Saturday Gardening Thread: Wild Genes [KT]

Spring has started, and bees are spreading pollen. So I thought this would be a good time to talk about genes.

Earlier in the week, CBD wrote a post on Norman Borlag, an American hero. Remember not to comment on old AoSHQ threads, no matter how interesting they are. Norman Borlag favored what we call "modern genetic engineering".

Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms (breeder of the tomatoes in the photo above) does not use modern genetic engineering. He often looks for genetic mutations and chance crosses in his tomato fields, in addition to conventional breeding work. He produces tomatoes with interesting flavors and colors. As noted at the link under the photo, he faces several challenges from the natural world in getting a crop to market. Gardeners face similar challenges at home, particularly with heirloom and other open-pollinated tomatoes.

Supermarket tomatoes are generally hybrids with greater resistance to disease and weather variability. But their flavor and texture are unsatisfactory. So how did supermarket tomatoes get to be nothing much more than a color, and what are the challenges to improving them?

This post and the video it includes explain some of the reasons that supermarket tomatoes are tasteless and rubbery. As noted in the video, even though scientist now know in many cases exactly what went wrong, they are using old-fashioned methods to correct the problems. Because people are afraid of "genetic engineering". And note the importance of "tomato puberty".

There is a germplasm collection at UC Davis that includes 9 wild tomato species and a bunch of other interesting tomato genetic material. Might come in handy to scientists using old-fashioned methods to improve new tomatoes. Researchers at Oregon State University and in Israel have already grown blue tomatoes by cross-breeding wild tomatoes with domestic tomatoes. Work continues to produce a tomato with blue stripes I have grown a "blue" cherry tomato. Not my favorite. Have you tried one of the "blue" tomatoes?

Work is ongoing in the UK to produce a GMO blue tomato that's blue all the way through. There are some other interesting GMO organisms out there, too.

Photos from The Horde that trigger random content

Here's more on Oregon wildflowers from Kindltot:

One of the later lilies is the Cat's Ear, or Mariposa Lily, Calochortus subalpinus. My books tell me this is only found on the Cascade side of the valley, but they are found up around Dallas, there is an old cemetery that has a mowed bank where they grow.

Random content: I had no idea that there was a Dallas, Oregon. It is in Polk County, so the city was named after Polk's Vice President, apparently. The main city park there includes the Delbert Hunter Arboretum and Botanic Garden, dedicated to the wild plants of Oregon. There is a creek running through the arboretum that floods sometimes. And they also have fires. Might not be a good idea to try this at home. Even if your yard is "natural".

Dallas was the childhood home of Johnnie Ray. I did not know who he was before this week. But some people did.

Johnnie Ray was completely different from anything that went before him. . . . I consider Johnnie Ray to be the father of rock and roll.--Tony Bennett

He reportedly enjoyed hiking around Dallas with his sister when he was growing up. He became partially deaf at 13 as the result of an accident at a Boy Scout event.

In the early 1950s, Johnnie Ray was arguably the biggest musical star in the world. His emotional singing and sexually suggestive performances earned him the titles "The Prince of Wails," "The Cry Guy," and "The Million Dollar Teardrop," and put him at the top of the music charts. From Sydney to Chicago to London, teenage riots erupted wherever Ray went.

He lost popularity in the USA with the assent of Rock and Roll, but had a successful performing career in the UK and even Australia as he grew older. What does this say about the legendary stiff British upper lip? Here he is singing with The Four Lads about a little white cloud that cried. Those little clouds try so hard.

Back to Kindltot:

I have found Cat's Ears on sunny banks and on road cuts. Apparently they are edible also, but they are not numerous.
These and the trilliums were my Mom's special delights.

I think that flower is utterly charming. Random content: It looks like a hairy Sego Lily, the State Flower of Utah. Early Pioneers ate Sego Lily bulbs when cricket decimated their crops. The California Seagull is the State Bird of Utah because the bird ate crickets. A brand of evaporated milk was named after sego lilies.

You can see the resemblance between Sego Lilies at Arches National Monument and Kindltot's photo. Genetics: "Yucca and aloe used to be in this family. The family is extremely complex. Some ornamentals and medicinally useful plants are in this family, but a few species are poisonous."

There are many species of Calochortus native to the Western United States. The Pacific Bulb Society has photos and/or descriptions for 68 species. Plus growing tips.

The diversity of Calochortus species is reflected in the wide range of English common names applied to the flowers. Unfortunately, the common names do not align cleanly with the scientific subsections above. But here is a quick guide:

Mariposa Tulips are large, upright, bowl-shaped flowers, often with intricate color markings and sometimes hairs. Calochortus venustus is an example.

Pussy Ears or Cat's Ears are small, upright flowers with very hairy tepals. Calochortus tolmiei is an example.

Globe Tulips or Fairy Lanterns are nodding, roughly spherical flowers. Calochortus amabilis is an example.

