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Weekly Garden Thread - February 24-March 2, 2024 [Leap Year Edition]
February 24, 2024 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 02/24/2024 6:13:55 AM PST by 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.

This thread is a non-political respite. 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. 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!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; History
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; leapyear
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

.......thx for the pic.......close to keto.....not much flour.....


41 posted on 02/24/2024 10:34:43 AM PST by Liz (Political correctness is tyranny with manners. Charlton Heston.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Cameras are in future plans.

We have a front entrance, but there is no parking or sidewalk to front door. The driveway runs along the property line & then turns to go to around the back of the house. Several times, people have ended up at the back door & we had no idea anyone had come up the driveway. So the ‘alarm’ goes off shortly after someone turns into & starts up the driveway. It’s far enough away from the road that it doesn’t pick up road traffic.

If a vehicle doesn’t turn behind the house, it would go straight back to the barn & pole shed; however, we haven’t moved anything to the barn or shed yet, so nothing to steal.

The driveway entrance looks like it might lend itself to an automatic gate, another idea I will investigate in my “spare” time.


42 posted on 02/24/2024 10:34:54 AM PST by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: FamiliarFace

Note........ its a no-cook custard.


43 posted on 02/24/2024 10:35:30 AM PST by Liz (Political correctness is tyranny with manners. Charlton Heston.)
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To: Liz

True. Thanks for pointing that out.


44 posted on 02/24/2024 10:37:58 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Thanks Pete. It’s going to be a few days to get back to fighting shape but we’re on the mend slowly I think.

I’m not sure what’s going to make it into the garden this time. My garden soil is still all dug up and piled in the field. I need to move the last of it from the front garden, finish leveling the site, lay out where the raised beds are going, and get those built and filled before anything can be planted there.

After having the whole winter to stare at things and ruminate on options I’ve modified my plans a bit - I’m going to make a new space (~5600 sq/ft) for things that are big and unruly - squash, pumpkins, sweet corn, okra, etc. That stuff is going to get its own big garden out behind the barn where it won’t be such an eyesore in the front yard. I need to purchase ten cattle panels and a 12’ pipe gate so that area can be fenced off from the horses. I’m also giving serious consideration to moving the chicken coop out there so I can set them up with more outdoor space to scratch and dig and do chicken things.

If everything goes well I should at least have tomatoes/cukes/sweet corn/squash in the new back garden. The new raised bed garden in front might not get any plantings until fall. We’ll see...


45 posted on 02/24/2024 10:44:27 AM PST by Augie
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To: Qiviut
Qiviut I think the gate would be a good idea, and the cameras. (Including one pointed to catch license plates on cars that turns off the road onto your driveway.) Maybe a few no trespassing signs to that you can point to if you do need to contact the police. (See if you need to inform or register them with the local police if it is posted. )
46 posted on 02/24/2024 10:58:04 AM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Yeah it’s been weird weather. We have been debating whether or not to take the plow off the atv. I use a heating pad here in west Michigan for the pepper seeds.


47 posted on 02/24/2024 11:05:16 AM PST by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future.)
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To: Augie
I have no experience with it, but I imagine gardens and horses are not very compatible. (Like deer.)

Do I hear Mrs. Augie letting you know that she wants the front lawn for family picnics?

I wish I had more room. I would buy a few cattle panels and arch them and use them to grow stuff like squash and tomatoes and cucumbers!

Cattle panel trellis: How to build a DIY vegetable garden arch

Oh well, going out to do lawn and yard stuff.

48 posted on 02/24/2024 11:10:12 AM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“cattle panels”

great idea.... deffenantly on my list to try this year.

Just came in from fixing (fingers crossed) the starter on my old ford 600 , ready to put on the 5ft tiller....
It’s been a warm winter here in Georgia ... so I think i’ll start turning up some dirt.
I’ve been feeding deer all winter ... I’m not sure how I’ll handle that ... tall fence maybe?

I think it will be very important soon, to have a good garden.


49 posted on 02/24/2024 11:51:05 AM PST by 1of10 (be vigilant , be strong, be safe, be 1 of 10 .)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

I have extra ‘no trespassing’ signs at the old house, just need to get them up here. The old house is definitely posted at both entrances & along the road frontage & this place will be posted as well next time I bring a load.


50 posted on 02/24/2024 11:55:51 AM PST by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Pete from Shawnee Mission
Potential garden site, to right of French doors along the side of the shop, beds far enough from wall I can keep the grass mowed. The old cinderblock steps will be covered up (don't think I can remove them). The ground starts to slope a little beyond where the initial 4 beds will be sited; however, if I add beds, I have a rock pile with some interesting pieces, I have 20 years experience dry laying rock, and I can envision some sort of a terraced arrangement with rock walls:

The small pieces of slate (messy!) will be replaced with some huge slabs I have at the old house - they will make a small 'patio' & nice exit area from the shop. The shop is where my garden tools & supplies will be stored. There is also a VERY convenient half bath in the shop, plus a large double commercial sink for cleaning things up (with hot water!).

