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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2011 (Vol. 28) July 22
Free Republic | 7-22-2011 | Red_Devil 232

Posted on 07/22/2011 5:42:39 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232

Good morning gardeners. I canned all the tomatoes I had picked the previous week this past Wednesday. Sadly it did not take very long to do the canning. I also roasted (chared and peeled) about half of the Jalapenos I had picked and froze the other half. I also cut up and froze some green Bell Peppers and zucchini squash.

On Wednesday I had a pop up T-storm visit the garden and then yesterday it was cloudy all morning and around 11 am a very nice, lazy, soaking rain started falling and it lasted for about two and a half hours. It dropped the temps down into the high 70s for a few hours and then the sun came out and the temps went to the low 90s, not a bad day at all!

If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our Freeper community is full of gardeners, each with varying interests and skill levels from Master Gardener to novice.

I hope all your gardens are flourishing.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening; recipes; weekly
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Weekly Gardening Thread

gardeningtools_Full-1.jpg picture by wjb123


1 posted on 07/22/2011 5:42:47 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; gardengirl; girlangler; SunkenCiv; HungarianGypsy; Gabz; billhilly; Alkhin; ...
Ping to the Weekly Gardening Ping List.

I hope all of you will stop by.

This is typically a low volume ping list. Once a week for the thread and every once in a while for other FR threads posted that might be of interest.

If you would like to be added to or removed from the list please let me know by FreepMail or by posting to me.

2 posted on 07/22/2011 5:45:06 AM 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: Red_Devil 232

How do you keep your zucchini from getting kind of mushy from being frozen? We have more zucchini than we can eat or give away. Thanks!


3 posted on 07/22/2011 5:45:51 AM PDT by melissa_in_ga (Mr. President: Game On!)
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To: Red_Devil 232; fanfan

Good morning! It looks like I’m finally going to get a bell pepper this weekend. Spraying them with soap solution seems to be helping. No tomato worms this morning (there were two yesterday), and the cat brought me a dead rabbit.

Lots of green tomatoes, but no red ones for the last several days. I’m picking a few green beans, a victory over the catz, who dug up my seeds as if it was a contest. AND my wisteria is having a bloom.


4 posted on 07/22/2011 5:46:55 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Public schools = TSA: incompetent, abusive, anti-American. Why are we putting up with either one?)
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To: Red_Devil 232
I forgot to add the seed exchange to the thread.

FREE SEED EXCHANGE

 

This EXCHANGE is brought to you by FReeper 

Mrs. Don-o

Thrifty? Gifty? Curious? Generous? Spare seeds? Rare seeds? For a tiny plot? Or a flower- pot? Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

Send seeds? Befriend seeds? Just want 10 seeds?

 

If you have garden seeds you can offer other FReepers for free, for a SASE, and/or in exchange for other seeds, please send me your info. (Private Message Mrs. Don-o) and I will add you to this list, which I will post on the garden thread from time to time. Please also Private Message me to be removed when you no longer have the seeds to offer. FReepo-seedoholics can contact each other by Private Message to arrange any transactions. Remember that old seeds may have reduced germination. (Although I’ve had great luck with them. And for free, you can’t lose...) If possible, list year and variety. Mrs. Don-o I CAN OFFER a few of these seeds (say, 10) for free to anybody who wants to send me a SASE: Basil (“Genovese” 2010) Beans (“Jackson Wonder Butterbean “2011) Broccoli (“Bonanza” 2011) Chard (“Bright Lights” 2010) Fennel (“Florence” 2011) Kale (“Redbor Hybrid” 2010) Squash (“Acorn 2009”… and I had really good germination with it, this year!) Squash “(Georgia Candy Roaster” 2011.. a terrific winter squash!) Tomato (“Brandy Boy” 2011) INTERESTED IN Seeds for Fall Anything (surprise me!)


I HAVE HEIRLOOM TOMATO SEEDS (FREEPER TDSCPA) from about 75 popular, open-pollinated heirloom varieties. Tell me via PM what varieties you’re interested in, and if I have them I could send you a few seeds (10?) if you will send me a SASE. Don’t know what variety to grow? I can make suggestions, if you want to grow plants from seed. Contact Tdscpa
If anyone needs or wants okra seeds (says JustaDumbBlonde)… please let me know. I saved a ridiculous amount in the fall of 2010. Two different varieties, Clemson and Jade, are both are heirloom variety so that you will be able to save seeds from your plants. Both are spineless and heavy producers. Jade is a bit darker green than Clemson and the pods are a bit shorter and fatter. Both are good for frying, soups, freezing, dehydrating or canning. Don’t be shy, l have more than plenty to share! Tip for planting okra: soak your seeds for 24 hours before planting. Okra seeds are hard like peppercorns and soaking will assist in quicker germination. Contact JustaDumbBlonde
I have some black-seeded Simpson lettuce seeds and some Buttercrunch lettuce seeds if anyone’s interested. (says Oberon), And... anybody have any Gold Nugget yellow cherry tomato seeds? I’m interested. Contact Oberon
Free Winter Squash or Stevia seeds or Heirloom Tomato/Pepper Seeds (says Black Agnes) The ‘Patio Marconi’ seeds are container peppers that are sweet and good for salads, sandwiches or frying. Open pollinated if that interests you. Cilantro seeds too. It’s good used fresh to detox heavy metals. Contact Black Agnes

5 posted on 07/22/2011 5:47:28 AM 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: Red_Devil 232

Can you folks pleeeeeeeease keep your heat down there where it belongs? Mid-nineties today...are you kidding..? Thank G-d for self-watering containers...