Star Tulips are small, upright flowers that resemble miniature Mariposas, although they usually have fewer markings. Calochortus uniflorus is an example.

I recommend looking around their site if you like photos of unusually marked flowers close up. There are other sources of information on this genus, too.

Back to Kindltot again:

This lily is the False Solomon Seal, Smilacina racemosa. They grow in large batches if they can. They are fairly large plants as they can come up to mid thigh. It is not terribly pretty in the Spring outside of the froth of white flowers, but in the Fall the leaves turn golden and are very lovely. In one spot I found a patch that flanked a deer path and I would walk right through it.

Kindltot's description makes me want to visit Oregon in the fall.

Genetic science complicates things again. My 2007 edition of the Sunset Western Garden book alerts us to a change in botanical nomenclature of this plant to the genus Maianthemum:

Botanists have recently brought two familiar Western natives together under this single genus name. Both are woodland plants that need loose, rich, slightly acidic soil to look their best.

The genus has also been placed in the asparagus family. The other garden plant in this genus is "False Lily of the Valley", M. Dilatatum, which is hardy into Alaska. Its flowers look a a lot like those of False Solomon's Seal but the plant only grows 6 to 8 inches high. Real Solomon's Seal and Lily of the Valley both have dangling flowers rather than frothy flowers.

Gardens of The Horde

I haven't forgotten Illiniwek's request for deer-resistant plants that could provide some winter interest. Not evergreens. Russian Olive is very tough, Maybe too tough in some places. It is banned in some states. It could attract birds in winter. It can be pruned to show off its picturesque bark in winter. Its non-thorny native counterpart, which is shorter, is E. commutata, or Silverberry. There is a selected form (that may not be quite as hardy) called 'Coral Silver' for the color of its fall berries, and a hybrid with Russian Olive called Quicksilver. We'll keep looking for deer-resistant trees and other plants.

A deer-resistant shrub with winter interest is Kerria Japonica. Flowers retain their color best in part shade. I like the single-flowered ones. There is a large-flowered one called 'Golden Guinea'. The green branches are used in winter arrangements in Japan. Prune heavily after bloom. A new variegated form may be more tolerant to both heat and cold. Check at the bottom of the page at the link for other selections, including one with pale yellow stems striped green in winter.

It's weed control season here in the San Joaquin Valley. Especially in the outskirts of towns. Tractors are in evidence, disking up vacant lots before The Authorities act. Cotton planting has started out in the fields. Our rosemary is still blooming and still attracting bees.

Anything going on in your garden?

Hope you have a great week.

p.s. If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Could have done without that Jeans pic...

Posted by: HH at April 01, 2017 12:10 PM (DrCtv)

2 Hi. I'll be gone for a while, but I'll be back.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:10 PM (qahv/)

3 I tried a cherry tomato variety last year called Indigo Rose. Looked pretty all dark purple and almost black but way too tart and acidy. Sticking w Sungold and Super Sweet 100 this year.

Speaking of tart my kumquat tree this year had very tart fruit. Not sure why.
Finishing up the end of the vegetable planting today once it gets out of the 40's!

Posted by: keena at April 01, 2017 12:13 PM (RiTnx)

4 HH at April 01, 2017 12:10 PM

Prison pants Gone!

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:15 PM (qahv/)

5 Good afternoon greentumbs, soggy but trying to dry out here

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2017 12:17 PM (GPaiX)

6 keena at April 01, 2017 12:13 PM

I'm doing Sungold cherries this year, too. The Nagami kumquat is naturally tart inside. It's the long one. If it is bitter, too, it may be the weather.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:17 PM (qahv/)

7 There is a Johnny Ray exhibit at the Polk County Historical Museum at Rickreall, by the way, if you are ever driving 99W between, say, Corvallis and McMinnville.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 01, 2017 12:17 PM (0hI48)

8 I remember from years ago on a NPR garden show a guest was saying about tomatoes your worst growing is better than a store bought best.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2017 12:20 PM (GPaiX)

9 Supermarket tomatoes are generally hybrids with greater resistance to
disease and weather variability. But their flavor and texture are
unsatisfactory. So how did supermarket tomatoes get to be nothing much
more than a color, and what are the challenges to improving them?


The biggest problem with supermarket tomatoes is they are picked green so they can be shipped from FL and Mexico. If you have a local "farmer's market" get your tomatoes there if you don't want to grow your own.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 12:20 PM (mpXpK)

10 I tried a cherry tomato variety last year called Indigo Rose. Looked pretty all dark purple and almost black but way too tart and acidy.
Posted by: keena at April 01, 2017 12:13 PM (RiTnx)

I wonder if they might be good for sauces or something? e.g. there are apple and grape and olive varieties that would be lousy on the table but are great for cooking with.

