Saturday Gardening Thread: Practical Magic [Y-not, KT, WD]

Y-not: Good afternoon, gardeners!

Today's edition of the Saturday Gardening Thread is brought to you by Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic:

(OK, that was an overdose of Chick Flickiness, wasn't it? To make amends, here's xbradtc's Loaded Heat post on Ms. Bullock for the morons.)

Practical Magic

A bit of a cop out from me this week owing to some travel and Life Stuff. My contribution will be practical garden solutions.

First off, as usual after a trip I returned to find my hanging baskets looking rather pathetic. They're filled with geraniums, which tend to be hard to kill, so I watered the beejeebus out of them when I got back. I may have been better-served to plant them self-watering hanging baskets. And, speaking of hanging baskets, I thought this was a cute idea for one:

Here's a DIY version for a self-watering herb garden that looks pretty straightforward.

It seems as if there are a million self-watering planters and yet I never seem to get off my duff and try any of them. Do any of you have favorite designs?

Speaking of water, here are some Practical Garden Ideas for saving water in the garden.

One of our first gardening threads included a section on garden tools. Via Popular Mechanics, here are some ideas on how to restore rusted old tools.

Unrelated to anything else, but just because I thought it looked cool, here's a link explaining how to propagate roses in potatoes.

Apparently, this is a Real Thing. I found many mentions of it, including videos, all over the intertubes. I'm guessing one of our resident rose experts can explain to us how well (and why) it works.

Finally, from HGTV, here's a list of what they consider to be the Best New Garden Products for 2015. I liked the composting planter:

"Composting is being taken to new heights with the English Composting Garden by Good Ideas. The stacked circular composting planter, made of weather-proof polyethylene, has a classic stone look. The product has an internal chamber for composting, and it's constructed to hold plants and vegetation on all sides."

Did any of you discover a fun new gardening gadget this year?

Now, let's see what the incomparable KT has for us this week:

Supermarket Science

In last Sunday's tempting Food Thread, CBD linked a Slate article on the Garden Gem tomato, billed as "The Perfect Tomato". The author was basically lamenting that the produce found in American supermarkets is often not very tasty. Supermarkets do not sell tastier produce when it becomes available, sometimes for dumb reasons. The article also included interesting details about the development of the Garden Gem tomato. I decided to look up some additional information. I discovered pieces about other fabulous new non-GMO vegetables.

The developer of the Garden Gem tomato, Harry Klee, used to work for Monsanto (BOO, HISS) where he developed a slow-ripening tomato using GMO technology (BOO, HISS). Now he works at the University of Florida, where he uses some fancy methodology to determine which tomatoes taste good. The goal is to cross the tomatoes that taste the best with tomatoes that are easy to grow, hoping that the best characteristics of each will show up in the F1 hybrid offspring. With no GMO technology, of course.

One parent of Garden Gem is a "commercial powerhouse called Fla. 8059, which grows superbly but tastes like tap water". As far as I can determine, this is a stabilized, open-pollinated "breeding line" tomato with qualities like resistance to certain tomato diseases and prolific production. Tomatoes like these are often licensed by universities to people who want to breed new hybrid tomatoes.

Just by chance, we had earlier put up a photo and a couple of links concerning the other parent tomato, the striking Maglia Rosa grape tomato, in the Capitalism Edition of the Saturday Gardening Thread. Slate reported that Maglia Rosa "tastes extraordinary but, like so many heirlooms, is very hard to grow".

It seems strange to me that this tomato is called an "heirloom". It was released fairly recently by a small commercial grower, Fred Hempel, who has a PhD in plant biology and used to work for a biotech company. It is entirely possible that Fla. 8059 is older than Maglia Rosa. They are both open-pollinated. So why is one a "commercial powerhouse" while the other is an "heirloom"? While it may be hard to grow in field conditions, Maglia Rosa is reportedly well-suited to many home gardens, especially those with cooler summers. The plant is not overly rangy. It is recommended for large containers.

But if you want to try growing "The Perfect Tomato", Garden Gem now has a Facebook page with instructions for ordering seeds. If you scroll down far enough, you will also find some information on the research program at the University of Florida. You can get an idea how big the tomato is here, but I hope we don't start calling Garden Gem a "New Heirloom".

Scientific American has one of those irritating "click on the picture" posts highlighting Ten New Fruits and Vegetables improved without genetic engineering. The Garden Gem tomato is mentioned. Indigo Rose, which Y-not has grown as a grafted plant, is also featured. If Maglia Rosa is an "Heirloom", so is Indigo Rose, from OSU. The improvement here is the antioxidants this tomato contains. Of the 10 improved fruits and vegetables, 5 were developed by Monsanto and 5 by state universities, sometimes in cooperation with the USDA. No other companies are mentioned. Hmmm . . .

Indigo Rose Tomato from Oregon State University

Wired has a much more thorough piece on new non-GMO cultivars from Monsanto: lettuce, sweet peppers, broccoli, onion and melons. Although the new cultivars are not genetically modified, some very sophisticated genetic science goes into the development of these new "conventional" cultivars. For example:

In 2006, Monsanto developed a machine called a seed chipper that quickly sorts and shaves off widely varying samples of soybean germplasm from seeds. The seed chipper lets researchers scan tiny genetic variations, just a single nucleotide, to figure out if they'll result in plants with the traits they want -- without having to take the time to let a seed grow into a plant. Monsanto computer models can actually predict inheritance patterns, meaning they can tell which desired traits will successfully be passed on. It's breeding without breeding, plant sex in silico. In the real world, the odds of stacking 20 different characteristics into a single plant are one in 2 trillion. In nature, it can take a millennium. Monsanto can do it in just a few years.

It is understandable that Monsanto would turn more attention to conventional breeding. In addition to the publicity headaches which surround GMOs, "Monsanto said it generally takes around 10 years and $100 million to make a genetically modified seed." I believe it.

BellaFina Sweet Peppers next to a full-sized pepper

I am surprised at how many alarming posts I see on social media concerning GMOs and Monsanto. Some people even seem to be under the impression that all of our supermarket vegetables are Monsanto GMOs. The truth is that almost none of them are genetically modified. I can understand some of these concerns, but I wish people would get their facts straight before sending out alerts.

Monsanto is a huge corporation which has had more than its share of problems over the years. They have better attorneys than most people could afford. Monsanto is also rather aggressive, with (sometimes) upsetting monopolistic tendencies. Buy-outs of other seed companies have meant an end to many wonderful cultivars, including my favorite melon ever, Early Sugarshaw Hybrid. But Monsanto has done some good things, too. The uproar over GMOs has made it difficult to capitalize on some of these.

Knowing that its progressive audience loves to hate Monsanto, Yahoo writes about the new cancer-fighting broccoli, "If you're weighing health benefits against corporate citizenship, wondering if a non-GMO vegetable is something you'd willingly eat, don't agonize over the debate too much. Because you're probably already eating produce grown from seeds the company owns. Seminis, which Monsanto purchased in 2005, is the largest seed company in the world, and its catalog includes, among other favorites, the popular Early Girl tomato." Some small seed catalogs will not buy seed from any company owned by Monsanto. This can really limit their selection of hybrids.

Well! This is awkward. Just as Monsanto is "going organic", we learn that genetically engineered rice can reduce greenhouse gases. What is a Green to do? "Boosting crop yields while depressing harmful greenhouse gas emissions to less than 10 percent of conventional rice, all in one fell swoop? Yes, please. . . . In other words, this is a step towards a workable solution to the kind of bleak future Malthusian greens promise is right around the corner." . . .

