Gardening, Puttering and Adventure Thread, July 16

Hi, everybody! Our forecast for today is 107 and for tomorrow it's 108. Spending the afternoon indoors. Hotter than that in the deserts!

Our humidity forcast is 20% in the day and 36% at night. It has to be more humid than that in lots of places.

How are your gardens doing? How are you doing?

Here's a note on the spectacular photo above:

My next door neighbor's agave is blooming. A once in a lifetime event (for it) since they die after blooming. This is the first time I've ever seen one bloom. It has become somewhat of an attraction on the street and neighborhood. When it first started the process, it looked like a gigantic asparagus spear and grew like the bean vine in Jack in the Bean Stalk. It grew the height it is now in three weeks or so. The base cactus is now turning brown so I'm guessing it's days are numbered.
I post sparingly as Agitator.

You can see why it would become a tourist attraction!

Critters

We had an ugly pest last week. This is a contrast:

Hi KT, attached is a photo of an Ebony Jewelwing damselfly. Normally these tend to flit around a lot, making them hard to photograph, but this fellow waited patiently and I was able to get a couple of shots.
It's a pity the sky in East Tennessee was so overcast; when the sun is out, these guys really shine. They look like they were made in a 1960's hot rod garage.
I suppose the metallic shine might help them to choose a mate, otherwise it's very pretty. Maybe a deterrent to predators? "Oh I shouldn't eat that, it looks expensive."
Many thanks for the knowledge you dispense on the weekends!
Beckoning Chasm

Edible Gardening

Hi KT,
It has been extremely hot gardening here. I try to get out in it by 7 am so I can finish before it starts to get unbearable which is around 11 am. A few things are doing very well, melons mostly. My peppers have really slowed production with the exception of the lemon hot peppers (first picture) which seem to take the heat in stride. I have at least 5-10 ready to use everyday. Lucky for me because I love them.

Next is a picture of one of the many regular cantaloupe I have coming along, and after that a picture of one of the madhu melons. I also have some kajari melons, they are pretty small, I won't get the seeds again, but I had some left this year so I stuck them in the ground. They are a bit like honeydew but tiny so it only gives you a few bites.

The star right now in my garden though is my brown turkey fig tree. I have been harvesting 3 to 4 figs a day and no end in sight. The organza bags have been working very well and I haven't lost any to the birds except for the ones that I didn't see to cover. So far here at Wee Kreek Holler we have yet to get any rain, it looks like rain almost every afternoon around 5 o'clock only to move on by. We hope for a big beautiful monsoon to come through soon as everything could use a good soaking. Sorry the pictures are a little dark, all of these things are being grown under the shade cloth right now. That stays up until the end of September, trying to give the plants a bit of relief from the death star. Hope all you garden putterers are having great success with your gardens!
WeeKreekFarmGirl

Thanks for the great report! Love to see the peppers, melons and figs making it through the hot weather! Hope you get some rain!

From nurse ratched:

Adventure

By-Tor hiked up Mount Baden-Powell with a friend who is training to climb Mt. Whitney and a dog who went along to make people happy:

9400 ft high, 9 miles round trip and 3000 ft or elevation gain on this hike. Great vistas in every direction.
I liked this one- the trail was smooth, most of it was in shade, and the slope was challenging but doable for intermediate hikers like me.

From summitpost.org:

Originally known as North Baldy, Mt. Baden-Powell was named in 1931 after Lord Robert Stevenson Smyth Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout movement. It is one of the most popular peaks in the San Gabriel mountains, with stunning views of the Mojave desert, Mount Baldy, and the Los Angeles Basin (when it isn't blanketed in brown haze...). The annual Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run passes over the peak in the fall (see "Miscellaneous Info below).
The main trail from Vincent Gap is part of the Pacific Crest Trail, and is well-maintained. You will pass through several ecological zones, from Yellow Pine forest through white fir, lodgepole, and finally limber pine forest. The limber pines are particularly picturesque, and feature a 2,000 year-old grove on the summit ridge. If it's solitude you crave, this isn't your peak, but if you're looking for a fine hike of moderate difficulty and rewarding scenery, then climb on!

Take water.

Biography of Baden-Powell:

His father died when he was three. He engaged in adventures with his brother as a child, but became famous in the military. After the scouting movement was well underway and his health began to fail, he returned to Africa and lived in semi-retirement near Mount Kenya until his death. He covered a lot of territory in his life.

Gardens of The Horde

More from Grimmy in Iowa, who has been hard at work:

Tearing up the yard (and leaving piles of limbs lying around to become
overgrown) has brought all sorts of animal life to the yard. I have a
creek that runs through as well, bringing even more animal diversity.

Future garden spot

Bad mulberries

Turtle

turtle grimmy.jpg

Toad

Slugs. Ewwww.

Don't know if this little frog is Grimmy's:

And here's a beautiful daylily from Hrothgar

Thanks for the lovely photo.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend. If you didn't see your photos here today, check again next week.

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

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

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

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Gardening, Puttering and Fire Season Thread, July 9? We got some GREAT comments on fire readiness for those in fire areas and on planes and copters for firefighting. Some from people with hand-on experience. We will be doing more later on this subject.

We also had good comments on pest control - insects, rodents, deer (also a food source (Heh).

And wonderful comments on what's going on in the Gardens of the Horde. Take a look! The Famous Pat* and her husband have really been busy!

Any thoughts or questions?

