The Victory Garden Thread - June, 2026

June 1, 2026 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The MONTHLY Victory Garden 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 Victory Garden 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]

They hold a LOT of pole beans! I made the mistake of planting them both with Blue Lake Pole Beans one season and we had so many beans it was ridiculous. I could’ve supplied a cannery, fer Pete’s Sake! :)

I now use one for green pole beans (’Saychelles’) and the other for my ‘Good Mother Stollard’ drying beans. Couldn’t do it without them. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

As soon as Beau and a half-dozen dogs, as well as the two pups pull out of here this morning to head to a Water Race, I am tackling my Outside List while it's still cool enough and before the Big Rains hit at 1pm or so.

He got back from his current 'Canada Fishing Adventure' about 9pm last night. Highlight of his trip was catching a FORTY-THREE inch Northern!

Anyhow, we'll see what the day brings and hopefully the rain doesn't ruin all the fun at the Water Race. I mean, they're all wet already, right? LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Even if I don’t have any food-related allergies, making everything from scratch has been on my Bucket List for a long time, so thanks for those substitutions on the canned Cream-of-Whatever soups!

(Beau is Norwegian, so I bought him a ‘Cream of Lutefisk Soup’ mug that looks like it came from Campbell’s soups.)

I’ve perfected the homemade gravy base and grow more of my own herbs than I used to, can more foods than I used to, etc., but adding a new skill or idea is always, ‘A Good Thing, Martha.’ ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

‘Overlords’ is right when it comes to critters! I am overwhelmed this season with Squirrels...but I find their antics to be so cute.

I obviously need to get OFF this farm more than I do, LOL!

[Qiviut]

When you look at all the preservatives, additives, etc. in prepared/processed food, it’s rather scary. A lot of things the USA allows, countries like the UK do not. It just shows you what an influence ($$$$ of course) the Big “Food” corporations have, similar to Big Pharma. I saw an ad for what I consider the height of shamelessness & ridiculousness: now Pepsi has a “probiotic” Pepsi .... anything to try to make their product seem healthy. I wonder if the probiotic version is loaded with sugar or unhealthy artificial sweeteners.

[Paul R.]

That’s a BIG Northern Pike!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It was the biggest fish any of them have ever caught - and this group of (old!) guys have been fishing their entire adult lives in these same handful of Canadian lakes. So, he’s pretty happy. :)

Looks like they’re getting rained on at the Water Race, and it’s raining here, too. Of course it is! I watered the garden this morning because the local forecast said it was going NORTH of me!

Figures.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Do ya think we're gonna get wet?

[Paul R.]

I have a couple “Juliet” plants going too, as well as a couple Cherry Falls (they really did do well last year, for a while), a couple Livingston Grape (tomato) plant s, and some “Sweet 100’s”. I’m also trying 2 “Sun Sugar” plants and the fruits went from blush to ripe very quickly. :-)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I love Juliet. I really need to plant that ‘Mater every season. Thanks for the reminder. :)

We got about a 1/2” of rain out of today’s mess, so I’m not worried about over-watering anything.

The HUMIDITY is setting in. Going to be a BLAST FURNACE here tomorrow with 94 degrees PLUS the humidity.

I’ll get Beau up about 4am to get started on his ‘Honey Do’ list. I only have a WEEK before he and the dogs head NORTH for the summer!

He won’t be home until late from the Water Race so I’ll be a lamb and let him sleep in until 6am. Maybe. ;)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

No, not very nice of the elk or the deer. (You must be pretty far west if you have elk!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

What? Wet? In the place of Many Waters?

I hope Himself had a good trip. Except for black flies and mosquitos I always enjoyed going up north.

A good year for beets in my small garden! A long cool spring with lots of water. Its about to get hot. I pulled all the large ones. They filled an 8 quart Pot. Perhaps the remaining will grow quickly now that they have more room. I have a 1/2 gallon of spiced beets in the Refrigerator. (Red wine vinegar, Star Anise, cinnamon, allspice, whole ginger, Salt, allulose, bay leaf. I will get some dill from the garden and add it tomorrow!)

The potatoes are growing vigorously! Will they shut down in this weeks heat? (Probably. )

I have green fruit on all my Tomato plants. The weather has been cool and they have set well. Determinates (Both roma type varieties. I do not recall which) have larger green fruit. I planted marigolds that mostly died of pill bug infestations. Lots of basil and Alyssium around them. I am allowing the Purslane to grow anywhere it wants. Its forming a nice ground cover and I can use it in cooking. (I have done this and not mentioned it and no one seems to notice so must be OK!!)

[ApplegateRanch]

About 15-20 air miles from WY, in the southern fringe of the Black Hills.

Nothing quite like driving about 25 MPH on a dark gravel road, and suddenly being in the midst of a large, rapidly moving herd of elk flowing diagonally around the moving car, as they cross the road.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

And so it begins.

