Posted on 04/29/2023 7:01:57 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 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!
Rainwater for Gardens: Why Plants Love Rainwater Best
by Jesse Savou
It might not come as a surprise that there’s no water plants love better than rainwater. Imagine your thirsty plants doused in droplets fallen fresh from the sky, their leaves expertly channeling the bounty down stalks and into the soil—right to the root zone where it is needed most.
Why is rainwater such a preferred water source? There is more than just one reason—in fact there are four:
Rainwater is 100% soft water.
Free of the salts, minerals, treatment chemicals, and pharmaceuticals that are found in municipal water, groundwater, and surface water, rainwater is pure hydration. Salts and chemicals build up in your soil over time and these residues are tough on plants. This effect is exaggerated in potted plants where the accumulation is more pronounced. Rainwater can help flush these chemicals away and refresh the health of your soils.
Rainwater is slightly acidic—naturally!
Green gardeners know that most organically grown plants prefer soil pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5. This is on the acidic side of the neutral pH 7, and by nature’s design, it is the exact pH range for rainwater. City water, on the other hand, is treated to be alkaline to protect metal pipes from corroding, and can have a pH level upwards of 8.5. Greywater (once-used household water from a laundry machine, shower, or bathroom sink) will start with the same pH as your tap water, but can have a pH as high as 10.5 once it gets to the garden depending on the types of soaps and detergents that are in it. Irrigate with rainwater to flush out your soil and help keep your soil pH in perfect balance ongoing!
Stored rainwater contains some organic matter.
If collected from your rooftop, rainwater contains traces of organic material. While the water is very clean and should run clear, it has been exposed to anything on your roof. We’re not talking about chunks (these get pre-filtered out on their way into properly-designed rain barrels)–we’re just talking about contact exposure to leaf litter, pollen, bird droppings and the like (which perhaps not surprisingly are great for your plants). A rain barrel hosts a beneficial biology to keep the water alive – literally. It’s like a light application of fertilizer every time you water.
Rain contains nitrates—an important macro-nutrient.
Rainwater contains nitrate – the most bio-available form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the three key macro-nutrients that plants need to thrive – necessary for the development of lush foliage. Many forms of nitrogen are not actually able to be absorbed by plants. Nitrates, which are made up of nitrogen and oxygen, are formulated by nature for maximum uptake by your plants. Plants typically absorb most of their nitrates from the soil. And where do those nitrates come from? Rain!
On a personal note, before I discovered rainwater, I doubted I would ever be able to keep a house plant alive. I had somewhat better luck outdoors in the garden, but little did I know that the potted plants were really suffering from the salt, chemical, and mineral buildup of tap water, and the high alkalinity. Then I learned about watering with rainwater. Rainwater straight from my rain barrels into a watering can is what I use for my potted plants and nursery starts. A gravity fed drip line allows me to apply rainwater directly to my in-ground garden with no effort at all. And what a difference it makes. Suddenly I have a green thumb… but, Shhh, don’t tell! Rather, tell EVERYBODY! The secret is the water.
We’ve been having rain off and on for a few days. It’s hard to get outside to mow the lawn. Everything is pretty and green though!
The 4H center is having a Master Gardener show. Hoping to bring home a couple of hard to gets. A few years ago I purchased some Virginia bluebells to put under a tree, and they are growing very nicely. Would love to find a few more, but they are usually expensive.
Good Morning! :-)
After a string of really nice days, where I’ve pretty much exhausted myself prepping the garden, we’re going to get cooler again with rain on and off.
I LOVE sales like that. Went to one quite a number of years ago with a friend up in Green Bay. It was a fundraiser for the college kids in AG and it was before everyone was into ‘Heirloom’ this and that so we got some (then) hared to find tomato plants. We also saw Black Pelicans that were on the move, so it was a memorable day. :)
Virginia bluebells divide nicely. Do it when the leaves are yellow and dropped, in a month or so.
They like heavy soil, and they are fine in dry shade, they enjoy the spring rains and sunlight, and go dormant in the summer.
It’s been a heck of a week.
Wednesday: Birth of a great-nephew, 9 lbs, 6 oz ….. a “citation keeper” per his Grandpa. Also Wednesday: got the Army Veteran medallion for my dad’s headstone – the new addition to our family is named after my dad so it’s interesting that he and the medallion arrived on the same day – a nice coincidence.
Thursday: Death in the family …. the first cousin who is the most woven into the fabric of my life & virtually a brother rather than a nephew to my dad – they were very close. It’s been not quite 4 months since dad passed and my cousin was an unexpected departure from this world. We’re coping.
Weather: Thursday night into yesterday morning we got just over 2 inches of rain (it was ‘torrential’) with more on tap for tomorrow into Monday. This should break the Mid-Atlantic drought that’s been going on. I checked the raised beds early last evening when the rain was down to a drizzle and they are not flooded out, which has happened once before – I think that time it was hurricane remnants that caused the flooding.