51 posted on 02/24/2024 12:19:46 PM PST by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Question: I have some rose slips that have been rooting for 5 months. While there is still snow on the ground, it has warmed up here a LOT. The cuttings have been in an unheated sun room, occasionally subject to sub-freezing temperatures over the winter. While we are still getting frosts regularly, and will be until mid-April, I am curious if it would be safe to plant them in their permanent home yet.

The soil is still very cool, frozen in places, hence my question.


52 posted on 02/24/2024 12:53:50 PM PST by Don W (When blacks riot, neighborhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn)
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To: Qiviut
"There is also a VERY convenient half bath in the shop, plus a large double commercial sink for cleaning things up (with hot water!)."

A mud room and vegetable washing station! (And the view...envious!!) Looks like your neighbor has a high tunnel.

(Now, off to garden!)

53 posted on 02/24/2024 12:56:16 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Actually, that is a huge, covered cattle ‘finishing barn’. Inside are multiple pens. I haven’t talked to them yet, but I suspect they bring cattle in off pasture, feed them up with grain, then ship them off to “the spa”. We call it the ‘cow palace’. They keep the place very clean/orderly so we hope it’s not an issue when the weather warms up - the way the wind blows, it won’t be blowing from the palace towards our place. I am optimistically considering it a potential source of cow compost. One other thing I noticed - the deer come by & clean up hay & grain scraps. Occasionally we hear ‘moos’ around dinner time, but after having grandparents (both sets) who had farms & cows (one had a dairy), cow sounds are like being back at the grandparents’ farms.


54 posted on 02/24/2024 1:33:32 PM PST by Qiviut (If the genocide was unintentional, they would have pulled the poison vaccines, long ago.)
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To: Don W

Resist! Check your Zone and it will tell you when it’s safe to add roses, etc.

Those roots are going to need WARMTH to make a good, solid root system for your roses. I wouldn’t risk it.

I’m in Zone 5a and I never add roses (bare root) until well into mid-May when my chances of frost/freeze have passed.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/


55 posted on 02/24/2024 4:46:55 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Finally, a nice weekend.

Raked and burned some leaves up around the house. Got a ton more Spring burning to do so the goats can have more food.

The other doe had one baby which puts me at 8 goats. I think it’s time to harvest last year’s buckling.

Pulled the trailer up and loaded some pallets on it. I need to make a dump run(12 years worth of non burnable trash), but it’s a flat car trailer so I’m going to cut some pallets in half, several of which have the double center 2x4s, and make temporary sides 2 foot tall. This Spring cleaning is going to be major.

Got some seedling mix moistened up. Going to get a bunch of cold weather greens/choy/tatsoi/lettuce sowed tonight.

There’s a place on my way home from work that has top soil for sale. I’ve watched it over the past year and never seen anything nasty pop up from the pile like thistle. A load of that plus a load of compost ought to be enough to do raised beds in the little front yard garden. Along with a sprinkling and watering in of a bit of lime. Aside from peas and peppers around the edges, I’m doing all short plants in this garden.

I’ll take some measurements tomorrow and see what I can fit for beds. I know I can do three and maybe four. Got a line on some free old rough sawn oak for sides. I can build them on top of some poultry netting or hardware cloth to keep the moles from coming up underneath.

Tomatoes and beans etc can go out there in or by the tunnel. Taters too. That reminds me. I never did dig my potatoes up from last year. They were volunteers. Might have to poke around tomorrow and see what I find.


56 posted on 02/24/2024 4:59:10 PM PST by Pollard (#BoycottBlue)
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To: Liz

‘Mud Pie’ is totally appropriate as we ‘slide’ into Spring! :)


57 posted on 02/24/2024 5:22:13 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Thanks, Pete!


58 posted on 02/24/2024 5:23:36 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Bon of Babble; MomwithHope

Gorgeous! I go to ‘Mom’ for all of my orchid questions.

I currently have a ‘Phal’ that is going to bloom for me a second time! That’s a ‘first’ for me as far as orchids go. Excited! :)


59 posted on 02/24/2024 5:25:44 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: FamiliarFace

“Maybe I’ll break out my capris instead of jeans down to my shoes.”

I live in Capris and Tank Tops all Summer. Going to hit the closet in the coming week to see what I need to re-stock as far as ‘work clothes’ for the season.

Who am I kidding? ALL of my clothes are ‘work clothes’ on a farm, LOL!

I DO keep a few nice outfits for Church, Weddings and Funerals, though. ;)


60 posted on 02/24/2024 5:29:47 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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