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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 29 JULY 19, 2013
Free Republic | 7/19/2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 07/19/2013 12:45:12 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; garlic; hobby; squash; strawberryrocks
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To: greeneyes

I don’t know how deep the well has to be, but if you search Youtube for drill a water well yourself, there are a number of them. They are labor intensive and not for everybody, but interesting to watch. Now if I was thirty something...maybe.


141 posted on 07/19/2013 5:27:29 PM PDT by rightly_dividing (Tagline: It's gone again.)
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To: greeneyes

You have so much energy!


142 posted on 07/19/2013 5:33:51 PM PDT by fanfan ("If Muslim kids were asked to go to church on Sunday and take Holy Communion there would be war.")
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To: rightly_dividing

We have a local well drilling outfit that drilled our well almost 40 years ago. We had to replace the pump a few years back, and the son had taken over the business. His father retired.

He was a likeable sort, and did a good job for us, so we would probably call him if we ever have to drill a new one.


143 posted on 07/19/2013 5:45:26 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: fanfan

I don’t really have that much energy, but more determination and stubborness than many. I have had to learn lately to plan on extra time and take it a little at a time.

Wash all produce and let it drain/dry REST while it drains/dries. Sit on high stool at counter and slice off ends of all cukes. Process using veg o matic.

Put slices in brine to soak and rest some more. Fix up the pickling liquid, put the lids in water to sterilize, fill up water bath canner and put it on the stove to heat. Rest some more.LOL

You get the idea?? I can only stand for about 30 minutes before my back hurts and leg start feeling like pins are sticking into my thighs.

So after much pain experienced from defiance of reality and trying to do it all at once, I have finally given in, and learned to break it down into doable tasks of about 20 to 40 minutes with breaks in between. LOL.


144 posted on 07/19/2013 5:55:15 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
Thanks for the ping.

The heat is on here in my neck of Missouri. 94 degrees at 7:35 p.m. No measurable rainfall going on three weeks, after getting inches at a time up to first of July. I am having reminders of last summer's heat and drought as I have had to start watering.

The cucumbers are a plenty and I got my first picking of green beans earlier this week. No ripe tomatoes yet but many loaded plants. I have planted some more beans for fall picking. I got my sweet potato slips out and they are loving this hot weather. The snow peas are done producing and I am allowing the last pods to develop seed which I will pick hull and plant for a fall harvest.

I have a few peppers near ready to pick and many more blossoms. My potatoes were planted late this year and even in spite of the heat and dryness most of the plants are still green, mainly because I mulched them with thick layers of straw. For now I am just digging up what I need, that is until I see the dirt monsters begin to feast on them. Last digging was not particularly easy as the dirt is beginning to congeal into a solid mass, and not even the potato fork goes into the soil easily.

The chiggers are so plentiful this year I have to soak myself in bug repellent before I can step into the grass. I hate that sticky feeling and the smell after I spray myself down, but IF I don't I am in agony for days after getting a chigger bite. I have noticed far more destructive bugs this year than during the heat and drought last year.

145 posted on 07/19/2013 5:56:19 PM PDT by Just mythoughts (Jesus said Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
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To: Just mythoughts

That’s interesting, for the most part we have had less pests than usual, and our theory was that the drought killed a lot and solarized the soil.

We had the low 90s high 80s today, but the basement kitchen has stayed steady at 75 degrees, with just the fans on. Hubby just brought in some produce. It looks like I’ll be doing a batch of pickles and maybe some green beans too tonight.

The sun is hovering just over the horizon, so I need to take a turn around the garden and see what I can do for the next 15 minutes or so before dusk set in and the skitters come out to feast.

Then I got to start on the cukes. So I’ll be off the thread for a while. Later.


146 posted on 07/19/2013 6:04:06 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

German Butterball. *<];-’)

Oh, you mean TYPE. Sorry; couldn’t resist.

http://produceexpress.net/products/produce/item/german-butterball-potato.html
“An undisputed favorite heirloom for superior flavor, storage, and versatility; Russet-type with rich, golden, slightly flaky flesh. Luscious in any potato dish, ....”


147 posted on 07/19/2013 6:33:50 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Black Agnes

Hi Black Agnes. Thank you so much for this info-wow. Sounds like you have this down to an art! I’m saving your post in a file for later reference. This really sounds like an efficient and smart way to grow winter squash.
Would love to have your “cake” recipe-if you can?


148 posted on 07/19/2013 7:14:10 PM PDT by murrie (Mark Levin: Prosecuting stupidity nightly.)
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To: greeneyes
Birds are a big help keeping incsects and bugs under control. Werns in particular perfer bugs to plants, and they are territorial, so will chase other birds away from your berries etc.

So that was why I had to trap and untangle a wren that was under the netting on the cherries today: it was after bugs attacking the tree, and keeping fruit stealing birds away!

Yes; I am in the market for a good bridge, as a matter of fact!

149 posted on 07/19/2013 7:21:11 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: murrie

LOL. Thanks. I’ll have to write a recipe down the next time I make my cake.

