WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD, VOLUME 12, MARCH 20, 2015

freerepublic | 3/20/2015 | greeneyes

[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. 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!

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.

[JRandomFreeper]

I certainly want to do the master gardener thing. I've always loved going to school. That's why I did so well in culinary school. I woke up looking forward to it.

Not in our hands. It's in His Hands. Above my pay grade, but I'll do my part. ;)

/johnny

[TEXOKIE]

Something to keep in mind regarding onion seeds if garden conditions aren’t very good... you can always snip them off once they get going for salad sprouts!

[greeneyes]

We planted our dwarf fruit trees in 2010. Haven’t had a crop yet. Beginning to wonder if we ever will.

[TEXOKIE]

“I really got a tremendous kick out of using our own onions all winter long. “

I had hoped to do that, but all my walking onions died a winter ago. This past winter I had some onions a local gardener friend gave me, and I was tickled the other day to see them greening up and that they had survived!

Maybe next winter I can actually have enough to draw from over the cold months!

[JRandomFreeper]

LOL! so now I got spies coming in and giving reports. ;)

With any luck, we'll get some pictures uploaded from tomorrow, though. And you guys can see what I look like with short hair.

I did get a picture from pre-hurt 2009 time in NM up on my FR profile page. That finally happened today.

I don't look like that today.

Less mountain man.

/johnny

[greeneyes]

Great Info. Thanks for sharing.

[greeneyes]

Sounds great. I like to try out new stuff too. This year I am trying out Amish Paste, Chadwicks Cherry, and Whippersnapper tomato for the first time. Will also plant several of the tried and true also.

Hubby will plant a couple of varieties in large quantity like Romas and Mortgage Lifter for the last several years.

[greeneyes]

Spying Eyes - we’re watching you! LOL

[greeneyes]

We had yellow onions and red onions from sets. Ran out at the end of December. Same with the potatoes. We had Butte Russet, Dakota Pearls, Kennebec, and mystery russets leftover from the grocery store that had sprouted so much that we decided to just plant them and see what would happen.

They grew just fine, and made just as good a crop as the ones we had purchased. The Buttes and Dakotas were from egg sized potatoes that I harvested in the fall of 2013 and planted in Spring 2014. They produced well too.

[JRandomFreeper]

Long as the spies don't try to get me married off. I got a thing against that. ;)

/johnny

[greeneyes]

LOL. Don’t we know it! Fret not - we like you as you are - single and scrappy.

[MomwithHope]

Those onions are the best. Johnny did you share with Marcella? Happy if you did. Ours in west Michigan go dormant looking in the winters. I don’t mulch, we have enough leaves that cover them. I can see my patch poking up. The real reason they are so hardy is the root systems are so developed and long. They root deep. When I want some I need a sharp long shovel to get them out. I share the seed heads for anyone who wants them to keep my patch from getting too big. Some seed heads have seeds so big I peel them and use them as shallots. The bigger onions - some have gotten small leek sized - are great on the grill, just clean up, trim off some of the green and coat with your favorite oil, salt and pepper. They are sweet! My original patch is over 25 years old as near as I can figure. I still grow the traditional green onions, give most of them away. Marcella have a great visit with Johnny. Give him a big hug from all of us.

[sockmonkey]

Re: the beautiful Community Garden- do you have to irrigate/water it?
I assume it rains more there than here in Central TX.

[sockmonkey]

When I saw you mention grafted tomatoes, I thought you meant these:

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/graft-potato-tomato-plant-together-52381.html

[JRandomFreeper]

I share. Period. I can't help it. I don't think I shared the onions with Marcella,

It used to make my dad angry because I would share the last of whatever I had, even if it hurt. ;)

But I don't think I did the onions. Tobacco, yes. Onions? I don't think so. But I have shared onions with many others, since. The ones you gave me have been handed down at least two more time. You propogator, you...

/johnny

[SisterK]

Thanks for the photo. Now we see a face with the person we are praying for

[Qiviut]

Nope, but that’s pretty cool - two different plants in one!

[JRandomFreeper]

The crusty old mountain man face, anyway. ;) Thanks for prayers. They are ALWAYS needed for me.

/johnny

[SisterK]

You are welcome:)

[JRandomFreeper]

This morning before sunrise. I moved stuff around so Bob and Marco have a place to sit.

Some had wanted to see the 'art room', so I moved 2 of my easels around to make room/block views.

Anyway... the view is my current art desk with a couple of paintings (watercolor, pen and ink, an airbrush) in the background.

What I wanted to show off is my Artist Mark (logo) mugs. They have been on the bucket list for a while, but it looks like I won't have a ceramic oven here now, so I hired some of the work out. I got them. I love my logo mugs. Adds to my art room and makes me think.

And to think... I did all that after 2 brain surgeries.

/johnny