"Greens don the mantle of settled science when pushing their climate change agenda, yet brazenly shed it when it comes to GMOs. That's a shameful hypocrisy, but if there's any silver lining here, it's this: The environmental movement as currently configured is so strategically inept that its opposition to these new crop technologies is anything but insurmountable. For that, future generations can be thankful."

Are your trees poplar?

I promised more information on trees, so I thought today might be a good time to discuss cottonwoods and poplars. They are related to aspens, such as the ones in Y-not's yard. In Utah, where Y-not lives, it was Pioneer Day yesterday. Arborday.org notes that the Plains Cottonwood "was the only tree many early settlers met as they forged westward through America's prairies." The trees themselves are sometimes used as "pioneer plants" in barren areas because they will grow in tough conditions.

One of my childhood memories is of a parking lot at a motel near Bryce Canyon National Park where the lights at night made the cottony seeds floating down from the trees look like snow. I also associate cottonwoods with the Navajo Tribe, as they often locate their homes near the trees.

*FIXED*

Zion Narrows and Backlit Cottonwood-S.jpg

Cottonwood with Navajo Sandstone, Zion Narrows

When grown in the yard, male trees are usually chosen because they don't produce messy cotton or seedlings. But they do produce pollen. They can grow some heavy surface roots and may damage home foundations. In the comments to a previous Garden Thread, cottonwoods were described as "self-pruning" because they break so readily. The trees in this genus tend to have soft wood.

One use of poplars and cottonwoods is as a fast-growing windbreak. The tall, narrow Lombardy Poplar is recommended along country driveways. Some other members of this genus are also used in landscaping, or for wood production. But trees in this genus are subject to pests and diseases. Some of these are fungi.

I am not a mushroom forager. But some mushrooms that grow on trees in the poplar genus are edible. You can buy spores for some mushrooms with which you can inoculate logs. If you see mushrooms like these growing on a poplar, cottonwood or other tree, there is a good chance that the weakened tree may come down in a storm.

Oyster mushrooms

Some of the insects that feed on trees in the poplar genus grow into butterflies. These include Eastern and Western Swallowtails, Viceroy, Mourning Cloak, and some of the Admirals. American White Admiral or Red Spotted Purple are very different color variations of the same species. The purple variation is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail and has a similar range -- mostly in the East. The black and white variation is similar to Weidemeyer's Admiral, often found at high altitudes. Butterflies: another reason to grow a cottonwood, poplar or aspen.

Red Spotted Purple

Hope you have some fun in your yard or garden this week.

Y-not: Thanks, KT! Now let's see what Weirddave has in store for us...

I hope that I have my house in a store, and someone buys it. Open house this weekend, so my contribution will be minimal as I'm cleaning things I didn't even know existed (Did you know those seat thingys on toilets swing up on a hinge? They do! Amazing!). Anyone feels like sending a prayer or two upwards that we sell our house, it would be appreciated. We're all ready to move into our new house, we just have to sell this one first. All I've got garden related is this tweet by my wife:

Doubt the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar...never doubt Dave's tomato mojo. pic.twitter.com/yM2TdZ0Pm0
— Glorious Firecracker (@GingyNorth) July 24, 2015

Back to you Y-not

Y-not: To wrap things up, how about a testosterone boost?

Follow this link to Top Men's Magazine (which seems to be an ok site and SFW) for their top 15 manliest movies ever made.

What's happening in your gardens this week?

Saturday Gardening Thread archive here. (Don't comment on that thread!)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:50 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 dammit, found a mistake...
lemme fix it.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 02:55 PM (RWGcK)

2 Peace be with you.

Posted by: DM at July 25, 2015 02:59 PM (23FyH)

3 Never seen any of the Sharknado movies. Now time to binge (on both cheesy movies and booze).

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 02:59 PM (hO9jS)

4 Be advised Popular Mechanics is a fully weaponized AGW is teh troof operation.

Most annoying.

Posted by: eman at July 25, 2015 03:03 PM (MQEz6)

5 Do we see the movie?

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 03:04 PM (BtkJh)

6 Mmmmmm. Cherry tomatoes.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 03:05 PM (BtkJh)

7 "Never seen any of the Sharknado movies. "

As much as you watch SyFY how've you missed them all?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:06 PM (/QgGG)

8 As much as you watch SyFY how've you missed them all?

Mad skillz.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 03:08 PM (BtkJh)

9 Corn is genetically modified. It was done with selective breeding.

So much so that corn cannot reproduce on its own.

Is it only okay to modify genes by selective breeding?

Posted by: eman at July 25, 2015 03:09 PM (MQEz6)

10 Who is the man
That would risk his neck for his brother man?
(Shaft!)
Can ya dig it?
Who's the cat that won't cop out
When there's danger all about
(Shaft!)

--Okay, while I agree with most of that Top 15 Manliest Movies list (if not the order), I think I'd drop Starship Troopers and put in Heat or Goodfellas. And did anyone unlock #1?

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:09 PM (PMJAR)

11 "Plains Cottonwood "was the only tree many early settlers met as they forged westward through America's prairies."

Also indicated water. Creek, pond, etc.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:10 PM (/QgGG)

12 I used to buy toys at 'FO Schvartze'.

Posted by: Jon Stewart at July 25, 2015 03:10 PM (gwG9s)

13 7 "Never seen any of the Sharknado movies. "

As much as you watch SyFY how've you missed them all?
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:06 PM (/QgGG)

--I binged on cheesy SyFy monster movies Sunday, but was on the road the thext three days --and none of the hotels had SyFy!

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:10 PM (PMJAR)

14 "The truth is that almost none of them are genetically modified."

Well, actually they are all genetically modified. Some by the old and slow method of crossing to get desired characteristics, and some using genetic engineering techniques to seed up that process.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at July 25, 2015 03:11 PM (Zu3d9)

15 Here's a link to the cottonwood in Zion Narrows, if anybody wants to see it. Some of the other photos at the website Y-not linked are also outstanding.

http://tinyurl.com/ntxpx4g

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:11 PM (qahv/)

16 Thanks, KT! I don't know what I did to gum up that link. Fixed now, I think.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:14 PM (RWGcK)

17 9
Corn is genetically modified. It was done with selective breeding.

So much so that corn cannot reproduce on its own.

Is it only okay to modify genes by selective breeding?

A: Plants that are genetically modified by doubling choromosomes or by irradiation seem to be OK with the Greens, also. They only seem to object to inserting specific genetic material on purpose.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:14 PM (qahv/)

18 Heh, so hurricanes hit CA and global warming is to blame for Sharknado?

I need to make popcorn.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:15 PM (PMJAR)

19 Lame list needs The Dirty Dozen.

Posted by: eman at July 25, 2015 03:16 PM (MQEz6)

20 We noticed that a lot of the Aspens in southern Colorado weren't putting on leaves. Rather bare. There was a white, cottony substance on a lot of the leaves they did have.

We were told by locals that is was either "bag worm" or "tent worm," can't remember. Said it wouldn't kill the tree and they'd come back as soon as the infestation was over.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:16 PM (/QgGG)

21 off topic but didn't want to forget: a chart on twitter that shows why the MSM will do anything to make sure the Repubs pick a horrible candidate for president next year:
http://tinyurl.com/q46q84n

Posted by: mallfly at July 25, 2015 03:16 PM (qSIlh)

22 19 Lame list needs The Dirty Dozen.
Posted by: eman at July 25, 2015 03:16 PM (MQEz6)

--What was #1?

