WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD - INFORMATIONAL POST

May 13, 2019 | Diana in Wisconsin

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Our 'Greeneyes' has gone missing, so I have been asked to keep the Weekly Garden Thread rolling until she returns. If anyone knows her in Real Life, please post here and let us know what her situation is!

That said, I will be posting once a week, and I will TRY to stick to her schedule of a Friday Night/Saturday Morning Weekly Post, but it depends upon what is going on here at MY farm. (It's Spring; it's BUSY!)

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 to Gardeners are welcomed any time.

[Lopeover]

Thanks!

[MomwithHope]

I have been scouring the area for 2 Bonnie plants I have grown before. Costa Rican red pepper and the shishito pepper. Went to 5 places on Sunday and came up empty. All Bonnie dealers.

[MomwithHope]

My Dad who has long passed would come up here to visit and take burdock leaves, parboil them, drain, batter and fry them. Could not bring myself to try them. Old Serb from Chicago. Of course they ate some strange things during the depression like sparrow stew. Caught them in traps at the grainery.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I keep a garden journal but it’s a notebook...I’ll download that app.

Let me know if you need any help setting it up.

[Califreak]

I love asparagus.

I can just eat them right out of the ground.

[Califreak]

Here is a link on including burdock in your diet and how to use medicinally.

https://www.thepracticalherbalist.com/holistic-medicine-library/medicinal-properties-and-use-of-burdock/

[Califreak]

Thank you Diana.

I sure hope greeneyes and her people are ok.

[daniel1212]

Thanks for getting this thread up for greeneyes. Hope she will OK.

Despite the normal predictions of warmer-than-average temps it has been overall lower than normal here in n MA, and while the ground has been tilled, limed and fertilized, we are holding off planting the usual toms and Butternut squash until this Sat. at the earliest, since day temps remain in the 50's to low 60's with rain or clouds half the time, and night temps are in the 50's to low 50's.

But praise the Lord who transcends all that is temporal.

I have a few dozen squash and tom plants grown from seed behind me under cheap grow lamps, using just some screened but rather poor soil, and have been moving them out on the porch a few times to catch some sun.

Now under the "only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked" section, I have a question. All winter I have had a large uncovered barrel filled with tree leaves (mostly Maple), and which I mixed with spoiled greens (3 to 1), but now with most leaves removed a third of the barrel is just brown water. And which smells/stinks like compost can get (though i know it should not).

The question is whether it would be good to use this "leaf tea" for watering, esp for young plants. I read that if not fully decomposed compost takes the nitrogen the plants need, but what about this water?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I agree! There are some things I don’t bother to grow in bulk because I live in Wisconsin and we are right behind Idaho in Potatoes, Carrots and Onions. We grow kick-butt Cranberries and our dairy products are beyond compare...though I DO still want my own Milk Cow. Buttercup? One day you WILL be mine! ;)

I mean, in High Summer, you CAN buy a 50# sack of Taters by the side of the road for next to nothing...and don’t even get me started on Wisconsin Sweet Corn! (Though Beau is OBSESSED with it and always plants a LOT!)

We’ve recently discovered growing Popcorn, which is easy to plant and VERY rewarding in the winter months when we’re stuck indoors and binging on DVDs - and the Raccoons don’t bother it like they do the Sweet Corn. ;)

Take a look at what your OWN state produces and plant accordingly. (Just MY Opinion!)

You can also consult those grocery sites that tell you what is ‘in season’ at any given time and is CHEAP for deals at the Grocery Store each week.

And never, EVER turn down a bushel of apples or oranges or cabbage or spinach or peppers or tomatoes, or pears or peaches, or cucumbers or, or, or...no matter where you live! :)

[daniel1212]

Last post I see from her was the April 14 garden thread where she said , "Will catch up with the thread when taxes are done. Have a great weekend. Prayers up for all. God Bless." And "See everyone later." And where she said she was 71 (hubby 77). I also see from her homepage that she is retired and a grandparent, But since she lists some "GREAT GOSPEL SONGS" on her Home page I think she is in good hands. Yet we hope to hear from her if she is around.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Do you have a Coop in town AND at your land? My neighbor gave me a dozen fresh eggs this week to tide me over until MY coop is a REALITY once again. ;)

But, you hear me complain enough at our other sites about my lack-o-chickens as it is, LOL! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“I sure hope greeneyes and her people are ok.”

Me, too!

I think we should ALL take a moment and make sure our friends at FR KNOW our home/next of kin e-mail or phone numbers. (Privately, of course!)

HOW may times in all of these years have we been through this when a FReeper was ill, or just flat-out disappeared?

I have long-time girlfriends here on FR that ALWAYS know what I’m doing on pretty much a DAILY basis. They would let you know if anything happened to me in a heartbeat.

Love them to the ‘Open Bar’ and Back, LOL! ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Maples are lower in acidity than say, Oak or Beech, so you should be able to safely use it as a compost tea BUT I would further dilute it until it’s lighter in color if it’s REALLY dark to begin with.

When I make Compost Tea, I like it to be the color of a glass of Iced Tea and no darker, just to be on the safe side.

[mythenjoseph]

The Magnolia trees are flowering like mad , everything is just entering its grow grow grow season here in Mandeville , La. We are getting the cool front one more time this evening and I have to say that this has been a very mild (temperature wise) spring . Having spent the last decade in Maine I find this area very uplifting . I hope all other weekly garden members dry out and get your plants kickin’ ...no need to worry about water this year I assume!

[tubebender]

I agree that everyone on FR has a Friend who will drop a line when the hammer falls on you . Hint... I will be 86 in a couple of days and it shows in many ways including my mental functions

[tubebender]

Posting one for my Friend Eric...

[tubebender]

Well Damm... I’m having a problem with my photo storage site (flkr) and can’t up load or download right now. Will try later..

[daniel1212]

Maples are lower in acidity than say, Oak or Beech, so you should be able to safely use it as a compost tea BUT I would further dilute it until it’s lighter in color if it’s REALLY dark to begin with. When I make Compost Tea, I like it to be the color of a glass of Iced Tea and no darker, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks. The barrel is open to the rain so it is getting diluted. I found a C/N ratio chart for leavers here .

[tubebender]

Streetside planting among the Redwood trees about a block form our home...

[tubebender]

Beets and Kohlrabi a couple of weeks after transplanting from the greenhouse...