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Weekly Garden Thread - August 15-21, 2020
August 15, 2020 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

Posted on 08/15/2020 6:21:55 AM PDT 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 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; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; hobbies
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

I hope some rain comes your way. Our high yesterday was 77 with a pretty nice breeze & the humidity wasn’t too bad - felt very much like a fall day. The only thing missing were the crickets ... around Labor Day, the crickets really start singing and that always signals ‘fall’ to me, even if cold weather is a month or two away.


61 posted on 08/17/2020 3:49:35 AM PDT by Qiviut ("I have never wished death upon a man, but I have read many obituaries with pleasure" Mark Twain)
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To: linMcHlp

Warm and humid this week here in Central Missouri.

Finally starting to get enough tomatoes to share.
In all the years I’ve been growing tomatoes I’ve never seen anything like it. Mid-August I should be up to my ears in tomatoes.

I suppose I should be grateful that they’re finally producing.

It’s been a couple years since I gave the garden a good dose of horse poo. Think I’ll make a concerted effort to get that done this fall.


62 posted on 08/17/2020 6:23:00 AM PDT by Augie
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To: All

63 posted on 08/17/2020 6:28:38 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Augie

Rabbits?


64 posted on 08/17/2020 7:38:07 AM PDT by linMcHlp
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To: All
Got a bushel of garden zucchini staring at you.....saying "do something?" Get busy and make this.

Keto Crustless Quiche

Ing pound grated zucchini 1/2 tsp salt 6 large eggs cup heavy cream 8 oz smoked gouda cheese
(or add 1/8 - 1/4 tsp liquid smoke) 2 tbsp snipped fresh chives 1/2 tsp dried dill 1/4 tsp ea salt/white pepper 2 tsp soft butter

Preps----Sprinkle zucchini in colander w/ ½ tsp salt. Thoroughly mix w/ hands. Set 10 min.
Grate cheese. Set oven to 350 deg w/ rack at middle. Butter 9-10" pie plate or quiche dish.

Method---- Rinse zucchini w/ running water thoroughly, then squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Place into bowl and mix in dried dill and chives.

Measure salt, pepper, eggs and heavy cream into a medium bowl and beat until frothy.

Layer ¼ of the cheese into the pie plate followed with 1/4 zucchini. Alternate til ing are used up. Gently pour egg mixture over.

Bake 40-50 min til browned and just slightly soft in the middle. Remove; let cool to room temp. Cover with saran and frige.

SERVE warm reheated in microwave or oven with a green salad.

65 posted on 08/17/2020 9:06:59 AM PDT by Liz
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To: linMcHlp

I’ve lost a few almost-ready-to-pick tomatoes to rabbits, but mostly the plants just haven’t done well this summer. Two of the black cherry plants croaked, and one of the brandywine plants is looking really sick.

May was cold and wet, so they were late going in. I’m pretty sure that is the root of the problem. Most years I have ripe tomatoes around the 4th of July.


66 posted on 08/17/2020 9:47:55 AM PDT by Augie
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To: Qiviut

I love the heat. A fan is good enough for me and ai do not have AC.

It is only low 80s today.

I built a 16x4’ raised bed in my back yard and hauled the last of my garden soil from the front yard today.

Enjoying some cold beer sitting in the shade.

Later I will start the fall crop seeds I am putting in this new bed and get them happy and nestled in the greenhouse.

Tomorrow I will haul the wood chips I sue for mulch up to the new bed. Should only take an hour.

Then it is time to start staining a fence. Hopefully the sprayer I bought works we with the staon...as the reviews promised.

If so, I will finish the fence by the end of Wednesday.

I have a surgery to repair and old toe injury on Thursday and I am on lockdown until then after having a covid test today in preparation.


67 posted on 08/17/2020 3:47:40 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

hahahaha....my mom used to refer to extra large zuchuini as “Home Wreckers”

Built another raised bed 16x4’ and will be stocking it with fall crops soon.

Found a paperback book on my shelf that I totally forgot I had....a book on herbs. It has thousands of herbs listed by variety and what they are good for.

Will be reading it along with a couple of other books after my toe surgery Thursday
I will be laid uonfor a few days before I can get around a bit in one of those walking boots.


68 posted on 08/17/2020 3:51:38 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

Both of my folks had procedures at the hospital - mom had to have a COVID test, but surprisingly, my dad did not. Both are very elderly & did well with their procedures. Good luck with your surgery Thursday.

I garden only in raised beds - 2 are 10x4 & 2 are 8x4. I want to put in some 12 footers for flowers next year. If I can get them built & filled over the winter, then come spring, I’ll be ready to go.


69 posted on 08/17/2020 4:54:25 PM PDT by Qiviut ("I have never wished death upon a man, but I have read many obituaries with pleasure" Mark Twain)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

That’s good because I love tomatoes!


70 posted on 08/17/2020 5:09:03 PM PDT by tob2 (So much to do; so little desire to do it.)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

Best of luck on your surgery. Get your stack of books ready, LOL! :)


71 posted on 08/18/2020 5:37:00 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Liz; All

Crustless is the only way to go with Quiche, IMHO. I make one at least every month, sometimes two if I have meat and veg to use up.

It’s Magic, LOL!

I have found that shredded Swiss cheese gives me the texture I like the best. Of course, I’ll use up any bits of cheese, too.

Another trick it to spray the quiche pan, then sprinkle it with grated (just the cheap stuff!) Parmesan cheese. Gives the bottom a little more firmness and less ‘sogginess.’


72 posted on 08/18/2020 5:41:51 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I am growing sweet potatoes in a “growing bag.”

I have never grown them before.

What I read was they are ready to be dug up when the leaves turn yellow.

Do you have any experience growing these?

I am wondering what percentage of the leaves should be “yellow” whether it is “yellowing” or completely “yellow.”

Any tips appreciated.


73 posted on 08/18/2020 8:58:21 AM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

We can’t grow sweet potatoes up here without a lot of black plastic, prayer and HEAT, so I’ve never tried them.

I haven’t grown them myself, but they take a good, long growing season; 120 days, I think? Count forward from when you planted them and I’d wait until those number of days have passed, along with the yellowing of the leaves and stem tips.


74 posted on 08/18/2020 9:22:05 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good tips.


75 posted on 08/18/2020 2:59:43 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
For almond paste lovers only------includes me and Diana.
Makes the home cook an accomplished French confectioner.
These keep well, make lovely homemade gifts. Store friged 2 weeks.

Orange Almond Paste Truffles / makes 32 Truffles

PREP COATING Melt 8-12 oz best bitter couverture chocolate in bain over simmering water.

PREP FILLING knead zested orange, 1 1/2 tsp orange liqueur, brandy or vanilla, 10 oz tube almond paste
by hand (or elec/mixer/paddle). Shape into small balls w/ teaspoon or small scoop; set on w/paper-lined sheetpan.

ASSEMBLY singly dip into melted chocolate then roll in chp toasted almonds; harden on w/paper-lined sheetpan.

VARY Add 1-2 tea vanilla, raspberry or orange liqueur or rosewater in place of citrus.

76 posted on 08/18/2020 3:18:10 PM PDT by Liz
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To: All

77 posted on 08/18/2020 6:07:09 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Awwwww.....

You can’t fool me.

Those are carrots.


78 posted on 08/18/2020 6:09:23 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Pro tip for gardeners which I learned the hard way today.

Wake up, no breakfast.
Four string cups of coffee in 3 hours.

Working in hot sun gardening, digging out blackberry bushes for 3 hours.

Eat a nectarine.
Sip too little water.

Haul wood chips 1 hour.

Run weedeater around garden 30 min..

Build new trellis for new direct seeding peas and beans.

Hand till a raised bed which was so dried o out water ran straight through to bottom without the dirt clods soaking any of it up....1 hr in sun (yes...wearing my 360 brim gardener hat.)

Plant pea, beans, winter squash....tranaplant Italian kale, Swiss chard, lettuce (in shady area planting bed.)

I started at 9 a.m. 430 pm....drink two ice cold Shiner Bock beers... finished at 445 pm.

Go inside, eat 2 dill pickles and drink 3 cups of dill pickle juice.

Daughter made chicken stir fry...eat a big bowl with large helping of Siracha sauce.

I wonder why my stomach is upset ..dehydrated and acidic stomach...ugh.

Ice cold Bodhizafa beers in the shade seem to be helping.


79 posted on 08/18/2020 6:56:11 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

My stomach flipped just reading that!


80 posted on 08/19/2020 5:40:40 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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