Weekly Garden Thread - May 28-June 3, 2022 ['In Flanders Fields' Edition]

May 28, 2022 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Pollard's F/R profile page is the location of Prepper links and Data Base including gardening resources advice and links!

Link to it by clicking on the picture below!

[Bon of Babble]

I'm trying a new image hosting site - the other one kept flipping my photos - I assume it is to get me to buy their premium service.

At the moment, I'm trying to batten everything down before the hot weather sets in, in about a month. We'll have heat after that all the way until November.

So soon, it will be time to say good-bye to most of my roses until late fall:

Irises are about done:

I'm hoping there is enough shade to protect my petunias:

These two will become lazier as the heat sets in, they're already practicing.

My new project: Heat-proof rock gardens:

Happy gardening - I'm going outside now to haul rocks!

[LibWhacker]

A cat tongue under a microscope looks as if it's made of smaller
tongues.

A Himalayan Griffin Vulture makes itself look bigger and more
dangerous with its big fake face and eyes.

[Qiviut]

All of my non-germinating peat pots have been replanted this morning. For the ‘older’ seeds, I put two Bell seeds & 2 tithonia per pot, hoping at least one would germinate. If I get 2, I could separate (Bells) or not (Tiths don’t like roots disturbed). Jalapenos were ‘fresh’ seeds so I only put one seed/pot.

No idea if this will help or not, but I soaked the seeds in warm water first - maybe 10 minutes. I always water with warm water when I first plant in peat pots, so I continued that practice. Fingers crossed I’ll get more plants.

[metmom]

I have this one and love it.

It’s called a tomato press.

https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Table-57668-Strainer-Marinara/dp/B009WLL8LS/ref=asc_df_B009WLL8LS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198068964911&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4592572769477623095&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002410&hvtargid=pla-327864985868&psc=1

[logitech]

Something to squish them and remove seeds.

Thanks

[logitech]

That’s what I need.

Thanks so much.

[metmom]

This past week I planted my peppers, such as they were, and celery.

Today I am putting in beans and butternut squash.

I started a bunch of tomato seeds in early March and put them out just after Mother’s Day. It looked to be an early last date of frost and was. And I have so many plants, that I figured if I lost them I would just replant out of the extras.

Today I noticed that my Slava tomatoes all have flowers on them! Already!!!!!

Most years, I am just getting the plants in the ground about this time. Have never seen tomatoes flower so early except for store bought garden center plants for an extortionate price.

[metmom]

There are other better ones, stainless and electric, but for a couple hundred dollars, I’ll crank my own thankyouverymuch.

Plus electric doesn’t work when there’s no electricity.

I used to have one that clamped on the table and have the cone for the seeds, but it was very unstable and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like fighting with it all the time.

[metmom]

BTW, I put the tomatoes through for two passes. I collect the skins and seeds out the side and then put them back in for another go and get more sauce. The skins come out almost like tissue paper at that point.

[FamiliarFace]

Neat photos! That vulture is quite daunting due to the fake face and eyes.

[Ellendra]

If the garden failed .... well, it was slim pickings during the winter months.

This is why I recommend Shark Fin Squash and true potato seed for survival gardens.

Shark Fin can be stored in the shell for a remarkably long time. Some reports say up to 7 years! Although I haven't been able to test that yet. I have some in the basement right now that were grown in 2019. The first few months after picking, I would occasionally find one that softened and had to be eaten right away, but after a certain point they just stopped. The ones downstairs are just as solid as they were when fresh-picked. If I were relying on my garden for survival, Shark Fins would be high on the list of things to grow.

True potato seed (or TPS) is the seed that forms in the little green "potato-berries" at the top of the plant. Once clean and dry, they can be stored for years, just like tomato seeds. They're grown the same way tomatoes are, too. The downside is that every plant grown from seed will be different, so results aren't exactly predictable. But, if something wipes out your potato crop one year, TPS gives you a way to rebuild.

[Ellendra]

For hand-cranked, I use a Norpro “Sauce Master”. For electric, my parents like their Ball “Harvestpro”.

[Qiviut]

Thanks for the info! I’ll have to do some research now.

Based on your recommendation, I am (trying) to grow Dragon Egg cukes this year. DiW recommended several cukes as well & of those, I chose ‘Diva’. I found both seeds at one place on the east coast & ordered, along with ‘Dazzling Blue Kale’. My dad is on a kale ‘kick’ & I liked the name/description.

Both cukes (2 of each) have come up & have their first 2 leaves. Waiting for 4-6 leaves before I put them in the garden.

If anyone is interested, I ordered from ‘Pinetree Garden Seeds’, website: superseeds.com They are in Gloucester, ME

[logitech]

Thanks

[ApplegateRanch]

We have a yard full of them; they bloom for a month or so, and are a sea of red. Also a few sports that are a lighter pink, or even white. A very few are spotted. I believe our bees will love them.

Yes, a week ago Thursday, I headed up to Rapid City, and picked up my hive. Normally, people mail order ‘package bees’—3 pounds of adult bees literally randomly vacuumed into boxes, with a caged unrelated queen added. Or they order & pick up a 4-frame ‘nuc’—nuclear hive—that is a half-size working hive.

I got neither: the local bee club leader, and semi-professional keeper had some extra full fledged working hives that were more than he could handle, and I bought one of those.

Last Friday & Saturday set new all time low temp records, which meant not being able to get the second brood chamber installed, as that would be too much extra work for them to keep warm. They are now fully set up, and working their little wings off with wild plum, apple, and chokecherry blossoms.

Naturally, those temps also froze the asparagus.

NOW, I can finally seed the main garden, and set up the irritation tank, pump, and hoses.

[WHATNEXT?]

O’my...what a trickster.

[blueunicorn6]

Where can you buy one of these irritation tanks?

I would like to buy one for my cousin Mike.

[ApplegateRanch]

Farm & ranch stores—Tractor Supply; Runnings; Fleet Farm; Farm & Fleet, etc.

Also, places that sell commercial farm & forestry spray equipment, such as Warne Chemical.

Ours is a 1.300 gallon tank that feeds a 3/4 HP pump & small pressure tank.

The system is guaranteed to irritate the daylights out of me several times/season.

[Pollard]

Looks like Victorio brand has changed to VPK brand but the Victorio food strainer has always had good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Strainer-Sauce-VICTORIO-VKP250/dp/B001I7FP54