WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD May 27, 2016

freerepublic | May 27, 2016 | 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. 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.

[greeneyes]

Good afternoon. Just got in from St. Louis. It's been raining all day, and most of the week. So not much doing in the Garden this week.

Insomnia combined with early morning alarm for trip to city meant very little sleep. I am so tired, I'll be taking a nap shortly and come back to chat later.

Hope everyone is doing well. Prayers up for all. Have a great weekend.

[greeneyes]

pinging the list.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Just saw the news about the flooding, as well as the number of tornadoes in Kansas.
An offshore Tropical storm supposed to hit South Carolina and then travel up the East Coast.
Prayers up for all .

[Aliska]

I actually went out with some makeshift trellises made with purchased iron hook plant hangers with two stakes and some chicken wire I cut. I can't push them in the ground. And it's hot and humid out there, will get hotter; I can breathe in it but it's too hard for me to work in it any more.

So I pulled some grass and made note of what else needs to be done. My back yard is glorious with a monster rose bush that only blooms in the spring. There's a different one in the back, and they both spill over the terrace full of blooms. Now I hate to have them cut down like I was planning and mowed over to keep them from growing again.

My black raspberries I have so many coming along, it's marvelous. I see new shoots springing up around my huge tree strump and, if left alone, will hide it. I don't see wild stuff like sumac, mulberry and other stuff I fight constantly in the berry plants.

My Harison yellow rose was so beautiful this spring, my daughter wants to start one. There is another beautiful pink with a heavenly scent I swear if I had more energy I could make rosewater with the petals but rose flavor tastes a little soapy. It's popular in Middle east cakes, Turkish candy, and cookies, lots of things.

But what is prompting me the most to participate this week are cape gooseberries, golden berries or my grandmother just called them ground cherries. She made delicious preserves out of them.

Because my legs and back are failing, I have been ordering things from Walmart because it is delivered to my porch, especially heavy stuff like big bags of cat food, litter, boxes of wet cat food, 10# sugar, flour, my coffee and this wonderful powdered milk along with miscellaneous items like packs of beans, some things are store only. Over $50 delivery is free and sometimes I have to wait over a week. I end up with all these high quality boxes which would be great for moving. I hate to break them down and put them out for recycling but am going to have to.

I have a box on the way that weighs 67 pounds it says at FedEx! I will have to unpack it on the porch and have a cart to load it in to put away.

So I saw Roland golden berries. I bought two cans. I chilled one after awhile not expecting too much, and ate them out of the can in about 3 servings. They are so delicious, would fit in fruit cocktail combos perfectly. Walmart they were $3+ a can which is expensive. Now they are out of stock and they are probably imported. At Amazon they are $8 for one can! I won't pay that.

So I get this yearning to get some seeds and grow them. My grandmother's came back every year by self seeding if you just clear the ground but don't disturb the dirt. They are bright golden yellow in a tan husk like tomatillos but totally different tasting.

So if I get a spot cleared, I could rake in some seeds in the fall, should be able to find some.

I also have seeds for glass gem corn. No way to get that planted. Some ears turn out shiny colors and like glass but it's like Mendel's peas in that you can't count on it. Still the colors are wonderful.

So that's my gardening tale for now. Have a great Memorial Day everyone. I wondered why there was so much traffic this morning when I went out fairly early and later when I called Walmart they sound terribly busy. That is why. I bought this special spear spade, but my balance is off now, too, so I don't think I'm going to be able to do it, was going to be great to get the big dandelions in garden areas and not have to deal with Roundup or whatever.

[trisham]

I’m sorry that you’re exhausted, greeneyes. I hope that you get a good nap.

[trisham]

My transplants are doing well. It’s been warm here lately in Massachusetts at night, so I’ve been leaving them out. I’ve been doing some clean up and weeding out front and in the planters on the deck out back. I can’t wait for some home grown tomatoes, squash and lettuces. I need to sow some lettuce seeds this week end.

[sockmonkey]

It seems like it’s been weather week around here in TX. Hail last night with some damage to my blueberries, and tomatoes, but everything else seems okay.

[left that other site]

Prayters for you and other FRiends in that neck of the woods!

[TMSuchman]

Our veggie garden [out here in Foley, by the Lock & Dam #25 on the mighty Mississippi River] is starting to come up & the apple [Gala] is starting to bare fruit. [There are very little green apples on it] So next week I get to go to the lumber yard to pick up 250 feet of fencing, [2] 6 foot long 4X4 posts a couple of hinges & a gate latch. I have to try to keep the garden raiders out, & if the fence does not work, my air rifle/s will get the job done. BTW the season opens this weekend for them [by state of Mo. hunting reg’s]

I can not stay long tonight, I have some very important duties to attend to. I have a funeral detail for my Am. Legion Post [#420 out of Old Monroe,Mo] & then Memorial Day duties for the same post.

