Weekly Garden Thread - February 18-24, 2023 [Skills Every Gardener Should Have Edition]

February 18, 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!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Plucking chickens is one of those things that you enjoy finishing quickly so I can appreciate why you do it that way. I do not generally like the skin either.

[Pollard]

I vaguely remember using one when I was a kid and was glad when my dad bought a gas powered rotary mower.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/best-reel-lawn-mowers/

Mentions Fiskars as being good for longer grass/lawn. (it’s a blog so ymmv)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I just have to hold on a little bit longer! Ice Storm on Wednesday then a ton of snow on Thursday. This is going to be a fun one. NOT!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Interesting Diana!

I know that Box elders are considered a Midwest Weed Tree (along with silver maples and siberian elm!) but I did not know that you could tap them for their sap and make “maple” syrup from them! (You can make syrup from Birch trees too, I understand!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Last week was "Chicken Husbandry Thread" week, but here is an Interesting article regarding the Start of large poultry farms. Its VOX and they point out all the problems with industrial level chicken processing. (And there are, of course, which is why you have Poultry Husbandry Threads!)

Article: "How a shipping error 100 years ago launched the $30 billion chicken industry"

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2023/2/10/23589333/cecile-steele-chicken-meat-poultry-eggs-delaware

[tob2]

Maybe some hot rolls and/or danishes.

[tob2]

Just came back from collecting my mail, and noticed many daffys.which has been getting full sun, are in bloom. Also noticed that in my humble garden pots, 1 outside violet is blooming with plenty of buds and there are many dandelions in flower! Spring is on its way! Yippee.

[Chicory]

The Fiskers looks interesting! It’s funny, because they are known for making scissors!

[Pollard]

Got one high tunnel truss frame welded up. Sucker's almost 18' tall by 22' wide. Took some doing to get the five pieces of pipe flat, square and get the dimensions correct etc. Going to use this as a pattern/jig to weld up the other seven. Then I just need to figure out how me and my son are going to stand them up and set them down into holes in the ground. The leg pieces were taken from partials/scrap from my local steel pipe supplier and vary from 6-7 foot long so I'll use the truss frames with 7 foot legs for the ends and disperse the rest evenly, whether it ends up being one in the middle or two evenly spaced in between the ends. The long legged ones that will be almost 18' tall will go almost 3 foot into the ground so that I end up with a 15 foot tall tunnel.

Will need to prime and paint them after spraying them with Ospho rust treatment. I'll have Jason do that. Also read one time that it's a good idea to run tape on the top/outer side of the pipe where the plastic makes contact. Will have to research that and see what kind of tape is recommended. Should be able to get the frame up and ready for plastic by early to mid March. Only 8 days left in Feb and I work five of them. Need to do cross bracing, build end walls, doors, vents and drop down sides.

Might be able to get maters in there even if there's no end walls. If I have plastic over it, I can toss some shade cloth over that if we have another heat wave like last year. Not going to be a season extender for this Spring but will be this Fall.

[Pollard]

Ahh geez. "Guardian Felt Tape"

---

Extend the life of your greenhouse film covering with our Guardian Felt Tape. The acrylic compound adhesive adheres readily to aluminium, steel and timber frame work. The Guardian Felt Tape has excellent resistance to temperature and moisture fluctuation while also performing well when exposed to UV light.

• Run this one-sided adhesive felt tape along your greenhouse rafters to reduce wearing and chafing of your greenhouse covering.
• Prevents film degrading as film does not rub against pipe.
• Comes in easy-to-use 1.5" x 40' rolls.

---

40 foot for $25 (plus shipping) and I would need a roll for each truss frame, eight of them.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Beau bought some Birch Syrup when he was in CO or Utah - I forget.

It was kind of bland, IMHO.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Until the price of eggs goes down, I think EVERY WEEK will be a chicken-thread, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Progress! :)

I have been reading two books for inspiration:

Year-Round Vegetable Gardening - Nicki Jabbour (She gardens in Canada, Eh!)

...and my always fave, ‘Four Season Harvest’ by Eliot Coleman.

Our Spring weather is so unpredictable, but extending things into the fall would be great. I’m primed with my success of growing salad greens until December 23rd this past season.

Yay! :)

[Pollard]

‘Four Season Harvest’ by Eliot Coleman -- I need to get that one

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Yes to the danish or a bearclaw or a muffin! (And a pat of butter!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thats what I understand, more of a Spring Tonic.

[Augie]

This past week the weather here in Central Missouri has been about as nice as you could wish for, and I took advantage of that to the extent that I was able.

Garden cleanup is finished. Tomato cages are all out, and the duff from last season has been raked up and burned. I’ve been working at distributing the giant heap of stall waste that I dumped over the garden fence last fall. I’ve used most of it and still have quite a bit that needs to be covered so I’ll be getting Nanner out to bring some more from the big pile.

I got all of my orchard trees pruned at least a bit. Some are finished and some stuff I simply can’t reach safely so those bits will have to wait until the new Makita pole saw arrives on the brown santa truck next week.

I planted snap peas and radishes outdoors yesterday. Think I might go ahead and get a spot ready for spuds. I’ve got enough yukon gold taters from last year’s crop to use for seed. They’re loaded with 4”-6” sprouts so I’m going to pull the trigger and see what happens. Worst possibility is I have to replant.

I think I’ve got a better handle on keeping the temps down in the greenhouse now so I started a bunch more seeds over the weekend. I’ve got seven 32 cell flats going now. I’m probably two weeks away from the crucifers being repotted and moved to the hoop house.

Today is Mrs. Augie’s 60th birthday so I’m playing hookie from work. I took her to the nursery yesterday and bought her some nice houseplants, a couple big flower pots for the garden, and a bunch of solar powered walkway lights to put in her flower beds. We’re going to head down to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area after lunch and do some sightseeing, then maybe, if she’s extra nice, I’ll get her a beer and a cheeseburger on the way home.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

What a lovely way to spend a birthday! :)

[MomwithHope]

Yeah, our ice storm started this afternoon. Schools closed today and tomorrow.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It's a mess here, too. This coating of ice isn't even going to THINK about melting until Monday at the earliest. However: