The Garden Thread - August, 2024

August 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!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Seems to me that you’re enjoying all of this waaaaay too much! ;) (I totally get it!)

[Qiviut]

Getting the Dolly Wheel Lock Washer on the 2nd wheel was a chore for some reason - 1st one went on easily. Got hot & ‘bothered’ enough that I had to walk away for a while .... figured out a slightly different approach & got the washer on. So far so good - hauled a couple of loads from the house to the truck and the wheels have stayed on!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Here's an idea for salad greens when space is at a premium, or you have PUPPIES running around, getting into everything:

Build a salad table to grow your greens

https://livingonthecheap.com/how-to-build-and-grow-a-salad-table/

Here is the 'portable' version that Beau made for me. Recycled wood, hardware cloth bottoms and second-hand handles. He screwed and glued these boxes, and the wood is old solid oak flooring so it should hold up for a pretty long time. Dimension is that of a standard flat. They are also stackable for winter storage. I love them! I line the bottom with newspaper, fill with potting mix, then plant. The greens I grew in the very early spring were great and lifted out easily for transplanting. They are again planted with cut & come again lettuces (leaf-types) and spinach for Fall salads and I'm going to experiment with radishes, too. Will be greenhouse grown, re: PUPPIES getting into everything. I also used them as flats to hold potted tomatoes and peppers while they were hardening off.

[Qiviut]

Thanks - no puppies at our house, but we have rabbits (and deer)! The shop has a part that is a 2-car garage. One whole wall is mostly large windows - the sun is on that side of the shop most of the day (I’m putting mom’s flower beds on the outside wall). A salad table would likely work well next to the windows. I have enough skills to build one ... caster wheels might be a good thing - could easily rotate the table (concrete floor) so all sides get equal sun. If I put the table outside, it would be on pavers so the ability to roll it would be helpful. I would get the kind of wheel you could lock. I might be able to arrange something so a little oil-filled heater would warm the shop space up enough for an extended growing season.

I have ALWAYS wanted a ‘root cellar’ ... both of my grannies had cellars where they could store produce (potatoes, canned goods, etc.) - cool enough, but not freezing. It turns out the basement of our house is perfect! It feels like it’s air conditioned in the summer & probably low 50’s in the winter. :-)

[FamiliarFace]

*** When I was growing up (back in the really ‘good’ old days), you did not see a single Christmas decoration until the day after Thanksgiving. I find ‘rushing’ the seasons months in advance really irritates me ... guess I’m getting old & cranky.***

I have been one of those hardliners about the Christmas decorations that are out before Thanksgiving. It is a pet peeve of mine. I know lots of people who put their Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and it just feels so weird to me.

[Qiviut]

My dad got a 2x4 Basics package for making shelves - I’ve watched the video(s) & if I can scrounge enough 2 x 4s, this looks like a great way for me, with my rudimentary carpentry skills, to make things (shelves, work bench, etc.)

I went to the website to see what other items they have & guess what? They have a utility shed using a 2x4 basics kit. It seems to me if you left the siding off & used plastic (the right kind), this would make a rather nice little greenhouse! For the roof, maybe clear corrugated polycarbonate roof panels .... You can do a barn roof (kit is about $126) or a peak roof (kit about $81). Hmmmmm ..... :-)

https://2x4basics.com/outdoor-storage/901921mi/

Kit info:

Lumber not included with each kit
Customizable shed kit with peak roof (can get a barn roof)
Includes .22 gauge galvanized steel brackets, design plans and installation instructions
One kit builds a shed up to 10 feet, combine kits for a shed up to 22 feet
Only straight 90 degree cuts, no miter or angle cuts necessary

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Re: Post 186. I WONDER who could POSSIBLY advise you on a project like this? ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The only ‘Christmas’ I put up at Thanksgiving is my Creche because it was given to me by a favorite Uncle and it’s a Fontanini original from his travels to Italy. It’s absolutely gorgeous, one of my most prized possessions and I would leave it up all year round, were it socially acceptable. ;)

We also have the tradition that you do NOT put the Baby Jesus in the Manger until Christmas Morning...the SUSPENSE used to kill Sis & I as little girls...and then there would be Baby Jesus in the Creche on Christmas Morning! It was a Christmas Miracle, LOL! (Thanks, Mom!)

https://outdoornativitystore.com/blog/how-fontanini-nativity-sets-became-world-famous/

[FamiliarFace]

I have thought about leaving our crèche up all year long, too.

I’ve always loved Fontanini. When we were newlyweds, there was a knock off Fontanini crèche scene at some shop in the mall, and we didn’t have one, so I purchased it for our first Christmas. It looks very much like a Fontanini. Over the years I have added angels, the wise men, shepherds, the animals, etc. and it is also one of my prized possessions.

Every year it takes a place of prominence in our home, the last few years being on the antique mantle above our fireplace. It has an antique mirror on it, so I’ve added mini lights to look like stars in the sky, and one Bethlehem star above the manger. A few years ago I took a photo of it and turned it into Christmas cards. Everyone loved getting that one especially.

[MomwithHope]

We had the big presto one for over 20 years. Gave it to a friend who used to borrow it. It was the 2 story one. We just got tired of low acid veg preserved this way. We like crisper not mushy beans, etc. We have been vacuum sealing and freezing for several years. We ate our last bag of sweet corn in July from last year. Still sweet. We cut the raw kernels off the cob, bag and vac seal. Just did a dozen bags. Will do that once more next week. Everything else acidic we water bath.

[MomwithHope]

Really nice reusing and design. Kudos to Beau!

[MomwithHope]

We gave the same tradition about baby Jesus on Christmas morning.

[Pollard]

I'll have to put some thought into the shed/greenhouse thing.

No plastic today. There's a slight grade but the tunnel is level so bottom end is 20 inches taller. Eight foot step ladder in the bed of the truck isn't quite tall enough. I'd have to stand on the very top of the ladder(Not A Step #2) which I've already been doing but in this case, I have nothing to hang on to when taking those last two steps up. Even standing on the tippy top, the peak of the frame would be at eye level.

A co-worker offered to loan me his Big Giant ladder so I'm going to take him up on it. Have no idea how tall it is but he knows I'm using an 8 foot ladder that's not tall enough.

Meanwhile

I'm heading out to weedwack it down to dirt. It's pretty dry right now. I can bring corrugated cardboard home during the week and put it on moist soil and also let the rain soak the cardboard. Rain's going to taper off by next weekend so hopefully I'll get that last 15 foot of track on and put plastic on then.

Then it will never rain in that spot again so I guess it's not a bad thing to start out wet.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I add a thin string of lights, too. Love the look. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“Then it will never rain in that spot again so I guess it’s not a bad thing to start out wet.”

So, you’re familiar with Mr. Murphy and his Laws, are ya? ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

He's amazingly handy. Next in his 'to build' stack are a few of these. I want to find the perfect shade of French Blue, which goes so well with green in the garden. I call them a 'Pyramid Trellis' but they have some fancy 'Martha Stewart Name' that I can't remember off top:

[MomwithHope]

I like to come home from the paint department with a handful of paint swatches.

[Pollard]

Then it will never rain in that spot again
Because it will have a plastic roof over it. Something I knew and was reminded of today with the forecast of rain.

________

Mater plants in the front yard garden got hit by a hornworm or three. Searched a couple of times and haven't seen one but I know the damage to be them. Pretty distinguishable.

Grass and weeds are crowding the shishitos but they're still pumping out peppers.

Noticed I have three cattle panels around the little garden so I'm going to take those for the tunnel. I also have another so that leaves only two to buy to exclude goats.

________

As I get closer with the tunnel, I'm kind of over this little rocky front yard garden. I grew a single row of maters at the top end years ago and it was nice. Didn't realize from there down is very rocky. I'm surprised the peppers are doing as good as they are because they were planted in small holes because digging in rocks, I didn't go big.

________

With it being dry at the moment, gutters & IBC tanks have become a priority. That and moving the drip system down there and adding to it I'm sure. At least drip stuff is cheap. That and I'll be ready to start moving automation stuff down there. Need a drip timer after all.

I make lots of plans but it's all subject to change.

[spankalib]

WOW! That Fontanini is beyootefull!

S'pensive too!

I would definitely have "security concerns"- putting that on display...

[spankalib]

...outside, that is...