The Garden Thread - September, 2025

September 1, 2025 | 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]

And he makes me want to clean out every CORNER of my greenhouse/She Shed and get it in order and looking BEAUTIFUL! :)

[FamiliarFace]

*** I’ve never been all that big on chicken skin unless it’s the thin part and cooked a crispy so smoking them works for me. Not sure the beer can trick did anything. Trying to crisp the skin on the air fryer didn’t work well enough for me to do again.**

I learned from somebody here (MomWithHope ?) about not wasting that chicken skin, which I love when it’s crispy, to just bake it in the oven on a tray, separate from other parts. Just let it cook, under the broiler if you must, but don’t waste it. Waste not, want not. Am I right?

Lucky for you your son isn’t in to smoked pork. More for you!

I would recommend pecan wood for his tastes, as it’s very mild compared to other woods, but I think you have a plan that works for you! 🤤

[MomwithHope]

That wasn’t me on the chicken skin.

[FamiliarFace]

I’m gonna have to keep my eye on him. That’s soooo pretty, AND functional!!

Makes me realize I have to go clean out the shed, which is under our deck, because free-standing sheds aren’t allowed in our HOA. A former owner was very clever about disguising this one.

Still, the animals love to hide behind it in the winter. Sometimes we find nests in the spring time when we go back in there. It could definitely use a refresh. Another project down the road.

[Paul R.]

Haha - at least your blowout was outside the house. :-)

I've never eaten a Mortgage Lifter, but, in a few weeks if all goes well, I can give you some feedback. It looks like the plant in the big pot is growing the fruits faster than the ones in the ground. The biggest fruit is closing in on 1-1/2" diameter this evening, so, we have a way to go.

I was sort of hinting at that question to Diana (In Wisconsin) earlier, so maybe she can chime in, as she has grown them. I've not grown many beefsteak varieties in the past, so I really don't even know how much range of taste to expect in variety to variety of beefsteak toms, much less other factors when grown in home gardens.

"There is .. so much I still don't understand." (Capt. John Sheridan, at the end of his life, Babylon 5.)

"As it should be." (Lorien)

[Paul R.]

Oh, you DID already answer! Many Thanks!!

[FamiliarFace]

Ok, thanks, whoever it was reminded me not to waste the chicken skin from the rotisserie chicken. We get 3 full meals for the two of us from a Costco rotisserie chicken. Anyway, the tip worked! We always crisp it up in the oven or under the broiler, whatever it needs.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The best TASTING tomato that I have EVER grown is the ‘Grandma’s Pick.’

Followed by, ‘Chef’s Choice Orange’ and then the ‘Cherokee Purple.’ :)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

1O.P. Eggplant Parm is good, but it does take a lot of salt and prep to remove the bitter.

If I have a preference I will take my solanine from Tomatos which also provide some lutein and Vitamin C!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Wow, his potting shed is the end product more than a place to pot plants it seems! Not a Man cave but I can still appreciate what he did, especially given his limited space!

The place where I Pot is all messed up and covered in dirt and stuff by the time I am done. I have to declutter this year. (Swedish Death Cleaning?)

I had problems with a locust tree that sent sprouts up along the back side of the house. I have sprouts popping up 70 feet from the tree! Pulled up a cinder block sidewalk and removed 8 or nine small locust trees and about 25 feet of root from the main tree out in the front of the house. (Removed as much as possible and where the root was detached from the main tree painted it with stump killer) Dealt with a number of chipmuck burrows under the back porch patio at the same time. (A slab on grade patio turned into a back porch.)

In the same area was a Gum Tree too close to the house. It was cut down four years ago and a stump was rotting in the ground. Pulled up as much now rotted roots as possible, filled with as much soil as possible, bought more, tamped it down. I ended up putting in a small retaining wall and extending the sidewalk into a patio using 8' x 16' x 2' cement pavers. Not a Martha Stewart production, but a lot safer than what I had. (So...How I spent 3-4 weeks of the last weeks of my life.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

F.F. Like you, we can get 3 or 4 meals from one rotissere chicken.

I also save the bones and any skin left and use it for stock and add carrots and Dried Shitake or button mushrooms. Great for Raman or other soups or casseroles!

[Liz]

Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Turn store-bought rotisserie chicken into a tasty dish.

Ing 1 cup mayo 1 minced gar/cl 1 tbl ea white vinegar, water 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp ea whole grain mustard, Worc 1/2 tsp ea dried oregano, sriracha, s/p, 1/4 tsp onion powder 1/8 tsp paprika 5 c diced rotisserie chicken

Method Whisk mayo, garlic, vinegar, water, sugar, mustard, Worc, oregano, sriracha, s/p, onion powder, and paprika. Fold in diced chicken. Chill until serving.

