Saturday Gardening Thread: Resisting Winter [KT]

Photos by The Horde

Well, it looks like The Horde includes some folks who are resisting winter. The photo above is from fastfreefall in Valencia, Spain.

Been a while since i last submitted something for garden thread. I dont know if this counts but i have a banana tree growing alongside my house and was surprised to see it with fruit. They actually taste good. This foto shows second batch of bananas. I thought one plant gives fruit then dies but im pretty sure this is same plant givng subsequent batches. Interesting. Now i need to learn how to make banana bread.
Thanks for all you do.
All the best,

Thanks, fastfreefall! Growing banansa in winter. Imagine.

Blake sent in the following;

Night shot:

Our backyard is surrounded by Redwoods and I've taken to putting lights in the trees surrounding the yard during the Christmas season. The lights are visible from a good distance down the street, I might add.

Day shot:

The Palo Verde Desert Museum that I mentioned two or three weeks ago is also pictured. I'll get a better photo to you once it blooms next spring. I might mention, the Desert Museum was maybe 4' tall when I planted it 7 months ago. . . .
I bought the Desert Museum because it is located right in the middle of an expanse of concrete that gets very warm. We were assured the tree would thrive under such conditions. It has and I hope it will provide some much needed shade on that portion of our patio.

We look forward to more photos from Blake.

Illiniwek sent in some photos, too.

Turnips keep getting bigger, and have survived down to 11 degrees, with several nights in teens and low 20s.
I have a lot, but they are bigger on the edges where they were less crowded. Deer have been picking at the tops, they bite the tops out of them later.

Snow peas are complaining that the weather is getting colder, not warmer. They don't get much sun, and are showing the stress, but held up really well.
I should have put some lettuce in there at the same time. afaik day length is not an issue, but they still need more heat and sun. Amazing they are still alive.
I had the perforated [plastic] on hand. If they had bloomed I might have added a second layer of solid plastic. Need to read up on exactly the point of the perforated ... a little airflow while holding most of the heat and moisture I presume.
I'd get about a ten degree boost in sun, and 5-10 warmer on cold nights. In that range there doesn't seem to be enough pressure difference to push the heat out through the holes.

We have some more great photos waiting to keep us hopeful through the winter. We would like to see yours, too, especially if you have something Christmas-themed.

Get your train snowplow ready

Catalog Corner

I got a special notification on Twitter last week:

ok plant nerds settle in for a good one

Great tip. This thread is about the Whole Seed Catalog from Rare Seeds, AKA Baker Creek. One seed catalog that actually costs money. You can order seeds for free online, so the catalog is the attraction here.

Turn down the lights. Grab a drink. Mute this thread is you do not want breathless, faintly risque livetweeting of a seed catalog for the next hour. . . . .
Let us speak, O internet, of strawberries! The Scarlet, an ancient variety popular in colonial America, praised for its bright red skin and pure white flesh. These "amazing little berries are very different from other strawberries." .

I enjoyed this thread. Reminded me of the old days, reading the catalog produced by JL, Hudson, Seedsman. Of course that was not a community experience. Strictly prose, with a little poetry, black and white. No phone, no internet. But today, even the Seed Curmudgeon has succumbed to the internet, with the occasional photo, to boot. Here's his entry for Phytolacca acinosa:

'HIMALAYAN POKEBERRY'. Long racemes of white flowers followed by long columns of shining black berries. Hardy perennial to 3 - 5 feet, with large leaves up to 10" long which provide autumn color. Himalayas to 9,000 feet, through China and Japan. Zone 6. The young leaves, cooked well in several changes of water are eaten in India. The root is used medicinally, and in ancient China were used by sorcerers. Aged seed germinates in 2 - 6 weeks.

I've been getting more seed catalogs in the mail and seeing more email notifications from catalogs lately. Here's a video on choosing seed catalogs. And a craft website featuring antique catalog gift tags you are free to download.

I'm looking forward to some reading time over the next few weeks. How about you?

Gardens of The Horde (and Friends)

Nothing much new going on in my garden. Here's a photo of one of the geraniums in my cousin's basement in Utah. She's glad for a little indoor gardening time.

