Saturday Gardening Thread: April Fools [Y-not and KT]

Good afternoon, gardening morons and moronettes! Today's thread is brought to you by the cabbage:

In honor of April Fools Day (which was yesterday, for those of you lacking a calendar), here are few hoaxes, tricks, and silliness from the plant-world.

I doubt it escaped the Morons' attention, but nearly escaped mine... yesterday this happened:

(Safe link to Mashable.)

Plant Hoaxes

Courtesy of Hoaxes.org a list of plant life that only existed on April 1st. I liked this one:

The German Gardener's News, edited by Herr Moller, issued an April Fool's Day edition that discussed various botanical discoveries. For instance, it was revealed that scientific investigation had discovered varieties of flowers that were so phosphorescent they gave sufficient light to read by. "Under proper conditions the flowers of the clematis glow like stars, while sunflowers, if correctly nurtured, make it quite possible to read a newspaper by their unaided light." An accompanying photograph showed Herr Moller reading by the light of sunflower lamps in his garden at 10 o'clock at night.

But wait, there's more!

Flash-forward a century and you'll find that that hoax may become a reality:

Hoping to give new meaning to the term "natural light," a small group of biotechnology hobbyists and entrepreneurs has started a project to develop plants that glow, potentially leading the way for trees that can replace electric streetlamps and potted flowers luminous enough to read by.

You can read about the state of their project as of last year.

Spaghetti Tree

One of the most famous hoaxes of all time is from a 1957 British television broadcast of the Spaghetti Harvest:

The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest hoax generated an enormous response. Hundreds of people phoned the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this query the BBC diplomatically replied, "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."
To this day the Panorama broadcast remains one of the most famous and popular April Fool's Day hoaxes of all time. It is also believed to be the first time the medium of television was used to stage an April Fool's Day hoax.

As we saw with the glowing sunflower, the "spaghetti tree" is almost a reality. Although there is no spaghetti tree, one can mimic that by growing spaghetti squash on a trellis or an arch. More ideas at this blog post.

I have to admit, I'm a bit skeptical about growing spaghetti squash this way because it just seems too large for it to work. Have any of you tried growing spaghetti squash or other large squashes this way?

I'm particularly curious because last week we finally had our fence completed, complete with a pergola, so we are still looking for ideas of vines to try.

We're in Zone 6b and have deep red clay soil. I'm thinking of using white planter boxes so I don't have to struggle with our soil. (The lumps of dirt the fencing contractors dug up are like terra-cotta when they dry out!)

Fooled You Pepper Plants

KT has covered peppers quite a few times during past Gardening Threads, but here's one I don't recall her covering: the Fooled You Pepper Plant:

Jalapenos contribute a particular flavor all their own to cuisines ranging from Mexico to South America to Asia. Originally a South American native, evidence suggests peppers were domesticated as early as 3300 B.C. and were grown in North America by the 16th century. Since jalapenos are best recognized for their heat, heartburn suffers may have reluctantly eliminated the tasty treats from their diets, but the "Fooled You" pepper brings back the flavor without the pain.

I imagine a bunch of you die-hards are screaming "Sacrilege!" right now, but I am curious if any of you have tried these peppers. I enjoy spicy foods, but sometimes I really do just want the flavor without the pain. Are these any good?

Speaking of flavorful peppers without all of the heat, if you haven't tried them before, I can recommend both Shishito and Padron peppers. Shishitos are becoming more commonplace at Japanese restaurants. Padrons can be found on occasion at Spanish (not Mexican) restaurants. Both can prepared simply. Here's one method, but they also do well on the grill or sauteed in olive oil.

I've successfully grown each when I was living in Utah. I assume they'd do well here in Kentucky since it seems most peppers like warm climates.

More Plant Trickery

Speaking of plant hoaxes, here's something:

According to Discovery News, the South African Ceratocaryum argenteum, which looks like a grassy shrub, has evolved to produce seeds that look and smell like the droppings of antelope, a prime source of food for dung beetles who typically roll the feces into a ball and bury it for later consumption. This means that the plant is basically fooling the beetle into planting its seeds in a ball of fertilizer, which, in turn, generates another Ceratocaryum argenteum taking root.

Many plants are masters of deception. You can read about some others here.

Not A Hoax

Finally, believe it or not, this is not a hoax:

Proving that there is a customer for nearly every product (except Trump Vodka), Mystery Potatoes are a thing. (On a related note, another would-be entrepreneur was less successful.)

I don't see the appeel! (Har-dee-har-har)

Now, heeere's KT:

Dandy Lions

Thanks to the fine research of Misanthropic Humanitarian, I learned that Monday was National Weed Appreciation Day. This is a celebration whose origin seems to have been lost in some misty, weed-choked recess of the internet. Have you taken a moment to appreciate a weed lately? How about the dandelion?

Do you remember as a small child the fun you had with dandelions? They actually serve many useful purposes. . .

Last week, one of our Gardening Morons had been picking dandelion greens for a delicious Easter salad with Pennsylvania Dutch Hot Bacon Dressing. For those who love dandelions, here is a summary page on their benefits, uses, precautions and possible interactions from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Do you like dandelions or maybe resent them?

I have never made a Dandy Lion from dandelions, but I was intrigued by them as a child. I made straws for drinking milk from the stems, after blowing the seeds with their little parachutes away. I ate the sepals (well, the inner bracts) from dandelion flower buds. The leaves were too bitter for me.

I also spent time as a child helping my father rid the lawn of dandelions. A fair number of gizmos have been invented primarily for this task. And those are just the non-chemical controls. I remember a long tube you filled with water and an effervescent 2,4-D tablet. Then you walked around bouncing a spring-loaded trigger tip on dandelion plants, which would get all funny and curly before they died. Anybody else remember something like that?