I would add Bullitt to the list, but I am not sure if they ranked it first.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:18 PM (PMJAR)

23 I loves me my Steve McQueen!

Posted by: Butterfly McQueen at July 25, 2015 03:19 PM (gwG9s)

24 Seriously. How much must one pay for a hose nozzle that doesn't break within a month and spray more on the user than on the lawn? I wonder because, clearly $12 ain't it.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at July 25, 2015 03:20 PM (PMlgt)

25 Potatoes are pretty amazing things. The energy they store. Their longevity. Storability. (Not a word, I just made it up.)

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:21 PM (/QgGG)

26 How much must one pay for a hose nozzle that doesn't break within a month and spray more on the user than on the lawn? I wonder because, clearly $12 ain't it.
--

LOL! I hear ya'. Little Debbie thinks they're chew toys.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:21 PM (RWGcK)

27 So has anyone here done the rose-potato trick?

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:22 PM (RWGcK)

28 Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:10 PM (/QgGG)

Excellent point. Cottonwoods and poplars are often found near water. During the week, rdbrewer posted a lovely impressionistic painting of poplars lining a canal. Probably somewhere in Europe.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:22 PM (qahv/)

29 "I wonder because, clearly $12 ain't it."

Buy the metal ones, not plastic. They all come from China but there are some better than others.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:23 PM (/QgGG)

30 Okay, while I agree with most of that Top 15 Manliest Movies list (if not the order), I think I'd drop Starship Troopers and put in Heat or Goodfellas. And did anyone unlock #1?

Number 1 was Die Hard. No, I didn't unlock it - someone gives it away in the comments.

I can think of a lot of good manly flicks that didn't make the list - The Longest Day, The Great Escape, and Casablanca come to mind.

Posted by: Grey Fox at July 25, 2015 03:24 PM (a42f0)

31 Composting is being taken to new heights with the English Composting Garden by Good Ideas.

Hmm. New heights for composting.

In related news, new designs make colostomy bags even more versatile as a fashion accessory than they ever were before.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 25, 2015 03:24 PM (oZr5y)

32 a & p has filed for bankruptcy.

Posted by: steinmetz at July 25, 2015 03:25 PM (CrYC8)

33 I don't choose trees for my place based on their poplarity.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 25, 2015 03:27 PM (oZr5y)

34 Buy the metal ones, not plastic. They all come from China but there are some better than others.

***

I always buy the metal ones. They don't outright break, they just start spraying out from around the sides.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at July 25, 2015 03:27 PM (PMlgt)

35 Don't waste your time with that bullshit clickbait "Manly movies" link.

Does not include Predator, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Tombstone or Dirty f***ing Harry.

And the author thinks Steve McQueen was in The French Connection.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at July 25, 2015 03:29 PM (/pB9Z)

36 I'm mowing grass today in the insufferable heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at July 25, 2015 03:29 PM (rwI+c)

37 My wife has been pining for a Japanese Maple.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 25, 2015 03:29 PM (oZr5y)

38 I love this thread so much. Read it religiously. Grillin chicken tonight with zucchini and assorted peppers from the garden tonight. We will raise a glass to Y-not and the rest of the fantastic crew!!

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 03:30 PM (W+Wy7)

39 >>I'm mowing grass today in the insufferable heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast.

THAT'S manly!

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:30 PM (RWGcK)

40 >>37 My wife has been pining for a Japanese Maple.

There's a joke in there about "lumber" but given that it's your wife, I won't go there!

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:30 PM (RWGcK)

41 She thinks the Maple would spruce up the yard.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 25, 2015 03:30 PM (oZr5y)

42 " I'm mowing grass today in the insufferable heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast."

I'm supposed to be doing that. But I'm having 'tails and spouting off here.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:31 PM (/QgGG)

43 a&p's bankruptcy:

here'smy questionn, for those who have vegetable gardens, is it worth it from a financial perspective?

Posted by: steinmetz at July 25, 2015 03:31 PM (CrYC8)

44 I haven't tried the potato trick with roses, but I have started plants in the ground under jars. There are also little jars of gel (polymers and water, sometimes with rooting hormones, etc.) into which you can stick cuttings. Then you can watch the roots form.

Roses on their own roots are easier to take care of if it is a cultivar which does well on its own roots, growing in an area without pathogens in the soil that attack the roots of some roses.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:32 PM (qahv/)

45 NDH,
I've found that those long showerhead looking things work for 90% of my hose needs. Even the $2 cheapo units last longer than the average nozzle (no moving parts).

But get one of those solid brass nozzles that looks like a mini-version of something that would go on a firehose anything other than watering plants.

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 03:32 PM (EfRAJ)

46 There's a joke in there about "lumber" but given that it's your wife, I won't go there!
Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:30 PM (RWGcK)

Thank yew.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 25, 2015 03:33 PM (oZr5y)

47 And the author thinks Steve McQueen was in The French Connection.
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at July 25, 2015 03:29 PM (/pB9Z)

--Wow. That's lame. I did not even read the blurbs since I'm so annoyed at click-though lists.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:33 PM (hO9jS)

48 @43
Not for me, steinmetz, although if I knew what I was doing it might. I use it for entertainment and to have some things that I love on hand, especially herbs but also some types of peppers.

We did a post on the economics of gardening a while back. Here's the link.

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/354282.php

Don't comment on that thread.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:33 PM (RWGcK)

49 ... all i know is produce in the supermarket is expensive. a dollar for a tomato - not the fanciest hydroponic, but a buck for a standard tomato that grows like a weed... or does it?

Posted by: steinmetz at July 25, 2015 03:34 PM (CrYC8)

50 48: thanks, y-not, i'll look it up!

Posted by: steinmetz at July 25, 2015 03:35 PM (CrYC8)

51 So are there poplars and/or cottonwoods east of the Rockies? And are they less fussy about elevation than aspens seem to be?

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:35 PM (RWGcK)

52 One tomato ripe so far. It went on my burger.

Other than that, I am making peach salsa with tomatoes I froze last fall after the first deluge of the season, and they all split.

Mmmm, peaches are now dead ripe in the roadside stands!

I'm going to get out the crock pot and cook down the bruised ones into peach butter.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 25, 2015 03:35 PM (3pRHP)

53 One great thing about a veggie garden, especially for our little two-person family, is that you don't have things going off in the fridge. Right now I can harvest lettuce just before I need it and exactly how much I need.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:36 PM (RWGcK)

54 51 So are there poplars and/or cottonwoods east of the Rockies? And are they less fussy about elevation than aspens seem to be?
Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:35 PM (RWGcK)

--Cottonwood grows along the rivers in the Great Plains. There are also poplars where I grew up in Virginia.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 03:36 PM (hO9jS)

55 Does any one know this? My maters are suffering a leaf blight this year...I mulched with bark much for the first time ever. Could that be the culprit? Too coincidental...

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 03:39 PM (W+Wy7)

56 Old Farmers Almanac says that today is a good day to prepare seedbeds for fall. If fall planting starts around now in your climate.

Those on the Gulf Coast might look into when your fall tomato season starts, I think determinates are recommended for fall.

In Southern California, June Gloom should be about over, along with the July storms. Might be able to fit some veggies in for fall.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:39 PM (qahv/)

57 Cottonwood grows along the rivers in the Great Plains. There are also poplars where I grew up in Virginia.
--

Nice! Do their leaves flutter like aspens'.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:40 PM (RWGcK)

58 "So are there poplars and/or cottonwoods east of the Rockies? And are they less fussy about elevation than aspens seem to be?"

Yes. Got some cottonwoods back home and they're big around Palestine, TX. That's deep East Texas. Piney Woods, Louisiana stuff.

Cottonwood-badger don't care about heat or elevation.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:40 PM (/QgGG)

59 The wife's pole bean is doing great. No beans, but lots of red blossoms. The Hummingbirds love it. Don't know if they are getting nectar, but they are attracted by the color.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 03:41 PM (47wTX)

60 KT
We get some of our broccoli seed from that company. We grow mainly avenger and heritage.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 03:41 PM (BHl9S)

61 "Nice! Do their leaves flutter like aspens'."

Yes, they are very similar. Bark, leaves, etc.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:42 PM (/QgGG)

62 I wonder how close in design that composting planter is to the tower Melissa Clouthier wrote about here?

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

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:43 PM (qahv/)

63 So are there poplars and/or cottonwoods east of the Rockies? And are they less fussy about elevation than aspens seem to be?
------------------------------
Yes. Plenty of both in my neck of the woods in Va. (Basically logprof's old stomping grounds). Probably different varieties than you have.
Can't really speak to their hardiness or zone tolerance, though. Sorry.

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 03:44 PM (EfRAJ)

64 Dramm makes the nozzle for plant, garden watering. Made in U.s.A. too.

Posted by: Chavez the Hugo at July 25, 2015 03:44 PM (ucDmr)

65 Does not include Predator, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, Tombstone or Dirty f***ing Harry

Probably no Jeremiah Johnson either?

I've never seen cottonwood here in the east, but danged if I don't have them on the farm. I've seen more tree diversity here than any where I've ever been.

This week I disked in my garden since the heat got it but man does the soil look so much better than it did when I got here. I was like an exerted kid.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 03:44 PM (fM8JG)

66 As for the nozzles, I bought a few plastic ones and they all broke. Bought a metal one from Lowes (death be upon Home Depot) a couple years ago and it's been a good one.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:49 PM (/QgGG)

67 55
Does any one know this? My maters are suffering a leaf blight this
year...I mulched with bark much for the first time ever. Could that be
the culprit? Too coincidental...

If you do overhead watering or if it is raining, bark mulch might make the air more humid during the day. Sometimes Early Blight goes away by itself. A fungicide might help.

Late Blight usually kills the plant unless you take extraordinary measures to stop it. Sometimes even then. .

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:50 PM (qahv/)

68 I wonder how close in design that composting planter is to the tower Melissa Clouthier wrote about here?

Not very close. I purchased one of those garden towers that MC wrote about. Plants are not doing as well as I expected. I'm going to blame the abnormally cool temperatures we had this Spring and Summer, and the fact that I don't know what I'm doing.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 03:55 PM (47wTX)

69 I'm going to blame the abnormally cool temperatures we had this Spring and Summer, and the fact that I don't know what I'm doing.
---

I'd blame Bush. Lots easier.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 03:56 PM (RWGcK)

70 " I'm going to blame the abnormally cool temperatures we had this Spring and Summer, and the fact that I don't know what I'm doing. "

Wise strategery. Especially the weather part. You did all you could.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 03:57 PM (/QgGG)

71 Yeah. Bushes fault and I did all I could.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 03:58 PM (47wTX)

72 *taps chin thoughtfully and goes literary OT*

Do I pony up the $15 for the Weber/Zahn novel eARC of A Call to Arms. It seems those oh so naughty boys of Axelrod are up to their usual murderous ways and its up to the Royal Manticoran Navy to stop them.

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 25, 2015 03:59 PM (/eeUo)

73 59
The wife's pole bean is doing great. No beans, but lots of red
blossoms. The Hummingbirds love it. Don't know if they are getting
nectar, but they are attracted by the color.

Ronster, those are Scarlet Runner Beans. The plants are somewhat heat tolerant, but don't set beans in hot weather. They are a different species than regular pole beans. The pods are generally sort of hairy and they can get fibrous if they get too big. They generally have a string.

Don't eat them raw, especially when the seeds get big. You can shell the big beans out for (cooked) shellies, though.

I'll go over a few new developments with these in a future thread.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 03:59 PM (qahv/)

74 Autocucumber.
Excited kid.
Excited kid, I'm an excited kid about my dirt that actually has worms and such.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 03:59 PM (fM8JG)

75 Because I live in S TX my hanging baskets always look crummy after only one night away. Just too hot-they need watering twice a day now. This time when I put some Vinca in the baskets, I put a diaper in the bottom. Totally works! Holds in moisture from watering just like you'd think!

Posted by: Abby at July 25, 2015 03:59 PM (8wu51)

76

Not much knew here.
Just harvesting and eating.

For the first time, about half of my basil is already eaten up. Waiting on a lot of new growth.

So many tomatoes. Mostly the smaller kinds, so lots of salads. Last week the Tomato, cucumber, basil, balsamic kind. Today I made one I love with fresh corn kernels, tomatoes, basil, italian parsely and red wine vinegar. Olive oil in each, of course.

These are the tomatoes I grew this year:

Sun Sugar
Beefsteak
Heinz
Early Girl
Amish Paste
San Marzano
Sweet Million
Juliet

Most are the grafted versions, and I have ZERO pests so far. Bugs or slugs. Still dealing with the furry critters, but only the chipmunks since I put up a fence.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 25, 2015 04:00 PM (qCMvj)

77 66: Home Depot needs to be killed with fire. Menards, or my local harware store for me. Usually local though. Little more money, better quality.

Posted by: Chavez the Hugo at July 25, 2015 04:00 PM (ucDmr)

78 there's different species of cottonwood so it's difficult to guess which you're talking of, but the trees grow everywhere. eastern cottonwood here, grows native up to Montreal or thereabouts. the roads around here look like snow in spots from all the wisps flying around.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 25, 2015 04:00 PM (Cq0oW)

79 This time when I put some Vinca in the baskets, I put a diaper in the bottom. Totally works! Holds in moisture from watering just like you'd think!
--

Oooh, thanks for that idea!

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:00 PM (RWGcK)

80 As a side note, a lot of very edible legumes have toxic properties when eaten raw. Kidney beans should be brought to a boil before eating if they were cooked at the low temperature on a slow cooker.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:01 PM (qahv/)

81 Thanks for the info on the bean, KT.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 04:02 PM (47wTX)

82

Something I am seeing more of when I go for my walks, people putting out decanters/pots for their landscaping, instead of planting.

It's odd, and I haven't seen one done right. I'm not talking about the typical displays at the home entrance, or whatnot. Just pots put here and there throughout the yard, mixed in with other planted pots.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 25, 2015 04:02 PM (qCMvj)

83 Chatty sales clerk, "Oh where's the little cutie?"

Me buying diapers, "They're for the plants."

Posted by: Anna Puma at July 25, 2015 04:02 PM (/eeUo)

84

The hanging colander is adorable. Rustic.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 25, 2015 04:03 PM (qCMvj)

85 >>Me buying diapers, "They're for the plants."

LOL!

Well, it's better than "they're for me."

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:04 PM (RWGcK)

86 Y-not, I keep missing you on the threads. I was hoping to meet up with you while I am in your area (assuming I'm in your area). I sent a message to the Yahoo group, but it may have ended up in the spam folder.

Anyway, my window of opportunity may be closed at this point. Our obligation today got moved up by 3 hours. If your excursions take you near the Energy Solutions Plaza between 5:30 and 7:30 today, I'd love it if you stopped by the Flash Cadillac merchandise table to say hi!

Thanks!

Posted by: Mindy at July 25, 2015 04:06 PM (WQBsq)

87 Well, it's better than "they're for me."
------------------------------
Depends...

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 04:06 PM (EfRAJ)

88 KT, you know your stuff. I checked the seed packet and it says Scarlet Emperor. Some kind of an heirloom seed.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 04:07 PM (47wTX)

89 CaliGirl,
Is Fedco your seed source for broccoli? They have some good prices, and a really, really progressive outlook.

