the ingredients in the ones I need - that’s detail.


243 posted on 06/16/2013 5:33:10 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella
No plant gets anything by itself except CO2 and water.

Everything else comes from the biota (the soil biology, the squiggly wigglies) in that dirt that converts rock and fertilizer (which is mostly rock) into something that plants can actually use.

I've said this before. You just don't listen.

/johnny

244 posted on 06/16/2013 5:41:06 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Had to stop to feed the kid.

I have two types of plants “in the ground” - five bean on the lattice and two squash plants. Nothing else is in the ground. The rest are in potting soil bags or Dirt Bags with potting soil mix in them. I have tomatoes growing in bags or pots with potting soil mix in them and they make tomatoes - to my knowledge there are no “squiggly wigglies” in the pots or Dirt Bags.

If “squiggly wigglies” are worms, I don’t see any in potting soil bags or Dirt Bags. I have not seen any in the ground dirt but they could be there and I just don’t see them.

Do the tomato plants in pots and the one bag have to take back the tomatoes they grew since they didn’t have any worms or whatever the hell “squiggly wigglies” are in their various types of containers?

If water and fertilizer don’t feed the plant and only mysterious “squiggly wigglies” feed the plant then I might as well quit. If “squiggly wigglies” are microbes, I don’t see them, don’t know if they are there, and don’t know why any of the plants are growing at all.

Any of you gardeners reading this post, let me know what you do about squiggly wigglies since I’m stuck in place with Johnny.

To you who are reading, I see some organic fertilizer has the molasses “mix” included. I’ve read about those. At the moment, I don’t know what is in the certain spikes I read about but I’ll try to find out, however, it seems it doesn’t matter anyway because the plants in my containers or the ground aren’t able to eat it due to only squiggly wigglies can feed plants.


245 posted on 06/16/2013 6:33:58 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Have you tried CAMPO $45 - 50 Gallon. I’ll see if it comes in smaller containers.

silencer $100 a gallon, the very best. LOL
Out of my price range.

41


246 posted on 06/16/2013 6:39:36 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: Marcella
to my knowledge there are no “squiggly wigglies” in the pots or Dirt Bags.

No bacteria, no fungi?

I'm talking about things that you can't see without a 400X microscope.

Those guys make the ground good for the plants.

I don't grow plants. I cultivate soil biota.

They will grow the plants.

You are going to be hard headed about this. But that's ok. You can't shoot me from where you are, unless you contracted for a Scud III.

And they mainly miss.

/johnny

247 posted on 06/16/2013 6:41:56 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: murrie

“Learning can be hard” and sometimes expensive.


248 posted on 06/16/2013 6:42:16 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: tillacum
I'll use the BT bacteria. That really puts a crimp in the vine borers, and it's safe.

It was cheap enough that I got a pint.

/johnny

249 posted on 06/16/2013 6:43:59 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

“Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes recognize the need for moving away from the old chemical way of fertilizing. Now when you push your little spike into the earth, not only will you nourish your plant, but you will support the health of the soil with microbes and nutrients.”

If microbes are squiggly wigglies, they are in Jobe’s spikes with a different mixture for different types of plants. If those aren’t squiggly wigglies, then screw it, I don’t care. :o)


250 posted on 06/16/2013 6:45:38 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella

I worked in ER and know the consequences of their activities. I’m with you Marcella...they should be called by their rightful name...homosexuals...NOT gay..they aren’t.
Now back to the weed patch, squash bugs, growing watermelons and Kandy Korn.


251 posted on 06/16/2013 6:48:52 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: Marcella

If you have a friend with pet rabbits their pellets work wonders too. You can use them fresh or seasoned, if you have a friend with Llamas, their pellets work well too, same as rabbits, and it’s free.


252 posted on 06/16/2013 6:59:54 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: JRandomFreeper

Yeah, we run around in those things too, johnny, but we don’t hide behind tobacco leaves.


253 posted on 06/16/2013 7:15:23 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: Darth Reardon

You eat, Sweet potatoe leaves? How do you prepare them?


254 posted on 06/16/2013 7:17:04 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: JRandomFreeper

Are the orange seeds the ones with oil? How do you extract the oil?


