Saturday Gardening Thread: Gardening with a Side of Pasta(farian) [Y-not and KT]

Y-not: Welcome, gardening morons and moronettes!

Today's thread is brought to you by The Million Dollar Potato:

This photo of a potato sold for more than $1 million—for real. https://t.co/rNszTnL6Se pic.twitter.com/3reZUQ2V0X
— Visual News (@thevisualnews) February 2, 2016

We're lucky today to have a guest post from moron, Pastafarian, so I've restricted my contributions to a few tweets that might be of interest to the horde.

If you aren't up to growing a million dollar potato, how about trying your hand at cauliflower?

Carb-conscious dieters, take heed: A cauliflower shortage is upon us: https://t.co/6ZXOBMlRFf pic.twitter.com/dLi3PBTLRM
— Cooking Light (@Cooking_Light) February 3, 2016

If the cauliflower shortage has you down, you might consider these alternatives. Oh, wait, apparently crisis abated. Never mind!

KT's post about butterflies inspired me to share this:

The Buff-tip moth has brilliant camouflage. pic.twitter.com/dayPJpy4GM
— Animal Life (@MeetAnimals) February 2, 2016

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I grow potatoes, poorly. I think it's the fact that my garden only gets 6-8 hours of direct sun.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 06, 2016 12:04 PM (rwI+c)

2 *drums fingers while people read the content*

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:07 PM (t5zYU)

3 Isn't that one of the moons of Uranus?

Posted by: rickl at February 06, 2016 12:08 PM (sdi6R)

4 Found Johnnie jump ups with little flowers yesterday, daffodils are around 4"high, snow coming Monday night

Posted by: Skip at February 06, 2016 12:08 PM (HWcaz)

5 Today I clear my crocus beds so they can have some room. Tips are well on their way.
Then it's time to put down grub killer. Moles are coming out and this eliminates a food source for them in my yard. They can enjoy the neighbors yard this year.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 06, 2016 12:10 PM (5tT9a)

6 I've been mowing this morning. Beat that Yankees.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 06, 2016 12:10 PM (rwI+c)

7 Also my parsley which is in a big planter inside a non heated building are doing well, will they stay around for another season? Meaning in southern climates will they continue 1 year to next?

Posted by: Skip at February 06, 2016 12:11 PM (HWcaz)

8 Excellent composition on the butterfly photo. Probably had to superglue their feet to make them stay there long enough to get the shot.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 06, 2016 12:14 PM (T78UI)

9 I found that potato in my pantsuit.

Posted by: Ready For Hillary!!11!! at February 06, 2016 12:14 PM (Dwehj)

10 "Moles are coming out ..."

I understand the chocolate versions are delicious.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at February 06, 2016 12:16 PM (aFP77)

11 When I was reading up on the Aerogarden, I saw complaints about them attracting small insects, iirc little "no-see-ums". Has anyone had that problem?

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:17 PM (t5zYU)

12 I felt like having flowers on the table this week. I went to two grocery stores. What dreck.

Posted by: grammie winger, sign of The Time at February 06, 2016 12:17 PM (dFi94)

13 I'm waiting on a warm week. and then GO!

I have so much stuff in my upstairs bedroom, waiting waiting. I hate cauliflower but i have about 150 started. It rained 6 inches here this week and supposed to rain again tonight. Just need some dry to get into the field, I plant everything in a high mounded row and connect all the "ditches" between them to duct away water but I'm going to need a full sunny warm week to get a tractor in there.

I hope to plant 4x what i did last year. It's been interesting learning what can work here and what doesn't.

How's that for a disjointed stream of a comment.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 12:18 PM (B5LN5)

14 12 I felt like having flowers on the table this week. I went to two grocery stores. What dreck.
--

I picked up a clear "vase" containing about half a dozen tulips being forced in water. They've started blooming. Very pretty. The design keeps the stems from tipping over.

https://twitter.com/moxiemom/status/695336164677459969

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:19 PM (t5zYU)

15 I've been mowing this morning. Beat that Yankees.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 06, 2016 12:10 PM (rwI+c)
======================================

Mowing? As in "lawn mowing"? Actual grass that is growing enough to be mowed?

Posted by: grammie winger, sign of The Time at February 06, 2016 12:20 PM (dFi94)

16 Mowing? As in "lawn mowing"? Actual grass that is growing enough to be mowed?

Yep.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 06, 2016 12:22 PM (rwI+c)

17 Y-not - Those are very pretty. I love the color. It's something that I would have chosen too if my local WalMart and Woodmans weren't such a pile of ugh.

Posted by: grammie winger, sign of The Time at February 06, 2016 12:22 PM (dFi94)

18 I don't care about the butterflies, I see the lily and realize spring is coming with all the wildflowers.

I want to plant Camas in my yard, sooooooo bad. And Lambs' tongues.
The nice thing about planting those is that you can't mow that plot until they are done flowering and have set seeds. So I will probably put them under the apple trees.

The narcissus are starting to poke up, and the Japanese quince is just showing some color.

And I took my leggy wrinkled up potatoes and buried them at the base of my newly turned over compost heaps

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 12:22 PM (q2o38)

19 >>I hate cauliflower but i have about 150 started.

I love it!

If you haven't tried it roasted, you might like this:

mix 4 or 5 parts honey mustard with 1 part cooking oil

toss cauliflower florets, several cloves of peeled/halved garlic, and a couple of strips of chopped raw bacon in the mustard-oil mixture

roast for 30-40 minutes until the cauliflower is tender

really tasty!

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:22 PM (t5zYU)

20 Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at February 06, 2016 12:22 PM (rwI+c)
========================================

And here I thought we were doing good because I can see actual patches of dead grass between the remaining piles of snow, in February no less. But you are miles ahead of me.

Posted by: grammie winger, sign of The Time at February 06, 2016 12:24 PM (dFi94)

21 Cauliflower does need a lot of seasoning to make it tasty. Usually I make a oil slurry of curry and toss the florets in it, then roast it. You can blend it as well and make a hearty soup.

I love cauliflower and hate to see the price go up. Hopefully brussel sprouts and beets continue to fly under the radar. I made a goat cheese and golden beet cold salad yesterday. mmmm.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 12:26 PM (OvUux)

22 mostly just cleaning up winter debris right now. pulling weeds. my crocus and tulips are peeking out.

planning on getting the kid to help with starting tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, green onions, and cukes.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 06, 2016 12:27 PM (Cq0oW)

23 Pastafarian,

Actual gardening science at home! Buffering, saturated solutions, other science-y words. Cool.

