The Garden Thread - August, 2025

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.

Daniel; Well, I would say that aerated fresh water is better for plants. It holds dissolved gasses and minerals that are probably lost over time or used by bacteria or algae.

Here is what Brave which gave this reply:

Reuse Stored Water for Garden

"Using old stored water to water your garden is possible, but it requires careful consideration to ensure safety and effectiveness. Water collected from household sources like sinks, showers, or washing machines—known as greywater—can be reused for gardening, provided it is used promptly and appropriately. However, greywater should not be stored for more than 24 hours, as bacteria can develop, potentially harming plants or posing health risks. It is crucial to avoid using blackwater, which comes from toilets or has been in contact with feces, as it contains pathogens and should never be used in gardens.

For water collected from cooking, such as pasta or vegetable water, it is safe to use after cooling to room temperature, as it contains nutrients that can benefit plants. Similarly, water from rinsing dishes or cleaning fish tanks can be beneficial, as it often contains nutrients, but should be used cautiously to avoid introducing excessive detergents or contaminants. If you are using water from a fish tank, the waste is rich in nutrients and excellent for plant growth.

When storing water, using a covered container like a rain barrel or a lidded bucket helps prevent contamination from leaves, debris, or small animals. While some sources suggest using expired bottled water for plants, it is advisable to dilute it with fresh water if concerned about plastic particles leaching into the water. For best results, use stored water on non-edible plants or on vegetables and fruits only after thorough washing and peeling, especially if the water has been used for non-potable purposes.

In summary, old stored water can be effectively used in the garden, but it should be used quickly, stored properly, and applied with awareness of its source and potential contaminants." So Water with this:

NASB 1977 Psalm 1:3 "And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers."

But not with this!!

NASB 1995 Jeremiah 38:6 "Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king's son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud."

I would say use it on flowers but not vegetables!

Just added a couple of things to my to do list. Cut some dry hickory. Smoke some meat.

I had been thinking of beef liver a few minutes earlier, unrelated. After the smoke meat item, I thought hmmm.

Yep it's a thing. Our predominant tree here is Post Oak. I've been using it to start up but then swap to hickory or cherry but never smoked with it. Guess I'll try it.

No smell of cooking liver in the house. Milder flavor. Slaps some bacon strips on them. Good to go. We're not huge on pork so those butt roasts are out so I'm always looking at smaller meats to smoke. I like ribs, the boy not so much. Tri Tips are supposed to be good. Salmon of course. I used to smoke whole chickens so throw one of those in there. Big pot of beans in the vertical smoke chamber. I don't have a beans recipe yet but even everything else all at once would make it worth the effort that firing up and running a real wood fired smoker takes.

Time to fire up the Durango Light 18 and make a couple of week's worth of meat.

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