WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 21 MAY 23, 2014

Free Republic | 5/23/2014 | greeneyes

[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.

[Gabz]

Does anyone grow "ramps" ( spring wild onions, generally found in the woods)?

I don't "grow" them - they just show up all over the place.

[Black Agnes]

Oh wow. You’re my hero. I’d love to do somthing like that in my front flower bed and extend it. Maybe later this year though, that stuff isn’t cheap even if you haul it yourself. (my idea of cheap is more like free)

Do you have a termite problem in your area? That’s the other thing holding my plans up. I don’t want to encourage critters like termites to get too close to the house.

[JRandomFreeper]

Most cities in North Texas have a similar program. Some restrict how much you can get, but they will load it with a front end loader for you. Call your city offices and ask.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

I get it for free. I just have to load it myself. No problem with termites. The mold grabs the mulch pretty quick, and it forms a web that can extend for meters.

/johnny

[tflabo]

J well I did check with my city but they don’t offer the mulch/compost. Wish they did but I load grass clipping bags in my truck on trash pickup days and use that as mulch and also for composting too. My garden plot is pretty small but it still takes quite a few bags with staggered pick ups during the season. All that hauling compost work keeps you young and spry my man.

[Sarajevo]

Third load?
My back would be screaming at the end of the first load!

[JRandomFreeper]

You could drive over here, and buy me beer to help you load. ;) It's not THAT far in Texas terms.

/johnny

[tflabo]

Good idea johnny-—but we drink the beers after the work or I’ll turn into compost during the job, ehehehehe.

[trisham]

We bought some soil today for our containers at Home Depot. I met Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots-football) in one of the aisles, and said “hi” to him. What a thrill! Gardening is exciting! :)

[illiac]

North Idaho...

Just got tomato plants in....

Strawberries in for 2 weeks...

Herbs in and growing...

Crossing our fingers...

[IMR 4350]

I’ve got an Owl with the rotating head that pretty much keeps everything out of the garden during the day.

You can spray fox pee around for night.

Can’t find fox pee, sprinkle some red pepper around.

As an added bonus with pepper it’s fun to watch varmints jump around when it gets up their nose.

[trisham]

Lovely. Nice color.

[trisham]

Nice to see you again!

[Black Agnes]

Put out 50+ sweet potato slips this week and papered/mulched around them. Peanuts get planted this coming Monday. Hopefully this summer is warm, like summer is supposed to be but heaven forbid we get one like 2011 again.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Spring has finally hit Wisconsin, along with drenching rains. Consequently, the grass is growing like gangbusters. I spent many hours on the mower yesterday, slogging through the front pasture. I might even buy a flower, or two, to plant over the weekend. Perhaps a tomato would be in order.

My garden plot, which lay fallow all last summer because of my surgery, is sprouting al kinds of weeds. But, I noticed that the little trees that I planted from the Arbor society have grown well, despite my neglect, and they need to come out NOW! And one of the lilacs has gotten quite large and it ready to bloom.

Does anyone know when they can be safely transplanted? Do I have to wait until fall?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Can you bring a load to my house?

[Sarajevo]

We harvested our first Mammoth Jalapeno peppers yesterday, along with some Hot Banana peppers. Summer squash is coming along fine after I treated the plant with epsom salts.

I think (hope) that the stinking armadillo is gone because I'll have 11 new okra sprouts to transplant in a few days. The okra seem to prefer germinating in Miracle Grow potting soil better than composted manure in the garden or peat pots.

Oh yeah, lettuce - I am playing around with a bare bones hydroponic system and I grew some lettuce. The plants weren't doing so good in the hydroponics, so I transplanted them in the garden a couple weeks ago. Now, they're ready to harvest!
I think the hydroponics just needs more fish for a larger nutrient supply, but that's in the future.

The Roma and Cherry tomato plants that suffered the chicken attack are returning to normal. The birds ate all of the little green tomato's and parts of the plants, then they nested and laid eggs at the scene of the crime. If they weren't so productive, they would have been in the pot in no time.

The Mrs and I have been selling at a local Farmers Market. The market is only open for three hours on Thurdsay mornings, yet I sell on an average 7 dozen eggs, and she sells all her home-baked goods:

We're both hoping to have enough vegetable produce to sell there this summer.

[heylady]

This past week was spent figuring out the best place for my plants. Moved the tomatoes from the raised beds that get full sun, all day, to pots on the porch where they get about 6 hours of direct sunlight. They are doing so much better and all have little baby tomatoes. Had to make a shade for my squash and beans that I moved to the raised bed because their tender new leaves were burning up. By the end of the week the plants had grown enough that I didn’t need the shade. Lettuce is on the covered porch and looking pretty good ( only gets early morning sun). Squash has blossoms but still no babies.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Nice to hear from you. You always leave such interesting posts. I wonder if Justadumbblonde will ever turn up again?

PS. Did you ever replace those beautiful dogs? We lost our Golden last year to Pancreatic Cancer. It was tough, and I’m still dogless.

[rightly_dividing]

Great to hear that you have good weather and have been actively gardening outdoors.

It’s been low 90’s here, but beautiful sunny days.