Weekly Garden Thread - June 11-17, 2022 [The History of the Scarecrow Edition]

June 11, 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!

[MomwithHope]

Have fun with your mom, savor the time. Still miss mine every day after 15 years.

[Qiviut]

Thank you for sharing the kitten story/pics - you are a GOOD person to rescue these little guys! They’re very fortunate they didn’t get hit by a car. You’ll have to post “progress” pics as they grow up and let us know what you name them.

[Paul R.]

Well, I didn’t have aphids (at least not yet.) But a few stinkbugs got in somehow and zapped some of what germinated, early on. :-(

Is there maybe a source (website) somewhere listing optimum soil temperatures for germination of various garden plants?

[Paul R.]

Weather-wise, we are mid-July hot and dry this week already, and, it looks like, next week too. I’m glad we are on a well not too far from a major river (no problems with water table.)

One thing has been productive: Our young hens that went broody! They’ve more than made up for our losses on New Year’s Day morning. (Neighbor’s boxer / pit bull mix got loose while they were away for the holiday, apparently dug for about 4 hours in the early a.m. and got into one of our henhouses, killing 7 of our best hens. We’ve gone from a shortage of hens to giving a few birds, roo’ and hen, away...) (And we harvested a couple young roosters.)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Is there maybe a source (website) somewhere listing optimum soil temperatures for germination of various garden plants?”

Pollard! Your assistance is needed over here!

[Pollard]

https://permasteader.route66custom.com/cloud/index.php/s/2ieKHJxFzADHRb6?path=%2FAgriculture%2FSeed

Three different germination temperature charts here.

[Pollard]

Not sure about that other link because I’m logged in to the cloudware. I know this one will work. https://permasteader.route66custom.com/cloud/index.php/s/eqfmjgDwfWwxkbT

Here’s a link to the Agriculture folder that the above Seed folder is in. https://permasteader.route66custom.com/cloud/index.php/s/eMgoEdoxFRje73X

[Ellendra]

One thing has been productive: Our young hens that went broody!

Awesome!

I'm not allowed to add any more birds to my flock yet, but one of my hens goes broody every year like clockwork. I keep doing "trial runs", so that when I am able to let her hatch out eggs, we both know how to handle it. I figure if she can stay broody for a month with little or no loss of condition, that counts as a success.

The first year she stayed broody, but her condition deteriorated more than I was comfortable with. Most years she gets ticked off at me trying to set up food and water for her, or at my attempts to block the rest of the flock so they don't pester her in the nest, that she gives up and breaks her broodiness. One year it worked, but they're in a different coop now so we're learning all over again.

Eventually we'll get the hang of it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Pollard]

So far, my maters have been hanging in there with the heat. Blossoms not dropping but a bit slow blossoming. Seems like just don’t open as quick as they should. Got a few tiny maters so far though and it will cool down in a few days.

Tappy’s Heritage which was the best performing seedlings are the biggest plants and there’s a mater over one inch around plus a couple more on one plant.

Rosella cherry maters which I tried starting a few years ago in a window sill with no luck are doing better this time with heat mat and grow lights. One plant has a few tiny maters that are part of a cluster of 15 or so. Excited about Rosella because they’re a dark red or purple type, similar to Cherokee purple.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m growing One Cherokee Purple, bought on a whim. I started a few Chef’s Black, which as a CP hybrid, but only one looks like it will make it. I still have 4 plants that need homes, so I’m on that!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The rest of my weekend looks FABULOUS! No humidity until Monday - Yay!

We made it through our Heat Wave - but you can see another is right around the corner. This is still too warm for this time of year, but SUMMER starts on Tuesday - and there's not a blessed thing I can do about any of it!

Mom was here Monday pm through yesterday morning, visiting while Beau is in Canada, fishing. That woman worked me like a MULE - and it's MY FARM, LOL! We got SO MUCH DONE in the yard and garden - I'll have pictures and a Garden Tour at some point soon.

Not really having any 'failures' other than some bolting lettuce and spinach which is getting pulled and going to the mule, but fingers crossed that things take off now with some DRY WEATHER and some SUNSHINE. About time, Mother Nature!

[Paul R.]

Thanks for the info! I’ve been “crazy busy” and not around FR much. Will try to follow up soon...

[Paul R.]

It seems like trying to do the isolation bit worked better for us (changing the setup) at night, but, that’s based on extremely limited and uncontrolled data. So, I would not bet on it.