Anything going on in your yard or garden?

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

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to be a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:03 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Windy and warm here in KC.

Posted by: HH at December 16, 2017 01:00 PM (mIJBI)

2 Its winter here in the north east

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2017 01:01 PM (aC6Sd)

3 I actually like turnips, should think of trying to grow them.

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2017 01:03 PM (aC6Sd)

4 Those Christmas lights look pretty high up in the trees. Did you have a lift or a bucket truck to put them up?

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 16, 2017 01:03 PM (mpXpK)

5 Hi, HH. You beat Skip today.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:03 PM (BVQ+1)

6 Hey KT. Great post as usual, and I like those lights.

Posted by: HH at December 16, 2017 01:06 PM (mIJBI)

7 72 IN TLH manana

Posted by: rhennigantx at December 16, 2017 01:10 PM (BtQd4)

8 Only thing growing in Wyoming is my mustache.

Posted by: Hawkpilot at December 16, 2017 01:16 PM (LFmBC)

9 How often should I water the snow ??

Posted by: sofa saver at December 16, 2017 01:18 PM (4u7kU)

10 I love the banana tree photos. There used to be a banana farm in carpinteria area. I could see it from the freeway.

There is nothing better than a fresh ripe banana.

Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 01:21 PM (Ri/rl)

11 Illiniwek,

The photo with the plastic covering, are those sno peas?
Are they on the ground? I'm surprised they made it.

We have guys that grow sno peas commercially for us and they are done after the first hard frost.

I will have to take some pictures next year of a sno pea field.
I don't know which varieties they grow. They usually grow sno and snap peas. I can eat the snap peas out of the field.

Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 01:28 PM (Ri/rl)

12 Not many places to grow bananas commercially in California, CaliGirl. But I guess you can grow some varieties that can no longer be grown in the tropics because of disease.

I had never thought about the possibility of growing them in Spain. They are interesting plants.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:28 PM (BVQ+1)

13 There is nothing better than a fresh ripe banana.
Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 01:21 PM (Ri/rl)

Try gribnitz, best thing on earth

Posted by: sofa saver at December 16, 2017 01:29 PM (4u7kU)

14 It started snowing yesterday about noon. Snowed lightly all day and most of the night.

They said it would turn to rain overnight and we'd have "little or no accumulation." Lol, right!

About 4 inches of fluffy white out there now, so off to Dad's and a-shoveling his driveway we go.

Ain't no gardenin' goin' on to-day!

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 01:29 PM (yD/Pf)

15 Skip at December 16, 2017 01:03 PM

Try Oasis or White Lady for mild, sweet turnips. Or Just Right for big fall turnips with hairless greens.

There are some other hybrids coming down the pike, too.

But I like the old-fashioned turnip-y kind, too.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:31 PM (BVQ+1)

16 HH at December 16, 2017 01:06 P

I love Blake's lights, too. And his yard. Interesting about the Palo Verde tree. As noted earlier, it is an inter-generic hybrid.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:32 PM (BVQ+1)

17 Okay, where are you living that you can plant a Palo Verde? I'm guessing SoCal, although they grow like mad around Phoenix and Tuscon.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM (k1TUh)

18 KT, we're fond of turnip greens but (when we can find them) there's never an indication of variety.

What variety(ies) do you recommend for the tastiest greens? Of course we're not picky about the roots themselves, other than they also be pleasant tasting...

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM (yD/Pf)

19 Anybody know if The Deplorable Gourmet includes a recipe for Banana Bread? I haven't received my copy yet.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:37 PM (BVQ+1)

20 No ficus?????????????????

Posted by: Sweet Andy Licious at December 16, 2017 01:38 PM (Mo5Uy)

21 Poke Salad Annie,
Gators got your Granny
Everybody says it was a shame
'Cause her momma was a-workin' on the chain gang...

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 16, 2017 01:38 PM (k1TUh)

22 It has several, KT! Including one from the resident Dildo.

Posted by: bluebell at December 16, 2017 01:42 PM (Y+GVq)

23 Blake,
How do you get the lights in the redwoods? Your trees look really healthy too.

Mine look a little sick, I may have to cut some down and it makes me sad. They are huge.

Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 01:42 PM (Ri/rl)

24 Tom Servo at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM

Sorry I forgot to mention that Blake is in or near Bakersfield, California. HOT there in the summer, not too cold in winter. Citrus belt.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:43 PM (BVQ+1)

25 will check in again, later

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 01:47 PM (yD/Pf)

26 JQ at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM

JQ at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM

There are turnip varieties specifically for greens that don't make usable roots. I haven't ever grown these.

All the ones I mentioned above have hairless or nearly hairless leaves with mild flavor and a tough midrib. They don't require the long cooking that makes regular turnip greens taste great. I think they may be crosses between turnips and something else.

'Just Right' makes LOTS of greens. The roots aren't much until they have been in the ground for a while, and it is only suitable for the fall season. The turnips are tender and juicy even when huge. Tasty raw.

Oasis and White Lady are useful as sweet, mild baby turnips and can be planted for a spring or fall crop.

If you like your turnip greens with a kick, you can get regular old hairy-leaved Purple Top or one of its hybrids.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 01:52 PM (BVQ+1)

27 I dk think next year a crop change is in order, so disappointed with the choices this year. Wax beans, lettice and Anaheim were best thing.

Posted by: Skip at December 16, 2017 01:55 PM (aC6Sd)

28
That banana tree pic looks like it's in coastal South Fl.

We've been having some nice weather down here the last few days. No need for AC.

Posted by: girldog at December 16, 2017 01:56 PM (g5YYQ)

29 I have a pic of a sprout.

Posted by: Anthony Weiner at December 16, 2017 01:59 PM (Dp6qK)

30 The Thomas fire is moving in to Montecito right now. More evacuations and the wind is howling. Sixty mile an hour gusts of wind. This is terrible.

Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 02:02 PM (Ri/rl)

31 bluebell at December 16, 2017 01:42 PM

We could soon be hearing about the sudden popularity of banana bread in Valencia, Spain.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 02:02 PM (BVQ+1)

32 19 ... KT, Page 94 of the cookbook has CBD's banana bread recipe. As he said: it has bananas and shit in it.

Thanks for another fun gardening thread.

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:07 PM (V+03K)

33 Tom Servo at December 16, 2017 01:38 PM

JL Hudson sells American poke salad seeds, too.

"P. americana has been grown as a commercial vegetable near Philadelphia for 200 years. As one fellow wrote--'Anyone who says you should boil poke should be required to boil their asparagus!' "

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 02:07 PM (BVQ+1)

34 Skip at December 16, 2017 01:55 PM

Sometimes changing a variety can make a difference.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 02:08 PM (BVQ+1)

35 KT, Page 94 of the cookbook has CBD's banana bread recipe. As he said: it has bananas and shit in it.

Thanks for another fun gardening thread.
Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:07 PM (V+03K)
--------

One thing I'll say for CBD: he sure knows how to sell a recipe.

Posted by: bluebell at December 16, 2017 02:12 PM (kNasr)

36 CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 02:02 PM

Unusual for high winds to last that long in California. Terrible.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 02:13 PM (BVQ+1)

37 Gardening is done for the year at Chez JTB. We finally got some serious winter temps: low twenties and howling winds. Well insulated as I am, that cold cut right threw me. Nicer weather is forecast for next week. That just means a more comfortable time at the target range.

Odd thing: the colder and/or nastier the weather, the more I think about the garden for next spring. Cups of hot tea and visions of successful tomato plants seem to go well together.

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:15 PM (V+03K)

38 threw = through. F'ing auto stuff.

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:16 PM (V+03K)

39 Anyone know if the Whole Seed Catalog is worth the twenty bucks? (I notice Amazon is down to one copy available.) It might be worth it for the entertainment value alone.

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:19 PM (V+03K)

40 Snow peas are complaining that the weather is getting colder, not warmer. They don't get much sun, and are showing the stress, but held up really well.

hi, where are my snow peas? I was told that there would be snow peas for the wicked.

