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.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Spring! Time to start your Sweet Potato slips!

Brave Search summarizer gives this information for anyone who wants to start their own Sweet Potato Slips:

Chlorine in tap water can inhibit or prevent sweet potato slips from sprouting. Multiple sources confirm that high levels of chlorine, commonly found in city water, can damage or kill sweet potato tubers, leading to rot instead of sprouting.

A gardener on 5 Acres & A Dream discovered that her sweet potatoes rotted in tap water but successfully sprouted when transferred to filtered water, concluding that chlorine was the likely culprit.

KelseyViews and Johnny's Farm both recommend using filtered water over tap water, as chlorine and other chemicals can harm developing slips.

To safely use tap water, let it sit for 24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate, though filtered water remains the preferred option. If your sweet potatoes aren’t sprouting in water, consider switching to filtered or de-chlorinated water.

[Pollard]

Sweet Potatoes playlist from Deep South Homestead - 79 videos including several on slips - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfy5IxZ1NtN9BZuuHCJ3oBKkn4DTQEkes

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Pollard, I posted links from Deep State Homestead to the thread last year! A good source of info on growing sweet potatoes. I like his easy way of growing slips in a cold frame. This is the time to start your slips...thanks for reposting! (Leaves and vines make potential goat fodder? something to research!)

He starts his slips in a cold frame in ground. Difficult without a coldframe and restricted to chlorinated city water. (Meh!) But instead of a standard sweet potato in water slip method I pu my Slip tubers (Longer skinny ones are best!) in an old plastic dish pan mostly under garden soil and wetted down with filtered water and set it in front of a heating vent under a south facing window. Some roots are already forming. I think that being in soil stimulates them to root in ways that sitting in water in the sunlight does not.

Varieties. I have Korean Golden and Carogold right now, obtained slips from Baker Creek. I do not have a lot of room but if I were in norther tier state I would probably try Variety like Covington! Regular shaped roots, store well, mature in about 110 days. (Here is a source!)

https://www.jungseed.com/product/J04712/616

Covington Sweet Potato days to maturity range from 100 to 120 days, depending on growing conditions and source. Most references indicate a maturity of 100–115 days, with some noting 110–120 days. This variety is known for its ability to stay in the ground longer—up to 10–15 days beyond the expected harvest window—without splitting or losing quality, making it ideal for flexible harvesting. AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

Here is a Link to a review of Covington Sweet Potato by Horticultural Science Vol 43, October 2008. It has pictures of the mature tubers with comparison photos of Beauregard Sweet Potatoes.

Horticultural Science Covington Potato

[Pollard]

Found a much bigger selection of belts online than local parts stores have. I think I have it narrowed down to 1-2 different sizes, both of which are in between the existing too loose and the other too tight I tried. Current belt is 960mm. Available lengths that might work are 940, 950, 953mm. I think the parts store belts were available in 1/2” increments(947mm) but it’s been years. Might be the too tight one was a full inch smaller(935mm). I’m going to try the 950mm.

Put some water in the tractor and it started leaking out of the block heater again. I must have knocked some silicone off. I drained it, started it to warm it up to dry it off and then smeared some up under the flange. May hold, may not. Gonna put some water in it here shortly but not cap it and not start it, see if it holds with no pressure. Needs 24 hours to cure for any pressure.

If worse comes to worse, pull it out and make a nice bead of silicone around the inside of the flange and let it dry for a couple of hours so I can handle it. Most silicone was once branded as Make-A-Gasket.

Meanwhile, I’m going to start some lettuce and cabbage family seeds as I work out the block heater. Peas too I suppose.

I’ll be buying pipe and wire rope aka cable for the tunnel bracing next week and probably some lumber for the tunnel shed.

I did clean out the actual shed yesterday. Not a detailed cleanup but got all my floor space back at least.

[Pollard]

No leak from Block Heater or radiator at zero pressure. Will put the cap on and fire it up tomorrow. Radiator will probably leak a little and I’m going to try some AlumaSeal before tearing half the front end apart.

Two 32 ct cell trays planted with 16 different varieties, 4 each. Could have filled another one with another 8 varieties which tells me I have a seed buying problem, at least for cold weather crops. LOL

Got that done, looked around and realized all my grow lights are up here in the cabin being used for offset lighting. It’s a pole barn type design so we have poles sandwiched between 2x10s inside and there’s 16” between the poles/2x10s and the walls. Always thought it would be nice to have lighting behind them and it is.