The wholesaler for Avenger F1 broccoli is Sakata, a Japanese company that puts out some fine varieties. Fedco would carry it.

Heritage F1 comes from Seminis, which is owned by Monsanto. If Fedco carries it, they will likely drop it soon.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:07 PM (qahv/)

90 I've used planters with reservoirs successfully before. Gardeners Supply has a nice selection if you don't mind paying a higher price. The only part I'm hesitant about is that the water in the reservoir never drains out and I imagine it gets pretty disgusting.

Posted by: Mindy at July 25, 2015 04:10 PM (WQBsq)

91 Hi Mindy!

Sorry I kept missing you. I was traveling most of last week. Kind of wiped out today.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:10 PM (RWGcK)

92 I made a boom-boom in the rose garden....

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 25, 2015 04:10 PM (JG47A)

93 @77

Home Depot didn't seem to give any shit whatsoever so I went to Lowe's years ago. They did seem to give somewhat of a shit.

Also, if you need fasteners....nuts, bolts, etc....go to an Ace Hardware. They have shit you won't believe. Their employees won't know it so know your shit.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:10 PM (/QgGG)

94 I'm having more trouble with various weeds coming through my flower box beds. They're basically open frames full of dirt and meant for shrubbery. I'm probably going to keep pulling til winter. They're growing underneath the weed fabric and mulch so it's all kinds of weird.

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at July 25, 2015 04:11 PM (Cq0oW)

95 As a side note, a lot of very edible legumes have
toxic properties when eaten raw. Kidney beans should be brought to a
boil before eating if they were cooked at the low temperature on a slow
cooker.

Posted by: KT at July 25,

Having pigs I've had to ramp up on plant toxicity knowledge, beans were a surprise. So much is toxic if they eat too much. Hardly anything is toxic though, like they eat a bit a keel over so its a balance of putting stuff out that is good for them in small doses.
But beans? Crazy

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:12 PM (fM8JG)

96 And, apologies to Y and KT if I wrecked the Gardening Thread. Great stuff.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:13 PM (/QgGG)

97 Having pigs I've had to ramp up on plant toxicity knowledge, beans were a surprise. So much is toxic if they eat too much. Hardly anything is toxic though, like they eat a bit a keel over so its a balance of putting stuff out that is good for them in small doses.
But beans? Crazy
Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:12 PM (fM8JG)

Well, you're not using castor beans are you?

Posted by: Heisenberg at July 25, 2015 04:13 PM (hO9jS)

98 Having pigs I've had to ramp up on plant toxicity knowledge, beans were a surprise. So much is toxic if they eat too much.

How are they with hobos?
Um, asking for a friend.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 04:15 PM (nXJ3K)

99 Y-not,

From the Sunset Western Garden Book:

Populus alba is a "lively" tree that sort of flickers because the undersides of the leaves are pale. Has a wide climate range, tolerant of various soils. Suckers. Poor fall color. "Pyramidalis" is a male tree, forms a narrow column, has light-colored bark. From Europe and Asia.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:16 PM (qahv/)

100 89
We get it from sakata, we grow maybe 1500 acres a year. or that may be one we have to buy from the seed wholesale companies. We buy it by the 5 gallon bucket or big bags. Then it goes to the nursery, we plant transplants. Some things we direct seed. Cilantro doesn't transplant well but I'm not sure why.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:16 PM (BHl9S)

101 91. Y-not, I can imagine you are after traveling. Perhaps another time, I hope.

Posted by: Mindy at July 25, 2015 04:19 PM (WQBsq)

102 97
Are haricot verts(sp?) toxic? I am growing different green beans and my cat steals them out of the sink if I don't watch her.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:20 PM (BHl9S)

103 Well, you're not using castor beans are you?

No, beans at all just peas, they didn't let the plants make a pod though, just ate the vine.

But if you look up toxicity on livestock there is a s ton of stuff you wouldn't expect.

Mostly right now they are eating sedges and morning glory that's all wild so I couldn't control that if I wanted to. I grew them a bunch of pumpkins which are just now starting to get ready, and they are really good for them.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:21 PM (fM8JG)

104 Traye, you got pigs? Whereabouts?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:21 PM (/QgGG)

105 89
I may be wrong, but I think we plant 15,000 plants an acre. We buy a lot of seed. Planted in 25 acre plots

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:22 PM (BHl9S)

106 Are haricot verts(sp?) toxic? I am growing different green beans and my cat steals them out of the sink if I don't watch her.
Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:20 PM (BHl9S)

It's haricots verts.

Hey, after living in Canada for a decade, you pick stuff up.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 04:22 PM (hO9jS)

107 I have no doubt that if a hobo needed to be disposed of 14 pigs would do it in no time at all. Like, in a hour you would only have to pick up big bones to put in the acid barrel.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:23 PM (fM8JG)

108 18 - l a had a "mini hurricane"in the.70s ifac. Tore the front offa sports arena dtla. 23 - bud ekins who did mcqueens jump in great escape made generous plans for his memorial at wb lot in sgv. All motorcycle riders welcome, open bars and catered, bless his soul.

Posted by: oh,k,tnx,bye at July 25, 2015 04:24 PM (HK+Fk)

109 107 I have no doubt that if a hobo needed to be disposed of 14 pigs would do it in no time at all. Like, in a hour you would only have to pick up big bones to put in the acid barrel.
Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:23 PM (fM8JG)

Hobo! Cocksuckas!!

Posted by: Mr. Wu at July 25, 2015 04:24 PM (hO9jS)

110 Thanks KT! I'm going to stick to grass clippings next year.

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 04:25 PM (W+Wy7)

111 The jury is still out on my MowLESS field trial. However, I did notice something interesting with my pots of grass on the deck. I stopped watering them for a few weeks and the MowLESS pot looks a lot better compared to the Control (tap water). So, the simplest explanation is that the high internal CO2 concentration in the MowLESS grass is closing the stomata and reducing ET losses...you can see the picture on Twitter for pgstroot. Maybe I should rename it WaterLESS?

Posted by: scrood at July 25, 2015 04:25 PM (3b9U4)

112 Traye,
Pigs freak me out. I always think of silence of the lambs. The kids 4-H projects run hot laps when they are let out of their pens, I move they get huge.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:27 PM (BHl9S)

113 We're in SE NC, sort of God's country for pigs. I have lots of pictures at our Twitter. Patchfarmstead

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:29 PM (fM8JG)

114 Note on self-watering containers, garden towers, etc.:

Your success may depend on the kind of planting mix you choose. For a self-watering container, you want something that will wick water. For all sorts of containers you want a mix that will allow some air pockets to form in the soil.

Also for self-watering containers, you should let the reservoir go dry before watering again (unless you are leaving town) to allow air into the soil and to keep mosquitos from growing in the water reservoir. Unless the water contains something that kills mosquitos.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:29 PM (qahv/)

115 On tomatoes again. The last three years I've been growing an heirloom, Cherokee purple. One of the best straight up grab and eat tomatoes EVER. Almost all meat too...enough seed to make it pop though.
Does anyone grow real Oxhearts?

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 04:31 PM (W+Wy7)

116 Here in WNY and the Candien lakeshore we gots the Cottonwoods.
Lots of fun to light fire to the cotton and watch it run.

Damn things are a hazard though as they go over without much of a sign that they're rotten.

