Saturday Gardening Thread: Let's Eat! [Y-not and KT]

Good afternoon, Gardeners! Welcome to the Saturday Gardening Thread. Today's thread is brought to you by "Mushrooms and earthworms and fancy stuff to eat":

There's not much happening in my garden yet. Our mint and strawberry plants are coming back, as are a few onions and shallots. My neighbors' crocuses and daffodils are also starting to make their presence known as I discovered while walking my dog yesterday:

However, I do have a little indoors growing project underway, courtesy of a kit that Santa brought me:

I started it a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure I'll know when it's time to harvest the mushrooms. I may go ahead and cut some off now and see if more will emerge as I free up some room on the growing surface.

This particular kit is easy as pie. You just scrape the surface to promote growth, soak the growing surface for half a day or so, then keep it moist by spritzing it with water. I have it on a counter in my utility area, away from direct light.

I like mushrooms, although as I've gotten older I find them a little harder to digest. My local grocery store carries a lot of fresh "wild" mushrooms, including chanterelles which are my favorite type of mushrooms.

But they're pricey! A small container (one of those square ones that I believe holds a pint) is about $6 at my grocery store, so I don't indulge very often.

(If, like me, you enjoy wild mushrooms, but are unsure of what their different flavor characteristics are, you might find this detailed article at Mushroom.com of interest.)

Although it's been dead easy, I doubt that the mushroom-growing kit Santa brought is even close to economical. So is there a cheaper (or better) way to grow your own mushrooms?

Our friends at Better Homes and Gardens provide this brief overview of growing your own mushrooms:

You can buy mushroom kits already packed with a growing medium that's inoculated with mushroom spawn. Buying a kit is a good way to begin your knowledge of mushroom growing. If you start without a kit, the type of mushroom you choose to grow determines the substrate you grow the mushrooms on. Research each mushroom's needs.

Button mushrooms are among the easiest types to grow. Follow Kansas State University's directions for growing button mushrooms. Use 14x16-inch trays about 6 inches deep that resemble seed flats. Fill the trays with the mushroom compost material and inoculate with spawn.

Use a heating pad to raise the soil temperature to about 70 degrees F for about three weeks or until you see the mycelium -- the tiny, threadlike roots. At this point, drop the temperature to 55 to 60 degrees F. Cover the spawn with an inch or so of potting soil.

Keep the soil moist by spritzing it with water and covering it with a damp cloth that you can spritz with water as it dries.

One method that I learned about during my research involves using waste coffee grounds as a substrate:

Now, it must be said that growing your own mushrooms is definitely more difficult than growing nearly any other crop if you use the standard methods. Mushroom farming normally relies on significant pasteurisation equipment and climatic control. This can be hard to recreate at home without spending a fortune.

The best advice for success is to start by growing Oyster mushrooms, the easiest and most forgiving variety for any home cultivator to grow. Next you must consider the growing medium. The most common materials to grow Oysters on are usually freshly cut hardwood logs or shredded straw. Growing mushrooms on logs can be quite hit or miss and will take up to a year for your first harvest. Growing on straw requires you to pasteurise the straw first, to kill off resident micro-organisms that will compete with your mycelium.

This is where coffee comes in. The beauty of growing mushrooms on fresh coffee waste is that the substrate is already pasteurised by the coffee brewing process, so you can bypass the whole pasteurising step and get straight into the inoculating. Plus, spent coffee grounds are a huge waste resource, and are packed full of nutrients which your Oyster Mushrooms love to grow on.

More details at the link.

These folks recommend you check out Fungi Perfecti for more resources to help you get started.

Another place that I found was this place (Mushroom Mountain), a farm that offers a wide variety of mushroom strains, substrates, indoor and outdoor growing kits, and even classes. They are located in Easley, South Carolina (about 20 minutes west of Greenville). I admit, the idea of a class appeals to me as I found the nomenclature associated with mushroom growing is a bit confusing.

Speaking of mushroom "farms," here's a fun article about a wild mushroom grower in Israel. (Here's a link to their website, Charm Mushrooms.)

Alternatively, it sounds like if I wait long enough I won't have to learn how to grow mushrooms. According to this link that KT provided, 3D-printed crackers are being used as a substrate for growing mushrooms:

One day, 10 years from now, you might find yourself hankering for a snack. No, you don't plunk a few quarters into a vending machine in return for a salty bag of potato chips. Instead, you reach for a 3D-printed cracker, which over the last few days, has sprouted nutritious-and-delicious mushrooms and greens.

(Follow the link for a video. I couldn't figure out how to embed it.)

By the way, another clever person has used this technology to build "bricks" out of mushrooms for building. He claims they're stronger than concrete.

And here's another cool link:

"Fungus", "plastic", and "edible" are three words you probably wouldn't think would go together, but Austria-based Livin Studio is keen to make you think again. It is responsible for the Fungal Mutarium, a prototype terrarium that uses bioremediation techniques to destroy plastic while creating edible fungus creations in the form of little pods that can be flavored and filled.

Using mushrooms for bioremediation, the use of organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants, is not new. Pleurotus ostreatus, or what you commonly know as the oyster mushrooms floating in your Chinese takeout, is a common species for bioremediation. Schizophyllum c. is less well known in the West, but commonly eaten in parts of Asia and Mexico. Both species are used in the Mutarium along with an agar substrate, and of course, plastic.

Neat-o!

Do any of you have experience growing mushrooms?

And now here's KT:

Edible Flowers -- Beyond Nasturtiums

As a child, I learned that people eat nasturtiums. But it was several years before I learned much more than that about edible garden flowers. As noted at the link above, edible flowers can be used in many ways. Johnnys Selected Seeds emphasizes flowers for use in salads. This is probably where the beginning flower-eater typically starts.

The following video produced by Peaceful Valley Farm Supply includes ten pretty sensible safety and taste tips for eating flowers. The edible flower lady mentions sticking to petals and trying to avoid eating pollen if you are an allergic type. But some people eat bee pollen as a remedy for allergies, so I don't worry too much about eating flower pollen from plants to which I am not allergic.

The guy in this video identifies Pineapple Guava petals as his favorite edible flowers. They really do have a nice, fruity flavor that is perfectly compatible with a fruit salad. If you live in a mild climate where pineapple guavas make good-flavored fruit, choose named cultivars. You might want to stick to eating the flowers in hotter climates where pineapple guava is used as a landscaping shrub, but where fruit quality is inferior.

The video guy linked above didn't convince me that he actually enjoys eating French Marigolds. Heh. Over at Eat the Weeds, three kinds of marigolds are identified as being tasty enough to eat:

Tagetes patula - French Marigold
T. tenuifolia - Signet Marigold
T. lucida - Mexican Tarragon

I'm not too wild about the idea of eating French Marigolds myself. I might try Signet Marigolds. I have grown "Mexican Tarragon". The leaves taste a lot like French Tarragon -- a little heavier on the anise flavor. The annual plants are probably easier for some people to grow than perennial French Tarragon from cuttings. (Pro tip: Don't plant Russian Tarragon for culinary use. It has no flavor even though it is "real" tarragon. Also beware of any tarragon pretending to be French Tarragon, even though it is grown from seed.) The Mexican marigold stand-in is on the rangy side, probably not the best choice in a formal garden setting.

"Mexican Tarragon" marigolds bloom in autumn. In parts of Mexico, stems with clusters of small golden flowers are used in a religious celebration. Shepherds Seeds used to sell a cultivar that bloomed longer because it wasn't as sensitive to day length. I think it was also shorter than the species. Wish I knew where to find it now.

Ninety-eight kinds of edible cultivated flowers are described here. I think the author is pretty careful about confirming edibility of flowers before recommending them. But I think he missed his earlier description of Corn Poppies. I read years ago that the seeds of Papaver rhoeas could be used like the more familiar seeds of opium poppies, but that they had a different flavor. I also read that the flower petals were used to color syrups. From his description, it sounds like the flowers and seeds were widely used in the past.

The author also seems to have missed Kudzu in his list of ninety-eight. Well, I guess that Kudzu is not cultivated by many people, even thought the government introduced it. But one of our own Morons makes Kudzu Jelly from naturalized Kudzu flowers. Sounds pretty good.

This brings me to a Garden Kitty Update. I did not name the newest refugee kittens Quince and Kudzu, as suggested in the comments a few weeks ago. I was out of ideas. Thanks to the plant name suggestions, I did choose plant-related names. The calico is now "Sweet Ginny" because her ears are the same color as Orange Ginseng Sweet Potatoes.

The little brunette classic tabby is "Lana Turnip".

I also re-named the latest two mackerel tabbies (they arrived last year) "Quincy" for quinces and "Piers" for pears. "Kudzu" is a name that is going to have to wait for a really special kitty.

Y-not: Thanks, KT! To wrap things up, here's another mushroom-y song:

That'll be stuck in your head all day!

You're welcome!

What's happening in your gardens this week?

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 OMG first, mushroom tales to follow.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 07, 2015 12:49 PM (xq1UY)

2 >>> What's happening in your gardens this week?

The roofer busted up the ice dams so I am clearing the debris out of the hydrangeas.

Ima post photos of my snow banks next month.

Posted by: fluffy at March 07, 2015 12:50 PM (Ua6T/)

3 Badgers.....mushrooms......snakes......


Oh my!

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 12:51 PM (vvS6Q)

4
Re the side bar video of Harrison Ford dropping from sky: Would nt the smart thing to do wd be for observers to immediately call 911 since the chances the pilot was going to land unscaethed wa zero to none.

Posted by: Bruce J. at March 07, 2015 12:51 PM (iQIUe)

5 So I wound up cutting off the big oyster mushrooms and used them in an omelet this morning. Tasty, although I'm not sure there's a marked improvement over store-bought. Primary advantage is not having to worry about them deteriorating during storage, I guess.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 12:52 PM (9BRsg)

6 Do any of you have experience growing mushrooms?

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Whoa....

Posted by: Psychedelic, man at March 07, 2015 12:54 PM (VAsIq)

7
Beautiful flowers. The cat -- not so much. Yeah, yeah, I know - I'm a canine shitlord and shd go chase my tail.

http://goo.gl/mTZQUb

Posted by: Bruce J. at March 07, 2015 12:55 PM (iQIUe)

8 There's not much happening in my garden yet


That is because we are still caught in the throws of Winter. 25F here in SC last night. And yet we get to "Spring Forward" tonight.


And normally my Bradford Pears are in full bloom by now. They are even budding yet. But we haz global warming even as we slide into another ice age.

Posted by: Vic at March 07, 2015 12:55 PM (wlDny)

9 O/T, just had a "door knocker." Hate to be rude but it's just about the only way to get rid of them.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 12:56 PM (vvS6Q)

10 Meh, 'shrooms....I try not to consume things that are incrementally removed from athlete's foot.

The song? Here is a hint...if your dreams are about the marvelous Ms. Kate Upton, please set them to music and share with the rest of us.

If your dreams are more like badgers and 'shrooms and...something...they are probably best left in your head. In fact, go ahead and put the hat on, shiny-side in if you please, so those thoughts won't leak-out and pester the rest of us.

Posted by: MJN1957 at March 07, 2015 12:56 PM (zgv3P)

11 I am considering gooseberries. And a bush cherry. And maybe a cold hearty dwarf apricot.

Must.put.down.catalogs.

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 07, 2015 12:56 PM (SXYle)

12 OK so, you can't talk mushrooms without Poisoning!

Every Michigander, and prolly half of surviving Ahines, think they're experts on telling Morels from anything else. Which is what led my grandparents (mother's side) to a walk in the woods in the early Sixties, with gathering baskets. And they found some, so fresh and nice they had to try them. Grandfather went into coma pretty quick; grandmother (a gen-u-wine MichInjun) was able to stagger up to a road and flag down a car. No lasting damage, but they learned from that.

Army survival manuals used to say that if there were no orange flecks in the gills underneath, the mushroom was not poison. However that same book said that every bulb in North America was related to onions, and safe to eat. I'm disinclined to make a life/death decision based on that.

