(Obey the crossing guard's directions!)
Posted on 04/16/2022 6:55:11 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!
This was a few years ago at my other farm; all things I started myself inside then moved to my small greenhouse. Lettuces, kale, brussels sprouts, spinach, etc. We were having a NICE spring that year, obviously.
I’ll have some pictures of what’s going on in the greenhouse and garden with tomorrows post. Boring, but ya gotta start each season somewhere! :)
I’m behind a bit, but a near-80 degree day tomorrow will kick everything in the pants! Then, back into only the 40’s for the rest of the week. It’s madness this season! It rained all day, so everything is a wet, muddy mess, but we’re hoping for easy digging to get the cherry tree, blueberries and one rose planted this weekend.
Why windows? The front doors open up completely and there are two roof vents, so it gets plenty of air flow - which it will need if it’s going to hit 80 tomorrow!
I’ll probably take everything out and put it in the shade, it will be such a shock to their systems, LOL!
If it hits 80, it’s going to be 130 degrees in there!
See? I can’t win this season! Grrrr!
I was wondering that your plan is when/if Jiffy pots and potting soil are unavailable. I'm going through a bit of a shtf time right now and since I'm a bit of a prepper, I don't need to grow a garden to survive but I already had seeds so I figured I'd try to use mostly stuff on hand. Everything is growing, albeit slow on some.
Is it just compost, compost? Other things?
Well, if the SHTF, I’ll be direct seeding more than I do now. If I don’t have electricity, I don’t have the luxury of starting things inside under grow lights and then moving them to the greenhouse, so weather depending, at worst I’ll get a later start than normal and have tomatoes and peppers later.
But, I may not even grow them because if I don’t have electricity, I won’t be canning all sorts of stuff, so I’d focus more on the ‘bang for my buck’ veggies like beans and taters and the more nutritious greens like kale and spinach. Tomatoes and peppers would be ‘luxury’ crops then - but I’d still try to grow them for the nutrition, especially the Vitamin C in sweet peppers. And I’d need hot peppers to make sprays for insect and critter control.
Dirt? We’ve got the most DELICIOUS dirt in the pasture that has built up through years of erosion and has never had anything other than cows and wildlife walking, pooping and grazing on it for eons. I mean, seriously, you could eat that dirt with a spoon if you were of a mind to. ;)
I’d use that for starting soil and then add compost when I re-potted to larger containers. Plants don’t NEED any nutrition until they have a few sets of adult leaves; just light and water.
A seed is one of God’s miracles, IMHO.
If it was really awful, I guess I’d find a way to feed myself - or die trying and it wouldn’t matter then, anyway. Beau and I have this discussion often. Neither of us WANT to be ‘Last Man Standing’ if it came down to it. We’re no heroes; we’re spoiled Americans with everything going for us despite what Mother Government throws in our path, or tries to hobble us.
So, as always, save a bullet for yourself! ;)
Thanks for reminding me about the Morels. I’ll send Beau on a mission, tomorrow. ;)
Also - I took your advice and ‘deconstructed’ that orchid I’m trying to save for Mom. First of all, it has sprouted a new leaf, so I took that as a good sign!
Secondly, when I took the root structure apart, even though it was solidly PACKED in sphagnum moss, it had pale or mainly green roots and NO black roots at all. I only had to do a little clipping.
So, I loosened that all up and repacked it more lightly, gave her a spray with the Miracle Grow orchid fertilizer I’ve been using on them and set her back where she’d been growing.
My Mini Orchid that Amanda gave me last Mother’s Day is re-blooming; I’ll have to take some pictures of her for you, tomorrow. A real deep purple with a white throat.
I thought you were taking plants in and out was because it got too hot in there. I will start in a few days putting all my caddys and trays outside for the day then bringing them in. Right now they are in a tow on the tile floor at the base of patio doors total 15 feet long.
Good news on the phal. They do grow pretty slow. And they are pretty indestructible unless water is left standing in the crown. I would always water mine then give them a tip out. Nice job on the repotting. Growers use sphagnum moss, even chunks of Styrofoam because it’s cheap. An orchid bark mix is best.
“An orchid bark mix is best.”
That’s on the Farm & Fleet list for my next trip. Amazingly, I was able to find Cactus soil (re-potted my Jade Plant this winter) when I was there last.
Now, to avoid those cute little baby CHICKS while I’m there!
*SNIF*
It’s the baby ducks that tempt me, nothing cuter. Supposed to be 82 today. Hard to grasp, cold yesterday.
(Obey the crossing guard's directions!)
That is my exact greenhouse!
I think it is Dianas too!
:)
Sooo I had an article on varieties of kale that are aphid resistant—but cannot find it....Not having a lot of luck searching for the information either :(
Anyone know which Kale varieties are more resistant to aphid infestation?
Many thanks!!
Have you ever heard of pawpaws?
‘Mom’ is our resident Paw Paw expert. I’m sure she can help you out. :)
Hi yes I have 4 trees about 15 years old. I am pressed for time right now, but post back and let me know what you are looking for. Our pawpaw blossoms are just starting to open, harvest time is late August, early September. The pawpaw is Americas only native tropical fruit. Once you taste one you’ll crave them. Nutritious too. There is a North American pawpaw growers Facebook page that has a lot of info too.
Thanks for your reply, I only asked the question because I read an article today on the fruit which I had never heard of before let alone being grown in parts of Michigan.
It is native in many states. I am in Michigan. Ohio is a big state for pawpaws they even have a festival.
Have you ever purchased and eaten them yourself?
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.