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Weekly Garden Thread Volume 23 June 6, 2014
Free Republic | June 6, 2014 | greeneyes

Posted on 06/06/2014 12:39:39 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: greeneyes

90+ and sunny in Texas with a heat index of 100, whew. The humidity is getting the best of me even with the ceiling fans so setting up the small fan for the kitchen and desk. I set out a larger box for the kittens hoping mama would move them into it. It’s just too crowded and hot in their current box. Their eyes haven’t opened yet and she still hisses warnings at us. Moved human kiddo AGAIN this week and managed to move out some of her stuff but can’t see that it made a dent.

Here, the corn is waist to chest high. Seeds were maybe 3 years old but probably 85% germination. I hand pollinated the one that is tassling.

Good on your peanuts. Good on your self suficiency with the flour and sour dough starter. Mine’s just from store bought.

Picking green beans, peppers and greens. It looks like the svb is baaaaack. Had to spray the cukes with fungicide. A little green worm is destroying the cabbage. Of course, the weeds are extremely happy and healthy. It’s going to be a buggy summer. The flies are already bad and there are even mosquitoes in the car. The dogs have been eaten up with fleas for 6 weeks already.

Not good on your being down and out. It’s not fun hurting not being able to get around.


81 posted on 06/06/2014 4:56:59 PM PDT by bgill
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To: trisham
Bless you. I have some generic Neosporin and some Advil. I got most punctures yesterday; I can tell if they are going to get infected in which case I'll call the dr. think they will be ok. I got a deep stab in my finger but I did clean it and put some peroxide on that; it feels fine today (hole in my glove).

I got one more bad filled up and topped it off with the seed heads from the poke weed. Will give me a little more time to get the stalks.

Now to get out and get some stickers and put them in the trash. You know, I do not feel good about putting those horrid thorny things in bags because they throw them in the city compost and they will probably not cook. Can't be helped. I got nasty stuff from their compost a few years ago, horrid white clover all over so I won't use their stuff any more even though it's cheap.

I ordered some wildflower seeds from this place in MN about 3 years ago. That's how I got that awful pokeweed. But I feel that I did accomplish something. There's one more nastier rose on the east side. Not sure how I'll deal with that.

I was out there swearing a couple times, not like me at all.

I'm mad at the prices people charge if you can even find somebody. I started with just an easy tree trimming job, 2 (his gf looked like a meth head) doesn't seem like they were here for 2 hours for $400 so I felt a little overcharged but a landscaping place would have charged me more. While they were here with the chipper, I did get rid of some nasty dead rose stuff out front. He would have chipped more for the $400 but I couldn't work that fast.

When I settle down and heat up some clam chowder I made, I will see what the others are doing.

82 posted on 06/06/2014 5:01:26 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: greeneyes

I had 3 other photos but they did not format correctly. Spent the afternoon in the garden and yard doing this and that...


83 posted on 06/06/2014 5:13:59 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: Aliska

Lady Bender and I offer our Love and Prayers of condolences for the loss of your son. May he shine in your heart forever...


84 posted on 06/06/2014 5:24:03 PM PDT by tubebender (Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening," and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.)
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To: Aliska

Peroxide is a little miracle in a bottle. It kills all kinds of bad “bugs”. I don’t know that we have any poke weed, but we do have an increasing amount of stinging nettle, which is very painful. To remove it from the garden, I wear a long sleeved flannel shirt, leather and canvas gloves, long pants and shoes. It’s very painful when it makes contact with the skin.

It’s difficult to find anyone for a “small” job. Some of those who do that kind of work may not be reputable.

I love clam chowder. :)


85 posted on 06/06/2014 5:24:08 PM 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: tflabo
For that heavy clay in the garden forum I used to read whether I would be able to do it or not, I read that a good way to break up clay is to plant 3 successive crops of buckwheat. I think they meant three in one year.

That writer who wrote I think it was Pleasant Valley (in Ohio), he was trying to recondition soil from farmed out and abandoned farms. He used grass and something to eat it, horses or cows I think.

You can look up what I suggested. I know you don't want to lose a growing season but it might be worth it. Otherwise you could look into lasagne beds. I haven't tried them yet but they throw down cardboard, then pile green cuttings and then compost, somehow plant through the cardboard, not sure how that is supposed to work.

86 posted on 06/06/2014 5:40:14 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: trisham
I have saved plants from mold with peroxide. 1 part peroxide to 9 parts water. I read the Amish spray a solution on their string beans after picking and get another crop, not as robust probably.

We never had any pokeweed around here before; I know a lot of my weeds. No nettles on my property but got in a thicket of them a couple times and they do sting like the devil, and takes awhile to stop.

I should dress better for the job but I don't like getting too hot. As to the clam chowder, I've had the stuff to make it for some months and finally got some celery and enough onions to make some. I winged it. Guess i should have bought another bottle of clam juice and/or another can of clams. I decided that I like potato soup well enough so if it doesn't have much clam flavor I don't care.

87 posted on 06/06/2014 5:54:03 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: Aliska

I hear you. I love potatoes. We usually keep 6 to8 cans of chopped clams on hand, as well as multiple bottles of clam juice. Linguine with clam sauce is a good, quick and easy Friday night dinner.


88 posted on 06/06/2014 6:04:59 PM 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: Eric in the Ozarks; sockmonkey
I've taken some beautiful photos of orange poppies but wanted the multi colored Shirley ones. Only ones left are some little grape ones that self seed. I've got some seed for those beautiful (to me) Afghan opium poppies but don't dare try to grow any.

