Posted on 08/01/2024 6:19:57 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!
There is no lack of pet food lids in this house, LOL!
Years ago we had a Honda Civic. It was my first car that I ever bought on my own. At one point, we became a one car family, and that little Civic was everything to us. It brought all three of our kids home from the hospital. After many years, we needed something bigger, so we got a minivan.
I had met some really neat nuns at a retreat, and they were badly in need of a car. That old Civic was still in pretty good shape. We had maintained it well. We weren’t allowed to give it to them, but we were allowed to sell it, so we did, for $1. Whenever I see an old red Civic, I check to see if nuns are driving!
I use one that was brand new.
Yes, I would use one that is new, too! :)
OK good. :)
LOL! I took Home Ec in High School. I know all about Boy Cooties. Hope I never catch them! (Me & Beau: ‘I let him chase me until I caught him.’)
That said, Grandma always said you had to eat a bushel of dirt before you died. I really have NO idea what that means, but she always said it. Probably when I came in from playing baseball with my boy cousins; I must’ve slid into Home Base FACE FIRST that day. ;)
Also, when she was bathing me as a little kid: “You’ve got so much dirt behind your ears you could grow POTATOES on your head!”
I was never very ‘Lady-like.’ ;)
*** Also, when she was bathing me as a little kid: “You’ve got so much dirt behind your ears you could grow POTATOES on your head!”***
Cute story! and a precursor to your gardening ways!
*** I was never very ‘Lady-like.’ ;)***
I wasn’t much either. I did learn how to curtsy so I wouldn’t offend from my lack otherwise. One set of grandparents was very “proper”, and the other ones were my “real” grandparents, immigrants. They didn’t care. I ran around barefoot around them.
With my other grandparents, I learned all the appropriate etiquette rules by the time I was 10. Quite a contrast.
I still know all the rules, and taught them to my children also, but I’m just a Southern country girl at heart.
Oh, and I’ve been elevated in title this evening! Previously I have been the “Gravy Queen”. Tonight he called me the “Gravy Goddess”. I think that’s better, isn’t it? All I know is that I can take nuthin and make it into SOMETHING.
Good morning! Yes, it will be hot and dry for the next week, so watering will be done by me, instead of from rain.
Here in Pensacola, it’s drying out. My one neighbor has a big garden, and I bet he’s praying for more rain.
It’s going back to near 90. But it doesn’t stay hot for me as long. I did get the watering in this morning. No rain in sight
:^)
There is a trend away from those soy based faux dairy "creamers" back to real dairy products. A good thing to get away from from seed oils (especially that repurposed industrial oil, canola!).
Seems the peppers have been getting gravity watered via the drip system. I forgot to turn the spigot off so even with the pump off, it's slowly been dripping away.
A new season of gardening starts this weekend for me. All those cool weather crops again but in a new location. Seeding every tray I have this weekend.
I have been enjoying the atypical 70-80 degree August weather in Kansas though. Usually in the mid 90s and all the grass and cool weather vegetables have died. (Leaving Okra and Peppers and green Tomatoes and maybe sweet potatoes, and of course, weeds.) I set out some Groninger Brussel Sprouts and "Amazing" and Durgesh Cauliflower and so far they are doing well.
I agree on all points. I’m always harping on shopping the ‘perimeter’ of the grocery store - that’s where the REAL (or as close to real) foods are! Meat, dairy, eggs, fruits and veggies.
I’ll include the Deli too, because my Piggly Wiggly makes some freshly baked breads that are really good. Not ‘Grandma Good’ but still good! And they grow real mold - unlike whatever they put in commercial loaves that last way too long.
And if there’s a liquor department at your local, you may as well just move in, LOL!
“Seeding every tray I have this weekend.”
Yay! Rumor has it that some of the puppies will be finding new homes within the next few weeks, so I may be able to plant some things outside versus just greenhouse growing.
Either way, I’m waiting to get my second wind as it were. Still have grapes to juice and waaaaaay too many apples to deal with - which makes the mule happy at least. ;)
(My brother who lived in WI married a grocer's daughter and became a meat cutter. The owner relocated to Kentucky and bought a Piggly Wiggly. Brother and wife went along. He eventually became owner of that store which he has now sold so he could finally retire!)
It’s been a busy week. Lots got done.
The big shelf construction project is complete. The shelves are 6’ long, 2’ wide. I found way to use the metal support beams & wire shelving from a unit where the end supports were severely damaged. For end supports, I used a 2x4Basics shelf package that was still in the original wrapper & had been sitting in the garage for years. It took some noodling to figure out how to attach the metal beams - had to bend some slots out to make room for screws. The shelves are on two walls with access to 3 plugs - perfect for recharging tool batteries.
My raised bed project is almost finished. I am building 2 beds & the 4 sides of each are done. I have not connected the sides yet because then the beds will be too heavy to move easily. I am going to take the pieces outside the shop & figure out where exactly I want them. Then I will attach all the sides ‘in place’. I am pleased with the beds & where any boards are warped enough to leave a crack where dirt might sift through, I will attach landscape fabric to the inside of that spot.
In the horse barn tack room, I found a brand new compound sliding mitering saw dad bought & never unpacked/used. There is a stand for it as well, ‘new’ in the box. I am bringing it to the shop & my cousin, who owns a millwork business (custom cabinets, shutters, doors, etc) said he will help me set it up. What does this mean? DIY chicken tractor!!
Took a drive in the country this morning checking out a place to get mulch, but I think I’ll pass on that place - creeped me out! The Co-op sells bulk mulch - pricier, but 5 minutes from the house, easy to get the trailer near the piles, & very friendly employees. Mulch will have to wait until the next trip.
Going ‘home’ Monday, will be back Thursday for an early morning appointment Friday to have the 14’ garage door on the shop automated. I can lift it, but it’s really heavy & a pain - mom needs to be able to get that door open when I am not around. I can haul mulch Friday afternoon or Saturday after the appointment, so it’s all working out well. I will post pics or pic links when I have WiFi.
Some time back you mentioned scarring on the end of some of your tomato plants. This sometimes happened on my larger heirloom varieties, Mortgage Lifter, Aunt Ruby's Green, Annannas Noir, Pinapple. Flowers sometimes get stuck in the end of the tomatoes and they form abnormally. Once the fruit sets I try to rub or pick off any drying flowers before it gets embedded in the developing fruit.
You also mentioned cracks on tomato shoulders. I think that this has more to do with the variety and heat. I do not think there is much you can do other than choose a different tomato or move further north to a cooler climate.
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