Posted by: hogmartin at April 01, 2017 12:20 PM (8nWyX)

11 KT, you didn't have to remove it. But thanks for doing it...

Posted by: HH at April 01, 2017 12:21 PM (DrCtv)

12 We love the scent of Russian Olive on June evenings! Magical!

Posted by: Emmie at April 01, 2017 12:22 PM (xVuS6)

13 I consider Johnnie Ray to be the father of rock and roll.--Tony Bennett


That honor probably goes to Chuck Berry.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 12:22 PM (mpXpK)

14 KT, yes it is a Nagami! I didn't realize they were quite so tart. I will use as some kind of pickle garnish then. Can't really just pop em in your mouth like others!

Posted by: keena at April 01, 2017 12:23 PM (RiTnx)

15 4
Prison pants Gone!
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:15 PM (qahv/)

Now I'm curious.

Posted by: Emmie at April 01, 2017 12:23 PM (xVuS6)

16 I had 2 trees go down this week, one is a red pepper and yuge. with my spousestill being ill I have to cut it up piece by piece by myself. I had thought to bug one of my boy children but he works 6 12s right now and has little to no time with his children, so I need meth (jkng)or something to give me endless energy.

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:26 PM (4lrrm)

17 Cursed be the ground for our sake. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for us. For out of the ground we were taken, for the dust we are... and to the dust we shall return.

Posted by: Insomniac - sin valor at April 01, 2017 12:31 PM (0mRoj)

18 insomniac although it rains on the just and unjust.
so we have that!

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:32 PM (4lrrm)

19 has anyone seen the desert blooms? the rains that ended the western drought have sparked vast fields of wildflowers.

very pretty.

a magical coincidence. i think they're related, actually.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2017 12:35 PM (WTSFk)

20 Emmie at April 01, 2017 12:23 PM

Wearing jeans that start below your butt is called "Crippin' " in California prisons.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:36 PM (qahv/)

21 I'm sorry about your downed tree Willow. Just attack it a bit each day and you will get there. Hopefully you don't have a HOA breathing down your neck demanding it has to be gone right away. I was going to work on our tree that fell down last week but the electric chain saw I like because it is lighter wasn't cutting well and my dad came out later and got it with the gas saw and I got off just dragging the little branches to the brush pile.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 01, 2017 12:37 PM (Jen0I)

22 keena at April 01, 2017 12:23 PM

You might also leave some of the fruits on the tree a few weeks longer.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:38 PM (qahv/)

23 Thinking aboug hand tilling compost into the garden but its been quite damp and cool here so far this spring. Should start seeds into pots.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2017 12:38 PM (GPaiX)

24 Palerider, yes, I will have to do it in bits, the most important at this stage is the branch hanging off the roof at this point. I have to use a regular hand saw as that is what I have at this point.

I can do it, I'm just doing the dread deal right now.

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:39 PM (4lrrm)

25 willow at April 01, 2017 12:26 PM

Wow. A challenge. Wind? Wind and soggy soil?

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:40 PM (qahv/)

26 KT yes.

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:40 PM (4lrrm)

27 dred? dread? lord dredd?

lol I

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:41 PM (4lrrm)

28 Skip at April 01, 2017 12:38 PM

Mr. Compost!

What seeds are you thinking about trying this year?

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:42 PM (qahv/)

29 'Sup greenies! The Grumpy Grandma went outta town a few weeks back so I went and bought some tropical plants for the house. So far so good. I e never been able to maintain a Spathyllium for more than a week so I'm pretty happy because the big one I bought still has some big white blooms. Outside we have primrose, pansies and some cold tolerant herbs in pots.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 01, 2017 12:43 PM (VRsLi)

30 sheesh sorry at comment cut off. grandchild woke up and wanted food now.

bbl.

Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:45 PM (4lrrm)

31 CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 01, 2017 12:43 PM

Congrats on the Spathyllium.

I love primroses and pansies.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:45 PM (qahv/)

32 Tools are relatively cheap Willow, I would say go buy an electric or small gas chain saw. While I'm on the subject I wonder if the horde can recommend a good rope saw - does such a thing exist?

Lot of dead branches I probably should take off around here and standing on a ladder with chain or pole saw is not my idea of fun, but I've held off on buying a rope saw, I believe some of them are junk.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 01, 2017 12:48 PM (Jen0I)

33 I feel like I say this every week, but it's snowing here again. ;-)
So, tomato question for you: does anyone have experience with Artisan Seeds? The varieties I'm considering are
"Spike" http://bit.ly/2nuiqcU
"Bigly" http://bit.ly/2oLgEV2 and
"Jazz" http://bit.ly/2nraRTg

Thanks!

Posted by: plum at April 01, 2017 12:50 PM (E4HEb)

34 Lettuce, spinach ( need to do better using it this year) and peppers. Keep trying to get peppers from seeds but not much success.

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2017 12:51 PM (GPaiX)

35 18 insomniac although it rains on the just and unjust.
so we have that!
Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:32 PM (4lrrm)

And sometimes it just rains.