Part of your first non-minty mint problem may have been growing mint from seed. It is actually impossible to grow true peppermint from seed. It must be grown as a clone. Kind of like French tarragon. If someone tries to sell you French tarragon seeds, they are either ignorant or scammers.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 12:27 PM (qahv/)

24 I have a question for the garderners here. I'm in MO, is it too early to start my plants indoors?

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 12:27 PM (OvUux)

25 Oh,I won't be eating any cauliflower. You know I have pigs, they grow meat. But the fine folks who come see us at the farmers market are welcome to the cauliflower.

Has anyone had that problem?

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom)

We have some crazy little bugs I've never seen before that are instantly attracted to anything edible left out.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 12:27 PM (B5LN5)

26 Just so everyone knows: My ramblings as presented here did not look nearly this good. Y-not made this look much better than it did in the email I sent her.

And: Sorry about the photo quality, everyone. I am the world's worst photographer.

Y-not @ 11: The first year I planted an Aerogarden, I put it in our sunroom, which we use as the primary entryway. Damned if I didn't get various insects on those plants. I'd even get mosquitos hiding on the undersides of leaves, like it was a real garden. They'd fly in when the door was open, or ride in on people's shoes, and they'd leave the shoes in the sunroom.

And the aggravating thing is: I'm growing things like mint, that real gardeners plant as a natural insect repellant. It was never a full-blown infestation or anything, and I'm sure it would have been worse outside, but...I was surprised that this would be an issue at all, with an indoor hydroponic system.

So this year, I have both Aerogardens up in our office. I'm hoping that this, combined with the occasional chitosan/vinegar spritz, keeps the insects away.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 12:28 PM (pCf+a)

27 I've read about spritzing herbs with a very dilute solution of acetic acid in water

Had you considered a chemical analysis of your urine? No homeo...

Posted by: Stringer Davis at February 06, 2016 12:29 PM (xq1UY)

28 27 I've read about spritzing herbs with a very dilute solution of acetic acid in water

>>Had you considered a chemical analysis of your
>>urine? No homeo...

--

How about Summer's Eve?

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:32 PM (t5zYU)

29 Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016

Do you have a plan to protect them after you set them out? and wherever you are starting them is there warmth and moving air? and enough light to keep them from getting too leggy?

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 12:33 PM (B5LN5)

30 ascetic acid is only obtained from religious hermits that drop LSD

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 06, 2016 12:33 PM (Cq0oW)

31 Potatoes? They're finger-lickin' good.

Posted by: Colonel Bernie Sanders at February 06, 2016 12:37 PM (Dwehj)

32 traye, I got a nice warm closet that probably needs a bit more light. I've propagated millions of tobacco plants, maize, soya, gossypium, and canola in growth chambers and greenhouses, but never grew any plants at home. I guess I need to look at buying some lighting. I want to grow beets, tomatoes , and herbs. Everything is going to be in pots as I don't have a garden. I'm pretty sure the damn suburban deer herd will eat them down to the soil anyways. They've eaten everything else.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 12:38 PM (OvUux)

33 Pasta,
How does the cilantro do? Does it bolt?
I've been unable to find a variety of cilantro that is low-bolting and that tastes right for years now. I used to grow it when I lived in Indiana (2000-7) quite happily. Very frustrating.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:38 PM (t5zYU)

34 roast for 30-40 minutes until the cauliflower is tender

really tasty!
===

I'm so gonna try that, but here's a dumb question: do you roast it at 350 or higher, like 425?

It's such a nice day we're going to go out for lunch somewhere pretty. I'm crazy about that cool moth, and also have been thinking about getting an aerogarden for starting peppers. Thanks as always for a great thread.

Posted by: stace at February 06, 2016 12:39 PM (CoX6k)

35 KT @ 23: Yep, I've read that too: True peppermint is a hybrid, between spearmint and something else I'd never heard of. And it's a sterile hybrid, like a mule, so there are no viable peppermint seeds.

Of course, I read that only after I'd purchased and planted "peppermint seeds" and grew non-minty plants. I wasn't upset about the $3 or whatever I paid for the seed packet, but I was bummed about the wasted Aerogarden pod, so I emailed the seller and pointed them to the article I'd found, and I don't know if I ever received a good explanation.

Now that I know how easy "cloning" (growing from cuttings) actually is, I might try peppermint again, but I prefer spearmint in every minty cocktail recipe I have.

Now that I have this chitosan treatment, I might try lemon mint and chocolate mint again -- they were pretty, but like everything else, very bland.

I just wish there was a professionally prepared, commercially available chitosan gardening product like this, because I'm just guessing at concentrations and everything else, and so I don't really know how effective it's going to be.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 12:39 PM (pCf+a)

36 Pocket gophers are the only thing working in our "garden". We have a vast mosquito habitat designed to attract bees, flutterbyes and hummingbirds. It works too. We hatched out about fifty monarchs, a bunch of black winged sumptinurothers and some yellow ones. Those are scientific terms. Mrs. Dave feeds every thing that can fly, walk, tunnel or slither onto the property. I go out and kill ducks and it grieves her but she decided not to change me.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 06, 2016 12:39 PM (ZhXqR)

37 I'm so gonna try that, but here's a dumb question: do you roast it at 350 or higher, like 425?
--

I've done it at several temps, depending on what else I'm cooking. Just watch for burning at the higher temps, esp the garlic. Stir/check the cauliflower every 10-15 minutes.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:42 PM (t5zYU)

38 I don't see how anybody is mowing grass right now. They are calling for snow over this weekend here in SC.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 06, 2016 12:42 PM (t2KH5)

39 Oh, and I use Jack Daniels Honey Mustard because of course! ;-)

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:43 PM (t5zYU)

40 Tater up top looks like the extinction event asteroid we've been expecting.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 06, 2016 12:44 PM (ZhXqR)

41 Having connection issues. I'll be back in a while.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 12:46 PM (qahv/)

42 >>41 Having connection issues. I'll be back in a while.

That's what YOU think!

Posted by: Skynet at February 06, 2016 12:48 PM (t5zYU)

43 Maybe I missed it, but what is the flower in that last pic?
Looks like an inverted daylily.
A really beautiful pic, btw.

