Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, [KT]

Happy Independence Day to all gardeners, putterers, outdoor enthusiasts and dreamers! Don in Kansas has posted a Garden Report that includes the photo above. It sort of reminds me of fireworks. There are more at the link.

The Nigella damascena flowers are pleasingly complicated and alien-looking, but nearly all of them are either white or blue. Blues are always welcome, but the package promised purples and reds as well. At least a third of them are single, and Nigella is one instance where double flowers are preferable. It's probably time for the seed producers to re-select their stock.

To go with that blue flower, here are some red and white geraniums. Remember our Swiss Garden Dog Guide? Her American Dog Cousin lives at the home where these geraniums are in the window.

And here are the geraniums in Gioia's window in Switzerland

In addition to loving gardens, Gioia is a nature lover

And a cow lover.

Speaking of large hooved animals, a note on last week's crippled deer from Admirale's Mate:

I noticed, in the comments, that there was some concern the deer had Chronic Wasting Disease (comments 26, 27, 36, and 42). My sister had the following response:
The year before last, the dear was probably shot in her back left leg which left it useless. Then last summer it seemed she may have been hit by a car and her right front leg is pretty crippled, leaving it very difficult for her to get around. We contacted the game commission and even sent them pictures, thinking they would put her down, but no..............then, somehow, she got bred. I will never know how she was able to get bred, but now has a little fawn with her. She has such a time getting around, I am sure between that and feeding the fawn, she is literally wasting away, but does not have chronic wasting disease. Very sad indeed. She could never protect herself or her fawn if she had to, as deer rear up on their hind legs and strike with their front feet. Not an option for her. I expect that we won't see her next year.

Nature can be hard . . .

Plant that sounds edible

Last week, we discussed mushrooms and their prospective edibility. This week, another plant, thanks to Misanthropic Humanitarian:

I have planted grapes, but no wine.
We grew up with a huge veggie garden. After leaving the house never had the urge. Now flower beds are a different story. Someday we might have some nice ones.
Our move from 2018 has been interesting. Rabbits, deer, crappy soil & incredibly short growing season.

Sounds challenging. Then there are slugs:

So, growing potato vines, the kinds that don't make potatoes, Solanum jasminoides, S. laxum or the one above, S. crispum.

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where it is best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Also does well in average soils. In St. Louis, it may be grown in pots/containers overwintered indoors or as an annual vine. Grow from seed started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date. Pots may be overwintered indoors as houseplants in bright sun rooms with reduced watering or as dormant plants by cutting back stems and placing in a cool, dark corner of a basement or frost-free garage. Cuttings may also be taken in late summer for overwintering.

Makes little fruits, but they're not edible.

Actual edible things from the garden

Gordon promised to send us a photo:

The remains of the second strawberry rhubarb pie, and strawberry balsamic jam, strawberry jam with Jamison's Irish whiskey, and strawberry jam with half sugar/half stevia for a diabetic friend.

And from his garden:

This patch is finally starting to propagate. Last year I harvested enough for four half pints of jam. This year there should be much more.

Mmmmm.

And here's a fruit report from the desert, too. From the end of May:

Thought I would send a few pictures I took while puttering around this morning. I have a ton of fruit on the go in the yard. Mulberry season has just ended, but I got a bumper crop this year and froze some as well. I managed to make a mean Mulberry Margarita out of some of them.
I am getting a nice crop of Kaffir limes this year, and the Dorsett apple is doing itself quite proud.
I am going to get a few Mangoes as well which is nice because the last two years the Mango got damaged in the frosts but this year we managed to get through the winter unscathed and get some Carrie mangoes.
I am finally getting some Asian pears, I have had this tree for about 9 years, moved it twice and then heard that you need two pear trees to get fruit, and so last year I put in another Asian pear and I hand pollinated and am finally getting some fruit.
This is also my first year to get nectarines, the tree is about 4 years old so it must have needed some time to settle in.
It also looks like I will be getting my first Sapote fruit. It has started fruit before but they all fell off when quite small but I am finally getting a few that are getting bigger so hopefully they will get to full size this year.
Lastly my peach tree is putting on a spectacular show. Last year the frost/snow late in the spring took away all but 20 of my peaches. It is certainly making up for it this year. I have a feeling I will be freezing a lot of peaches and I may have to just make a batch of peach margaritas.
Wee Kreek Farm Girl

