Posted on 09/13/2013 1:04:36 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.
A great day weather wise with temp of 77 degrees, and humidity of only 40%. Sorry to be late to getting the party going, but the Doctor's appointment was shifted from 1pm to 1:30pm, and even then didn't exactly start on time.
Well I have pretty much harvested everything-still have a few taters to dig. The weather is once again too dry, and the rainbarrels are empty. So IXnay on starting new plants outdoors. Just maybe plant a few for the indoor winter garden and a few for transplant if we get some fall rains.
Winter wheat and such won't be planted till Oct 15 or later, so we'll have to see whether the weather is favorable at that time or not.
Hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend, and God Bless.
Pinging the list.
Yesterday when I had to spend time in the garden, it was 91 degrees at 7 pm. Had to be close to, or was, 100 or more when I was out there.
A day like you had is a dream here.
THE WRONG EQUIPMENT CAN RUIN YOUR PLANS OR TOTALLY DESTROY THEM
Yesterday, Thursday, was major transplant day for all plants that were under the grow lamp, plus strawberry plants, into containers and they are all on the deck. After I got them all outside, I got the hose to water everything including the plants that have been out there for some time.
Enter plastic hose with plastic fittings and plastic sprayer with plastic fittings to attach to plastic fitting on hose. The assembly totally collapsed. A force of water hit my clothes which was jeans and old shirt and plastic garden shoes. I was drenched. Sometimes when things don’t go right, I get damned determined to finish what I started and it was a necessity to water those transplanted plants and the others. I jiggled the connection of the plastic parts and managed to get enough water through the sprayer to “kind of” get water in the containers as the excess kept hitting my clothes. I stayed at it until the containers had enough water.
Came in, pulled a “Johnny” and stripped off the wet clothes in the laundry room. Put on a “duster” that is like a dress length robe of a thing, got in my chair and pulled up the Sears website. I am through with sorry hoses, sorry plastic connections and sorry plastic sprayers. I have a lot of plants now on my deck and flowers in pots sitting in the dirt garden and walking onions in the planter toward the back of the garden, and I’ve got to have a dependable way to water. I bought a heavy duty Craftsman hose guaranteed not to kink, with brass fittings and a lifetime guarantee. Got the straight brass sprayer, the kind we used long ago except this new type has more settings in the twist function. Also guaranteed like the hose.
Got an email from Sears this morning and the hose and sprayer have been shipped. This morning, I worked with the plastic one and managed to get it working for right now. It will likely come apart the next time I water this evening. I’ll have to keep the water at fairly low force or the pressure of the water will blow the thing apart again.
Do any of you have hose problems? I know some of you have large gardens and use drip set-ups. My containers on the deck won’t accommodate that method.
I brought the squirrel cage in the house and will put larger amount of bait in there to catch squirrel no. 1 and take that killer to rightly’s house.
Except for being outside a little bit this morning to work with the sprayer and get the squirrel cage, I have stayed inside to have a cool day after all the planting and sweating outside yesterday. I took a shower after all that yesterday and I needed it - my hair was stuck together from all the sweat. Why in hell did I start gardening?
Three good accomplishments: The grow lamp did its job and I have turned it off, and all the plants have been transplanted and plans are underway to catch killer squirrel no. 1. :o)
Still in the high 90s or 100 here. And sweaty. There was rain all around this week but not a drop here. I wanted to get out to do something with some weekds but it was just too muggy this morning. Next week it’s supposed to drop 10 degrees so we’ll see.
The tomatoes by where the neighbor cut down his tree are still in shock from the hot sun so maybe the cooler temps will help.
Nothing new to report. Armadillos digging under the fence and tearing things up. Deer eating the tomatoes and corn. Same ol’ thing.
http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/12/cilantro-more-than-an-herb-it-can-purify-water-too/
Interesting article on how cilantro pulls heavy metals out of drinking water.
Maybe. I use a lot of paprikda in just about everything.LOL
At least you didn’t do the “Johnny” outside for the whole neighborhood.
Please don’t give up on gardening Marcella . . . I sure do enjoy reading about your gardening adventures . . . Smile!
. . . and believe it or not, I have learned so much from all your research. Thank you for sharing.
Watch out for that heat, and avoid it as much as possible. What about 5 or 6 AM-what’s it like then?
Hoses are Hubby’s responsibility. He keeps it working because he uses it.LOL
Don’t blame you there. I can’t take the heat nor the humidity. I take refuge in the basement family room with an oscillating fan, and sometimes a wet washrag around my neck.
Works most of the time.
Paprika duh.
Thanks for the link to an interesting article.
“What about 5 or 6 AM-what’s it like then?”
I have no idea and will never know - I’m asleep. I could tell you what it is about midnight, 1, or 2 am. ‘cause I’m not asleep then, too busy doing stuff on computer and watching TV movie.
We are having some locals planting wheat now, they seriously need the winter grazing.
I have not sold any wheat seed yet, but we have cleaned about 1/2 of our crop in preparation. We are certified seed growers, only produce registered seed for our own use.
Does anyone have experience growing SainFoin (Esparsette)? I am about to order some seed and do not know what to expect from it. Have wanted to try it for 3 years, but the extreme drought kept me from trying. Things look better now and soon will.
I caught all of the jailbirds and clipped their wings a couple nights ago. If chickens had laser eyes like SuperMan I’d be a pile of ashes. They are not happy. LOL
Two days ago it was 90 and humid here. Today it’s COLD and raining. I think my garden is done, except for the green beans. And carrots. It’s been switching around like this for a couple of weeks now - my still-green tomatoes are not liking it. I guess I’d better go get them and try to finish them up in the house. *sigh*
I won't stop gardening since I am a prepper and if the SHTF, I need to know how to grow food plants and have the seeds and equipment to do it.
Johnny was right when he told me at the beginning that seeds and water and dirt doesn't mean you can grow food plants. I found out ground dirt is evil stuff harboring deadly insects and mold and other blights, and I found out cute squirrels and pretty birds are killers.
I started war against all those enemies after finding out the truth about some of nature's products, both moving creatures and organisms that kill.
Gardening is a mental and physical understanding of one’s surroundings and how they work. :o)
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