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

Posted by: K.T. at 01:25 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon Greenthumbs

Posted by: Skip's phone at July 16, 2022 01:27 PM (Ff6OW)

2 Great. If you can find like 9 other agave, you can make a thimble of tequila.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 16, 2022 01:28 PM (IEa8U)

3 Starting to get veggies, made chile from chile peppers, as well as cucumbers,squash and a few tomatoes

Posted by: Skip's phone at July 16, 2022 01:29 PM (Ff6OW)

4 Wow, dont't think I've ever gotten in this early (Top 10?).

Thanks for the focus lat week on PESTS. Just to let you all know the infested arborvitae have been removed and disposed of.

Any thoughts from the horde on replacement screeninh shrubbery?

(Oh and obligatory Monty Python "Holy Grail" quote: "Bring me a SHRUBBERY!)

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at July 16, 2022 01:31 PM (SEa82)

5 Love the damselfly pic! I'm a big fan of dragonflies in general. They come in so many beautiful colors and iridescence! Different sizes, too. I saw a teeny tiny black one hovering around my summer jewel flowering sage plants.

Posted by: kallisto at July 16, 2022 01:32 PM (dCxaZ)

6 I like to eat my own poop!

Posted by: Sarah at July 16, 2022 01:34 PM (8iGAG)

7 A few weeks ago I told a cute bird story about bluebirds occupying a nest box.

Well today I'm sorry to report about the birdie version of Antifa.

I'd been hearing a weird scratching or scraping sound, and I thought it was just the cypress brushing up against the siding. The other day I happened to find out the source of the noise: a little finch-type bird was munching on my window screen, then flying away with some threads of it in its beak. They have been mining my window screens for nest material.

I checked another screen close by, and the little vandals had removed a panel about two inches high by 9 inches wide....UFB. And then as I was surveying the damage, I heard the scraping on the neighboring screen, I looked up to find one of the little fkkers with a mouthful of vinyl screen in his beak. He just looked at me for a moment before he flew away.

Posted by: kallisto at July 16, 2022 01:37 PM (dCxaZ)

8 kallisto at July 16, 2022 01:32 PM

I love the damselfly photo, too!

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 01:41 PM (rrtZS)

9 Humidity here hasn't dropped below 80% in weeks. My super awesome "U-shaped" ACs make life tolerable whilst indoors--at least, while I still have the privilege of power-on-demand.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik [DHS Verdict: MDM] at July 16, 2022 01:41 PM (DTX3h)

10 Property we bought has a fenced garden area. We expanded by adding 2 more beds (3). 25×4 . Its going crazy. First planting eaten by little rabibits that could get through the fence,, so we chicken wired it.. Gonna have learn how to can. We will have cabbage up the wazoo because plants we thought dead have recovered.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:42 PM (hz9+a)

11 Humidity here hasn't dropped below 80% in weeks. My super awesome "U-shaped" ACs make life tolerable whilst indoors--at least, while I still have the privilege of power-on-demand.
Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik

Lucky you. It's been very humid here, abnormal, and the swamp cooler doesn't work for squat.

Posted by: Infidel at July 16, 2022 01:43 PM (mn1Pi)

12 Hey there plant freaks!

I have a question regarding tomatoes and blossom end rot. I feed the 'maters and spread some 3-4-6 fertilizer (with calcium) in the dirt, but some plants have the rot. Any ideas?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 16, 2022 01:43 PM (Dc2NZ)

13 CannibalBob!!!

Hey there! Long time no see! Please give Heidi hugs.

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:44 PM (U2p+3)

14 "7 Well today I'm sorry to report about the birdie version of Antifa.
They have been mining my window screens for nest material."

Aluminum window screen is a bit more of a pain to install, but I bet they'd have a harder time breaking it for nest threads.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at July 16, 2022 01:44 PM (ZKF/3)

15 Squash (yellow and zucchini) is off the hook. Cucumbers so-so and tomatoes beginning to do well. Got two green bean pickings too. The peppers, green and jalapeno are not doing well at all. They're rotting at the bottom as they hang. Not one has been good. Very dry here in the Bluegrass but we're watering from time to time.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 16, 2022 01:47 PM (BFigT)

16 All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 16, 2022 01:43 PM

pH determined if the calcium will be available. Weather makes a difference. So does variety. Remember you can cut blossom end rot off and eat the rest of the tomato.

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 01:47 PM (rrtZS)

17 I discovered a few weeks ago that I can root basil cuttings by taking the cut herbs and stick them in dirt for two weeks.
I bought a bundle at the Farmers' market and rooted four of the branches, and dried the rest. I got the rooted cuttings into the ground yesterday. They are surviving OK so far.

I also discovered this year that I can root tomato cuttings the same way, since I am now pruning my tomatoes up from the base, and I had a source of cuttings to play with.

I think in the next year I will be buying one or two plants and propagating them for my garden

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 01:47 PM (xhaym)

18 FeatherBlade at July 16, 2022 01:44 PM

Wow. Vandals of the Week!

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 01:48 PM (rrtZS)

19 Great. If you can find like 9 other agave, you can make a thimble of tequila.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 16, 2022 01:28 PM (IEa8U)

Was just getting ready to ask about that. Didn't have any tequila in my cabinet, so I bought some anejo...3 year old barrell aged tequila. Didn't know there was such a thing. It's pretty good...for tequila.

