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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 31, AUGUST 1, 2014
Free Republic | August 1, 2014 | greeneyes

Posted on 08/01/2014 12:20:34 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: sockmonkey

I saw the fritatta after I posted .... figured you’d see it so I didn’t send another post. The other two recipes I looked at: fudge and bacon dip - just what I need (not!).


81 posted on 08/02/2014 4:07:08 PM PDT by Qiviut ( One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. (W.E. Johns)
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To: Qiviut
The other two recipes I looked at: fudge and bacon dip - just what I need (not!).

Yeah, well, I made a tuna salad for dinner, but kept thinking about bacon which made the tuna taste even yuckier.

I hope it gives me the energy to prep everything for planting lettuce, squash, cukes, and tomatoes tomorrow. I forget what else I had picked out of my seed packets the other night..oops.

I might try that frittata tomoorw, but I will add proscuiutto as I have some I need to use..kinda like bacon. oink. I also have some red, white, and blue potatoes I need to use. Maybe, I'll throw them in there, too.

82 posted on 08/02/2014 4:47:16 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of course I didn't read the article. After all, this is Free Republic.)
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To: ApplegateRanch; twyn1

I plant in October but like I said our winters are so mild that we rarely have even had a hard frost and has only snowed 4 times in the 60 years I have lived here. I just plant the garlic in rows about 9 inches apart and rarely have to water it.


83 posted on 08/02/2014 5:20:00 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: sockmonkey

Just came in from pollinating a few cucuzza - not waiting on those lazy bees to wake up and do it! I did it by picking a male flower, stripping off the petals and applying it directly to a female - luckily, at the present time, I suddenly have a ton of both blooms. I also noticed a couple of cucuzzas that have “taken off” in the last two days with the rain - definitely growing at least a half inch a day so I’m sure they were pollinated. Since this is the first year with either Ts or Cs, I’m definitely learning some lessons for next year!

Bacon .... my very favorite meat. If I were somehow limited to only eating one meat for the rest of my life and I could choose, it would be bacon.


84 posted on 08/02/2014 5:42:07 PM PDT by Qiviut ( One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. (W.E. Johns)
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To: tubebender

Thanks for the info. on planting garlic — I will give it a go again this fall — we raised the beds quite a bit more & improved the soil in the garden a lot this season, so maybe they will do better.

Getting ready to harvest our first watermelon this week(we only have 2 so far) — it’s pretty much stopped growing so I think it is ready (??). Oh - and I checked the quince bush (tree) in the oft-neglected corner of the garden and it is LOADED with fruit! Yikes! Guess I’ll be canning more than tomatoes in the next few weeks.


85 posted on 08/02/2014 6:55:03 PM PDT by twyn1
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To: greeneyes

Kind of feeling worn out. Last week the raccoons ate my flour corn. This week something ate every pod off my peas and chickpeas. I had been picking the sweet peas as they started drying down, so it wasn’t a total loss on that side. But my poor chickpeas . . . I only have 3 seeds left from that variety! The plants are still green enough they might flower again, but I need to get something up to protect the rest of the garden.

I have never had this kind of a pest problem before. They’re all in an eating frenzy! If it was October this would be normal, they’d be fattening for winter. But this early? I’m afraid of what that might mean.


86 posted on 08/02/2014 8:35:49 PM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: greeneyes; Excellence
From Excellence : (/http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3188177/posts )
Joe Bastardi’s Saturday Summary

This 'Saturday Summary' suggests cooler temps and increased moisture for Central U.S.
Might even suggest a second planting for this cooler summer, or even delayed plantings for fall crops ( or maybe just a head-start ? )

Thanks Excellence !
I always appreciate your links to Joe Bastardi, especially when he predicts climate/ weather accurately , 4 months in advance .

87 posted on 08/02/2014 9:13:09 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt (Political Correctness is Tyranny .. with manners ! Charlton Heston)
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To: tubebender

Okay, thanks.

