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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD DECEMBER 16, 2016
fr | 12/16/2016 | greeneyes

Posted on 12/16/2016 7:55:14 PM PST 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. 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! 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; grocery; hobby
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To: Bellflower
Bellflower :" Have you or others tried indoor growining in water with a growing light?"

I have not tired growing in water
I have overwintered in pots, and then used rooting hormone to create slips in the springtime.
Temperature and Light variability are too unpredictable during the winter (ie : drafts, too close to the window, too close to the floor, power failure, etc.)
Even then, the mother plant tends to get too leggy.
However, that being said, a temperature controlled hydroponic system might(?) work to over-winter plants; but, I have tried hydroponics ....... yet !
YMMV !

41 posted on 12/17/2016 3:46:30 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Immigration is a priveledge ,.... not a right ! Tell that to O'Bungler and the U.N.)
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To: Bellflower
Bellflower :" Have you or others tried indoor growining in water with a growing light?"

My experience is that "water roots" are inferior to land/soil based roots
and in most plants, they don't adjust well when placed in the soil.
It seems that 'water roots' get shocked when placed in the soil, and whether the plant survives is a "crap-shoot".
It is to riskey for the amount of money involved in investing into the temp/ light system unless you can get in for cheap .

42 posted on 12/17/2016 3:54:08 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Immigration is a priveledge ,.... not a right ! Tell that to O'Bungler and the U.N.)
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To: Wneighbor; greeneyes
Prayers up for you last night when I saw your post
Prayers for you, and your hisband, and a full recovery for you.
Look at it this way, now your husband knows how much effort you put into the garden, to keep him fed ! LOL !
I had no interest in horticulture when I was in my early 20's, until my mother went to Florida and I was responsible for about 150 plants that she had for spring sale.
These plants were a fund raiser for my mom's college spring plant sale: African violets (temperamental), "mother-of-a- million(indestructible), bromiliads, and aloe Vera.
It was the success there that I found that I enjoyed the plants, and later led me to pursue Master Gardener training, and later working in a 4 acre greenhouse .
So, you never know what effect his taking care of the garden may occur.
You might challenge him that you can grow more food than he can , and this might excite his competitive spirit, and he can grow what he likes to eat.
43 posted on 12/17/2016 4:15:03 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Immigration is a priveledge ,.... not a right ! Tell that to O'Bungler and the U.N.)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

I visited Buffalo, NY when I was selling fuel to Great lakes steamships that called for iron ore in Duluth-Superior. American Steamship was based there at the time. Good people.

We lived in the Twin Cities area at the time and I could make Buffalo and come back the following day via Northwest.

Back when I was in college, a girlfriend was taking a session at Rutgers and I drove out to pick her up and bring her home. While we were that far east, I saw in the paper that Bob and Ray were appearing at a local NYC theater and urged her to go with me.

We went with a half dozen of her friends and I laughed my head off at the monologues. She understood none of it.


44 posted on 12/17/2016 5:27:32 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Eric in the Ozarks :" We went with a half dozen of her friends and I laughed my head off at the monologues. She understood none of it."

It takes all the fun out of a joke when you have to explain it to someone !
Aren't you glad that relationship didn't work out, other wise you would be trying to explaining jokes for the rest of your life. She wasn't and engineering major was she ?

Eric in the Ozarks :" I visited Buffalo, NY when I was selling fuel to Great lakes steamships that called for iron ore in Duluth-Superior.
American Steamship was based there at the time. Good people."

I once met Edmund Fitzgerald, for who the ill fated Great Lakes ore ship was named after.

45 posted on 12/17/2016 8:44:01 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Immigration is a priveledge ,.... not a right ! Tell that to O'Bungler and the U.N.)
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To: greeneyes

Good idea. Was thinking of homemade ketchup or relish. Will give it a try. Can use green tomatoes too.


46 posted on 12/17/2016 11:21:47 PM PST by odds
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To: greeneyes

My bugaboo is mosquitoes. I grew NOTHING this year, due to the mosquitoes being so thick, and I can’t use any of the repellents. I have mild success with using melaleuca herbal shampoo as a body wash, but they still bite me. Then I have reactions to the bites! That’s what I get for being a fair skinned blue eyed redhead. Think it would help if I dyed my hair black and got brown contacts? ;-p


47 posted on 12/17/2016 11:36:27 PM PST by Flaming Conservative
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To: left that other site

We have some white stuff on the grass and rooftops this AM.


48 posted on 12/18/2016 5:04:06 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

No I don’t get the emails-I rarely look at email and the only time I get on facebook is when the kids text me that they have posted some pictures of the grand kids.