Posted by: BignJames at July 16, 2022 01:48 PM (AwYPR)

20 CannibalBob!!!

Hey there! Long time no see! Please give Heidi hugs.
Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:44 PM (U2p+3)

NURSE! I just did that! Kissed her too...for me. Give yourself a hug from us!! Xoxo

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:50 PM (hz9+a)

21 Well, just sold the '88 Diesel Suburban. Guy and buddy came by with an old 5th-wheel deck trailer and hauled it away. Got my full price, too!

So I dragged my killer weed mower out of the shed, filled the fuel tank, and fired it up. It's old rotary mower with the front of the deck truncated, front wheels removed, and skids and tines fitted to the front to guide weed stalks into the blade. Has two 12" kiddie bike wheels on the back (that hold air!), and an extended handle, so moving it around is almost effortless. I run the engine at about 1/4 throttle, so if it hits a solid object, it's less likely to sustain damage. Got a whole mess of thistle, ragweed, and tall grass chopped down.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 16, 2022 01:51 PM (o3QyU)

22 We will have cabbage up the wazoo because plants we thought dead have recovered.
Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:42 PM (hz9+a)

Learn to make sauerkraut, it is tasty and keeps a long time.

A story I heard was about a guy who remembered making sauerkraut as a child on the family farm where his "job" was treading the cabbage down into the barrel, and his uncle suddenly asking "has this boy washed his feet?"

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 01:51 PM (xhaym)

23 Don't even talk about tequila, nurses clothes will fall off...wait...nevermind. go ahead.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:52 PM (hz9+a)

24 Finally, that agave flower spike looks like something drawn by Dr Seuss.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 01:52 PM (xhaym)

25 Too hot to do any planting in Houston. I did set up my concert planters and laid the ground with red lava rock that matches my house trim color.

Posted by: Anti doesn't matter at July 16, 2022 01:54 PM (Q4fjM)

26 Finally, that agave flower spike looks like something drawn by Dr Seuss.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 01:52 PM (xhaym)

I had a plant like that in my yard in Apache Junction. Put up a long stem, flowered, and then up and died.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 16, 2022 01:54 PM (o3QyU)

27 The frog photo reminds me that I've been hearing the frogs at night for the last couple of weeks. This is the first year here that I've really heard them. Probably because this is a newer neighborhood than our last one and doesn't have many large trees yet.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 01:56 PM (nC+QA)

28 My radishes are doing fine, maybe even past their "best before" date. 'Maters are hanging in, peppers doing well, and the 'tater plants have grown big and strong, and are in blossom now.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 16, 2022 01:56 PM (o3QyU)

29 We've got an agave that size about 2-3 blocks from the local Albertsons grocery. Every several years or so, those guys bloom hugely. They make for quite a sight on the open plains next to the Guadalupe Mountains.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at July 16, 2022 01:56 PM (ZSK0i)

30 and his uncle suddenly asking "has this boy washed his feet?"
Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 01:51 PM (xhaym)

Thank you. That is certainly on the list of things to learn. Is there a recipe in the Deplorable Gourmet? Have to check.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:56 PM (hz9+a)

31 I've always known that mountain as Mt. Baldy. On a clear day in winter you can see its snow covered peak from San Diego which is over 100 miles away.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at July 16, 2022 01:57 PM (AiZBA)

32 Hey!
I got a nice bottle of tequila and some Cointreau and some fresh limes. Going to make some simple syrup and make some margaritas for #1 son when he comes down to the beach for happy hour.

I'll not have clothes falling off until he goes home!
But back in the day.... tequila.....

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:59 PM (U2p+3)

33 I'll not have clothes falling off until he goes home!
But back in the day.... tequila.....

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:59 PM (U2p+3)

I used to have quite a stash of nice tequila, but its something you have to keep up with or it seems to just evaporate quickly. Go figure.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:02 PM (hz9+a)

34 Great. If you can find like 9 other agave, you can make a thimble of tequila.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 16, 2022 01:28 PM (IEa8U)

They have another half dozen or so on their lot. They picked them for low maintenance since they are only part time residents. They did not know about the bloom/die part of their landscaping.

Posted by: Agitator at July 16, 2022 02:02 PM (8Avx7)

35 I'm waiting to send in some photos of the "crop failures" in the local grocery stores. Rows n' rows of empty produce bins, soon to appear over the horizon.

Oh, and electricity comes out of the wall, too. Right?

*continues stockpiling*

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at July 16, 2022 02:02 PM (tkOps)

36 Cannibal Bob, there are lots and lots of recipes online, I make it in quart jars so that they all don't go bad at the same time. I had a five gallon bucket go bad and that was a tragedy.

I toss the shreds with salt in some steel bowls I bought just for that use and let them sweat for about a half hour before packing in the jars. You can add brine afterwards if you don't get enough sweated out to begin with.

I like to throw in some chiles and garlic when I pack them, and my wife likes me to add shredded carrot too.
I put them on the drainboard for about a week to get them working, and then I have them in the fridge where they will keep six months, easy.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 02:02 PM (xhaym)

37 I'll not have clothes falling off until he goes home!
But back in the day.... tequila.....
Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:59 PM (U2p+3)

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, FLOOR!

Sorry, had to go there.