Posted by: Insomniac - sin valor at April 01, 2017 12:55 PM (0mRoj)

36 plum at April 01, 2017 12:50 PM

I have no personal experience but the guy is a geneticist and knows what he is doing. Could be a good source, especially for cool-summer tomato growers looking for something different.

If that fits you, there are also a couple of dwarf tomatoes grown in Oregon that might work. I think they have "coastal" in their names.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:58 PM (qahv/)

37 musical jolly chimp at April 01, 2017 12:35 PM

I think you're right. Those flowers are no coincidence. Seeds may have been waiting years for this season.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:02 PM (qahv/)

38 Posted by: keena at April 01, 2017 12:13 PM (RiTnx)

I think I grew indigo rose last year too. It looked pretty but I didn't like the taste.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 01, 2017 01:02 PM (u8Ywb)

39 And plum,

Artisan's 'Maglia Rose' is famous for its flavor.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:06 PM (qahv/)

40 >>>11 KT, you didn't have to remove it. But thanks for doing it...
Posted by: HH at April 01, 2017 12:21 PM (DrCtv)

Much more appropriately dressed thread now.

Posted by: m at April 01, 2017 01:09 PM (Gqgs8)

41 Skip at April 01, 2017 12:51 PM

Have you thought about barbecued chicken containers from the supermarket (holes cut in bottom and big vento holes in the top) outdoors for lettuce and spinach? Use potting mix.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:09 PM (qahv/)

42 Vento holes? Did I write that?

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:10 PM (qahv/)

43 >>>24
I can do it, I'm just doing the dread deal right now.
Posted by: willow at April 01, 2017 12:39 PM (4lrrm)

That's great, the way you put that.
Somebody oughta needlepoint that on a pillow cover.

Posted by: m at April 01, 2017 01:13 PM (Gqgs8)

44 From the Gem State's Treasure Valley: Flooding. We had all that snow this winter, which is now melting, then we had a lot of rain following. The rivers are above their banks, and there is even a worry that the main north-south road in my town will be flooded. Unless that happens, though, I won't be affected.

We had tree guys in to cut some limbs off our huge silver maple - the limbs were overhanging the house. While they were there, they brought down a branch with a big round wasp nest on it - very fortunately for us all, an uninhabited nest!

Our front yard hyacinths have started blooming, but it looks like last fall, I put the large bulbs out back, and the smaller ones out front - they're still pretty.

I turned the soil in our bed 4, and planted spinach - our first time growing it, so I hope it does well (I love spinach!).

I dug up beds 1 and 2, but husband spotted a surprise - a partial row of *last year's* Bibb lettuce coming up in a row! I let those be, and will fill in the rows with green onions later.

I dug out a circle, bare of grass, around a head-high blue spruce, to make it easier for husband to mow around. I also removed all the rocks under the tree - probably originally put there to hold down a circle of landscape cloth.

We had a hole where a stump had been ground out, so to cover it up, I transplanted grass plugs from where they'd popped up in the corn bed (which will be completely tilled up later).

I finished cutting dead leaves off my strawberries and irises. We've decided we have such a dense strawberry bed now, that rather than buying new plants, we could transplant some plants out of our first bed to start the new bed. Later today, we haul the soil to fill that bed and the other new bed (upper body/back workout time!). The transplanting will be done in May.

We dug up some red raspberry roots and canes that were out of the boundaries we'd set for the initial bed, and started a new row. Lots of rain this week, so they got watered in just fine.

Husband started poblano pepper seeds indoors, and after 3 weeks, they are finally sprouting. I hope it really helps to talk to plants, otherwise we both make idiots of ourselves multiple times a day.

Posted by: Pat* at April 01, 2017 01:13 PM (qC1ju)

45 Iowahawk did a writeup on Norman Barlaug back in 2009:

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/ iowahawk/2009/09/ farm-boy.html

Posted by: zmdavid at April 01, 2017 01:15 PM (xqRaG)

46 Supposedly, they've isolated the gene that gives tomatoes flavor, which has been largely shut off by modern variants. They believe they will be able to get full vine fresh tomato flavor in supermarket tomatoes soon.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2017 01:17 PM (39g3+)

47 I figured out long ago that anytime you are looking at major tree trimming or cutting down any tree bigger than 3" to call a professional. It doesn't cost that much (at least here) and they know what they are doing.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 01:18 PM (mpXpK)

48 Pat* at April 01, 2017 01:13 PM

Wow. Nice update. Science somewhere must say that you are not idiots for talking to plants.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:21 PM (qahv/)

49

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 01, 2017 01:21 PM (044Fx)

50 Christopher R Taylor at April 01, 2017 01:17 PM

We can hope. Meanwhile, don't put tomatoes in the fridge. Though we have a friend who likes cold, hard supermarket tomatoes. No accounting for taste.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:23 PM (qahv/)

51 "Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
Broke a million hearts in mono
And our mothers ?, sang along, who'd blame them?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-P8oDuS0Q

Posted by: floridacracker at April 01, 2017 01:25 PM (ykpj4)

52 zmdavid at April 01, 2017 01:15 PM

I couldn't get your link to post, but I looked the piece on Norman Borlag up. It's great. Thanks.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM (qahv/)

53 Question for ya'll. I got bird feeders on my property along a fence line about 4 feet off the ground.

When I fill them up, it looks like a rabbit has been in them leaving behind their chewed remains.