I asked about the Sapote:

The fruit get to be about as big as a lemon, but rounder, if that makes sense. The fruit has a custard type consistency and the flavor is kind of like a peach banana maybe a hint of vanilla and pear you eat the skin and flesh and there are seeds inside. The tree itself can get to be 15-20 ft tall. Mine is a white sapote. The fruit is still hanging in there so I am hopeful.

Gardens of The Horde

Jewells sent in some photos:

One is a my prickly pear cactus in bloom..so beautiful! The other is something that was here when we moved in in 2008 and I never could figure out what it is. It grows quite tall at 3-4 feet.

Anybody want to I.D. the last plant?

Here in the Central Valley, our first slicer-sized mater is ripe today. Anything going on in your garden?

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

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:07 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 01:09 PM (6f16T)

2 More coming . . . .

Posted by: KT at July 04, 2020 01:09 PM (BVQ+1)

3 Getting lots of green tomatoes, nothing ripe yet.
Have a experiment going 1/2 are free range, 1/2 are kept in cages.

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 01:12 PM (6f16T)

4 Good afternoon.

Need to harvest raspberries this weekend. The vines have traveled with me from my grandmothers garden to three different places I've lived through the years.

Still reminds me of picking and eating in her backyard when I was a youngster.

Posted by: Nurse ratched at July 04, 2020 01:13 PM (pAKEP)

5 My tomatoes get very free range if I do not prune.

Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 01:14 PM (lUFQh)

6 Anything going on in your garden?
--
Just deer.

Posted by: FrodoB-
Trying again at July 04, 2020 01:16 PM (dQF3z)

7 Hey, top ten, and I read the thread.

Posted by: FrodoB-
Trying again at July 04, 2020 01:16 PM (dQF3z)

8 Morning!

I should have my first mater around September! I'm getting lots of nice buds though..

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at July 04, 2020 01:17 PM (CjFDo)

9 I have to learn how to prune my tomatoes, a couple plants are almost 7 feet high.

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 01:22 PM (6f16T)

10 I was watching butterflies in flight. They seem like terrible pilots, flopping all over the place. It's like they're both drunk and have lost the steering wheel. I'm amazed they manage to get anywhere, let alone where they want to go.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at July 04, 2020 01:23 PM (l9m7l)

11 I dug and cooked some of my potatoes for breakfast. They were about the size of an egg each, and I mostly had dug them out by accident, but the were OK fried up.

I also cooked up a mess of swiss chard this week and the leaves taste better when they are boiled.

I also tried to make strawberry jam, which did not work for processing it twice. So now I have 11 half-pints of strawberry syrup instead.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 04, 2020 01:23 PM (WyVLE)

12 I have been enjoying weeding and cutting back brush. It takes my mind off of everything and reminds me that I am doing something for the future.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 04, 2020 01:24 PM (WyVLE)

13
Weeding, mulching, pruning, and rearranging ... just as I have done for the past week. Yay, me!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 04, 2020 01:24 PM (pNxlR)

14 Only thing I dared to try this year was a few outdoor pots of herbs--basil, rosemary, and mint. And since I don't cook all that much just for myself, I end up eating the mint and basil leaves just for little snacks, lol. The rosemary I've used a little, like for stir-fried chicken; need to break off some and dry it.

Posted by: skywch at July 04, 2020 01:26 PM (Y/Ps0)

15 Skywch
If you strip the rosemary to the sticks, you can use the sticks for shish cabob. It's quite tasty.

Posted by: Nurse ratched at July 04, 2020 01:30 PM (pAKEP)

16 I guess this classifies as puttering, so:

Just finished my Abbott Mask, though I may go back and make some tweaks to make it easier to put on.

Handy-wipe, one layer, string tie. Anyone objects, point to mask. "Face covering. Nose and mouth are covered. That's all the executive order describes."

