Posted on 02/20/2021 6:24:26 AM PST 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 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!
I have some english lavendar seeds. However in the tundra of west Michigan. and my cold tile floor, even with a heating pad and a south patio door, I have not done well with seed starting. I am going to wait until mid March to start them.
Hi Diana, I figured you were down at the barn. Any thoughts on wood ash on aparagus.
Starting seeds today...
I would add it to my compost file, versus directly to my garden beds. Thin layer of ash, layers of browns and greens. Water. Repeat. Let cook down.
Wood ash is mostly nitrogen, so apply it directly to areas where you are growing crops ABOVE ground and NOT root crops.
Wood ash would be suitable for an asparagus bed, greens such as lettuces and chard and collards, etc. Avoid it for carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, etc. You’ll get extra top growth but your ‘roots’ will be wimpy.
See Post #24, Mom! :)
Good morning Diana. I have a question about last years garden. We tried hay bale gardening for the first time. It worked pretty well, but on one of the bales I had something that looked and acted like a puffball growing on the plants.
A) What is it?
B) How do I combat it?
C) Are the veggies (in this case, thyme) safe to eat?
Thanks. I am the worlds worst gardener, but I keep trying!
Been saving egg shells to crush up for the calcium. I add them to the planting holes of my tomatoes, peppers, cukes and zukes to prevent Blossom End Rot. Wear gloves when you crush them - those suckers are SHARP!
Made another batch of suet for the birds - added craisins this time. Eight of these little 'pucks' fit in a standard square suet cage.
I’d like to start bell pepper seeds soon but I don’t have a seed starting mat to keep them warm.
Wondering if there’s a DIY method to make a heat source.
Very kind of you to think about the birds. I feed the locals sunflower seeds. They let me know when the feeder is low.
That’s a great tip on the green onions. I never seem to have them on hand when I need them, or else they are a mushy, wasted mess in the bottom of the crisper drawer!
There is NO in-between, LOL!
Thank you for the Sweet Potato sprouting link.
Bumping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35dp5iS8u7M
You gave me a new project!
I have lots of ambition for growing yummies.
Location and manpower (and money) being my drawbacks.
It is just little o’me and a small yard that gets more shade than sunshine. But at least I ‘should’ not have to fight the raccoons and opossums for anything that pops up now.
XD
Was the ‘puffball’ actually growing ON the plants themselves, or just IN the hay? When those bales get and stay wet, they can sprout all sorts of fungal-y things.
The best thing to do with fungus/mushrooms growing in straw or wood mulch is to just disturb them with a rake, or pluck them out and toss somewhere HOT and dry so they’ll die.
Anytime you have ‘warm and wet’ fungus can show up.
The ones I snipped...I washed and cut up and froze. Works great...grab a handful and throw it in to whatever.
This year I'm going to dehydrate them. Best place to do that....in your car. Place on tin or whatever and set in window where sun will hit it. Better than any dehydrator.
Might need Febreeze after. LOL
Do you have an older-model refrigerator? Before they went all energy-efficient, the top of a fridge was nice and warm and GREAT for starting flats of seeds.
You can also use a person-heating, heating pad - just make sure you put a layer of plastic between the pad and the flats so no water gets onto the heating pad.
So, heating pad, layer of plastic (trash bag would be fine) then an old towel, then the plant flat.
Wow Diana!
All you stuff you posted on here is just AWESOME.
So many great things I need to be doing, laf.
That would be $3.00 not $300...for 100 bulbs.
I love my birdies, and spend way too much money on them, but it keeps me out of the bars and off the streets, LOL!
Right now I have Cardinal, Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay, Pine Siskin, Goldfinch, Nuthatch and three kinds of Woodpeckers.
Love them all! :)
Can’t wait to see the Red Breasted Grosbeak and Orioles again. That means Spring for sure!
your pictures -
clever on the egg cartons
I like to use a rolling pin on a plastic bag with what I am crushing
those suet cakes look like people cookies. Attention spoiled birds - head to Wisconsin. Here you will just get solid beef suet and a store bought cake every now and then.
You are officially our ‘Scallion Go-To Freeper’ from here on out! :)
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.