Posted by: Browndog at July 25, 2015 04:33 PM (ccfl2)

117 Picked our first cucumber this week. A little bitter. What causes that? Left on the vine too long?

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 04:34 PM (47wTX)

118 Caligirl, my pigs are so gentle and sweet, low stress environment for them, access to everything they need, more food than they could eat, so much so that they are spoiled and only eat what they like and leave some of the crap I'd like them to remove, but. I have no illusion that if I had a heart attack in their field they'd eat me up and right quick.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:34 PM (fM8JG)

119 CaliGirl,

Green beans are OK for people to eat if the beans inside are not too big, when some sensitive people might have some problems. Haricots Verts are just skinny green beans. In fact, it means "Bean, Green" in French.

There is a hairless green bean called "Regal Salad".

I haven't heard that green beans are toxic to cats.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:36 PM (qahv/)

120 Traye,
Your place looks like heaven. I do love the baby pigs. When they weigh 265 and run around like crazy dogs is when I get frightened. I love when their tails wag.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:38 PM (6i8i1)

121 Oh and Mindy, if you are looking for good downtown SLC restaurants, I'd recommend: Takashi (VERY good sushi and drinks), Martine (tapas-style European), or Faustina (great patio and awesome blueberry souffl�).

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:38 PM (RWGcK)

122 >>A little bitter. What causes that?

Being betrayed by Boehner and McConnell, I think.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:39 PM (RWGcK)

123 119
I have Bengal cats they are weird. We have been eating the beans and I made the mistake of feeding some to her.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 25, 2015 04:40 PM (6i8i1)

124 Mrs. E is on her 4th round of canning maters. We ain't gots nothing much else this year but we gots maters and okra and peppers. For which we are eternally grateful. They all can up real fine.

Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2015 04:40 PM (go5uR)

125 Clarney

I have grown some oxhearts. They are meaty, sort of like a paste tomato, but have softer flesh, like, say, Cherokee Purple, and taste better. We should probably do a little segment on them sometime.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:40 PM (qahv/)

126 A little bitter. What causes that?

Being betrayed by Boehner and McConnell, I think.

*Golf clap*

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 04:40 PM (nXJ3K)

127 Before Obamacare.

http://tinyurl.com/oeds7te

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 04:45 PM (Bi2jH)

128 *curtsies*

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:45 PM (RWGcK)

129 Bitter cucumbers:

Usually it is from uneven watering or hot weather. Choosing a "bitter-free" variety may end your problem. Not all of them are actually "bitter-free" in our climate, though.

I like Summer Dance the best.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:46 PM (qahv/)

130 hi, I only have some leftover potato salad. Can I stick my rose cuttings in that?

Posted by: Joe Biden at July 25, 2015 04:46 PM (WhB4J)

131 Having pigs ...

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:12 PM (fM8JG)

pigs + garden vegetables = we had BLT's for lunch today

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 25, 2015 04:46 PM (qCMvj)

132 Y-not, thanks for the recommendations. Blueberry souffl�s sound delicious!

At this point in our visit, I think we have one more restaurant meal left. Decisions, decisions!

Tomorrow, we head back home, stopping midday for a mini meetup in Grand Junction with Infidel. Details are posted at the Yahoo group, if anyone is interested.

Posted by: Mindy at July 25, 2015 04:47 PM (WQBsq)

133 For casual (but good) dining, there's Ruth's Diner at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, and the Red Iguana. Excellent moles at the Iguana. Bit of a diver restaurant, but fun.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:49 PM (RWGcK)

134 I bought a started "oxheart" from a local Mennonite nursery. You typically can't go wrong with them and the Amish. They are not at all like my grandma grew. They were actually heart shaped and an indescribable purple. Best thing ever. Trying to relive my childhood I guess.

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 04:50 PM (W+Wy7)

135 Wait a minute. log' loves him some Canada and is from the Yankeeland.

*Recoils*

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:52 PM (/QgGG)

136 Traye,

"exerted boy" kind of fits, too. You have been working hard.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:52 PM (qahv/)

137 The Obama administration formally announced that inspectors general will have to get permission from their agency heads to gain access to grand jury, wiretap and fair credit information - an action that severely limits the watchdogs' oversight capabilities, independence and power to uncover fraud.

-
Meanwhile, Barky cited Chicago as the model of how to defeat corruption in his speech in Kenya.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 04:52 PM (Lqynl)

138 Our biggest pig is the sow that had piglets a month ago, she's about 400, and she'll be great bacon when her time comes.

Soon.
I might wait until a month after acorns come down to get that flavor.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 04:52 PM (fM8JG)

139 CaliGirl,

5 gallons of broccoli seeds will produce a lot of plants. Then again, you need a lot of plants for 1500 acres.

Wow.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:53 PM (qahv/)

140 57 Y-not
Yes, cottonwoods shake their leaves.

It's more a shimmy showing the top and bottom of the leaf in the slightest breeze. Plains cottonwoods are little temptresses. The sibilant sound at higher wind speeds is very soothing.

The fall yellow leaf colors are vibrant.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at July 25, 2015 04:55 PM (u82oZ)

141 Do I pony up the $15 for the Weber/Zahn novel eARC of A Call to Arms. It seems those oh so naughty boys of Axelrod are up to their usual murderous ways and its up to the Royal Manticoran Navy to stop them.

If you do, you realize that you will still pony up almost $30 for the hardcover when it comes out.

I did. There are some interesting twists coming along. More, the deponent sayeth not.

Posted by: Fox2! at July 25, 2015 04:55 PM (brIR5)

142 Broccoli needs a lot of water, right?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:55 PM (/QgGG)

143 133 For casual (but good) dining, there's Ruth's Diner at the mouth of Emigration Canyon

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 04:49 PM (RWGcK)

I know Ruth's. My brother lives in Emigration Canyon. It's our rendezvous point for the burning times. Small world.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at July 25, 2015 04:55 PM (yxw0r)

144 There was a dirtbag up in Newfoundland I believe who had a large pig farm and he would go into town and pick up strippers moonlighting as hookers and bring them to his farm and after having his fun he fed them to his hogs...went on for years I believe until a victim escaped and holy cow what they found.

So hogs are good for certain kinds of disposal including hobos.

Posted by: Sgt. Friday at July 25, 2015 04:56 PM (JG47A)

145 Broccoli needs a lot of water, right?

Cheese.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 04:57 PM (nXJ3K)

146 135 Wait a minute. log' loves him some Canada and is from the Yankeeland.

*Recoils*
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:52 PM (/QgGG)

--Virginia is not Yankeeland!

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 04:57 PM (hO9jS)

147 "and he would go into town and pick up strippers moonlighting as hookers and bring them to his farm and after having his fun he fed them to his hogs..."

Jeezus.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 04:58 PM (/QgGG)

148 Clarney,

There is an oxheart called "Amish Paste", a good one, but I don't think it is the one you remember. I'll see if I can come up with something closer.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:58 PM (qahv/)

149 So what was the most manliest movie?

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 04:59 PM (LImiJ)

150 Y-not, LizLem recommended Red Iguana as well. It was a huge hit!

Posted by: Mindy at July 25, 2015 04:59 PM (WQBsq)

151 I knew this guy that had a few cattle, some horses and hogs. One of the horses died and he pulled it into the pig pen for them to eat on. They cleaned it up good.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 05:00 PM (47wTX)

152 144 There was a dirtbag up in Newfoundland I believe who had a large pig farm and he would go into town and pick up strippers moonlighting as hookers and bring them to his farm and after having his fun he fed them to his hogs...went on for years I believe until a victim escaped and holy cow what they found.