255 posted on 06/16/2013 7:19:49 PM PDT by tillacum
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To: tillacum
Need Advice folks.....live in eastern Washington area and the weather has not been consistently hot yet...but we're getting there....I put my tomato plants out a few weeks ago...finally showing growth but also putting out blossoms already....the plants need to get a lot bigger and stronger imo so I've been pinching the flowers off.....is this the right thing to do...

I'm used to large, leafy, dark green plants and my plants are just not there yet...

256 posted on 06/16/2013 8:38:19 PM PDT by cherry
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To: greeneyes; All

Hi everyone...checking in late!

My amaranth, (a grain variety, presumably since I sprouted it from grain I bought from the health food store) is growing like Topsy.

Some cucumber seeds I planted a week ago sprouted and seem very happy.

My lettuce and several stems of tomatoes had some kind of critter chew on them pretty severely. It turned out to have been caused by a little green caterpillar, which we promptly dispatched.

I spoke with a neighbor and she made me feel better about the Bibb lettuce not doing so well here. She is a longtime gardener and said that she has trouble with that kind because it is so fragile and yummy for the critters to get. She said she has had very good luck with romaine. I know this is true, because a few years ago she shared some with us and it was wonderful! So Darlin and I went and got some romaine seeds, and when the rain lets up I will plant some!

Still have some Bibb lettuce growing, so we’ll let it go and see how it makes out despite the depradations.

Spinach is doing well, and I’m very pleased to watch it.

I located a small patch of wild purslane in our yard which I have pointed out to Darlin’ in hopes that the wild streak will be contained while operating the weed whacker! I’m hoping the patch will grow enough so I can transplant some of it into a corner of our small kitchen plot.

I bought a new book on wild edibles which has lovely pictures and text which help with identification at different stages and how to use the plant in culinary settings. It is “Edible Wild Plants - Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate” by John Kallas, PhD. It is apparently part of a series, and I will be on the lookout for others of the series!

While it does not cover a wide variety of plants, the ones covered are mostly ones that cover most of North America and could be a good resource for someone just wanting to learn about some of the basic plants. There are some plants in there that I know are in our area, but I have yet to find and identify them! - so I’m pleased to have this reference now.

http://www.amazon.com/Edible-Wild-Plants-Adventure-Series/dp/1423601505

We have been having fun out here on the Oklahoma Plain!


257 posted on 06/16/2013 8:56:21 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: JRandomFreeper; greeneyes
When we use the PROPER NAMES, instead of fluff names, of growing mediums, people can understand what is being studied. Such as,

“Jobe’s Organics Granular Fertilizer” - One formula for Vegetable and Tomato, and a General Purpose one.

“Jobe’s Organic Granular Fertilizers with Biozome™ is a new and unique family of 100% organic fertilizer formulas. The secret is in Biozome™. An extremely aggressive microorganism that quickly breaks down even complex materials and minerals into basic nutrients and trace elements that plants can readily absorb. With Jobe’s Organics you will see results faster. For best results, use Jobe’s Organic All Purpose Granular Fertilizer at time of planting or early in season and, if your plant is fruiting, switch to Vegetable and Tomato formula.”

More actual names like bacteria and fungi:
“Other organic fertilizers may contain bacteria and fungi, but they don't contain Biozome. Jobe’s Organics BioZome contains a very aggressive microorganism that helps break down beneficial complex materials and minerals into basic nutrients that plants can readily absorb.”

See, there are microorganisms (that means they are micro and you can't see them with the naked eye). People understand microorganisms, not “squiggly wigglies” and that goes for me, too.

I may become a fertilizer saleswoman before this is over.
:o) :o) :o)

258 posted on 06/16/2013 8:59:45 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: bgill

My sympathies! My Darlin’ got wild with the weed whacker several days ago and beheaded one of the sunflowers and an okra!

I remember your tale about the poisonous Ferry Morse. I have bought some in recent days, and had trepidations, but the store only had FM for the kind of plant I wanted. Whenever possible, I try to opt now for a different product.


259 posted on 06/16/2013 9:02:31 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: Marcella
I'm going to answer help wanted ads from craiglist entries from lonely spots in New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho.

You are scaring me. Fertilizer sales? I gotta go west... crazy woman in Texas alert.

/johnny

260 posted on 06/16/2013 9:03:09 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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