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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 33 AUGUST 21, 2015
freerepublic | 08/21/2015 | greeneyes

Posted on 08/21/2015 12:55:47 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. 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.


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

%^%&^$*&^%$ raccoons!!!

Last year I spent almost $1000 on a fence after they shredded my entire crop of flour corn. An ultra-rare variety, too.

My family couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to see “Guardians of the Galaxy”. I just didn’t want to look at another %@#$^%$ raccoon!


81 posted on 08/23/2015 3:06:52 PM PDT by Ellendra (People who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with.)
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To: Ellendra

Yes, it was same year. I talked to a neighbor who told me that it was probably a ripening issue also.


82 posted on 08/23/2015 6:00:12 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: tubebender

The deer got mine! Dragged it all over the place up and down the driveway.


83 posted on 08/23/2015 6:01:19 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: greeneyes

Well, the August heat wave continues, heading for the Hottest On Record!

Got down to 36 in Hot Springs last night, so naturally colder here. This is about 5 weeks before our ‘first Fall frost’ date. :-(

The beans (grean, butter, and even runners) were damaged, but will recover.

Zucchini MIGHT recover, but was hit hard.

I’m afraid the acorn squashes bit the big one: not even a small green leaf left among all the black ones.

Potato vines were already dying, and will get harvested next weekend, along with the purple onions, beets, and carrots. Yellow & white onions, and garlic have already been salvage harvested.

Next year, half of the garden will be fallowed, with mulch & compost tilled in, then just weed controlled, until a Fall cover crop of winter rye can be planted for Spring tilling. NO! I will NOT allow it to mature!!!


84 posted on 08/23/2015 6:12:38 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: ApplegateRanch

My potato vines are pretty dead in my two potato buckets. I’m in Atlanta and I was going to harvest tomorrow. Its my first time with Potatoes. What do you think?


85 posted on 08/23/2015 6:17:13 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: ApplegateRanch

We are sure at lower temps than I ever remember for August, but still in the 50s. Haven’t heard the weather report though.

WE are strongly inclined to get a green house for early and late fall & winter veggies. I do get quite a few from in front of the patio door, but I’d like to have a little more, as well as free up the space so we aren’t so crowded.

Especially if we are going to continue with these weird weather patterns.


86 posted on 08/23/2015 6:57:58 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

When the tops are dead, it’s time to dig.


87 posted on 08/23/2015 8:17:45 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Ellendra

Can’t keep chickens, verboten, and my neighbors would never look the other way. But beetle dispenser sounds like a great idea.

I’ve got some four o’clocks but they don’t seem to attract beetles as much as other plants. Maybe it’s the variety, or the local beetles.


88 posted on 08/23/2015 8:49:08 PM PDT by heartwood
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To: ApplegateRanch

Thanks. I’m harvesting tomorrow and replanting.


89 posted on 08/23/2015 9:32:09 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: greeneyes

If folks have sweet corn in their patch that got too mature, even for canning or freezing, or if you simply have more than you can use, cut it off the cob raw, run it through the food processor, dry it in the oven or in a dehydrator, and presto! You’ve got really wonderful-tasting corn meal, or corn flour!

If you take the corn mush out of the processor, roll it into balls, and freeze it in freezer bags, you can get them out whenever you want for hush puppies or else roll them out for tortillas.

It’s real easy to do. Took me years to figure this out and stop wasting a whole bunch of still good corn.


90 posted on 08/23/2015 9:44:07 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
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To: greeneyes

Having a steady supply of basil and Swiss chard. Much to my surprise and delight, a steady supply of mini-roses!


91 posted on 08/24/2015 7:13:18 AM PDT by tob2
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To: EternalVigilance

Thanks for the tips. Great ideas.


92 posted on 08/24/2015 11:21:24 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: tob2

That’s so great.


93 posted on 08/24/2015 11:38:34 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes; All
I picked the first nice batch of tomatoes from the greenhouse today, plus a good picking of cucumbers and the last of the Blueberries from the garden…

DSCN1386

IMG_3247

IMG_3252

Still lots of smoke in the air from all the forest fires burning east of us but we did have nice sunshine this afternoon. PLEASE SEND SOME RAIN...

94 posted on 08/25/2015 8:06:23 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

Glad to hear from you. Glad you are all still getting to collect some good food from your green house. How close to you are the fires? Seems like the rain patterns are a bit strange for various areas over the continental USA.


95 posted on 08/25/2015 11:59:20 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: Nailbiter

bflr


96 posted on 08/26/2015 12:22:44 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: greeneyes

The nearest fire is 60 or 70 miles due east of us and the smoke over the coast depends on the wind direction. We rarely get rain here in the summertime but last winter and spring was drier than normal and very little run fell in May. I caught one of the raccoons last night so I need to ask my grandson to haul it off dead or alive.


97 posted on 08/26/2015 9:30:16 AM 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

Good that the fire is quite a ways away. If the droughts keep up, maybe they’ll be able to manufacture machines that make water out of air cheap enough for everyone to buy one-wouldn’t that be something?

Are you allowed to use rain water collection where you are, or does it belong to the “public”?

We hauled off several coons, but the big one got away and destroyed the cage getting out. Gonna need a bigger and stronger cage for him.


98 posted on 08/26/2015 1:54:30 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes
I know I told you that I picked the last of the strawberries last week but Lady Bender's fertilizer is working overtime, Picked another 1 1/2 gallons this evening

DSCN1393

I pulled the cornstalks and they will become compost…

DSCN1400

99 posted on 08/26/2015 7:37:17 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

Thanks for the pics. You lucky guy - we only got one strawberry this year. There weren’t many and the critters got all the rest.


100 posted on 08/27/2015 5:17:13 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Le//t Freedom Ring.)
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