77 degrees at 7am. Overcast, thankfully and a steady breeze of 15-20 mph, so if you’re not in the sun it’s tolerable - but be prepared to sweat! Mon-Fri are ALERT DAYS for the heat. It looks ugly. I’ll be hauling a LOT of water to critters this week!

We are taking the A/C truck to Menard’s today to get some errands done for upcoming INDOOR projects this week/end.

Looks like Beau will be hanging around until the 6th of July or so because he has some small mowing jobs for neighbors that he wants to get out of the way. Then he and ALL THE DOGS (except for Emma Jolene) will be loaded up and leaving in their circus-like fashion for Da North for Bear Training Camp!

Grover and Midnight got handed off to their owner at the Water Race, yesterday. I didn’t even get to say GOODBYE! *SOB*

Oh, wait. I’m over it, LOL! Already got the front porch swept and any puppy blankies and such are in the washer and toys stowed for the next batch that show up - planned for or not, LOL!

Shasta and Mandan worked their usual magic and won a lot of money for our Tri-County Bear Hunters Club. This Water Race was a fundraiser for our club; we are both members; Beau is Treasurer, I am Go-fer. Two other dogs that I raised were there; Payute and Tony. We sold them both to the same guy and he has been having great luck with them, winning races all around the state!

I make a motion at every meeting to change the club name to the ‘He-Man Bear Haters Club’ but I never get anyone to second it, LOL! (There are only four of us females who are paying members). Anyhow, they raised about $2K for the club yesterday between the racing, raffles and food stand. That $ will go towards bear bait, mostly.

So Brunch, then off to Menard’s and as an added bonus we’re hauling stuff to the scrap yard for cash, Baby! Cold. Hard Cash! I may even get Beau to let me do a Wine & Cheese Run at Aldi. ;)

[FamiliarFace]

*** I make a motion at every meeting to change the club name to the ‘He-Man Bear Haters Club’ but I never get anyone to second it, LOL!***

Oh, if I were in your group, I would second your motion! Loved the Little Rascals as a kid.

Might choke Artie, but ain’t gonna choke Stymie! ;)

[Augie]

We got another 9/10" on Saturday. Yesterday was clear. And hot. It was absolutely miserable outside.

I made kimchi for the first time last week. It's a little bit of work putting it together but the results are worth the effort. I used a five gallon bucket for the fermentation stage, then packed it into mason jars and vacuum sealed them. Wound up with 11 quarts.

After I finished putting the kimchi up I got the zero-turn out and mowed around the pasture fences and the grassy area in my garden patch. Almost got it stuck a couple times. Then I got Nanner out and turned the compost heap. #1 Marine Daughter came over and we reset the hot tape to let the horses out on some fresh pasture.

After all that it was time for the air conditioning. Naturally Howard had to help himself to a share of the couch.

On the agenda for today... harvest cabbages then chop em up, add some salt, and pack into a bucket for six weeks of fermentation. If I have anything left in the tank after that I need to do some work on the chicken pen. My back is screaming at me today so I'm not sure how much of that I'll feel like doing.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I hope you had a good brunch and trip to Menards!

Anyhow, they raised about $2K for the club yesterday between the racing, raffles and food stand. That $ will go towards bear bait, mostly.

Good thing its black bears! If he were chasing Grizzlies then the hunters would be the bait! (I know it is something in the last stages of rotting, but beyond that I do not want to know that bear bait is....)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for the Howard Fix! Now that I’m puppy-less again, I’ll have to count on Howard for my entertainment, LOL!

You get a lot done for a guy in pain! Take it easy on yourself, Man!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, Bear Bait is YUMMY! Stale doughnuts and cookies. Various nuts and berries. Breakfast cereals and oatmeal.

And then you drench it ALL in leftover fish-fry and french fry grease! It’s a simple and effective recipe. *SMIRK*

We’ve got 30, 5-gallon sized jugs (well sealed!) of the stuff coming here tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. I plan on still being in bed when it arrives.

It’s kept in our barn and Beau and others stop by to haul it up to the cabin as they come and go throughout the season.
Thomas is on his way up there today with MY Puppies! I’m pretty sure they had no IDEA how their lives of LUXURY were going to be turning out...

This bear hunting is a lot of work! But not for me. I’ll be starting my SUMMER VACATION on July 6th. Wa-HOOOOOO! :)

I’d better start gathering up home canned goods for the hunters. They love my homemade Salsa and Pickles, etc.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

OK, bear bait pretty much = restaruant trash can contents!

When I was in the hospital in 2018 all I had to do was watch cable TV. Some things were good...Observed how to hunt and field dress musk ox! (In Alaska...a bit of a drive and few permits to hunt issued.)

Other stuff? Secret of Oak Island? (The secret is that they only have about 10 min of show per 30 min episode.)

Bear Bait........

There was some sort of PBS show about Canadians doing a census of bears out in the Canadian Rockies. They used some highly aged road kill deer and rotted salmon and put it in a stump with trail cams pointed at it.