WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 5, JANUARY 31, 2014

Free Republic | Jan. 31, 2014 | greeneyes

[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.

[mojo114]

You are so fortunate to have all the grand children, but they are so exhausting.
We had our grandson over today and when they left we laid down...)

[JRandomFreeper]

It is vital that you thin them out to ONE plant per pot. Not two or three. I use tweezers.

You've seen the pictures of my rebel plant. The stem is 1" thick, and 2 tobacco plants just can't grow correctly when they are that close together.

I had two last year that I let go like that, and it really hurt the appearance and production of both plants.

/johnny

[Marcella]

Well, I asked about the broth because you know more about combining “chemicals” than the rest of us. The Melita filter is an indestructible coffee pot, saves coffee, and I use mine all the time to make a cup and it’s perfect after hurricanes when there is no power. I have one in my bug out bag if I had to leave here after a tornado or hurricane or other disaster.

[JRandomFreeper]

I do love having them visit. I'm glad that the house is quiet again, now that they are gone.

I run a fairly tight household around here, as does my daughter at her house, so the kids don't run wild, and the rules are the same here as at mom's house. So I'm not exhausted.

But I am glad my SIL brought me beer when he picked up the kids. I am partaking. ;)

/johnny

[mom3boys]

Thanks for the tips, especially about using tweezers to thin them out. I’ll wait a few days to do that though. Hopefully I can see them better then!

They needed watering today and I KNEW I had to water them from from the bottom. Even misting them would’ve been too much for the wee things.

[Starstruck]

My friend Bob was overrun with squirrels and finally started trapping and relocating them.

Raccoons and Possums I can do. The Squirrels are too hyper and kill themselves in the trap if you don't get to them immediately.

[JRandomFreeper]

For me, thinning isn't a one time thing. Some seeds always come up later than the others, so I thin them out over a week or so. I'll do the final thinning when I move them to the 5 oz pots.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

The forecast has dropped the chance of precip to 80%. I really, really do need the water from the sky for my seedlings.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

The Squirrels are too hyper

You certainly don't want to grab one, even wearing gloves. They are really hard to let go of.

/johnny

[Starstruck]

You certainly don't want to grab one, even wearing gloves. They are really hard to let go of.

I also worry about how the younger Raccoons are going to act when I let them go. The older ones seem to be fairly mellow, like they've been through the drill before.

[JRandomFreeper]

In this little burg, animal control will pick up a have-a-heart trap and deal with the critter inside, so you don't have to.

Of course, half of the cat-nip that I plant goes to that animal control shelter. Every year they get a few planters with large, healthy cat-nip plants. ;)

/johnny

[Starstruck]

You know. Maybe catnip will calm those young raccoons until I get them out of the cage. Worth a try.

[JRandomFreeper]

It's 36F here, and there is precious little precipitation. Color me 'disappointed'.

/johnny

[sockmonkey]

70 degrees yesterday. 35 today, with ice pellets predicted.
I wish I’d planted my potatoes the old way.- just cut, and then plant. I sure don’t want to be planting them in this awful weather. The wind just cuts through you like a knife.

I see Puxsatawny Phil says 6 more weeeks of winter.

[JRandomFreeper]

It's barely misting here. Certainly not enough to do any good. The bottom of my rain barrel isn't even fully covered with water yet.

Harumph!

/johnny

[SisterK]

Looks like the first ten days of my February is 20* colder than all of my January. Even the kitties don’t want to go outside. I usually let them out every morning for play time and hunting. Then I round them up in the evening - none are allowed to be out after dark because of the owls.

[Marcella]

It is 9:30 am and is 50 degrees outside. The arrows on my weather thingy are blinking toward a cloud but it’s not the cloud with water coming out so it’s just supposed to be cloudy.

[Qiviut]

Every now and again, the busy world stops for a split second, just long enough for some 'simple pleasure' to overwhelm everything and command 100% of your attention. My 'simple pleasure' for the day: picking up a freshly laid egg and holding it, still warm, in my hand. ~Q~

[sockmonkey]

none are allowed to be out after dark because of the owls.

Something got one of my friend's cats in AZ. Maybe an owl or coyote.

I braved the cold, and planted some of my potatoes, and watered them. Watered the rest of the garden, and in the greenhouse since I was already out there freezing,