If you would rather eat dandelions than fight them but you don't want to gather just any old wild plants from the north side of the barn, you can buy seeds for culinary strains. They generally have larger leaves and are more upright than wild dandelions. Cultivated dandelions are sometimes tied for a few days before harvest to blanch the inner leaves (to reduce bitterness). One cultivar is said to be self-blanching. I expect that keeping the plants well-watered would also help moderate bitterness.

Speaking of wild dandelions, there is an endangered California Dandelion. Just to make things confusing, there is also a large-flowered plant of a different genus known as the "California Dandelion". It is not endangered. The endangered California Dandelion can cross-breed with common dandelions, further endangering it. The endangered dandelions look pretty much like common dandelions too. They grow in sort of marshy areas.

There are two species in the genus Taraxacum which are commonly found as weeds in our yards and gardens. Both are entirely edible. They have some interesting anatomical features. The little parachutes that form on the seeds develop from specialized sepals surrounding the many individual flowers in each flower head. Seeds can form asexually. No pollination is needed, even though the flowers are often visited by bees and skipper butterflies. The round seed heads covered in little parachutes are called, appropriately, "blowballs".

I guess the French sometimes use dandelion flower buds as substitutes for asparagus tips. You can make an intense yellow dye from the flowers, or an intense magenta dye from the entire plant. Then there are the more common uses, such as salads, soups, etc. Maybe someone has a favorite recipe. From the Wiki:

The flower petals, along with other ingredients, usually including citrus, are used to make dandelion wine. The ground, roasted roots can be used as a caffeine-free dandelion coffee. Dandelion was also traditionally used to make the traditional British soft drink dandelion and burdock, and is one of the ingredients of root beer.

But perhaps you would like to avoid one of the "spring tonic" effects of the dandelion, which inspired the French to bestow upon it the delicate name "Pissenlit". There are some other salad greens with dandelion-like leaves. Some would extend the "dandelion" season. Italian dandelions are actually a type of chicory. Some cultivars have red stems.

Other dandelion stand-ins include wild arugula and a few strains of regular arugula bred to resemble wild arugula. There are also some new, piquant mustards that look a lot like dandelions. Let me know in the comments if you are interested in seed sources.

Quick Hits

It looks like the Farmer's Almanac is helping us prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse. There are several garden denizens in their list of Ten Edible Bugs and How to Eat Them. . . . "10. Pillbugs (sowbugs)—an insect related to lobster and shrimp. Boil or sautee briefly in butter."

How to safely transition Meyer Lemon Trees from indoors to outdoors.

I wonder why lemons remind me of spring? Happy Spring, Horde!

Y-not: Thanks, KT!

To close things up, FEED ME:

What's happening in YOUR gardens this week?

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Time for a cold one.

Posted by: HH at April 02, 2016 12:27 PM (DrCtv)

2 Try again Hello Gardeners

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:28 PM (1J6E6)

3 Still too cold to really plant here. We had snow one day last week and then a morning with *severe* frost.

Almost need to wait 'till May.

Posted by: HH at April 02, 2016 12:29 PM (DrCtv)

4 I love cabbage. One of the most useful and flavorful veggies. You can prepare it in a multitude of different ways. My favorite is fried.

Nice thread!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at April 02, 2016 12:29 PM (voOPb)

5 Anyway my seeds starting isn't going fast. Peppers (2kinds) green beans, chives and basil aren't coming up yet. Lettuce and spinach are up. Wondering if it's time or temperature.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:30 PM (1J6E6)

6 A prune isn't really a vegetable. Cabbage is a vegetable.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at April 02, 2016 12:31 PM (FkBIv)

7 Learned from last year spaghetti grows in a squash, but don't unless you have a acre to spare.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:32 PM (1J6E6)

8 What temperature are your seeds at, Skip? Lettuce sprouts well at cool temperatures. Most kinds won't sprout above 80 degrees. Not sure about spinach. Peppers do best when sprouted at warm temperatures.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 12:35 PM (qahv/)

9 Y-not, spaghetti squashes are probably kinda big for that particular trellis. Not necessarily for a really big trellis. And spaghetti squash stems have prickles, if that trellis is over a gate.

There ought to be something fun you could plant on it,though.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 12:39 PM (qahv/)

10 Put your trellis up at my place. It will be covered with poison ivy, honeysuckle, bittersweet and mile-a-minute vines in weeks.

It's a jungle out there.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at April 02, 2016 12:39 PM (WQMJ4)

11 I wouldn't go overboard on the roasted potato peels. Potato peels are mildly toxic. The sprouts and any green parts are much more toxic. Don't eat a potato peel if it is bitter.

When I plan to eat a potato peel (new potatoes, baked potatoes), I remove the eyes (the indentations from which the sprouts come) and any green parts.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 12:44 PM (qahv/)

12 It's semi-blizzarding now in NW Indiana. The garden and the lawn are going to have to wait.

Too bad it's gonna blow the crap out of the early flowering trees.

Posted by: DaveA at April 02, 2016 12:47 PM (DL2i+)

13 I've had my seeds inside my out building, it might be in the high 50's, it's not heated but they are in a afternoon facing window. I'm going to get the lettuce out in a few weeks to beat the heat.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:48 PM (1J6E6)

14 So, I'm an idiot, but isn't the picture of the new fence rather phallic?

Posted by: Timothy Pruett at April 02, 2016 12:49 PM (vkpBh)

15 For hot peppers I've had jalapeño, but it's Anaheim I love for grilling Chile rellenos. I've had them come in very mild to quite hot.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:52 PM (1J6E6)

16 Several years ago I planted chicory in the middle of my garden. They are supposed to be related to endive and the roots are roasted for a coffee substitute.