Thanks Y-not, KT, and pasta.

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 12:49 PM (2tQk+)

44 Y-not @ 33: I planted cilantro once, and it did great -- grew like a weed, had strong flavor even before I had this chitosan treatment. I had so much of it that I could trade the cilantro to friends who grew tomatoes so that we could both make fresh salsa.

Now, I'm no gardener, so I had to look up "bolting" -- that's apparently sudden flowering, which seems to be bad for any herb. With mint, you can just cut off the sprigs before they flower, but I guess cilantro flowers all over the plant rather than at the top, so you can't do that.

With that first Aerogarden, I let it get out of control, and everything eventually became "leggy" to the point that I could no longer prune it back. Everything, including the cilantro, eventually flowered. You'd think that growing it indoors might delay this flowering a little, but it doesn't prevent it.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 12:50 PM (pCf+a)

45 I've been unable to find a variety of cilantro that is low-bolting and that tastes right for years now.
Posted by: Y-not
------------
If you find a variety that doesn't taste like soap, let us know.

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 12:52 PM (2tQk+)

46 I just took down the last of my Xmas lights, so I figure I've done my yardwork for the day.

I had a day off yesterday, and went down to the National Arboretum in DC to have a look at the bonsai exhibit and the conifers. It was gloomy and raw in the morning, and I was pretty much the only person in the place.

First, the bonsai. If you haven't gone to the NA, do it for this alone. The collection is absolutely stunning, if not currently mounted in the most attractive of surroundings. Many of the best specimens came from Japanese and Chinese donors. There's even a bonsai pine from 1625, which was donated by an old Japanese bonsai family for our bicentennial.

The conifers were of interest because I'm planning to install a bunch in my yard this year, and I wanted to see what some of the rarer specimens look like. The layout is pretty haphazard, but they're still well worth going to see, especially the Serbian Spruce (Picea Omorika) and Oriental Spruce (Picea Orientalis, Skylands).

It's not a great area of town, but the locals don't seem to go there, so I had no problems.

Posted by: pep at February 06, 2016 12:52 PM (LAe3v)

47 great info pasta!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, i was born a rebel at February 06, 2016 12:53 PM (0O7c5)

48 44 Y-not @ 33: I planted cilantro once, and it did great -- grew like a weed, had strong flavor
---

Great, thanks!

Are you mostly using the seeds provided by the Aerogarden pods or can you make your own pods somehow?

I really should try this. It may be quite some time before we get raised beds set up here and I really love fresh herbs for cooking.

Posted by: Skynet at February 06, 2016 12:53 PM (t5zYU)

49 Skynet sock off!

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:57 PM (t5zYU)

50 I don't know about the flower - could be a tiger lily.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 12:59 PM (t5zYU)

51 Stace @ 34: I've thought about planting pepper plants, and even (tiny) tomato plants, in the Aerogarden, and leaving them there for their whole life cycle. They even provide a trestle for tomatoes.

It just seems a little too advanced for me. I'm barely able to grow what are essentially aggressively invasive weeds. My gardening is the equivalent of breeding cockroaches as pets.

Your comment raises an interesting question: For real gardeners, would an Aerogarden be a good system for starting plants that will eventually be transplanted into soil? You'd have to transplant them when they're still pretty small -- if you wait too long, the roots grow beyond the pod and down into the water reservoir, and you'd have to rip them to get the individual plant out. When you tear down an Aerogarden to start over, it's a plant massacre, and it's the only part of the process that's as messy as a real garden.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 12:59 PM (pCf+a)

52 Test post from new phone.

Posted by: Lincoln tf at February 06, 2016 12:59 PM (OWndU)

53 30
ascetic acid is only obtained from religious hermits that drop LSD

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich

Nice try. Aesthetic acid is actually obtained from the urine of precious Manhattanite art snobs.

Posted by: pep at February 06, 2016 01:00 PM (LAe3v)

54 Maybe I missed it, but what is the flower in that last pic?

Looks like an inverted daylily.

A really beautiful pic, btw.

Thanks Y-not, KT, and pasta.
Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 12:49 PM (2tQk+)

I think it is an Oregon Lily, or a Columbia lily

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55118/

They grow here, which is why I started musing on Camas

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 01:01 PM (q2o38)

55 All I can grow is my greed, my graft and one of Huma's nipples.

Posted by: Hillary! at February 06, 2016 01:04 PM (Y0vrN)

56 Just finished planting ten tomato seedlings in Happy Monkey soil.

Posted by: Otis Campbell at February 06, 2016 01:10 PM (VV4qd)

57 Oh, next week there is going to be a native plant sale by the local extension service group. I am still wondering if I should replace the arborvitae hedge with Salal, and if I should put snowberry (symphoricarpus) under the front window. It looks so lovely as an understory, but I tried it at a girlfriend's house and it went sprawly and suffered from powdery mildew.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 01:11 PM (q2o38)

58 "To make an hearb to growe which shall have many savours and tastes. And to doo this: firste take one seede of the Lettice, one seede of Endive, one of Smallage, one of the Bassill, one of the Leeke, & of the parslie, al these put togither in a hole in such sort, that one seede may touch an other: but this remember that you plant these together in the dung of an Horsse or an Oxe without any earthe at all with them. And then after of these seedes shall growe up one proper hearbe, which will have so many savours and tastes, as there were seedes sowne together."

A Briefe and Pleasaunt Treatise, Intituled: Naturall and Artificiall Conclusions (1586)

The Power of Poo

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 06, 2016 01:11 PM (Cq0oW)

59 Y-not/Skynet @ 48: Aerogarden has their "Gourmet Herb" kit, that includes: Chives, cilantro, parsley, dill, genovese basil, thai basil, and (crappy) mint.

(I suspect you're better off growing the mint from a cutting of mint that you know is good, chitosan or not.)

They also sell a "Grow Anything" kit, with empty pods. A pod consists of a plastic holder, an iron-on (hot-melt adhesively applied) cover (that's really optional), and a little plug of spongey, fibrous material. The next time I tear a unit down and replant, I'm going to dig the plugs out of the plastic part, and find some sort of inert fibrous material, and make my own plugs, because those grow-anything kits are too expensive (like $2 a pod) not to re-use. (Of course, the kit also includes food, not sure how much that is worth).