Posted by: Darth Vader at December 16, 2017 02:25 PM (/qEW2)

41 Our Christmas cacti on the window sill are doing their usual trick: beautiful blooms of blood red and deep oranges. But the plants do not grow bigger. They haven't changed in over five years. That I haven't killed them yet says something about them, but I'm not sure what. :-)

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:31 PM (V+03K)

42 That is just awful that the Thomas fire is still raging.
Everyone please take care. I'm worried about y'all.

Posted by: stace at December 16, 2017 02:33 PM (6HFDU)

43 Anyone know if the Whole Seed Catalog is worth the twenty bucks? (I notice Amazon is down to one copy available.) It might be worth it for the entertainment value alone.
Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:19 PM (V+03K)

You can get the "Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds" (www.rareseeds.com) free. Mine just came in the mail. 146 pps. Maybe bec. I purchased from them last year? Anyway how diff can it be? They want to sell seeds.

Posted by: plum at December 16, 2017 02:33 PM (Jw7vw)

44 I live vicariously through Horde gardens and seed catalogs.

Check out the Dark Galaxy Tomato - gorgeous.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 16, 2017 02:35 PM (qJtVm)

45 Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 16, 2017 02:35 PM (qJtVm)

"Dark Galaxy" does look good! Last year I tried "Super Atomic Grape" which is really more a saladette size than a cherry or grape. I should have started earlier than I did because the season ended before most ripened.

Posted by: plum at December 16, 2017 02:46 PM (Jw7vw)

46 The shoot from which the banana fruit grew should be removed at the ground after harvest, another will already be waist-high next to it.

Posted by: Yor, the Hunter from the Future at December 16, 2017 02:48 PM (Jj+59)

47 nood: pets

Posted by: Hands at December 16, 2017 03:05 PM (EzdLW)

48 I have a question: I am going to be 65 next month. Only once in my life have I seen a flock (murder)of crows - over 100 in a single place. This fall I have see 4 huge flocks of crows in different places? Does anyone know if this is a sign of the type of weather we should expect this winter? Or is there any other significance to it?

I live in NEOH, and expect a very cold winter just based on reports from farmers about their animals feeding much more than normal this fall. Even our cats can't seem to get enough to eat for a few months now. Fall came late here, but the last couple weeks winter seems to be setting in. After a very dry summer and fall, we now have about 8 in of snow on the ground. The good news is that the pantry and freezer are full once again.

Posted by: bergerbilder at December 16, 2017 03:14 PM (lIZQs)

49 JTB at December 16, 2017 02:31 PM

Your beautiful cacti may feel just stressed enough to put their energy into bloom instead of growth.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 03:19 PM (BVQ+1)

50 "The photo with the plastic covering, are those sno peas? Are they on the ground? I'm surprised they made it. CaliGirl

yeah, I planted them way late, like mid October I think. yeah it is amazing that survived. The ground was maybe warm enough to keep them in the 20's under the plastic.

Days will be getting longer soon, but ground will keep getting colder. I may put another layer of plastic on just to see if I could get them to survive over winter.

Beets are out in the open and survived. It's been really dry ... maybe less moisture in the leaves helped ... I'm not sure.

Posted by: illiniwek at December 16, 2017 03:25 PM (otAqJ)

51 48 I have a question: I am going to be 65 next month. Only once in my life have I seen a flock (murder)of crows - over 100 in a single place. This fall I have see 4 huge flocks of crows in different places? Does anyone know if this is a sign?
Posted by: bergerbilder at December 16, 2017 03:14 PM (lIZQs)

Be glad they are not buzzards.

Post snark. My cat is always hungry. But I did see 5 deer on the course today. They seemed a little less spooked by my presence. Just nibbled away after I had pulled up in the truck. One was no more than 30 feet away. Still cannot figure what they were eating.

Posted by: golfman at December 16, 2017 03:29 PM (zdZDk)

52 . This fall I have see 4 huge flocks of crows in different places? Does anyone know if this is a sign of the type of weather we should expect this winter?

I think crows migrate, and I think Ohio has something to do with it. (Looking things up is cheating).

I know that for a couple of weeks each year there's one bend in the major highway here in CT where the trees are full of thousands of crows at twilight.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, in touch with his toxic masculinity in his desire to oppress someone at December 16, 2017 03:29 PM (fuK7c)

53 43
Anyone know if the Whole Seed Catalog is worth the twenty bucks? (I
notice Amazon is down to one copy available.) It might be worth it for
the entertainment value alone.

