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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 34 AUGUST 23, 2013
Free Republic | 8/23/2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 08/23/2013 1:53:26 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 ... 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: Marcella
--Which plant or plants told you that? :o)--

Their actions speak louder than words.

I'm sure she touches them too.

281 posted on 08/28/2013 3:45:18 PM PDT by rightly_dividing (Phil. 4:13)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Snail eggs in the soil. I hate that.

I just read their eggs can be 8 or 9 inches down in the soil. How the heck do they get that far down?

Is that right? In my St Augustine, they're like the Langoliers in that Steven King movie..I put out deadline, but I can't get rid of them..those are horrible little white tiny white ones about the size of an okara seed.

The ones in the flowers were mostly regular snail looking brown ones, one regular snail, but white with stripes, and a two shaped like a banana/sea shell.. longish, instead of regular old snail shaped. I hate them.

282 posted on 08/28/2013 7:35:27 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of Course I didn't read the article. After all, this is FreeRepublic..)
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To: sockmonkey
I think there are beneficial nematodes that eat snail eggs. I don't have problems with snails here, so I've not studied it much.

/johnny

283 posted on 08/28/2013 7:45:53 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Marcella
Rainwater contains dissolved nitrogen, a fertilizer.

/johnny

284 posted on 08/28/2013 7:46:58 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Marcella; rightly_dividing
Plants do know God's rainwater from "our" water. They have a definite preference for rainwater,

Which plant or plants told you that? :o)

Rainwater contains dissolved nitrogen -- the bestest fertilizer (for everything but legumes).

I ran a pecan orchard in Alabama. We had installed a drip irrigation system to keep the trees watered. We even "fertigated" thru the system, mixing a ration of liquid nitrogen (ammonium nitrate)into the water.

But, after every rainfall, there was a palpable, visible difference in the health of the trees -- noticeable the moment I drove in the gate. They were visibly greener and fuller than they had been the previous day.

The good Lord's trees do love their rainwater...

285 posted on 08/28/2013 8:12:21 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Marcella

Mix seeds with a cup of water. Add 1 tablespoon Oxyclean. Let soak an hour. Rinse. Soak in plain water 5 minutes, rinse again. Let dry.

At least, those were the instructions. What the instructions didn’t say was that it foams slowly enough to fool you into doing something else, and then you come back and there’s what looks like a pink sponge crawling out of the jar! Also, the seeds and bits of pulp get pushed to the top of the foam, so some don’t get the full treatment. Next time I’ll use a big bowl, and will walk by and stir it a few times. Rubber gloves would also be a good idea, especially if you have as many small cuts on your hands as I did. I’ll also be more careful to stir them as they dry, because the first thing they did was glue themselves together.

The Oxyclean dissolves the gel around the seed, and also kills off any nasties that might infect your plants.


286 posted on 08/28/2013 9:37:18 PM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: sockmonkey

And here I just pat mine on the head!


287 posted on 08/28/2013 9:38:25 PM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: okie01; JRandomFreeper; rightly_dividing; greeneyes
The seeds are in Espoma Organic seed starter premium potting mix which gives the seeds the nutrients they need right now and they are coming up fast. They are getting filtered water until they are able to be outside when they will be in larger containers and get rain water just like the other plants and faucet water if I go too long without rain. Luckily, I've had good rains.

All the plants are in containers with Miracle Grow Potting Soil MIX which gives them the fertilizer they need for six months. All are in containers large enough for good root systems to form. Plus, the larger containers are made to water from the bottom and they have attached trellis. The other containers are fabric containers so excess water drains from the sides and bottom so they don't get water logged.

I plan to charge admission, probably a hefty five cents, at some point so visitors can view the grow lamp and tiny plants coming up and the lush plants on the deck growing in containers. I'm sure you will want to bring your cameras. Free iced tea for all. Thanks for your attention,
The Marcella Food Plant Farm :o) :o) :o)

288 posted on 08/28/2013 9:49:51 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Ellendra

Thanks, I will copy those instructions. I don’t have Oxyclean.


289 posted on 08/28/2013 9:51:56 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella
I plan to charge admission, probably a hefty five cents,

Sounds well worth the nickel...

