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!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

*Weekly Discussion Topic Ping*

How To Grow A Victory Garden: What Goes In A Victory Garden

What Grows in a Victory Garden?

Original Victory Gardeners were encouraged to plant crops that were easy to grow, and that advice still holds true today.

A Victory Garden may include: Beets, Beans, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Peas, Kale, Turnips, Lettuce, Spinach, Garlic, Swiss chard, Parsnips, Carrots, Onions, and Herbs.

You can also grow fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. If you don’t mind waiting, most fruit trees are ready to harvest in three or four years.

More at link, below:

[Diana in Wisconsin]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/how-to-grow-a-victory-garden.htm

[Bob434]

Eating our canned green and ye,low beans and peas now. Life is good 👍 in that regard

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I have a friend who lives in northern Illinois. She’s an avid gardener and has a small greenhouse, too.

She keeps track, by the day, of things they eat from their garden year-round. She usually has something to feed her family with, fresh or canned dried or preserved, 300+ days out of a year. Impressive!

I should keep track too, because between hunting and fishing and gardening, you’d think I’d NEVER need to go to a grocery store! ;)

It’s great to have those combined skills between Beau and I, but it’s also great I can buy just about anything I want or need. Is this a great country, or what? :)

[Bob434]

Yep. Our corn did t do so good this year, but we found a small family farm that had a small store they kept open during covid lockdowns, with restrictions of course, th a had excellent corn from another farm that they sold on commission. We froze a lot of it, and add it to all our soups. Nothing .ike a great chicken or beef soup on cold winter day with corn that tastes as good as this corn does. Fortunately they had a ton of for good long time. Eve r yone In area was buying it there. Hope they have it again next year. Even after freezing it its still delicious in soups.

We unfortunately don’t hunt or fish anymore, but when we did, life was super good

[Liz]

Welcome to the “Brave New World.”

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I wonder how many people would actually show up to my garden if I wanted to show them how ‘equitable’ gardening is?

I mean, it entails WORK, so probably not many. ;)

People in Ivory Towers need to stop fomenting hate between all races. It’s unproductive. And obviously has proven to be dangerous.

[Cloverfarm]

Keeping track makes it sound fun. I make a mental note but don’t write anything down. I saved and froze tops from our onions to have green onions for cheese ball, so that went well. Still have some left.

When I make salsa next year ... improvements could include better identifying the peppers (NOT so hot!) and weighing ingredients rather than by volume. Maybe getting a scale.

[Track9]

I want to grow victory in my victory garden... and I don’t want any Pees and Carrots.

[Ellendra]

targetted 93 properties including Sir Winston Churchill’s former home — Chartwell in Kent, for their supposed ties to the British Empire.

A place that is located inside Britain might have ties to the British Empire? Dear God!

[SkyDancer]

I’m trying to talk my folks into a larger garden and raise chickens as well, unfortunately we have a large coyote population here and last night round 3am they were have a sing fest; it’s hard to coyote proof the hen houses.

[Ellendra]

Needs more potatoes.

[TianaHighrider]

Victory Garden bookmark and Ping

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Diana in Wisconsin :" " Poor Watering Practices "

I have always thought that since rosemary is favored in Italian cooking, it favors Italy.
which means letting the roots slightly dry out (really good drainage) , with infrequent watering.
Also, I let the water sit for a day for normal temperature regulation, and to let the fluoride (in water treatment) to evaporate out.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Bob434 :" th a had excellent corn from another farm that they sold on commission ".

The next time you go into the store, find out what s the name of that corn cultivar that you enjoyed.
Each corn variety differs according to starch, natural sugars produced,, storage requirements, and even if hybrid or heirloom variety, etc.
Once you have the cultivar name, if one source runs out, you at least know what to ask for !

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Critter Control is always an issue. I used to have regular raccoon attacks as well as wild mink when I was raising laying hens for fun and little profit.

I found that keeping a radio on in there 24/7 with a Talk Radio station playing helped; hearing human voices seemed to be a deterrent, though, of course, my hens were always quoting Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, LOL!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Cloverfarm :" When I make salsa next year ... improvements could include better identifying the peppers (NOT so hot!)
and weighing ingredients rather than by volume.
' Maybe getting a scale."

A postage scale, or 'weight watchers' scale is ideal for weighing quantities.
If you find peppers too hot, consider eliminating the seeds, and/or the white ribs , or membrane, in a hot pepper,
to lessen the heat, but will not minimize the earthy taste and flavor.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

sockmonkey :" I could only haul 3 50 lb bags at a time in my car trunk.
That got old fast "

Befriend a teenage in your neighborhood, or,
get a 'Radio Flyer' kids cart.
The older I get, the more I want to us my brain, rather than my back !

[SkyDancer]

LOL! I was just amazed at how many coyotes were yipping and howling last nigh, they were gone from our area for a couple of years and now they seem to be back. Our area comprises over 200sq miles of both federal and state forest lands and we have six acres blended in with others here. It’s a forest paradise.