6 posted on 07/22/2011 5:48:30 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Tax-chick

One of the BEST ‘tag lines’ on Free Republic...


7 posted on 07/22/2011 5:49:54 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Red_Devil 232
Not a good week in the garden - we're caught in this heat wave in Maryland like most of the East and Midwest. I'm watering twice a day and I still have two of my tomato plants that have been incinerated - too late to get replacements, I think. Expecting triple digits this afternon.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
8 posted on 07/22/2011 5:50:23 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: melissa_in_ga

Nothing you can do to keep them for becoming mushy. Use them in cooking or in Zuke bread where the mushiness will not matter.


9 posted on 07/22/2011 5:51:32 AM 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: Red_Devil 232

My tomato and pepper plants look great and are blooming, but not setting fruit. I have been telling myself it is the hot weather 100+ daily for several weeks. One of my neighbors has told me he had the same problem and in the past used “blossum set” to help. Do you have any experience with that?

I have been considering putting a mister in my garden to try and lower the temperature. I am sure there is some risk with this for the plants, I never water in the heat of the day with anything that sprinkles, the mister when working properly should be extremely fine, but I have not done this before. (I put a mister together for my back yard yesterday, but have not tested it yet)


10 posted on 07/22/2011 5:55:09 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: Red_Devil 232

Been hot and dry this week, temps around 100. We’ve had so much rain though things are just drying back to normal.

Getting ready to start the fall garden, already have cabbage and broccoli started to go in next month.


11 posted on 07/22/2011 5:58:51 AM PDT by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead.)
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To: Texas Fossil

I have never used Blossom Set so I don’t know how well it will work. But other FReepers have used it and maybe they will chime in.


12 posted on 07/22/2011 6:05:29 AM 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: Red_Devil 232

Wow sounds like a lovely day, been nothing but hot here in Indiana.


13 posted on 07/22/2011 6:09:41 AM PDT by Ratman83
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To: ConorMacNessa; Red_Devil 232
Are you absolutely sure it's too late to get replacement tomato plants? I'm in Zone 6B (Upper East Tennessee) and I'm seriously thinking of getting some determinate tomato plant to replace 1 or 2 of my indeterminates that have sperawled ou and conked out. Here's where I'm Browsing for Tomato Plants (Link)

What'cha think?

I'm also starting Chinese Cabbages, Collards, Cauliflower, Leaf Lettuce, Spinach, Turnips. Maybe even another Summer Squash. This is my first time majorly trying the Fall Garden option.

14 posted on 07/22/2011 6:10:48 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Mrs Lindsay: "You're looking cool, Yogi." Yogi Berra: "Thanks, you're not looking so hot yourself.")
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To: Red_Devil 232
Greetings from sweltering southern New Hampshire!

We have been baking for the past few days with more until Monday. The vegetable garden is producing summer squash and there are a lot of green tomatoes.

Our Black Jersey Giant "pullet" who isn't one has tried out his crow this morning for the first time. He was like a five-year old who just learned the "s" word and is repeating it with mad abandon. I have named him "Studly Hung-Well", much to Barb's chagrin.

I have a trencher reserved for tomorrow morning. I am going to run a 30-amp line out to our travel trailer summer parking pad so that we can run the air conditioner, and run seasonal water lines to various parts of the lawn, the vegetable garden, rose garden, pond and coop.

I replaced the posts on the north side of the new deck so that I can at a 4-foot extension for the barbeque and cooler. I am overloaded with projects and summer is half over!

15 posted on 07/22/2011 6:11:04 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: Free Vulcan; Red_Devil 232; Diana in Wisconsin; Ellendra; fanfan; rightly_dividing; greeneyes; ...

Good morning, all. We might get a welcome T storm this AM. I was shocked this morning to look out and see a big fat, happy skunk skittering across the back yard. I guess we’ll have to set a trap, but then what to do after we catch it? I hope there isn’t a family of them out there.

This skunk looked like he was dragging another animal across the yeard — like maybe a rabbit? Is that possible? Would a skunk predate on something as large as a rabbit?


16 posted on 07/22/2011 6:14:15 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I’d go for it. Here in Massachusetts we’ve harvested tomatoes up through the first week in October, when we often experience 80 degree temps.


17 posted on 07/22/2011 6:15:39 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

TNX


18 posted on 07/22/2011 6:17:58 AM PDT by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
I have a couple of local places I'll check out tomorrow but I'm not optimistic.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
19 posted on 07/22/2011 6:18:10 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: Texas Fossil

Visualizing your garden with the mister (in my head): it’s like the veggie section of the super market where just as you reach for a head of lettuce, the water comes on and gets you all wet! >>grin<<


20 posted on 07/22/2011 6:19:11 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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