It goes something like this though:

2 or 3c of processed, cooked squash/pumpkin puree
1/2c oil
2 or 3c of sugar (mix of brown and white depending on what i have on hand)
6 or 8 whole eggs (depending on how productive the feathered pets have been)
1 or 2 cups of rice flour
1 or 2 cups of almond/coconut/flax milk (depends on what i have)
1 cup of almond flour + enough to make cake ‘batter’ texture. I let it sit for 30s between additions to let it thicken up before I add more.
1tsp of baking powder (we use the non aluminum kind)
cinnamon to taste. We use a lot of cinnamon. Plus nutmeg or ginger or whatever you wish.

Put in rectangular glass dish, I use a 13X17, greased with coconut oil and sprinkled with a little sugar instead of flour. Bake at 350 until done. Depending on the ratios (how much pumpkin and how many eggs I have) this may take two pans. Be sure to give room for any rising.

If I have time I make a streusel crumble and drizzle a little frosting over the top to make it pretty.

The kids eat this warm with coconut milk for bfast. It lasts us 3 or 4 days or a little longer.


150 posted on 07/19/2013 7:29:27 PM PDT by Black Agnes
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To: greeneyes

Small Army Corps flood control reservoir & recreation area about 3 road miles from the house. Rainbow trout; small & large mouth bass; and bluegill in it.

BTW, the storm I mentioned last week put an 11 foot wide stream across the access road to it, and raised its level around 3 feet. In addition, there are other stream beds that empty into it.


151 posted on 07/19/2013 7:32:47 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: JRandomFreeper
 photo 7762b362-3b46-4bea-9660-f71703945ec1_zps6308c95c.jpg Hi Johnny. No rose pics this week. Maybe next. :)
152 posted on 07/19/2013 7:37:49 PM PDT by murrie (Mark Levin: Prosecuting stupidity nightly.)
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To: mlizzy

Our foster daughter who lives in Belarus brought them last summer. The russians and ukranians have some very interesting tomato varieties, they are bred to withstand a frost. We shall see.


153 posted on 07/19/2013 7:40:01 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Buy and read The Liberty Amendments by Mark Levin!)
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To: Marcella
Yep. That sounds about right. Fortunately for me, I have 40+ chickens and 30 ducks. Bugs don't last long on my place!

Medina lake is 5% capacity. Yep, 5%. Out of approximately 32,000 acres of surface area, only 830 have water. We'll need a couple tropical storms to refill the lake.

154 posted on 07/19/2013 7:42:45 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Yeah, you plant Romas.


155 posted on 07/19/2013 7:52:08 PM PDT by bgill (This reply was mined before it was posted.)
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To: Marcella
It’s only now I found out there must have been more to it than sticking seeds in the ground.

And that, my FRiend, will slap those people hard who buy survival seeds and do nothing but store them away. Too many believe that when the time comes, they'll merely toss some seeds out in the backyard and be eating full harvests two weeks later.

156 posted on 07/19/2013 7:56:56 PM PDT by bgill (This reply was mined before it was posted.)
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To: greeneyes
 photo 19c9eaf2-bedc-4c19-9daf-898152a50d69_zps4e097576.jpg Hi all. Greetings from toasty, humid Tennessee. Garden is really coming on, along with all the mosquitoes. Cucumbers are producing well-have been able to put up some pickles Yay! Cantaloupes , sweet potatoes and white potatoes seem to be doing ok. After many years of just growing heirloom tomatoes ( mortgage lifters) I tried the hybrid, determinate variety called Celebrity. I have been amazed at how well they are doing-thick sturdy vines and NO BLIGHT. Praise God. I feel guilty not growing heirlooms ( and saving seed) but I could never get a decent crop but for blight. The bleach solution suggestion is something I will keep in mind. Planted red sunflowers his year. They are doing well. Planted peppers a bit too close to them. The plants are ok but I'm afraid they are getting shaded out and consequently not producing as much. Zuchinni's are doing ok for now. I know they will be dead soon. I can see tell-tale signs of borer damage. Heavy sigh. Really enjoy and appreciate everyone's posts, suggestions and knowledge
157 posted on 07/19/2013 7:57:55 PM PDT by murrie (Mark Levin: Prosecuting stupidity nightly.)
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To: greeneyes
We're still picking strawberries and blueberries and the corn has tassels and silk showing so I have been walking the rows and shaking each plant to increase pollination of the ears.

Some of the heirloom tomatoes at one of the farmers markets at the twice weekly street markets in Benderville. We live too close to the cool Pacific ocean to grow decent maters. These are grown a few miles east where temps can reach 100++…

IMG_4699

A view of the nearby farmers market where about 20 stalls were set up…

IMG_4701

158 posted on 07/19/2013 9:05:16 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: Marcella; JRandomFreeper

Old shoes, and anything with holes in it; an old cap, worn right way around. Now & then somewhere between that & Johnny’s favorite.

If I have a lot of dirt work to do with the tiller, substitute work boots for the shoes, to keep dirt out; no cuffs.

If I need to chase out stray cows, then I usually am lucky to just have shoes on. No need to be fussy, as no roads or neighbors. Not even Jehovah’s Witnesses come knocking, after their first trip down our driveway.


159 posted on 07/19/2013 11:57:56 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: ApplegateRanch; Marcella; greeneyes

Harvest is slowing down for everything but the peppers. This is the morning haul.

Normally, this time of year, these guys would be a memory, but the rain this week woke some stuff up. This is one plant on the property that I can't eat. Of course, it's been here longer than I have, and I've been here all of my life.

/johnny

160 posted on 07/20/2013 6:52:47 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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