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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD JUNE 23, 2017
freerepublic | June 23, 207 | greeneyes

Posted on 06/23/2017 3:20:13 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: Diana in Wisconsin

Sorry, I asked before I went onto the next page of posts :-). So what do you recommend I look for in one?


81 posted on 06/24/2017 7:23:57 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: tubebender

Beautiful looking pie!

I have an inherited rhubarb Bush, but it’s never red, just all green stalks. Kind of disappointing.


82 posted on 06/24/2017 7:25:25 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: Neoliberalnot
I haven't hunted since my 20's, but I always help with the butchering. Beau got the Black Bear this past fall up near our cabin in Glidden, WI. 534#, dressed out at 480#. It was his 4th in 30+ years. We raise Treeing Walker Coon Hounds and Plot Hounds for 'coon and bear hunting. We have a few Nite Champions and one Grand Nite Champion 'Coon Hound right now.
83 posted on 06/24/2017 7:26:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: CottonBall

Yes, the bags can be expensive, but you can find some bulk bargains on Amazon and they go on sale at our local Farm & Fleet store when regular canning supplies go on sale. If you need to freeze/store items for a LONG time, they are well worth it. If we butcher a steer or bag a deer, we two are certainly NOT going to eat that all up any sooner than a year or so, so for us, it’s worth it and it’s cheaper in the long run to do meat in bulk, or to take advantage of seasonal sales if/when you have to buy meat.

I stumbled upon a total STEAL on pork loins, once - talked the kid into selling me two when they were limiting it to one, per. So, sealing all of that up with the Food Saver really was worth it.

I guess you have to think about how you’ll use it. With all of our wild game and fish & occasional road kill (Beau hit 3 deer and 1 steer in 2015!) and with growing a lot of garden produce, it’s worth it to us. ;)


84 posted on 06/24/2017 7:35:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: CottonBall

We have two of them. One is just the standard Food Saver brand with the canning attachment. The other is the Cabela’s brand super-heavy-duty one. That one wasn’t cheap, (a few hundred bucks) but it has held up better than the first one Beau bought for me...back when he was courting me! ;)

The rubber gaskets can wear out, but they’re not expensive to replace.


85 posted on 06/24/2017 7:38:57 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: CottonBall

I saw a coupe of ways on the internet, just google pickle radishes. I wound up using the same brine mix I use for my banana pepper rings. Equal parts vinegar and water, some sugar and equal parts celery seed and mustard seed. I did one jar of slices, just clean radishes and slice, put in brine and let sit in the fridge. I also did a big jar of whole white Asian radishes. Not too big, finger size or smaller. Just cleaned them and put them in a jar with the same brine. I’m not going for so much of a pickle taste but to preserve the radishes later in the season.


86 posted on 06/24/2017 7:42:18 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Great picture!


87 posted on 06/24/2017 7:43:14 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: Neoliberalnot
Here is the batch of Treeing Walker Coon Hound pups I raised last summer. There were seven total, one wandered off as usual when trying to take a picture of them all! We kept the two males, sold 3 females, but still have two females to sell.
88 posted on 06/24/2017 7:43:28 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: CottonBall

The foodsaver bags are a good buy at Bed Bath and Beyond with their 20% off coupon.


89 posted on 06/24/2017 7:44:18 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

They are gorgeous! They don’t look very hyper either.


90 posted on 06/24/2017 7:45:30 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: MomwithHope

Yeah, that’s what I would want too. Mainly for preservation purposes. I never even consider there was a way to save the radishes :-) Do you add them to salads after?


91 posted on 06/24/2017 8:06:29 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: MomwithHope

Great tip, thank you! I always save those coupons but rarely get to use them.

Now are the bags specific to the brand of food saver I buy? I’m hoping they are all interchangeable.


92 posted on 06/24/2017 8:08:08 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My husband just happens to be at Cabela’s now! So I’m having him check them out.

I’m thinking mainly of buying one for my business, and using it to keep the dried chilies and other spices I buy fresher. It’s cheaper for me to buy a huge bag, but then I would need a way of storing what I don’t use right away. Of course, I’ll end up experimenting and using some of it for personal use. And if the business goes under, all of it!


93 posted on 06/24/2017 8:09:44 AM PDT by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: CottonBall

Not really though you could. I eat 4 or 5 whole with a meal. Only when in season. Store bought are just too dry and hot.


94 posted on 06/24/2017 8:31:33 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: CottonBall

Schedule C - fond memories!


95 posted on 06/24/2017 8:33:01 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: CottonBall

Don’t know if they are interchangeable.


96 posted on 06/24/2017 8:33:56 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Law and Order and that includes Natural.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I'm not sure how special the coop is, it was a kit. All I did was follow the instructions:






I'm still working on the coop that I designed from scratch. My dad and nephew had volunteered to build it, but I didn't realize at the time that dad's been having trouble with his eyes. He couldn't actually see any of my blueprints, and Dearest Nephew was just following his instructions without checking. I'm having to take everything apart and redo it. He put the nesting boxes up where I can't reach them, the window is on the roof, and God only knows what he was trying to do with the doors! It's like Picasso's interpretation of a chicken coop. But I'm not allowed to say anything because he'll throw a fit, and use my tractor to guilt-trip me. Grrrrrr.
97 posted on 06/24/2017 9:49:11 AM PDT by Ellendra (Those who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with.)
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To: daniel1212

I certainly wouldn’t mind a robot that helps with the weeding!


98 posted on 06/24/2017 10:03:42 AM PDT by Ellendra (Those who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with.)
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To: greeneyes

God Bless you all, I am recovering well from back surgery last month. At my daughter’s house in north Alabama for the past 12 days. Got held here a few extra days due to tropical storm this week. Dug up some lovely strong scented lemon balm-gone-wild here to take home with me.

My over-wintered pepper plants back home in Texas have provided a bumper crop thanks to frequent rains. I’m going back home Tuesday. Guess my first garden project of the year (aside from directing hubby in carrying over-wintered pots outside) is to plant this luscious lemon balm. My back (and hips, knees and legs) feel much better. Thank you all for prayers when I asked.

Oddly enough I have also got tomatoes to put out. I put seeds down in a corner of my sunroom before I went topsy-turvy over a hay bale. I hardly believe those little seedlings made it thru all this time in seed starting mix with a little water when I was able and a couple good doses of compost tea lately.


99 posted on 06/24/2017 10:37:48 AM PDT by Wneighbor (A pregnant woman is responsible for TWO lives, not one. (It's a wonderful "deplorable" truth))
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To: Black Agnes

I have added acidifier every year, maybe just not enough.


100 posted on 06/24/2017 11:05:42 AM PDT by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unar)
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