I know the one about the black shroud around the roots of the Death Angel (but who digs mushrooms whole out of the ground?). Any other old wisdom knocking around out there? I have a lot of volunteers in different places, and it's funny -- Dad, who used to scoff at doubters, now is a-skeered to try 'em. Guess that's how you get to be ninety-three.

I'm sure I'm the only one here who'd rather try a strange mushroom than listen to James Taylor.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 07, 2015 12:57 PM (xq1UY)

13 Back when James till had HAIR!!!!

BTW any of those "special" mushrooms in there?

Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That at March 07, 2015 12:57 PM (zRby/)

14 So is there a cheaper (or better) way to grow your own mushrooms?


Go to work for my old company. We used to say we were mushrooms because they kept us in the dark and fed us sh*t.

Posted by: Vic at March 07, 2015 12:57 PM (wlDny)

15 I bumped the Emergency Open Thread so you non-gardeners have a place to hang.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 12:57 PM (9BRsg)

16 I read a while back that as we age, we tend to stop seeking out novelty, and find comfort in other things. Like knitting. Our favorite sports. And... gardening.

Viva la familiar!

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 07, 2015 12:58 PM (SXYle)

17 Speaking of growing mushrooms, the new series with Duchovny in the sidebar looks like it will be a hit. The tie in: Manson and his girls ate rooms!

Any show that has a tie in with recent history has a good chance of making it. The Americans started out well but sunk like a rock when they got hung up on "family relationships" blah! People were interested in the cold war and how Reagan pulled our asses out of the Jimmy Carter mess. Now it's all gone to shit again and we should all take some mushrooms to escape.

Posted by: Bruce J. at March 07, 2015 12:58 PM (iQIUe)

18 Last of the snow melting here. Be in the 40s/50s today. I had trees budding out weeks ago due to the warm weather we were having.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 12:59 PM (vvS6Q)

19 The author also seems to have missed Kudzu in his list of ninety-eight. Well, I guess that Kudzu is not cultivated by many people, even thought the government introduced it.


If you "cultivate" kudzoo you will spend the rest of your life trying to get rid of it and you will fail.

Posted by: Vic at March 07, 2015 01:00 PM (wlDny)

20 I know when I'm not wanted. And for that I wont tell you where to find the morels and the best way to cook them. Mmmmm.

Posted by: Bruce J. at March 07, 2015 01:00 PM (iQIUe)

21 @16 There's truth in that. I like to say that it's abnormal for a young man to like gardening; it has to grow on you. This year I've had the distinct pleasure of helping my new neighbor, 24, to get a kick out of it. Turns out, chicks dig it. Who knew?

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 07, 2015 01:01 PM (xq1UY)

22 OK so, you can't talk mushrooms without Poisoning!

Every Michigander, and prolly half of surviving Ahines, think they're experts on telling Morels from anything else.
--

Heh. Some hipster had a table full of wild mushrooms at the last farmer's market I visited. I paused because I really like mushrooms (being a hobbit), but then snapped out of it and realized I'd be insane to buy mushrooms that way.

What are morels like? I'm not sure if I've ever had them.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:02 PM (9BRsg)

23 And I finally got to "sweep" up the leaves in my lawn this past week. On the next sunny day that is not cold as hell I will use the dethatcher to plow it it up and aerate it.

Posted by: Vic at March 07, 2015 01:03 PM (wlDny)

24 On the next sunny day that is not cold as hell I will use the dethatcher to plow it it up and aerate it.
--

I was shocked when our lawn-beings came by and aerated our lawn a couple of weeks ago. I guess they've decided winter is over, even though we had a little snow this week.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:05 PM (9BRsg)

25 "If you "cultivate" kudzoo you will spend the rest of your life trying to get rid of it and you will fail."


I hear kudzu is like bamboo. Once you got it, you wish you never did.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 01:05 PM (vvS6Q)

26
Coffee for mushroom food.

Outstanding.

Letting Ma Nature handle the growing works for me.

One caveat here, when you harvest, TAKE THE ID BOOK ALONG.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 07, 2015 01:06 PM (jeCnD)

27 Coffee for mushroom food.

Outstanding.

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*Used* coffee grounds.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:07 PM (9BRsg)

28 We have chanterelles on our property beneath the oak trees, but I am afraid to try them. I was also informed the ranch near us caught mushroom thieves on their ranch.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 01:07 PM (BHl9S)

29 We have chanterelles on our property beneath the oak trees, but I am afraid to try them.
--

Oh, man, that would be awesome.

Maybe you could get the extension office to come out and confirm that they're safe.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:08 PM (9BRsg)

30 Not to brag to you in the east, it was 86 here yesterday and I have a hot date with my pool today. I'm hoping it will be as warm as yesterday.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 01:10 PM (BHl9S)

31 Wait...you can actually see your garden?

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 07, 2015 01:11 PM (3XJ4C)

32 I would only eat them if an expert helped me. I saw a bunch of them maybe 5? Weeks ago. I know they grow under the oaks.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 01:12 PM (BHl9S)

33 Bruce J., you may not like cats, but cats like gophers.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:14 PM (qahv/)

34 My neighbor sells the mushroom rights to someone. I'd like to get that guy to show me.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 01:14 PM (BHl9S)

35 >>I would only eat them if an expert helped me.

Yeah, I get you.

Maybe take some pictures of them growing under your tree and a sample of one and bring it to the nearest botanical garden.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:14 PM (9BRsg)

36 As a toddler, I ate unidentifies mushrooms from the lawn and had to have my stomach pumped. We called mushrooms in the lawn "toadstools".

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:15 PM (qahv/)

37 "My wife is making gardenias for dinner." -Little Shop of Horrors

Posted by: Obama's Lassie Flower at March 07, 2015 01:16 PM (3F6F8)

38
No gardening here yet, we still have 2-3' of snow lying around. Ice out should be a treat.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 07, 2015 01:17 PM (jeCnD)

39 I think that a metaphor for the topic of Y-not's Political Thread this morning can be found in Kudzu: Once you have it, you'll never get rid of it. But it had some nice features, which is why the government introduced it: erosion control, fragrant flowers, etc. Beware of such enticements offered by politicians.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:18 PM (qahv/)

40 @ 35

Absolutely seek expert assistance.