For cilantro, the Aerogarden-supplied pod was great. I like the adventure of the grow-anything pods, though -- I've grown wormwood and anise, and right now I'm growing echinacea, lavender, holy basil, purple basil, devil's nettle (yarrow), and St. John's wart.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 01:13 PM (pCf+a)

60 Power of Poo is right on, Happy Monkey contains bat shit.

Posted by: Otis Campbell at February 06, 2016 01:16 PM (HuQAr)

61 That's a potato? Looks like an ass-teroid. Tom Wolfe did a pretty good send-up of paying big bucks for fashionable modern art in The Painted Word. Rich people buy their way into the art scene. It signals potency and status like a peacock's tail.

Going to try growing cabbage- family vegetables in Southern California now. Anybody tried winter crops around here?

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at February 06, 2016 01:17 PM (OL7dx)

62 Pastafarian, try cocoanut fiber or sphagnum moss. Both are inert, wick water really well, and are mildly acidic.
And if you don't want to buy a 50 lb bale at Home Depot, you can get them at craft stores.

Of course me being me, I was thinking of half sized solo cups with holes in the bottom and an LED bar like the one I bought dad last week.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 01:26 PM (q2o38)

63 I recommend folks take a look at "Farmers of Forty Centuries," a fascinating book on East Asian agricultural practices in the days before chemical fertilizers and pesticides were commonly used there.

Talk about the power of poo.....

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at February 06, 2016 01:27 PM (lutOX)

64
Orgasm and the sense of well-being it brings - how would the planet be if it felt that good? Couldn't that be one definition of Peace? Practice visualizing the planet experiencing the afterglow of a rousing orgasm and taking a break from daily despair.

What if a simultaneous universal orgasm was timed perfectly with the solstice and the funky energy surge it brings? Could that help move humankind off its sure path to self-destruction?

These people have abandoned rational thought and decided, "fuck it, let's just fap ourselves to death in the snow". And that's fine. Which of us hasn't done this? But why can't they just admit it? Stop pretending you're saving the world and just admit you're aimlessly, self centeredly fapping in the snow.

Posted by: angela urkel at February 06, 2016 01:30 PM (ML24Y)

65 Kindltot -- thanks, I'll try to find a little of one of those materials.

A do-it-yourself hydroponic system is an appealing thought -- Aerogarden is a damned expensive hobby. The system costs about $200, then you have the pods, the food, the electricity*, and the water (I use distilled, because my tap water is softened, and the salt kills everything.)

*The electricity probably isn't much, because the systems I have both use LEDs. But they also have little pumps that deliver, at regular intervals, a flow of nutrients and aerated water to the roots. The pump probably uses as much power as the LEDs.

It's this pump system, and the control (that turns the lights and pump on and off at regular intervals, and reminds me to water and feed) that would make it difficult to make a comparable system yourself. Maybe the pump is unnecessary, I don't know.

Posted by: Pastafarian at February 06, 2016 01:36 PM (pCf+a)

66 Ditto with cilantro. The modern varieties have little flavor compared to that of the sixties. A little research showed that much of the American crop was destroyed by a blight of some sort in the 70s and a resistant variety introduced. Flavorless, likely an Italian parsley mix. Have to get seed from Mexico if you want flavor.

Posted by: Pat at February 06, 2016 01:42 PM (4MSOz)

67 I've got an indoor hydroponic system but it's insane, I made it from pvc gutters and 4in drain pipe. The thing about growing tomatoes or peppers in hydroponics is you need a lot of room for the roots, The roots of the peppers will be 2 feet and tomatoes will be 3 feet. I can grow lettuce to size (6 inch roots) indoors but only use my indoor system to start bigger stuff. My indoor system holds 11 gallons and my outdoor tomato/peppers/squash/etc system holds 120 gallons with a 50 gallon reservoir, a tomato plant is basically a water pump.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 01:44 PM (B5LN5)

68 Posted by: Pat at February 06, 2016 01:42 PM (4MSOz)

Come on, there is no way hybridized seeds could lead to massive crop failures.

Posted by: Monty Santo at February 06, 2016 01:44 PM (wYnyS)

69 Speaking of moles...does ANYBODY have a tried and true method for getting rid of the damn things? We've tried the lil' mole-stabber trap (never got tripped, not one time), had a lawn company under contract for a year supposedly spreading grub-killer (nope), tried something called "poison p-nuts" that my husband found at a hardware store in Missouri. Only thing that's even come close to killing ONE mole is my Lab puppy, who thinks they're squeaky toys that you have to work a little harder for.
Any advice?

Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 01:45 PM (cDs+4)

70 Just came back from running an errand and passed by a massive Cruz sign I'd seen many times before. Only this time, some douche(s) came along and covered the sign in Trump poster-sized stickers. Not a Trump sign off to the side. Right on top of Cruz's sign. What asshats.

Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at February 06, 2016 01:46 PM (pVkEV)

71 You can make a diy hydroponic system for smaller stuff pretty easily. The key is oxygen to the roots. Let me see if I can describe this in a coherent way-

Wait, give me an hour and I'll set something up and post it on my Twitter with photos, it will be more understandable I think.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 01:52 PM (B5LN5)

72 69 Only thing that's even come close to killing ONE
mole is my Lab puppy, who thinks they're squeaky toys that you have to
work a little harder for.

Any advice?

Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 01:45 PM (cDs+4)

I had a problem with voles and nothing I tried worked. Finally got rid of them when I made one of my cats an "outside" cat and he would deposit them on the porch for me.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at February 06, 2016 01:55 PM (t2KH5)

73 I had a problem with voles and nothing I tried worked. Finally got rid of them when I made one of my cats an "outside" cat and he would deposit them on the porch for me.

--

I almost suggested that. Our cat got many a yard mole. Not to mention baby chipmunks and small birds.

Posted by: Lady in Black - Death to the Man Bun at February 06, 2016 01:58 PM (pVkEV)

74 Any advice?
Posted by: antisocialist
---------
I could rent you my min-pin.
He's taken out rats, possums, mice, voles, you name it.
A virtual killing machine.

Do you not have feral/neigh or hood cats running around?
Maybe try limiting the time your Lab has outside so the cats will come hunt them?

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:00 PM (2tQk+)

75 I could rent you my min-pin.
He's taken out rats, possums, mice, voles, you name it.
A virtual killing machine.

Do you not have feral/neigh or hood cats running around?
Maybe try limiting the time your Lab has outside so the cats will come hunt them?
Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:00 PM (2tQk+)

No, oddly enough, we don't have many feral cats in our neighborhood. Not many "outside" cats, either. I might have to go borrow one of my son's cats for a few weeks. My dog tries, but she's a little clumsy and my yard is beginning to resemble a moonscape.

Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 02:06 PM (cDs+4)

76 i had 2 woodchucks that I finally got rid of by attaching a garden hose to the tailpipe of a truck and inserting the other end well into their holes and letting that run a good half hour each.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 06, 2016 02:06 PM (Cq0oW)

77 Gophers? Gopher snakes work, but the best luck I had was with Giant Destroyer flares. You have to get into the main corridor they use to fumigate the whole warren.

There is another device called a gopher blaster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUhY423q8Q

Makes me want one.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:07 PM (q2o38)

78 Possible prep for next week's pepper discussion and maybe for CBD's Game Day Food Thread: Try super-easy Crock Pot Pozole.

I can't find powdered Ancho chiles (they only sell them dry in town), so I will be using powdered Chile California for a double batch (3 kg can of hominy) later in the week. I will leave out the cumin.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:09 PM (qahv/)

79 No, oddly enough, we don't have many feral cats in
our neighborhood. Not many "outside" cats, either. I might have to go
borrow one of my son's cats for a few weeks. My dog tries, but she's a
little clumsy and my yard is beginning to resemble a moonscape.
Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 02:06 PM (cDs+4)

Anniversary of the Somme is coming up. Tell the HOA it's patriotic?

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:10 PM (q2o38)

80 You know the drill, KT.

Posted by: The Barrel at February 06, 2016 02:10 PM (rlfds)

81 can't fix that.

Ow.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:10 PM (q2o38)

82 Naughty KT!

I'll fix it.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 02:11 PM (t5zYU)

83 No, oddly enough, we don't have many feral cats in our neighborhood. Not many "outside" cats, either. I might have to go borrow one of my son's cats for a few weeks. My dog tries, but she's a little clumsy and my yard is beginning to resemble a moonscape.
Posted by: antisocialist
-------------
Seriously, if you have family or friends with a small, terrier type dog, invite them over. They were bred to be hunters.
If you have a fenced yard, borrow the dog for a week if you can.

*there is a Mike Rowe link in the sidebar that may be of interest here...

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:11 PM (2tQk+)

84 I'm headed out in a few.

DON'T BREAK THE BLOG!!!! ;-)

Have fun, folks!

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at February 06, 2016 02:13 PM (t5zYU)

85 Seeing the potato reminded me of lunch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBJEP4lsRFY

Posted by: goon at February 06, 2016 02:13 PM (gy5kE)

86 Hydroponic anything lacks the flavor imparted by the soil and minerals it should be growing in (the French call this terroir, I just call it hydroponic sux).

Posted by: redbanzai at February 06, 2016 02:14 PM (NPofj)

87 Stace, the difference between hydroponic and dirt growing is significant and going from one to the other is hard, you can go from hydroponic to dirt but you have to baby the plants during transition. Really loose soil and very very moist.

I don't see any advantage of switching and I grow both ways.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 02:14 PM (B5LN5)

88 very true about the terriers. a Scotty will do it no problem.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at February 06, 2016 02:15 PM (Cq0oW)

89
Any advice?
Posted by: antisocialist

Two words: plastic explosives.

Posted by: Carl Spackler at February 06, 2016 02:15 PM (ML24Y)

90 Wow. I don't know how that happened.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:16 PM (qahv/)

91 Gophers? Gopher snakes work, but the best luck I had was with Giant Destroyer flares. You have to get into the main corridor they use to fumigate the whole warren.

Damn. This sounded like a great idea...until I looked it up and found that they won't sell it in NC!!!
Crap.

Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 02:16 PM (cDs+4)

92 KT,
When you are released from the barrel, why not just buy the dried anchos & make your own powdered stuff?
You can buy a $5 mini-food processor at any drug store these days.
Ive found that they make pretty good spice grinders,

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:16 PM (2tQk+)

93 Have a great time, Y-not.
Thanks again for all your work here.

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:18 PM (2tQk+)

94 ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 12:27 PM

For tomatoes, count back about 8 weeks from your last expected frost date. Peppers and eggplants need a little warmer conditions before they go out. You might be able to find a planting chart from your local extension agency (Master Gardeners, etc. )

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:20 PM (qahv/)

95 I wouldn't suggest running them across state lines, but Sulfur dioxide from the burning Sulfur is what kills the critters. The other stuff in it, the charcol and sodium nitrate, just keep it burning under ground.

Road flares by themselves don't seem to work, though.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:22 PM (q2o38)

96 I'm seeing a common theme today: Fools+money = separation.

Million dollar potato photo and urine flavored beverages...

Posted by: BurtTC at February 06, 2016 02:23 PM (TOk1P)

97 Since there are no more rules or laws to follow as exemplified by our betters, any chance we could get a gardening thread for helpful tips on growing weed?

Also, where can I mail order seeds?

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 06, 2016 02:24 PM (ej1L0)

98 "The Buff-tip moth has brilliant camouflage."

What in the Hell is that?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:25 PM (C/h0Q)

99 Kill gophers not gopers.

Posted by: Jeb at February 06, 2016 02:27 PM (ML24Y)

100 Thanks for the food grinder idea, Chi.

Dried Anchos are still sticky as normally sold around here, but I think you could get them dry enough to grind if you grew and dried your own peppers.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:28 PM (qahv/)

101 I wouldn't suggest running them across state lines, but Sulfur dioxide from the burning Sulfur is what kills the critters. The other stuff in it, the charcol and sodium nitrate, just keep it burning under ground.

Road flares by themselves don't seem to work, though.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:22 PM (q2o3

My husband is going to Missouri to turkey hunt with his son in April - I checked, and there are several places around his hometown where you can buy such things as Giant Destroyer flares and Rodent Revenge smoke bombs, so if all else fails, I may have him smuggle some home.

Posted by: antisocialist at February 06, 2016 02:29 PM (cDs+4)

102 I've been mowing this morning. Beat that Yankees.

Heh. Okay-- I won't need to mow for at least another month. Lol.
----------------

Planting schedule, by USDA zone (includes a zone lookup-by-zipcode):

http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/planting-schedules

Posted by: JQ Flyover at February 06, 2016 02:33 PM (044Fx)

103 Thank you KT. I just got back from Menards. Got some seeds and soil/trays as well. Now I just need to sort out the lighting.

