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Weekly Garden Thread Volume 32 August 8, 2014
Free Republic | 8/8/2014 | greeneyes

Posted on 08/08/2014 1:25:23 PM PDT by greeneyes

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!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: ApplegateRanch

You could solve part of your problem by sending me some of your rain . . . we’re parched, 100 plus degrees . . . Smile!


41 posted on 08/09/2014 2:51:49 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)
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To: Marcella
The Tromboncino squash I brought here and set the pot against a leg of a metal archway, is climbing and has two blooms on it as of this morning.

These 97 degree days in full sun have taken it's toll on my Tromboncinos. Glad yours has survived. Does it get partial shade?

I'm wondering what I can do to start seeds early for next spring since the three car garage can be heated in the winter.

A three car garage, heated in winter..Oooh, you can make a grow room..er, Bob can make a grow room for you.

(Oh, my, he's a Yankee from birth!)

Well, I will overlook that fact since he seems to make you happy. Have fun on your trip.

42 posted on 08/09/2014 3:26:04 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of course I didn't read the article. After all, this is Free Republic.)
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To: greeneyes
A mighty fine dinner - first picking of corn, beets, kale and grilled tuna and swordfish.

Tomorrow the weapons-grade zukes go on the grill for sandwiches and we have patty pan for dinner.

43 posted on 08/09/2014 3:53:20 PM PDT by dirtboy
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To: HopeandGlory

Love to, if I could.

44 posted on 08/09/2014 4:31:47 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Red_Devil 232; greeneyes
This is how I try to grow tomatoes to ripeness here in Benderville on the mudflats of Humboldt Bay in far northwestern California…

This tent is 10 X 10 and there are 5 plants in tubs and some volunteers on the ground from last years cherry tomatoes …

IMG_9240

Two Celebrity plants loaded with fruit…

IMG_9236

IMG_9238

A perfect ear of corn offering it's self to Briar Bender in the garden…

IMG_9242

I picked another 1 1/2 gallons of Seascape strawberries that will be served at Fellowship following Church tomorrow morning…

DSCF0670

45 posted on 08/09/2014 7:44:22 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: tubebender

that is awesome


46 posted on 08/09/2014 7:49:42 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: tubebender

Dittos to to the post at 46! Your gardens are always perfect.


47 posted on 08/09/2014 8:10:26 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 ((VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!))
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To: HopeandGlory

BTW, Hope and Glory are the names of one of our neighbor’s (a minister) 2 rescued young mares. Idiot owner was going to put them down when they were yearlings, because he couldn’t afford to feed them.


48 posted on 08/09/2014 8:40:07 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I had better get something right after nearly 70 years of gardening...


49 posted on 08/09/2014 9:02:39 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: tubebender

Beautiful set of photos. Glad somebody’s garden is doing good.


50 posted on 08/09/2014 9:09:45 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

I actually have good news this week! That makes for a refreshing change.

My ultra-rare chickpeas are reblooming! Which means, if I can keep the critters away from them this time, I might get seeds to replace what was planted! I’m not going to worry too much about expanding at this point, I just want enough to be able to try again next year.

And, I won’t have to get a loan to buy my new fence! I got a statement in the mail about the stocks I had bought through my employer’s investment program. I didn’t like the company’s long-term prospects (isn’t THAT a great thing to say about your employer!) but they were offering them to employees at a 15% discount, so I arranged for a few bucks to be taken from my paycheck every week with the idea that I could sell right away and get a quick return on investment. And then forgot about it. That started almost a year ago, and the amount in the account was exactly what I was asking for on my loan! Enough to cover both the fence and a survey of the property. There are 2 sides of my land where the boundary line is a little fuzzy.

My tomatoes are being weird this year. One is enormous with big green tomatoes on it, 3 are 18 inches tall with a few flowers, and 3 look like they only just sprouted! They’ve been growing for months, but they’re barely 2 inches tall. Same dirt, same sun, same everything. Weird.

Oh, my nuna bean is growing all over, it looks like a runner bean! But no blooms yet. I pinched the tip off one branch to see if that would kick it into gear. All that happened is it grew a new tip from the nearest leaf bud. Within a single day! That thing grows fast when it gets a mind to!


51 posted on 08/09/2014 9:10:50 PM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: ApplegateRanch

Better late than never! Good crop of grain. Makes sense to plant it dense for soil improvement/compostable mass.

The survival garden book I got from Bountiful Gardens, advised 75% of the garden to be “compost” crops such as grain and corn.

Weather is very unusual here too. We are getting good results for quite a few plants this year. Others not so much, but it’s all better than last year, when we had a great and beautiful garden that we had to just let burn up because our rain barrels didn’t have enough water past May except for the perrenials and fruit trees.

My granny never used pectin. She always made a blackberry and grape combo gathered from the wild. A few green grapes helped to thicken it. It was never solid or what you would call firm. Just a little thicker than molasses, and so so spreadable and yummy. That’s the way I truly like it.


52 posted on 08/09/2014 11:34:01 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Qiviut

Thanks for the link that sounds sounds interesting. I might try a few. We really are short of freezer space.

Both refrigerator freezers are chock full with no room left until we eat something.

I processed some corn on the cob and bought a few meats on sale to put in the chest freezer, but I will need most of that space for the beef quarter we have ordered for October.


53 posted on 08/09/2014 11:39:09 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

You can do apple jelly without pectin, especially if you also cook the cores, which have as much of even high pectin content than the skins.

As for grape jelly, I still have a couple of jars of wild grape jelly stored away that was made in 82. Still good; still sealed: wild grapes from northern California. Picked them and made a ton of no added pectin jelly while we were staying with my father, after Mom’s funeral.


54 posted on 08/09/2014 11:55:03 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Excellence

Thanks for the link. Joe’s a little aggravated it seems.LOL


55 posted on 08/09/2014 11:57:50 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

Good to hear from you. Thanks for letting me know about your friend who reads the thread. Glad it has helped him.

A three car garage should have a little space available for a couple of tables and grow lights. Heck, if push comes to shove you might grow a whole garden in the garage. LOL


56 posted on 08/10/2014 12:03:44 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: ApplegateRanch

In Missouri, you don’t even have to be a farmer. Talking and griping about the weather is a frequent topic for conversation.

You know that old saying don’t you? When it rains, it pours? LOL

I so much want a porch roof over my patio at the side of my basement kitchen. I could have a cool little outdoor kitchen set up to bbq even when it rains. Or maybe just sit there and watch the rain.

When I was a kid, my parents and grand parents had nice size porches, and we used to sit on the swings and watch the rain come down. I miss doing that.


57 posted on 08/10/2014 12:10:42 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: dirtboy

Life is so good this time of the year. So much bountiful foods and good eats!


58 posted on 08/10/2014 12:11:41 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: tubebender

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for posting them. As for the tomatoes. That surely looks like more than 5. LOL


59 posted on 08/10/2014 12:13:38 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Ellendra

Glad to hear the good news. Hope those blooms turn into lots of pods.


60 posted on 08/10/2014 12:16:35 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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