Further comments? "This one lets me breathe, and wipe sweat. Go away, Karen."

Note: I am not, by nature, confrontational. But this has my dander up.

Posted by: empire 1 at July 04, 2020 01:31 PM (4spo9)

17 Great idea, nurse, thanks!

Posted by: skywch at July 04, 2020 01:32 PM (Y/Ps0)

18 Kind of gardening. Finished all the sprinkler repair work. Letting the PVC welds cure overnight before I pressurize the system again. Next step will be to spread some lime to reduce the acidity from all the leaves that drop in the yard.

Anyone know how to check for soil acidity for fescue grass to grow well?

Posted by: BifBewalski - sinis est culus at July 04, 2020 01:32 PM (VcFUs)

19 Strawberry rhubarb pie is my Absolute Total no-holds-barred favorite

Posted by: Le Garde Vieux at July 04, 2020 01:33 PM (agkAc)

20 Strawberry rhubarb pie is my Absolute Total no-holds-barred favorite

Mine too and my mom made the very best. Oh how I miss her pies.

Posted by: Jewells45feeling sad at July 04, 2020 01:35 PM (dUJdY)

21 See what the hash is

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 01:36 PM (/zZMG)

22 Bifbewalski, short of getting a pH test kit, mix a handful of dirt with enough water to make muddy water, and tip in a small handful of baking soda? Check for foaming?

At least you know if it is acid or not

Posted by: Kindltot at July 04, 2020 01:36 PM (WyVLE)

23 Beautiful raspberry plants. Wish I could find a currant plant or two in Nj, but they are banned.
Anyway I've been spreading smelly stuff to repel deer. swish I could just shoot them

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 01:37 PM (ONvIw)

24 Thanks, Kindltot.

Dropped $4k on sod about seven years ago, but it got a fungus and started dying out. Saved most of it, but was too dumb to realize the leaves from the trees that drove me to fescue for the shade were putting acid in the soil.

Now I got ground cover msos, the green stuff that's like shag carpet everywhere. Pretty, but I've got some weeds. Need to find out whether or not basic weed killer spray will kill the moss.

Posted by: BifBewalski - sinis est culus at July 04, 2020 01:41 PM (VcFUs)

25 Love the photos. The top one and the cactus flowers really catch my eye. How I wish I had some artistic talent so I could draw or paint those scenes.

Posted by: JTB at July 04, 2020 01:44 PM (7EjX1)

26 Don's Love-in-a mist (Devil-in-a-bush) has seeds that may taste like nutmeg and that are probably edible in small quantities. There are other species of Nigella that are more edible, I guess.

Posted by: KT at July 04, 2020 01:45 PM (BVQ+1)

27 The Kaffir Limes look sorta strange, Wee Kreek Farm Girl.

Posted by: KT at July 04, 2020 01:48 PM (BVQ+1)

28 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. -- Genesis 3:17-19

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at July 04, 2020 01:49 PM (vtNpt)

29 Out cherry tomato plants were doing great until a couple of days ago. When the real summer heat came in the leaves started to go yellow. Looking on the internet, it seems that could be from over watering or underwatering. Maybe that's botanical speak for damned if you do or damned if you don't.

The plants are in good new potting soil for the garden, so we assume it's not a tired dirt thing. Watered thoroughly this morning to see what happens.

Posted by: JTB at July 04, 2020 01:50 PM (7EjX1)

30 Hoover 1926

If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 04, 2020 01:52 PM (rZeE/)

31 Hey Mr Sunshine!

Planted some beans, finally got the other raised bed cleared off. It wasn't used last yer because of my broken ankle so it was a mess. Packet said 8- days germination, but in this hot, steamy weather they wre up in 5.
Peas are still produced even in this weather, have green tomatoes but nothing ripe yet, shouldn't be long tho.

Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 01:53 PM (trev9)

32 31 Hey Mr Sunshine!

Hey amigo! Having a chill afternoon. How you doing?

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at July 04, 2020 01:54 PM (vtNpt)

33 For the first time in years I'm growing a few veggies. I already knew that 3 tomato plants were too much for a single guy. Never enough peppers or chilies though.