Your County Ag Extension can help here,for free.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 07, 2015 01:19 PM (jeCnD)

41 Hopefully not too OT: are used coffee grounds good for mixing in soil and growing veggies?

Posted by: tbodie at March 07, 2015 01:20 PM (gRZfJ)

42
Hardy Mums.

In the Spring I see signs for Hardy Mums on sale. Hardy mums. It gives me the chuckles.

And thus endeth my gardening knowledge.

Posted by: Soothsayer at March 07, 2015 01:25 PM (Gx7Uw)

43 I also think that a metaphor for Weirddave's Fundamental Concepts topic this morning can be found in Kudzu: Even if you are nice to Kudzu, it will not be nice to you.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:25 PM (qahv/)

44
this is the daylight savings edition, ya?

I always feel like an hour of my life is stolen from me.

Posted by: Soothsayer at March 07, 2015 01:27 PM (Gx7Uw)

45 Yes, coffee grounds can be mixed with soil to grow plants. I think some people also use it as mulch in pots, but I would verify before trying it.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:27 PM (qahv/)

46 I've used the Back to the Roots coffee grounds mushroom kit, and a homemade straw kit I bought at a farmer's market in austin. They both produced a lot of oyster mushrooms. The oyster log from WilliamsSonoma did not work for me and ended its life as expensive firewood.

Posted by: stace at March 07, 2015 01:32 PM (ImzkZ)

47 I think 3D-printed crackers sound interesting. I can imagine that it would take 10 years to find out how to safely grow mushrooms on them in a vending machine.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:33 PM (qahv/)

48 On the topic of mushroom and oak trees, I think they are making a little progress at inoculating oaks with truffles. People have been trying to do this for a long, long time.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:38 PM (qahv/)

49 Time to plant the seeds. Cayennes, bells and tomatoes going in the starter pots this week some time, since the sun is back northward enough to shine in my front window in the mornings.

Posted by: huerfano at March 07, 2015 01:38 PM (bAGA/)

50 We've had some warm days, but nights are still cold. Potting up some tomato seedlings to give away, and some to keep.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 01:42 PM (qahv/)

51

I still have 3 feet of snow in my garden!

Posted by: JT2 at March 07, 2015 01:44 PM (D2xAd)

52 Hey the time change thing was meant as a joke! Shit, c'mon you're doing it? TG I'm dead.

Posted by: Ben Franklin at March 07, 2015 01:45 PM (gwG9s)

53 On my back and I ache all over. My wife is on my ass to curtail my flying. City of Santa Monica is on my ass about my support of the SaMo airport. 72 years old and being talked to like a teenager. Fine. I'm escaping the hospital tonite. You won't have Harrison Ford to kick around any more!

Posted by: Harrison Ford at March 07, 2015 01:49 PM (gwG9s)

54 got one of those mushroom minifarms. you can soak the box after harvest for a second yield just check their site

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 07, 2015 01:51 PM (NpzKy)

55
Harrison Ford is a hero because he didn't kill anyone with his silly airplane that wasn't airworthy.

Posted by: Soothsayer at March 07, 2015 01:52 PM (Gx7Uw)

56 I just fixed myself a little pizza with oregano and kale from my veggie containers. waiting for the grill to heat up.

I'm also growing radicchio, which I've never done before, and I'm not sure when or how to harvest it. Thoughts? Recipes?

Posted by: stace at March 07, 2015 01:53 PM (ImzkZ)

57 We are farmers, row crops. My husband doesn't trust half of those people. True story, his favorite teacher in Ag school, my husband thought if I could only be half as good as he is I will be successful. The teacher tried to start his own Ag business. Hubby dealt with him, he had no idea what he was doing and went broke. if I had a county guy on our ranch my husband would get mad. He does not trust them.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 01:53 PM (BHl9S)

58 Cold and sunny here in Central Texas, maybe it will get up in the 50's today. Over-run with collard greens and kale. I went and bought some cheap hummer feeders from Walmart and will hang them just in case they are migrating already. Also bought a bag of thistle seed (Niger) and it has gone from $8 a bag to almost $14! Of course I blame Obama.
I used to pick mushrooms when I was a little kid and bring them home to my trusting family. I had a paper route and was up with the crows, the perfect time for picking. They were gorgeous, big and white and covered with dew. If you let them get too big, the maggots will get to them-a nasty surprise on your plate.

Posted by: dreadpirateroberta at March 07, 2015 01:53 PM (eB2N0)

59 I've used the Back to the Roots coffee grounds mushroom kit, and a homemade straw kit I bought at a farmer's market in austin. They both produced a lot of oyster mushrooms.
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Thx for that report, stace!

The sheer variety of mushrooms at those two sites I linked was exciting to me, but I felt a bit intimidated by the lingo.

KT's edible flowers are beautiful. I hadn't heard of most of them.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 01:53 PM (9BRsg)

60 Harrison, nobody cares. I'm in the hospital after crashing my antique princess bike and NOBODY CARES.

Posted by: Carrie Fisher at March 07, 2015 01:55 PM (KG0mU)

61 I am supposed to be doing my taxes, not getting very far with any of it. I did manage to shred a bunch of papers and put them in the compost heap so the day is not completely wasted.

Posted by: dreadpirateroberta at March 07, 2015 01:56 PM (eB2N0)

62 Completely over James Taylor, after the diplomatic debacle in Paris.

Posted by: m at March 07, 2015 01:56 PM (rn/hC)

63 Hopefully not too OT: are used coffee grounds good for mixing in soil and growing veggies?
Posted by: tbodie at March 07, 2015 01:20 PM (gRZfJ)
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I used to save my coffee grounds for a friend to mix into her soil. She also picked up grounds at her local Starbucks. See if your local hipster java joint has such a program.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:01 PM (KH1sk)

64 Do these mini shroom farms come in Amanita Muscaria? Asking for a fried.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:03 PM (KH1sk)

65 is there a rule for when to start flowers from seed for later transplant outdoors?

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 07, 2015 02:03 PM (zVYEC)

66 "friend", not "fried". Although...

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:04 PM (KH1sk)

67 56
You harvest it like lettuce. Just cut it at the base. You can harvest may thru October. You can cut it as small or big as you like.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 02:04 PM (BHl9S)

68 >>> O/T, just had a "door knocker." Hate to be rude but it's just about the only way to get rid of them.

