Weekly Garden Thread - July 1-7, 2023 - [Worm Composting 101 Edition]

July 1, 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!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I have some ‘freebie’ potatoes coming up from last season, and soon I’ll start playing that seasonal game I always play called, ‘What’s Growing in Diana’s Compost Pile?’

So far I see a winter squash of some type, more potatoes, a Nasturtium and a Sunflower! ;)

[Augie]

It was another hot-n-dry week here in Central Missouri. We got 3/10” overnight - not even enough to knock the dust down.

Slept late this morning, going to the racetrack tonight.

Gardening tomorrow.

[Pollard]

Just got some rain here and lost electricity. I’m sitting at work hoping they send us home soon.

[Pollard]

Just got some rain here and lost electricity. I’m sitting at work hoping they send us home soon.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Had to build my mom a full enclosed garden area because various varmints were raiding her garden.

We get by with a six foot fence and Lily the Dog.

[Qiviut]

Picture time …..

Mom wanted to get rid of the 35 – 40 yo azaleas along the front of the porch. They looked terrible & to keep them below the railing, she was cutting off the bush so no blooms the following spring. She wanted boxwoods – slow growing & the deer don't eat them. We bought 6 bushes in late February – that was the easy part. I pulled out the old bushes using the PU truck to jerk them out. Next came clearing the roots – LOTS of old roots left, even after the bushes/root balls were gone. It was a pain in the patootie to get the beds really nice, but worth it in the end. There are 4 bushes on one side of the sidewalk & 2 on the other. I transplanted two hydrangeas who are loving their new location. A potted, unhappy lavender was planted on the other side, along with 2 new lavenders. The 'unhappy' one took off & has triped in size – just beautiful! I am posting one picture & a link to a gallery of pictures during the project:

Boxwood Postimage Gallery Link +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Next project was the herb garden expansion I just completed …. so in love with the extra room and the plants …. can't wait until next spring to add some more!

Herb Garden Postimage Gallery Link

[daniel1212]

I just love love love your pictures.

Thanks. I do not spend much on it, and have been given much, unsolicited, including about 80 tomato cages, a large roll of permeable ground cover, from a believer who was a former MMA fighter and weed grower who found repentance and faith, and now preaches often in public, in addition to caring for his wife and 3 kids (one in the womb).

Glory to God who saves sinners by effectual justifying faith!

[Paul R.]

Feel blessed - we maybe got 3/100”. T’storms all around but none hitting us.

OTOH, on Th. my daughter and I got caught by the MVC that swept through Central IL last Thursday. (We were driving up to O’Hare to pick up my wife.) Had to stop for a while due to virtually zero visibility and hail — luckily the hail didn’t get past penny size, so our Tahoe was undamaged. The wind was really rocking us, just setting there, in front of a semi that had pulled off too. Once we got moving again we saw 2 pickups with trailers overturned, and 9 semis flipped over, along I-57. Northbound traffic was never quite totally stopped at any of those sites, but Southbound was, at two that we saw - later news reports indicated at least the one was still blocked over 4 hours later. Winter is not the only time you don’t wanna run too close to “empty” on gas, and not have supplies (like plenty of chilled water in summer) when on a road trip...

All that said, I still prefer having to water the garden vs. a devastating storm. A few days ago, some IL and Indiana locations got baseball size hail and / or tornados. :-(

[EinNYC]

This is the first year of gardening in my house. I did a major remodeling of the back and front yards, setting up a privacy fence around the back and lining the perimeter with raised cedar beds. On the shady side of the back yard, my hostas, heucheras, ferns, columbines and other shade lovers are thriving and beautiful. On the sunny side of the back yard, my dwarf shrubs are beginning to flower and the perennials are bursting with blooms. I planted zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, strawberries, and cantaloupe. The zukes and cukes are hanging with babies soon to harvest, the others are way slower. My roses are glorious and fragrant, as are the annuals in the front yard. So I am really enjoying my garden, and the compliments the neighbors bestow as they pass by.

[MomwithHope]

My Dad RIP did a lot of quiet evangelizing through his garden, in Chicago, in an area much like yours. So your pictures remind me of that. Much appreciated.

[daniel1212]

My Dad RIP did a lot of quiet evangelizing through his garden, in Chicago, in an area much like yours. So your pictures remind me of that. Much appreciated.

Most of the produce has always been for free distribution (never sold), by the grace of God, which is usually accompanied with a basic evangelical gospel tract. Being in a predominately Catholic area, with few having experienced basically transformative regeneration, then "breaking up the fallow ground "with charity out of sincere love for them, and sowing truth is part of seeking "fruit" for the kingdom of God/Christ, needs to be a constant activity, along with prayer.

Many analogies.

[Qiviut]

” ... run too close to “empty” on gas, and not have supplies (like plenty of chilled water in summer) when on a road trip...”

*********

My mom and I will be taking a long road trip in September .... frankly, I had not given much thought to the travel details. After seeing your comment, I will be packing a cooler with supplies. I typically don’t let gas get too low, but this reminder will make sure I pay attention to the gas gauge!

[Qiviut]

We got 1/4” yesterday afternoon via T-storms. Fortunately, thunder was rumbling in the distance with no close lightning strikes & we did not get heavy winds. Today, severe storms are in the forecast, beginning around 3 - fingers crossed we just get the rain & not much else. Our place is on elevated ground with towering, massive 90+ yo pines. The trees are beautiful; however, they are a magnet for lightning & we’ve had some serious strikes/damage, so close lightning makes me very nervous.

My company yesterday wanted a garden tour despite absolutely sweltering heat. At a minimum, she got some fencing ideas - has a terrible rabbit problem & virtually everything she’s planted has been nibbled on or destroyed.

I have never grown spaghetti squash before & tried it this year, braving potential squash bugs. So far, so good, with lots of squash on the vine. I have one that is yellow - ‘golden’ yellow, from what I’ve read, is when they are ripe - I will take a closer look .... the squash may be at that stage & ready to pick!

[MomwithHope]

Yes, thanks for sharing. I did get tired as a girl walking up and down the block with bouquets of lettuce and green onions wrapped in newspapers. Delivering to mostly eastern European millworkers whose wives spoke little English. And at his wake wow did I hear the stories about his charity.

[MomwithHope]

We were gifted with 4 flats of flowers. Don’t know what the white ones are. Sun or shade, perennial or annual. Help would be appreciated.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Qiviut: “Diva cukes are producing”

A very nice Beit Alpha variety that is seedless and parthenogenic and does not need pollination, a good cucumber that you can grow completely under a protective cover that protects against cur-cubit pests!

First ripe tomato...what variety?

[Qiviut]

Celebrity tomato.

Starting plants from seeds was an utter failure for some reason this year. I bought 2 Celebrities ($5 size, so about 8” tall) and one already had blooms, which turned into early tomatoes.

I love this Celebrity tomato so much & have had such good crops with it, that other than a cherry variety, I don’t bother growing any other full size tomatoes.

[Pollard]

Electric was out at work for about an hour. Then coming home, the final 20 miles, every other place had a large branch or tree down. Tons of little branches and leaves down here and an 8 inch diameter branch came down on the fence. Electric was out when I got home and is still out this morning. 27% of the county was out yesterday and 17% of us are still out.

Garden fared pretty well. Tomato plants are still hanging by their lean and lower strings. Shade cloth stayed up.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thank you Diana!

Another week in the garden, another week added to your life! (Pretty sure thats how it works! :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

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