Anyone seen a rabbit climb a fence or tree?

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM (5VlCp)

54 floridacracker at April 01, 2017 01:25 PM

Fun video. Thanks.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:31 PM (qahv/)

55 Huh. That worked well...

All three of our hops survived! They're still in planter boxes
on the deck and looks like they'll stay there another season, providing
shade on south side.

I cut the first shoots back, now there are more. Will probably go with 4 or 6 bines per plant this year. They had only 2 or 3 last year.

First batch of Jelly Bean tomatoes damped off, so trying again in a warmer spot. Will also look around for Bolivian Rainbow peppers, just for decoration. Had a 'Masquerade' purple chili a couple of years ago-- great color and heat, but the flavor was meh.

Been so tired lately. Need sunny days to improve my mood, but it just rains and stays cloudy. Ugh.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at April 01, 2017 01:31 PM (044Fx)

56 Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM

Squirrel? Rat?

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:32 PM (qahv/)

57 53 Anyone seen a rabbit climb a fence or tree?



Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM (5VlCp)

More likely squirrels. A squirrel can clean out a bird feeder in nothing flat and they are almost impossible to stop.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 01:34 PM (mpXpK)

58 JQ Flyover at April 01, 2017 01:31 PM

Sorry you're feeling tired. Those Bolivian Rainbow Peppers are pretty. If you are looking for a pretty pepper plant that has fruits you can eat, you might try Mariachi. No lavender, though.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM (qahv/)

59 Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM
Squirrel? Rat?
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:32 PM (qahv/)

Yup....seen them in and out but they don't leave anything behind but empty sunflower shells. I have seen rabbit leavings on the ground but surprised to see the same so high off the ground in the feeders.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM (5VlCp)

60
zmdavid at April 01, 2017 01:15 PM

I couldn't get your link to post, but I looked the piece on Norman Borlag up. It's great. Thanks.


Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM (qahv/)

I had to insert a couple of spaces to get past the long string limit.

Posted by: zmdavid at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM (xqRaG)

61 I managed to stop them on my feeder. I hung it from a a metal pole (available from the hardware stores that was about 1/2" in diameter. I put a squirrel guard on the pole about 3 feet off the ground. And I greased the pole below the guard with Vaseline.


But as I said, then the grackles and and cowbirds started raiding it.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 01:37 PM (mpXpK)

62 Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM

Raccoon? Porcupine?

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:38 PM (qahv/)

63 i'm getting ready to pull two bushes from the front of the house planter. i've decided to replace with sedum dragon's blood...not a pretty name, but they're supposed to remain low, be easy keepers and will provide nice color.

ordering them from farmer seed and nursery catalog.
about 20 should do.

thanks KT.

Posted by: concrete girl at April 01, 2017 01:41 PM (gihfI)

64 62 Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM

Raccoon? Porcupine?
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:38 PM (qahv/)

Quokkas.

Posted by: Insomniac - sin valor at April 01, 2017 01:42 PM (0mRoj)

65 We hung one of those suet cakes in a cage once that attracted a lot of interesting birds until it disappeared.

We finally found it around 50' away, on the other side of a fence in some lillies, quite empty.

Posted by: OldDominionMom at April 01, 2017 01:42 PM (GzDYP)

66
Wearing jeans that start below your butt is called "Crippin' " in California prisons.
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 12:36 PM (qahv/)

I believe it's also considered an invitation, but I could be wrong.

Posted by: Emmie at April 01, 2017 01:42 PM (xVuS6)

67 Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:36 PM

Raccoon? Porcupine?
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:38 PM (qahv/)

Raccoons all over and possums too. Bt they clean ot the feeder too, they leave nothing behind.

When a rabbit eats, it leaves some digested remains behind to come back and eat it too. Something about how they digest stuff. They eat it twice for some reason. That is what is in the feeders, or looks like a rabbit was the culprit.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:43 PM (5VlCp)

68 This gardening post reminds me that I'd better start my tomatoes.

I'm not very scientific about my start date because I never get them in the ground st the ideal time anyway.

Posted by: Emmie at April 01, 2017 01:44 PM (xVuS6)

69 Quokkas.
Posted by: Insomniac - sin valor at April 01, 2017 01:42 PM (0mRoj)

Damn! Not the Quokka!