Ignoring them completely works, especially when it is obvious that you are home.

Posted by: fluffy at March 07, 2015 02:05 PM (Ua6T/)

69 ""friend", not "fried". Although..."


Uh-huh.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 02:05 PM (vvS6Q)

70 "Ignoring them completely works, especially when it is obvious that you are home."


This one fooled me. He didn't just knock, he did the ol' 3-2 knock. Tap the door 3 times, wait a moment, and then 2 more. I thought, shit, company showed up.

Nope. Some bald guy in a suit handing stuff out.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 02:08 PM (vvS6Q)

71 Wild mushrooms can stay wild. Too hard to be sure they are safe, too damn low to the ground. We've tried exotic types from the grocery but they were expensive and not that much, if any, of a big deal.

But I do love mushrooms even though I look more like a troll than a hobbit. Mrs. JTB makes a wonderful, thick soup with grocery store baby portabellas when they go on sale. Served with some crusty bread I have a meal. Doubt growing mushrooms are worth the garden space the way we use them.

Posted by: JTB at March 07, 2015 02:09 PM (FvdPb)

72 JTB, I love those baby bellas. Can you share a recipe?

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:11 PM (KH1sk)

73 We've tried exotic types from the grocery but they were expensive and not that much, if any, of a big deal.
------

I've experimented with some of the Japanese ones (enokis, I think) and don't find them to have much flavor. (They're cool looking though.)

But chanterelles -- I like! I saute them in with baby green beans, nuts (usually hazelnuts), garlic and/or shallot, a little bacon, and deglaze with a sweet wine (port or sherry). Very good.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 02:12 PM (9BRsg)

74 >>Ignoring them completely works, especially when it is obvious that you are home.

So does turning on the sprinklers.

Posted by: Aviator at March 07, 2015 02:15 PM (sQzB6)

75 You do know there's a 10 hour version of the badger song, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGlyFc79BUE

You're welcome.

Posted by: rickl at March 07, 2015 02:18 PM (sdi6R)

76 my brother grows kombucha mushrooms in his refrigerator ....but i don't think it's really a mushroom....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at March 07, 2015 02:19 PM (u8GsB)

77 Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 02:12 PM (9BRsg)
---
Stolen.

Maybe this week's food thread should be myco-centric.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:21 PM (KH1sk)

78 I was hoping someone could help me with what is probably a trivial problem:

I'd love to have a nice big spearmint plant or two, all year long, for cocktails. I've tried purchasing the plants they have in groceries; but they tend to have very small leaves; and they'll either die quickly, or they'll grow all wild and spindly, with few leaves but with long shoots or whatever they're called. They'll look so bad that my wife won't want them out in the light.

And our exposure to light in the house is a little limited, particularly in the winter. I can set them in front of a window, but they'll only get direct sunlight for an hour or so; then I'd have to move them again -- but at that point I'm usually not home, I'm at work.

How should I do this? I'm in northern Ohio. The stuff can grow wild around here, so this problem makes me feel like an idiot -- I can't grow a damned weed. But this is really driving me nuts -- I hate to purchase clipped sprigs from the grocery for $3.50 for a little packet, use 10 of the leaves, and then leave it in the fridge til it dies and throw it away.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 07, 2015 02:22 PM (pCf+a)

79 72 ... Soup recipe:
20 ounces bellas, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
olive oil to sauté
salt and pepper, thyme, garlic powder, half cup chablis white wine (Optional)

sauté until completely cooked and liquid is reduced
add 4 tbsps. butter and 4 tbsps. flour to make a roux
add 1 cup milk and 1 cup chicken stock
heat to a gentle rolling boil for 2 minutes to heat and thicken
simmer til supper time.

Hope this works. She made up the recipe the first time on the fly. She's good doing that.

I have taken some, cooked it down a bit more and used it on a burger. Works on a baked potato, as well.

Posted by: JTB at March 07, 2015 02:27 PM (FvdPb)

80 How should I do this? I'm in northern Ohio. The stuff can grow wild around here, so this problem makes me feel like an idiot
---

Pasta,
I have a patch of assorted mints (spearmint, peppermint, and some of the funky differently-flavored mints) growing outside on the north side of my house, near the foundation.
It stays green almost the entire year. (By "it" I mean one of the two types... to be honest, I can't remember if it's the spearmint or the peppermint. It finally died off a month ago, so I can't check yet.) The reason? It is right next to the exhaust vent for my dryer.
Do you have a similar situation somewhere in your yard?
We get snow and the whole she-bang, but somehow that mint stays usable 10 months out of the year. And it comes back and spreads.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 02:28 PM (9BRsg)

81 >>Maybe this week's food thread should be myco-centric.

I tweeted him that very idea! Let's see if he "bites." lol

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 02:28 PM (9BRsg)

82 Thanks JTB, that sounds delicious on a cold day with nice crusty nutty bread.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:30 PM (KH1sk)

83 79
That recipe sounds delish. I am going to make that. I love mushrooms. I also love truffles. I wish I could grow those.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 02:33 PM (BHl9S)

84 The mushrooms I thought were chanterelles are gone. It has been very mild winter. It hailed Monday and we broke a heat record yesterday. Or the thieves could have got them.

Posted by: CaliGirl at March 07, 2015 02:37 PM (BHl9S)

85 OT, but trip-a-delic, much like mushrooms:

http://tinyurl.com/ljbwygz

Skateboarding cat.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at March 07, 2015 02:40 PM (KH1sk)

86 Since this is the gardening thread, I'll mention that we're starting our first group of seeds this week: borage, tomatoes and peppers. We are still digging out from the latest ice and snow storm (I HATE ice except in a drink). Also, this has been a much colder winter than usual and we won't be able to work the ground as early as last year. We also made plans to increase our growing space for this season and more for the next few years to come. A pleasant topic when icicles are forming on the gutters.

Posted by: JTB at March 07, 2015 02:41 PM (FvdPb)

87 Y-not -- nope, not a chance. Our dryer vent is in a little crux of the house where there's never direct light; and we have mulch with that mesh stuff under it all along the house anyway, and the yard people we have come in and bomb the place with weed killer to keep dandelions and poison ivy at bay.