So hogs are good for certain kinds of disposal including hobos.
Posted by: Sgt. Friday at July 25, 2015 04:56 PM (JG47A)

--That was actually on the other side, in BC.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:00 PM (hO9jS)

153 Fine list of 'mater varieties, artisanal'ette

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:00 PM (qahv/)

154 I know Ruth's. My brother lives in Emigration Canyon. It's our rendezvous point for the burning times. Small world.
--

*fist bump*

Really good biscuits.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 05:00 PM (RWGcK)

155 149 So what was the most manliest movie?
Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 04:59 PM (LImiJ)

--It was Die Hard. Whoever wrote the list was half-assing it.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:01 PM (hO9jS)

156 "Broccoli needs a lot of water, right?"

Depends on the weather.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:03 PM (qahv/)

157 I dunno, I think Die Hard is great, but not "manliest."

I'd go with The Great Escape or The Dirty Dozen or something like that.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 05:04 PM (RWGcK)

158 Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 04:52

Every day is new chigger bites. They were they only thing that bothered me, but now I'm even used to that. My nephew said "I know I'm going to die here, this is my Vietnam, and I've made my peace with that."

I don't know if many know the history of this part of the country but there is lot of Black folk. It seems after the civil war it was "ok, you can be free, and here's the land for you" (hint, it's terrible from an agricultural aspect) But the ancestors of my neighbors put their heads down and worked it and made something. I'm kind of proud to be here in part because of that.

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 05:04 PM (fM8JG)

159 Just pitching you shit, log'. Pitch it back.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:04 PM (/QgGG)

160 what...what's wrong with me? can't think straight, feel so dizzy, such pain. AAARGH! What is this sticking out of my head???

Posted by: Mr. Potatohead at July 25, 2015 05:06 PM (WhB4J)

161 Remind me again, traye... where are you?

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 05:07 PM (RWGcK)

162 KT...I have some Hungarian seed. The picture
just like them. I couldn't get them to take.
I freekin love all the farmers on here. Seriously, nothing brings us closer to what we are. I'm in NE Lancaster County. I can't even describe the quality of the sweet corn here. Lived in Cali for 20 years. Never got anything close...never.

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 05:08 PM (W+Wy7)

163 Hey, logprof -
Still watching the 'Nado marathon? Even if #1 (or #2, which i never saw) wasn't what you expected, you have to tune in for 3.
It's everything and then some. Think Evil Dead meets Lake Placid meets Jaws.

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:09 PM (EfRAJ)

164 157 I dunno, I think Die Hard is great, but not "manliest."

I'd go with The Great Escape or The Dirty Dozen or something like that.
Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 05:04 PM (RWGcK)

--Heat, Bullitt, and Goodfellas were not on the list. Some of the others on the list would have been better at #1 as well.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:10 PM (hO9jS)

165 The local farmers market now has Rocky Ford Cantaloupe. Hope it doesn't have listeria.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 05:11 PM (47wTX)

166 163 Hey, logprof -
Still watching the 'Nado marathon? Even if #1 (or #2, which i never saw) wasn't what you expected, you have to tune in for 3.
It's everything and then some. Think Evil Dead meets Lake Placid meets Jaws.
Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:09 PM (EfRAJ)

--Yep. Sharknado 2 just began. The rest of my day is set: 2, 3, then Hell on Wheels, then Lavalantula (with the cast of the Police Academy movies). Can't wait to see VP Ann Coulter.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:13 PM (hO9jS)

167 Heh, Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa on Sharknado 2.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:16 PM (hO9jS)

168 " I dunno, I think Die Hard is great, but not "manliest."

As I sit here and watch "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance" I ponder.

"Flight of the Phoenix."

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:17 PM (/QgGG)

169 Apoligies, log, if I was being too hard on ya.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:18 PM (/QgGG)

170 The first Taken and Man on Fire are also great manly movies. Dudes called on to rescue girls in their charge from thugs.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:19 PM (hO9jS)

171 169 Apoligies, log, if I was being too hard on ya.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:18 PM (/QgGG)

--Naw, I'm used to Morons busting on Canada. But screw it, I love Canada. And Ol' Virginny is not as Southern as she used to be, alas.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:20 PM (hO9jS)

172 Saw a Vole running across the yard path. Just when I think I've gotten rid of them, they come back. Also trapping lots of Pocket Gophers. I will never get rid of those. Last year, I got 15 of them.

Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 05:21 PM (47wTX)

173 Inland SE NC

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 05:22 PM (fM8JG)

174 172 Saw a Vole running across the yard path. Just when I think I've gotten rid of them, they come back. Also trapping lots of Pocket Gophers. I will never get rid of those. Last year, I got 15 of them.
Posted by: Ronster at July 25, 2015 05:21 PM (47wTX)

Huh huh huhuhuhuh.

Pocket gophers.

Huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh.

Posted by: Butt-Head at July 25, 2015 05:23 PM (hO9jS)

175 "--Naw"

Crack on me all you want. I'm a dumbass and good for a few jokes.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:23 PM (/QgGG)

176 167 Heh, Michael Strahan and Kelly Ripa on Sharknado 2.
------------------------------
I'm going to miss 2 again, because it's almost time for me to hit the liquor store so I can keep up with Cochrane tonight.*
But wait until you see who's in 3 - I think EVERYONE wanted to be a part of it, just for shits & giggles.

*I saw a few minutes - I loved their choice of airline pilot!

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:23 PM (EfRAJ)

177 "Inland SE NC"

So, you in the swamps.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:25 PM (/QgGG)

178 As I sit here and watch "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance" I ponder.

-
I'm watching it, too. Lee Marvin and his piece of shit sidekick Strother Martin are great bad guys.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 05:25 PM (LImiJ)

179
Crack on me all you want. I'm a dumbass and good for a few jokes.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:23 PM (/QgGG)

--I need to learn some Odessa-Midland jokes first.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:25 PM (hO9jS)

180 What we have here.....is a failure to communicate.

Posted by: eleven at July 25, 2015 05:27 PM (MDgS8)

181 Senior Kill...Valance. Effin a COTTON. Effin a

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 05:27 PM (W+Wy7)

182 I'm going to miss 2 again, because it's almost time for me to hit the liquor store so I can keep up with Cochrane tonight.*
But wait until you see who's in 3 - I think EVERYONE wanted to be a part of it, just for shits & giggles.

*I saw a few minutes - I loved their choice of airline pilot!
Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:23 PM (EfRAJ)

--Well, in Sharknado 2 I'm enjoying the fine scenery that is Vivica A. Fox and Kari Wuhrer.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:27 PM (hO9jS)

183 : Ricardo Kill at

Oh yeah

Posted by: traye at July 25, 2015 05:28 PM (fM8JG)

184 "I'm watching it, too. Lee Marvin and his piece of shit sidekick Strother Martin are great bad guys."

They are. Wayne is not the great hero and Stewart is not the big pussy. It's a compilation.

Personally, one of Wayne's better rolls.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:29 PM (/QgGG)

185 180 What we have here.....is a failure to communicate.
Posted by: eleven at July 25, 2015 05:27 PM (MDgS

--Cool Hand Luke, also a great manly movie. Every time I've watched it I stayed away from eating eggs for a month.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:29 PM (hO9jS)

186 179
"Ain't but two things that come from Texas..."

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:30 PM (EfRAJ)

187 "
Oh yeah"

Where you at?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:31 PM (/QgGG)

188 Just checked my tomatoes:

http://tinyurl.com/psmof96

Posted by: bergerbilder at July 25, 2015 05:32 PM (+jijM)

189 ""Ain't but two things that come from Texas...""

