Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Dec. 13

Happy Winter Season! Don in Kansas has something cheerful for us:

It's more winter than fall now, and there's little happening outside, or inside. However, a friend up the street has a little greenhouse in which the plants are quite active . . .

Click on the link for a few more plants, including a Bird of Paradise.

Don also posted some Romanian Folk Dances by Bartok.

"Some easy Bartok. His music is not all grating dissonances."

Moldova (see earlier thread) was once part of the Romanian principality, and they speak Romanian there.

The Soviet era meant that most tomatoes grown there were developed as open-pollinated strains, not as hybrids. One of these is Glory of Moldova. It's a little orange saladette tomato that gets some great reviews. I love the name. "Glory of Moldova" is a little orange tomato!

Thinking about next year's garden choices?

"Glory of Moldova" is probably in here somewhere. Romania is next door. But in addition to little orange and yellow tomatoes, big red oxhearts are prominently mentioned in the comments. Those are great, too.

1504 varieties of Romanian tomatoes at the Brussels festival! ❤️🍅

Source: Garden Dude pic.twitter.com/oGvZR7wqTu
— Popa Andrei (@Deaglesun) September 5, 2023

More typical winter experiences coming up for many people:

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Two batches of photos from Nan in AZ:

Summer was so hot, we didn't get much at all, but went out last week and found a nice collection of veggies and lettuce volunteering all over the place.

NICE. Glad there are SOME of us getting some veggies!

WOW.

Gardens of The Horde

Had to capture this last leaf on my weeping willow. The very top of the tree and pure defiance in the face of winter.
Diogenes

Pure Defiance!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Dec. 6

Any thoughts or questions? check out the fruit tree and apple cider comments near the end of the comment section.

I closed the comments on that post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 02:07 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I have so many tomato seeds! But I am impressed by Cherokee Purple. I didn't get any vine ripened ones, but every single one ripened in the house and they were tasty. I still have some in the fridge. I think I will use grow bags for tomatoes next year and save my limited bed space for something else. I am still trying to plan things out.

I do have some chard still alive out there. It's covered up for now and I'll see what it looks like when this cold spell clears. I want to see how long it can go.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 13, 2025 02:18 PM (+mUZM)

2 Hi.

Posted by: no one at December 13, 2025 02:20 PM (W7XSX)

3 Time to cut back all my runner bean vines. All the pods have been harvested. I got about 5 beans for every bean I planted.

Soon, I will own the runner bean market.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 13, 2025 02:21 PM (8SdDq)

4 Well, winter season has officially begun. The first seed catalog, from Jung, arrived this week. My in the ground gardening is less likely at this age but there is still hope for some container garden veggies. That keeps me focused on reality, at least to a point.

One thing I've noticed is a little more emphasis on heirloom varieties and certified organic seeds. It's a small part of their offerings but still there.

Posted by: JTB at December 13, 2025 02:24 PM (yTvNw)

5 Commodore of USS Pure Defiance.

Posted by: Eromero at December 13, 2025 02:25 PM (LHPAg)

6
I like using grow bags. You can position them where you want.

I grew tomatoes in them one year and they grew very well.

Posted by: fourseasons at December 13, 2025 02:25 PM (3ek7K)

7 That's not a very good return for runner beans in your area. Have you thought about a different strain?

At least you got blossoms, right?

San Franpsycho at December 13, 2025 02:21 PM

Posted by: KT at December 13, 2025 02:26 PM (7vIsy)

8 The small NC city we've moved to always tells everyone, the night before, that school will be closed the next day. And being a Southern town, that means 3 snowflakes puts them in snow panic. (I love it here, but cannot shake my NY upbringing were attitudes to snow is concerned.)

Posted by: Eeyore at December 13, 2025 02:27 PM (s0JqF)

9 I set up the terrarium and small glass containers for house plants. Using a combination of natural and grow light. This is all an experiment but none of the plants committed suicide the first few days. I'm taking that as a hopeful sign. If nothing else, getting the tiny plants in the containers was fun.

Posted by: JTB at December 13, 2025 02:30 PM (yTvNw)

10 we have a glaze of ice on everything. Decided not to take the dog to the lake because I didn't want the hassle of clearing off the windshield. Fortunately, he and Mr Trouble are content to just sleep today.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 13, 2025 02:31 PM (+mUZM)

11 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Might be leaving the leaves I didn't collect yet for warmer weather.
Did notice the Anaheim peppers in my mini greenhouse only were killed off by the frost not much more than a week ago. They certainly survived in there a few frosts.

Posted by: Skip at December 13, 2025 02:35 PM (Ia/+0)

12 The small NC city we've moved to always tells everyone, the night before, that school will be closed the next day. And being a Southern town, that means 3 snowflakes puts them in snow panic. (I love it here, but cannot shake my NY upbringing were attitudes to snow is concerned.)
Posted by: Eeyore

Then you drive on the roads with them and kind of understand why.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at December 13, 2025 02:36 PM (LjSYW)

13 Remember a couple weeks ago I posted a comment about the lore surrounding "wooly caterpillars" and predicting winter?

The bugs got it right.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 13, 2025 02:36 PM (NwnyJ)

14 Oddly I've got tulips poking out of the ground. I think they think it's spring. Who could blame them though it was almost 80° yesterday. Looks like today will be the same. So unseasonably warm. We should be measuring feet of snow in the mountains but there are barely patches. Ski resorts are almost 100% manmade snow right now.

