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Gardener's Corner

Join us for tips, helps, questions and answers about the gardening world. Monitored by a Certified Master Gardener but wisdom is shared by ALL.

Members: 43
Latest Activity: Nov 26, 2023

Gardener's Corner

GREETINGS MEMBERS, GUESTS AND VISITORS.
Chief Walks In Shadows is a Florida State Master Gardener.
He will post information that he feels will benefit everyone as a whole. But basically this will be a question and answer group.
IF A GROUP MEMBER KNOWS THE ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANSWER.
Chief Walks will answer all questions asked to him directly. He has over 40 years of experience. And a sizable personal research library.

We are here to meet ALL of your gardening questions and/or related subjects.

 

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The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate zones; each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. If you see a hardiness zone in a catalog or plant description, chances are it refers to the USDA map. To find your USDA Hardiness Zone or use the map below. 

 

 

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Comment by Chief Walks on July 24, 2013 at 9:53am
Comment by Chief Walks on July 24, 2013 at 9:51am

Epson Salt: A Must-Have for Home and Garden

Epsom "Salt"...not really a salt at all but two minerals that our body actually uses and needs. "Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate, which can help improve health in numerous ways. A lack of magnesium—which helps regulate the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body—can contribute to high blood pressure, hyperactivity, heart problems and other health issues, doctors warn. Sulfate is essential for many biological processes, helping to flush toxins and helping form proteins in joints, brain tissue and mucin proteins." - Epson Salt Council

Wow. Pretty amazing for such a humble crystalline substance. But this drugstore wonder is full of surprises. It's great as a hair conditioner, sore achy muscles, and even as a garden fertilizer?! Yes, it's true...and there's even more...

When I was growing up, we had wood floors in our house. The upstairs floorboards had a few rough spots in them but we being kids, didn't seem to notice. Wood floors made a nice skating rink which we would skate on with socks. One time though, I skated on some rough "ice" and promptly got a LARGE wood splinter in my foot. Yuck. I was horrified and did NOT want my parents to touch it. The splinter itself was not willing to come out either, so in came the Epsom Salt. Now, when you're a kid faced with a probing knife to extract a splinter, soaking your foot in some nice warm water was a perfect way to make me relax. My parents loved me, but a spa experience was not what they had in mind, but rather a way to draw the splinter out of my skin and Epsom came through! By the time my foot was done soaking, the splinter came out lickity-split (much to my surprise) and relatively pain-free. So, Epsom salt saved the day and was my hero.

As soon as I got married, I purchased my own carton (they sell it in bags now...way better idea!) and kept it for emergencies. We seem to use it for any foot problems, probably because of my previous memory of it, but it does SO much more! Even the carton I have only lists a few of its many uses. Here's just a few: eliminates toxins by exfoliating and taking a bath in it - 2 cups in the tub, helps with athlete's feet and toe fungus (see, it likes feet), cleans bathroom tiles - use equal parts of Epsom with dish detergent to clean, is a fertilizer for houseplants and vegetables/flowers*, relieves constipation (!) and much more!! I will admit my experience with it is limited to the sliver incident (which by the way, is another thing on the list it does) and foot complaints...but it did a great job in these areas. However, after writing this post, I am going to be sprinkling my Epsom salt on all my houseplants!

Here's another great bonus for Epsom Salt...you can buy it at the drugstore. No health stores, no fancy catalogs, no shipping charges; perfect. I love the simplicity of these types of home remedies and garden helps. After all, isn't that part of living simply?
So, if you don't have some Epsom Salt at home; run to the nearest Walgreen's, pick up a bag and "skate" on your wood floors with a smile on your face...ahhhh.

Comment by Chief Walks on June 24, 2013 at 10:26am
Comment by Chief Walks on June 20, 2013 at 12:29pm

This Herb's Got to Go!

Garlic mustard.

It sounds like a lovely condiment you'd put on a burger, doesn't it?

Unfortunately, there's nothing good about it for many gardeners. That's because garlic mustard is an invasive biennial herb. If you've never had to deal with it, count yourself lucky. If you do find it in your yard, your best chance to stop its spread is to remove plants before they go to seed.

The Plant Conservation Alliance offers helpful photos and tips for recognizing and removing the pesky plant. It's important to get rid of it before its second year (when it seeds), because a single plant can produce thousands of seeds that are capable of staying viable in the soil for five years or more.

To be safe, toss garlic mustard that you remove by hand in the garbage rather than adding it to your compost pile. If hand removal isn't an option and you need to resort to chemical sprays, be sure to read labels carefully and apply products on a day that isn't windy, to avoid harming beneficial bugs or other plants.

Link to the The Plant Conservation Alliance for Garlic Mustard:

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/alpe1.htm

Comment by Chief Walks on June 13, 2013 at 4:24pm

Rooting cuttings:

Comment by Chief Walks on June 13, 2013 at 4:24pm

What you need to grow tomatoes!

Comment by Chief Walks on June 13, 2013 at 4:20pm

Give Cukes A Lift

Cucumbers are the garden's version of urban sprawl, with the same outcome—once it starts, there's no containing it.

Unless you train the cucumbers to grow up instead of out. We like the idea of using a trellis. It saves space, but there are other benefits, too: Watering will go faster, fruit will be cleaner and easier to harvest, and you'll likely have fewer pest and disease problems.

The trellis doesn't need to be fancy. In fact, you can make your own in just a few minutes. Build a simple A-frame trellis for growing cucumbers.

Once your trellis is up and the cucumbers are planted (be sure to get climbing varieties), you'll need to do a little coaxing initially to get them started up the support. They'll quickly get the idea that up is better than out.

Then it's time to get ready to pickle!

Comment by LadyHawkღ on May 20, 2013 at 1:01pm

Shared from NativeTalks on faceook.
Many species of butterfly require overripe fruit to supplement their diets. Decaying fruits have carbohydrates and minerals that most butterflies need. Help butterflies thrive by doing the following:

Place a large plate or dish outside with another smaller dish within it. Fill the outer larger dish with enough water to keep ants from the smaller dish. Place overripe fruit on the smaller plate cut in sections so they are easy to feed upon. Don't smash the fruit so the butterflies do not become stuck accidentally. Instead simply slice fruit pieces you would otherwise throw out and place them on the smaller plate. It will help the butterflies thrive! It is best to replace the fruit pieces either daily or when the fruit has begun to rot. No longer than a couple of days at a time however.

Comment by Chief Walks on May 16, 2013 at 2:32pm
Comment by Chief Walks on May 16, 2013 at 2:31pm

Have a hose with a damaged end? Or need a short hose for that special need? Repair it or make it yourself! It's easy!

 
 
 

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