290 posted on 08/28/2013 10:10:41 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: okie01
What parta Alabamy didja run a pecan farm? I'm from Mobile.

I can see a very noticeable difference in our plants of all kinds after a rain. We also run an extensive drip irrigation system to our veggie patch and flower beds and containers for their primary water supply. The drip system was originally planned to be backup, but here in E.Texas it is necessary for survival.

291 posted on 08/29/2013 2:53:39 AM PDT by rightly_dividing (Phil. 4:13)
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To: Marcella

A bargain at twice the price. I’ve never seen an urban prepper food farm before.


292 posted on 08/29/2013 3:01:18 AM PDT by rightly_dividing (Phil. 4:13)
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To: rightly_dividing; greeneyes; JRandomFreeper; sockmonkey; All
Rightly, the urban farm is in the beginning stages but I'm getting there. The Egyptian Walking Onions have arrived. Maybe you could drop by my house and pick up 6 of them. I ordered 10 but they sent me more than that. I'll make a copy of the instructions I copied from that company's website and give that to you.

This morning, I took a lot of dirt out of a large wood planter on the ground in the dirt part of the garden, using a shovel to do that and added new potting soil mix, and had to stop due to the pain of bending over so much. I'll get the onion sets in there before the day is over. I have to buy more potting soil mix soon to have enough for the plants from the seeds.

sockmonkey, Mr. Stevia does not look good, the leaves are drier looking and that's not good. I know the potting soil doesn't need more water, so I hope he perks up. For the rain water experts, Mr. Stevia was here and got rain water since we have had rain since he got here.

More seeds sprouting under the grow lamp - Zinnias, Brussels Sprouts, Cucumber.

293 posted on 08/29/2013 8:25:07 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella
Mr. Stevia does not look good, the leaves are drier looking and that's not good.

Give Mr Stevia a haircut..cut off about the top half of him, or at least a third..I know I damaged some of his rootball so they could squish him into that 6x6" box.

Also, stevia isn't a heavy drinker, so make sure he's not overwatered..I think cutting off a bunch of the top growth will give him the boost he needs.

294 posted on 08/29/2013 1:00:16 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of Course I didn't read the article. After all, this is FreeRepublic..)
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To: sockmonkey

“I think cutting off a bunch of the top growth will give him the boost he needs.”

Okay, will do that today.


295 posted on 08/29/2013 1:43:15 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella

Yeah, I’d do it just above the leaf node..I think that’s what it’s called..so that no little leafless sticks are showing.
Then take the leaves, that you whacked, and dry them, and try out one of your stevia recipes.


296 posted on 08/29/2013 3:30:56 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of Course I didn't read the article. After all, this is FreeRepublic..)
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To: Marcella; All

Such good news Marcella. It seems that I am having difficulty getting to all my pings between the time I logged of for my trip and tonight when I finally got a chance to reply.

Everyone, I am sorry if I didn’t get a response out to you. Between the trip and the truncated pages, I just don’t think I got them all.


297 posted on 08/29/2013 7:26:03 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

You are doing fine. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your garden will take awhile too. Just don’t overdue it in the heat, and be careful with your back.


298 posted on 08/29/2013 7:35:14 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

Well for those of us who can’t make it in person, please post some pictures. Thank you very much in advance.LOL


299 posted on 08/29/2013 7:37:27 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes; JRandomFreeper; All
“Well for those of us who can’t make it in person, please post some pictures. Thank you very much in advance.LOL”

When it is obvious something will not work, quit doing it. That's my history with ground dirt, doesn't work for me.

Then, part of making something work is researching to prove it's possible, then believing it can be done and do it. I've researched container gardening until I know it can be done, so I will do it.

And, one has to get seed to sprout, and outside didn't work in my location with hungry squirrels in trees just a few yards from my fence and all those birds living in those trees. Plus, the only house around here with anything for them to eat, was and is, my garden. Hence, I moved the operation into my house and I've got numerous seeds sprouting.

I figure I can do most anything, I just have to figure out a way to do it. It's just another problem to solve and I'm good at solving problems. However, I'm still working on figuring out what makes Johnny the way he is, you know, “lovable”. :o)

300 posted on 08/29/2013 8:15:16 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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