Isn't it a little early for Japanese beetles? I gave up on them. They make me sick when they clusterf***. Well, my second cousin farms for me and his mom too elderly to care for flowers. He said her red rose got them all over (red were the ones they bothered the least of mine; they like white, yellow, pink, light colors and other flowers).

My second cousin said he sprayed his mom's rose with Tide and they never bothered it again. I knew they sell some soap product for them but nobody thought it worked very well.

I'm hoping they won't be too bad this year. Here's my theory. The frost line went very deep this winter and didn't thaw until well into April or whenever. We shall see. Last year, we had so much rain starting about the time they come up to feed on grass until they emerge in June that they got drowned. They weren't bad at all. I've read lots and lots about them.

89 posted on 06/06/2014 6:09:19 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: SisterK
How do you take tumeric?

I found some old in my spice cabinet should still be good. I was watching videos about cabbage rolls and one guy put some in his. I was going to try to get mine made Sunday but don't want to mess them up with strange spices. I did buy some brown rice for them.

90 posted on 06/06/2014 6:14:47 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: trisham
I love potatoes, too. I buy those huge russett ones to bake, have to poke them deep so they don't explode.

I saw a video about au gratin potatoes that used gruyere cheese. Usually I just use sharp cheddar or a mix. My taste is off because I have gum disease, some things ok, some things not. The Velveeta didn't taste good so I gave it to my daughter, fresh $5.99 box.

I have saved a copycat recipe for the Olive Garden to make shrimp and scallop linguine so that's on my list to try. I love clam dip and used to love fried clams but haven't had either for ages. Can't say I'm too thrilled with these canned clams, forget which brand.

91 posted on 06/06/2014 6:23:04 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: greeneyes; gorush

They moved us from 4B up into 5A, or even 5B, but that isn’t working too well.

We try for Zone 3 of 4 hardiness for any non-annuals. This past winter, though, we were down into 3B territory.


92 posted on 06/06/2014 6:29:47 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Sorry to hear that. Around here, the weather is sick, and nothing is getting done; and not much will get done until it improves.

Most of the potted stuff is alive, barely.Need to reseed a few things directly into the ground, if & when.


93 posted on 06/06/2014 6:35:07 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

Tanglefoot. http://www.planetnatural.com/product/tree-tanglefoot-insect-barrier/

It’s basically for trees, but can also be used on stiff paper, either was a collar, or flat with a slit for the stem.

Not sure, but diatomaceous earth is used for regular cutworms, so would probably work on yours, too.

Might also try (relatively pricey) beneficial nematodes for a more permanent solution, though it won’t help with the current infestation.


94 posted on 06/06/2014 6:48:14 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: greeneyes

A carrot-radish pickle is great in a relish tray, or instead of a salad. Also not a bad hot side dish with things like sauerbraten.

Also, radishes can be cooked, and are surprisingly good. https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&rlz=1C1AVNA_enUS566US566&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=cooked%20radish%20recipes


95 posted on 06/06/2014 7:00:52 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (Love me, love my guns!©)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Don’t forget to wear golves when you clean the peppers. LOL


96 posted on 06/06/2014 7:01:48 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: trisham

Thanks for the links. That sounds perfect for the kitchen and hallway. I’ll have to show hubby.

I can compromise on the bathroom and put in ceramic tile, since I always have cushy throw rugs, and don’t spend much time in there standing anyway.


97 posted on 06/06/2014 7:04:15 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: trisham

In fact that treatment is what my pediatrician for my kids advised if the pills failed when my babies were sick.

Now those were the days! Kid gets sick and you call your pediatrician, his anwerig services asks the appropriate questions, and he calls back with instructions.

Now days you get an answering machine that says go to the nearest ERA if you can’t wait till next office hours.


98 posted on 06/06/2014 7:07:17 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: bgill
You have some good stuff going on with your garden so that's good. We have been doing fine with our fans. Haven't turned on the air conditioner yet. Will hold out as long as we can.

I am looking forward to recovery. Shame on me for taking up the mats and not getting them back down sooner, and allowing my tootsies freedom from shoes for a few trips to the bathroom. Meanwhile, I am making sure to keep up on the work that I have completed, so things don't backslide.

Electric bills are up significantly here(43% increase even with reduced use-age). Guess it's probably related to the war on coal. We get lots of electricity from coal in Missouri.

The politicians and greenies really amaze me sometimes. It seems that we have decided that chicken processed in China would be ok to do. They plan to ship the dead birds to China for processing, and they will ship them back as Chicken nuggets etc.

Aside from the fact that China has a total lack of good quality control when it comes to processing food, toothpaste etc, how much sense does it make to use all that fossil fuel to pilot the boats to and from China?

Chicken processing is not a glamorous job, but at least it's a job. Something very wrong with this picture on so many levels. They don't plan on labeling either.

I'll probably be reserving my chicken for the year from some local producers and make my own McNuggets for the kids.

99 posted on 06/06/2014 7:22:24 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Aliska

That is a beautiful flower. Thanks for sharing it. Hubby uses betadine on all such wounds, and he’s never had any infection. He is pretty prone to getting puncture wounds and scratches.

He doesn’t even put on neosporin or anything. Just washes off, and covers all the nicks etc with betadine. He says it forms a barrier when it dries.

I am so sorry for your loss. Glad you are getting out doors, though as that can be a help to a person’s mental frame of mind.


100 posted on 06/06/2014 7:30:26 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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