So there’s no special tricks or secret fertilizer recipes to make bigger bulbs or anything.


88 posted on 08/02/2014 9:16:20 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: ApplegateRanch

I always plant the largest bulbs (cloves) from the previous years crop and it worked until this year. I bummed some bulbs from a friend and I’ll have to buy the Chinese early red as it comes on a month earlier then the old standards.


89 posted on 08/02/2014 9:53:30 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: tubebender

That’s what I do for other seeds I save for the next season: biggest & best.

To get fancy, over time your selection becomes a landrace particularly suited to your garden.


90 posted on 08/02/2014 10:24:03 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

Most of the trees around this complex have been taken down and there is much more direct sunlight. I’m thinking of planting only herbs and veggies in one of the garden pots and see what happens. The roses are doing much better with this extra sunlight.


91 posted on 08/03/2014 6:27:38 AM PDT by tob2 (Summer's here.)
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To: fwdude

The May issue of Backwoods Home had a great article on pear trees, but it looks like the article itself isn’t online. I’ll see if I can find my copy and get the answers for you.


92 posted on 08/03/2014 8:29:41 AM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: Qiviut

Yeah, that T juice can act like glue sometimes! If you can get it before it dries, dish soap will help. After it dries you just about need a sander.

The good thing about it, though, is if you’re only using part of a squash, you can smear that juice over the cut end and it will seal it enough to keep a few more days.


93 posted on 08/03/2014 8:49:26 AM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: twyn1
(I don’t have a pressure canner so I think I have to add sour salt if I water-bath them, I haven’t ever tried before)

Nope, just lemon juice. And if the tomato is tart enough, it might not even need that, although I'd add some just in case.
94 posted on 08/03/2014 8:52:04 AM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: greeneyes
I know one thing, I am never planting another pea. Just not worth the effort. Got may\be 3 pods.

How tall was your pea variety? I noticed with the shorter ones I'd get maybe 3-4 pods per plant. This year I grew some that are 5-6 feet tall, and got pods by the dozens. If I hadn't let them go to seed I'd still be picking.
95 posted on 08/03/2014 9:12:44 AM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: Ellendra; sockmonkey

Yeah, that T juice can act like glue sometimes! If you can get it before it dries, dish soap will help. After it dries you just about need a sander.

*************************************

Thank you, thank you, Ellendra! You have confirmed that I am NOT losing my mind and imagining things! The juice is terrible once it starts drying and when you’re cutting up 7 Ts at one time, the juice has time to dry. I have scrubbed my hands hard, with dish detergent and hot water & the scrubbie side of a dish sponge .... and still, when the hands dry, I have some film on them. The peeler is a real problem to deal with & on a granite countertop - awful. Anyway, now that I know I’m not the only one to experience the adheres-like-glue properties of T juice, I can say that I’ve really enjoyed growing them this year and will definitely have them in the garden next year!


96 posted on 08/03/2014 9:21:50 AM PDT by Qiviut ( One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. (W.E. Johns)
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To: ApplegateRanch; All
My daughter took this photo of a movable chicken coop on a camping trip this weekend Nice garden beyond the gate.…

photo

97 posted on 08/03/2014 7:17:20 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: tubebender

Thanks; that is a nifty idea.


98 posted on 08/03/2014 9:19:38 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

Hi & God Bless to everyone. The heat has hit & we’ve cried uncle. I’m just happy the foliage plants are hanging in there & the grass could be much, much worse.
Fall isn’t looking much better. Bleah.


99 posted on 08/03/2014 10:46:03 PM PDT by KGeorge (Till we're together again, Gypsy girl. May 28, 1998- June 3, 2013)
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To: greeneyes
I got a bit of canning done yesterday.

6 quarts green beans, 12 quarts salsa, 23 1/2 quarts tomato juice.

Also brought home the outhouse from my Grandparents old place and set it by the garden fence. I'm going to use it for a toolshed.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

100 posted on 08/04/2014 8:16:37 AM PDT by Augie
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