It grew well, and needed very little irrigation. I never got around to seeing if it was edible. I picked some seed heads this winter from the side of the road and I just remembered I want to plant them.

I left the Jerusalem artichoke roots in a bucket in the back porch last winter and they got soaked and the water froze. The ones that didn't go black I planted again. They are just sprouting up now.

Y-Not, for your clay, lots and lots of organic material. Lots of organic material.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 02, 2016 12:52 PM (aKchR)

17 My spaghetti squash last year grew on and through my fence so I'm sure they could be trained to grow on a trellis.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:55 PM (1J6E6)

18 Just in time for a gardening thread - a freeze warning tonight for our area.

Posted by: Citizen Cake at April 02, 2016 12:55 PM (ppaKI)

19 I believe the Cherokee, in whose old territory I live, used to eat yellowjacket soup. This was made by browning yellowjacket larva until they split open and then boiling them.

What I haven't figured out is how to collect the larva - I don't think I'd want to eat the larva after pouring gas or kerosene into the nest, and you can't easily smoke out a next dug in the ground. How did the Cherokee do it, I wonder?

Posted by: Grey Fox at April 02, 2016 12:56 PM (bZ7mE)

20 The link to the Masters of Disguise plants is great. That "living stone" plant is amazing.

It's funny, I thought of the "Feed Me" plant from Little Shop of Horrors earlier this week, when I was researching garbage disposals. The reviews for the one I am probably going to buy suggests this garbage disposal is somewhat akin to this plant.

Posted by: bluebell at April 02, 2016 01:00 PM (2WwbN)

21 Skip at April 02, 2016 12:30 PM (1J6E6)


Peppers should probably sprout at 75 degrees or above. Beans may rot if below 65 degrees or if they are too wet. White-seeded beans need warmer soil temperatures than dark-seeded beans, as a rule. White beans absorb moisture from the soil faster than dark beans.

Basil probably likes warm sprouting temperatures. Chives may not be hurt by cooler temperatures, but will take longer to sprout. You can look up germination guides on the net.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:00 PM (qahv/)

22 And Y-Not, your fence looks lovely!

Posted by: bluebell at April 02, 2016 01:01 PM (2WwbN)

23 I enjoy spicy foods, but sometimes I really do just want the flavor without the pain. Are these any good?

I'm with you, there. I do love spicy food, but a lot of the time it would be nice to get that flavor without blowing the back of diner's heads. Most of the time you can get by with just cutting the membrane out and dumping the seeds (that's where the bulk of the heat is), though. Even a jalapeno is pretty tame that way.

I don't get the super hot peppers, the ghost peppers and habanero types. Its just hot, there's no flavor there. What's the point of that?

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 02, 2016 01:07 PM (39g3+)

24 Mandrake

"It shines at night like a lamp, and when you see it mark it round quickly with iron lest it escape you. For so strong is this power in it, that if it sees an unclean man coming to it, it runs away. So for this reason mark it round with iron and dig about it, taking care that you do not touch it with the iron; but remove the earth from it with the utmost care with an ivory stake, and when you have seen the foot of the plant and its hands, then you shall at once bind the plant with a new rope, and you shall tie the same round the neck of a hungry dog, and in front of it place food at a little distance, so that in its eagerness to get the food it may pull out the plant."

Apuleii liber de medicaminibus herbarum (12th century)

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at April 02, 2016 01:10 PM (Cq0oW)

25 DaveA

Sorry about the late blizzard conditions. Disheartening when things have started to make buds and flowers.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:11 PM (qahv/)

26 Hrothgar's ground rules for the plants on his property:

"If you can't feed and water yourself, you have no business being here!"

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 02, 2016 01:12 PM (wYnyS)

27 Maybe I'll bring them in soon if it doesn't warm up. It was high 70's here but a cold spell is going through this weekend.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 01:12 PM (1J6E6)

28 You can grow anything on a trellis, except maybe the biggest of watermelons, if you use a stocking or an old tshirt or something to hold them.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:12 PM (q1FtT)

29 Dandelions...had a friend (100% Italian) in elementary school who used to bring dandelion salad sandwiches to school (in the Spring time). The consistency was similar to an egg salad and had similar ingrediants: dandelions, shallot, celery, mayonaise, mustard, spices and other...served on Italian bread. His father was a chef (actually, the executive chef in the 1960's of the Cleveland based Stouffer's restaurant chain). They were delicious!

Posted by: billygoat at April 02, 2016 01:13 PM (INxoa)

30 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 02, 2016 01:07 PM (39g3+)

Oh, now, I think habaneros have a nice fruity flavor. You just don't need too much of it.

Ghost peppers are not as flavorful, but I do like them in some dishes.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM (q1FtT)

31 also from that Farmer's Almanac link:

Cicadas - Also known as "the shrimp of the land." Delicious roasted over an open fire, or deep fried and tossed with salt and seasonings like chili powder, or honey mustard.

I will pass, but I noticed that outdoor cats seem to like them a great deal.

Posted by: mallfly suPreme at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM (qSIlh)

32 I don't get to garden this week ... because I live in the Ohio Valley. With all respects to Luke Skywalker, Louisville is the official point in North America farthest from the brightest point in the universe.

Our weather universally sucks - but not quite enough to brag about. We can't plant with confidence until May. Yet we can't depend on a fall crop.

We're not quite Southern ... yet South enough where our neighbors call us hicks. We pretty much Hillbilly's with shitty hills. We make good Bluegrass Music. But nobody gives a shit about that stuff anymore. Not enough bass.

