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Weekly Garden Thread Volume 22 May 30, 2014
Free Republic | May 30, 2014 | greeneyes

Posted on 05/30/2014 12:57:27 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; gardening; hobby
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To: JRandomFreeper

:)


61 posted on 05/30/2014 3:51:30 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

Those doctors could be double booking. Docs have to see a certain number of patients to keep their doors open. If they have a lot of no-shows and/or cancellations and reschedules, then they sometimes double book whatever that percentage is.

It could also indicate a shortage of doctors for the amount of people in the practice. It shows up in the wait times both in booking and in the waiting rooms.

Problem is when more people actually show up than usual. Sometimes, though it’s just a few patients that take up some extra time and puts them behind. We try to keep our center’s wait time to 15 minutes or less.

When we get to the point where our wait time for appointments is 3 weeks, we try to hire another practioner, but finding General Practioner or Family practice docs is getting harder and harder.

Anyway - glad that you have a good place to go for your VA benefits. It’s the least that the nation should be doing. I am so thankful for you and all the other veterans. It really upsets me to hear about the crap that has been going on.

Hope you get all better. I’ll be saying a prayer for you.


62 posted on 05/30/2014 4:07:40 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks; JRandomFreeper

Those are some real nice raised beds!
I wouldn’t be able to keep the gravel out of the grass on my spread. The chickens move everything........


63 posted on 05/30/2014 4:08:08 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?")
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To: greeneyes

Thanks!


64 posted on 05/30/2014 4:09:35 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 ((VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!))
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To: virgil283

I mix my peppermint and lemon balm, after drying, half and half for tea. I send mist down to my daughter. My oldest grandson likes it hot in the winter and iced in the summer. The blend is minty with a lemon twist flavor.


65 posted on 05/30/2014 4:17:11 PM PDT by hearthwench (Debbi - Mom, NaNa, and always ornery)
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To: Sarajevo; Texan5; All
Gardeners in the San Antonio area:

Tomorrow, 31 May, there is an Aquaponics seminar at Fanicks Nursery, 1025 Holgreen Rd, on the SE side of town. It starts at 10:30AM.

If anyone is traveling through Bandera, we have a Farmers Market on Main Street in front of Sid's Bar-b-que from 8-11 AM. I won't have any farm fresh eggs though. The Mrs confiscated them all for her home-baked goodies.

There is also a gun show at the Freeman Coliseum on the 31st and the 1st.

66 posted on 05/30/2014 4:17:30 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?")
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To: JRandomFreeper
Not scruffy at all. Very nice. Mine is all weeds. They especially enjoy growing through the landscape fabric, snort. My joints won't let me pull them so the vegetables will have to fight to survive.

We're having a mess of KY Wonder beans from the garden for dinner tonight. We had Florida Long Leaf mustard the other night. I'd never tried it before but bought some seed thinking it would be easier to clean than the curly leaf varieties. It has a milder taste than the curly which is nice change but it's off my list since it is already bolting.

Seriously need to get the garlic pulled. The jalapenos should be ready any day.

The feral cat had kittens Tuesday night in the box that was fixed for winter which she never used. Seems to be about half a dozen but she won't let me get a good look.

67 posted on 05/30/2014 4:33:48 PM PDT by bgill
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To: greeneyes
Our grand children are all grown except one...

Where does the time go? I dread the day when they don't want to be outside playing with me when they come over, writing with chalk in the driveway, playing hide and seek, tag, riding bikes, or even shoveling snow as we have all been known to do. I'm hoping that I can keep them interested all summer in what we grow, the bees, the butterflies, the soil. Maybe it will be something that they learn to enjoy later, after the age of electronics being all consuming, etc. A GizzyGirl can hope... but I know what you mean when you say “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!”

The days of that for me are coming too fast!

68 posted on 05/30/2014 4:37:40 PM PDT by GizzyGirl
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To: greeneyes

Everything is coming up here. We still have our raised beds with hoops wrapped like burritos. It creates mining teen houses. Perfect for our area’s short growing season. The spinach planted last fall is ready. The radishes look about ready, too. The lettuce is still tiny.

Our tobacco is still in the small portable greenhouse. It goes out next month. I bought a roll of 9 gauge wire, then cut it into 63” lengths. Study them in the area the tobacco will go. That will be coveted by plastic to up the warmth and speed growth.

I would post a photo, but I cannot find anything on how to do so. My little netbook is failing and I am reading/posting from a tablet. sigh....

May everyone have a great weekend!


69 posted on 05/30/2014 4:43:19 PM PDT by hearthwench (Debbi - Mom, NaNa, and always ornery)
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To: GizzyGirl

My generation has seen so many changes. I remember when an refrigerator was an ice box, and we went to the ice house to buy a block of ice.

We didn’t have computers, tv, or smart phones. In fact all our phones (if we were lucky enough to have one) were dumb.LOL

I remember going to the local telephone office to make a phone call and seeing the operators plugging into the telephone board.

Just thiniing about all the technological stuff makes my head spin. It’s been an interesting time for more than half a century.