Last year I bought one of those little plastic seed bed things and I was going to wait til the seeds sprouted and transplant them all over the yard, hoping that a few of them would find one of the spots suitable and form a little colony...but I couldn't even get them to sprout. What's the opposite of a green thumb? Black as death? That's mine.

I wonder if I could set up (or better yet, purchase already set up) a little herb garden, and some sort of sun lamp, with a timer; and set some sort of reminder to water it on a regular schedule. Maybe something like your prefab mushroom garden -- that's pretty nifty.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 07, 2015 02:41 PM (pCf+a)

88 "http://tinyurl.com/ljbwygz"


Heh.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 02:44 PM (vvS6Q)

89 "Mushrooms and earthworms and fancy stuff to eat":

I never considered earthworms to be fancy stuff to eat.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 07, 2015 02:47 PM (MgmBg)

90 same company that produces that mushroom minifarm makes an aquaponics kit for beta fish. maybe try your mint with that?

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 07, 2015 02:47 PM (ycDMa)

91 Pasta
Perhaps a strawberry pot? Just spitballing here, but it seems as though strawberries and mint have similar growth characteristics. They seem to naturalize together in my yard.
I'm not sure how to keep it watered in the winter, but once it's warm enough you could set it where your sprinklers hit so you wouldn't forget to water it.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 02:48 PM (9BRsg)

92 "I never considered earthworms to be fancy stuff to eat."


I think they deep fry 'em in Georgia.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 02:48 PM (vvS6Q)

93 >>I never considered earthworms to be fancy stuff to eat.

You don't know what you're missing!

Posted by: Mr. Robin at March 07, 2015 02:49 PM (9BRsg)

94 Those cats look dee-lish!

Posted by: ALF at March 07, 2015 02:49 PM (mx5oN)

95 This year I am determined to build garden boxes in my backyard to grow
veggies myself - perfect location with sun and room. Do you know where I
can find a DIY to build garden boxes online? I am not a big DIY person but feel that even a clumsy moron like me could handle it.

Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 02:53 PM (ZFPMM)

96 Don't eat the purple mushrooms. Unless you want to go down the rabbit hole.

Posted by: FUBAR at March 07, 2015 02:53 PM (PUUhd)

97 What's your opinion of this kit?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L8LTH54

It's pricey as hell ($200 -- ouch) -- but I could grow cilantro, basil, and a couple of types of mint; it has an automatic timer for LED lights; and it somehow reminds you to water it. So it seems black-thumb proof.

It's pretty ugly, though, so I'm not sure if my wife would want this thing out in the kitchen.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 07, 2015 02:55 PM (pCf+a)

98 I had to look up 'strawberry pot' -- those can look really nice. I could put a different type of mint in each little cavity of it.

And it's massive enough that if I forgot to water it for a few days, it probably wouldn't matter.

But I'd still have to worry about lighting. I'm leaning toward that $200 kit.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 07, 2015 03:01 PM (pCf+a)

99 Just got back from seeing the he Second Best Most Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Really good but a lot of dark undertones but in the end everyone lives happily ever after or does everyone?

Posted by: Kreplach at March 07, 2015 03:02 PM (lGNaU)

100 Pastafarian - Gardeners.com has some really nice stuff but it can be pricey. I am looking at the outdoor garden boxes to plant veggies and flowers. They have indoor kits but not sure about the lighting features.

Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 03:03 PM (ZFPMM)

101 And I never realized it until now but Maggie Smith is basically a female version of Michael Caine.

Posted by: Kreplach at March 07, 2015 03:04 PM (lGNaU)

102 Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 02:53 PM (ZFPMM)

What's your budget, Cheri?

And do you mean raised bed or something even higher such as you might put on a patio?

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 03:05 PM (9BRsg)

103 I apologize for all of the Black Diamonds, but here's a link to the old gardening thread in which we talked a fair amount about raised beds:

http://minx.cc:1080/?post=347533

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 03:06 PM (9BRsg)

104 >>What's your opinion of this kit?

Cosmic, man!

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 03:07 PM (9BRsg)

105 You would be surprised at how many people are not aware that "shrooms" (psychedelic mushrooms) are indeed mushrooms with psychedelic properties. "Woah, you mean "shrooms" grow wild in Golden Gate Park?" Yup.

Posted by: SFGoth at March 07, 2015 03:07 PM (yym/b)

106 "And I never realized it until now but Maggie Smith is basically a female version of Michael Caine."


You ever see them in the same room together?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 03:07 PM (vvS6Q)

107 "You would be surprised at how many people are not aware that "shrooms"
(psychedelic mushrooms) are indeed mushrooms with psychedelic
properties. "Woah, you mean "shrooms" grow wild in Golden Gate Park?"
Yup."


Okay. Somebody school me here. I've always thought "shrooms" were in fact mushrooms/toadstools. I never knew though how to tell from edible/poisonous.

?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 03:10 PM (vvS6Q)

108 @106

Come to think of it...

Posted by: Kreplach at March 07, 2015 03:11 PM (lGNaU)

109 technically a shroom is poisonous

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at March 07, 2015 03:11 PM (myWqM)

110 Wow, that old Gardening thread I just linked to is a year old.

Where did the time go?

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 03:13 PM (9BRsg)

111 Well, shit. I thought we had some ex-hippy types here that could tell a feller.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 07, 2015 03:18 PM (vvS6Q)

112 How timely. I'm at the Philadelphia Flower Show!

Posted by: mpfs, Disgusted soon to be ex-Charger fan at March 07, 2015 03:20 PM (59mX7)

113 Speaking of hummingbirds, here's a cool tracking map from Ron Wilson (radio garden guy from OH).

http://preview.tinyurl.com/qdk27qo

They have arrived on the Gulf Coast and should be here (NW LA) in about 10 days, according to historical records...

Posted by: Spun and Murky at March 07, 2015 03:21 PM (4DCSq)

114 Y-Not, they have them on gardeners.com and a boxed raised bed to put out in my backyard to grow veggies versus in the ground. Actually I can get a cedar boxed bed 6' x 12' for about 200 bucks.

I know friends who build their own but I may have better luck purchasing the right sized beds that I can just assemble - plus the cedar has rot free features and look nice.

Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 03:22 PM (ZFPMM)

115 114 I know friends who build their own but I may have
better luck purchasing the right sized beds that I can just assemble -
plus the cedar has rot free features and look nice.


Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 03:22 PM (ZFPMM)


I posted a link on the other thread for a "how to" book for the Kindle for $2.99

Posted by: Vic at March 07, 2015 03:26 PM (wlDny)

116 >>Speaking of hummingbirds, here's a cool tracking map from Ron Wilson

Nice!

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 03:28 PM (9BRsg)

117 Y-not, would you be interested in a feature "Shrubs Killed Last Winter That We Replaced This Spring"?

Quite a few of us could contribute.

Posted by: fluffy at March 07, 2015 03:34 PM (Ua6T/)

118 Cherie ... We picked up some good size plastic tubs from the local Lowe's for about 5 bucks each. They may only last a year, or two at most, but they are cheap. Hint: you have to drill some holes in the bottom for draining.

We're going to use them to expand the garden space this season and I can take my time digging up an in-ground bed for the future. True, we'll have to buy the soil to fill them but that will be used to improve the new bed for next year.

Posted by: JTB at March 07, 2015 03:34 PM (FvdPb)

119
111 Well, shit. I thought we had some ex-hippy types here that could tell a feller.

Psilocybin mushrooms, "Shrooms", if you will, commonly grow on cow patties...

Posted by: Timothy Leary at March 07, 2015 03:37 PM (4DCSq)

120 All Hail Iris and KT if you're still here, thanks for the responses.

Posted by: tbodie at March 07, 2015 03:38 PM (sLVyZ)

121 Vic and JTB - Thanks!

Posted by: Cheri at March 07, 2015 03:39 PM (ZFPMM)

122 Psilocybin mushrooms, "Shrooms", if you will, commonly grow on cow patties...

Oooo, how enticing!

Posted by: fluffy at March 07, 2015 03:40 PM (Ua6T/)

123 All Hail Eris, my apologies.

Posted by: tbodie at March 07, 2015 03:40 PM (sLVyZ)

124 We bought a pair of those very same mushroom kits at Sams' Club a couple of weeks ago. So far, one has sprouted bountifully - and we had the crop sliced, with home-bottled roasted red peppers on a pizza, with artichoke spread instead of a tomato-based pizza sauce, and plenty of mozzarella. Yum!
We turned the two bags of coffee/mushroom media around, per instructions, and are trying for a second crop.
We will be eating the first fresh tomatoes of the season tonight. A couple of heirloom types from last year re-seeded themselves last fall. I moved the pots where they had planted themselves into the shelter of the back porch (which is shrouded around three sides to make a sort of greenhouse) and one of them is simply covered with flowers, little green grape-sized tomatoes, and three bright red ripe ones.
Some fennel, parsley, leaf celery and catnip all reseeded themselves generously - and I have them coming up all around that corner of the yard.

Posted by: Sgt Mom at March 07, 2015 03:40 PM (95iDF)

125 Sgt. Mom, On behalf of those who are dealing with snow and ice, you are a tease. Fresh tomatoes indeed!

And how dare you take time to garden and eat! You're supposed to be writing the next batch of "Lone Star Sons" stories.

Posted by: JTB at March 07, 2015 03:54 PM (FvdPb)

126 Something that is quite good is squash flower fritters. Pick them right after opening. Fry them in your favorite batter.

Posted by: JohnMc at March 07, 2015 03:57 PM (RHBWt)

127 What is the name of that place that sells the vertical garden barrel? It was featured in a garden thread a few weeks ago.

Posted by: Ronster at March 07, 2015 03:58 PM (ymjdW)

128 Mrs. E dug up one of her yukon gold taters today and reports it looks exactly same as when she planted it on 9FEB2015. Rain/cold has consequences as do elections. Well off to Whitehouse for Alamo Day dinner (Tex/Mex of course) and presentation. There were lots of Brothers at the Alamo that day.

Posted by: Eromero at March 07, 2015 04:02 PM (go5uR)

129 What a hell of a post! Enough information for a week of reading. High value work! Marvelous.

Posted by: goon at March 07, 2015 04:11 PM (gNTQS)

130 p.s. James Taylor is kind of on my shit-list, but other than that, this is imho the best garden thread yet. Good stuff!

Posted by: goon at March 07, 2015 04:13 PM (gNTQS)

131 Here are some other innovative planters from an old Gardening Thread:

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/347900.php

I'll see if I can find the barrel one.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 04:24 PM (9BRsg)

132 Dammit, I can't find the darn thread. I've asked on twitter. Maybe someone remembers.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 04:27 PM (9BRsg)

133 Thx Y-not

Posted by: Ronster at March 07, 2015 04:29 PM (ymjdW)

134 Nood.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 04:39 PM (9BRsg)

135 Great thread, Y-not! ...You're such a giver.

And your earlier thread about Medicaid Expansion was excellent too.

I've eaten Nasturtium blooms...they're not bad.

In skimming through the morning threads, I noticed that you mentioned how The Blaze seems to have a thing against Perry...
Maybe it's because they're a pretty libertarian bunch and are backing Rand Paul?

Or maybe it's because Perry didn't think it was a good idea for Beck and Cruzto be passing out Teddy Bears to the illegal immigrant kids last summer...
Perry said it "sends the wrong message" to the people back home where they came from:
"Come on up to America! They treat you great here!"

Or maybe it's something else, I dunno.

Anyway...thanks for all the work you do, Y-not.

Posted by: wheatie at March 07, 2015 04:49 PM (7cGIw)

136 We used to make and sell those little mushrooms farms. People loved them and we could not make them fast enough.

They all said it put em in a good mood, they laughed a lot and everything was real colorful for a couple hours after eating the mushrooms.

Sheriff Tommy said we can't sell Mushroom farms anymore.

We are selling cactus farms now. heh.