Well, I've had a good life. Never thought I would go out that way.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:46 PM (5VlCp)

70
Anyone seen a rabbit climb a fence or tree?
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 01, 2017 01:29 PM (5VlCp)
***

I'm sure the can.
Those evils things will swim across a river if they want to get you!

Posted by: Jimmy Carter at April 01, 2017 01:47 PM (Iitkq)

71 Wonderful photos and information! Thank you.

The chives, parsley, oregano, and thyme have begun to grow. We need to refill the Earthboxes this year with fresh potting soil and fertilizer. They should be revitalized every few years. The time has come. If the rain disappears for a day or two we will begin the adventure.

Posted by: Mrs JTB at April 01, 2017 01:48 PM (V+03K)

72 concrete girl at April 01, 2017 01:41 PM

That sedum is dramatic when in bloom. You might think about a creeping silver-leaved plant to go with it. Maybe Snow in Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) or Partridge Feathers (Tanacetum). You could cut the flowers off the latter if you wanted to.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:54 PM (qahv/)

73 Emmie at April 01, 2017 01:42 PM

More a challenge in the case of crippin'. (I can leave my butt hanging out in safety because my homies back me up).

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:56 PM (qahv/)

74 Mrs JTB at April 01, 2017 01:48 PM

Best wishes for you gardening season!

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:58 PM (qahv/)

75 Thanks for the wild genes info KT ... interesting stuff. I've tried to reach my Facebook friends on the wonders of GM plants but they are very resistant. Too many of the nature lovers and gardeners get caught in the "sustainability", the buzzword for progressive farming or something.

Blue tomatoes would be interesting, but my brain would have to adjust from expectations of deep red.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2017 01:59 PM (TmCOq)

76 Test

Posted by: McGyver at April 01, 2017 02:02 PM (6hAG+)

77 Snowing here now. No gardening until the last of May.

Posted by: Ronster at April 01, 2017 02:03 PM (CDUSe)

78 73
More a challenge in the case of crippin'. (I can leave my butt hanging out in safety because my homies back me up).
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 01:56 PM (qahv/)

We have a lot of Corrections employees around here. I bet they could tell some stories if they were inclined. Most of the stories I hear are from prison chaplains who are reporting on spiritual growth they witness.

Posted by: Emmie at April 01, 2017 02:04 PM (xVuS6)

79 Dexy's Midnight Runners, come on Eileen mentions Johnny Ray

McGyver, out (lawn work, not gardening)

Posted by: McGyver at April 01, 2017 02:05 PM (6hAG+)

80 Emmie at April 01, 2017 02:04 PM

We know some people who visit inmates and see spiritual growth in those willing to meet with them, too.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:09 PM (qahv/)

81 thank you for the suggestions KT.
and thank you for your hard work and effort week after week!

Posted by: concrete girl at April 01, 2017 02:10 PM (gihfI)

82 illiniwek at April 01, 2017 01:59 PM

Does Kerria look like a possibility near your pond? Green stems in winther . .

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:12 PM (qahv/)

83 Willow I realized my buy a chainsaw suggestion is what my hermit self would do. Maybe you could ask at your church if anyone has a lady sized chain saw you could borrow. That might even result in some menfolk deciding to make cutting the trees up for you their community service deed for the month. Prayers for your DH, I'm sorry he is ailing.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 01, 2017 02:20 PM (Jen0I)

84 Well I can report an improvement in my crop failure efficiency. Wherelast year things grew but generally produced no fruit, this year they are failing to sprout altogether or keeling over when transplanted into the garden. Progress!

Posted by: Weasel at April 01, 2017 02:21 PM (Sfs6o)

85 Kerria looks like a good plant to try KT. I'll look around and see if I can find some. Deer resistant, winter interest, low maintenance ... sounds like me. Thanks for remembering.

Finally got rain to fill the ponds again ... now farmers want it to stop so they can plant corn. Spring is fun.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2017 02:26 PM (TmCOq)

86 Weasel at April 01, 2017 02:21 PM

It's still early . . .

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:26 PM (qahv/)

87 Spring has started, and bees are spreading pollen. So I thought this would be a good time to talk about genes.

I propose that we begin the discussion with the career of Gene Wilder.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at April 01, 2017 02:36 PM (JZdsf)

88 Do finally have some daffy flowers though they got beat down about with all the rain

Posted by: Skip at April 01, 2017 02:43 PM (GPaiX)

89 Cicero (@cicero) at April 01, 2017 02:36 PM

Good idea. Gene Wilder seems to have had some wild genes of some sort.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:44 PM (qahv/)

90 Calochortuses are gorgeous, most are Californian, but our front field has a couple hundred of the pictured Calochortus macrocarpus (ours have broader petals). They stand 18-24 inches tall and bloom in July.

Posted by: Hal Dall at April 01, 2017 02:48 PM (01o9G)

91 Hal Dall at April 01, 2017 02:48 PM

Sounds wonderful!

