Weekly Garden Thread - February 4-10, 2023 [Winter Got You Down? Join a Plant Society Edition]

February 4, 2023 | 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!

[left that other site]

Good Morning!

It’s C-C-Cold outside!

[Bob434]

-24 this am. Thankfully wed didnt get the high winds too.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I think raising chickens is a great topic, and we have a few FReepers here that raise them.

I used to raise them in a big way (50 hens at any given time) at my other farm and sold the eggs to a local deli and right from my farm when I had extra beyond what my family would eat each week.

Right now, Beau is clearing a spot in the barn where the milking parlor once was and is building us a coop. It may not be finished until NEXT Spring, but that’s OK. I’m regretting ever giving up ‘my girls’ in the first place; especially now!

It’s a HUGE topic with lots of ideas/opinions, so let me think on it and gather some data and I will do a separate ‘General Chat’ post on the subject. :)

[Bob434]

The sunshine also helps heat our living room nicely too. It’s nice to get back to a nice warm room warmed you the sun and relax. -11 right now where I am sitting In Carhav8ng my breakfast.

Our power went out fr 5 hours last night too. Thankfully we have a generator. But was a pain tend8ng it as it wasn’t running right for some reason. Gonna hav3 to wait for warmer weather to f8nd out why- it worked, but kept want8ng to shut off.

A number of winters ago we lost electricity for 2 weeks. We at least had a wood furnace which kept house fro. Freezing. That was a rough one though. Not quite as cold then, but plenty cold enough.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Feb 12 is our projected seed starting date.

[AFB-XYZ]

Many thanks for the info! I have a bunch of DE on hand, so will definitely put it to use. Thanks also for the link; I’m going to bookmark it for reference and re-reading. :-)

[AFB-XYZ]

Many thanks! Will bookmark both of those links as well.

[Bob434]

Gail, apparently you can’t just eat eggs and get the benefit of protection against covid. Somehting evidently needs to be separated out, then injected in order to get the possible protection. That is what one poster stated the other day. I was bummed out as I eat eggs regularly, but we still get good stuff from eggs, so there’s that. Home raised “free range” are said to be pretty good for us- but store bought ones do somehow add in extra nutrients to some of their lines of eggs.

[GaltAdonis]

'Tis February - and my thoughts are - "When should I start the indoor vegetable seedlings in the south-facing windows?"

My ultra-scientific reckoning points towards Feb 14 - Valantines Day -
since I love gardening so much... Ha!

[Bob434]

Lol us too. Will be full of tomatoe plants pretty soon though.

[Bob434]

LOL! that ain’t a fern, it’s poison ivy- best cut it down and feed it to the deer lol

[metmom]

I found Arbico to be a little more expensive.

I have not yet tried Nature’s Good Guys but have been perusing their online catalog.

[GaltAdonis]

"It’s C-C-Cold outside!"

.

Currently 14 degrees farenheit here - b.b.b.balmy, eh? Ha!

[SovereignJ]

Usually I am swimming in garden catalogs by early January. I have received none whatsoever. I had to request one from Burpee. Anyone else experiencing this?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Seed catalogs are expensive to produce and mail, so I am sure companies are really cleaning out their mailing lists. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ll soon become a thing of the past and most will go to on-line catalogs only. :(

I’ve received less than last year, but those I order from on a yearly basis still show up.

[ArcadeQuarters]

Zone 6 (but indoors)

What's wrong with my strawberry plants? They turn brown and brittle despite watering. First the leaves turn a darker green and become glossy. Next they start to turn brown. Ultimately the leaves break apart and leave nothing but the center of the plant.

Initially I thought it was chlorine in tap water so I started leaving the water in open containers for a minimum of 1 day per gallon. This seems to have slowed down the process but ultimately they still die.

This happens with every variety of seed and bareroot plant I've tried. This particular one was grown from seed. The soil is always fresh Miracle Gro potting mix.

What's going wrong? I want some strawberries!

[moovova]

“I like to add it to floral bouquets in the summer months, just to see if anyone notices. ;)”

That’s so funny!

[dljordan]

Will the Mile-Hi Cannabis Club do?

[left that other site]

Single digits with wind here. Brrrrrr

[GaltAdonis]

"...Single digits with wind here..."

.

You can keep it.

Enjoy!

.

/sarc

.

But seriously - it was pretty windy here last night.
I just retrieved a plastic garbage can from down the street.