Pastafarian, you can pick up an arduino microcontroller for ~$20 and program it to turn on/off lights, control a pump, etc. They are easy to program, and the likelihood that someone else has already made a project similiar to what you want to do is pretty high. DIY'ers love to show off their stuff and share the coding. I'm working on a project to use an arduino uno to control my Behmor coffee roaster. Mostly I just want to log temps and control the heating element.

I might just find an LED bank and get another arduino to control it. Hmmmm.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 02:33 PM (OvUux)

104 Beautiful picture of the lily and the butterflies. Thanks

And a gardening- well at least a produce report- from the local supermarket. I had to go and had forgotten we were celebrating the Holy Day of the the Super Bowl tomorrow and the place was packed. People were buying avocados like they were going out of style and lots of lemons and lines-I'm assuming the first for guacamole dip and the limes and lemons for some kind of alcoholic beverage (?)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:33 PM (w4NZ8)

105 "Kill gophers not gopers."

Well, one's as big a pest as the other.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:34 PM (C/h0Q)

106 Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:34 PM (C/h0Q)

LOL.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:35 PM (w4NZ8)

107 Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 06, 2016 12:39 PM

Our really fancy-looking long-haired calico caught the season's second gopher this week, unless she stole in from Jack of Spades. She doesn't seem like the gopher-hunting type.

Congrats on hatching all those Monarchs plus the black and yellow ones, whatever they were.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:35 PM (qahv/)

108 46 pep

Do they still have the koi next to the bonsai exhibit?

I agree that the bonsai exhibit is one of the best "beautiful Washington DC" secrets out there.

It's a good date day trip.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at February 06, 2016 02:36 PM (u82oZ)

109 Doing a search of "arduino grow" on youtube brought up a gazillion projects relating to greenhouse/growthroom control using the arduino.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 02:37 PM (OvUux)

110 I hope cauliflower stays available. I will be doing more with pickling this year and cauliflower is one I hope to try. My grandparents used to get a mix of pickled veggies from a Middle-Eastern deli back in the 50s and 60s: cauliflower, turnips, carrots, etc. I hope to recreate that.

No gardening news this week although we can see the ground. After the blizzard I thought it might be April before I saw dirt.

Those photos are interesting and beautiful.

Posted by: JTB at February 06, 2016 02:39 PM (FvdPb)

111 If you click over to my Twitter in the nick, you'll see my hydroponic set ups, and a picture of what I'm getting ready to describe. (Ok so won't let me put link in nic so on Twitter patchfarmstead)

Use a storage bin, I'd say at least a foot deep and large enough square to hold as many plants as you want.

Use a 3in hole saw to cut holes for 2inch net pots (Amazon)

Rock wool is the starting medium for the seeds. I use 1.25 inch cubes but cut them half way down to divide each into 4 pieces (makes each start block just over 5¢ per plant) you have to soak the rock wool in acidic water (I use lemon juice) put a seed in each starter square and set it somewhere dark until they come up well.

After you have started plants, divide the big cubes into the4 pieces you have cut then the plant and rock wool go into the net pot. Use clay pebbles (Amazon) to hold it in place.

This size net pot will fit through a hole drilled in the lid of the bin with a 3 in hole saw.

You need the water level (with proper ph and nutrient) to be just to the bottom of the rock wool and can lower the water level as the roots grow down.

Use a couple of aquarium air pumps the ensure enough oxygen in the water.

Now you only need light.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 02:39 PM (B5LN5)

112 "LOL."

See there, and everybody thinks you're uptight.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:43 PM (C/h0Q)

113 Kindltot at February 06, 2016 01:11 PM

I would vote for some sort of currant. Check at Raintree.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:44 PM (qahv/)

114 I honestly had no idea that the Superbowl was tomorrow until you mentioned it.
Does that merit a revocation of my man card?

And, gee, thanks, Fen.
Now I'm hungry for guac. Or maybe just chips & salsa.
No, shoot. Now I want Velveeta & Rotel...

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:45 PM (2tQk+)

115 Forgot to mention, if you are in the mood for cute the Hallmark Channel is showing The Kitten Bowl tomorrow starting at noon. Animal Planet is showing The Puppy Bowl at 3PM. With all the 'stuff' going on in the world, puppy and kitten cuteness ranks high with me.

I think there's some kind of football game on tomorrow night, but that is secondary to pups and kittens.

Posted by: JTB at February 06, 2016 02:45 PM (FvdPb)

116 See there, and everybody thinks you're uptight.

O.k, whatever you say Everybody. ;^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:45 PM (w4NZ8)

117 "O.k, whatever you say Everybody. ;^)"

I's funnin', ma'am.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:48 PM (C/h0Q)

118 Does that merit a revocation of my man card?

I think a man has to revoke your man card. :^)

I didn't even know which teams were playing until I saw the balloons in the store, and I'm sure many woman know that if they aren't big football fans. FenelonSpouse used to watch it but now we don't have a working TV so that's out

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:48 PM (w4NZ8)

119 Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:48 PM (C/h0Q)

Okay; I thought you were responding to my semi irritable post on the "Urine cocktail thread" :^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:49 PM (w4NZ8)

120 The plant equivalent of a "wind chill factor" is desiccation by cold winds in winter. Watch how you unwrap shrubs and such if you wrapped them for winter. There could be tender growth under there.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:52 PM (qahv/)

121 "Okay; I thought you were responding to my semi irritable post on the "Urine cocktail thread" :^)"

Oh no.

Did you have an irritable post on the urine thread? I may have to go back re-read it.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:53 PM (C/h0Q)

122 That buff-tip moth is fascinating.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 02:54 PM (qahv/)

123 Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 06, 2016 02:53 PM (C/h0Q)

Yes, end of the thread.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 06, 2016 02:56 PM (w4NZ8)

124 See there, and everybody thinks you're uptight.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill
------------
More than uptight - she's a stone cold killer.
Sometimes, she even curses!

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 02:57 PM (2tQk+)

125 Have to admit my only interest in the Super Bowl is two fold. First, I hope for a good football game. Second, I've seen every SB game and don't want to snap a 50 year streak. I've been more of a baseball guy the last decade or so.

