The Garden Thread - February, 2026

February 1, 2026 | 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.

[MomwithHope]

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[who knows what evil?]

Love Ghee in my Bulletproof coffee...great way to start the day.

[MomwithHope]

I always think of my Dads garden when I see pictures of yours. His was on the side of his Chicago backyard next to the garage and was about as wide and long as yours. For manure he would take a shovel and drive a mile or so across the Indiana border where there were some riding trails. Open the trunk and shovel it in.

[who knows what evil?]

Straw bale gardening is catching on...we are going to give it a try this year after Helene displaced us into a more ‘suburban’ setting (spit!).

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles! Did you lose your home and everything? Or just waiting for repairs? Again, so sorry! :(

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The Great Greenhouse Re-Hab of 2026 started TODAY! Exciting! It hit 50 degrees, so why not? It’s to be even warmer tomorrow!

After doing some research and reading a number of articles on how other home gardeners organize their small greenhouses (Mine is 12x8’) most of them organized them into ‘Zones’ for different activities. This applies to big greenhouses as well.

My ‘Zones are going to be:

Potting Station
Tool Storage/Trash Can
Storage for Gathering Baskets
Water Storage (gallon jugs I use prior to having the hose)
Plant Flats Growing Areas
Flats/Humidity Domes/Starting Pots Storage
Hand Tools/Gloves, Misc.
Fertilizers

Today I pulled everything OUT, which included three straw bales and the total accumulation of JUNK that I abandoned last fall when I had HAD IT with my terrible growing season.

After the bales were out, I was able to rake up enough fallen straw from the gravel floor as the PUPPIES used the greenhouse as a Playhouse last year - and to keep warm and dry and out of the never-ending rain. I raked up enough to mulch under one of my A-frame trellises, as well as mulch an entire 8x4’ BED! Brats!

Beau hung a rod from the door to the back of the greenhouse and now all of my gathering baskets are hanging up and out of the way. A GREAT use of wasted space. Love it!

He also cut me a piece of plywood that is 30x24” that I can use as a place for potting things up. All of my shelving in the greenhouse is old catwalk - and if you drop something between the slats it is gone FOREVER, LOL!

So, we got a lot done today and the plan for tomorrow is to continue to glean and organize my other ‘zones.’

As an added BONUS - I found a NEW in-the-box Cold Frame that my Mom must have sneaked in there. I’ll ask Beau to assemble it for me, then I can have a cold frame INSIDE the greenhouse for salad greens starting as soon as next month. SCORE!

Looks like I may be beating back/delaying this head cold. This is JUST what I needed, today. And I will post BEFORE and AFTER photos when I’m done - which should be tomorrow, but no promises. ;)

[who knows what evil?]

We lost EVERYTHING except a garden hoe (message from God?). There was a news video running around after Helene showing the rescue of fifty patients/employees from the roof of a local hospital...we were three doors down from that hospital. Then the water nailed a nearby industrial park when six people drowned. The government was t*ts on a boar; the churches (especially Samaritan’s Purse) were AMAZING!!! Even the much-maligned Red Cross came thru eventually, although they are slow as molasses.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Aw, Man! That’s awful! Glad your family was OK, though. Will you re-build or are you looking for greener pastures?

[Qiviut]

Your work today is “inspiration” for dealing with the shop tomorrow when it should be mostly sunny & 55°. After our last trip to the Old House in November, I had a trailer & pickup bed full of items - Army table, metal fire ring, tools, a few garden items, etc. It all got dumped in the barn & shop & for the most part, it’s still sitting where I dumped it. I further messed up the shop making the cat shelter out of the Igloo cooler in late December. The only ‘progress’ was taking 2 wooden rocking chairs (taking up space in the shop) & 2 large old recliners (taking up window/wall space in the shop garage) to the Habitat for Humanity store to donate before year end. My raised beds aren’t totally cleaned up either. Lots of reasons/excuses for the lack of productive activity ... I won’t bore you with them.

Lovely Valentines lunch today. The food was Mediterranean themed & very tasty. It was nice to take a drive somewhere out of town - new scenery & a nice venue. My niece, the one who raises flowers was there (her company hosted the luncheon) & promised to visit soon & bring me some ‘starts’, specifically snap dragons & maybe some other flowers. That is motivation to get my beds straight & do some planning. I did see a sign for ‘straw for sale’ but it was over the mountain & an hour away. I’ll probably end up buying straw from the Farm Bureau 10 minutes away due to the convenience.

Rain for Sunday - hopefully that will clear out a lot of snow. I’m trying not to get too excited about ‘Spring’ - March could still be quite cold & planting around here doesn’t start until May (at the Old House, it was often April). I have terrible luck starting plants inside - might get my ‘green thumb’ niece to take a look at the garage & those big windows & see if we can come up with a plan.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“...might get my ‘green thumb’ niece to take a look at the garage & those big windows & see if we can come up with a plan.”

Those windows of yours are a BLESSING. Add a few shop nights and brick and board shelving and you will be golden. She’ll know exactly what to do if she is a grower, herself. :)

I actually have a little place I go to in my head when I’m dreaming. It looks a lot like my Grandpa’s furniture repair shop, but I’ve made some modifications and added bigger windows and three places to start any number of flats of plants.

Grandpa spent the entirety of his Retirement Years trying to grow tomatoes in the sandy, awful soil of Washara County, WI - which is only suitable for growing root crops...which they do in abundance! When he got a crop of cherry tomatoes one year it was a Very Proud Moment for us all, LOL!

[who knows what evil?]

Got out with our car, four cats, and that was about it...water came up FAST! A new manufactured home has been offered free of charge, but greener pastures is also an appealing option...I like the high plains.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’ve got a great attitude and that’s 99.999% of overcoming whatever LIFE throws at us. Best Wishes! :)

[who knows what evil?]

Like they say; sh*t happens. We thought we were prepared (canning, Berkey, and such), God showed us otherwise. Wife got new everything, and now cruises estate sales for ‘high end’ clothing. :-)

[Liz]

CHINESE PEPPER STEAK / better than takeout

Ing 1.5 lb sirloin steak, sliced thinly 2 green bell peppers, cut bite-size 1 yellow onion, cut bite-size 1 can diced tomatoes, drained 2 c water 1/4 c veg oil 1/2 tsp grated ginger-root 1 tsp garlic salt 1 tbl sugar 2 tbl corn starch 4 tbl soy sauce

Method Heat oil very hot. Add steak; stir-fry until nicely browned. Add onion, water, garlic salt, and ginger. Bring mixture to a boil; cover and cook about 5 min. Add bell peppers, cover, cook 5 more minutes, or until the peppers are tender. Add tomatoes. Whisk sugar, corn starch, soy sauce well. Add to steak/peppers and btb. Cook uncovered to thicken. Serve over steamed rice.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

She’s obviously a keeper! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Pepper Steak is my favorite thing in the world. It works great with any kind of meat, too. Bear, pork, venison, elk, beef. LOVE the stuff! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, Wait! FISH TACOs, THEN Pepper Steak, LOL!

I made a great Venison Stew in the crock pot yesterday. Carrots, onions, potatoes, celery. Venison fried in EVOO with garlic salt. 3 C water, a packet of stew seasoning (McCormick of course!) and all into the crock pot on low for the day.

An hour before serving I added 1 cup of frozen peas and a few Tbsp. of my homemade gravy mix to thicken it up a little.

Side salad and biscuits and glasses of cold, cold milk. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[left that other site]

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have An Altogether LOVELY Day!br>
((((HUGS))))

❤️Let All That You Do Be Done In Love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)❤️

ML/LTOS

[PGalt]

❤️