Had an old 4 foot fluorescent up in the shed rafters and 4 bulbs. Pulled down the fixture and two best looking bulbs, plugged it in and it works. That will do for the two trays. I’ve tried three different LED “grow lights” spending a little more each time and have not been impressed. Guess I’ll just go with fluorescent since the alternative is high dollar stuff.

[MomwithHope]

.

[Qiviut]

Finally, a satisfyingly productive day!

This morning, I got my crochet project in the mail which required a trip to the PO. It should arrive on Monday.

After a quick lunch, it was out to the shop, but before I started in there, I got all the yard & gardening tools organized in the barn. A couple of items went from the shop to the barn which cleared some space. I have been noodling on how to organize those tools since last fall & I think what I set up will work.

Back to the shop & the giant set of shelves project. It is 6.5 feet long & the shelves are 2 feet wide. The height is 8 feet. I thought I would need help with the first 2 side rails, but I managed to get them on & then the 2 end pieces stood on their own. I am missing bolts & some ‘tabs’ that make sure the side rails never come off so I rummaged through what I have & found some bolts that worked. The bolts were a pain to install, but those side rails are not coming off. Of course, the shelves took longer than expected, all afternoon. Tomorrow, I’ll get the wire shelving out of the basement & on the frame & that will be checked off the ‘to do’ list.

About the weather - it has not been as advertised. The last 2 days have been cloudy so temps didn’t get to 60. Today was downright chilly & it rained this afternoon. I came in around 6 pm & it was 38°. The shop is not heated, but there’s no wind of course, so it’s somewhat warmer than outside; nevertheless, I was quite chilled when I came in. Tomorrow should start with showers, then sun in the afternoon & “warming fast”, high mid-60’s. I’ll believe it when I see it!

[MomwithHope]

Morning! I am starting to have some productive days as well. I am sure your crochet project will bring much comfort.
I have some industrial type wide shelving myself which I have been working on clearing out. “Way too much stuff” had been morphing into “too much stuff”. Hopefully by spring just the “right stuff”. Always inspiring to hear about all your progress.

[Qiviut]

I’m excited because I like the new arrangement (Army table, shelves, hanging odd stuff up on the wall). After the last trip to the Old House & garage, I had a trailer & PU bed full of stuff that got dumped in the shop - no specific places at the time for putting it away. I did not have a straight walk-through path & was dodging boxes, bins, lumber, the Gorilla Cart, etc. Now, I am finding appropriate places for storage or on the pegboard. Half the battle when doing projects is being able to find the tool(s) you need when you need it!

Today, after the wire shelves go up, I can start going through my garden stuff & getting that organized. I ran across my hummingbird feeders the other day & I definitely want them out this year. I bought some plastic markers Tuesday at the Dollar store - no more using rocks to mark rows when I plant zinnias & other flowers this Spring!

After the shop is straight, I want to work on shelving in front of the shop garage windows so I can start plants there - southwest exposure so plenty of sun. Once the weather genuinely warms up more & the ground thaws, I need to get the dirt straight in 2 of my metal raised beds & ready for planting.

I’ll post pics of the shop when it’s ‘finished” although it will always be a work in progress just to keep it organized & straight.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

More progress! :)

We dodged a snowball, weather-wise. They were predicting 8” overnight for us and all we got was a dusting! YAY! Beau does NOT have to go help plow today, so he gets a goof-off day. This week he has been doing some chainsaw and skid steer work for others, and has started harvesting the Black Walnut trees he’s going to sell now that prices have rebounded.

Fish Fry tonight with Beau’s brother and his wife. Really fun people, so I’m looking forward to that. PLUS - I don’t have to cook tonight AND there will be leftovers for Fish Tacos. Life Is Good! :)

[Qiviut]

A good friend of mine gifted me some dried elderberries back in 2022 that she got at a local farmer’s market. During December & early January, I “lived” on elderberry tea ... my dad was in the hospital & I picked up some respiratory bug (coughing, laryngitis primarily). Elderberry tea with honey seemed to be what my body craved & helped me through that rough period. When those gifted elderberries ran out, I purchased a pound of organic elderberries online & used them for tea during the winter months.

Fast forward to last year - the same friend gifted me 4 small jars of elderberries, rose hips, lavender & thyme. I had been considering buying rose hips so her gift has given me the opportunity to check them out. I had not considered elderberry & rose hips together, but it sounds good to me!

Here’s a recipe for the tea & the article has lots of good info as well:

Elderberry & Rose Hip Healing Tea
https://www.chasingtheseasons.com/elderberry-rose-hip-healing-tea/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Age appears to be best in four things:

Old Wood to burn,

Old Wine to drink,

Old Friends to trust, and

Old Authors to read.