70 posted on 05/30/2014 4:56:12 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: bgill
I've had luck with the landscape fabric covered by chipped wood mulch. Very few weeds, and very easy to pull. Bermuda grass (and grassburrs) used to cover that area, and bermuda is almost impossible to get rid of.

My clear plastic solar cooking method, followed by heavy mulching has made that task much easier.

/johnny

71 posted on 05/30/2014 4:57:04 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: hearthwench

My computer is so out of date, I really need to do something, but I am so techno challenged, I don’t know where to start.

I am going to go take some aspirin and get rid of my headache now. Catch everyone later.


72 posted on 05/30/2014 4:58:38 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
Sudden hot winds left me with only 4-6 surviving fresh Napa cabbage transplants. The dozen Romas, 9 cukes, and 2 pimientos all withstood it, though.

Tomorrow, another dozen or so tomatoes go in, then 3 52-day-old chicks get introduced to the freezer. Last night, the largest one weighed 6 pounds! That, actually, is below their performance standards, but I limited their feed somewhat to prevent leg problems and losses from sudden heart attack deaths. Probably a little meatier & less fatty that way, too.

Thunderstorms went through late yesterday; last night; and this afternoon. As soon as it dries enough to work the soil, the corn, beans, etc --lots of etc-- gets planted.

All of the bare root trees and small fruits we planted last week have leafed out, even the black walnut.

One mini disaster to report: about 1/3 of my winter rye has lodged, it has all headed, and is otherwise doing fine. It will make it difficult to harvest, though.

Finally, after about 12-15 years, I got the Brinkman turkey fryer out of its box, assembled, and tested. I'll inaugurate it by scalding the chickens in it, instead of dry-plucking them, like I normally do. I hadn't done that in years, as I was always unhappy with the results; turns out, I was doing it wrong by keeping the water at a rolling boil, instead of 180F. I'll try it again, and see how it goes.

73 posted on 05/30/2014 4:59:26 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

Check your mail.


74 posted on 05/30/2014 5:14:37 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. Going Galt is freedom.)
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To: virgil283

“Lemon Balm was new to me when I saw it at the garden center.”

Sockmonkey sent me lemon balm seed and only two plants came up and they are still tiny in the pot. I’m hoping they will hang on and grow.


75 posted on 05/30/2014 5:25:01 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. Going Galt is freedom.)
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To: ApplegateRanch
As I got older, I cheat. I skin 'em. I no longer pluck chickens that may have (or may have not) wandered into my yard. I've done my last 2 feral hogs that way, too (not that I ever plucked a hog... dehair though is as bad).

Too much work for something that most people aren't going to eat anyway.

/johnny

76 posted on 05/30/2014 5:29:36 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes; rightly_dividing; Silentgypsy; Marcella; murrie; ApplegateRanch; Ellendra; TArcher; ...

Hi all! Not many changes from last week. However, it appears I may need to be learning about how to grow onions and garlic next season... or at any rate, later! The garlic plant I bought a few weeks ago is still alive, but does not appear happy. Parts of its leaves have browned. Since we have had a lot of rain, I am deducing that it has been too wet for it.

The garlic sets I planted had started sprouts, but they have shriveled and not reappeared either.

The lone walking onion is still holding its own.

T-Squash is getting bigger. Cucumbers are improbably blooming. Zucchini is getting size.

Sun Flowers are getting some size as are now finally the okra.

Some of the Amaranth are happy, but a different bunch are being chewed on something fierce.

The White Potatoes are really happy! One of them has started putting out some bloom buds. A couple of days ago Darlin took me to Lowes, and I bought some 1/4 inch wire mesh, 2 feet high. I used a string on the ground to determine how big a circumference I needed. I cut the mesh to match the length of the string, and wired it to a rebar pole. I dumped in some potting soil and compost and built up the dirt around it about 8-12”. I was very pleased at how it turned out, and I guess at some point I’ll dump some more dirt on it.

Sweet potatoes languishing in their vines and still need their dirt-dump.

Some of my legume plants have really started producing, which is a great shock to me! LOL!

We actually harvested a tomato! It was from the Beefsteak heirloom plant. The Purple Cherokee is VERY happy, with many blooms. There are blooms on the others as well, but not like the Cherokee. The atkins still are growing and not blooming yet.

Some of the red lilies we planted a number of years ago (and frankly, which we thought had died) have bloomed, with a few more buds getting ready too. They are BREATHTAKING!

Hope everyone else’s garden adventures are providing as much entertainment, knowledge, and exercise as mine are! I’m so grateful for everyone here. I always learn so much.


77 posted on 05/30/2014 5:57:51 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Johnny:

Thanks very much for posting my emailed pictures.
Maybe I’m too old to pick up the trick involved.

Hope all on this page will enjoy.

—Eric


78 posted on 05/30/2014 6:57:43 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

False Map Turtle?


79 posted on 05/30/2014 7:02:01 PM PDT by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
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To: gundog
I dunno. Ask Eric. I just posted those pictures for him.

/johnny

80 posted on 05/30/2014 7:04:15 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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