Posted on 09/05/2020 7:02:44 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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.
If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.
This thread is non-political respite. 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! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.
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!
FYI:
Welcome to the Million Gardens Movement
Hello!
I am delighted to announce that in response to the coronavirus pandemic the Giustra Foundation is launching the Million Gardens Movement to build, over the next few years, a community of one million gardeners and to encourage the planting of a million new gardens, whether its on a windowsill or in your backyard.
In these days, as we all struggle with social isolation, disrupted supply chains, and economic hardship, simply growing a tomato can be an act of hope and resilience that unites us.
We want to build a community of gardeners whether you tend an acre or have a lone pot on your fire escape. We want to create a place where you can learn how to garden better, encourage those planting their first seeds, share your triumphs and troubles, and most importantly help each other and help others.
The Million Gardens Movement will encourage community members to support the work of great organizations such as World Central Kitchen, or your local foodbank, and we will offer many ways to do so.
I believe everyone has a stake in the food chain. Every day we all take decisionswhat we grow, what we buy, what we eatthat directly shape our land and our society. We are all, in different ways, stewards of the land and each other. In other words: We are all modern farmers now. And I hope the Million Gardens Movement can bring together people who share this belief, so we can grow something great together.
Signed,
Frank Giustra
https://modernfarmer.com/million-gardens-movement/
Quick question for green thumbs: Do seeds (specifically, mixed kale seeds) need light to germinate? I’m starting a batch under my little growlight and wonder if I need to switch it on now or if I can wait until the first tiny bit of green emerges. The tray is in a corner with only little natural light.
It is an absolutely GLORIOUS day here today. Low humidity, bright sunshine, and a great breeze. The last couple of days have been brutal with high humidity, temps in the nineties & heat index over 100 with the weather service posting heat advisories. Today is like an early “fall” day & fall just happens to be my favorite season. Tomorrow should be the same as today, with heat/humidity gradually building back in next week. The heat should stay “seasonable” ... mid 80’s, rather than up in the 90’s.
So ... what to do today? The “usual” - I need to get on the mower this afternoon, as soon as the grass dries somewhat (we had another shower last evening), & mow until dark. I’ll finish up the farm fields tomorrow. We have the wedding on the place next Saturday - I’ll probably mow the field where people are parking on Wednesday/Thursday. Hopefully, we can get a mower with “bins” to pick up the loose grass so people don’t have grass clippings up to their ankles!
IF I end up with enough energy, probably tomorrow, I’m taking out the last two tomato plants. I took two dead ones out last weekend. I have the largest marigolds I’ve ever had planted in the tomato beds - once the dead tomatoes are out, the marigolds are the main event and I am happy that they are blooming now. Zinnia bed is about 18” so they’ll bloom by the end of the month, but not in time for the wedding (drats!). Ironweed (purple) & Queen Anne’s Lace ( if we can find it ... will probably drive some country roads & go “ditch diving” for it) will be some of the flowers decorating the wedding site.
Hope you all have a great Labor Day long weekend/holiday!
Kale does NOT need light to germinate, but it is slow to germinate (can take 2 weeks) so be patient.
Warmth will speed up the germination, so if you have a warm spot to keep it in, or a heat mat, that speeds things up a bit.
Just back from an hour in the gulch, battling the plants of Mordor. Ailanthus today.
Ran out of glyphosate, came up for a refill. No photos to share.
.
Where is Qiviut?
I got the mowing done, yesterday. Yay! It’s been brutally dry here, but temps in the mid-70’s, breezy, no humidity. Also, Yay! Rain on Sunday, hopefully!
Not much left to do in the garden other than maintenance, clearing beds, mulching for the winter, etc. Waiting for my garlic to arrive.
I’m still contemplating what to make of the last of my orange tomatoes, but I may just chop and freeze them for winter use in soups and casseroles.
Our foster son is here for the weekend to get more of the house painted. Yay!
Haven’t heard from Beau for a few days - he’s in Alaska hunting right now, but they’re living pretty far off the grid; it’s been rainy and they only have stored solar power and with no sun, no solar, no electricity, no charged phones. :(
He said he now officially prefers our ‘primitive’ life on The Farm to life in the wild; never thought I’d hear THAT!
Someone must be getting old, LOL!
Qiviut = The soft wool lying beneath the long coat of the muskox, valued for its use as a fiber.
Qiviut is truly an amazing fiber. The delicate underwool of the muskox is like no other and the highest quality fiber in the world. It is cherished because of its rarity, softness and exceptional warmth. Qiviut is stronger and warmer than sheeps wool and softer than cashmere wool. Its an insulating fiber and is comfortable to wear in any weather.
Pure qiviut is unshrinkable, non-felting and non-abrasive. The more you handle and wash qiviut, the softer it feels.
Thanks Diana. I’m out in the desert, so warmth isn’t a problem. In fact I’m hoping it will have cooled considerably by the time the seedlings are ready to transplant . . . Desert gardening is do-able, but it can be tricky! I discovered recently that the roots of the mesquite trees yards away had grown under the clourtyard wall and up into my little raised beds! Their fine roots were everywhere.
Picked some Death Spirals this morning .....
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Oh my ... have never heard of these so I looked them up:
“This super hot chile is loaded with capsaicin oils that drip between the inner walls of the pepper. The inner skin of these peppers is light brown in color, which foreshadows the burn that is about to ensue.”
Yours are beautiful & I will enjoy from afar via your pics! Jalapenos are about as ‘hot’ as I get. I must confess that two days ago, I made a batch of jalapeno poppers (11 peppers, 22 halves) & over the afternoon, I ate the entire batch! The peppers were red ... hot fumes when cleaning, but once baked, the ‘heat’ was down to a very spicy-but-tolerable level.
beautiful harvest pictures.
BTW, anyone offer good suggestions on saving cherry tomatoe seeds? Any tips very appreciated. So tiny. But mu cherry tomatoes are so delicious I really would love to replant.
Garden is coming down; except for string beans and a few tomatoes. Not a very good year. Will have to plant more next year. We had a real bad rain and part of my raised bed garden was washed away. It’s on a slope so the rain tunneled under and washed the soil.
I’m going to put some stones and dirt to try and stop it. My neighbor put down river rock and the rain washed them all away. Anybody have experience/recommendations?
They are beautiful!
All I dared to grow this season were some Brown Jalapenos. MORE than hit enough for me!
Beautiful peppers! I am having a stellar Bell Pepper season - now if our Lefty dog would stop stealing them! ;)
Awesome shot! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.