What I didn't know was that an Armenian Cucumber is more melon than cucumber. I've grown lots of cukes in the past. But this thing is growing like a #@$&! melon in my relatively small raised bed. It's already 4' across and is growing logarithmically each day.

I was training it up like I had cukes in the past (too cheap to do a cage), but it's gone well past the almost dozen 32" high stakes and going sideways to grab onto anything it can.

Thursday, I saw some cute little cukes and thought I'd better pick them. Foolishly, I waited until today. They're about 26"+. I got one that's closer to 10", the diameter is perfect for small bread & butter pickles.

I figure the way this thing is going, I'll have enough for a dozen jars by the end of the week. Now to figure out a salad to make with them.

The sad part was, I just wanted a few cukes (usually all I ever got) to make gazpacho with. My bells won't be coming in for another 3 weeks I'd guess. By then I'll have lots of tomatoes. And about a thousand pod people sized cucumbers.

If anybody has any ideas...

I need to find some dill seeds ASAP too. Nobody at my farmer's market grows dill, probably because nobody knows what to do with it.

Posted by: clutch cargo at July 04, 2020 01:54 PM (8B6Ng)

34 Congratulations on the peaches and nectarines, Wee Kreek Farm Girl - I had a few nectarines on my tree wrapped in chicken wire, but some rodent poked its head into the holes and ruined them.

Lesson learned: Use larger cages.

Posted by: 40 miles north at July 04, 2020 01:54 PM (o2vOl)

35 Crap, I need to check for typos. I'm sober and still can't type! Maybe I need a drink to improve.

Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 01:55 PM (trev9)

36 I'll take a guess at our mystery plant: Delphineum.

Posted by: JQ at July 04, 2020 01:55 PM (whOIk)

37 From Idaho's Treasure Valley, Boise area: Not too much to say this week. I've been harvesting the shelling peas, which are trying to tip their whole fence over. I had to trim down the oregano and spearmint. There will be one last strawberry harvest, then it's time to make war on millipedes.

I have over 5 pounds of frozen carrots now - and more still to come. Anyone have recipes that work with frozen carrots??

Husband read somewhere that if you cut a spinach plant down to the ground, but don't pull out the roots, it can re-grow. Has anyone else heard this?

Hope you're having a Joyous Independence Day! (It'll be quiet around here - husband not feeling well. We'll still try to go outside in the evening to watch any fireworks that may be around.)

Posted by: Pat* at July 04, 2020 01:58 PM (2pX/F)

38
I understand the Triffid meteor shower is tonight.

I'll invite all my liberal friends to watch.

Posted by: stumck at July 04, 2020 02:00 PM (uksaT)

39 Well, I guess Delphinium isn't quite right... but I didn't want to 'cheat', lol.

Whatever they are, they're very pretty!

Posted by: JQ at July 04, 2020 02:00 PM (whOIk)

40 Doing well, Insom. Hope you are too, enjoying a 3 day weekend?

Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 02:00 PM (trev9)

41 Good day green thumbs. Yesterday and today I sprayed goats heads and pigweed coming up where the electric company put in a new underground line along our pasture. I hadn't been paying attention as that strip is out of sight of the house and a week ago looked when I drove by and YIKES. I should have known to plant some grass seed or at least some oats or something where they went with their bobcat but alas was not thinking this spring.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at July 04, 2020 02:01 PM (kOHLB)

42 Whatever they are, they're very pretty!

They are and the hummingbirds and bees love them.

Posted by: Jewells45feeling sad at July 04, 2020 02:02 PM (dUJdY)

43 Pat, I've done that w/ spinach. Except I left a bit of leaf to help it regenerate.

Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 02:02 PM (trev9)

44 Hey KT, I always think the Kaffir limes look like small brains. They aren't supposed to have much juice but mine are alright, interesting flavor and the zest is amazing. Hi 40 miles north, I pick the peaches just before they are ripe and let them finish inside, otherwise the birds sense when they are ripe and peck the heck out of them. Nectarines are still on the tree SLOWLY ripening. Ordered some organza bags to put over them and the figs to see if I can get them before the birds or rodents. We shall see if the garden gods will smile on me. Happy 4th everyone!

