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Weekly Gardening Thread -- Vol. 12, March 23, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012 | JustaDumbBlonde

Posted on 03/23/2012 8:53:54 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde

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Good morning, FRiends and fellow gardeners! Hopefully everyone has received beneficial rain this past week. We've had an additional 2 inches, which was a blessing because just to the south and southwest of us as much as 10 inches fell. While the area needed the rain, it didn't need it all at one time.

Looking forward to reading what you're doing with your gardens and plans this week. Photos will earn you bonus points! :^)

It is too wet for me to do anything in the garden, but I do have lots of raspberry bushes to get planted. Then, the beeyard. They are already capping honey in the supers and I will have a bountiful late spring harvest. Mark and I have 2 cutouts of bees in buildings that are coming up this week, which will make a total of 7 hives in my beeyard. We did a huge cutout 2 weeks ago and Mark added those to his beeyard.

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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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening
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To: Sarajevo
"Bees! The Mrs and I were just considering bees this AM. What is the best way to start? How do you keep them around?"

If you decide you're interested in keeping bees, I would suggest that you get a copy of Beekeeping for Dummies and/or The Backyard Beekeeper. Both are excellent references and will give you a better idea if this is something you will enjoy.

Once you acquire the bees, you keep them in the hive by providing them with plenty of room so that they won't seek out a larger home. The will forage for up to 3-5 miles, but will go no further than they find adequate pollen and nectar. You will notice a definite difference in your garden.

81 posted on 03/24/2012 10:41:35 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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To: All

Can’t wait to get further down the thread, but I have so many chores that need to be done today. Be back this evening!!!


82 posted on 03/24/2012 10:46:48 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde
Two new heirlooms in the ground today:

Snow White Cherry

and

Pink Oxheart

Killing off the last of my aphid invasion.

83 posted on 03/24/2012 10:59:31 AM PDT by txhurl (Thank you, Andrew Breitbart. In your untimely passing, you have exposed these people one last time.)
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To: ApplegateRanch

Shame on you for disparaging my late mother in law, the Queen of Yard Sales... LOL


84 posted on 03/24/2012 12:00:44 PM PDT by tubebender (I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde
Would you like to be added to the ping list?

Yes, please.

85 posted on 03/24/2012 2:26:58 PM PDT by FiscalSanity
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To: FiscalSanity
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86 posted on 03/24/2012 3:15:51 PM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
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To: stefanbatory

Thanks!


87 posted on 03/24/2012 4:21:33 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Money cannot buy happiness, but it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde; All

Anyone have tips on growing tomatillos in a 15 gallon container? Have four seedlings ready to be transplanted. Last year the seedlings up and died right after. Growing medium is Miracle-gro potting mix.

Visited Schultz nursery on Broadway in San Antonio. Found some really healthy Merced Tomato plants. Don’t really have room for them in the garden, but I thought Merced was an “abandoned” tomato variety and just couldn’t pass up the chance to grow them. I’ll put them in pots.


88 posted on 03/24/2012 4:59:37 PM PDT by Racehorse
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Wait until I publish the picture of the side deck with the new planter!


89 posted on 03/24/2012 7:35:59 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Dear Lady, You are a wealth of information!


90 posted on 03/24/2012 8:49:20 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Money cannot buy happiness, but it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.)
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To: Petruchio

I had soil tests done last week (NE Texas) and have received the results back. How much was your soil test? Mine was only $14 as I requested a few other things be tested other than the basic $10 test. I posted the results in post 40 on this weeks thread. I will go see the county agent tomorrow to have him give me an explanation of these results and ask him what he recommends I do for my new garden and where to buy what he recommends.


91 posted on 03/25/2012 8:15:12 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: JustaDumbBlonde

Thanks JDB, just finished my “grow room” - new lights, tables, plastic, etc in my basement. Started my seeds this weekend, lots of tomatoes, beans, peas, squash, even some corn, see how it goes.

Neponset Valley, MA, growing zone 6B


92 posted on 03/25/2012 1:29:14 PM PDT by Sparky1776
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

I just planted my seeds in a Burpee seed-starting dish. They’re all non-hybrid. It seems a bit late, but our spring got the drop on us this year and I’m playing catch up.

I’ve never grown a vegetable garden from seeds before, especially non-hybrids, so wish me luck!


93 posted on 03/25/2012 1:48:15 PM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Prepare for survival. (Ron Paul is the Lyndon Larouche of the 21st century.))
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To: JustaDumbBlonde; All

Here is a short but good article I just ran across on ‘How to Build & Install Raised Garden Beds’ from Popular Mechanics. What I like is that it also includes a way to attach a simple framework of hoops so you can add a cover & a diagram/instructions for a simple drip irrigation system.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/lawn-garden/4308264


94 posted on 03/25/2012 2:12:38 PM PDT by MissMagnolia (Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. (M.Thatcher))
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To: Ghost of Philip Marlowe

Good luck Ghostie, I’m in the same boat.

Planting zone 6b


95 posted on 03/25/2012 2:35:00 PM PDT by Sparky1776
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To: Red_Devil 232

Keep in mind this is Cook County, ground zero for corrupt government. I paid $40. $25 for the first sample and $15 for an additional sample.

I ordered the test kit on Monday. Rcvd. it on Wednesday, and shipped the samples the same day. UPS tracking shows the lab got them Friday morning.


96 posted on 03/25/2012 3:59:26 PM PDT by Petruchio (I Think . . . Therefor I FReep.)
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To: Petruchio

WOW those are some hefty prices for a soil test!


97 posted on 03/25/2012 6:44:48 PM 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: JustaDumbBlonde

I was pleasantly surprised today when I checked the garden. The radishes and snap peas are up with what looks to be almost 100% germination. Amazing considering that we got a little over 3” of rain in just a few days time.

Set out 16 cabbage and 4 broccoli plants today. Crazy...


98 posted on 03/25/2012 7:54:23 PM PDT by Augie
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To: Sparky1776

Thanks. Good luck to you, too. Sparky.

Let me know how your garden turns out.


99 posted on 03/25/2012 8:10:02 PM PDT by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Prepare for survival. (Ron Paul is the Lyndon Larouche of the 21st century.))
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To: MissMagnolia

We also have an ‘ancient’ yard .... not much grass really, mostly weeds. We’re in the country and having a grass lawn isn’t all that practical - we can’t really water it and when the dry summer days hit, the weeds stay greener than grass .... you just keep them cut so they don’t ‘bloom’ or go to seed.

&&&
OMW, you described my yard. We have 1.5 acre in a semirural area. I refer to the assorted weeds as “the lawn greens”.


100 posted on 03/26/2012 5:51:20 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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