Weekly Garden Thread - September 24-30, 2022 [Best Cool Weather Crops Edition]

September 24, 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!

[Qiviut]

Would you believe a new hard cover “Roots & Shoots” book is $63? Yikes!! I ordered a used one in good condition, free delivery, for $5.95. Ordered the Sunflower one, too ... decent price for a new hard cover. Just looking at the reviews/comments, the girls will love them. Their mom gets them involved in the big garden (they have their own couple of plants) & they LOVE gardening, flowers, etc. Thanks again for the suggestion(s).

Actually, I’m going to read the books first - might get some ideas! :-)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

They are a fun read! I know you’ll enjoy the books, too. :)

I never pay ‘retail.’ I also ordered a used copy of the Heirloom book you recommended. I’ll give you my review in a few weeks. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, Beau will EAT them, but he won’t ENJOY them, LOL!

I do like them roasted, with BACON, and a drizzle of Balsamic Reduction. :)

Some people just don’t appreciate the Best Things In Life!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Pete! Hey! Where’s Pollard been, lately?

[Qiviut]

My friend, that I ordered the Heirloom Gardener book for, visited Williamsburg last Christmas. She was taking pictures of the outside door/window decorations. Everything is made from “natural” fruits, greenery, etc. The indoor decorations are gorgeous, too.

So I asked her if she was able to take any indoor pics, but they had not gone indoors. My mom has a beautiful book that shows the inside and outside Williamsburg Christmas decorations & also has instructions on how to make the wreaths. As a bonus, it also has some recipes from that Colonial era.

I ordered her a book (used - like new or very good) and was talking to my niece about it. She lives in the country with all sorts of plants, pinecones, interesting weeds, greenery, etc. that she could use and she was very interested, so I got her a used book as well. There is a “tree” made with oranges studded with cloves that I thought she would like for indoors .... I want to do that one myself .... I’ll bet the smell is ‘delicious’!

Both books were like new - I don’t even think the spine was ‘cracked’ on the one I gave my friend. The books were $7-8 each with FREE shipping! The book also makes a good “coffee table” book for just looking at all the great decorations - ‘superb photography’ and I would agree with that description.

Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Decorations-Williamsburg-Susan-Rountree/dp/0879350857/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Very pretty! I have lots of natural materials to work with on my farm. I take total advantage of Red Twig Dogwood, Evergreens, Juniper, pods and pine cones of all types, etc. for Fall and Christmas Decor, inside and out. I usually have pretty Porch Pots full of pretty things for Christmas - then get a big dump of snow, LOL!

Need cornstalk bundles? We’ve got a good 100 acres of them this year. :)

[spankalib]

s’cuse me...what are the children’s books she recommended? (I have 4 grand-daughters! :)

[AFB-XYZ]

How much time do you have left in your growing season? What is your growing zone? If it’s Zone 5 or higher, you’ve got time. Turnips only take about 5-6 weeks to grow. (Check the package for your seed variety). Turnips LIKE cold weather and benefit from a frost or two.

Wow, thanks for that info; much obliged! OK is Zone 7, so I'm good to go on that part. No place to put 'em on the south side, but the deck has a direct western exposure & gets the most sun.

[spankalib]

Our buddy at Roots & Refuge says she can grow greens year-round! Love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IXn2t8GLh0

[Qiviut]

Here’s the link to Diana’s recommendations:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4094052/posts?page=107#107

Sharon Lovejoy, author of Sunflower Houses; Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots; and Trowel and Error

I just ordered the first two - Sunflower Houses & Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots.

[MomwithHope]

I like brussel sprouts the same way but with large shreds of parmesan on top.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Cube sweet potato and brown in butter or olive oil. Salt and pepper and a splash of tabasco sauce. Use it as a base for the bacon and brussel sprouts you cooked! Add some rice or barley. Do NOT call it a Buddah bowl!

Then there is this this holiday casserole, brussel sprouts cream and garlic and parmesan cheese! (and Bacon, lots of bacon!)

CREAMY GARLIC PARMESAN BRUSSEL SPROUTS W/BACON

A good winter recipe!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I don’t know! Pollard, you alright?

[spankalib]

Thanks!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Great! Plant away! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I love Sweet Potatoes that way. :)

[Pollard]

Where’s Pollard been, lately?

Building a website for a fellow FRepper. OneVike had a half a dozen separate blogger/blogspot sites with a common hand made menu that I managed to convert into one self hosted wordpress site. Replicated the theme so it looks the same as his blogger site(s). Google had started un-publishing his posts that they didn't like, pro-life etc.

Stopped in here and checked the headlines, glanced at twitter a few times and the news is pretty much the same ole same ole.

Cool spell after today so it will be all about firewood for a couple of weeks. Went out the other day and marked dead trees while it's easy to tell them from the live ones that still have leaves.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Pollard]

Only gardening news I have is pepper related. I did end up starting some new shisito plants and they were about 1 1/2 foot tall, nice and green as opposed to the yellowish ones I had. I grew these in a mix of potting soil and 3-4 year old chicken coup dirt. They just got some teenie peppers going. Had them sitting up nice and high away from the free range goats but they got dry so I pulled them down to water them and didn’t put them right back up high so a goat ate them to stubs.

Little while ago, I happened to remember that I still have a many month old Pumpkin Spice Jalapeno plant so I went out and looked and it finally had a yellow pepper on it. Tried a little slice and while I’m not big on the taste of the standard green jalapenos, these yellows are pretty good. Nice amount of heat and less of that jalapeno taste.

I’ll get the fence tightened up this Winter so goats can’t walk through it. Fence charger no longer works at all so I’ll need a new one of those. More line posts, battens, put wires closer together and add a new one to get the height back up from that.

[MomwithHope]

Oh no about the shishitos. I had a deer nibble the top of one of my bushes. I am actually thinking about digging the one with the most buds and tiny ones up and bringing it in by a south facing slider for a month.