Posted by: JTB at December 16, 2017 02:19 PM (V+03K)

You can get the "Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds" (www.rareseeds.com)
free. Mine just came in the mail. 146 pps. Maybe bec. I purchased
from them last year? Anyway how diff can it be? They want to sell
seeds.

You may be looking at a back issue on Amazon, JTB. This year's issue is ten bucks. Whether or not you want to pay for the enhanced catalog depends on whether or not you are a plant nerd.

If you enjoyed reading the twitter thread at the link in the post, you should really enjoy the Whole Seed Catalog. If you just want to buy seeds, you can get the free catalog.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 03:31 PM (BVQ+1)

54 Someday I'll do a serious contribution - living on Guam we have year round growing season, with distinct periods of rainy and dry. It provides different problems and different opportunities - pests, lack of a cold snap to set fruit (tomatoes), plenty rain most of the year, high humidity and a sun that will make your head so hot you become stupid if you stand out there too long. In the interim - always appreciate this weekly topic and the contributions from morons about the planet.

Posted by: Guaman at December 16, 2017 03:56 PM (OMMdV)

55
Initial preps are underway for the first DG recipe meal.

Going with a side of AeroGarden greens.

Recipe review soon...

Posted by: Spun and Murky at December 16, 2017 03:57 PM (4DCSq)

56 I've been giving Mrs928 citrus trees for Christmas for the last few years. In particular, Satsuma. She asked for something different so I have a Meyer lemon hidden behind the barn where she never goes. I hope it does as well as the oranges have. We are finally starting to get bumper crops after nearly 10 years on the oldest Satsuma.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 16, 2017 04:11 PM (WbIyz)

57 my snow peas variety is
Pisum sativum ... variety macrocarpon
"Little Snow Pea, Purple hybrid

They were the shortest season I found (KT maybe recommended, I forget) 50-60 days, but those are warmer days, not going into winter days.

The Oregon Sugar Pod I had before, -- think I waited too long to pick them and they were a little tough. I don't want to have to pull the strings off of them, and would like to freeze a bunch in vacuum freezer bags.

Posted by: illiniwek at December 16, 2017 04:21 PM (otAqJ)

58 Once again, little going on in Idaho's Treasure Valley. We had a snow flurry last night, 2nd of the season, but it's all melting off today. There's only one pile of leaves left, which will go into the next trash pickup, then that's done for the year. Husband already did the final burn pile, oak leaves and some dead red raspberry canes.

I still have to finish the Siberian iris (10 clumps cut down, 7 to go), but there's one warm day predicted for next week so maybe I'll make use of that.

After the first flurry, I put up the bird seed feeder, but the birds don't appear to have found it yet. Should I maybe spread some seed on the driveway after it dries off, to attract them? Or, does anyone have any other ideas about how to inform the birds "hey, there's an endless supply of food over here!!"?

We'll be bottling our home-brewed Belgian Saison tomorrow.

I finally got almost all the Christmas cards mailed out, so now I can focus on the indoor part of the homestead, which gets somewhat neglected during the outdoor work season.

All my fellow Morons and 'ettes, I pray you stay safe from whatever Mother Nature is dishing out in your area, whether it be fire, wind, or cold!

Posted by: Pat* at December 16, 2017 04:46 PM (FtfVi)

59 Pat,

Fear not. They will find it, and tell their friends. I once hung up a big sunflower--the kind grown for oil--and it took them about a week. After that, they had it cleaned out in three days.

I got a good price on an Aerogarden 6. I will be starting it tonight, as well as some potatoes I'm growing in the basement under grow lights. Let's see if those bastard squirrels can dig their way into these!

Posted by: Gordon at December 16, 2017 05:09 PM (TYh1g)

60 4 Those Christmas lights look pretty high up in the trees. Did you have a lift or a bucket truck to put them up?
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 16, 2017 01:03 PM (mpXpK)

----------------------------

Late to the thread, but, here goes: I use a telescoping pole that is about 18' long with a hook on the end along with a ladder. I've been doing it a while, so, it doesn't take that long any more. Maybe an hour, if that.

