Weekly Garden Thread - December 4-10, 2021 [Holly Jolly Edition]

December 4, 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!

[Ellendra]

Not sure if this would be practical in your situation, but if dog poo is turned into charcoal, it makes an excellent soil amendment, with no odors or nasty bacteria/parasites to deal with.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Ellendra! Good deal! Every animal shelter should be made aware of this...Dog poo Biochar! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This article mentions Potatoes and Wisconsin so I have to post it here! (Ah, just small potatoes!)

https://thecounter.org/four-corners-potato-species-indigenous-crop-navajo-nation-usda-southwest-future/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

(Snip...)"In addition to that unfettered access, the Four Corners potato was stacked with useful traits. Over years of research, Bamberg’s group discovered it to be extremely resistant to potato scourges like late blight—the fungus responsible for the Irish Potato Famine—as well as the Colorado potato beetle, all without the use of fungicide or insecticide. They found it was packed with antioxidants, and possibly more nutritious than common potato varieties. In addition, the potatoes were able to remain viable for as long as eight years in the fridge. And even as their desert habitat suggested they tolerated drought and heat, the tubers were impressively resistant to cold: jamesii growing in the Bamberg’s garden survived the Wisconsin winters at 20º below. “It does stuff no other species does,” Bamberg said.

But getting those valuable genes into a variety farmers would actually want to cultivate is easier said than done; jamesii is just too different to be crossed with the common potato directly. Bamberg’s group tried unsuccessfully for years. In April, however, the group reported a big step forward in the American Journal of Potato Research: they had successfully crossed jamesii with a genetically intermediate “bridge species.” They have since made crosses between those jamesii-“bridge” hybrids and a cultivated variety of the common potato. In August, the seeds from that cross had sprouted in Wisconsin. Bamberg now has a few plants, though he has yet to confirm with genetic tests they are in fact jamesii hybrids."(...snip)

(Wonder if he is are looking for farmers/gardeners in WI for their trials!)

I do not know that you can just pop them into your winter soup:

"She has since interviewed numerous elders about how the potato is best grown and prepared, learning, for instance, that boiling the potato with a white clay called gleesh’ makes the tubers less bitter, and that the potatoes grow well when their soil is mixed with pine needles."

Lets hope the hybrids take less work! (Wonder if they have gleesh at the Dells!)

Ok, Off to do yard work while there is daylight and heat.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Interesting factoid. I’ll have Beau set up the grill! ;)

Nah, he has a separate place for it to go; he uses it (composted with other stuff) on his food plots for the wildlife. I don’t want it on MY food. Blech!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

That is how my dad ate his biscuits n gravy....no bisquits....gravy over eggs over easy.

[Qiviut]

I had sausage gravy over eggs for dinner tonight - so good! I’ll try my eggs ‘over easy’ next time ... got enough gravy for at least 2 more meals & fresh eggs from the hens next door :-)

[Augie]

It was another unseasonably warm week here in Central Missouri. Cold front rolled in last night and put things back as they should be this time of year.

Nothing going on in the garden aside from picking and eating. It’s really nice to look out there and see absolutely nothing that needs to be done.

Mrs. Augie blasted another deer yesterday morning. With the outside air temperature above 70° I figured letting it hang overnight wasn’t a great idea, so I butchered it straight away. I’ve got four gallons of meat bagged up that I’ll drop off at the locker plant today to be made into slim jims. The rest I cut up for chili meat, packed in quart ziploc bags, and tossed into the freezer.

I’ve got a bit of mess left to put away, but I’m holding off until next week to do it. We’re done hunting, but my buddy Nick is looking for one more.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That’s My Boy! *HEART*

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Taters! They’ve gotten to be one of my favorite things to grow.

Red Norland and German Butterball are my current two faves. I used to grow Yukon Gold before they became everyday.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That Mrs. Augie is a crack shot! And a good dancer...? ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Having a relatively schizo winter weather season so far, but I am loving seeing the stretches of warm-ups between freezing temps. Could use a big old layer of snow over everything, though - that ALWAYS helps. We are still in a 'mild drought.'

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Has anyone tried these 'waxed' Amaryllis bulbs? This is the first time I've seen them - they were in a gardening gift magazine I recently received. Not really 'feeling the love' for $35 a pop, though! Just curious. Seems odd that it would work.

'Picotee' is moving up in my rankings as one gorgeous Amaryllis! I have the 'Royal Velvet' started, but I am considering indulging in a 'Picotee' as well.

[Ellendra]

“Elfe” and “Huckleberry Gold” are my family’s favorite potatoes. “Red Pontiac” and “German Butterball” are close behind.

[Augie]

Good dancer? LOL

She has two left feet.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

‘Elfe’ was one I wanted to try, too, after you had such good results. Remind me in the spring, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Some things in life leave an impression on you. Sharing the snowstorm we had on December 9, 2009 that left 18" of snow on us overnight!

The trucks:

The Chicken Coop:

The Picnic Area is CLOSED!

View from my bedroom window:

Bird feeding station temporarily closed: