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Weekly Garden Thread - May 29-June 4, 2021
May 29, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

Posted on 05/29/2021 6:52:22 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 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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: All; gundog
Puppy Fix! Shasta spent a good part of the weekend napping in the middle of a Construction Zone while (Foster Son) Mick painted more of the house and had the radio on full blast! My 'Tools of the Trade' when raising a puppy: Tuggy Rope, empty milk jug (it's in the yard, sans cap, choking hazard!) to chase and carry around, and the kneecap from a cow for teething. I will sell you a set for three easy payment of $29.99 each, plus shipping! 😉


81 posted on 06/01/2021 7:53:34 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

That’s one thoroughly played out pup. She needs a patient cat to pester.


82 posted on 06/01/2021 8:14:31 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Such a deal! Our local feed store used to have dried pigs ears for dogs.


83 posted on 06/02/2021 7:14:26 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: gundog

Shasta and our big Tomcat, Boyd, are getting along famously. Eva Kitty doesn’t trust anyone - not even ME sometimes. ;)


84 posted on 06/02/2021 7:50:27 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: All

Garden Report:

ALL of the tomatoes are in with the exception of six more that I’m planting when my additional square cages arrive. I LOVE those square cages - they’re sturdy and can be folded down for storage in the Milk House...which no longer stores milk. ;)

The tomato varieties ‘left behind’ are the ‘fancy, gourmet’ varieties that are just for fresh eating, not for drying or making Salsa or V-8 Juice, Tomato Soup and Bloody Mary Mix. ;) I should have the additional cages by the weekend.

In the, ‘Not All Love Notes are Written’ Department, Beau brought me 5 fresh bales of straw. I’ve used 2 so far, mulching my garden beds - heavily. I’m a total Ruth Stout advocate - look her up!

Tonight Beau tilled four rows for me in the BIG garden so I can get the Sweet Corn planted, tomorrow. (Ambrosia and Kandy Korn.) I planted Gladiolus corms today - mixed colors - about 75 of them. They are Beau’s favorite flower. Watered them in and also mulched with said straw.

Taters are up in the four rows that I planted a few weeks ago. ‘Leftovers’ from what we stored all winter, Red Norland, Kennebeck and German Butterball. Looking good, but we need some rain; I have no way to get water to them, but they’re pretty resilient.

Tomorrow is also ‘Bean-0-Rama.’ Getting the pole and bush beans in the ground. Pole: ‘Seychelles’ and ‘Scarlet Runner Bean’ for the Hummingbirds on a separate structure. Bush beans: ‘Corumba’ ‘Red Swan’ ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Dragon Tongue.’ The pole beans will produce more than enough ‘green’ beans for us; I like to mix it up with the bush beans.

This food production is a LOT of work! (But SO worth it in the end!)


85 posted on 06/02/2021 5:53:47 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I have been reading the posts here and see that other gardeners are also having problems with seedlings vanishing. Thought I was the only one. This past weekend I decided to give it one last try so resowed parsley, basil, patio tomatoes, Forget-Me-Nots. I’m not certain who the culprit is as there are no paw prints and no bugs hanging around. Maybe it is that horrible hammerhead worm which I spotted. If nothing seems to have sprouted in a couple of weeks I’ll plant some artificial flowers instead! lol


86 posted on 06/03/2021 1:42:16 AM PDT by tob2 (So much to do; so little desire to do it.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Wow you have both been working hard! I am having a great iris year and my asiatic lilies and Bowl of Beauty peonys are just starting to open. This is one of my favorite irises, for years I only got 2 stalks of flowers, this year 5!! 2021

0-02-01-d656025ab69b3e97ead16ace00dfa96e8d09a51f360a1566ce2cc8dbaf1afdd8-423904fab23d307a

Bluebirds laid a 5th egg and should be a couple of weeks before they hatch. Wrens being kept at bay. 0-02-01-56586b51a3dcdbd82743e3852f9384434c989b5c8f6e9a2e99d98dc684210909-1db94740faa1c32a

87 posted on 06/03/2021 7:25:11 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We are looking at temperatures of 85-90 starting Sat for about 5 days. However, that’s really likely just to be the highs for a few hours starting about noon. The overnight lows are going to be in the mid 60’s.

My broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts are growing beautifully. The broccoli has small heads about the size of a golf ball.

I know they prefer cool weather. Is there anything I can do or need to do to protect them during a hot, dry spell?


88 posted on 06/03/2021 3:10:19 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

“Is there anything I can do or need to do to protect them during a hot, dry spell?”

I’m going through the same thing! I planted broccoli & cauliflower later than normal due to extra COLD weather, and now we’re getting the big heat and no rain!

I’m just going to keep mine well watered; they are mulched with straw. If they look like they’re suffering, I’m figure out some sort of shade cloth to put over them.

We’re behind on rain, but it’s making life easier for the guys bailing alfalfa hay in this heat, today! I have been watering my entire garden every other day. Tomorrow I am adding the raspberries and grapes to the watering schedule.

We have a second garden this year, and Beau is fashioning a LONG hose for me so I can get water to my suffering taters, and I just got the corn in today, and I still have to do all of the melons and winter squash I started. I don’t want to put in much more without a reliable water source.

If all else fails, I know where the grocery store is! ;)


89 posted on 06/03/2021 6:33:33 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: MomwithHope

I had a friend who had some bluebird houses and was bemoaning the loss of the hatchlings to blow flies.

We got to talking about diatomaceous earth for insect control, so she sprinkled some on the nests and on the new hatchlings and said it made a huge difference in their survival rate.

I want to have mr. mm build some bluebird houses for us for next summer.

It can be a winter project.


90 posted on 06/03/2021 7:10:58 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We had a long dry spell but it broke and right now it is POURING rain.

I was thinking that shade with scraps of fabric or cardboard would help.

I have them mulched with straw already, but more could not hurt.

After this good soaking rain tonight, I guess doing the mulching is going to be first thing in the morning, before those $(#*(‘)$(#; black flies come out.


91 posted on 06/03/2021 7:13:43 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I gave my tomatoes a milk drink yesterday morning.

Does anything else like milk water drinks?


92 posted on 06/03/2021 7:14:39 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

I always fill a ‘finished’ milk jug with water and feed that to my houseplants. I have Geranium and Cactus blooms all winter long.

Tomatoes, Zucchini, Eggplant, Peppers and any flowers you’ve planted (especially those in hanging baskets or pots) would all benefit from a milk drink. :)


93 posted on 06/03/2021 8:10:09 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: MomwithHope

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! My Iris are early - I only have the one, ‘Cat’s Eye.’ A ‘freebie’ I got from Jung’s when I placed an order. Mom has a lot of Iris, so I suppose I should dedicate a spot for them because she’s going to want to pass some of them on to me, I’m sure. ;)

I’ve seen exactly ONE Bluebird this season and it was SO worth it!

I’ll ask Beau to check his houses for eggs. I’ll be he has some in there too! ;)


94 posted on 06/03/2021 8:13:21 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: metmom

That’s a good project. They eat a lot of our garden bugs. We don’t have a fly problem, just a house wren problem.


95 posted on 06/04/2021 4:38:29 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: metmom

for broccoli and heat I just water in the evening every day unless it rains


96 posted on 06/04/2021 4:39:48 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: All

97 posted on 06/04/2021 6:11:41 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: All
NOTE: When I post these lists each month, these are the items that are usually a bargain a the grocery store; you may not necessarily have these in your own garden at any given time.


98 posted on 06/04/2021 6:23:11 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: metmom; All

Lady Bender is saving and soaking Banana skins for her tomatoes in the big tubs in the green house. Something new she heard...


99 posted on 06/04/2021 4:34:29 PM PDT by tubebender
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