Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 31) September 03

Good morning gardeners. We are having beautiful weather here in Central Mississippi. My tomato plants are looking a little scraggly but are thriving and still producing new green tomatoes. I removed my okra plants earlier this week because they were just too huge and some of my pepper plants were craving more sunlight. The pepper plants that have been getting full sun are just loaded with plump peppers. If you are a gardener or you are just starting out and are in need of advice or just encouragement please feel free to join in and enjoy the friendly discussion. Our...

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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 30) August 27

Good morning gardeners. The end of August is approaching and the temperatures have moderated here in East Central Mississippi. Lows are in the mid 60’s with daytime highs in the high 80’s to 90 degrees. My garden is thriving in this weather. The sweet and hot peppers are abundant and the tomato plants are back in production mode. I think I will be removing my okra plants this week. They are huge and sprawling and over seven foot tall. They have to go so the sun can get to other plants. If you are a gardener or you are just...

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British beekeeper breeds 'super-bee' that protects itself from deadly mite wiping out colonies

Ron Hoskins has found a breed of the insect that protects itself against the parasite blamed for the alarming fall in numbers. The 79-year-old made the discovery after realising that one of his hives had far fewer deaths from the varroa mite than others. He found that the insects in that hive 'groomed' each other to get rid of the mites before they had the chance to do any harm. Now he is attempting to spread his mite-resistant breed of bees by cross-breeding them with queens from other hives. Decline: The UK's bee population had dropped by 60 per cent...

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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 29) August 20

Good morning gardeners. Freeper tubebender submitted a request yesterday afternoon via FreepMail that we make one of our threads about the garden magazines, books and web sites we peruse to further our quest for the perfect Zucchini??? It is a great idea. How about we also add seed catalogs and where we get our recipes to the list also. Here a just a few web sites that I like to go to regularly: Mississippi State University Extension Service National Gardening Association Pick Your Own - Also Info On Canning, Freezing and Recipes All Recipes.com Brewing-Compost-Tea Vegetable Gardener finegardening.com Pruning Tomatoes

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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 28) August 13

Good morning gardeners. Typical August weather has set in here in East Central Mississippi with days in the mid 90’s and nights in the mid 70’s. I have pears and a few figs maturing and being picked. My garden is still producing but just a little slower in this heat. This is typical for me. Daisyjane69 asked me to pass on a link to a weekly radio gardening show by a gardening expert in NE Ohio. It provides advice about vegetables, flowers, shrubs, trees, soil, watering, bugs, fertilizer, pruning, and EVERYTHING. At the link you can download the programs and...

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Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 27) August 06

Good morning gardeners. It has been extremely hot over a good portion of the southern U.S. this past week and the heat is expected last for another week or more. Freepers please stay safe when outside tending your gardens and keep yourselves well hydrated. Also your gardens may experience some drought stress, but over watering, as Freeper and Master Gardener Daisyjane89 has been warning us, can be equally devastating, especially when drainage is poor. Poorly drained, soggy soil conditions combined with hot weather can wipe out a plant in a matter of days. Water deeply and infrequently. If you are...

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