-SLV

Posted by: Shy Lurking Voter at July 16, 2022 02:05 PM (SEa82)

38 That means he's feeling better I hope. Or was it Son2 that had covid?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:05 PM (nC+QA)

39 23 Don't even talk about tequila, nurses clothes will fall off...wait...nevermind. go ahead.
Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 01:52 PM (hz9+a)

*looks at multiple jughandles of Kirkland 100% agave sitting on the floor*

*ponders*

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik [DHS Verdict: MDM] at July 16, 2022 02:05 PM (DTX3h)

40 When I started making sauerkraut in quart jars years ago, it was sort of hard to find recipes online. Now there are lots and lots of them

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 02:06 PM (xhaym)

41 On a more pleasant note, my hot peppers are doing very well, as are my herbs. I made a batch of pesto recently using my Thai basil and it was amazeballs.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Analog Hipster at July 16, 2022 02:06 PM (Dc2NZ)

42 Hey!
I got a nice bottle of tequila and some Cointreau and some fresh limes. Going to make some simple syrup and make some margaritas for #1 son when he comes down to the beach for happy hour.

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 01:59 PM (U2p+3)

Hmm...I've got some Grand Marnier...think I'll go experiment.

Posted by: BignJames at July 16, 2022 02:08 PM (AwYPR)

43
I like to throw in some chiles and garlic when I pack them, and my wife likes me to add shredded carrot too.
I put them on the drainboard for about a week to get them working, and then I have them in the fridge where they will keep six months, easy.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 02:02 PM (xhaym)

Thanks again! I will try that! Sone tomatoes i will dehydrate. I have and electric dehydrator but going to build a big solar one because...Arizona.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:13 PM (hz9+a)

44 Wee Kreek Girl must have some shade for her plants. My acorn squash gasped and died in the 115 heat this week. Basil alone remains. I have purchased a sun shade for that side of the house and will install it this week.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 02:14 PM (5Kc08)

45 The frog photo is from me, and I thought the colors and such looked really nice when blown up, especially considering I'm no photographer and just took a couple pics with my phone. Those little guys love climbing on my glass back door at night.

Posted by: Grimmy at July 16, 2022 02:16 PM (HHI2d)

46
Thanks again! I will try that! Sone tomatoes i will dehydrate. I have and electric dehydrator but going to build a big solar one because...Arizona.
Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:13 PM (hz9+a)

I have volunteer tomatoes pop up, last year I let them grow because I was worried couldn't get enough tomato seed or plants to fill the space in my garden. They were all the cherry type because the hybrids revert in the seed.
I dried them for soups and stews, and they were very sweet. A friend says to dry them and run them through the food processor to make ready-to-rehydrate tomato paste

This year the stupid volunteers are bigger than the plants I raised from seed starting in March. Aaargh!

Posted by: Kindltot at July 16, 2022 02:20 PM (xhaym)

47 It's 66 and cloudy today. Supposed to get up to 77 and 80s all next week. I'm sure it sounds great to those in hot climates but this is supposed to be our summer. We'll get plenty of cool cloudy days come fall.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 16, 2022 02:21 PM (YynYJ)

48 Couple weeks ago watering garden this little guy jumped out, couldn't have been a fraction of a inch long
https://tinyurl.com/4y2ctda4

Been looking for him since but haven't seen him.

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2022 02:23 PM (2JoB8)

49 Cannibal Bob, I have also pickled excess cherry tomatoes. I ran them through with a skewer. Some pickle loving folks eat them like popcorn.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 02:25 PM (5Kc08)

50 How are your gardens doing?

Bought four tomato plants in spring. Two Cherry and two of a heat tolerant variety. Kept them watered, kept them shaded and kept them sprayed. Tore them out last week. They all turned brown and wilted. Only got a handful of cherry tomatoes and only two of the "heat tolerant" tomatoes. Spent more money on the plants than I got back in fruit.

Had planted a sweet pumpkin seed. Came out really well, blossoms all over the place. Nearly all male. Kept plant same as tomatoes. Got a couple of females that ended up about thumb size, then they shriveled and turned yellow. No more females, so ripped it out too.

Planted bitter melon, they're in a pot. Climbing and leafing out everywhere. Had two pinky sized fruit. Then they too yellowed and shriveled up. Plant still seems fine, so we're going to move it.

Sunflowers wilt in mid-day heat, but perk up after watering and at night.

They Horde's Favorite, Okra, is doing well.

Eh, might have to try planting late in summer, it stays warm here until mid-October.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 16, 2022 02:26 PM (7bRMQ)

51 I like to eat my own poop!
Posted by: Sarah

Cheap date.....

Posted by: JT at July 16, 2022 02:28 PM (T4tVD)

52 38 That means he's feeling better I hope. Or was it Son2 that had covid?
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

He is! He had covid during the initial
Wave in February 2020 after coming home from Mardi Gras in NoLa. He was super sick. I took time off work to take care of him. We treated his symptoms and he got better in a couple weeks. He and I had a conversation and he elected to bony get vaccinated, despite all the harassment from his work and from friends. I procured a vaccination card for him so he could participate in society and we left it at that. He got the latest variant a month ago. He wasn't nearly as sick and recovered in about a week.

Both times I was in close contact. Neither time did I get sick. Go figure.

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 02:28 PM (U2p+3)

53 He elected to NOT get vaccinated. Jeepers.

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 02:29 PM (U2p+3)

54 Hiya Cannibal !

Long time, no chi !

(that's what they say in Old Hong Kong !)

Regards to Heidi !

Posted by: JT at July 16, 2022 02:29 PM (T4tVD)

55 About that blooming agave. If the property owner decides to chop that sucker up themselves once it's completely dead, wear long sleeves, long pants, and at least consider gloves. Something in those plants is a skin irritant and will make you itch like crazy if it gets on you. It washes off, but the effect lasts for a while even after washing.

Found that out the hard way.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - moronhorde.com. Not insurgents, counterrevolutionaries. at July 16, 2022 02:31 PM (Bd6X8)

56 Those century plants / agave varieties are amazing. They put all the energy they have into blooming spectacularly, once.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2022 02:31 PM (UB+3F)

57 Today, I'm preserving lemons.

Sliced into quarters, add salt, stuff into a quart jar. Add extra lemon juice.

Seal. Leave it alone in a dark cabinet for a few weeks.

Preserved lemons are fantastic in salads, on fish, tossed with olive oil and garlic on pasta.....

Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 02:33 PM (U2p+3)

58 I wasn't happy with the amount of veggie/fruit scraps that were going in the trash, and the composters offered were too big and too expensive. I had a plastic container for dishwasher packs that was almost empty so decided to use that.

I poked holes on sides, lid and bottom because I'd read that any plant matter had to be within 12 inches of air to prevent going sour. Filled it with food scraps and shredded paper and left it alone, except to add more scraps. Seems to have worked pretty well. Thinking of making a "tower" as we empty more containers.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:36 PM (nC+QA)

59 About that blooming agave. If the property owner decides to chop that sucker up themselves once it's completely dead, wear long sleeves, long pants, and at least consider gloves. Something in those plants is a skin irritant and will make you itch like crazy if it gets on you. It washes off, but the effect lasts for a while even after washing.

Found that out the hard way.
Posted by: Blanco Basura - moronhorde.com. Not insurgents, counterrevolutionaries

But are they gonna need an ocean of Calamine lotion?

Posted by: Poison Ivy at July 16, 2022 02:36 PM (ftFVW)

60 We are bottling pinot at my house and I'm watching them. They have a tank of argon gas and put some into the bottle so it pushes the oxygen out, they fill it with wine and then cork it.

I want to taste it but they have an assembly line going. I've strolled by all morning and I haven't caught them on a break. Yet.

Posted by: CaliGirl at July 16, 2022 02:37 PM (oeVy+)

61 Agaves must be really amazing chemically. Blanco told of the one that has a skin irritant in it; but the succulent agaves have fluid in them that is a healing balm. And the Blue Agaves of Jalisco are the source of Tequila, making them the best agaves of all!

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2022 02:38 PM (UB+3F)

62 I think this qualifies for for the thread. It's gardening.

I was pleasantly surprised when the wife came home, from our local Tractor Supply, with about $50 of Heirloom Seed from Burpee.

Ordering online is hit or miss, as far as stock. She said the local TSC had racks of the stuff.

Kentucky Wonder green beans, various small tomato varieties, the small Sugar Pumpkins that grow in our clay, and such.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:40 PM (Ygbdp)

63 Posted by: nurse ratched at July 16, 2022 02:33 PM (U2p+3)

I've been considering trying that. Got some salted pickled limes from the asian grocery and I really like those chopped up and used as a condiment. Was wondering if lemons would work the same way and am tired of having lemons go bad since Aldi only sells them in large bags.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:41 PM (nC+QA)

64 I know I'm very off topic, but speaking of obnoxious plants: Bill Kristol as noted at twitchy:

"I'm more of a liberal democrat than a social democrat. But I admire many social democrats past and present. Social democrats who respect liberty are key to defending democracy."

garden classification: dingleberry.

Posted by: mallfly the Peach of Hoboken at July 16, 2022 02:42 PM (Ynyl9)

65 Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:40 PM (Ygbdp)

That's helpful to know. May need to go by and see what ours has, now that I've finally found out where it is.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:44 PM (nC+QA)

66 I know I'm very off topic, but speaking of obnoxious plants: Bill Kristol as noted at twitchy:

I think it's very topical - Bill Kristol is the kind of dude that eats, but doesn't work. He's going to be of no help in the garden. He'll talk about what we all should be doing, though, as we do the work that makes the food that we eat. He'll insist on being at the head of the table. Because he's Bill Kristol, damn it.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:45 PM (Ygbdp)

67 49 Cannibal Bob, I have also pickled excess cherry tomatoes. I ran them through with a skewer. Some pickle loving folks eat them like popcorn.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 02:25 PM (5Kc0

Huh, you people know some shit. I thought preserving lemons was lemoncello?

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:46 PM (hz9+a)

68 Hi JT! Hefi...Hi JT!

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:47 PM (hz9+a)

69 Lol. Oops. Heidi. Not Hefi.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:47 PM (hz9+a)

70 Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 02:25 PM (5Kc08 )

How did you pickle your tomatoes? I did some using the same brine I use for red bell peppers and it turned out very disappointing. The peppers turn out delicious, but the tomatoes didn't pick up the salt or vinegar flavors at all.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:50 PM (nC+QA)

71 I built a retaining wall out of railroad ties on the hillside behind my house. I have strawberries, asparagus, cabbage and onions planted there. Moles have apparently discovered my onions. With the grandkids watching, I took my weed burner and pumped propane into several of their holes for about five minutes. When I lit it off it was spectacular. Flames came out in about 8 different places. I can only imagine how the 4 year old is going to relate that to my daughter.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at July 16, 2022 02:50 PM (c0dNk)

72 Love the damselfly, BC. He's got his neon lights on. And the beautiful lily to end it all. Skip, that frog has his camo on just to hide from you.
Thank you, KT, for all you do.

Posted by: PatAZ at July 16, 2022 02:51 PM (wCzxg)

73 Don't know if this would be the case in other parts of the country, but our local Ace Hardware is very well stocked with canning jars and lids. Walmart was sparse.

So don't despair if it doesn't look good at your Walmart. Try a hardware store.

Posted by: Emmie at July 16, 2022 02:51 PM (6RgRK)

74 KT and the rest of gang. I'm getting repeated notices from my Norton account " AOS Dangerous Website" Malware attacks.

Posted by: sherpa_k2 at July 16, 2022 02:51 PM (VQg2y)

75 Got a neighbor that's raising six hens to put out eggs. I think this is a teaching moment - I'm sure learning.

He's on his second fifty bound bag of feed. It makes sense, you have to feed 'em. Seems like there's a reason that corn - being so easy to raise - is the most awesome of awesome crops.

And a way to grind the corn. That seems like something I need. Just a mill I can turn by hand. To make small amounts of feed.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:52 PM (Ygbdp)

76 Question: onions going crazy. Occasionally I year a small piece of the covers tall slender leaves. Delicious. Like (giant) chives. When I harvest the onions, can I blanch and freeze the leaves?

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:55 PM (hz9+a)

77 Lol. Oops. Heidi. Not Hefi.
Posted by: Cannibal Bob

"Did you just call me Heavy ?"

Posted by: JT at July 16, 2022 02:56 PM (T4tVD)

78 Don't know if this would be the case in other parts of the country, but our local Ace Hardware is very well stocked with canning jars and lids. Walmart was sparse.

So don't despair if it doesn't look good at your Walmart. Try a hardware store.
Posted by: Emmie

I stock up every month when I go into Spokane for my monthly Winco visit. They have consistently had the best prices and inventory over the last year.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * Ungovernable at July 16, 2022 02:57 PM (c0dNk)

79 Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 02:55 PM

Yes.

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 02:57 PM (rrtZS)

80 > Got a neighbor that's raising six hens to put out eggs.
__________

Our neighbors have about a dozen or so. I've been taking our excess squash over and they'll take what they want and feed the remainder to the chickens. It's good for them. Plus I get eggs in trade.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 16, 2022 02:58 PM (BFigT)

81 Posted by: Emmie at July 16, 2022 02:51 PM (6RgRK)

Will have to look there. I was just noticing that the rings I've been using are getting very rusty. I wonder if they'd last better if I didn't put them in th dishwasher, although they could just be old since they all came off of jars of stuff my M-I-L canned and I've been using them constantly for storing one thing or another.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 02:59 PM (nC+QA)

82 >>> 75 Got a neighbor that's raising six hens to put out eggs. I think this is a teaching moment - I'm sure learning.

He's on his second fifty bound bag of feed. It makes sense, you have to feed 'em. Seems like there's a reason that corn - being so easy to raise - is the most awesome of awesome crops.

And a way to grind the corn. That seems like something I need. Just a mill I can turn by hand. To make small amounts of feed.
Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:52 PM (Ygbdp)

Several choices here:
https://www.lehmans.com/ search?w=grain+mill
I'm pretty sure chickens can eat oats too, plus other grains. Mine love getting out of the coop to chase down crickets, grasshoppers, spiders and other tasty sources of protein.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 16, 2022 03:00 PM (llON8)

83 Our neighbors have about a dozen or so. I've been taking our excess squash over and they'll take what they want and feed the remainder to the chickens. It's good for them. Plus I get eggs in trade.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 16, 2022 02:58 PM (BFigT)

I've been thinking about that. They're not like me - they're not going to do a one acre garden. But, if I can trade them feed for eggs - I think we both win.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 03:00 PM (Ygbdp)

84 Did you just call me Heavy ?"

Posted by: JT at July 16, 2022 02:56 PM (T4tVD)

Thats a big compliment in some countries. They are also the countries where fartung and burping are complimentary at dinner.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 03:01 PM (hz9+a)

85 Norton run by Leftists?

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2022 03:02 PM (2JoB8)

86 Yes.
Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 02:57 PM (rrtZS

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 03:03 PM (hz9+a)

87 The birds around here only just this week figured out what the bird bath is for. A little sparrow I hadn't seen before got itself a thorough bath (was surprised it could fly away with being that wet) and suddenly the finches are having a great time getting baths almost every day.

They and the dives were using it for drinking before, but it's extra fun watching them splash around.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 03:05 PM (nC+QA)

88 Hopefully no one has beat me to it but some history about the agave (also known as century plants). They bloom, the bees swarm them to pollinate the flowers, and then they grow miniature plants in clusters on the stalks. These are also known as pups, and can be snapped off and planted to grow new agave just like the parent plant. In the wild, they are ideally timed to be ready to grow when the monsoons provide water and softened ground so when the parent is blown over, the pups pop off and can root in the crash field where the parent goes down. Some places in South America, Mexico, and South Africa, the plant clusters can be traced for generations back from the current cluster to the oldest plants by mapping the clusters and crashed parent plants. I usually have several large shallow dish pots with potting soil going to root pups to put wherever I need to fill in a hole in the yard or along the verge in my neighborhood when a plant dies and hasn’t been replaced by the landscapers.

