WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 27 JULY 2, 2013

Free Republic | July 2, 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!

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.

[Marcella]

“Thanks Marcella! I knew you probably had unearthed whatever there was to be had on the subject!”

There are people across the world, including Russia, who have developed hybrid strains of Sunflowers. That is the actual business some companies have - new strains of Sunflowers. That must be easy to do and those who do it have done it for many years.

When Johnny said he grew Sunflowers, I knew there had to be a reason because he doesn’t grow anything he can’t eat. When I started reading about them, I found the whole world of Sunflowers. I had not expected to find so much information.

[JRandomFreeper]

because he doesn’t grow anything he can’t eat.

Hey! I grow tobacco and dipping gourds. ;)

And I do let stuff that already grows here, like flowers, keep growing.

I'm not completely mercenary.

/johnny

[Marcella]

“I bought a package of this 6 years ago, put it on a shelf in the barn, and forgot about it; and haven’t had a deer problem since. It has worked so well that I’m afraid if I ever open it, there wouldn’t be a deer left inside the county lines,”

BLESS YOU! - Looked up Plantskydd and it keeps SQUIRRELS away! You may have just saved my present and future plants! Amazon has this stuff and I'm getting it right now. I'll check on the web and see if Walmart or Lowes has it since those stores are close to me - if they don't have it, I'll get it from Amazon. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[Marcella]

Here is their new product for small critters in a bag with a shaker on bottom of bag. Shake it over the area and hopefully the squirrels stay away. This is definitely worth trying. This product does not have the really bad smell the liquid does so will have to see if it works.

Plantskydd Repellent Rabbits and Small Critters (3Lb Granular Shaker Pack)

[who knows what evil?]

I absolutely LOATHE temps in the 90’s with oppressive dew points in the low 70’s (South Carolina weather in Red Hampshire...go figure)...on the other hand; my sweet potatoes are LOVING it. Peach Bhut Jolokias are fixing to bloom. Cattle panels are serving well as both trellis and fence...keeps pests like New Yorkers and M*ssholes out of the garden. :-)

[who knows what evil?]

If there’s a guy around have him pee in front of the bed where the tomatoes are.

I'll endorse that. Seems to work on critters excepting New Yorkers. They're worse than locusts. :-)

[Ladysforest]

Fence is your only solution. We are in the same situation, and we began with a 4 ft fence which the deer laughed at, then hopped over. We extended it to 8 ft. by attaching bamboo poles to the fence posts, then attaching wildlife netting to the bamboo. We finished by “tagging” the netting with orange caution tape (or whatever that stuff is called) flags at the height of 5 1/2 feet and spaced about a yard apart. Before we put the orange tape flags up the deer would crash through the netting.

Our neighbor copied our design. So far this is the first year with no deer in the garden.

The deer in our neighborhood are fearless. They walk right onto our front walk and look into our window while the dog (Doberman) does his “I’m serious” bark. I don’t know if he is more pissed that the deer ignore him or that they are there in the first place. We NEVER let him roam off leash. It would solve some of the deer issues, but it would be the beginning of our legal ones.

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks for your post, MissMagnolia. We truly are able to commiserate with each other!

I guess with this being my 2nd year at serious study of gardening and my first ever to try for vegetables, I’m not doing to terribly. It is quite humbling to realize that there is so very much to learn, and such a need for patience, research, vigilance, and ACTION!

I’m so grateful for this thread and all its participants who are helping accelerate my attempts.

[JRandomFreeper]

We all continue to learn. It's a lifetime project.

That's why I just shake my head at preppers that 'have some packages of open pollinated seeds' and no skills or practice. As far as I'm concerned, that's just a way to starve while having a little hope. ;)

It takes a few years of practice to actually get crops on a regular basis.

/johnny

[Darth Reardon]

That sounds like what happens when they do not get pollinated. I will break off a male blossom, hold up female blossoms, and shake the pollen from the male into the females.

[Ellendra]

Ten thousand square feet is a mighty ambitious garden.

I have a bad feeling about the future. I want a garden big enough to live off of if things hit the fan on a large scale, and big enough to make a living off of if things hit the fan on a small scale :)

I did decide to get the plastic today. Now I have 39 rolls of 10x25 plastic sheeting to find a place for. Hopefully I can get it on the ground in August, so my garden has time to cook before winter.

[Ellendra]

PS: Before anyone questions my math, I already had one on the ground :)

[Ellendra]

That's why I just shake my head at preppers that 'have some packages of open pollinated seeds' and no skills or practice. As far as I'm concerned, that's just a way to starve while having a little hope.

Some of them might be shocked if they counted just how few seeds are in some of those seed packages anymore. I planted a whole package of flour corn seed, it barely filled a 5x7 patch. That's just barely enough to pollinate itself for next year's seed!
(I had bought 2 packages, but I have this rule against planting more than half my seed of any one variety. Call me paranoid.)

[JRandomFreeper]

The sunflower seeds came in a package of 100. I only planted 50. That's enough to make a little bit of sunflower butter, and save seeds for next year when I really intend to plant them. Most of this year on those particular sunflower seeds was testing and produce seed for next year. I won't be living off of them, that's for sure.

/johnny

[MissMagnolia]

Plenty of bees buzzing around the flowers so I wasn’t thinking pollination was the issue ..... however, I will pollinate them myself and see what happens. Thanks!

[rightly_dividing]

Does squirrel stew taste just like chicken stew?

[JRandomFreeper]

Pretty much, if you use the same seasonings.

/johnny

[Ellendra]

In my (limited) experience, squirrel tastes like what the dark meat on chicken used to taste like. It’s a little strong if you’re used to factory-farmed white meat.

Just something to keep in mind :)

[roofgoat]

don’t know about squirrel stew, but squirrel cooked right is awesome. Even my food snob mom agrees.

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks for the fertilizing instructions! That helps. I have printed out your comments for my files!