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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD 5/19/2018
freerepublic | 5/19/2018 | greeneyes

Posted on 05/19/2018 9:48:45 AM 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 any time-and don't have to be about gardening.


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

yeah, i saw the watery and tasteless review, but everyone else raved about the great flavor, which was my own experience. i’ll post my results (if any) at the end of the season ...


41 posted on 05/19/2018 2:21:23 PM PDT by catnipman ((Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!))
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To: Grampa Dave

“What types or beans or “green plants” can restore the dirt she has in those troughs?”

the issue of growing tomatoes in the same dirt isn’t a matter of nutrients, which are easy to replace, but the fact that insects and diseases, ESPECIALLY diseases like rust, persist in the soil. always best to nuke the dirt, and then sterilize containers with something like a bleach solution ...


42 posted on 05/19/2018 2:25:25 PM PDT by catnipman ((Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!))
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To: greeneyes

I think I’m up to 67 onion plants packed tight into 6 buckets. Red, White, Yellow. Several new bright green sprouts.

Alas the two (three but two pots) Early Girls did not make it - WM happily refunded the money and I upgraded and bought a couple of Sweet Basil. I picked two pots already off to a great start. Looks like 3 and 4 (or maybe 4 and 4) plants in each one. I harvest, dry in the oven and grind down - put it in empty spice bottles. Sometimes go with fresh chopped (after a rinse of course).

My squash/watermelon may get overrun by tomatoes and strawberries. I put a lot of parts in there for compost. Now, there are about 100 plants springing up. Oops. No telling what I’ll get.

The cherry tomato and sweet million tomato seeds are doing good. I’ll have a couple more empty pots to put a few in which is good (early girl pots).

And the Jalapeno, Serrano pepper, Sweet Snacking Pepper and RYGO Bell pepper seeds harvested from last year’s crop are looking good.

The Sweet Million and Cherry Tomatoes may take over the deck. Oh well, the dogs often like tomatoes, too. 1 always the other is now ambivalent unless they’re cooked in with something else.


43 posted on 05/19/2018 2:53:45 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: Ellendra

I keep crushing them and I store them in water out on the deck to wash the egg away. Don’t know what I’m doing but I hope it works (no blossom end rot for 2+ years now).

Drain ‘em and sprinkle a few here and there. And I still have 30 eggs in the fridge.


44 posted on 05/19/2018 2:55:49 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: greeneyes

LOL! That is so endearing - Darln’ has been gracious to cede most of our tiny crop of black berries to me over the years.

I will certainly keep you posted on the lettuce experiment. A few years ago, I was able to start some lettuce using rooting powder, but this is a little different. I really want to learn how to not only START a lettuce, but keep it happy! LOL!


45 posted on 05/19/2018 3:08:40 PM PDT by TEXOKIE
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To: greeneyes

Glad you have the Internet back!

Here is a question for our gardeners:

I bought a bag of 24 Gladiolus bulbs.

Can I plant them now, or should i wait till Autumn?


46 posted on 05/19/2018 3:34:20 PM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: TEXOKIE

LOL. Maybe it’s just too hot in Texas.


47 posted on 05/19/2018 3:56:56 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: left that other site

I’m not familiar with bulbs - my guess is to wait, if they are spring blooming.


48 posted on 05/19/2018 3:58:04 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

Sounds reasonable.


49 posted on 05/19/2018 4:01:22 PM PDT by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: greeneyes

Supposed to last several days.

I went out and tied up a couple of tomatoes.
Nothing broken, fortunately.

Peppers looked like they’d been beaten up.
I think we’ll still get a good crop.


50 posted on 05/19/2018 4:37:53 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

That’s good.


51 posted on 05/19/2018 4:40:00 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

I was poking around in the garden pot, which holds the lily bulbs. because there has been absolutely no sign of their growth. Discovered there were no bulbs at all and the soil very wet and soggy! Don’t remember removing the bulbs and had not seen signs of squirrel activity. Planted caladium bulbs earlier this week and can hardly wait for them to sprout. Purchased a patio tomato, Lil Napoleon. There are buds on the plant already and they seems to be in the tomato forming stage. Roses are going strong but this dam weather has resulted in black spot and will have to deal with that. Lettuce is the best I’ve every grown and I continually have a steady supply for salads. Pansies producing many blooms and I have a steady supply of small bouquets. All good.


52 posted on 05/19/2018 4:45:25 PM PDT by tob2 (So much to do; so little desire to do it.)
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To: greeneyes

Peas are up, asparagus is nearly finished; allium family is doing well.

Seeded our carrots, spinach, and squashes just in time for them to get over 2” of rain in the past week, which the weeds loved.

Apricots had very few blossoms; apparently they tried to bud during the early warm spell, before winter returned, and got frost bit. Cherry, early apples, plums (wild) are all in full bloom. The peach is also starting to bloom.

Daffies and tulips are in full bloom; a couple of fritillaries opened. The iris are covered with buds, as are the lilacs. The violets have been blooming since March.


53 posted on 05/19/2018 5:11:09 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!�)
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To: tob2

Interesting. Could it be voles that got the bulbs?


54 posted on 05/19/2018 5:30:25 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: ApplegateRanch

My new beds are beginning to have weeds too. I need to get them prepped and compost added so I can plant them soon.


55 posted on 05/19/2018 5:35:22 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes
Carrots is the thing I can’t seem to get going. Lettuce is ok. I’ll be interested to see how the experiment works.

Till or dig deep, then pull up a raised row, at least 6-8" wide on top, and 4-6" higher than the ground level. barely scratch in the seed; water well, then cover with about 1/4-1/2 inch of chopped straw. Keep the soil surface moist, and when the green tops start coming through the straw you're in like Flynn.

56 posted on 05/19/2018 5:36:29 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!�)
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To: Ellendra

Our eggshells and bones go into the woodstove Fall, Winter, and Spring; and the ashes go into the garden.


57 posted on 05/19/2018 5:43:11 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!�)
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To: ApplegateRanch

Thanks, I’ll try it one more time. If no workee, I’m going to start using pots.


58 posted on 05/19/2018 5:52:13 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: Wneighbor

Substitution - good idea works for youngsters too. LOL


59 posted on 05/19/2018 5:54:33 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: catnipman

Looking forward to it. I’m gonna predict that the watery and tasteless was a result of environmental factors. Tomatoes that are a little water deprived now and then make better flavor is what I’ve been told.


60 posted on 05/19/2018 5:56:10 PM PDT by greeneyes
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