Weekly Garden Thread - January 16-22, 2021

January 16, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[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 a non-political respite. 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! 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!

[MomwithHope]

My doggie hated it too but carrying an umbrella over him worked.

[waterhill]

Bissel is a good company. We have a steamer/cleaner of theirs. We have ordered parts direct from them and received in two days. They even did a follow-up email post-purchase to confirm we got the order.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

“One note: If you want to order from a catalog, do it SOON - they are all swamped and having a hard time filling orders, it seems.”

Thanks Diane! Will do that today!

(Before Tax filing season and while I still have $$!)

Before Inauguration day may also be a good time to create a system image to back up your computer, but I suppose that is a different thread! (Did it yesterday!)

[MomwithHope]

I have a friend up north who is trapping beaver and making hats and mittens for family.

[DuncanWaring]

I planted some peas a few months ago, and they grew to full size, but never produced any blossoms/pods.

They still appear to be nominally alive, but there’s at least two full months of winter.

If they actually survive ‘til Spring, should I anticipate that they will eventually start producing peas?

[left that other site]

I tried an umbrella too...but Penny wasn’t buying it.

Finally, I just let made go right out front, and let go of the leash, and she ran right back to the house, leaving me outside to properly dispose of the waste.

[left that other site]

So I ended up walking to the dumpster alone! LOL!

In the rain.

[waterhill]

Possibly so. It will depend on the weather and sunshine. If anything you are doing well with using peas as a cover crop. I have snow peas, they are not getting enough sun, but they are adding to the area where my spring plants will go.

[hoe_cake]

Beautiful photo. I enjoy landscaping for winter color. I tell my clients to view their backyard, find the spots of the yard without any color in winter, and plant Hollies in those vacant spots.

[Blurb2350]

Thanks for the tip, but I live in the desert, which makes for very challenging gardening! It can be done, of course, but the the techniques and results are completely different from what you see on TV and in those gaudy seed catalogues. Complicating matters further, we're currently in the midst of an unusually long string of nighttime temps in the 20s; even many of the natives and "desert-adapted" plants are succumbing.

[waterhill]

I am halfway through my peppers. I will be in a pepper deficit by the end of Feb.

This season, I am going to put some pepper plants in pots and bring them in for the winter. Keep them sunny and happy and you will have peppers way sooner than the outdoor way.

I have done this before. I kept a habanero ‘tree’ for 4 years once.

My tomatoes are gone. I finished them off with a pasta sauce. They were all yellow pear and goldies. Made a very cool yellow sauce.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We just bought a Bissell carpet cleaner and it worked really well!

Your books are packed and ready to ship, so next time I go, ‘Out Among The English’ I will mail them off to you. :)

[waterhill]

This is year #3 for the asparagus. First time for eating.

I will be planting more. I should have 3 years ago!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I plan on making your soup recipe next season. I made some Tomato Soup and canned it and it’s really good, but I’d like something creamer.

Jamestown 1630 has her ‘Monthly Cooking Thread’ up for January and it’s all about SOUP. Make sure to check it out, if you already haven’t. :)

[MomwithHope]

At least she went poor thing.

[waterhill]

Recipe for bisque?

Thanks

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My mom and my wife’s mom claimed toasted cheese sandwiches were MANDATORY !

[Diana in Wisconsin]

No, ours is unheated and I'm in Zone 4. We bought a kit and built it two years ago. I don't have electricity running to it now, but that IS an option for the future.

I am studying Elliot Coleman's books on growing winter crops under cover in Maine, of all places.

I DID keep salad greens going until December 23rd this year, though. They were under cover at night.

My winter set-up, pre-planting. I started the greens ahead of time, so they were from plugs, not seed. I planted the plugs in late October. Cut out the front/top 'panel' of the bags of soil and plant away. Each section cost about $10 for the bag of dirt and the storage container with lid, all from Walmart, purchased in the fall. Punch holes in the back side of the bag of soil for drainage and the 'lid' acts as a tray to catch drips:

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Beaver is gorgeous fur, but we don't see much of it around here - don't know enough trappers, I guess.

Here is the Raccoon earmuff Beau got me for Christmas. I just love it. I'll alternate with my Coyote hat. Luckily, I live in a place where wearing fur is common and I don't have the PETA jerks giving me the Stink Eye, LOL!

[Capt. Tom]

Hi Dianna

The Happy Winter Morning photo you have of the berries reminded me that a week ago my front yard was green holly bushes with tons of red berries and also tons of red berries from the bittersweet vines now dormant.

I pulled in the driveway and observed hundreds of robins and starlings eating up all the berries.

The same thing happened on my back porch when the birds ate the bittersweet vine berries that dominate the back porch.

At least the berries fed the birds, but the pretty red coloring is now gone for the rest of the winter -Tom.