Posted by: Nan at July 16, 2022 03:06 PM (s4Pi8)

89 I just realized I had a great topic to send photos in for, and completely forgot! I noticed last week a few of my young trees looked like they were drying out...leaves were really brown. Seemed odd, as I had been watering them pretty frequently.

Went up to take a closer look, and they were covered in Japanese beetles. I had sprayed them a few weeks earlier with pesticide, but apparently it had worn off, and my trees were getting hit hard.

After applying some more chemicals and placing some traps, trees are 95% free when I check them, but will probably need so time to grow back. The giant wild grape leaves on the fence between me and my neighbor seems to be the preferred buffet at the moment, which I can live with.

Posted by: Grimmy at July 16, 2022 03:06 PM (HHI2d)

90 Damn, there was a green plant for sale on Craigslist awhile back. Guy said it grows fast he has fed it to his chickens and hogs for many years. Ill think of the name when the thread is closed.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at July 16, 2022 03:06 PM (hz9+a)

91 And a way to grind the corn. That seems like something I need. Just a mill I can turn by hand. To make small amounts of feed.
Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 02:52 PM (Ygbdp)

If you already have a blender, you could use that. I've made cornmeal with a magic bullet type blender.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2022 03:09 PM (OX9vb)

92 Damn, there was a green plant for sale on Craigslist awhile back. Guy said it grows fast he has fed it to his chickens and hogs for many years. Ill think of the name when the thread is closed.
Posted by: Cannibal Bob

Kudzu?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 16, 2022 03:10 PM (anmER)

93 re 90: sounds like kudzu, I'm just guessing, but I read years ago that it grows like mad and chickens really go for it.

Posted by: mallfly the Peach of Hoboken at July 16, 2022 03:11 PM (Ynyl9)

94 Chickens like greens, especially grass clippings. And the yolks get darker from the greens. Almost orange.

Posted by: PatAZ at July 16, 2022 03:11 PM (wCzxg)

95 My first attempt at potato container gardening is coming along nicely. Lots of thick leaves and I've had to build up a mound to keep them from greening. Looking forward to the potatoes.

Posted by: CN at July 16, 2022 03:12 PM (ONvIw)

96 I'm working on learning to can again. We canned lots when I was growing up, but that was a loooong time ago.

Did six pints of green beans last weekend. Doesn't sound like much, but it's not a giant garden. Everything sealed up right, so looks like success.

I should harvest enough tomatoes and jalapenos this week to do salsa next weekend. And I'm going to try pickles for the first time ever. Mom didn't do pickles.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2022 03:12 PM (OX9vb)

97 Corona grain mill are designed for corn. Mine is at least forty years old now. We ground a lot of wheat with it too.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 16, 2022 03:15 PM (YynYJ)

98 Those century plants / agave varieties are amazing. They put all the energy they have into blooming spectacularly, once.
Posted by: Tom Servo at July 16, 2022 02:31 PM (UB+3F)

The long-life / irregular mass blooming keeps critters that might eat up all the seeds from breeding large populations in sync with the agave. Enough seeds are thrown about that they can't all be et up.

Same thing with the 13/17 year cicadas.

Posted by: Oldcat at July 16, 2022 03:16 PM (eoQWY)

99 Another 8 or so chili peppers, they are small maybe 1 1/2" Long 3/8" diameter. 1 tomato and 2 squash.

Posted by: Skip at July 16, 2022 03:16 PM (2JoB8)

100 I'm working on learning to can again. We canned lots when I was growing up, but that was a loooong time ago.

Did six pints of green beans last weekend. Doesn't sound like much, but it's not a giant garden. Everything sealed up right, so looks like success.

Hell Yes. Congrats.

That's six pints of self reliance. Seriously, you are a Great American.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 03:17 PM (Ygbdp)

101 ..Chickens like greens, especially grass clippings. And the yolks get darker from the greens. Almost orange.
Posted by: PatAZ at July 16, 2022 03:11 PM (wCzxg)

Shhhhh! You'll give away the secret password!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at July 16, 2022 03:17 PM (tkOps)

102 I planted some irises here and plan to take most with me. I had a few up bu the fence that did not do well. Dog kept running over them. I dug those up first. The ground is like concrete but I got them out. I bought a great new hand trowel, Dutch made, with a sharpened edge. I love it already. The irises are transplanted into pots.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 16, 2022 03:18 PM (YynYJ)

103 That's six pints of self reliance. Seriously, you are a Great American.
Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 03:17 PM (Ygbdp)

Well, thanks! Hoping to get it down before the real hurtin' starts. I'm always inspired by Notsothoreau and CN (I think it's you two) who can freakin' everything, including chicken that's on sale. I want to be like them.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2022 03:22 PM (OX9vb)

104 Pet thread is upstairs

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 16, 2022 03:22 PM (EZebt)

105 One you get the canning bug, you won't stop!

Posted by: Notsothoreau at July 16, 2022 03:24 PM (YynYJ)

106 Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 16, 2022 03:22 PM (OX9vb)

Start small ... seriously.

You can't go from nothing to six months of hard core survival. And that's OK. I'd suggest thinking about this as bigger and bigger circles.

Can you and your family sit home, without going to the store, with the main breaker off for the rest of this weekend ? If not ... work on that problem.

Then, when you can - work on the next problem. Maybe a seven day problem.

I'd suggest that a thirty day problem is about the longest you should worry about. But start small. And I think you're looking at really good stuff - like canning.

