Posted on 03/20/2015 12:49:03 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 wont be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isnt asked. It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - 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.
How are Mortgage Lifters? I was going to try some this year, but didn’t get around to it.
You’ll love the Amish paste - huge tomatoes, but more susceptible to disease like late blight. I found keeping the plants well pruned helps.
Thanks for the picture of your art room. Hey I got to see the brain with the screw. It immediately made me think of the “don’t” logo, the red circle with the slash mark through it. So maybe it means “Don’t screw yourself over”??
`We do get a whole lot more rain than you do, you betcha.
They do water a little when necessary, but not much.
What you see there is a crappy copy, and rework #4 or #5. That copy was started less than a month after my brain surgeries. I've got at least one more scrap and one more rework that I'm working on with 'brainscrew' now.
Lots of rework of old stuff. ;)
/johnny
Actually, you do not have to buy whole grafted plants, which are really quite expensive. You can just make your own.
I bought some graft rootstock seeds on ebay. Really cheap! The plants that grow from these seeds have crappy fruit, but have excellent root systems, thick, strong trunks, heightened disease resistance and vigorous growth.
I’m in the process of growing these along with my heirlooms and will graft these on sometime this week. I can say that the rootstock is growing TWICE as fast as my heirlooms!
Now you can buy fancy cutters and grafting clips and all that, but I’m just going to use a sharp Exacto knife and some loose clothespins. I hope it works!
I’ll let you all know how it goes if you ping me to subsequent threads.
How do those walking onions do in the South? I can’t find whether they are long day or short day. I’ve found that long day onions and shallots, even some garlics, don’t do well here in Alabama. I get lots of leaf but puny—if any—bulbs.
Good rootstock is very important. You are very right.
Now, I'm just moving the envelopes around and I need to throw them away unless someone wants them.
/johnny
I gave my brother a BUNCH of them, and have plenty for local use here. They make WONDERFUL potato soup. Mmmmm.
/johnny
Today, when see Johnny, I’m coming home with one of the “J” coffee mugs. I feel honored to have that mug.
Would love to see a picture of you all posted here. Have a fun visit.
I remember feeling so satisfied when I made a chili using our own tomato sauce, onions and garlic. :)
Sad thing is that a lot of the veg we processed and froze my husband can’t eat because he is doing that Atkins diet.
That's the intent. And one of the reasons I posted a practice photo here this morning. I wanted to make sure I had the technology. ;)
I want pictures of us, too. I would love for the entire garden thread to be able to get together in one place, and sample everyone's food. I've seen so many good recipes posted on this thread over the years...
/johnny
>The new USDA chart that came out a couple of years back said that we were now zone 6, but then the winters instantly got worse, so I still go by zone 5, and if possible get plants that will take zone 4.<
They moved us to the warmest subsection (A or B; forget which) of Zone 5, from the warmest of Zone 4. Seems to work for friends 500’ lower, and on a western exposure; but not for us. We still get Zone 4 stuff, and lose some of ‘iffy’ 4 items; try to get Zone 3 for anything on the expensive side, just to make certain.
Have to really check plants out, too, via Google before ordering.. Not all the sources always use the same designation. Sometimes, it’s because some are using the new Zone info; other times it depends on the specific cultivar, which may be less hardy than the generic species, but they list the species zoning.
Paid $25 for a steel 10X10 frame & outer shade cover, plus odds & ends from a gal whose neighbor’s tree came down & tore the main cover during a storm. She used the money from the neighbor/insurance toward an upgrade to a 10X12 lexan model.
I hunted, and found the best deal on the replacement cover. Ended up with about $125 total invested.
Never buy new, unless you have to; just make sure you know what you’re getting.
Please tell me how to kill the walking onions; mine have survived -35F, without mulching, and are multiplying beyond all reason! ;-)
Hint.. Hint... You can do that, right?
/johnny
Excellent, Marcella!
LOL! Well said, Johnny! It absolutely is in His hands. However, that does not mean I won’t be putting in my petitions along with others of your friends! And, I am so grateful you are “doing your part!”
No question you would do well at it. You already have knowledge hard won, which runs the rest of us in circles! By His grace and will, I DO see you doing the Master Gardener thing!
Her is Marcella and I in my art room/kitchen.
At least I got to post first.
/johnny
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