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:49 PM (qahv/)

92 I'm sure that someone has mentioned this, but Johnnie Ray is addressed at the beginning of the song "Come on, Eileen" and pictured for the first 30 seconds or so of the video.

There were some rumors about Johnnie Ray, but I don't care.

Those of us from Dallas are happy to claim as our own.

http://tinyurl.com/nwzg52c

Posted by: Michael the Texan (formerly TEXIT) at April 01, 2017 02:51 PM (nvMvs)

93 86 Weasel at April 01, 2017 02:21 PM

It's still early . . .
Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 02:26 PM (qahv/)
-----------
Yes - a long summer of bountiful failure lies before me!

Posted by: Weasel at April 01, 2017 02:51 PM (Sfs6o)

94 Wow. I had always assumed that Johnnie Ray was from Dallas, TEXAS.

It turns out he was from Dallas, OREGON.

My bad.

Posted by: Michael the Deplorable TEXIT at April 01, 2017 03:09 PM (nvMvs)

95 nood Pets

Posted by: PaleRider at April 01, 2017 03:11 PM (Jen0I)

96 Daffodils are blooming in N IL, tulips should be soon. Nice today and tomorrow, then cold and rainy for several days like some others are getting.

Posted by: Farmer at April 01, 2017 03:13 PM (4bBUU)

97 Weasel, We had better results when we started the seeds in larger containers, in our case it was those Red Solo cups. (Cue Hank Williams Jr.) That saved us at least one transplant, maybe two. It let us grow bigger seedlings before the hardening off began, with fewer losses. We are doing better with timing as well. Remember to poke a few holes in the bottom of the containers.

Believe me, if I can grow stuff, anyone can. If I had been around, I would have qualified as one of the Plagues of Egypt.

Posted by: JTB at April 01, 2017 03:17 PM (V+03K)

98 Farmer at April 01, 2017 03:13 PM

Daffodils: A true sign of spring. Or at least a true signal of future spring.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 04:26 PM (qahv/)

99 JTB at April 01, 2017 03:17 PM

Sometimes it takes some experimentation to find what works for each individual. I start with small, very well drained containers and move up to styrofoam deli containers because they don't tip over as easily. For tomatoes, anyway. Wedges cut out where the buttom meets the side.

Peas I plant directly outside.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 04:28 PM (qahv/)

100 Well I just took my first walk around the yard since I got back from the hospital. The Jane's Magnolias look like they will live. The Japanese cherry tree however is dead as a wedge.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 04:50 PM (mpXpK)

101 Adaptive Seeds has a de-hybridized verison of Sungold that Im going to try. I have a heat mat! Always wanted one for seeds. We took off a large branch that was pulling our maple tree over. We should get a bit more light in the front yard since we've pruned back a few other branches.

Anyone have suggestions for starting a lawn on clay soil? We planned to get sod. Right now, we have moss and mud.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 01, 2017 04:58 PM (Lqy/e)

102 101 Anyone have suggestions for starting a lawn on clay soil? We planned to get sod. Right now, we have moss and mud.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 01, 2017 04:58 PM (Lqy/e)


Unless you are in the far North centipede does well on clay soil (or sandy). But centipede sod is expensive.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 05:00 PM (mpXpK)

103 We planted about 300 tomato plants on the ranch today.

We have some cherry tomatoes, red beefsteak, yellow brandywine, chocolate stripes.

Next year I need to get some earlier varieties.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 01, 2017 05:02 PM (u8Ywb)

104 Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 04:50 PM

Sorry about your cherry tree. Happy about the magnolias.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 05:07 PM (qahv/)

105 We're in WA state, wet side. We tried sod once but an idiot friend mowed it down to the roots and it died.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 01, 2017 05:09 PM (Lqy/e)

106 Notsothoreau at April 01, 2017 04:58 PM

Let us know how the dehybridized Sungold turns out. There are several take-offs from Sungold, some bigger in size than others.

My cherries this year are Sungold and one Sunsugar - sweeter, not as fruity.

I defer to the experts on grass.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 05:10 PM (qahv/)

107 CaliGirl at April 01, 2017 05:02 PM

That's a lot of tomato plants! If you can get someone to start plants, you might try Moravsky Div as your early tomato.

Cosmonaut Volkov is a pretty early slicer/small beefsteak type with very good flavor.

If your Chocolate Stripes is the same one I grew a couple of years ago, I think you'll like it.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 05:14 PM (qahv/)

108 I hate lawns and grass. But we need to sell the place. We have pavers by the entry, which helps a lot. Its just clay soil and shaded.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 01, 2017 05:15 PM (Lqy/e)

109 Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 05:14 PM (qahv/)

Thanks KT,

The nursery people grow the seeds for us. We had 3 trays. I helped plant them. I'm tired.

I will write down those varieties, I give the nursery guy the seeds.

The nurseries are interesting. Millions of transplants inside. It's been a few years since I went to see how they grow everything.