There's a reason the Ohio Valley was settled by Scotts, Irish, and French. Nobody else wanted it.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 02, 2016 01:15 PM (fiGNd)

33 Anybody tried the new "Butter" Potatoes? And if so, before I eat another one -- are there flounder genes or something in there to make them taste buttery?

I can eat all the butter I want. Supposed to have about one potato a month.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 02, 2016 01:15 PM (xq1UY)

34 Is a cabbage a vegetable? I thought it was just a wad of leaves, like a head of lettuce. What constitutes a "vegetable"?

I know a "fruit" is a thing that contains one or more seeds, as well as a word that will explode a SJW's head in some circumstances. But I guess I don't what a "vegetable" is.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at April 02, 2016 01:16 PM (AroJD)

35 I've been putting off the dreaded chore of thinning my seedlings. Most things came up well.

I grew a mild jalapeno one year that I liked a lot, but no one else did. I think it was a Bonnie Plants transplant from Home Depot.

We use Anaheims as we used to use canned green chilis. Nice flavor w/o heat and they're good pickled, too. Poblanos are my favorites for grilling and stuffing, but they can be hot!

Posted by: OldDominionMom at April 02, 2016 01:16 PM (GzDYP)

36 Blizzard like conditions here. Glad I decided to hold off on any planting. Good day to stay inside with a big pot of soup simmering on the stove.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 02, 2016 01:16 PM (kTF2Z)

37 There are a lot of plants you can eat the greens of, including flowers, that are quite good. Gotta be careful, of course, but Nasturtiums are good in salads, and you can eat a lot of flowers at well. It adds nice color.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 02, 2016 01:20 PM (39g3+)

38 Y-not, your fence is lovely!

I can give you a multitude of vine suggestions, but a lot depends on what kind of support you're willing to add to the fence. Some things need a little more to cling to than the smooth surface for a fence, some just need leg up, so to speak.You might also like to tie it in to the other types of plantings you have in your garden, in terms of how formal, color scheme, etc.

And how large of a vine were you thinking of?

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:21 PM (q1FtT)

39 Wow, so much content! You've outdone yourselves this week, ladies!

Spaghetti squash grew very well on our wire mesh (4"x6" openings) garden fence. Was surprised they stayed on the vines, being so heavy-- I did not need to make slings, but was ready to do so. It was a bumper crop and I found them not so much to my liking after that, lol.

Acorn squash grew well on the fence, too. (And is tastier, imo.) That might work for you, Y-not.

"Italian Dandelion" --how fancy-- chicory is a perennial weed here. Beautiful little flowers on tough ugly stems.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 02, 2016 01:21 PM (044Fx)

40 Kindltot at April 02, 2016 12:52 PM

Curly endive is a kind of chicory. Radicchio is a kind of chicory. Sugarloaf is a kind of chicory. Belgian endive is a kind of chicory grown from roots dug before flowering and forced in the dark during winter.

Root chicory is grown from selected strains. Probably harvested before flowering. Wild chicory can be pretty bitter.

True endive is closely related to chicory, as you noted.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:22 PM (qahv/)

41 And Kindltot,
I like wild chicory flowers, too.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:22 PM (qahv/)

42 Cicadas - Also known as "the shrimp of the land." Delicious roasted over an open fire, or deep fried and tossed with salt and seasonings like chili powder, or honey mustard.

I will pass, but I noticed that outdoor cats seem to like them a great deal.
Posted by: mallfly suPreme at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM (qSIlh)
-------------------

Blech. I'm with you.

The last time the 17-year cicadas were here, in 2004, one of the moms on my daughter's soccer team told me she downloaded a cicada recipe ebook, I think it was from the University of MD, called "Cicada-licious." I don't think she ever had the guts to make anything from it though. I know I wouldn't.

Posted by: bluebell at April 02, 2016 01:24 PM (2WwbN)

43 The Ohio Valley? The Shawnee sure as hell wanted it. Funny think about your Kentuckians was, when they went to expand, they went north -- where the weather was if anything even shittier. All of Ohio was once one county of Kentucky. If not for Kentuckians fighting for it, all Ohio and the civilized parts of Michigan would have remained in the hand of the British and their betrayed Indian allies.

Your climate though, yes, it's "milder Ohio" and that's about it. Four seasons!

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 02, 2016 01:25 PM (xq1UY)

44 Posted by: mallfly suPreme at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM (qSIlh)

Many moons ago, I taught pre-school at an ESL (English as Second Language) facility in SoCal.

My little Cambodian toddlers use to LOVE Japanese beetles. I finally gave up trying to get them out of their mouths. Their mothers weren't bothered by it at all.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:25 PM (q1FtT)

45 I got a lot of nostalgia growing up from my rural NH father about dandelion greens and how they were good early in the season but got bitter later.

On the other hand, I could never get him to actually pick and cook any.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 02, 2016 01:26 PM (1xUj/)

46 Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:25 PM (q1FtT)
-------------

Oh Tammy, that's so gross. I don't know how you could watch that! You're a better person than I!

Posted by: bluebell at April 02, 2016 01:27 PM (2WwbN)

47 Nasturtium flowers taste a little like radishes to me.

Posted by: Ronster at April 02, 2016 01:29 PM (U2CTg)

48 I don't know how you could watch that! You're a better person than I!
Posted by: bluebell at April 02, 2016 01:27 PM (2WwbN)

Being bit several times cured me of being bothered!

Honestly, it didn't bother me so much as I was worried about them being poisonous. A worm would have grossed me out, though.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:30 PM (q1FtT)

49 My grandfather made wonderful dandelion wine. Once in a Bradbury-induced stupor I thought I'd try to do it. Never picked so damned many dandelion flowers in my life, and it still was not enough. Came out "watery." You really need a lot of dandelions.

I don't know if there was anything my grandfather couldn't make into wine. Tomato, onion. The tomato wasn't like tomato juice at all, and didn't smell like tomato. The onion, now, that was "for cooking."

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 02, 2016 01:30 PM (xq1UY)

50 "... long tube you filled with water and an effervescent 2,4-D tablet. Then
you walked around bouncing a spring-loaded trigger tip on dandelion
plants,..."
We had one back in the day! I recalled the name being "Killer Kane" which the Google thing confirmed. Shown in a picture here: http://tinyurl.com/hw9h972
Apparently still available in the UK from Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/h3yvknu

Here in southeast Michigan it's snowing, but so far melting as it hits the ground. At this time of year gardening consists of playing pick-up sticks as small branches and twigs fall from the trees.

Posted by: George V at April 02, 2016 01:31 PM (LUHWu)

51 OldDominionMom at April 02, 2016 01:16 PM

There are mild and hotter strains of poblanos, and gowiing conditions make a difference, too. I think Tomato Growers Supply compares the heat of some poblano strains.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:31 PM (qahv/)

52 Love the photos of that gorgeous fence (looks a LOT better than our chain link) and that dandy lion (song lyrics from Wizard of Oz). Thanks for all those links. I check them out over a couple of days.

We have spinach and herbs coming along outside. Our indoor seedlings are looking good, having survived their first repotting. For some reason, repotting into red Solo cups always works well for us. Coincidence? Superstition? Probably. But as long as it works, we'll continue to do it.

Posted by: JTB at April 02, 2016 01:33 PM (V+03K)

53 My paternal grandmother dosed us all every Spring with all manner of things she grew. And cod liver oil, Jesus God.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:33 PM (q1FtT)

54 Love the weather here, the AGW is really something, 82 F yesterday, with lows in the thirties at night and a low of 20 F on Tuesday. So of course, I dug in about a dozen hyacinths which I bought post-Easter (which were cheap because the blooms were fading) and will hope for the best. The local master gardener said (after I had done this) that it's cheaper and more efficient to buy the bulbs in the fall and plant for next spring then rather than try to get them through the an entire year before you get any blooms. So I guess I have an garden experiment in the making!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 02, 2016 01:33 PM (wYnyS)

55 Re mild jalapenos. There is a jalapeno plant sold here in Texas - the "TAM Mild" or "Aggie Mild" - developed by those crazy plant geneticists at Texas A&M. It is every bit as delicious as a regular jalapeno but much milder. In my garden I have one hot jalapeno plant and the rest are Aggie Mild. I pickle them together and the heat from the hot ones make the Aggie peppers somewhat hot but not blisteringly hot. (I cut the tips off the hot jalapenos to identify them amidst their Aggie cousins.)

Posted by: AstroBevo at April 02, 2016 01:34 PM (DZF+K)

56 I have always loved the smell of dandelions. Grew up in Kentucky, the north western part, not far from Ft Knox.

Posted by: Javems at April 02, 2016 01:38 PM (yOqwj)

57 mallfly suPreme at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM

Our kitties brought us a gopher head today. Meatier than a cicada.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:39 PM (qahv/)

58 crazy plant geneticists at Texas A&M

Texas A&M is a National Treasure, inmho.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:41 PM (q1FtT)

59 There's a reason the Ohio Valley was settled by Scotts, Irish, and French. Nobody else wanted it.

I see Stringer Davis has already pointed out that the Shawnees were a mite attached to the Ohio area and got kind of miffed when others started moving in. Interestingly, they were newcomers as well, I think - the area was emptied for a while and the Shawnees moved in when forced out of their previous homeland. They eventually kept moving west.

Also, not a whole lot of Irish in the Americas prior to the 19th century, I believe. The Scotch-Irish were a whole different ethnic group from the Gaelic speaking Irish.

(I about had a fit recently when I overheard a member of my church talking about how he wanted to celebrate his Scotch-Irish heritage when naming his children and then went on to explain the Gaelic origins of his sons' names...I didn't say ANYTHING, but at some point someone has to tell him that the Scotch-Irish spoke English and were in a state of constant hostility with the Irish Gaels...)

Posted by: Grey Fox at April 02, 2016 01:43 PM (bZ7mE)

60 Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:25 PM (q1FtT)
That is truly disgusting. I hate roly poly bugs. I'd have to be starving to consider eating them. I hope to never test this theory.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 02, 2016 01:46 PM (egOGm)

61 Posted by: CaliGirl at April 02, 2016 01:46 PM (egOGm)

I'm told they go well with pine bark soup!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 02, 2016 01:47 PM (wYnyS)

62 Well, today I have to conduct the first mowing of the grass. Thus begins 7 months of weekly drudgery.

*grumble, grumble*

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 02, 2016 01:47 PM (9mTYi)

63 Your climate though, yes, it's "milder Ohio" and that's about it. Four seasons!

No kidding. Thanks for the reply.

Still looking at green houses. Thanks to everyone last week for the suggestions.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 02, 2016 01:48 PM (fiGNd)

64 Yeah Grey Fox, it's "spozedtabe" Scots-Irish, I guess because so many of them are achieved teetotalers that they didn't want that "Scotch" in there. Lowlands Scots, dispossessed in the Enclosure era, camped out in Ireland for a generation or two before finding their proper homeland. It used to be said that they were such good Indian fighters because they'd been practicing on the Irish, who had been reduced by their time by centuries of internal strife, invasion, and Irish spirit.