Posted by: blake at December 16, 2017 05:24 PM (WEBkv)

61
Really?!?

No one is interested in the Moron recipe cooking right now?

Posted by: Spun and Murky at December 16, 2017 06:14 PM (4DCSq)

62 Guaman at December 16, 2017 03:56 PM

It would be great to get a report from you. I don't think the lack of a cold snap is a problem for tomatoes, though. High temperatures may be a problem, however.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 07:03 PM (BVQ+1)

63
Sigh!

It was rich and delicious...

Posted by: Spun and Murky at December 16, 2017 07:51 PM (4DCSq)

64 23 Blake,
How do you get the lights in the redwoods? Your trees look really healthy too.

Mine look a little sick, I may have to cut some down and it makes me sad. They are huge.

Posted by: CaliGirl at December 16, 2017 01:42 PM (Ri/rl)

-----------------------------------------

Shot Steel Challenge today, and along with other obligations, I'm really late responding to various questions.

Cali, we have 11 redwoods and 8 of them are pretty healthy and 3 are probably borderline.

I am getting a guy in to look at them and see if they need removal. In order to save any of our trees, especially with the watering bans, I pretty much sacrificed the lawn for the trees.

The stand that is the healthiest has a sprinkler that I've aimed up into them in such a fashion that it creates sort of a misting effect and raises the local humidity for the trees.

I haven't yet figured out how to get the same sprinkler effect on the other side, though, I need to get it done.

I also put down bark under all the redwoods and a soil supplement mixture that helps to break down the soil along with increasing acidity of the soil, which I'm told redwoods need. (I believe I used Dr. Earth's Acid Lovers fertilizer)

Posted by: blake at December 16, 2017 08:21 PM (WEBkv)

65 17 Okay, where are you living that you can plant a Palo Verde? I'm guessing SoCal, although they grow like mad around Phoenix and Tuscon.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 16, 2017 01:34 PM (k1TUh)

-----------------------------------------

Not far from where I live there's a Palo Verdo that's probably 30 feet tall and the landscaper has done a great job of keeping it trimmed. That thing looks like a Weeping Willow covered with little yellow flowers in the spring. The tree is a sight in the spring.

And yes, I'm in the aptly named town of "Bakersfield."

Posted by: blake at December 16, 2017 08:31 PM (WEBkv)

66 Spun and Murky at December 16, 2017 03:57 PM

We await with great anticipation your recipe reviews from The Deplorable Gourmet, plus your description of the side of AeroGarden greens!

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:39 PM (BVQ+1)

67 Grump928(C) at December 16, 2017 04:11 PM

Meyer lemon will be something different, for sure. They are juicy like oranges.

Have you been planting dwarf trees? What time of year does your Satsuma fruit taste best?

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:42 PM (BVQ+1)

68 illiniwek at December 16, 2017 04:21 PM

Good luck with your snowpea experiments. Have you run across any that are advertised as stringless?

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:45 PM (BVQ+1)

69 Pat* at December 16, 2017 04:46 PM

Thanks for the good wishes to all. Now you can enjoy some of those garden goodies you have put up for the winter.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:51 PM (BVQ+1)

70 blake at December 16, 2017 08:21 PM

You have given us a really good sense of the difficulties of growing redwoods. Not easy out of their native habitat.

Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:54 PM (BVQ+1)

71 Posted by: KT at December 16, 2017 08:54 PM (BVQ+1)

Well, thank you very much for the complement. The trees give us unbelievable privacy in our backyard and I'm not about to give them up without a fight.

I will say this: I believe redwoods are far more resilient than a lot of people think. The trees are pretty much still able to come back, even if completely brown, as long as the branches are not angled down with all the needles gone. (this is only from my observations, so, take them with a grain of salt)

I've done a lot of reading and it appears there is no single factor that has caused the issues with the redwoods in and around Bakersfield. From what I've gathered, it's a combination of drought, soil compaction, lack of fog and air quality.

However, as you've probably guessed, there is no way I would plant redwoods these days. I've gone drought resistant and there are some marvelous trees that do very well in our area.

