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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 44 NOVEMBER 1, 2013
Free Republic | November 1, 2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 11/01/2013 12:11:04 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.

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TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: greeneyes

I checked my garden on Thursday and found some little caterpillars had eaten the leaves of two broccoli plants. One plant had about a dozen and the other had six. I may get to pick the first ripe oranges this weekend.


81 posted on 11/02/2013 5:27:10 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: Arrowhead1952
It sounds like you have cabbage lopers (little green catapillars) that like all brassica family .
The brassica family (wild mustard) includes : BokChoy cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower,brussel sprouts , turnip, and mustard.
An organic control is BT ( Bacillus Thuringiensis ) a natural occuring pesticide that gives catapillars terminal flu .
Do not use BT around flowers since it affects all types of Lepidoptera ( moths and butterflies)
82 posted on 11/02/2013 6:49:09 AM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt (Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. -- James Madison)
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To: greeneyes; Marcella
WooHoo! Brother just called and asked if I wanted a 75 lb feral pig. Looks like I've got some pig processing on the schedule today.

/johnny

83 posted on 11/02/2013 7:09:47 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

As few as were on the leaves, I just smashed them. I have used Sevin dust before when there were a lot of them in the garden. Just a light dusting on the leaves before the heads appear.


84 posted on 11/02/2013 7:30:10 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (The Second Amendment is NOT about the right to hunt. It IS a right to shoot tyrants.)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Ahhh, bacon, ham, sausage, etc.

My father always had two pigs in a pen at the end of our property. There was a big board across the top of the pen and I would get on that board, sit down, and watch the pigs. When cold weather got there, he and one or two other men would kill the pigs and hang them up and dress them. I was never allowed to watch them kill the pigs or dress them.

He had a smoke house where the meat was kept. My mother made sausage and my job was to push the meat into the hand sausage grinder.

We had bacon every day for breakfast and pork products all the time. I'm glad you got that pig. Will you do sausage, will you slice it for bacon? I guess the question is, how will you process it?

85 posted on 11/02/2013 8:09:42 AM PDT by Marcella ((Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.))
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To: Marcella
Freeze it. As I use it, I'll do what I always do, cure it with salt, brown sugar, and Instacure(tm) and then smoke it.

I don't make bacon as such, because the bellies on the feral pigs just doesn't run to bacon like the commercial hogs do.

After I cure and smoke a chunk of the meat, I slice it and use it for sandwiches, sliced pork, and breakfast meat.

I could make sausage, but that's generally something I do as required. I've got the grinder attachment for my KitchenAid. It's just as easy to thin slice some pork and fry it up for breakfast.

/johnny

86 posted on 11/02/2013 8:28:24 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Arrowhead1952
I just smashed them

That's what I do with tobacco horn-worms. Since I don't have acres of tobacco, I go out 3 times a day and examine the plants and smash the little buggers.

I actually get fairly loud doing it, taking joy in their destruction. ;)

/johnny

87 posted on 11/02/2013 8:30:10 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes

Picked the last of my zinnias this week. Mums and pansies having a blast with this changeable weather.


88 posted on 11/02/2013 9:33:42 AM PDT by tob2
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To: ApplegateRanch
Yes. Stress works. I think that's why a little benign neglect now and then is helpful.
89 posted on 11/02/2013 11:48:07 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Arrowhead1952

I assume you dispatched the caterpillars ASAP? I wish Missouri climate was a little more suitable for growing citrus. I love oranges and grapefruits. They are my favorite next to watermelon.


90 posted on 11/02/2013 11:59:58 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I’d say you’ll be set for quite a while. How are you planning on preserving it?


91 posted on 11/02/2013 12:01:17 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
Freezer. I'll cure and smoke it as required. It's actually not that much meat. Maybe 2 months worth. You lose 30% or more of the weight with bone/skin/etc...

/johnny

92 posted on 11/02/2013 12:53:58 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: tob2

This is the season for changeable weather all right. Keeps us all on our toes.


93 posted on 11/02/2013 1:42:16 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I was wondering if you would use the skin, bones, and fat in any way.

Do you by any chance make your own soap?


94 posted on 11/02/2013 1:43:46 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
Not on feral pig. I would/do with commercial pigs, but it's too much trouble for too little benefit on the ferals. I would change my tune if things were truly desparate.

I have made my own soap, and probably will again but the fat on these ferals is VERY strong, so I won't be using that.

Last time I made soap, I used wood ash to make the lye. It was interesting, and I can check that off the list as 'done that'.

/johnny

95 posted on 11/02/2013 1:58:08 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: ApplegateRanch

Well at least it’s not a Whitis Tailtinitis...


96 posted on 11/02/2013 2:03:40 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: JRandomFreeper

I haven’t done it yet. Have collected a few recipes. While I do love the old fashioned lye soap, and pick some up every time I run across it at the farmer’s market, I’m not putting it at the top of my list of things to try.LOL


97 posted on 11/02/2013 2:43:46 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

I'm big on actually trying the cool things I read or see. Today, the exercise was to stack 2 shot glasses that were 1 1/3 full. I did it. ;)

/johnny

98 posted on 11/02/2013 2:59:26 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Marcella
See #98. I don't know what practical use it is, but I mastered that skill. ;)

/johnny

99 posted on 11/02/2013 3:05:27 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

LOL.


100 posted on 11/02/2013 3:08:55 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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