Posted on 05/04/2012 7:31:41 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde
Good morning FRiends and fellow gardeners! I really enjoyed all of you that participated in last week's thread. I've been so busy that I didn't have time to respond to each and every comment, but I think about what y'all write and the photos that you post while I'm out working on my own projects. You truly inspire me!
Looking forward to reading your updates this week. We welcomed 2 new members to the ping list last week, bringing us to 525 members. That is fantastic, and we are on track to add 100 members this year.
In my own little patch of earth, I've worked on many projects this past week and I did take plenty of photos along the way. If I get a chance I'll share some later on this evening, but if I don't, I'll post them all as next week's thread. My mind is reeling going from one thing to another and it would be easier to tell you what doesn't hurt on my body. It is all very rewarding though, as I'm sure y'all understand.
Happy gardening!
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly 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.
This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. 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 Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
No bunnies, voles, or mice around here so don’t need them for that. I don’t bother checking for rattles but the odds would be in favor of any snake out here on a Texas river that it’s going to be a rattler, copperhead or water moccasin.
Dangit, Miss Magnolia. Do you think Jim could add some sort of scratch n’ sniff to FR?!! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Cut a blossom and put it next to your bed... I promise you that you will drift off to sleep and awake with the sweetest perfume! (I am so jealous right now that I am green. LOL!)
Our next door neighbor waited for the so called YELLOW Lilac to bloom. Waited with me for years. We finally saw the small buds and just knew this would be the year. I went outside and just stood there... He came outside and said, “Uh.... you know what, I think it is a pale purple and maybe it will turn to yellow”. I won’t tell you the next few lines out of my mouth for fear of being banned. LOL! So, yes... I probably did hurt the Lilac’s sensitive feelings and sensibilities with my crass comments. Your alkaline clay is certainly a challenge to you... is there any sort of “regional” plant that does well or do you just go with pots?
I was told not to trim the old flowers off lilacs, because I might cut off next year’s flower buds which had formed over the summer.
Any parts you cut back hard won’t flower for at least two years, if then.
OTOH....
I’m in eastern Ontario, and I have noticed my Lilac is bereft of flowers, except on the top this year. Maybe they need a colder winter?
is there any sort of “regional” plant that does well or do you just go with pots?
Tumble weed thrives.
It’s real funny, we have an amazing variety of wild flowers, but they all miniature! We have to keep our eyes on the ground!
I have a raised garden. It’s only about 3 years old. This is the first year I’m having some success with potatoes, mixed lettuce, spinach, tomatoes looking pretty good, eggplant greening up.
The garden is approx 10x20, so it’s a few of these and those. Just my husband and I, and tons of work projects on our house and stuff....Keeping it simple for now.
But, in that small area I’ve added light soil, grass clippings I brought with me, a bale of alfalfa, manure from neighboring ranch, all my kitchen garbage, potting soil, ashes, etc., etc., chemical warfare... Pack rat traps.
Windbreak all around of old pallets and wire screen for the rodents.
It’s an incredible amount of work...but my Mexican petunias which are an invasive water plant from Florida are going crazy! Go figure!
We are in the 2nd year of an extreme drought.
But, I love a challenge, don’t you?!!!
Don't despair, you'll get better at it.
You were right about the light....you are trying to copy nature, so 24 hours of light is too much. Plants need to rest too.
When grown from seed, plants need to be “hardened off”, just as you described. Outside for an hour or two in the shade the first day or two, then two to six hours for a few days, then 4 hours in a mix of sun/shade, for three to four days. And don't listen to me about the timing, watch the plants. If it's too windy you won't leave them out for as long, as they will dry out fast, and possibly stress themselves.
The idea is to allow the plant to ‘learn’ how to deal with changing weather and wind slowly.
It sounds like you're doing OK with the peppers and tomatoes. Good.
Any plants you have growing in a sunny window need to be rotated every day. 180 degrees.
The best part about starting from seed, is that if you want 6 plants, it doesn't cost much to start 18 seeds, and then only plant the strongest survivors.
Always remember...
The plants want to live even more than you want them to. IOW, they are going to try to live regardless of what you do. So keep trying.
Gardening challenges can be fun IF you look at any sort of small success as a good thing. Okay, tumble weeds. Martha Stewart would glue small, silk flowers into the tumble weed to make them a “good thing”. LOL! At Christmas, she would use small, white lights in them to create a warm, holiday feel. LOL! You are doing so well with your garden. Good luck!
Maybe try planting the seeds outdoors this year instead of trying to start them indoors? If the danger of frost has passed, of course.
I am not going to panic you, bgill. But, my cousin in law lived in Cumberland and they had snakes (poisonous and not poisonous). Long story short, he ran over one and it wasn’t on the road. Later, he went to check his oil and a poisonous snake was curled up on the engine (somewhere on it where it wasn’t hot). I just wanted to pass this story on. According to him, he felt the tire somehow flipped the snake up and under the car and it made its way to the engine.
Walking around under my oak trees is not the same experience that it used to be.
That’s the first snake I’ve seen that looked like it needed a chiropractor.
I wish I could give you some positive info on your asparagus, but I don’t know a darn thing about it. Hopefully somebody here will share some info, or you might call your local extension office to see if you need to be worried. I’m guessing not ... we gardeners worry too much! :)
LOL! He stayed pretty kinked-up until he reached the first branch, which is about 20-25 ft. That trunk is straight up and it was kinda cool to watch him negotiate his path.
Thank you for those decorating tips!!!! Will Christmas never come?
Tender young tumble weed was included in the diet of Indians, and wandering souls out here. Real tasty with a delicate Hollindase sauce...so I’ve heard!
Happy weekend!
Funny that you mention the front porch ... I was potting some plants and putting them on the front porch today and I thought about you. :)
Looks like a brown rat snake.
That is true about lilacs blooming on old wood. That is why I said to trim an old bush half way down and wait for 2 years for new blooms. If we couldn’t cut the flowers for bouquets we could never use them in flower arrangements! And that is why you wait until after the bush blooms this year.
My lilacs are now about 18 feet tall and barely have any flowers any more.
BTW, I have 2 new bushes that I got from the Arbor Day Foundation. I planted them as 12” tall sticks 2 years ago and they are now 8 ft. tall and blooming for the first time. But, they’ll have to be pruned in order to shape them into a bush. Rght now, they are just these tall, spindly things. I planted them in the perimeter of my veggie garden for “storage” because I didn’t know where I wanted to put them forever. Got to make a decision soon.
I use my front porch (verandah?) as my potting bench. There’s water nearby, it’s sunny (sometimes too sunny) and I can keep a close watch on what’s happening out there through the big windows in the front. The driveway is right there too for bringing in potting soil, pots, etc. Handy.
Sometimes it gets messy, but I can’t ignore it. LOL.
our lilac is pretty well shaded, never pruned(can you say neglected) and is decreasing in blooms also. I hope this summer to make some progress in pruning many things & doing things I haven’t had time for in the past. Last summer I was on the go/road most of time (more neglect). When I was home, it was just a quick mow & off again.
Mom(her house) while she was living watched out windows & told me continually NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING.. she would handle it when she got better. It was not worth the hassle & I did not do a thing in back where she could see. Now in the front.. aha.. planted my English gardens, put in my driftwood & rocks from around the USA
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