Posted by: blake at December 16, 2017 09:13 PM (WEBkv)

72 Hi, is anyone still here? I used to raise dwarf rhododendrons, when I lived in the vicinity of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. I would really like to have some again, but I wonder, here in the Spokane region, what would it take to keep them happy? Does anyone else still on the thread raise, or even have heard of dwarf rhododendrons?

Posted by: The Inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 16, 2017 09:16 PM (bCF6k)

73 Sigh.

How about a complementary compliment?

Posted by: blake at December 16, 2017 09:17 PM (WEBkv)

74 KT, saw your reply re: turnips/ greens-- thanks so much!

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 09:17 PM (yD/Pf)

75 Posted by: The Inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 16, 2017 09:16 PM (bCF6k)

Hi, Dr! I'm no expert, but if dwarf rhodo's are anything like their full-sized relatives, a huge issue in Spokane will be providing humidity.

Then comes protection from temperature extremes. (I'm familiar with Spokane area weather.)

Check with your county extension office, perhaps they have more specific info. And be sure to get a soil test, you may or may not need to adjust the Ph along with nutrients.

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 09:28 PM (yD/Pf)

76 Ph... pH... argh.

Posted by: JQ at December 16, 2017 09:32 PM (yD/Pf)

77 Wow! That photo from Valencia, Spain looks just like any old regular backyard in Miami Florida.

Posted by: Martell at December 16, 2017 10:05 PM (TYna3)

78 Posted by: Martell at December 16, 2017 10:05 PM

Lol, Hawaii too... our neighborhood had:

Papaya, Grapefruit, Avocado, Lemon, Lime, Banana, Passion Fruit and a bunch of other... things... that were also probably edible but I couldn't positively identify them.

I thought at first that we had bananas in our yard, but they turned out to be Parrot Heliconia-- very pretty, but not edible.

Fastfreefall, it's really cool that you're getting a second crop! I thought bananas only bore once also.

Posted by: JQ at December 17, 2017 12:00 AM (yD/Pf)

79 The Inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 16, 2017 09:16 PM

There are all kinds of rhododendrons. Some are dwarf. Bet you could find some that would do well in Spokane.

Posted by: KT at December 17, 2017 12:21 AM (BVQ+1)

80 JQ at December 17, 2017 12:00 AM

Sunset says that citrus grown in Hawaii tastes different from the same varieties grown on the mainland. Not sure how you would tell if you didn't know which cultivars were planted in your neighborhood.

I tried growing passion fruits once in Southern California. Got blossoms. Never did get ripe fruits, though. If I lived closer to the coast, I would try 'Incense', a hybrid also said to have tasty fruit.

Posted by: KT at December 17, 2017 12:39 AM (BVQ+1)

81 The Inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 16, 2017 09:16 PM

Spokane is known as Lilac City.

Something to think about . . .

Posted by: KT at December 17, 2017 12:41 AM (BVQ+1)

82 KT, I was glad to leave Hawaii-- really missed having 4 seasons! (And did NOT miss the X, whom I was also leaving when I returned home...)

Anyway, yeah, Passion Fruit was growing 'wild' just outside the base perimeter fence. Lovely blossoms. The fruit, when cut open, resembled the flowers somewhat. Interesting I thought, although I didn't care much for the flavor.

Papaya and Guava (and many other tropicals other than citrus) are "meh" to my tastebuds also. Go figure.

The taste difference re: citrus was only slight (IMO) but I think that must be rather subjective, as I heard others say it was more pronounced.

Spokane? Heh, spent a few years there as a child... fond memories, but I'm loving my life back in Idaho!

Posted by: JQ at December 17, 2017 12:53 AM (yD/Pf)

83 "Good luck with your snowpea experiments. Have you run across any that are advertised as stringless? Posted by: KT

I was hoping if I got them early enough strings would be minimal, still have to pull off the stem I suppose.

But I found these that say are stringless.
parkseed.com/dwarf-white-sugar-snow-pea-seeds/p/05235/

Posted by: illiniwek at December 17, 2017 04:48 PM (otAqJ)

84 My banana trees went to the greenhouse a month ago.

Posted by: Bobmark at December 18, 2017 10:46 AM (Ohpg3)

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