Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 38 SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
Free Republic | September 13, 2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 09/20/2013 12:16:53 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; garden; gardening; hobby
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340341-357 next last
To: greeneyes; rightly_dividing; JRandomFreeper; All

HOLY COW, BATMAN! I’ve got one blossom on each of two bush bean plants! What lovely pink blossoms. I have six of these plants, wonder if I will ever see a bean?


321 posted on 09/24/2013 10:04:56 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 320 | View Replies]

To: Marcella
That's a good sign. You might well see a bean or two. It's a long time until the first freeze date in your area. Middle of November should be your first frost date.

/johnny

322 posted on 09/24/2013 10:17:02 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 321 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes; rightly_dividing; JRandomFreeper; All
This isn't about plants but it is a major screw-up on my part.

Until over a week ago, I had a Kindle with bunches of books on there and one I was reading is, “Atlas Shrugged”, and there are a number I haven't read. When I got a solar panel and charger I made sure it was powerful enough to recharge my Kindle so I would always have books to read. That is the reason there are books I haven't read - I cannot do well without books.

I LOST THE KINDLE. I searched for a week knowing where I am when I read so I examined all those places first - then, I went to every spot where I might have set it down - nothing. I think it was on a table next to my chair and there is a trashcan that butts up to the back of that table. I think it fell in the trash and is lost forever.

This minute, there is no book in this house I haven't read. What a dumb thing to do to lose my Kindle. I would never have thought this could happen. What if the SHTF, and I lost it then? That would be a major horror story.

Three days ago, I ordered a new one. Of course, this one is better as the other was one of their first models. After charging, this new one will stay charged for two months if one reads 30 min. a day, plus it has a light inside so I can read in the dark and that's a good thing if the SHTF. All the books I had can be downloaded onto the new one from my account at Amazon, thank God.

This was a huge wake up call for me. DON'T LOSE YOUR IMPORTANT STUFF. The new one will have a certain place to be and it won't be close to that trashcan. After I read, it goes back in that certain place.

Have you ever lost something of great importance to you and you never found it? Awful feeling.

323 posted on 09/24/2013 10:33:32 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 321 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

I too love my Kindle after holding out for so long due to some kind of crazy loyalty to a “book in hand.” It is probably the most fabulous gift I ever gave myself.

Got it and immediately downloaded the Bible, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and every classic I could get my hands on published before 1923. Downloaded some excellent cookbooks from way back when as well. Fascinating stuff.

I love the crazy thing. It is one of the older ones with a keyboard. I feel ya!


324 posted on 09/24/2013 10:40:17 AM PDT by MWestMom (Psalms 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 323 | View Replies]

To: MWestMom

“It is one of the older ones with a keyboard. I feel ya!”

Mine had the keyboard, too.


325 posted on 09/24/2013 11:01:30 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 324 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

So did you get the “Paperwhite”? It would be easier for me to read if I had better lighting. I’ve looked at the Fire; but not sure that I need all that. Also, as I’ve proved with my kids phones, I’m not a great “swiper” and do better with a keyboard.

My reading tastes are really electic and I love the variety and volume I get with an e-reader, plus I don’t have to dust hundreds of books!


326 posted on 09/24/2013 11:39:49 AM PDT by MWestMom (Psalms 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 325 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes; All
My native soil tends to repel water. Water just beads up on the fine powdery sand and is very slow to absorb. To fix that, I've been adding gypsum.

One source of gypsum is old sheetrock. Not being one to waste a resource, I've been using it to add the gypsum. It takes forever to break into useful small bits for incorporation into the soil.

So today, I tried using my Corona grain mill. I fed it busted up chunks of sheetrock and easily got out nice, easy to spread and incorporate particles. It's much faster than the hammer and flat rock method I was using before.

/johnny

327 posted on 09/24/2013 11:46:27 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 326 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

A new use for stuff is always nice.


328 posted on 09/24/2013 1:21:21 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 327 | View Replies]

To: Marcella

I consider stuff just temporarily lost and waiting to be found. Like a set of keys that turned up 5 years later, for example.

I did have a diamond fall out of my engagement ring, and I wasn’t sure where it happened. That has not yet turned up. I don’t like the replacement that was put into the set. Not near as pretty.


329 posted on 09/24/2013 1:27:22 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 323 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

That’s cool. How did you make the bio char?


