Posted on 02/01/2025 6:55:11 AM PST 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.
February Garden Chores: A Short and Fun List
Plan Your Garden
Buy Seeds
Winter Sowing
Get Your Gear Together
Monitor Your Houseplants
Take Inventory
Take a Class
https://northerngardener.org/february-garden-chores-a-short-and-fun-list/
Good Morning, Diana!
Snow and Freezing Rain here in MA.
Ugh.
10 Household Items to Repurpose for Gardening Bargains
Found Objects (Planters)
Paper Bags
Old Kitchen Utensils
Newspapers
Tin Cans
Coffee Grounds
Bar Soap
Disposable Aluminum Pie Tins
Packing Peanuts
Hosiery
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/gardening-basics/basic-garden-bargains/
Diana here: I will add Yogurt and Cottage cheese containers - the big ones are perfect for tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants, and Toilet Paper and Paper Towel rolls. When cut down, 72 will fit in a standard sized flat. Perfect for starting Snap Peas and Sweet Pea flowers that don’t like their roots disturbed for transplanting.
Lastly, eggshells. Dried out and crushed fine, they are a great source of calcium for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zukes and cukes; prevents Blossom End Rot. I toss a generous 1/2 cup into each planting hole, then do a top dressing later as the plant grows. Works like magic! :)
Plan for at least one future crop of something that you and your family consume
as an experiment
Don't be complacent with what you know and have had success with
Grow a little bit .. and ask questions .
Most of Wisconsin is in a ‘Snow Drought’ (I guess that’s the New, New Thing!)
I’m predicting we get it ALL AT ONCE as soon as the Robins come back in March. Supposedly this is the 3rd ‘driest’ January on record for us. :(
“Don’t be complacent with what you know and have had success with. Grow a little bit...and ask questions.”
AMEN! BUMP!
I am trying two ‘new to me’ tomato varieties and am going to grow my own Broccoli from seed this season, as well as buying ‘Lieutenant’ Broccoli plants from Bonnie Plants, which has been a great performer for me, so I’m hedging my Broccoli Bets this season. With this dry and warm (for Winter!) weather, who knows what Spring will bring? I’m thinking probably a wet Spring season for us...which salad crops will love. :)
I’m kicking myself for not keeping things going in the greenhouse this winter. With such a mild winter, I’ll bet that I could’ve kept cold crops going well into January this season. Live and learn! Glad I don’t have to feed myself 100% from the garden!
Good morning! Happy February!
Our January thaw finally happened yesterday! The snow has finally melted almost everywhere. I hear we should get into the 50’s and maybe 60’s tomorrow and Monday! I’m looking forward to not being so bundled up.
The 5 kids born in January (all doelings). I suspect they are going to be very entertaining, mischievous, & great subject matter for photos as they grow up. Only one (who looks like her mom) doesn't have those (rather dramatic, IMO) spots. They're a good looking bunch of kids.
I almost always have strawberry 'runners' to deal with, escaping from my 4x8' raised strawberry bed. I pot them up in hanging baskets for myself and my Mom. With good fertilization, they produce well - and are also easy to get to and pick.
We haven’t had that much in new England either. The temperature swings make ice a problem though.
Remind me of the breed, again? You’re making me WANT goats - and I don’t even LIKE goats, LOL!
Mom? Had any experience with these type of goats?
“This thread is a non-political respite.”
I was going to ask why my potatoes are like Democrats? Old, dead, rotten, and beginning to smell. 😁
One Pot Casserole / 6 - 8 servings
Easy on you--ground beef in sauce w/ toasty buttery seasoned rolls, then oven baked.
Ing 4 Tb butter, divided 2 lge grated carrots, 1/2 onion, diced 1 green bell pepper 5 minced gar/cloves, 2 1/2 lb grnd beef 1 1/2 c ketchup 2 Tb br/sugar 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp dry mustard 2 c beef stock 2 Tb ea tomato paste, Worc, s/p 12 slider rolls, 1 tsp everything bagel, or sesame seeds
Directions Soften on med 2 tbl butter, carrot, onion, green bell pepper about 4 min. Add garlic; cook a min. Add grnd beef, breaking up w/ wooden spoon, cook til no longer pink 5-7 min. Drain some liquid or fat in skillet if needed.
Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, dry mustard, beef stock, tomato paste, Worc, s/p. Stir/combine/simmer 3-5 min. Add hot sauce if desired. Transfer to 9X13" casserole. Nestle rolls (tops and bottoms together) into burger mixture and brush w/ 2 tbl melted butter. Sprinkle tops w/ everything bagel or sesame seeds. Bake 375 deg 8-10 min til tops are toasty. Serve immediately.
The mamas are Nubians. I don’t know the breed of the buck, guessing a Nubian also.
My niece was thrilled with the ‘spots’, calls them “moonspots”. I was looking up moonspots & what people consider moonspots can vary. Regardless, spotted goats like this are in demand. The Nubian breed is one of the breeds that can have ‘moonspots’.
I asked what she planned to do with all of these goats. They are doing regenerative farming on their place where the fields were formerly mono-cropped. They had hogs for a couple of years, also had 2 cows (raised to go to the spa, which happened last fall) & she is now looking for animals she can handle more easily (without husband’s help) when rotating pastures, etc. I think the goats will work out. Plans are to keep all, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she gets offers she can’t refuse on 2 or 3 of the spotted kids. She’s also got two dwarf goats that are pretty cute.
One of the mama goats is extremely friendly. She just wants to hang out with people and get lots of petting/attention - my SIL fell in love with her when she visited recently & she is generally not a goat fan.
I have room for goats, if I added some fencing - way on the back burner, if ever, but seeing those cute kids .... gets me closer to wanting goats.
Well, you DID include Potatoes, so we’ll give you a pass. ;)
That looks good! I’ve started making Pot Pies (chicken, beef, bear, any roadkill, LOL!) with the top crust being a layer of baked biscuits. Put them on top once your pie is bubbly, then heat some more to warm up the biscuits.
Big hit in this house. Especially if I use Bear. ;)
The rabbits and squirrels that normally make trouble seem to have disappeared. Perhaps a fox or coyote is in the neighborhood.
I have one pink rose bush that blooms profusely, which roses in Florida don’t like to do.
It’s finally warm enough to be comfortable. We usually don’t have long periods of cold weather in my part of Florida.
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