This weekend I have the honor & the privilege to be part of the American Legion Post #420’s day of rendering honors to the fallen at various locations, around the community. I see this as one way of giving back to those who served before me & made their mark on history, by doing what others can not do. [Since my service was so UNremarkable]

[STARLIT]

Thank you for your service this weekend. Husband is a veteran and we sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness. Have a great weekend!

[CottonBall]

“Because my legs and back are failing, I have been ordering things from Walmart because it is delivered to my porch, especially heavy stuff like big bags of cat food, litter, boxes of wet cat food, 10# sugar, flour, my coffee and this wonderful powdered milk along with miscellaneous items like packs of beans, some things are store only. Over $50 delivery is free and sometimes I have to wait over a week. I end up with all these high quality boxes which would be great for moving. I hate to break them down and put them out for recycling but am going to have to.”

Same here, except it’s my arms that are weak - I love the front porch delivery. I especially like the boxes from Jet - pretty purple. I use those to store stuff in.

[CottonBall]

that’s very nice. thank you for doing it.

[CottonBall]

hope you had a good rest!

It poured tonight (you don’t know how excited I am to say that! in California, I never got to) so I couldn’t thin out my seedlings in the garden.

I’ve been postponing it because I will find it hard to kill little perfect seedlings. When I thinned the Swiss chard, I ended up transplanting the rejects. but I’m out of room to transplant anything else!

[Black Agnes]

Depending on what it is, eat the thinnings. Baby Swiss chard’s are great stir fried or just in a salad.

[CottonBall]

Oh good idea! I will have baby beet greens I can harvest. The corn, beans, cucumbers will have to be composted ;(

I wanted to ask you about watering with the newspaper/mulch scenario - I’ll be using just grass clippings this year since I didn’t collect leaves. Will water from rain and overhead sprinklers be able to penetrate the grass and paper well enough?

[NTHockey]

Deer are quite common in my suburban area, even running through subdivisions. Last week a grey fox ran through my back yard - first time ever. Also, there were 3 brown bear sightings within a 1 mile radius. Northern Delaware.

Strange.

[Aliska]

My arms are pretty good, and joints don't hurt. It's my knees that have gone bad, really hurt and lost their strength. My other muscles seem to be ok but not getting enough use; they are strong actually.

Well, i've whined enough about that. What is Jet?

I got my box cutter and had one he!! of a time getting a carton of Italian beans open. I got a lot because they were Del Monte, the regular size, and hard to find in the stores. I will use them in green bean casserole and am looking for some ham flavored Better than Boullion and some onions to simmer them in.

Speaking of which I would love to grow some. Beans were the easiest for me. I covered my whole porch with strings and planted Scarlet Runner Beans. They made shade for the porch and good cooking when young and tender. I also grew regular climbing ones but didn't have good enough things for them to climb on.

My ex started spading the back garden back in 1966 or 67, breaking sod, got fed up with it, and I went out and finished the whole darn thing, then chopped it all up. When I was determined, I got stuff done. I miss those days, wish I could have known the tricks and things I know now about cooking and growing things and have my youthful strength back.

Now I have a tiller but didn't know how hard they are to handle. It sits in my bedroom because I don't want it in the damp basement. I need to sell it, wasn't used much, a Mantis? with the Honda engine, crazy way to manage the oil until I discovered online the correct position, nose down, handles up. EVERYBODY was tilting it sideways and it kept getting the oil in the carb, even where I bought it. I could do it but it takes too much churning, not worth it. Now I learned to put down layers of paper and cardboard and plant through that, then mulch and feed. Lasagne gardening variation I learned from people on Garden Web. Some prepared beds the traditional and others made huge areas by laying cardboard, throwing on green stuff, throwing on some soil and/or compost, then planting thru it. I haven't really tried it yet but have mulched with folded, wet newspaper, worked great. Mulch is too expensive and more heavy cumbersome bags to manage, just for special where you want the look of it.

[Black Agnes]

Depends on how much rain. I use soaker hoses to keep disease pressure to a minimum. The less wet the leaves (especially beans and cucumbers), the less disease.

A sprinkler will be able to do the trick though, you may have to run it a bit longer. But it will stay watered longer and you won’t sink to your ankles the morning after you’ve watered.

You need some chickens for those ‘compostables’ you listed. My chickens love to see me coming in from the garden.

[MtnClimber]

I have some seeds planted in the garden and tomatoes, okra, peppers and eggplant in containers since I need to bring them in at night due to frost and snow.

[CottonBall]

Yeah, chickens are on the list. so is a goat or two for milk.

I know ground watering is better but we’re not set up for that yet. A revolving sprinkler type is all I have so far. But I think the paper/mulch thing will help with the tomato blight!