I signed up for the catalog, and about once a quarter, I go review various sites for new products and sales. I still really like the LDS on line store for basics in the number 10 size cans. They have been adding to the selections available so it’s not as limited as it once was.

At one time they had a starter case-it had one can each of the various basics such as beans, rice, flour etc. One case was basics for one month, and one person. Made it easier for beginners to stock up with less outlay. It’s no longer available, but the prices on what they have are very competitive.


49 posted on 12/18/2016 5:12:03 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: MomwithHope

We live on a huge hill, and it was very slick yesterday - freezing rain. Hubby went to the store to avoid going today as it is colder than a well diggers behind.


50 posted on 12/18/2016 5:14:58 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: trisham

I’m thinking that chili would be something good to put in the crock pot this AM for supper tonight.


51 posted on 12/18/2016 5:16:02 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

Sounds like a good squash to consider growing.


52 posted on 12/18/2016 5:17:25 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

We’re on a hill too, steep driveway. All our cars have had to be wheel drive in the 32 years we have been here. When it’s icy it’s the worst, have to park down by the barn and lug groceries up.


53 posted on 12/18/2016 5:20:35 AM PST by MomwithHope (Missing you /johnny (JRandomFreeper). THE LIBERAL BUBBLE HAS BURST!!!)
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To: Flaming Conservative

No. I plant basil everywhere around my garden, as it is supposed to have a repellent property. I also don’t go out in the late afternoon ie times when skeeters are likely to be about. I only stay out for the shortest time, and keep moving the whole time. I do have citronella candles to light if I decide to sit for a minute or two, but I usually just do my outdoor chores as fast as possible and then dash back to the house for sitting.


54 posted on 12/18/2016 5:21:32 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: MomwithHope

I usually managed with front wheel drive and studded tires did have couple of times that I had to park at the bottom. Those times were so slick, that I also had to get down and crawl up the hill making sure to find spots of leaves that gave me a little traction.

Now we rely on the 4 wheel drive truck for the bad times. It has a better heater too. LOL


55 posted on 12/18/2016 5:27:29 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes

This is funny. I’ve done the penguin crawl a couple of times when I could not even get up it was so icy. So I took my cane which I have only used after a knee replacement. I bought a second rubber cap and screwed 4 two inch drywall screws (wide threads) through the bottom of the cap so they stick out. It works like a champ. They did plow our road so it looks like we can make it out to church after all.


56 posted on 12/18/2016 5:32:59 AM PST by MomwithHope (Missing you /johnny (JRandomFreeper). THE LIBERAL BUBBLE HAS BURST!!!)
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To: MomwithHope

Good ingenuity. LOL


57 posted on 12/18/2016 5:37:07 AM PST by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes; Flaming Conservative; Ellendra
greeneyes :" I plant basil everywhere around my garden, as it is supposed to have a repellent property."

It may be an 'ol wives tale' but consumption of garlic is also reputed to have repellent qualities to mosquitoes.
Garlic also allegedly has some anti-viral and anti-bacterial qualities as well.
I would suggest daily consumption of garlic in soups, stews, salads, or even slivers of garlic incised into meats prior to roasting,
to build up the repellent characteristics in your immune system several weeks before the expected mosquito infestation.
Perhaps a paste of baking soda will reduce the inflammation of mosquito bite welts that show up on fair-skinned complexion.
My favorite spice is 'roasted garlic' because once cooked or roasted over 140 degrees, it looses its bitter taste, and becomes a mild flavor enhancer.
Perhaps growing and regular consumption of both basil and garlic will address your mosquito bite problem.
Any thoughts ?

58 posted on 12/18/2016 8:59:04 AM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt (Immigration is a priveledge ,.... not a right ! Tell that to O'Bungler and the U.N.)
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To: greeneyes
The Artic cold front has made it through North Alabama this morning and we got a good rain followed by sleet. Its hard to believe that I will start planting tomatoes and cabbage next week in the greenhouse. I will try and post some pictures of a new variety I have been working on for several years. I have six growing in the greenhouse and they are ready for early fresh market production starting this spring I plan on planting about 1800 of them. they are growing in one gallon pots and have become very top heavy so that's why I am using milk jugs to stabilize them. Image and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPicImage and video hosting by TinyPic
59 posted on 12/18/2016 9:30:49 AM PST by Arkansas Tider (Army EOD (Ret))
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

I don’t have a mosquito bite problem, because I don’t sit around or stand around outdoors.

I do take a clove of garlic everyday in addition to using it in cooking, because it has a lot of healthy effects.

I plant lots more basil than I ever use all around the tomatoes, and next to the patio-the mosquito deterrence is a bonus. There’s also the geranium plant - I don’t recall the exact scientific name though.


60 posted on 12/18/2016 1:18:50 PM PST by greeneyes
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