Posted on 02/10/2012 2:56:54 PM PST by Ellendra
Good morning Gardeners!!!!
I know I'm not part of your usual cast of gardening threadmasters, but it's afternoon here and the thread hasn't arrived yet! So I'm going to start one, and if it turns out later that I shouldn't have, then I'll appologize really nicely.
*Ahem*:
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 ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
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Are you talkin’ Charleston, West Virginia? I live in Kentucky, close to Huntington - is it too early to try to work some sand into my raised bed soil? I used topsoil and peat moss when we built them two years ago, but I think the soil is a bit heavy & could use a little better drainage. I’d like to start putting some cold weather stuff out, but I wonder if I should try to improve the soil first?
My outside thermometer is showing 60 degrees here in western Washington.
I GOT TO get some of the cold weather seeds in the ground!!
Spinach, lettuce, carrots, cabbage all start ok when it’s cool.
How do you sugar...beets.
Nothing new to report here due to the icky weather. Did get some leaves for the bottom though.
Good for you!!!!!
What a nice surprise seeing this at the top of my ping list when I came back while taking a break from cooking dinner!
Last weekend I assembled my tomato seedling incubator, AKA 'Mater'Bater. It holds 4 Jiffy seed trays and provides grow lights up top, and bottom heat below, all controled by timers. Of three trays of mater seeds, all but about 20 sprouted, and I reseeded those earlier today. The tray of various peppers are starting to come alive.. Its supposed to be 36dg here tonight and 31dg tomorrow night. So the 'Mater'Bator is fine tuned and ready for the cool nights.
Other garden varieties will be purchased from the local seed store. My soil test results have arrived but I have not been over to the ext serv to have it translated into common Eglish. Gotta get going. I saw blooming Japonese Magnolia yesterday. Gotta get that soil test read so that I can ride the tiller rodeo over the garden patch.
We are discussing adding a second patch out back by the road back there and growing something that will not be attractive to young thieves, maybe okra, squash, beans.
We go a new supply of drip irrigation tubing and feeder line and with lots of small stuff so that we may expand some this year, our second springtime in Texas.
I will try to get some pictures of the 'Mater'Bator to post.
I had a carpenter working on my front windows today, and he asked me to look up this storm on my computer. My goodness — it stretched from LaCrosse all the way to Saginaw, Michigan with only a couple of open areas in the middle of Lake Michigan. It didn’t stop snowing until nearly 4 pm.
The carpenter left because his tools and wood were getting wet, and I won’t see him again until Monday.
Thanks for posting the thread. Otherwise, I’m still healing from my spill on the ice 2 weeks ago, and I was getting bored.
Had a little dip in the temp this week. Supposed to get to single digits tonite. I got maple tree buddings on my porch from the warm weather. Poor guys.
Got a nice batch of sprouts going and am going to start cole crops this weekend.
Dude: Look it up :>)
My plowman just showed up. My husband always did all the plowing around here until he had brain surgery last winter. Plowing involves installing a tractor mounted snowblower on the 28 year old tractor and tweaking it until it works. THen, it’s a matter of getting out in beastly weather and blowing all the snow off the driveway so we can get in and out.
Last year, when he was recuperating, I arranged for the man who plows our manufacturing plant to come over here and do my long driveway. We call him St. Bobby.
THe first morning he came (my husband had been out of the hospital 2 days after having a piece of his skull removed) my husband jumped up and dashed for the outdoors intending to lay in the snowy driveway and install the snowblower. Nothing I could stay would stop him. Finally, I said, “Go ahead. Take a look at the driveway.”
He opened the garage door and saw that the drive had already been plowed. Despite all his bluster, I could tell he was relieved. We’ve never looked back. This year he talked about putting the snow blower on the tractor just to tweak the edges and to plow a path to the barn. It never got done, and this is only the 2nd appreciable snow this winter. Hardly seems woth the effort now.
Good question! The seeds I ordered from Jung came in today. (You're welcome, Diana! LOL) And they sent two gift seeds to boot!
I'm so ready to start these!
I ordeedr a new book today, and maybe some of you have heard of it. "Garden's Way Joy of Gardening" by Dick Raymond. I thought I had them all, but this is highly rated and not too expensive from Amazon.
Gardening books and seed catalogs, just what I need in this dreary weather.
I think I’m going to try getting some petunias going. But who can trust the weather? Been mild here, but it will probably be cold until June.
No doubt. It’s been so nice here, the trees started budding way too early. Finally getting colder weather that’s going to get to -15 tonight. harrumph!
Just for fun, we're going to try growing peanuts this year.
It's amazing how much is already greening up. The local weather was talking about the possibility of snow tomorrow, but he also said since it has been so long since we've had a hard freeze, the ground is too warm for any noticeable accumulation.
This kind of weather scares me. A couple years we were practically in short sleeves for Christmas eve services, but with the winter coats on over our Easter finery because we had had 6 inches of snow the day before.
I know it's typical, but it can still be disconcerting!
Weather has been too unpredictable to plant anything. After temperatures in the 40-60 degree range, we are going to get a blast of winter starting tonight. A wintry mix is going to hit our area and there is a good chance of snow on the ground in the morning. Covered up with plastic sheeting the things that are wintering over and hoping for the best.
I was going to do that last year, for the same reason, but never got around to it. I'm aiming to try this year!
Good luck with that cold. We usually have it this time of year. But it is a balmy 35 right now with a low expected of 29.
Thanks for the ping!
Well, it has finally gotten seasonably cold here. I’m going to try tapping some maples (first time) in a week or two. The neighbor offered to show me how. I will probably end up with enough sap to make 1/2 cup of syrup - but I want the EXPERIENCE :).
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the raspberry jelly/jam I put up was not gummy at all. I was afraid to try it, but finally did, and while it comes just close to being too firm, it is fine and the flavor bright and fresh. Yea! My thick tomato sauce came out really nice also - a blend of different tomatoes, 50% were heritage varieties.
So, I am putting in my own raspberry bushes this year - just a few.
We have onions, leeks, and garlic that have wintered over and will hopefully be a decent size this year.
Gotta get pulling out the end of season weed garbage, yuck. Can’t plant here until May, so I have time.
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