Posted by: Reforger at December 13, 2025 02:37 PM (5UnvZ)

15 From Boise area: lows 30-46 F, highs 46-63. Our winter air stagnation advisory season has begun.

I raked up some leaves to finish a last leaf bag, Husband took 8 to the local drop-off, and that's it for raking - after this, he'll mow-mulch. The trash got the remaining Siberian Iris leaves.

I mixed up some of my birdseed mix - still have the supplies to make the same amount again. It's been so warm for this time of year, birds haven't been going through the seeds as fast as I expected.

We'll be cutting down our blue spruce Christmas tree out in the backyard, later today. (We planted a row at double density years ago - now we can start harvesting.)

Posted by: Pat* at December 13, 2025 02:37 PM (cA4Kb)

16 Our "feels like" temp is -1 degree.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 13, 2025 02:42 PM (kpS4V)

17 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J3YBkOPR4aI

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 13, 2025 02:43 PM (Kt19C)

18 With the weather report for this winter my gardening activity will be with houseplants. Part of that is propagating from cuttings, or trying to. It seems I just like playing in the dirt if it's seated at a table.

Posted by: JTB at December 13, 2025 02:46 PM (yTvNw)

19 Might get snow here tomorrow morning

Posted by: Skip at December 13, 2025 02:52 PM (Ia/+0)

20 Lovely photos as always; purple thing in the middle, is it eggplant?

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 13, 2025 02:57 PM (k5cxK)

21 Here in East Texas we’re still on the warm side of the front; 67 degrees right now. But weatherman says it’ll be 28 within 48 hours.

All the leaves have turned, my Japanese maples are gorgeous, all orange, red, and burgundy.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 13, 2025 03:01 PM (k5cxK)

22 Army- Navy game starting

Posted by: Skip at December 13, 2025 03:02 PM (Ia/+0)

23 I do have some chard still alive out there. It's covered up for now and I'll see what it looks like when this cold spell clears. I want to see how long it can go.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 13, 2025 02:18 PM (+mUZM)

In the end of 2020 I rigged a hoop low tunnel out of various stuff I had around and had swiss chard most of the winter. I had less luck the following year, but we didn't have an ice storm either. I have also used those big sterilite clear plastic totes I got for free since they were broken and useless for storing stuff.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 13, 2025 03:03 PM (rbvCR)

24 I do wish I could figure out the schedule for planting daikon for winter. I figure if they can grow it in South Korea, it should be a snap, here.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 13, 2025 03:04 PM (rbvCR)

25 Go Navy,
Beat Army!

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 13, 2025 03:08 PM (mT+6a)

26 If it’s chard you shouldn’t put it so close to the fire.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at December 13, 2025 03:10 PM (Khmwc)

27 80 deg and cloudy down here in S America, this was a mast year for the oaks in my yard. acorns galore.

Posted by: DanMan at December 13, 2025 03:11 PM (8uzBS)

28 7 Army 0 Navy

Posted by: Skip at December 13, 2025 03:24 PM (Ia/+0)

29 this was a mast year for the oaks in my yard. acorns galore.
Posted by: DanMan
--------

A term that will not be recognized by all. The bears here rely significantly on acorns. As an aside, Mast General Store, there are several in the area:
https://shorturl.at/pnc2j

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 13, 2025 03:25 PM (XeU6L)

30 You need some pigs for all that mast!

Posted by: Kindltot at December 13, 2025 03:28 PM (rbvCR)

31 *puffs ciggy*

Posted by: The margins at December 13, 2025 03:29 PM (pcnhy)

32 Oaks and their productivity has been the subject of lots of arguments.
Reds tend to be more predictable than whites (at least on my bit of earf) and I have no idea on the evergreen oaks.
When we have a good white oak year, it's usually good deer hunting.

Posted by: MkY at December 13, 2025 03:30 PM (q6tQZ)

33 I did get hoops and row covers but didn't set them up. same thing with my cold frame. am hoping to finally get this set up right come warmer weather

Posted by: Notsothoreau at December 13, 2025 03:41 PM (+mUZM)

34 7 Navy - 7 Army

Posted by: Skip at December 13, 2025 03:41 PM (Ia/+0)

35 BTW, any Morons in the KC area need a deer or two?
We're thinning the herd this month.
Archery only.

Posted by: MkY at December 13, 2025 03:41 PM (q6tQZ)

36 Afternoon, all,

A 1943 MGM musical with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, Girl Crazy, is on Movies! now. Mickey, a bit of a hell-raiser, is sent out West to a town where "There hasn't been a woman since the Civil War," according to his stern tycoon father. No doubt complications with Judy will ensue.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 13, 2025 03:46 PM (wzUl9)

37 Some pets love NOODles.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at December 13, 2025 04:01 PM (Khmwc)

38 It's cold and windy outside so all the more joy reading the wonderful gardening thread.

Thank you!

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at December 13, 2025 05:23 PM (NFX2v)

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