Chef Notes: Rotisserie chicken is highly seasoned, so taste before adding s/p. Dice chicken into uniform pieces for best texture. Can adjust dressing ing to your taste. Allow to chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving to let flavors meld. Enjoy it in lettuce wraps, on slices of bread or rolls for sandwiches, or with crackers. Fresh garlic and herbs make a big difference in flavor.

[Liz]

Rotisserie Chicken Soup with Tortellini
An easy, comforting meal, ready in an hour thanks to short cuts.

Ing 10 oz Rotisserie Chicken, shredded 4 c strong Chix broth 16 oz Water 4 Chix Bouillon Cubes 12 oz Carrots in rounds 8 oz Celery, sliced 8 oz Onion, diced s/p, 20 oz Cheese tortellini, refrigerated (not frozen) 1 Lemon

Method To stock pot add broth, bouillon cubes, shredded chicken, water, carrots, celery, onion, s/p. BTB then simmer 35 min til carrots soften. Add cheese tortellini; cook done 5-10 min. Squeeze in l/juice. Stir together and serve.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

‘Swedish Death Cleaning’

That’s the plan for my Greenhouse by the weekend, too!

I have a picture to post of the ‘Harvard Square’ tomato for you. You will be impressed! Uploading photos today at some point. I’ll ping ya.

Putting off mowing for another day. No company coming, so who sees it but me? A few things outside need watering, and it was so windy yesterday that two Mums blew off the porch, so I need to tend to them with some fresh soil and a good watering.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

With the cold snap we’re having and all this talk of chicken, I went looking for more soup recipes. You can never have too many of those!

15 Comforting Low-Carb Soups

https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/low-carb-soups/

Cream of Mushroom - I have mushrooms that need to be used up this week. Will substitute 2% milk versus heavy cream.

Low-Carb Broccoli Soup - I only have 1# of Broccoli on hand, so will halve that recipe.

[Liz]

With the cold snap we’re having and all this talk of chicken, I went
looking for more soup recipes. You can never have too many of those!

---

That rotisserie chicken soup is a cinch to make.

[Liz]

15 Comforting Low-Carb Soups

https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/low-carb-soups/

---

Thx for the link.

[Qiviut]

We DO have company coming Sunday & Tuesday & lots of tree debris to go! Mom & I worked until 7 last night - both of us were whipped. Later start this morning - should get up to 86, but with a breeze & low humidity. Gnats are still horrible.

Soup .... I am craving split pea soup & after Tuesday, will make a batch. I trialed a gluten free chicken & rice casserole Wednesday night & it was good, so I have something to make for the couple Tuesday since she is gluten free. GF is an expensive way to live - 3lb. of GF flour was $8+ & a very small box of GF graham cracker cookies, that I need for a crust (cheesecake jars), was $5.99.

[Liz]

These are a budget dish---developed during the depression days to stretch costly meat.

Porcupine Meatballs

Ingredients 1 lb lean grnd beef ½ cup long-grain rice 3 gar/cl ½ small chp onion ½ c water 1 tbl Worce 1 tsp ea Italian seasoning, s/p

Sauce: 15 oz tomato sauce 1 c water 2 tbl ea Worc, brown sugar, chopped parsley for garnish

How to Make To lean beef in a bowl, add long grain rice, gar/cl, chp onion, water, Worc, Italian seasoning, s/p. Mix with hands til well combined. Roll handful into a ball. Place on baker---makes about 20 balls.

Make sauce. In a measuring cup, add the tomato sauce, water, Worc, brown sugar. Stir well. Pour over meatballs. Bake 350F 50 to 60 min. Remove and garnish. Serve and enjoy while warm.

[Qiviut]

Further delay getting going this morning .... pulling the truck out of the barn & noticed my groundhog trap door was down. That was interesting because I had moved the trap away from the brush pile where they have dens, and up the hill under a cedar tree. I didn’t remember closing the trap door. No bait & fairly open location. Mom was dumping tree debris on the pile at one den hole & I didn’t want her running over the trap (she ran over my Squirrelinator at the old house).

So I walked down almost to the trap, close enough to see I did have a groundhog. Not the biggest I’ve caught, but smaller ones grow bigger so I am just happy to have caught yet one more. Mom has been seeing one run between the pole shed & the den hole (a pretty good distance between) so hopefully this is that groundhog