What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

I do know the Upper Ground Sweet Potato it is a Cucubita moschata. So it can definitely cross pollinate with the Seminole. I know to identify female flowers in the evening, when they look ready to open the next day, and tie them shut to keep them closed. Plus at least three male flowers. Then, the next morning, open the female flower, carefully pollinate with the males, then tape it closed again so no insects can get it. As curious as I am to cross varieties of squash, I want to maintain non crossed seeds too, since heirloom varieties are so important!

Squashes are important to my family, we eat so much of it. This year I think I need to buy a dehydrator so I can dehydrate our ample squash. Plus it'll help preserve so many other garden foods. Mmm, dehydrated cherry tomatoes on homemade pizza!

Dickinson is a moschata . Tennessee sweet potato is a white almost round cushaw . Thelma Sanders sweet potato is a cream colored acorn type c. pepo .

 

[Bugseye]

I didn't realize how much I missed you all until it struck me it's time to order seeds and get certain ones going. Love the discussions you've been having, as I'm segueing toward Ruth Stout's method, and possibly BTE. Can't do much of anything right now, as snow is deep, and the garden is up some steps. I was excited my DH got me Teaming With Microbes for Christmas. I hate chopping up all that subterranean life. Arielle, it couldn't hurt to inquire curiously whether your friend ever leases out space and see where it goes from there. I've been enjoying the gardening association here, and their master gardener series will begin soon. It means more fellow gardeners to train and to have fun with.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm having fun watching my worms. I had forgotten how much fun it was to raise worms...don't know why that is, really, but it's sort of fun seeing them grow and multiply and how busily they all are working in that soil.

I guess I feel that way about everything I raise...totally fascinated by their busy lives and feeling good when I can help them be content in that life. Dreaming about bees again...the last time I had them I really, really loved hearing their contented hum within the hive and to see them building comb, filling it with honey, etc. That I could be a part of all of that was a complete joy!

 

[lazy gardener]

It takes one to know one. I was almost late to work yesterday b/c I was inspecting a plant that was infested with spider mites with a magnifying glass. I'd dosed the plant with Fels Naptha spray. That didn't kill them, so I powdered it with Permethrin. Them little buggers are still going strong.

 

[shortgrass]

It takes one to know one.  I was almost late to work yesterday b/c I was inspecting a plant that was infested with spider mites with a magnifying glass.  I'd dosed the plant with Fels Naptha spray.  That didn't kill them, so I powdered it with Permethrin.  Them little buggers are still going strong.  

NEEM, you need some Neem oil I hate spider mites and Neem will knock them out flat

 

[Guvnah]

I'm having fun watching my worms. I had forgotten how much fun it was to raise worms...don't know why that is, really, but it's sort of fun seeing them grow and multiply and how busily they all are working in that soil.

I guess I feel that way about everything I raise...totally fascinated by their busy lives and feeling good when I can help them be content in that life. Dreaming about bees again...the last time I had them I really, really loved hearing their contented hum within the hive and to see them building comb, filling it with honey, etc. That I could be a part of all of that was a complete joy!

Here's an interesting way to look at gardening (and chicken-ing!)...

We don't actually grow anything. God is the author of life. We are merely his Adams and Eves, tending the life he creates. We might have extra knowledge, skills, talents to remove impediments and add advantages in the spaces we have been appointed to tend, so we're not just cogs in a machine. We all have different gifts. Gardening and chicken-herding are some of mine. I never lose my awe for the natural cathedral of life I am blessed to visit in my own back yard! I am honored to be its caretaker.

 

[Guvnah]

It takes one to know one. I was almost late to work yesterday b/c I was inspecting a plant that was infested with spider mites with a magnifying glass. I'd dosed the plant with Fels Naptha spray. That didn't kill them, so I powdered it with Permethrin. Them little buggers are still going strong.

Insecticidal soap.

Even just a dilute solution of dishwashing liquid.

Do a thorough dousing. Repeat if needed after a few days.

Insects and spiders (which include mites) are coated with materials that make water bead up and roll off. The soap breaks the surface tension and allows the water to drown them. Works great for aphids, whiteflies, mites, squash bugs (when they are small) and even caterpillars (again, when they are small) as well as a bunch of other pests. So yes, when you spray this for aphids or mites, you'll probably kill small spiders too. And lasybug larvae, laceving larvae and other predators of pests. Sometimes you get collateral damage in war.

 

[Arielle]

George can explain this.......

From Rain Nursery....
Plant your grafted tree so that the graft is, if possible, only a couple of inches above the ground. This will help avoid the burr knots that sometimes form on the EMLA 26, EMLA 7, and MMlll apple rootstocks. If however, you need to graft higher on the rootstock to match the size of scion and rootstock this is also okay. It is often best to plant the grafted rootstock in a garden or easy to care for area, spaced about 18 inches apart for one or two years before planting the tree into your orchard. Use your fingers or pruners to keep any buds from growing below the graft union. Use a piece of scionwood with 2-4 buds to graft. However choose only one vigorous branch to tie up to start your new trunk and prune off any other branches that start to grow.

How would I find pictures to understand this???

 

[jerryse]

George can explain this.......

From Rain Nursery....
Plant your grafted tree so that the graft is, if possible, only a couple of inches above the ground. This will help avoid the burr knots that sometimes form on the EMLA 26, EMLA 7, and MMlll apple rootstocks. If however, you need to graft higher on the rootstock to match the size of scion and rootstock this is also okay. It is often best to plant the grafted rootstock in a garden or easy to care for area, spaced about 18 inches apart for one or two years before planting the tree into your orchard. Use your fingers or pruners to keep any buds from growing below the graft union. Use a piece of scionwood with 2-4 buds to graft. However choose only one vigorous branch to tie up to start your new trunk and prune off any other branches that start to grow.

How would I find pictures to understand this???

Here is a link .

 

[jerryse]

Here is a link .

It is possible to use root cuttings from your old tree as rootstock . I call it root grafting .