Posted by: WeeKreek Farm Girl at July 04, 2020 02:03 PM (NetMO)

45 Trying again Japanese cucumbers, had good success last year, gave up on the sweet peppers I love, never get much for all the plants I ever had.
Shame Clutch, must have 50 dill plants coming up, took seeds and spread them in a couple foot area, I think they all came up.

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 02:03 PM (/zZMG)

46 40 Doing well, Insom. Hope you are too, enjoying a 3 day weekend?
Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 02:00 PM (trev9)

You betcha!

Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo at July 04, 2020 02:04 PM (vtNpt)

47 Good news on the annual war against Japanese Beetles. In June of 2017 & 2018 they dang near stripped my fruit trees and much of the rest of my garden bare of all vegetation. In June 2019 I finally got a trap. (I had avoided traps bcuz I heard that traps can make things worse by attracting even more Japanese beetles.) I also placed an oil change tub filled with water under the trap. The bags collected hundreds of beetles and the tub collected hundreds more that fell to the ground under the trap and drowned in the tub of water. This year I had only a minor infestation of beetles. Perhaps the slaughter I performed on them last year had a prophylactic effect on this year's beetle population.

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at July 04, 2020 02:09 PM (d9Cw3)

48 WeeKreek Farm Girl at July 04, 2020 02:03 PM

"Small brain" is an interesting way to view it. A small, green, alien brain.

Posted by: KT at July 04, 2020 02:12 PM (BVQ+1)

49 Cumberland Astro at July 04, 2020 02:09 PM
Yay!

Posted by: KT at July 04, 2020 02:12 PM (BVQ+1)

50 Bad news re my apples however. My dwarf gala tree had dozens of apples only a few weeks ago. They're all gone. A few golden delicious remain on that tree. I've seen cloven prints in the yard, so I'm guessing the apple rustler is either deer or the devil. Not much difference really.

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at July 04, 2020 02:12 PM (d9Cw3)

51 47: we went with milky spore

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:13 PM (ONvIw)

52 The mystery flower might be Lythrum salicaria. The Nigella with edible seeds is N. sativa. I'd be very cautious about experimenting with other species. Nigella is in the Ranunculaceae, which has a disproportionate number of very poisonous plants.

Posted by: Don at July 04, 2020 02:13 PM (ID8+V)

53 Shame Clutch, must have 50 dill plants coming up, took seeds and spread them in a couple foot area, I think they all came up.
Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 02:03 PM (/zZMG)

I just need to find some seed, fast. The folks at the farmer's market used to have it, like basil and such as well (I'm not hurting for basil!). But I guess they didn't sell enough of it, so most herbs are not to be found.

My problem is I didn't do a proper vegetable bed/garden. At the last second at my new place I decided that the raised flower bed by the back patio would be perfect for my humble needs. Who needs flowers? That's a girly thing!

There's plenty of marigolds accenting the veggies - and I grow my orchids inside!

Anyway, I might have like 24 sq inches of space left for dill. There's lots of places to plant, too bad the house sits on an old riverbed. So basically it's river rock with enough dirt to fill in between the cracks. Prepping a bed is a major project.

Posted by: clutch cargo at July 04, 2020 02:13 PM (8B6Ng)

54 Strawberry syrup is useful. No waste there. Mix a couple of teaspoons in some steel cut oats.

Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:14 PM (lUFQh)

55 FIRST HARVEST! I was out in the garden yesterday, checking the progress of the corn and doing some random weeding. Much to my surprise, I discovered that the Contender beans were already producing! I hadn't expected that, so I had to carry them in my shirt. 52 days from planting the seed. And they were delicious!
The corn tassles are beginning to rise. I've got no experience with corn except from an experiment in Sweden in the 90s (corn doesn't do well there). Publius described to me what to look for in ear formation. I didn't know that each plant produces only one ear (these are sweet corn, of course, and not field corn). Anyone else here who, like me, thought there were 4 or 5 ears to each plant? Where did I get that idea? Maybe from cartoons...