Posted by: And Away We Go at July 16, 2022 03:28 PM (Ygbdp)

107 KT: Thanks for posting my daylily photo! One thing I forgot to mention is that these are huge flowers, I measured one of the small ones today (all that is flowering now) and it is about 6+ inches from tip to tip. I am positive when they first came in, most were 8 inches across, but, from sad experience, I know that without photographic proof it didn't happen.

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ This year in Corsicana! ~ at July 16, 2022 03:30 PM (hOUT3)

108 92
Anyone that deliberately sells you Kudzu should be shot!

Posted by: Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ This year in Corsicana! ~ at July 16, 2022 03:32 PM (hOUT3)

109 KT and the rest of gang. I'm getting repeated notices from my Norton account " AOS Dangerous Website" Malware attacks.
Posted by: sherpa_k2 at July 16, 2022 02:51 PM (VQg2y)

I'm not getting any alerts from Kaspersky, which is normally pretty good at flagging troublesome sites.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at July 16, 2022 03:35 PM (ZSK0i)

110 108: re92
Anyone that deliberately sells you Kudzu should be shot! Hrothgar I once saw goats head 'seeds' on sale on ebay by the tribulus terrestris name. It is sold as an herb as a testosterone precursor but selling seeds for naive fools to plant should be a hanging offense.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at July 16, 2022 03:39 PM (3cGpq)

111 Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at July 16, 2022 03:39 PM (3cGpq)

Yikes! That's way worse than selling kudzu. At least kudzu has *some* use.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 16, 2022 03:43 PM (nC+QA)

112 I love a nice margarita, but what I haven't had in years is a good tequila sunrise. I might have to go rustle up some pomegranate juice.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 16, 2022 03:46 PM (0ocXn)

113 Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at July 16, 2022 03:35 PM

Which OS? Phone or computer?

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 03:46 PM (rrtZS)

114
Yikes! That's way worse than selling kudzu. At least kudzu has *some* use.
Posted by: Polliwog

Goatshead has a use too... spiking bare feet and puncturing bike tires.
yeah, /s

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at July 16, 2022 03:47 PM (anmER)

115 Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ This year in Corsicana! ~ at July 16, 2022 03:30 PM

Some daylily varieties are really big. There is a great deal of choice in varieties out there, because they are easy to breed. The big ones are often tetraploid.

Posted by: KT at July 16, 2022 03:48 PM (rrtZS)

116 Glad you have it so cool. We’re at 115 and 10% and not gonna peak for 2-3 hours.

Posted by: epador at July 16, 2022 04:09 PM (ns4uC)

117 From Boise area: It's been stupid hot. Near 100 F all week. Gardening must be done by 10 AM, or we roast.

I forgot to mention the herb garden in last week's lengthy report. I'm harvesting lavender buds - the garden sage I cut back heavily last year is of course growing so it flops into other areas - the English thyme is spilling over the edge of the bed (and flowering) - the flat-leaf parsley's grown nicely - and the oregano's also flopping everywhere. The spearmint hasn't reached its usual enthusiastic height yet. Some of these need trimming, but I am waiting until Western Idaho Fair, so I get some good stems to enter. I should be able to do well in the "5 herbs bouquet" category!

We discovered why some stuff is not thriving - water isn't getting to it. Since the drip lines are all off one irrigation riser, probable cause is a clogged irrigation line filter, which Husband will address tomorrow.

Current harvesting: lettuce leaves cut from lowest part of 5 lettuce heads, shelling peas, some green onions. Zucchini will be coming on soon. I'm trying out planting a few new radish seeds, despite the heat, to see if they'll grow.
(post 1)

Posted by: Pat* at July 16, 2022 04:26 PM (2pX/F)

118 From Boise area: Another issue is burrowing critters. They've been working their way from the back of the property inward, and are now in the garden area. Today we tried to find a hole we could use to flood them with, but no luck. They may even be denned up right under the hardware cloth of the raised beds... We think it's time to call in the pros.

Let's see... red raspberries have started producing a small number of berries but they're not very sweet yet. While examining our newer fruit trees, I found one peach, 8 Seckel pears, no Warren pears, and a few apples on each apple tree. The strawberries seem to have quit for the year.

Oh, and that daylily photo that Hrothgar sent in? That's what the ones behind our house look like!
(post 2/end)

Posted by: Pat* at July 16, 2022 04:33 PM (2pX/F)

119 So at what point in the agave lifecycle from sprout to life-ending bloom can you make tequila out of it?

Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Advo at July 16, 2022 06:04 PM (LcnVR)

120 I garden with algae.

Posted by: Sarah at July 16, 2022 07:45 PM (7Cl4L)

121 Polliwog, for the cherry tomato pickles I just used the brine that the wife used for her cucumber pickles. Cider vinegar and pickling salt, and some mystery ingredient she's all mysterious about. I think the key was the skewering. I ran each one through with a wooden kebab skewer. That lets the pickley goodness get inside.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 11:22 PM (lcTpO)

122 I live at the geographic center of Mesa. About two miles away, well in the heart of the town, is the hobby farm where I get my eggs. It's 10 or 12 acres in the middle of a residential district. I met the mom boss the other day. They have horses big and miniature, cows, alpacas, ducks and turkeys and 250 chickens. Some are meat birds. They're slaughtering at the end of the month and I will be there to get mine because really fresh chicken, raised on grass and alfafa, is really good. I will also get a fresh turkey come November because they are really good also.

Posted by: Gordon Scott at July 16, 2022 11:29 PM (lcTpO)

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