For people who didn't at all mind inter-marrying with other advanced races, like Choctaws, they sure didn't seem to blend in much with the actual Irish.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 02, 2016 01:51 PM (xq1UY)

65 I love cabbage. One of the most useful and flavorful veggies. You can prepare it in a multitude of different ways. My favorite is fried.

Nice thread!
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian
--------------

You people up north eat some weird stuff. Must be the long winters. ;-)

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 02, 2016 01:53 PM (9mTYi)

66 Stringer Davis at April 02, 2016 01:15 PM

Several of the yellow-fleshed potatoes are said to have a "buttery" flavor. Don't worry about flounder genes.

A friend with diabetes says the blood sugar profile from eating a Yukon Gold is better than after eating a russet (for him). There may be some variation based on the types of starch in "waxy" vs. "flaky" potatoes.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:54 PM (qahv/)

67 Grey Fox - I assume you saw the story here about the local guy who had 55 dogs in his house?

Neighbor. Sad, sad story.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 02, 2016 01:55 PM (9mTYi)

68 We've been having a rather pleasant spring this year in northern Virginia. The blossoms on the trees and shrubs have lasted longer than usual. Even the forsythia have been more golden and vibrant. But tonight they are talking about a freeze warning and 50 knot winds. Should be interesting. I sense a pot of vegetable and bean soup will be simmering shortly.

Hope this weather doesn't hurt the fruit trees in the Shenandoah Valley. I have high hopes (read that 'lust') for fresh peaches this summer.

Posted by: JTB at April 02, 2016 01:55 PM (V+03K)

69 Some good links at the bottom of the squash blog page Y-not linked if you are a veggie gardener. But the video link at the very bottom is a 404 for me.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 01:56 PM (qahv/)

70 Also, not a whole lot of Irish in the Americas prior to the 19th century, I believe. The Scotch-Irish were a whole different ethnic group from the Gaelic speaking Irish.

Well ... fantastic. Can't say I'm surprised.

We're not quite "Scottish" ... nor quite "Irish". We're "Scotch-Irish". Awesome !!! All the liquor dependency and inability to get along with others - without the kilts or authentic folk music.

And the Shawnee only came here after an eviction notice.

Perfect.

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 02, 2016 01:57 PM (fiGNd)

71 Grey Fox - I assume you saw the story here about the local guy who had 55 dogs in his house?



Neighbor. Sad, sad story.

No, I did not. I don't actually have a good source for local news, now that I think of it.

Posted by: Grey Fox at April 02, 2016 01:58 PM (bZ7mE)

72 I see Stringer Davis has already pointed out that the Shawnees were a mite attached to the Ohio area ...

-------

Weren't the Miami's there too?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 02, 2016 01:58 PM (9mTYi)

73 We lost an 80 foot pine from the wind Monday. It was blocking a road.
Spring is here, I saw my first pair of quail this morning.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 02, 2016 02:00 PM (egOGm)

74 Grey Fox - Yeah I wouldn't know about it either, if it hadn't been for the SWAT-like raid on the house.
http://tinyurl.com/zjlhph8

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 02, 2016 02:00 PM (9mTYi)

75 We're not quite "Scottish" ... nor quite "Irish". We're "Scotch-Irish".
Awesome !!! All the liquor dependency and inability to get along with
others - without the kilts or authentic folk music.

On the other hand, we've got a history of actually winning wars.

Posted by: Grey Fox at April 02, 2016 02:00 PM (bZ7mE)

76 George V at April 02, 2016 01:31 PM

Thanks for the info. There are some weeds other than dandelions that I wish I could kill with the "Killer Kane".

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 02:01 PM (qahv/)

77 Did anyone play with sow bugs? As little boys we would flick them to get them to curl up than roll them down a cardboard ramp. Never seemed to hurt them.

It would NOT have occurred to us to try to eat the damn things.

Posted by: JTB at April 02, 2016 02:01 PM (V+03K)

78 On the other hand, we've got a history of actually winning wars.

Well ... that is no small thing.

I think I'll go celebrate my Scotch-Irish-Shawnee-Miami-French-WhoTheHellKnows heritage by grabbing another beer, getting started rebuilding that damn retaining wall, and cursing the unfairness of the entire situation.

And ... in true deference to my ancestry ... I'll not give a good damn to anyone who tells me differently !!!

Posted by: ScoggDog at April 02, 2016 02:04 PM (fiGNd)

79 Ticino, home of spaghetti trees, is one of the most relaxing vacation destinations in existence. A favorite of Germans.

It is the main Italian-speaking canton in Switzerland. More orderly than Italy, more relaxed than the other parts of Switzerland, some great food. Lakes. Palm trees. Oleanders. In Switzerland.

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

80 I imagine a bunch of you die-hards are screaming "Sacrilege!" right now, but I am curious if any of you have tried these peppers. I enjoy spicy foods, but sometimes I really do just want the flavor without the pain. Are these any good?

No, but i dig the TAM 'tamed' jalapenos. They're perfect pickled.

Don't throw away your potato peels.

Actually you may want to throw them out. The skins can concentrate metals if the spuds are grown in contaminated soil. Not much of a risk for US grown spuds, but things coming from south of the border?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 02, 2016 02:07 PM (A/3fN)

81 Weren't the Miami's there too?

Wikipedia says yes,though Shawnee were the main inhabitants, I think.

Hard for me to keep track of the smaller nations. The distinctions between different groups were getting a little blurry in that area in the 18th century, in some cases - there were new groups forming from the remnants of decimated earlier groups, name changes, migrations, etc. Lot of maps showing the territories of various nations, but without a specific date they can be misleading.

Posted by: Grey Fox at April 02, 2016 02:09 PM (bZ7mE)

82 Everybody played with sow bugs, JTB. Nobody I know considered eating them. But I ate a live ant once. There's a reason formic acid was named after ants.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 02:13 PM (qahv/)

83 I also saw my first gopher snake of the year too. Spring has arrived.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 02, 2016 02:15 PM (egOGm)

84 We used to 'cook' ants under magnifying glass, but never ate them.

Roly-poly bugs were kinda fun.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 02, 2016 02:16 PM (044Fx)

85 Snow here too, although it looks like the sun is coming out. This latest round of wintery weather fits perfectly into my plan of never growing another earthly thing ever.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 02, 2016 02:17 PM (dFi94)

86 KT, Yeah, I ate an ant once as a kid. Probably an accident and I still remember that taste. I would rather lick a battery terminal. Glad birds, other bugs, etc., like to eat them. If I was responsible for ant control, they would have overrun the earth by now.

Posted by: JTB at April 02, 2016 02:21 PM (V+03K)

87 My daughter made my son eat a worm once, when he was about 4. Scared to death of her, he was.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 02, 2016 02:22 PM (dFi94)

88 [italic]Also, not a whole lot of Irish in the Americas prior to the 19th century, I believe. The Scotch-Irish were a whole different ethnic group from the Gaelic speaking Irish.[/italic]

I've got a bit of Scots-Irish and a wee bit of Irish. My grt grandmother said her grandmother referred to her background as "lace curtain" Irish as the Scots-Irish were generally better off (could afford lace curtains) than the Gaelic Irish.

As to the garden, had a pot of mesclun going well till I brought it from the cold one night, only to find it on the floor after the dang cat knocked it off the kitchen table!

Posted by: Farmer at April 02, 2016 02:23 PM (3hlFs)

89 Hmmm, what did I do wrong there?

Posted by: Farmer at April 02, 2016 02:24 PM (3hlFs)

90 Beware of those padron peppers! Every year I grow them but they always come out as hot as a Serrano. Fun to see when the unsuspecting bite in. Same deal for a friend of mine, who's little boy got a jolt when he was helping her garden. Shisitos, however, are tasty and mild.

My pole beans are starting to come up!

Posted by: keena at April 02, 2016 02:25 PM (0ViHl)

91 Farmer - I don't know. Tags look good to me.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 02, 2016 02:26 PM (dFi94)

92 Nice warm day here, but it's just a tease-- next couple of weeks will be anywhere from 30s to 70s.

If not for shift-work, I could deal with running out to cover things overnight and then uncovering each morning.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 02, 2016 02:26 PM (044Fx)

93 The Scots who were resettled in Northern Ireland were actually borderers who wouldn't stop fighting and obeying their own laws after the union between England and Scotland under James.
When they emigrated to the colonies and went West they were hailed as the solution to the Indian troubles. Later, some writer mentioned that they were, ". . . so fractious and unruly as to almost make us wish for the Indians back"

Posted by: Kindltot at April 02, 2016 02:27 PM (aKchR)

94 My daughter has a fair size garden, enough to keep 5 people in fresh veggies for the summer. Other than lettuce, spinach and snow peas, she doesn't even think about planting till Memorial Day.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 02, 2016 02:28 PM (dFi94)

95 Teh cobs and The Horde know way too much about pr0n...

Posted by: Zettai Ryoiki at April 02, 2016 02:31 PM (5csB/)

96 Wondering if any of you Morons have information on pond care. We bought a house with a small pond, about 45 ft across and around 8 feet deep in the center. It is home to many frogs and snails that we would like to keep, and lots of vegetation that we would like to remove. Is there a good product that anyone has used with success? Any suggestions (regarding the pond) would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by: UDM at April 02, 2016 02:31 PM (sxb4U)

97 That's just it, grammie winger: getting in too big of a hurry makes extra work. I used to do it, and just ran ragged.

Think I'll relax and wait, not worry about *early* summer veggies. Little box of salad greens is enough for now.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 02, 2016 02:32 PM (044Fx)

98 Teh cobs and The Horde know way too much about pr0n...


We got pron salad, fried pron, pron gumbo, pron hushpuppies, sauteed pron...

Posted by: Bubba Bandersnatch at April 02, 2016 02:34 PM (1xUj/)

99 right. As soon as I get lunch, I'm heading to the store to see if I can find lettuce and spinach starts. I forgot again.

Morning Grammie. I hope you are liking being married.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 02, 2016 02:35 PM (aKchR)

100 Thank you Kindltot. Not there yet, although we did meet with the minister Thursday and looked at a condo yesterday. Starting to get real. Kinda scary.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 02, 2016 02:37 PM (dFi94)

101 Crickets - Remove the legs and dry roast, fry, or stir-fry .


Pull the heads off straight out also. This will remove the guts with it . The same with crickets i think.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 02, 2016 02:38 PM (A/3fN)

102 Nood


The Pet thread is up

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 02:39 PM (1J6E6)

103 Farmer, don't spell out italics, just the i. [ i ]. Remove the spaces.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at April 02, 2016 02:42 PM (kTF2Z)

104 test

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 02:45 PM (ozZau)

105 Sorry, Grammie Winger. I've been in and out. Thought you had already tied the knot.

Well, good. I get to feel good for you all over!

Posted by: Kindltot at April 02, 2016 02:45 PM (aKchR)

106 15 For hot peppers I've had jalapeno, but it's Anaheim I love for grilling Chile rellenos. I've had them come in very mild to quite hot.
Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 12:52 PM (1J6E6)

Yes, as a newlywed I almost killed my husband many times. He is from north Texas, and therefor a Yankee, and wasn't raised on capsaicin as I was in South TX.

I grew lots of Anaheims and loved to make stir fries with them for our dinner. I didn't realize what a crapshoot the heat level was, and I never took out the seeds and ribs. Sweetie, why are you crying???

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 02:45 PM (ozZau)

107 I will pass, but I noticed that outdoor cats seem to like them a great deal.
Posted by: mallfly suPreme at April 02, 2016 01:14 PM (qSIlh)

They make awesome cat toys. Jack Russells enjoy them too.

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 02:48 PM (ozZau)

108 Texas A&M is a National Treasure, inmho.
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at April 02, 2016 01:41 PM (q1FtT)

You are correct as always, Miss Tammy.

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 02:53 PM (ozZau)

109 Ok, I know this thread is slowing down, but I have to mention this Discovery Mag hoax that caused me big headaches back when I was a penguin keeper and had to give talks to the public about them.

Link under my name.

It takes a lot of tact to nicely explain to a paying guest before a whole group that she was taken in by an April fool's joke.

"Discover magazine published a brief article in its "Breakthroughs" section detailing the discovery by wildlife biologist Dr. Aprile Pazzo of a fascinating new species: the hotheaded naked ice borer.

Dr. Pazzo, the article explained, encountered this creature while studying penguins in Antarctica. She noticed a frightened penguin rapidly sinking into the ice, and when she pulled the hapless creature out of the rapidly growing slush pool, she found small, bizarre animals attached to its lower body...."

Dr Aprile Pazzo, heh

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 02:59 PM (ozZau)

110 The best penguin stories are on the Saturday Gardening Thread.

Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 03:23 PM (qahv/)

111 Almost missed the gardening thread.


All my bradford pares have bloomed and gone now, The apple trees are now blooming. And it has been a beautiful sunny day here the past two days. So I have been on the porch.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 02, 2016 04:15 PM (vvmPQ)

112 "If you can't grow it, you have to mine it"
Sign above entrance to a mine equipment manufacturer I call on.

We should have a mining thread.
Also, srsly, why is there no movie thread?

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at April 02, 2016 04:26 PM (SeD0w)

113 well, another week in japan and once again i arrive too late to contribute.

But, commenting anyway mostly to let KT and Y-not know that I read your post each week, and each week it is a winner. Full on useful and interesting stuff. Thanks.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at April 02, 2016 04:38 PM (LWu6U)

114 110 The best penguin stories are on the Saturday Gardening Thread.
Posted by: KT at April 02, 2016 03:23 PM (qahv/)

ha, unfortunately there was no gardening with the penguins, but with the outside birds (flamingos, waterfowl, etc) we keepers had to do quite a bit of our own landscaping. I was also a new homeowner, so it was helpful to me to learn that stuff at work.

What I didn't like was when a big truck pulled up to our new holding pens and dropped off a full load of sod, and we said oh, cool, now where is the crew of men that comes with this load of sod?

Boss pointed at me and my three female co-workers. I got REALLY good at laying St Augustine sod.

Posted by: stace at April 02, 2016 05:24 PM (ozZau)

115 Thanks for all of your comments this week.

I spent the day tip toeing through the tulips, so there will be lpenty of pretty pictures next week!

Posted by: Y-not on the phone at April 02, 2016 05:28 PM (t5zYU)

116 Just got home from touring a college with my daughter. Wow! Thanks for the nod!!

Posted by: Clarney at April 02, 2016 05:53 PM (dgO4h)

117 Posted by: UDM at April 02, 2016 02:31 PM (sxb4U)

If you are still here, and I apologize I was away for quite a bit, there is a company, pentairaes.com, that has all sorts of pond and aquaculture equipment and chemicals. Plus they have an advice line. Hope this helps. I've never used their chemicals (because I have small ponds) but on equipment they've been very helpful.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 02, 2016 07:23 PM (wYnyS)

118 I have grown cucuzzi squash on two cattle panels held up 9 1/2 feet up off the ground. That's 32 feet of squash. I also grow spaghetti squash on a cattle panel on the ground held up with t posts. They work fine. Jackie Clay (writer for Backwoods Home Magazine) says most squash will work on a trellis, even pumpkins and other large squash. Spaghetti squash will definitely work.

Posted by: mullingthingsover at April 02, 2016 07:47 PM (L6jDH)

119 Thanks Hrothgar! I will check them out.

Posted by: UDM at April 02, 2016 08:44 PM (4vgKi)

120 Had fresh parsley in tomato soup at lunch and fresh chives on baked potato at supper. Can't wait for basil and oregano for my salads.

Posted by: Skip at April 02, 2016 08:45 PM (1J6E6)

121 Thanks Hrothgar! I will check them out.

Posted by: UDM at April 02, 2016 08:44 PM (4vgKi)

Glad I was able to post this for you, hope it helps, and I think they are a good company to deal with.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 02, 2016 08:51 PM (wYnyS)

122 Hops rhizomes on the way, woohoo! (and I'm not even a brewer)

Y-not, do you brew? They're an attractive plant, imo.

They grow tall and fast, although they *require* support/framework.

Best of all? Once frost kills the bines, the whole mess is cut back to the ground-- no messy deadwood to see all winter, or contend with next spring.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 02, 2016 09:42 PM (044Fx)

123 As a general rule, if it is a root (carrot, potatoe), stalk (celery, asparagus) or leaf (cabbage, brussel sprouts, chard), then it's a vegetable. Otherwise it's a fruit.

Posted by: redchief at April 03, 2016 03:05 PM (yuR+/)

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