Posted by: CaliGirl at April 01, 2017 05:23 PM (u8Ywb)

110 104 Sorry about your cherry tree. Happy about the magnolias.


Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 05:07 PM (qahv/)

Thanks. The cherry tree got hit by that May freeze last year when it was in full bloom. I had hoped it would come back this year but it didn't.
I think I am going to give up on tree planting. That was the third cherry tree I have tried to get going. It was about ten feet tall too so it should have been pretty resistant.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 01, 2017 05:33 PM (mpXpK)

111 Oh I didn't even notice before KT, that you had mentioned my pond thing in the initial post. Thanks. I've been out on wet ground spraying today to beat four days of rains coming, so just stopped in briefly earlier. My little Kawasaki Mule "floats" along pretty well, and throwing a little mud in wet spots can be fun.

This area has an infestation of invasive bush honeysuckle in the woods, which is something like Russian Olive I think. They are nice enough in isolation but spread and crowd out everything under them. I'll definitely try to find some Kerria.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 01, 2017 06:03 PM (TmCOq)

112 I had to run off and take my girlfriend to the clinic because she has strep throat.

One of the tricks if you are using red solo cups to start in, is to take advantage of them being really cheap.

Slit one cup up the side from bottom to top and cut the bottom off, then slip it inside another cup and fill with potting soil and plant.
Either poke or burn a drain hole all the way through the bottom.

When you come to pull the plant out of the cup, the inner cup comes out slick as can be and you can just peel the inner cup off like a sleeve.

This is supposed to disrupt the roots of the seedling much less

Posted by: Kindltot at April 01, 2017 07:25 PM (0hI48)

113 Oh, and also, I dug up some wild strawberries last weekend, I think they are Woodland strawberries, and planted them against the south house foundation.

I am not so interested in the fruit, the slugs always got more berries that I ever did when I had a strawberry patch, but I do love the leaves and the ground cover.

Posted by: Kindltot at April 01, 2017 07:31 PM (0hI48)

114 Late again. And late getting my tomatoes planted. I'm going to try to graft this year. Tonight the seeds go in. I bought one of those soil block makers. We shall see if I have the mad skilz.

We've grown Indigo Blueberry cherries, and last year we had an odd cross that seemed to have some of that blue gene in it. I don't really eat them raw, but the wife thinks they're just fine. They're kind of long getting started but then they produce just fine.

The interesting thing about them is that they don't turn blue unless they get direct sunlight. You get some that are blue on one side and red on the other.

Posted by: Gordon at April 01, 2017 07:34 PM (vXUzT)

115 Oh, and I read some sort of article about why store tomatoes have no taste. They are bred to look good, be of uniform size, and to ship well.

So some guy, at one of the Florida universities, bred a tomato that has all of those qualities, and also tastes good. He took it to the big grocery chains, and all of them said "nah." They have a product that sells, and they have zero interest in paying a bit more to have one that tastes good.

He has had some luck selling them to Italy, though.

Posted by: Gordon at April 01, 2017 07:41 PM (vXUzT)

116 illiniwek at April 01, 2017 06:03 PM

I wish I knew about additional desirable, non-evergreen, hardy, deer-resistant trees. There are some other possible plants, I think.

Glad you have something that makes throwing mud in wet spots fun.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 07:43 PM (qahv/)

117 Kindltot at April 01, 2017 07:25 PM

Nice trick with the solo cups, especially for plants with sensitive roots that you haven't allowed to get over-grown in the cups.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 07:45 PM (qahv/)

118 And Kindltot, I'm always interested in what wild strawberries taste like, even if I don't eat many of them. They do have nice leaves, though.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 07:48 PM (qahv/)

119 Gordon at April 01, 2017 07:34 PM

You are ambitious, trying tomato grafting. I think the pros use misters or something.

The currently available "blue" tomatoes seem to have a metallic flavor to me. I think that might be one of those genetic things. They remind me of those tomato relatives that are called "garden huckleberries" for reasons I don't quite understand.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 07:51 PM (qahv/)

120 Gordon at April 01, 2017 07:41 PM

I think you can get seeds of that Florida commercial tomato. If I remember right, his goal was a tomato that tasted like Maglia Rosa.

Posted by: KT at April 01, 2017 07:53 PM (qahv/)

121 I could, KT, but I don't see a reason to. I can grow good tomatoes, and I don't need to sell them. If I were thinking about getting into the local farmers' market, yeah, maybe...but the Hmong have the vegetable side of that nailed down. I couldn't compete with all of the grandmas they have who are willing to weed and harvest for free.

Posted by: Gordon at April 01, 2017 08:03 PM (vXUzT)

122 Oregon represent! I have family in Dallas and I'm named after my great grandpa who was fire chief of sweet home Oregon.

Posted by: KarlHungus at April 02, 2017 02:37 AM (FJDwZ)

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