The Garden Thread - May, 2024

May 1, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[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!

[Pollard]

yuk

If it's not raining when I get home, I'm going out on the little tractor to try and do what the county isn't doing. Clean up the damage to the road that the last torrential rains did and dig out the drainage ditches on the sides of the road so it doesn't screw up the road as bad. I can't even drive the car to work right now and driving the truck every day is costing me money.

Need to go to my buddy's house tomorrow and borrow his 10' step ladder. With it standing in the back of the truck, I'll be able to reach the top of the tunnel frame to put purlins up. Someday when the soil dries up a little.

[Pollard]

Rain gauge won’t be here until next week.

[OldHarbor]

Last year was the first time we saw bluebirds at our feeder. They decided to come back this year.

We had a “nest box “ up for years without results , they found their way here ,

[OldHarbor]

Peonies are blooming here too.

[FamiliarFace]

I missed your post on the successful mowing until now. Great job! Plus, I think dill pickles are a great snack!

[FamiliarFace]

Her illustrations are amazing. One of the reasons I enjoy photography is because I can’t draw, and when I do, it looks like a third grader did it.

[FamiliarFace]

Wonderful! I love peonies! I had 5 (various colors) but one croaked. My largest and oldest one has white/blush pink blossoms when they open, and has the most beautiful fragrance. It’s budded and they are swelling some, but haven’t started opening yet.

Remind me what part of the country you’re in.

Oh, and congrats on the bluebirds!

[FamiliarFace]

You’re a few hours ahead of me on the rain. Supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so I need to make the most of today’s pretty weather. Not that rain can’t be beautiful, I just don’t like to work in it.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Re: Green Beans.

Heirloom (Open Pollinated) Bush Beans:

https://thehomesteadguide.com/best-heirloom-bush-beans/

Of the Bush beans I like/have grown: Dragon Tongue, Blue Lake, Top Crop and Royal Burgundy. I have a friend that SWEARS by anything in the ‘Landreth’ line.

Heirloom (Open Pollinated) Pole Beans:

https://www.thespruce.com/top-pole-bean-varieties-1835635

Of the Pole Beans I like/have grown: Kentucky Wonder, Scarlet Runner Bean (Yay!), Blue Lake Stringless and Romano/Italian Bean.

Pole Beans are hugely efficient and produce a LOT. I made the ‘Rookie Mistake’ of planting TWO poles of ‘Blue Lake Stingless’ one year and we had beans coming out of our ears, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My ‘Sabre’ tomato seedlings are doing great! Well, they’re no longer babies! It’s nearly time to re-pot into all the saved Cottage Cheese containers you recommended. Beau poked drainage holes (hot nail; ‘like but-ah’) in them all for me.

I will have 32 plants ready to go late May, though I do plan on sharing some. I want only 24 tomato plants this season, tops. Looking in the Pantry, I am behind on V-8, but a head on Salsa. We had SO many Peaches last year, that I made Peach Salas, too. ;)

I started my Zukes and Cukes and some more Marigold (Signet-type) for edging the beds. I started ‘Honeynut’ and ‘Moregold’ keeping squashes for Beau to plant and ignore, LOL!

My Dahlias are coming along int he greenhouse - I start them in pots as soon as I find the tubers in the stores.

Things are cooking along. Please remind me of the OPTIMISM I am feeling this Spring when it’s Fall and I’m cranky and canning the last tomato! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I can’t imagine growing up in a culture where listening to my Parents about what I did/wanted to do with my life is a ‘thing.’ It’s reflected in her novels, especially ‘The Joy Luck Club’ which I need to re-read. I have a copy, of course. Some books you never want to part with. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Those are bargains!

I caved - Jung’s had a 50% off sale on some things so I ordered a ‘Sun Sugar’ (just need one; I am also growing ‘Valentine’ for a red cherry-type) and three ‘Mariana’ paste tomatoes. And a Bay Laurel and a French Tarragon - which is suddenly hard to find for some reason.

Couldn’t pass up the prices and free shipping. :)

Going to a Niece’s new house tomorrow. She wants advice on landscaping her newly-built home. Blank slate! I needed a new project. ;)

She asked what I charge for my consulting so I told her she couldn’t afford me, LOL! I helped her with the last house she bought, too. This will be their ‘Forever Home’ and I sure hope so. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Pete! :)

[MomwithHope]

You dog! All those shishitos. At least I know I will be getting 4 plants from Bonnie.

[MomwithHope]

Nice on the Sabres. Mine doing well too. Save every seed!

[OldHarbor]

We have yellow, white, pink&white and magenta peonies. Siberian iris is also blooming.

We are located in Virginia Beach

[FamiliarFace]

Mine are the almost the same colors! One white with blush pink, one pink, one yellow, and one magenta. The one that didn’t make it was a beautiful red rose color. I sort of think that there was a big tree root that was growing near where that one had been planted, and maybe that was the issue. I have a Beautyberry shrub in its place, though maybe further from that root, and it’s doing very well.

[FamiliarFace]

I hope she goes with your plan.

A few years back, my younger sister and brother in law were going to remodel their kitchen. They asked my other sister to come take measurements and design a new kitchen for them. She’s an interior designer and her husband is an architect. They have a business together, and live a few hours’ drive from my younger sister.

They worked on ideas for a month or more in their spare time. Gave them several options. Even though my little sister liked the plans, my BIL is always certain to get his way, and didn’t use ANY of the ideas they worked on. Lesson learned. Charge family some fee of one kind or another so that they have skin in the game, too.

[FamiliarFace]

I am about to cook some small red potatoes for dinner, and I see a couple have started sprouting. I’ve never tried planting potatoes. Do you cut the eye off and harden it? I have no idea if this would even work, but thought I would ask the rest of you.

[CottonBall]

I have some blue like seeds so I’m going to stick them in a bag with wet paper towels and see if they germinate. I did Romano’s last year, we really like them canned but not so much fresh. I still have a dozen jars or so.

So I think I’ll go with the Scarlets and the blue. must be a color thing this year, lol