330 posted on 09/24/2013 1:28:53 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 314 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes
See the photo at 319. It's low temperature charcoal. My pyrolyzer is pitiful, but I get a little more than a quart of char out of it in 24 hours. Got friends looking for bigger stuff to make one with.

BioReactor #1 is into breeding it's second batch of beneficial microbes.

This is the season where I can get outside and really work on the garden infrastructure.

/johnny

331 posted on 09/24/2013 1:36:13 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 330 | View Replies]

To: mlizzy

We never spray anything on our lawn, and dandelions continue to multiply. I think the flowers are pretty, and I figure they are mother nature’s gift to preppers.LOL


332 posted on 09/24/2013 1:36:36 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 313 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes

I just got back from the store, pulled up my driveway and saw something...

I thought “That’s not possible!!”

My Azaleas are blooming.
In my over 20 years here, I NEVER saw them bloom twice a year. They are usually (well, except for the crocuses) the first and earliest flowering plants to bloom.


333 posted on 09/24/2013 1:40:01 PM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 332 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

All right - all that picture did was make me even more interested. How about a how to bullet point list of how to do this?


334 posted on 09/24/2013 1:41:38 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 319 | View Replies]

To: djf

I think I would take that as a GOOD sign.LOL


335 posted on 09/24/2013 1:42:35 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 333 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes

Or it could be an “end-of-days” type thing...


336 posted on 09/24/2013 1:45:14 PM PDT by djf (Global warming is turning out to be a bunch of hot air!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 335 | View Replies]

To: greeneyes
Standard method for making charcoal. Take your wood, dry plant matter, whatever, begin to burn it and then restrict the oxygen to it.

That's a pile of 1-2" diameter wood with a metal pan over it, banked around with ashes to keep the air from getting in the bottom.

There's a hole in the top that I can control, and if the fire gets too much O2 and starts making ash, I can cut off the flow. If it gets too cold and isn't charring the wood, I can move some of the ashes and let O2 in the bottom.

/johnny

337 posted on 09/24/2013 1:50:25 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 334 | View Replies]

To: Marcella
Thanks for the heads-up(do people still use that term? A note to you, watch out for a fake security company scam that comes to your door.

I always watch my rear view mirror and note anyone that seems to be going the same route as I am. I have a cousin that was followed home and robbed and shot in the head, in his driveway, a few years ago, so if I think someone may be following me, I loop around in circles till they aint there no more. If they are still there after two loops, I would lead them down to the sheriff's office. I don't do business with any door to door salesmen. My phone is always in my pocket, except to charge it when I am at my desk. We came to Texas from a seriously bad neighborhood where you never opened the door to anyone. One time two police were at the door. I made them show badges and ID before I unchained the door. They had the wrong street. I just dont trust people any more, I guess.

338 posted on 09/24/2013 3:41:45 PM PDT by rightly_dividing (Phil. 4:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 320 | View Replies]

To: Marcella
Congrats on the bean blossoms.

Sorry to hear about Kindle 1, I am sure that you will love Kindle 2. I learned the hard way not to have a trash can too close to tables or desk. They are close enough to reach, but not enough for something to accidentally fall into.

I offered to buy my wife a new Kindle for Christmas last year, but she is happy with her present one. It is not on this year's wish list either, but diamonds earrings are.

339 posted on 09/24/2013 4:04:10 PM PDT by rightly_dividing (Phil. 4:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 323 | View Replies]

To: TEXOKIE
TEXOKIE ~:" I think my squash problems are not the larger bugs, but perhaps something smaller. I get blooms but no fruit."

Not sure if anyone answered your problem with squash blooms , but no fruiting.
I think the problem may be pollination ( or maybe use of 'need oil' ..? )
The first blooms on squash plants are male (stamins) , followed later by female blooms (ova) .
You can become the little 'botony bee' by using a fine hair brush , and gathering fresh pollen from the male on the brush.
Then look for a flowering bloom that has a slight bulb (ova)right behind the bloom petals ,and dust lightly with the stamin dust.
Within 2-4 days, you should see the bulb ( ova )begin to double in size .
Vegetable matures in 20 - 45+ days depending on vegetable variety .

Generally this procedure is more productive with musical accompanyment : I reccommend "Flight of the Bumble-bee" by Rimsky-Korsakov :
black slacks with yellow shirt is optional , but humming is recommended .

340 posted on 09/24/2013 4:44:08 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt (Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. -- James Madison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 267 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 281-300301-320321-340341-357 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson