[greeneyes]

Rainy day greetings from Missouri. Moderate temps and the third day of rain here. We were very dry and the rain barrels were empty.

Have some squash to do something with, so am thinking about putting up a batch of pickled zucchini spears and some summer squash.

Had planned on doing some patio cleaning and garden prep for winter this weekend, but the rain has rescued me from that for another day.LOL

Sockmonkey-you caught me right in the middle of posting.LOL

[greeneyes]

Pinging the list. Have a great weekend everyone. God Bless.

[bgill]

Woohoo! We’ve had light rain off and on today but there’s a flood warning for later with road closures already in Austin. The creek is still bone dry since it’s soaking in immediately. The temps have been in the 90s this week and dropping into the 80s next week so that’s a big plus. I haven’t seen the cooler weather helping the garden any but maybe eventually.

[sockmonkey]

Rainy greetings to you. I ran outto the garden just now to see if I have anything exciting to report.

Sugar Pod Peas I planted the 8th are about four inches high. One Black Beauty Eggplant should be ready in about 2 days. I have lots of green tomatoes.

My okra, yard long beans, and peppers are just sitting there, except for the hungarian wax, and jalapenos. My toy choi, and wa wa tsai, I planted the 8th of September are about an inch tall, and just sitting there. Oh, and my swiss chard is just sitting there at about two inches tall.

Sarajevo, please stay where you are, so it will keep raining here.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

While not directly related to gardening, it does relate to gardening supplies availability (fuel/fetilizer/seeds/postal/etc.)

Source : << http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/09/1-million-truckers-protest-barack-obama-shutting-america-3-days-october/ >>

"Truckers to Shutdown America." a 3 day strike October 11th thru 13th
As someone whose family operates a trucking company, there was no surprise when the announcement to organize a one million trucker march
in October appeared online at reagancoalition.com and on a Facebook page.
According to reagancoalition.com:
There is a Facebook page called "Truckers to Shutdown America." This is one of the messages they posted:

"My fellow patriot this effort is to support the truckers in a major shut down of America ion [sic] a 3 day strike October 11th thru 13th.
Obamacare will be in effect and most people will be ready to take action.
No commerce on those days stock up on items that you will need.
No banking no shopping no money transactions. It does not matter if a million or 50 roll through DC in this effort.
Congress will listen to We the People...(continues )..
Last but not least is Fuel prices.

I don't know if this issue will come to pass , however , it is best to be prepared in view of this publicised event.
(Anyway , Marcella , I hope you already have your new solid water hose and connections .. )

[mlizzy]

We were dry as a bone in the Chicago area, up until the last couple of days. Plentiful rainfall. Yeaaaa! We worked on our fall garden this past week (beets, lettuce, walking onions, radishes, swiss chard), and continue to be thrilled that the Brandywine tomato we dug from the ground (at our old place) on Sept. 2 and planted at our new place, is now thriving. Lots of new leaves and plenty of new blossoms. The other two mater plants on the left were in pots, and since they've been planted, they, too, have lots of new growth.

Yesterday, three new "blueberry children" arrived, "Liberty" on the left, and two "Bluecrops" in the white bucket. Time to grab a few more pots and get busy. ♥ blueberry bushes (and their fruit too)...

[MomwithHope]

Things winding down here in west Michigan. Still getting some tomatoes, peppers, herbs, have not dug carrots or potatoes yet. Been busy canning tomatoes, will fill a dozen or so jars with salsa tomorrow. I get a little jealous when I read some of you in warmer climates having fall gardens. As I get older each winter gets a little harder.

[ApplegateRanch]

My mystery beetle was IDd by the Extension entomologist as Euphoria inda, the Bumble Flower Beetle, a member of the scarab family. It was likely feeding on dead or damaged tissue, and the primary damage was done by moth larva. Note that it DOES damage corn.

For anyone interested, here's the U of Utah Extension sheet, with pictures, for it: http://thoth.library.utah.edu:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=MWDL&afterPDS=true&docId=digcoll_usl_2249150

The Serendipity* corn harvested for us is in the pressure canner as I write. Just started to put out steam, so in 10 minutes I can button it up, and let it start building pressure. The rest of it is being allowed to field-dry for the chickens.

The Painted Hill corn is finished, seed saved, and the rest stored. Golden Bantam is still drying on the stalks for the chickens.

Beans (except the limas) are finished, as are the cukes; but still getting zukes & pattypan squash. Winter squash & pumpkins are ready yet, though some of the Buttercups are nearly so. Been harvesting German Giant radish seed; should have enough to do some sprouting for salads, as well as to plant next year. The potatoes still haven't died, but they are beginning to lay down, and lose the bright green, so it won't be too much longer.

Was finally able to till under the oilseed sunflowers, as well as the rest of that plot yesterday, so it can get the winter rye sowed. The Grey Stripes will get harvested PDQ.

Made our annual run to the dump "Waste Management Transfer Station" on Wednesday. While there, paid $10 & brought home a screen/storm door combo. Had to reverse the hinges, but it's now on the chicken coop, replacing the “temporary” screen door I put up 3 years ago; I had to cover it with black plastic in the winter. Now I can just raise or lower a large glass panel.

The chickens have been in heaven, eating all the garden trim & windfall fruits; but quit laying to molt, and haven't restarted yet.

LOVING the new Excalibur! We're getting nearly as much onto one tray as our old, round, Waring holds on all 6; and the temp control & no constant rotating of the trays is a Godsend. In addition to drying fruit & veggies for storage, we've been using it to speed up drying of the seeds, grains, corn, & beans that we could never put in the small one.

As soon as hunting season arrives, it will be getting used for some venison jerky & a bit for hard-dried venison for “chipped beef”. * Serendipity is the first "triple sweet" corn.

"TripleSweet corn actually contains TWO kernel types, selected and reselected to create an ear that is 75% sugary-enhanced and 25% supersweet. Ideal for home gardens, it needs no isolation from other corn, and has great staying power on the stalk.>

[TEXOKIE]

Hello Everyone!

It’s been quite eventful here! Some rain for past couple of days.

Went to State Fair and learned some things which I found to be vastly important.

I had seen some really scary looking critters crawling all over my cucumbers munching down. I thought they might be thrips, because of some things I had read. But I wasn’t sure. I started killing these as much and fast as I could. I had a little nudge, possibly from one of my garden angels to take a picture of these beasts and ask our county extension guy what they are. So I did.

I had not planned to do this, but when I got to the Fair, I had my camera with me. I saw an extension agent running a booth in the ag area, and realized I could ask her what this horrible beast is. I was distraught to learn that I had been a lady bug murderer. These little critters were the good guys munching down on the aphids which had been the real culprits interfering with the already prolific cucumber production.

I am so glad to know what these guys are now because I had had NO IDEA! Never had seen them before! I really thinned down the herd, but did not manage (thank God) to kill them all.

http://www.ladybuglady.com/ladybugweb9.htm#
[scroll down a bit on the page to see the relevant pictures]

We also saw the people who have developed a product called “Garden Anywhere Boxes.” Darlin’ and I were both mightily impressed! They have several kits, and seem like they are quite reasonably priced. Probably are similar to others which have been discussed on these threads, but we got to see these in action and broken down and got to visit with the guy who developed them to make this particular configuration work. They are out of Newalla, OK.

Larry Pierce
http://www.gardenanywhere.net

Harvest has picked up a bit. I’ve been getting some BLACK TURTLE BEANS which I’ve been allowing to dry and collecting into a jar. I had thought with some of my difficulties with them at the start of the season that they would not like it here, but that hasn’t been the case. It isn’t a big amount, but I did not expect it to be. I was trying different varieties to see what kinds like our soil, etc. This is the bean varity that have made it the best. GREAT WHITE NORTHERNERS have also eeked in some representation, but I know that the black turtles can grow well here. The SNOW PEAS are actually making a comeback after I found the caterpillars which had been destroying them. They are flowering and have produced a few pods here and there which I’ve put immediately into soups.

I’ve absolutely been bowled over by the OKRA! Our four little plants have turned into a veritable forest, and we have a LARGE mess of them building up in the fridge, even with me giving away a couple of double handfuls!

We harvested three of the SUNFLOWER heads which were huge and quite heavily laden. Also was harvesting some late smallish TOMATOES - about 3 so far, but several are green on the vine yet.

We were tickled to have the EGYPTIAN WALKING ONION order arrive today! Darlin and I plan to do some dirt prep before planting them, but I am so stoked!

We did some minimal fertilization of our PECAN trees last spring, and it seemed to do some good. The ones we have picked to test are heavy and fat. We are excited about that and glad we learned that pecans need zinc sulphate in addition to the other nutrients required in conventional fertilizers.

We learned about a special class being held in January and February in our state called “Master Gardener’s Boot Camp,” which was described to us as a general overview of the state’s perennials, annuals, trees, landscaping, soil, bugs, etc. We are seriously considering participating in that but will have to see how our schedules shake out.

So there you have it, hope everyone else is doing well!

[tubebender]

The north west including Benderville got our first rain since mid May. We got 1/2 inch in 2 hours before it moved inland but many areas got a lot more.

[reed13k]

So looking for advice - I’ve checked a number of books and the internet and haven’t found a particularly good answer. Am looking for plants that like very clay soil and lots of moisture. Have a creek that overruns on occasion and want something that will 1) absorb the moisture or 2) will provide some benefit (flowers, berries, etc).

My preference would be berries - I”ve heard that goosberries like lots of moisture but I don’t know if they would like clay soil enough .... I’m in NW ohio but interested to see if anyone has recommendations on approaches or plants...

[Mad Dawgg]

I want to thank you all for the help earlier this growing season. I had some blight on my Tomatoes and well they've been bearing some very delicious fruit!

I can't wait till next year. I am expanding my crop selection adding pole beans (in the 5 gal bucket system) Also adding potatoes and more peppers!

[mlizzy]

Praying for you two. ♥

Migraines are hideous; neck pain horrendous.

[mlizzy]

How do you go about composting? Our previous home had a somewhat secret area (away from the neighbors) whereby we could just pile up our scraps and it was easily turnable, but that is no longer the case.

[tob2]

Spent a few hours this afternoon replacing summer plants and planted mums and violas in their places. Temperatures are cooling down and waiting for some rain. Making lots of pesto, drying oregano leaves.

[mlizzy]

My husband purchased me these roses nine days ago and they haven't yet lost any petals. Some of the leaves are turning yellow, and a few of those have dropped, but lo and behold, I noticed a couple of days ago all this brand new growth sprouting from the stems of all the roses. This has never happened to me before, and it's happening at a time I'm looking to find a good rose bush for our Mary Garden. [It's a miracle!] :)

I'm thinking maybe I can place some Saran Wrap around the base of the new growth and add in some rooting compound. Then if I'm successful, and actually get roots, I'm wondering if I could plant these this fall [outside]?