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The Garden Thread - May, 2024
May 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 05/01/2024 6:00:41 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a 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 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/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; may
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To: Augie

No redear in there? They tend to grow a bit bigger than the bluegill and keep the snails under control.


121 posted on 05/03/2024 8:35:46 AM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Us kids were paid a PENNY for every ear we shucked. And it had to be PRISTINE! No silk left behind on those ears!

Oh my, they had you shucking corn the hard way. lol

By far the best way I've found to deal with sweet corn is to boil it in the shuck. Pull it out, dump it in an ice batch until it's cool enough to handle, cut the butt of the ear off with a sharp knife and peel towards the top. There will be very few silks left behind and those will usually come off with a quick rinse under running water.

122 posted on 05/03/2024 8:44:28 AM PDT by Augie
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To: CottonBall
What is the best way to plant bean seeds?

Esp. those Scarlett Runners!

Maybe someone can offer experience based advice or look up a reputable YouTube vid. I looked at a couple - saw nothing special. For example... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUAqlf2Yc0

123 posted on 05/03/2024 8:49:16 AM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Qiviut
The BIG news - I am mowing the bank! I practiced on some short, steep banks

Mowing the pond dam with my Kubota ZTR was an unpleasant adventure until I swapped out the turf tires that it was originally equipped with for a set of Carlyle chevron tread tires.

2019-07-25 19.10.42

124 posted on 05/03/2024 9:02:22 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Paul R.

Yep I’ve got nice redear in the pond. Quite a few of them >12” in size. They only spawn once per year so they don’t tend to get out of control the way bluegill do. I stocked the redear specifically for snail control so we don’t take them out unless gut/gill hooked and not going to survive. We swim in the pond and nobody likes a bad case of swimmer’s itch.


125 posted on 05/03/2024 9:25:36 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Augie

Nice! I can see where that tread would make a difference!


126 posted on 05/03/2024 9:39:26 AM PDT by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: Augie

Righto! Same here, as far as releasing them, although only one area lake I know of has redear with a significant population of that size!

Do you get any bluegill / redear hybrids?


127 posted on 05/03/2024 10:58:59 AM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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To: Paul R.

I do see some bluegill/redear hybrids. Not a lot, but a few.


128 posted on 05/03/2024 11:29:08 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My shishitos came today. Two plants! I thought they would be sending two extras as they have done before. Guess I will have to make do with two. The horror....the horror....


129 posted on 05/03/2024 2:27:53 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: CottonBall

“What is the best way to plant bean seeds?”

I’m going to make an educated guess. You may be planting your beans too early. The soil needs to be WARM for bean seeds to germinate properly; at least 60 degrees. Also, they DO have hard shells so keeping them moist once they are in the ground is key. If you’re not getting 1 inch of rain each week, you HAVE to water them. You’ve just gotta! ;)

Also, my cure for everything - MULCH! It helps retain both heat and moisture and tamps down the weeds. Beans do NOT like to compete with weeds. Well, who does? LOL!

A Soil Thermometer is your friend. They are not expensive and are usually pretty accurate.

Here’s a handy-dandy chart for soil temperatures for seeding vegetables:

https://www.homefortheharvest.com/soil-temperature-for-planting-vegetables-chart/


130 posted on 05/03/2024 4:20:56 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Augie

Like peeling a banana upside down to catch the strings; you know, like monkeys do! :)


131 posted on 05/03/2024 4:33:15 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: MomwithHope

My Farm & Fleet is selling Bonnie plants! We went there this morning for their Grand Re-Opening and they had no Shishitos. :(

We did spend a lot of money on all USEFUL farm stuff, though. It was amazingly crowded, but they were REALLY organized and had help EVERYWHERE. In EVERY aisle! It was impressive. I’m going to send them an e-mail to thank them. :)


132 posted on 05/03/2024 4:35:50 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Paul R.; MomwithHope

I was surprised by the selection this year, especially on those 3” single pots. A dozen new pepper varieties and dozen new tomato varieties, plus they had the standard fair.


133 posted on 05/03/2024 4:52:13 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All
What's eating my Bok Choy> (cabbage family)

The Asian choy/greens are growing decent overall


134 posted on 05/03/2024 5:37:47 PM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: CottonBall

Meant to add: The nice thing about bush beans is that once the soil warms up you can seed them every couple of weeks and you will have fresh beans all season. (I LOVE green beans; had some with supper tonight, actually.)

I’ve also done that with pole green beans, especially if I’ve had some ‘Chipmunk thievery.’ I’ve found that I’m able to extend the pole bean harvest that way, too.

(Never tried it with drying beans, but I kind of want them ALL to come in and the pods to dry at the same time late in the season so I can shuck them all at the same time.)


135 posted on 05/03/2024 5:39:31 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You’re probably right, I probably did plant too early. I have a stupid question though, if the soil temperature is supposed to be at least 60 then that means the night time temperature also needs to be over 60 right? I mean it’s the lowest soil temperature that is 60 so that would be at night. Or am I overthinking this?


136 posted on 05/03/2024 6:20:48 PM PDT by CottonBall ("We need Trump before any other Americans are killed.")
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To: Pollard

I’m going to say that your problem on the Bok Choy is most likely Flea Beatles. This is the right time for them to be active where you are.

They’ll be in my garden soon enough! They can be pests on my green beans and they absolutely LOVE Eggplant. Jerks! :(


137 posted on 05/03/2024 7:48:42 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: CottonBall

You need a soil thermometer. Soil temps can vary all over your garden, depending upon...so many factors!

Just try the soil thermometer. I have had mine for at least 10 years and it’s much more accurate then trying to gauge temps by a ‘guestimate’ on daytime and nighttime temps.

Ten bucks on Amazon. You’ll have it in a few days. You will never go back when it comes to planting your green beans. And I can guarantee that you’ll have great germination and more green beans than you’ll know what to do with! :)


138 posted on 05/03/2024 8:00:07 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
A quick reading says you're probably right. I'll be on the look out for tiny black jumping things. I guess netting row cover needs to be added to my shopping list.

Meanwhile, my rain gauge appears to be taking the scenic route. Seven locations so far.

Guess there were no trucks going from Hodgkins/Springfield IL to St Louis. Will be interesting to see if it takes I-70 back across MO or jumps down to Springfield MO to get to the Mark Twain National Forest where I am. Est delivery pushed from Tues to Wed.(4 more days of rain) I guess Mr Rainguage wants to see a few more sites. I'm thinking Springfield up to Rolla UPS which is where our UPS deliveries come from.


139 posted on 05/04/2024 4:30:50 AM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Then there's this thing.

Most of Baker Creek's pics show them harvested with flowers but with a lot thicker stalks than I have.

Choy Sum. (or Choy Very Little) One small side dish for one person per one plant seems a little stingy. LOL

140 posted on 05/04/2024 4:41:50 AM PDT by Pollard (Will work for high tunnel money!)
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