~ Francis Bacon

[bert]

Between 7 and 9 this morning, we have crocus blooms

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That’s pretty specific, LOL!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Look at you Diane! Bringing home the Bacon!

He forgot Dry Aged Beef!

[Liz]

BROCCOLI RICE CHEESE BAKE / makes a lot / can do ahead

Ing--1 med minced onion, 2-10 oz pkgs frozen broccoli, cooked/drained 1/2 c butter 2-10 oz cans cr/chicken soup 6 c cooked wild rice 1/2 c chp mushrooms 1 gar/cl 3 c fave shredded cheese

Method--Sauté onion/garlic/melted butter til onions are tender; cool. Important to allow cooked ing to cool before mixing so cheese doesn't melt. When sufficiently cool, reserve 1/2 c cheese and mix rest list of ing. Set in b/dish (might need 2). Spread reserved 1/2 c cheese on top. Foil over. Bake 350 deg 20 min, remove foil; bake 5-15 min til cheese is hot and bubbly.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Sugar Water and bees and hummingbirds and I suppose butterflies too! (Paging Miss Dixie Crystal!)

I do not have bees, but do have sorghum. Not sure how many here are beekeepers, but here is a link to a discussion by bee keepers on what to use to feed bees when they run out of honey in the winter:

Bee source...can I feed my bees sorghum syrup?

(me) Short answer is NO to Sorghum and Maple Syrup and Fruit juices. Gives them runs, if they cant fly--it being wintertime an' all--they poop in the hive and it molds up and that is not good. Common white sugar is best. Someone indicated that HMF is bad for bees. AI search gave: "Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a harmful compound formed when sugar syrups (especially those containing high-fructose corn syrup) are heated, boiled, or stored for long periods, leading to caramelization. While not toxic to humans, HMF is highly toxic to honey bees, causing gut damage and reduced lifespans. To minimize HMF, avoid boiling, use minimal heat to dissolve sugar, and steer clear of acidic additives. " Brave AI Summarizer

See the link for the entire discussion.

---

Since this is a post about Sugar water, I know that you should not give exotic "sugars" to hummingbirds. (That ratio should be 4 parts water to 1 part white sugar. )

Search found this Youtube from poster in SoCal located back in one of the canyons I think!

"Robbie" joyfully demonstrates how to make a lot of craft hummingbird feeders that you can hang throw away when they get dirty and attract lots of hummingbirds. (Do I see a former Teacher and a Grandmother? ! No, this is not polished Martha Steward type "Town and Country" magazine presentation, but I love her her enthusiasm and she gets results! )

DIY for Hummingbirds, Easy Cheap Hummingbird Feeder and Sugar Solution Recipe

"DIY for Hummingbirds, Easy Cheap Hummingbird Feeder that our hummers just love, easy to hang them anywhere, ant moat, with the hummingbird nectar recipe her; brings here 100's with them having babies everywhere too, and the Oriole birds also. 1/4 cup White Sugar to 1 Cup of Water, that is it. These birds bring joy to our garden daily."

1) As she notes, do not use fishing line! Hummingbirds cannot see it...I am looking at the horizontal cord of red yarnI would use Red Paracord instead wherever possible.
2)Wind (Santa Anna?) might be a problem for the feeders sitting on the rail might be a long shallow tray that you could weight down and put the feeders into.
3)The hanging feeders....use a wide rubber band around the bottom to keep it from working out of its yarn basket as it swings in the wind.
4) Maybe countersink the top holes a bit so they are not sharp.
5) The article on Birds and color... Hers are mixed and she gets hummingbirds and orioles.

**I do not eat Peanut butter for various reasons so I will need to find a different plastic container! Robbie's next video describes how to make a rain cover for hummingbird feeders.

(Have a good morning!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Liz, Thanks! I think you have 2 recipes here, one in the photo and the other in the written recipe and both sound great!

I think the photo recipe uses potatoes rather than the 6 cups wild rice? Or maybe water chestnuts, either would be great substitutions for the wild rice! (Or substitute white rice, or do a combination of rices, or add sliced parboiled potatoes (or canned?) and water chesnuts in some combination of all four!)

Yum! (And Somewhere in my head I imagine fried Chicken Thighs tucked in under that cheese topping too!)

[Liz]

Yummy.....your versions sound great.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

quid quid nomintur fabricatus (Are you a design engineer?)