Posted by: The Walking Dude at March 07, 2015 04:55 PM (49rmO)

137 Radicchio comes in two types: the "forcing" types forms the little red heads when the root are forced in winter, typically by digging them up and storing in the dark, say, in a box with some moist sand in the bottom, at cool, basement-type temperatures. You can also eat the leafy top growth if it tastes OK, or cut it off to induce forcing outdoors, under something to restrict light.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/articles/detail/radicchio

The "non-forcing" types can be grown to form heads outdoors. Johnnys Selected Seeds is a good source of information on radicchio and chicory, especially the non-forcing types.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 05:03 PM (qahv/)

138 One idea for spearmint: Weirddave recently did a segment on "hot boxes" or "hot frames" - basically cold frames with a little bottom heat. You could probably grow spearmint in one of these. There are heating cables to go under the soil which are cheap to run. If you make one with a cover that opens in warm weather, it is pretty low-maintenance.

Cut the bottom out of a big nursery pot and sink it partway into the ground in your hotbox to confine the spearmint if you want to grow salad greens, etc. in addition to spearmint.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 05:24 PM (qahv/)

139 Low-tech raised beds: You can make raised beds from cinderblocks. No tools necessary for a one-layer bed. Just fill the holes in the cinderblocks with soil or sand to stabilize them. Line the inside of the cinderblocks with plastic or insulation to keep the cinderblocks from sucking moisture out of your growing mix.

For a two-layer bed, you probably need to drive metal stakes or something similar through the holes in the cinder blocks to stabilize them. If you top them with a cinderblock or wooden edge, you can sit on the sides.

Also, home improvement stores sell "corners" for raised beds which can be used to fasten stock lumber together. Don't make beds more than about 4 feet across. Less if next to a wall or fence.

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 05:30 PM (qahv/)

140 People are still here?

Posted by: Ed Anger at March 07, 2015 05:33 PM (RcpcZ)

141 Just came back...

Thanks for all the info and tips, KT!

Posted by: wheatie at March 07, 2015 05:45 PM (7cGIw)

142 What is the name of that place that sells the vertical garden barrel?

This one?:

http://gardentowerproject.com/

I saw oodles of inspiring photos, searching "vertical garden containers" at bing.

Posted by: JeanQ Flyover at March 07, 2015 05:52 PM (rhjQp)

143 Pastafarian, I have a mixed herb garden I bought at the local farmers' market last summer. It's in a bowl about 18 inches across the top, and about nine inches tall. There's a lot of different stuff in it like thyme, oregano, sage, parsley and two kinds of mint.

I keep it in a south-facing window. I moved it inside when frost threatened, and it's done well since I figured out it wanted more water than I had estimated. Having fresh mint available any time is really nice. But having fresh rosemary, thyme and sage for Thanksgiving stuffing--holy cow that was really really good.

If you don't have the window, you can get a small LED grow light. You can find them on Amazon for less than 10 bucks. Put it on a timer for 12 hours a day.

Posted by: Gordon at March 07, 2015 05:57 PM (hpO/F)

144 Pastafarian, I have a mixed herb garden I bought at the local farmers' market last summer. It's in a bowl about 18 inches across the top, and about nine inches tall. There's a lot of different stuff in it like thyme, oregano, sage, parsley and two kinds of mint.

I keep it in a south-facing window. I moved it inside when frost threatened, and it's done well since I figured out it wanted more water than I had estimated. Having fresh mint available any time is really nice. But having fresh rosemary, thyme and sage for Thanksgiving stuffing--holy cow that was really really good.

If you don't have the window, you can get a small LED grow light. You can find them on Amazon for less than 10 bucks. Put it on a timer for 12 hours a day.

Posted by: Gordon at March 07, 2015 05:57 PM (hpO/F)

145 If you're doing raised beds, be sure to dig, turn, and if necessary amend the soil under the box. You'll get less water seepage around the base and your plants will have better roots.

Posted by: Xavier at March 07, 2015 05:59 PM (sTWPi)

146 Posted by: JeanQ Flyover at March 07, 2015 05:52 PM (rhjQp)


That's it. Thanks much.

Posted by: Ronster at March 07, 2015 06:02 PM (ymjdW)

147 Here's the post that includes the Garden Tower information:

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/354435.php#354435

Posted by: KT at March 07, 2015 06:11 PM (qahv/)

148 Thanks for the link, KT-- that's *one* I'd forgotten to bookmark!

Posted by: JeanQ Flyover at March 07, 2015 06:25 PM (rhjQp)

149 KT, thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading Melissa's rating again.

Posted by: Ronster at March 07, 2015 06:25 PM (ymjdW)

150 Awesome, KT! Thanks for finding that.

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 06:36 PM (9BRsg)

151 >>Great thread, Y-not! ...You're such a giver.

Thanks.

As usual, KT brings the content. I'm more by way of being the kid sister who tags along! :-)

Posted by: Y-not at March 07, 2015 06:38 PM (9BRsg)

152 JTB@125 ... well, I didn't exactly plan it that way ... the darned things just grew.
I will get to scribble some more Lone Star Sons stories. Promise. I have a huge project for a client for the Tiny Publishing Bidness to finish, which will basically support the standard of living at Chez Mom's for the rest of the year, once I bring it in...

Posted by: Sgt Mom at March 07, 2015 06:54 PM (95iDF)

153 eExcellent post. Thank you very much!

Posted by: rcv at March 07, 2015 07:26 PM (nrPEW)

154 Gordon -- that sounds much more economical than the kit I'm considering, but I guarantee you that if I do that, those mint plants will die. I have Obama's shit-fingered Midas touch when it comes to plants.

I'm probably going to get that kit.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 07, 2015 08:21 PM (pCf+a)

155 I'm askin for a bannin for coming back to a "dead" thread, but I had to work the game dinner. Long day. So I'll drop a cue on the later ONT that this is here. Pasta, you want to find some of the Greek types of mint plant. They thrive in northern Ohio, and make a fine julep among other things.

Here is the swell herb farm in Huron that will be happy to set you up:
http://mulberrycreek.com/

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 07, 2015 10:52 PM (xq1UY)

156 One word:

Spores.

They'll go to the dark damp places in your home you don't know about.

Posted by: Steamboat McGoo at March 08, 2015 09:11 AM (1GGdP)

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