Posted by: JTB at February 06, 2016 02:58 PM (FvdPb)

126 KT, I have currants, they are around the old septic tank. Nothing grows on top of it, the dirt is too shallow, so I figured to put berries around it. and give me a reason to water and mow it.
S'posed to fruit on 3rd year wood, and this is year 3, so I have hopes.

I will look at it, I know how impenetrable salal can get, I only dealt with severely cut back currants in the past, and stink currants.

Oh I am in Oregon and I am seeing hummingbirds all ready. Some of them overwinter here, but I am seeing more than I have seen in the past.
Going to have to say that Spring is coming.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 02:58 PM (q2o38)

127 Now you only need light.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 02:39 PM (B5LN5)

Thanks Traye!.....

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 06, 2016 02:59 PM (ej1L0)

128 Good thread synchronicity! I'm making the cauliflower pizza crust that one of you Moronettes suggested in a food thread:

http://tinyurl.com/ogyb7zk

I'm now on the hunt for anchovies, the topping that separates the Wops and the wannabees.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 06, 2016 03:05 PM (jR7Wy)

129 antisocialist: "Speaking of moles...does ANYBODY have a tried and true method for getting rid of the damn things?"

Victor Out O'Sight Mole Trap

I got mine from Home Depot and use several at a time when needed.

They work and you have evidence of success as opposed to many other methods like fumigation, poisoning, flooding, sound-blasting etc.

Almost nothing works except trapping. The Victors do work if you're careful in setting the trap. BTW, when setting, cover the trap with a light-blocking bucket or flower pot (weighted with a brick) to keep any light from getting through to the mole run. Also, wear gloves so as not to stink up the trap with human scent.

The only thing I will mess with now is that Victor trap to kill them, spraying castor oil/pepper blends to discourage their presence, and spraying on beneficial nematodes every few years to keep the white grub populations down (though earthworms remain as a fine food source for them unfortunately).

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 06, 2016 03:07 PM (1CroS)

130 I'm now on the hunt for anchovies, the topping that separates the Wops and the wannabees.
Posted by: All Hail Eris
---------
Yuck.
I ordered a pizza one time with 1/2 anchovies just to try them (SMFH swears by them).
I had to throw the entire pizza away, because the whole thing tasted like rotten fish.
And my kitchen smelled like death for a week afterwards.

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:10 PM (2tQk+)

131 If anyone likes chamomile, it grows very well hydroponically. And basil, boy oh boy.
Last year I would take the plant, root and all to the farmer's market, cut off and sell a limb, then bring the plant back put it right back into the system and in two weeks it would be doubled. I would end up selling pieces off each plant that amounted to about 20 dollars.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 03:13 PM (B5LN5)

132 Brussel sprouts smell like decaying ass.

No accounting for taste, I suppose.

Posted by: The Barrel at February 06, 2016 03:13 PM (rlfds)

133 Off sock.

Posted by: SMFH at February 06, 2016 03:13 PM (rlfds)

134 Anchovies, a little goes a long way.

Posted by: traye at February 06, 2016 03:14 PM (B5LN5)

135 Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:10 PM (2tQk+)
---

Chi, I am disappointed in you. I expected more intestinal fortitude from such a brave man.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 06, 2016 03:16 PM (jR7Wy)

136 Kindltot,

Currants are naturals for Oregon. They have some really interesting hybrids out now. Have you thought about the variegated Arctic Kiwi vine for shady places? May attract cats.

Sunset seems to think that the main attraction of snowberries is their toughness and shade-tolerance, but if you have seen mildew, it may be too humid where you are.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 03:17 PM (qahv/)

137
Chi, I am disappointed in you. I expected more intestinal fortitude from such a brave man.
Posted by: All Hail Eris
-------------
I will eat damn near anything at least once ma'am. Including bugs.
As noted above, I am fond of brussel sprouts.
I have eaten, and enjoyed, pig brains, thank you very much.

Anchovies are not meant for human consumption. Hell, my dog won't even eat them, and he licks his butthole for a living!

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:21 PM (2tQk+)

138 JTB at February 06, 2016 02:45 PM

We are caring for a spare puppy right now. He seems to want to start his own Puppy Bowl, but the other dogs are not quite as enthusiastic about an all-out game.

He is a little black poodly guy, maybe with some bichon background from his mom. What a handful. We hope to find a home for him with another active dog. He was in a dangerous situation before.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 03:22 PM (qahv/)

139 Hell, my dog won't even eat them, and he licks his butthole for a living!
Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:21 PM (2tQk+)
---
So he's a hipster mixologist/journalist?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 06, 2016 03:23 PM (jR7Wy)

140 I really like anchovy pizza, anchovies on crackers or out of the can.

Posted by: Ronster at February 06, 2016 03:24 PM (mUa7N)

141 Chi: "Hell, my dog won't even eat them, and he licks his butthole for a living!"

Doing the job Americans won't do. What an inspiration!

I guess I should denounce myself.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 06, 2016 03:25 PM (1CroS)

142 Which one of you guys is selling my photo as a potato photo?

If you had labelled me correctly you could have gotten at least 3 million for it.

Posted by: SMOD at February 06, 2016 03:26 PM (cCxiu)

143 Traye, Thanks for the tip about basil. We've never had any luck growing it in the garden. Have to try it in hydro.

And YES!! to the anchovies. Love 'em and always have. A little place back home (now long gone) made a chirico and anchovy pizza that was a treat. Mrs. JTB is allergic to any seafood so I keep a jar and add them separately to my portions and salads. And brush my teeth right afterwards.

Posted by: JTB at February 06, 2016 03:26 PM (FvdPb)

144 No gardening here for many months. Over a foot of snow on the ground.

Posted by: Ronster at February 06, 2016 03:28 PM (mUa7N)

145 Alas, no anchovies in the cupboard

*soul-deep sigh, does graceful Pavlova fall onto train tracks*

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at February 06, 2016 03:28 PM (jR7Wy)

146 Attracting cats in not the problem around here, at all apparently.

I used to do interviews with migrant workers in the field, and I went by one farm that had acres planted to the Kiwis. The vines were on 6' trellises and the workers I was interviewing had to stand on stacks of berry flats to pick, and I had to hunch around like I was in a coal mine.

