Weekly Garden Thread - November 6-12, 2021

November 6, 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!

[daniel1212]

Thanks for the ping. Beautiful pic. Almost always we go to freezing temps at night by the end of Oct. however, this year, after a relatively poor summer (rain, less sun) for growing tomatoes, our area "didn’t dip below 50 degrees until October 18th this year, 5 days later than the prior record in 2018. We also tied a record for the longest stretch of days with a min of 50 or higher, 141 days (From May 29 to October 18). As of this writing, Boston still hasn’t dropped below 40 degrees, which places 4th latest on record (November 7th, 2017 & 1971 being the latest)."

An answered prayer, thank God!

But since it was predicted to finally go below freezing at night by mid week, then all the tomatoes and squash had to come in. And the Butternut squash really did well, perhaps the extra rain helped. After some went out, we had this, praise God,

Garden after clearing and cultivation with pitchfork and rake this week. I plan to leave it dormant next year after 8 years of growing the same crops.

Flowers still alive, though I know not which are perennials (soon find out).

These berries grew in the back of the garden. Anyone know what they are.

[MomwithHope]

Beautiful pictures, thanks for posting.

[MomwithHope]

What a neat and today job on the garden, last picture is poke weed, bad weed - poisonous, I would yank it completely. I have a bad one I have to get to myself, slightly downhill will be tricky.

[MomwithHope]

oops - today = tidy

[metmom]

We have had some very hard freezes here in NH, but the weather has been clear and sunny.

We are looking at a beautiful, mild, sunny week, until next Friday. This is great as it’s giving us time to button down all the last few things we wanted to do before winter settles in for good.

[sockmonkey]

I want to plant alpine strawberries. Bare root plants are pricey, seeds less so.
Anyone grow alpine strawberries from seed? Slow germination? Growth?

[FamiliarFace]

I agree with MomwithHope on the pokeweed. It can be kind of pretty, but it’s also pretty invasive in my neighbor’s yard, which has grown over into mine. I can’t get rid of it in my beds.

[FamiliarFace]

We are looking towards Tennessee for retirement in a few years, so I may be in a similar boat as you are now with learning about what grows and what doesn’t for the different seasons (if/when that move happens).

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Back home in Washington State from my short Texas trip.

Thanks going out to you 4 and anyone else who threw up the prayers for my job interview.

I was able to score something between 96 and 98 on the test (don’t remember what they said because I knew I have no problems with those sorts of reading and math tests & wasn’t really paying attention when they told me my score.)

I know I absolutely nailed the interview and if they have another ca dilate who is better qualified for the job I think they should hire that person.

It is obvious they are hot for me based upon their statements and the fact that they called me at 8 a.m. the next day to say I was moving along in the hiring process.

They also, during the oral board interview suggested that I challenge the Texas Law Enforcement test and they would “carry” my commission meaning of they hired me I could maintain my poloce authority and still carry a gun and badge at work with the promise that they would not send me out on patrol.

The stated reason was “after carrying a gun at work for so long we assume you would prefer to keep carrying one if you worked alongside a bunch of cops.”

But I also think they have an eye to the future angle going in there as well. I know they want the person who gets this job to eventually go out to crime scenes and process evidence in person...not just manage the storage of evidence.

I also know they want that person to eventually be the tech guy who collects data/info from electronic devices after search warrants have been granted by the court.

I could see where having that person being a sworn law enforcement officer would be advantageous as they could actually have that person write search warrants.

The city is small but that doesn’t mean the agency is not forward thinking.

Next for me, compiling and sending off all the additional information and documents they require.

[FamiliarFace]

Can you give me tips on mint? I planted some sweet mint this year, and it’s flourished. Do I bring it inside or leave it outside over the winter? It would be nice to not have to start over next spring if I can avoid it. (Most everything I do is in containers so I can move things around or inside when necessary.)

[metmom]

Mint is a perennial and VERY invasive.

[FamiliarFace]

Good thing it’s in a pot then, I guess!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I meant, ‘live’ but you get me, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

And, here’s what the experts at Burpee have to say:

https://www.burpee.com/blog/how-to-bring-tender-herbs-inside-for-winter_article10786.html

I bring in Rosemary, but my Sage and Oregano do fine outdoors from year to year. Zone 4/5. I let the annual herbs die back, but Mom With Hope has perfected Basil storage and rooting, so I’m pinging her so she can tell you what she does.

Some years I can get my Rosemary to flourish; usually it either turns brow on all of the tips, or it gets mildew. Bleck!

This year I brought one Rosemary plant in so far and have it under a grow light on a tray with water in it. I didn’t know until recently that Rosemary likes to take in water via humidity. I learned something new! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I always had customers who over watered their houseplants and got fungal gnats. I’ve been using those mosquito dunks for ages to combat them for my customers, along with an admonishment to cut back on the watering because you’re just creating a problem for yourself.

I just bring in Rosemary. This year I have one potted under grow lights and sitting in a tray of water, as they like the humidity, I read. Never knew that, so I’m giving it a try this year.

https://www.tenthacrefarm.com/growing-rosemary-indoors/

As far as fertilizing, you’re supposed to go light on that on all indoor plants you’re growing. With less sunlight, they are ‘resting’ just like we will be in a few more weeks! Also, don’t fertilize your shrubs and landscaping plants in the fall when they are trying to go into dormancy. It’s like giving Baby a cup of coffee before putting her down for her nap. ;)

[tired&retired]

Mints are winter hardy. No need to bring inside.

Just keep the rodents out of them in the winter.

[tired&retired]

I’m going to bring in the lemon verbena.

I also grew a lot of Stevia.
If you live in hardiness zone 8, stevia usually survives the winter with a thick layer of mulch to protect the roots.

[tired&retired]

Thanks for the link and pointers.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Strawberries from seed are very hard to get established.

An investment in Alpine Strawberry plants (or any strawberry plants!) will reward you ten-fold in the years to come.

I have a patch of Honeoye Strawberries, 4’x 8’ and I paid a total of $20 for bare root plants five years ago. They came to $1 per bare root plant, 20 plants. Now that the bed is established I have plenty of runners to pot up and share with others, and some seasons I put them in hanging pots and I get even more strawberries that way. :)

Check Jung’s in the spring for bare root strawberries. I checked their site and they’re no longer offering them for this year.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My heart just grew two sizes bigger! So proud of you and so HAPPY for you!

If it’s what you want (and it sounds like it!) I sure hope you get it. So exciting!

And the job itself sounds infinitely interesting! Crime Scene Investigator would be a DREAM JOB for me.

I’m kind of surprised I never considered Law Enforcement when I got out of the Army. I loved Army Life and as you know, I love LAW and ORDER and NO WEEDS and STRAIGHT ROWS in the Garden, LOL!