Garden: Everything is planted as of this past week and heavily mulched with pine needles. All made it through the downpours the last day and a half without getting beaten down – I staked the peppers up so that made a big difference. Dahlias are coming up – can’t wait for flowers …. first time I’ve planted them. Dragon Egg cukes have germinated and are peeping through – no Divas yet. Radishes & bunch onions plus some onion sets were planted this past week as well. All the fencing is up …. had to do some re-configuring, but I made what panels I had work to enclose all the beds with something in them (other than herbs). In the herb bed, I planted an African Blue basil (something different) & the sage and thyme are blooming, which adds to the ‘look’ of the garden …. very enjoyable to see.
Critters: The large (and female, as we discovered) groundhog that was living under the horse barn, causing a lot of damage, and was a potential danger to the garden, is no more. ‘Nuff said regarding its demise, but I am really happy it’s gone. Snakes are out – almost ran into one while going to the pole barn to get the mower …. the neighbor actually had one in her house! These are Eastern Rat Snakes …. love mice and chicken eggs. Big old hawk sitting on the fence this morning, not that far from the chickens …. I made a roof for the chicken run this month so all the hawk can do is ‘look’ …. no chickens are available! :-)
Have a great weekend, everyone …. be sure to hug the ones you love.
Oh, good to know! I was wondering how to increase the 3 plants I bought a couple of years ago. I’d like to have the whole space fill in. It’s a very natural area that needed a little color. I have a painted fern over there too.
Great topic! (and good morning :)
Rainwater Harvesting
What is rainwater harvesting?
What is rainwater harvesting, you ask? Rainwater harvesting—also known as rainwater catchment, rainwater capture, or rainwater collection—is the simple act of collecting the rainwater that runs off the hardscapes on your site for beneficial use.
There are passive methods for rainwater harvesting, including infiltration basins and bio-swales, that slow or stop the flow of runoff across your site. This allows stormwater to infiltrate into the ground, hydrating soils and recharging groundwater.
But the BlueBarrel System™ is for active rainwater harvesting, meaning you catch and store the water in barrels for later use. If used in the garden, stored rainwater will also hydrate soils and recharge groundwater. With active rainwater harvesting, you control when and how the water is used.
But why collect rainwater if I already have water available?
Rainwater harvesting is rising in popularity with renewed concerns about water supply, resource consumption, global climate change, and emergency preparedness. Many think of it as a new technology whose time has come, but at BlueBarrel, we like to remind folks that rainwater harvesting is an ancient technology whose time has returned. Truth is, people have been collecting rainwater since the beginning of time as part of living in harmony with the land. Now that you understand what is rainwater harvesting, let’s get on to understanding why everyone should be doing it.
Diana Here: Yep. They’re trying to sell you rainwater ‘systems.’ But you’re SMART! Good ideas here that you can easily implement at home, yourself.
https://www.bluebarrelsystems.com/about/what-is-rainwater-harvesting/
I recommend diluted ammonia and trace minerals.. i.e. take your vitamins and pee outside.
In the early Spring, before I have the (seemingly) MILES of hose laid out, I have to find some way to get water to the greenhouse for the plants I have started out there.
With rain in the forecast, I filled the milk jugs I’ve been saving with water from the rain barrel. I now have 14 gallons stashed to use, which is plenty for now.
With a heavy rainfall, just a half-inch of rain fills that 40-gallon barrel in a matter of minutes. I want a few more, actually, LOL!
I also melt snow in the winter months to give my houseplants a treat. Our house water is from a well and untreated so it is very ‘hard’ so they love it!
I had a horrible dream last night that a sudden overnight frost had killed everything in my garden. Thank God that was only a bad dream. All good, except for herbs, where I suspect that the cat is doing his business. I should plant some catnip elsewhere to draw him away.
I’m sorry to hear about your cousin passing. That’s hard when so unexpected.
We learned of a few difficulties that we will be dealing with. Job losses in the family, two this week. Both were a result of the SVB failure. Couldn’t come at a worse time.
As you said, hug the ones you love.
I had problems with Pillbugs eating my green bean seedlings. They live in loose soil heavily mixed with organic material (leaves, grass cuttings). I found an organic,non toxic product called Sluggo that works very well on a number of garden pests. It also promotes the breakdown of the organic matter in the soil.
Hawaii Rainwater Harvesting Guide.
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/Library/Guides&Manuals/HI_Guidelines_2010.pdf
But would amount of chemicals from old trash barrels of much significance, esp. after many refillings?
I was given two more barrels by a brother in Christ which I added to the collection. $12.00 1100GPH (before hose restrictions) 12V immersible pump, attached to vacuum cleaner hoses, powered by covered PC power supply, pumps water from first barrel to others. No need to cover yet. Plus another brother gave me a roll of water permeable ground coverings (at top of image to right. Praise and bless the Lord.
A Beginner’s Guide to Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater has been collected, stored and consumed for thousands of years with methods attracting renewed interest today. Modern systems range from rain barrels to elaborate green setups with pumps, piping and filtration elements. Complex installations are best left to professionals knowledgeable about restrictions and permit requirements, but if your goal is a free water source for lawn, garden and other activities, harvesting rainwater is fairly straightforward.
https://www.thespruce.com/beginner-guide-to-rainwater-harvesting-7090759
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