I bought one of each selection of currants. The only thing I got asked was if there were any white pines around my neighborhood. Apparently they are susceptible to white pine blight. Everytime I prune back I plant the cut canes along the back fence. Some seem to have survived in spite of the blackberries and zero care.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 06, 2016 03:30 PM (q2o38)

147 In Washington did Kublai Khankles
A private email server decree
To reach out to the hostile teibes
And exchange favors for big bribes
And get Huma to fetch some tea.

And all who know, beware beware!
Her cackling laugh, her bug eyed stare!
Weave a circle round her thrice
And pinch you nose in holy dread

For she on Huma dew hath fed
After picking her way through pubic lice.

Posted by: S T Coleridge at February 06, 2016 03:31 PM (ML24Y)

148 So he's a hipster mixologist/journalist?
Posted by: All Hail Eris
----------
He's just a spoiled asshole.
I'm the hipster mixologist. You should try my bourbon on rocks!

And brush my teeth right afterwards.
Posted by: JTB
-----
I hope with kerosene.

Oddly, I really like sardines as an occasional snack. But, hated anchovies.
I couldn't get the smell out of the house for days.

Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:34 PM (2tQk+)

149 Hell, my dog won't even eat them, and he licks his butthole for a living! Posted by: Chi at February 06, 2016 03:21 PM (2tQk+)

In many ways, dogs are much smarter than we are.
We can learn a lot from them.
Your dog *knows* we cannot destroy the planet through the use of paper eco holocaust product. Yet he manages to keep herself clean. Forget one piece. We need mandatory yoga.

Posted by: Sheryl Crowe at February 06, 2016 03:40 PM (ML24Y)

150 There are basically two food groups I dislike: hot peppers (can't tolerate the heat) and okra. Everything else had better be careful.

KT, we aren't in a position to care for pets at the moment but had poodles for over 30 years. Always got a pair or three, litter mates. They all lived to old age but never lost their puppy playfulness with each other. Helpful when they wore us out. The Mrs. is allergic to most dog breeds, and deathly allergic to cats, but poodles, bichons and a few other breeds are OK. Good luck placing the pup.

Posted by: JTB at February 06, 2016 03:43 PM (FvdPb)

151 We grow potatoes too - just ordered my seed potatoes this week. We're going to try German Butterball, Warba, All Red, Sangre and Chaleur potatoes - about 2 rows of each. The best potatoes I ever grew were in the first year, with a brand-new garden. I'd just broken the soil with a rototiller, and it had never grown anything but scraggly grass. I don't know if the soil was full of nutrients just waiting for those Chaleur potatoes to soak them up, or if it was just a very nice warm summer, but those potatoes were *monsters*.

We took a break from potato-growing last year, because the previous year the potatoes had suffered from some diseases: blackleg while growing, then some mushy rot after harvesting. Figured we'd give the soil a rest, and I grew dahlias instead. Now I can't do without the dahlias either, so I'll be ordering those this week, and have to find a different spot to grow them.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at February 06, 2016 03:43 PM (gjLib)

152 Shops now have Primroses for sale and I'm fighting the urge to buy several for the front porch.

Money's a bit tight now. Maybe just one or two?

I love flowers-- afraid "one or two" would end up a full dozen.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at February 06, 2016 03:50 PM (044Fx)

153 Testing:

Posted by: OregonMuse at February 06, 2016 04:40 PM (XUX2x)

154

Posted by: ChocoCheese at February 06, 2016 04:42 PM (OvUux)

155 Traye, good work with the cauliflower. The market fell on flower, no one is buying. It was 5.50 last week. We are discing. Your customers will love you, I don't think you can buy it yet.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 06, 2016 05:51 PM (rs3zF)

156 Thanks, JTB

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 05:53 PM (qahv/)

157 Dr. Mabuse at February 06, 2016 03:43 PM

Good luck with those great-sounding potatoes.

Potatoes are very susceptible to soil diseases. Sounds like you could have had late blight last year, too.

The dahlias sound great, too.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 05:59 PM (qahv/)

158 Got all my spring chores done: spray and fertilize all fruit trees and vines, prune grape vines. It's still been too warm because my apple trees are blossoming and that damn cauliflower is bolting! Where is this El Niño? Santa Anas now with no rain in the future. Damn Jerry Brown extended the drought regs thru October. I will have to violate it in the summer or my yard will look like the moon!

On the bright side I got a ton of limes from one tree so SB beverages will be margaritas, mojitos and Moscow mules!

Posted by: keena at February 06, 2016 05:59 PM (RiTnx)

159 JQ Flyover,

I love primroses, too. I think it is probably because they are a winter flower. Don't think they would be nearly as appealing in August.

This time of year, I really appreciate the colors of the blossoms where you can see them close-up. Even on the shelf at the nursery.

Posted by: KT at February 06, 2016 06:03 PM (qahv/)

160 I really appreciate the colors of the blossoms where you can see them close-up

Yes! And massed together! All the vibrant colors! And the shading/mixes of color on individual petals...the frilly or wavy petal edges...oh lordy how many shades of pink/purple are there, anyway?!?

Posted by: JQ Flyover at February 06, 2016 06:28 PM (044Fx)

161 *sigh* So many pretties, I can't decide.

I want all of them.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at February 06, 2016 06:29 PM (044Fx)

162 KT,
The guy in the produce news. Denny, I know him and his wife and son. Santa Barbara & San Luis county are small.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 06, 2016 08:05 PM (egOGm)

163 Sorry it was Y-not that posted that. I've known him for 30 years.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 06, 2016 08:07 PM (egOGm)

164 Thank you for the content as always it's lovely.

Posted by: CaliGirl at February 06, 2016 08:09 PM (egOGm)

165 I think it is really enlightening to get news from the farmer's perspective, CaliGirl. So many people have no idea how produce gets to their stores.

The piece Y-not linked confirms how risky the produce market is (when weather is factored in, especially). Your friend looks like a nice guy.

Thanks for keeping us posted on what is new in your world.

Posted by: KT at February 07, 2016 01:37 AM (qahv/)

166 RE: mint

The only thing I ever heard about mint was from a friend who was growing it for much the same reasons you are. He said that it was very difficult to grow more than one kind of mint at a time because they cross-pollinate like crazy - resulting in weak, "off-flavor" or just plain bad-tasting/smelling mint hybrids.

Fo' what it be worth ...

Posted by: Steamboat McGoo at February 07, 2016 03:09 AM (RK1ZH)

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