Posted on 07/05/2013 1:06:42 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.
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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.
Today is nice only 82 degrees, sun has been shining, but a Thunderstorm is moving this way. Our nights have been in the 60's-great for processing in the canner.
I have pickles in the crock soaking in brine. I have 8 quarts of green beans waiting to be washed, snipped, and snapped for processing later today.
Sad to report the death of all sunflowers except 1. Will have to replant. Some of them developed spots on the leaves, and shriveled and died. The other were preyed upon by some sort of critter that chewed off the leaves, and in some cases gnawed the stems down about halfway too.
Hubby is busy thrashing the wheat. We got our first serving of blueberries, so I made blueberry muffins. We also had the first serving of blackberries, and they were inferior in taste to prior years.
Strange because the dewberries we had earlier were quite good. I have not been on the computer this week until today. I actually accomplished some must do stuff, but my to do list still has plenty left to do.
I haven't read all of last week's thread, so I'll be reading it today too. Hope you are all doing well. Have a great weekend. God Bless.
Pinging the List.
There was an interesting link, last week on pocket gardening, and also one on the death of bees. I think it would be nice if the Freepers who posted those, would post them again on this week’s threads.
Likewise, if anyone has any other links or articles, please fell free to post them today, and anyother time.
Thanks for all the interesting information everyone.
Hope you feel better soon. Sorry about the sunflowers going down.
Glad the green beans are producing nicely. My little garden has like 7 green bean plants and only 4 pods total were harvested.
Blooms fell off and/or some bug or worm is having a feast.
My arugula has long since bolted and some of the seed pods are crumbling to maturity so I’m saving the seeds. The arugula did quite well this season. Getting hot again in North Texas—would like to see a little rain now—otherwise its garden hose moisture distribution until then.
Between yesterday and today (this is Thursday), something, SQUIRREL, ate the leaves, medium sized leaves, off one sweet potato plant – only a short stalk is left. So depressing. I had netting over it but the net was close to that plant, so the varmint ate it through the net. There was no part of the leaves left. That ten gallon grow bag was in the dirt garden. I picked up the bag and carried it onto the deck and fairly close, within 8/9 ft. or so of the sliding door into the house. I don’t know if the stalk left will grow leaves again – anyone know? The other three plants are fine. I covered the grow bag with row cover so surely they are safe now being up close to back door. (It’s now Friday and the plants were safe overnight.)
This experience has sealed it that, for now, I have to grow in containers on the deck. I think I can clear a space in the dirt garden to have grow bags bunched together and I have some fairly tall stakes that stand up by themselves to put in the center and on the edges and then drape net over the tall stakes so squirrels can’t get to the bags. I’ll do that when I get more plants in bags.
I have a question about baby seedlings (that is redundant wording, Johnny). I now have sprouted Sunspot Sunflowers in small paper cups and they are from 4 to 6 inches tall and the stems are substantial as are three leaves. They are in cups on a table just outside my door. When do you think they are grown enough that the squirrels/birds won’t eat them as they are going in the back garden area. After the eating of the potato leaves, I’m afraid to plant them at this time. I would ask the squirrels when the plants are safe, but they hate me (and I hate them). :o(
I have Mortgage Lifter little tomato seedlings sprouted from seeds and they are in cups. They are so delicate it’s scary – maybe 3-4 inches tall and so thin I wouldn’t touch them. They will eventually be in a large planter designed for tomatoes and be on the deck. How big do they need to get before transplanting them to the big planter and they be strong enough to live through the transplant? (The tomatoes I got earlier were from bought tomato plants so I didn’t have to decide this problem.) When I put these new plants in the tomato planters they will be properly covered with net so the squirrels can’t get them plus they will be on the deck.
See, this is my problem area – I have no experience. I have to be able to sprout seeds and get them in the containers and they have to live once I do that. I am using organic seed starter for the seeds and that seems to really work for sprouting.
I was in Walmart and bought 2 Neem oil in the sprayer bottles already mixed so I can direct spray and not have to mix with water. Remember, I don’t have the back 40 acres, will just have bunches of containers on a deck. If I had a large area, then I would go with the mix it yourself kind.
I hate to admit it, but I didn’t even have a bucket. I bought two plastic 10 qt. plastic buckets at Walmart so I could move potting soil mix or whatever I needed to move.
Again, the questions are:
1. Will my Sweet Potato chewed off remaining stem grow more leaves?
2. How big should the Sunflowers get before they are safe from squirrels in the garden when planted?
3. How big should tomatoes get before I transplant them into big tomato containers? They will be safe from Squirrels – they just need to be able to live and they are so tiny now in those cups.
Harvested the last of the broccoli today, but I’m too tired to blanch and freeze. Is it wrong that a fasting glucola test can wipe mommy out? I think we might eat out tonight!
As for the squirrels, I don't know. For some reason, I don't have any squirrels on my property. I do have stew in the freezer, though. ;)
The plants themselves should be transplanted now, they are big enough. The squirrels put a different spin on that.
/johnny
I have a wee little bit of broccoli coming on but it’s really too hot. Had a cuke and some tomatoes this week but that’s about all that’s left in the garden. There is some corn but it never does any good. I did see some little bitty bees flying around the corn this morning so maybe that will help.
Thankfully, it’s been under 100 the last few days but just barely.
I think I’m going to get to include a rarely used driveway into next year’s garden. Of course, I’ll have to be careful in what to plant there because as soon as I do, someone will need to drive through.
/johnny
That’s terrific. Sorry about the sunflowers, though.
The seed pods next to the quarter dollar are tobacco seed pods. The tiny little seeds are from ONE seed pod. There's about 2000 there, since it was a small pod. I've got at least 50 seed pods out in the garden.
I'm not buying tobacco seed next year.
/johnny
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LOL!
The full article can be read @: Texas Co-op Power
Other interesting articles can be found at Daves Garden and Morena's Corner.
A google search of "keyhole gardens" and clicking on "images" bring a plethora of useful ideas.
Sorry about your green beans. Green beans are a necessity, because it is one of the few veggies that our grand daughter likes.
I am thinking that the sweet potato might put out some more growth, but not sure where. All the Goji’s are putting out new leaves from the bottom except 1.
Obviously, I am just a newbie on sunflowers, so I don’t know.
As long as you have 3 or 4 regular leaves on the tomatoes(most plants in fact), you can transplant. Why not do some now, and some later to see what works best for you?
It all depends. A simple stroll around Walmart knocks me out, and I can barely muddle through the take home food before laying down.
Holy Frijoles man.
I’m reminded to plant tobacco next year.
/johnny
I’m going to replant in the same space, and also try a pot or two.
Well, that’s the way it goes sometimes. I’ll try again, and see what happens.
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