Steers and beers. That's what you about to say, wasn't it.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:32 PM (/QgGG)

190 --Cool Hand Luke, also a great manly movie. Every time I've watched it I stayed away from eating eggs for a month.

Also sweatiest movie ever.

Posted by: eleven at July 25, 2015 05:33 PM (MDgS8)

191 Dang! Y'all got me hankerin' for river tomatoes and silver queen sweet corn!

Posted by: Meigs County Native at July 25, 2015 05:34 PM (gwG9s)

192 Seeing as Sgt. SMFH is in TX, yes. Yes, that's exactly what I was going to say.
I would never denigrate Texas.

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:34 PM (EfRAJ)

193 Okay, if Sharknado 3 involves the destruction of Washington, DC, count me in.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:35 PM (HnhmE)

194 158: Great outlook, Traye.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:36 PM (qahv/)

195 K...now gonna jump topic. Does anyone think they will ever see Bunny Hill on public TV again...know what I mean?

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 05:36 PM (W+Wy7)

196 Cool Hand Luke, also a great manly movie. Every time I've watched it I stayed away from eating eggs for a month.

Also sweatiest movie ever.

-
I had a Boehner for a week the first time I saw that car wash scene.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at July 25, 2015 05:37 PM (LImiJ)

197 That was Benny!!!!

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 05:37 PM (W+Wy7)

198 So does Ad Blocker not work with Opera?

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:38 PM (HnhmE)

199 Voles would be kinda cute if you didn't know what they did.

They're related to muskrats and lemmings. Not that we have a lot of lemmings in gardens in the USA.

Pocket gophers are not cute, ever.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:40 PM (qahv/)

200 I'm just sitting here for the steers and queers thing.

God Love Gunny,

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:40 PM (/QgGG)

201 They're related to muskrats and lemmings. Not that we have a lot of lemmings in gardens in the USA.

Found more in big cities and college campuses.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 05:41 PM (nXJ3K)

202 All right, being a good boy.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 25, 2015 05:42 PM (/QgGG)

203 201 They're related to muskrats and lemmings. Not that we have a lot of lemmings in gardens in the USA.

Found more in big cities and college campuses.
Posted by: rickb223 at July 25, 2015 05:41 PM (nXJ3K)

Or packed into shiny metal boxes, contestants in a suicidal race.

Posted by: The Police at July 25, 2015 05:43 PM (HnhmE)

204 188
Just checked my tomatoes:

New hydroponic method, bergerbilder?

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:44 PM (qahv/)

205 "Steers and queers" - Full Metal Jacket.
definitely NSFW.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dqa5CPLlw-U

Posted by: Chi at July 25, 2015 05:46 PM (EfRAJ)

206 Figures the woebegone Mets would suffer the sharknado attack.

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:49 PM (hO9jS)

207 "Beers, Steers, and Queers"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyGp98Xoq9g

Posted by: logprof at July 25, 2015 05:53 PM (hO9jS)

208 The tomatoes look great, Weirddave.

Half of my plants are dead.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 05:53 PM (qahv/)

209 NOOD. Open thread.

There's something in the queue but I don't know when it's going to be posted. Figured you might want a clean thread.

Posted by: Y-not at July 25, 2015 05:56 PM (RWGcK)

210 Having discovered a yellow jacket nest in an Arborvitae tree adjacent to our front and mailbox, I first was tempted to use wasp & hornet spray that I have on hand. Happily, I read the label first (unusual for me), and found that they expressly warn against using it on fir trees.

Two applications of Sevin did the trick. Now that there are no more yellowjackets, I need to take a close-up. It's a remarkable nest.

Pics, the second is closer:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/q7eoz7y
http://preview.tinyurl.com/qyq5vjl

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 25, 2015 05:59 PM (9mTYi)

211 I've grown 7 tomato varieties this summer and hands down tastiest is the Berkeley Tie Dye heirloom.

Posted by: keena at July 25, 2015 06:34 PM (RiTnx)

212 Keena, what do they look like?

Posted by: Clarney at July 25, 2015 06:36 PM (W+Wy7)

213 Wow, Mike

I didn't know yellow jackets would do that to an arborvitae.

We get a lot of paper wasps making nest in plants and under eaves here.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 06:38 PM (qahv/)

214 I didn't know yellow jackets would do that to an arborvitae.

We get a lot of paper wasps making nest in plants and under eaves here.
Posted by: KT
-----------

Yes, I thought 'Wasps!' also, but nope, Yellowjackets. I suppose that Yellowjackets are a variety of wasp. I've talked it around, and others have said that they had seen such before. All of my (painful) experience had been with ground nests.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 25, 2015 07:49 PM (9mTYi)

215 Practical Magic, while set in a small Massachusetts town, was actually filmed near my hometown, in Coupeville, Washington. Parts of The War of the Roses were filmed there as well.

Posted by: XBradTC at July 25, 2015 08:34 PM (uc/qi)

216 Our darling doggeh just loves to *eat* those flying, stinging bastard things--

This is great when we're in the truck, because there's one or two in the cab as often as not, and she snaps them right up.

It really *sucks* when she gets stung too many times (or eats too many?) and for all our diligence in removing the pests, and keeping her out of the areas we can't control.... this has happened a couple of times.

We called the Vet when she began laying down/wouldn't get up--- Gave her Benadryl and let her sleep a couple of hours (checking for breathing every so often...scary!)

Dosage recommended was 1mg Benadryl per pound of body weight. (check with your own vet, of course!)

Signs of pet distress:

Lethargy-- loss of interest in favorite activities

Muscle weakness-- won't or can't stand up/walk

Grogginess-- [we didn't wait until she lost consciousness, but then, we had already observed the previous]

Loss of consciousness,
Seizures....
The Worst

And even though the wasps and such *do* benefit our gardens, I still wish death to all the flying stinging bastard things.

Posted by: JeanQ Flyover at July 25, 2015 08:45 PM (rhjQp)

217 Keena, I haven't grown Berkeley Tie Dye, the really wild-looking one. I understand that you shouldn't let them get over-ripe. Is that your experience?

http://shop.wildboarfarms.com/BERKELEY-TIE-DYE-BTD.htm

I have grown Pink Berkeley Tie Dye, which is sometime compared to Cherokee Purple in flavor and is described as suitable for cool-summer areas.

http://shop.wildboarfarms.com/PINK-BERKELEY-TIE-DYE-PINKBTD.htm

It sorta fits into the "piggy" nature of this comment thread that these tomatoes were developed at Wild Boar Farms. I have really good luck with their AAA Sweet Solano in our hot summers.

Posted by: KT at July 25, 2015 08:50 PM (qahv/)

218
I might wait until a month after acorns come down to get that flavor.

Traye,

You are my hero!!!

Posted by: Spun and Murky at July 25, 2015 09:27 PM (4DCSq)

219 212 and 217-
They are dark red with green stripes and the classic heirloom shape.
I pick them when they just get ripe or else the mockingbird gets them!
They are quite sweet w a great tomato taste.
Momotaro is also on the sweet side but not as full tomatoey. Better for sandwiches
Big boy is crazy prolific and big but not as good taste. Black krim is a disappointment. Not producing well and not sweet at all. For some reason Better boy is not growing as well as last year
Tried 3 kinds of San Marzano varieties and they're prolific but just not getting to a decent size.
All cherry tomatoes are going crazy as usual.
All in all a decent tomato season. But my string beans are awful. I think too hot and dry and I didn't keep up w their water needs

Posted by: keena at July 26, 2015 02:32 AM (RiTnx)

220 Keena, You may have Pink Berkeley Tie Dye if they are sweet.

Posted by: KT at July 26, 2015 06:18 PM (qahv/)

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