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, also a Karen at July 04, 2020 02:14 PM (rCwaK)

56 53,; I should plant some dill, fine idea

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:15 PM (ONvIw)

57 Happy Independence Day!

Beautiful photos.

Well, it has been hotter than heck (over 85 is hotter than heck here) for a few weeks now. I am in NYS and only grow vegetables in containers therse days.

My peas are finished.

I have been harvesting, blanching, fast freezing, and then foodsavering (freezing) beans, beans, and more beans. And, they are still producing.

The cucumbers are going wild. I've resisted freezer pickling because even though my recipe is tasty, we just do not eat that many in the course of a year. Still, we have so many cukes, I may have to.

All sorts of peppers will be harvested this week. We will freeze whatever we do not use to make soups and salads with, which is great for making more soups in the winter!

My (one) tomato plant is also producing. Everything is a good 3 weeks early this year due to the heat.

We are also growing red onions. Hubby has been using the scapes in recipes. Even if we were to never harvest one red onion (we will), it was worth growing for the scapes.

Happy Gardening!

Posted by: Ann at July 04, 2020 02:17 PM (NDO5Q)

58 We didn't plant dill this year, but last year's dill seeded and it is coming up *everywhere.* It seems to be really pungent, too.

Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (lUFQh)

59 I've seen cloven prints in the yard, so I'm
guessing the apple rustler is either deer or the devil. Not much
difference really.

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at July 04, 2020 02:12 PM (d9Cw3)

ROFL! So true! I'm so grateful for out electric fence this year. It was heartbreaking to see the damage from the previous night's feasting.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, also a Karen at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (rCwaK)

60 Happy Independence Day, all! I love all the pictures of the flowers and fruits. No vegetable garden here but my sunflowers are doing very well. I grew them from seeds and most of them are five to six feet tall right now. They should grow another two or three feet before they bloom. Flowers are just forming on some of them. The Japanese beetles have been attacking so we have been spraying to discourage them. Lots of hot sun here but frequent downpours. Corn crop in Indiana should be huge this year!

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at July 04, 2020 02:19 PM (Vf4Y7)

61 The pie is too crumbly.

Posted by: Carl Sagan at July 04, 2020 02:20 PM (/c2ly)

62 The mystery flower might be Lythrum salicaria.

Oh my gosh that's what it is! I just googled it.

Posted by: Jewells45feeling sad at July 04, 2020 02:21 PM (dUJdY)

63 We didn't plant dill this year, but last year's dill seeded and it is coming up *everywhere.* It seems to be really pungent, too.
Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (lUFQh)

Fresh dill is quite intense.

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 04, 2020 02:22 PM (y7DUB)

64 58 We didn't plant dill this year, but last year's dill seeded and it is coming up *everywhere.* It seems to be really pungent, too.
Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (lUFQh)

Yum.

We had a mild winter and I should have some, but I don't. I do, however, have a huge supply of gladiolas that I never expected. They multiplied in NJ.

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:24 PM (ONvIw)

65 Mrs IMG has several plants in containers: cheery maters, early girl maters, bell peppers. Have snacked on a few cherry maters and a bell pepper so far.

Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at July 04, 2020 02:29 PM (8C7+r)

66 58 We didn't plant dill this year, but last year's dill seeded and it is coming up *everywhere.* It seems to be really pungent, too.
Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (lUFQh)

Yum.

We had a mild winter and I should have some, but I don't. I do, however, have a huge supply of gladiolas that I never expected. They multiplied in NJ.
Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:24 PM (ONvIw)

I'm in CA, but summers can vary quite a bit as far as daytime temps. Right now it's been pretty mild, but should be mid 90's today. The problem I had last time I grew dill was it bolted almost as soon as it started getting big. I've always had the same issue with cilantro. This is the first spring in a while I probably could have grown the stuff.

I'll give it a shot again if I can find some seed - maybe I can have some by mid to late August?

Posted by: clutch cargo at July 04, 2020 02:35 PM (8B6Ng)

67
I'll give it a shot again if I can find some seed - maybe I can have some by mid to late August?
Posted by: clutch cargo at July 04, 2020 02:35 PM (8B6Ng)

I've had seed from the local Indian store sprout.

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:36 PM (ONvIw)

68 nice red white and blue flowers ... the blue one is almost like "fireworks".

The jap beetles started here too ... I have three traps out that filled a little, but now I don't see more beetles. Last three years I would spray and use the traps, emptying the bags twice a day at peak population. A Farm and Home woman told me they say they come heavy for three years in a row like that, so I hope that is true, and we go back to the old days, where fruit trees were not stripped if not sprayed. They'd chew up a lot of Sycamore leaves as well.

My strawberries did OK this year, but I haven't sprayed anything yet, so grapes will flop ... raspberries are OK, but nothing like the ones pictured above. Two little fawns think this is THEIR back yard ... they've come running ten feet from me when I was sitting outside ... I need to patch some holes in the fence, but don't mind the cute little fawns. It's at night when there are five adults inside the garden perimeter that I am less "nature loving".

cheers and Happy Fourth to all the growers ... live long and prosper.

Posted by: illiniwek at July 04, 2020 02:37 PM (Cus5s)

69 I have wondered if John Wyndham knew, when he wrote The Day of the
Triffids, that the name for Greater Ragweed was "Ambrosia trifida"

Posted by: Kindltot at July 04, 2020 02:42 PM (WyVLE)

70 Ah, like the pictures from Wee Kreek Farm Girl.

Today, at Che Blake, Mrs. Blake and I moved roughly 1 and 3rd yards of bedding sand for our paver patio that we are installing.

We got done at a reasonable hour, bed is wet down, tamped, and level, but, still about 1/2 inch too low. But, not to worry, we've got enough to bring everything up just enough plus give us the drainage slope we need.

We worked outside until roughly 11 am, which is about as late as people of our, umm, experience, should probably work in the Central Valley.

Tomato plants are producing and the squash has gone crazy. We've been eating grilled garden fresh squash regularly, which has been sublime.

I forgot to mention, our Anaheim peppers have been very good too. Still amazes me at how much we get from our rather small little gardening area.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at July 04, 2020 02:42 PM (WEBkv)

71 Hiya

Posted by: JT at July 04, 2020 02:42 PM (arJlL)

72 Hiya Mrs. Leggy !

Posted by: JT at July 04, 2020 02:43 PM (arJlL)

73 Greetings, from the sunny Casa Yard Fulla Weeds!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at July 04, 2020 02:44 PM (QzJWU)

74 I've had seed from the local Indian store sprout.
Posted by: CN

Do they produce 7-11 coupons ?

Posted by: JT at July 04, 2020 02:44 PM (arJlL)

75 74: it's a large ethnic supermarket. Great prices on herbs and spices.

lol

Posted by: CN at July 04, 2020 02:46 PM (ONvIw)

76 Crap, I need to check for typos. I'm sober and still can't type! Maybe I need a drink to improve.
Posted by: Farmer at July 04, 2020 01:55 PM (trev9)
--------

Or, maybe you'll care a bit less.

Two good possible outcomes means one shouldn't hesitate to try the solution.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing
at July 04, 2020 02:46 PM (WEBkv)

77 I used to like the century plant (cacti) out in cali. Supposedly only blooms every hundred years. I suspected it was every 30 years though.
(My usual two cents on gardening.)

Posted by: Menack at July 04, 2020 02:47 PM (buTO7)

78 Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. -- Genesis 3:17-19
Posted by: Insomniac - Ex Cineribus Resurgo

" See the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; but The Heavenly Father sees to it that they are fed".

Posted by: JT at July 04, 2020 02:48 PM (arJlL)

79 I searched for the Lythrum also, and lookee what I found, Jewells:

preview.tinyurl.com/ycperqpv

Your flowers are so full and showy that I suppose they are a hybrid and not on the no-no list, lol.

Still, very lovely and hummingbird attracting is a Bonus!

