Weekly Garden Thread - January 6-12, 2024 [Garden Resolutions for 2024]

January 6, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

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.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

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It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

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 to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[TheConservativeParty]

I’ll have to give the hellebores a try. My hosta garden has some extra spaces
😊

[iontheball]

The best laid plans for the garden are usually made in the dead of winter, when short days give us long, cozy evenings to dream up a new project or pore over seed catalogues in anticipation of next summer’s borders. In a similar way, it’s a good time to make some resolutions and to implement changes to not only what you’ll plant but how you’ll maintain it all, too. Here then are some of my garden resolutions for 2024.
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My number one change for ‘24 is to start my pepper seeds super early. Peppers from seed need an inordinately long growing season to mature and they will stay productive up until frost. Last year I ran out of growing season. I’m in what the USDA calls zone 7a. I have purchased a plastic/aluminum cold frame for transitioning purposes to the garden. I’m looking to start my pepper seeds inside in baggies on the first of February. Too early? Last year was way too dry a summer for my garden without an supplimental irrigation source. I’m hoping for a better year in ‘24.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

[Liz]

Potato Leek Soup
It all happens in one pot for super easy cleanup. Make a big batch and freeze three months. Great on its own or w/ a sandwich for lunch. TIPS: dice potatoes smaller to cook faster. Swap out butter w/ olive oil.

Ingredients 4 large leeks, dark green parts and stems removed, halved and thinly sliced 1/2 stick unsalted butter 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 bay leaf 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces 6 cups chicken stock 1/2 lemon, juiced Garnishes thinly sliced chives, olive oil, for drizzling, toast, for serving

Preparation 1.Soak the leeks in cold water. Repeat process twice to ensure all hidden dirt and sand is removed.2.Over med-high heat, melt butter. Once bubbling, add leeks and garlic. S/p, stir/combine. Cook/stir occasionally, til leeks are softened and translucent, 8-10 min. 3.Add bay leaf, fresh thyme sprigs, potatoes and chix stock. BTB, then simmer 18-20 min, til potatoes are cooked thru. 4.Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Blender smooth, in lemon juice, s/p, if needed.

5.Divide into bowls, garnish. Serve with toast and enjoy.

[goodnesswins]

Good morning...I learned to NOT go on vacation in June...alas, my hub is not yet convinced...best Montana fishing is in June.

[metmom]

Daffodils are great for the spring around her.

THe deer hate them. I planted my tulips and hyacinths in the middle of the daffodils and the deer have yet to find them.

I ordered onion seeds and onion sets today.

It’s going to be back to saving seeds as the price is RIDICULOUS.

[metmom]

Start the onion seeds, lavendar, and rosemary as early as possible, sometinme early February.

[OftheOhio]

It finally snowed here and can’t see the grass. The only thing green here is the Rue (Witchbane) I planted in a big tree planter a few summers ago.

https://advicefromtheherblady.com/plant-profiles/perennials/rue-witchbane/

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Hellebore varieties can survive all the way down to Zone 3, so you should have luck with them in our Zone 5. Two varieties are toxic, though. Helleborus niger (commonly called the Christmas Rose) and Helleborus orientalis.

I had a co-worker that was wild for them and she had great luck and a lot of varieties; she lives in Madison. They like shade later in the season, but they are one of the very first things up - sometimes coming up through the snow - so that’s before the trees leaf out, so they obviously need that weaker late winter/early spring sunlight to get started. ;)

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-hellebores-in-the-garden-1402846

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’m with you on the garden notebook. I do have a Garden Journal but it’s just a mish-mash of pretty pictures and quotes and tips I want to remember.

I have a LOT of ‘resolutions’ for 2024. I’ll get them organized and make one post of it. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Those COLORS are just what I needed today. Thanks! :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Qiviut]

Some views from the new property, both from the bay window in the eating area/kitchen, which is the front side of the house. The sun sets over a mountain gap we can see from the back of the house which includes the living room & especially the patio, but it was a clear evening, so no sunset pics.

Early afternoon sunlight on the mountain.

Sun setting to the west, throwing purple shading on mountains to the east.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Gorgeous! And you STILL have lawn to mow and leaves to rake! YAY, LOL!

[MomwithHope]

Thanks for the pics. Love the one with the cat and dog, she is owning him!

[MomwithHope]

Have a happy birthday!!

[MomwithHope]

In Michigan I start my peppers indoors in March. Some I even put a heating pad under

[Qiviut]

Enough lawn to keep me & Clyde happy! Yes, there are oak tree leaves & some dead branches/sticks. Here, I have my compost pile, an old roadbed, the woods, plenty of places to dump lawn & garden debris. At the new place, I don’t. It looks like the previous owner burned sticks, so we can do that. I think Clyde & I just keep chopping up leaves until they disappear, but I might put in a compost bin.

Just heard from a cousin who has a hauling & excavation business. Mom wants parking in the front of the house & I want the pole barn cleaned out, leveled, & gravel. I also want to talk to him about hauling dirt & compost for a shrub & coral bells bed along front of porch & my new raised beds. We are tentatively meeting next Sunday (yay!).

Ordered a cargo net for the utility trailer & will try to get new tires on it next week. The PU is a king cab short bed which is roomy for passengers but short on hauling space. We had the backseat totally packed in addition to the bed. I also ordered a driveway alarm - the locksmith got up the driveway & was knocking on the back door before I realized he was there! Super nice guy, did a great job, but reminded me I need to know when people are on the property.

Snowing there now & here, we have 3/4” of rain in the gauge since this morning.

[Sacajaweau]

I started my bush 274 beans on toweling a couple years back...that sure gave them a jump start...I was two weeks ahead of everyone when I plopped them in the ground. AND they go on and on forever it seems.

Garden did better when I started seeds early. You can adjust the hardening off time. I'm lucky I had the perfect room inside to harden them off...

I start my seeds using the peat pods and transfer into CLEAR plastic cups...I love seeing the roots...It's exciting....lol...well it is...

[Sacajaweau]

Thanks...

[Qiviut]

...the Helleborus genus of the Ranunculaceae family, which also includes monkshood, delphinium, and anemone.

******

One of, if not ‘the’ most special plant I loved to see on the sections of AT I personally maintained, was monkshood. Once I spotted them (rather rare), I kept track of them, when blooming, etc. They were one of the special ‘treats’ bestowed on me by Mother Nature during my time doing trail work.