Posted by: JQ at July 04, 2020 02:50 PM (whOIk)

80 Hiya, JT! Happy Fourth of July!

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at July 04, 2020 02:52 PM (Vf4Y7)

81 " See the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; but The Heavenly Father sees to it that they are fed".
Posted by: JT at July 04, 2020 02:48 PM (arJlL)

Lillie of the Fields

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 04, 2020 02:59 PM (JFO2v)

82
nood

beasties

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at July 04, 2020 03:02 PM (pNxlR)

83 We didn't plant dill this year, but last year's
dill seeded and it is coming up *everywhere.* It seems to be really
pungent, too.

Posted by: Gordon at July 04, 2020 02:18 PM (lUFQh)

Fresh dill is quite intense.

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 04, 2020 02:22 PM (y7DUB)

you can't beat finely chopped fresh dill on scrambled eggs.

Posted by: Quint at July 04, 2020 03:02 PM (hHxp2)

84 JQ.. that's interesting because someone told us years ago it was a noxious weed but I wasn't fully satisfied with that answer. So.. maybe I'm a rebel and growing something the state says no to. lol!

Posted by: Jewells45feeling sad at July 04, 2020 03:04 PM (dUJdY)

85 my sunflowers are doing very well. I grew them from
seeds and most of them are five to six feet tall right now. They
should grow another two or three feet before they bloom.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at July 04, 2020 02:19 PM (Vf4Y7)

Oh, I want to do sunflowers next year! I've only grown them once, and that was in Massachusetts in 1985. They were about 8 feet tall by the end of September, glorious flowers, and then Hurricane Gloria struck and they were knocked down. I cried.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, also a Karen at July 04, 2020 03:11 PM (rCwaK)

86 Fresh dill is quite intense.

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 04, 2020 02:22 PM (y7DUB)

Smoked whitefish on Carr's water crackers, with mayo and rafts of fresh dill is to die for.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, also a Karen at July 04, 2020 03:12 PM (rCwaK)

87 Posted by: Jewells45feeling sad at July 04, 2020 03:04 PM

Heh. Disobedient Gardening!!!

Posted by: JQ at July 04, 2020 03:20 PM (whOIk)

88 Also... it just *figures* that:

Something so pretty and easily grown is classified as a "weed"! (Thereby taking the pride/joy out of it.)

Posted by: JQ at July 04, 2020 03:22 PM (whOIk)

89 We still doing this?

Question for lettuce growers.

Not for the first time, but this is worse, I have had starts (small seedlings) of lettuce eaten by ..... something.

The area is fenced off, bunnies are excluded.

Candidates: worms, snails, rats, birds

This time I didn't sprinkle snail/slug poison around, as I did for the first cycle this season (back in March). I did spray Sevin (anti-worm) on them, once. They're in soil with compost, which often is "wormy".

Any ideas?

Posted by: rhomboid at July 04, 2020 03:29 PM (El6T/)

90 Dill does self sew If the swallowtail caterpillars don't eat it to the sticks.

Posted by: Skip at July 04, 2020 03:29 PM (/zZMG)

91 Purple loosestrife is considered a noxious weed in some states because if it gets out of the garden, it can choke out streams, lakes, etc. Goes insane in wet soils.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at July 04, 2020 03:38 PM (zw2rj)

92 Gooseneck loosestrife is a good one to grow; not as colorful, (or as weedy, though it does take over beds if it likes the soil conditions) but the flowers really do look like geese looking around.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at July 04, 2020 03:41 PM (zw2rj)

93 91
Purple loosestrife is considered a noxious weed in some states because
if it gets out of the garden, it can choke out streams, lakes, etc. Goes
insane in wet soils.
Tammy al-Thor at July 04, 2020 03:38 PM
It's that way here in Idaho. It's in the irrigation ditches and laterals and drops seeds that get pulled to all the points downstream. The noxious weed people try to keep up, sometimes get it out of the main ditches, but they'll never catch it in all the places it's gotten, particularly now that a lot of the agricultural irrigation water has been converted to residential use.

Posted by: Pat*'s Hubby at July 04, 2020 05:16 PM (2pX/F)

94 I'm enjoying my days at childhood home, especially the Seven Sisters rambling rose and the impatiens in ceramic pots.

My own garden is probably languishing in the heatwave without rain.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at July 04, 2020 07:40 PM (yKPAy)

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