LearnDirt
Member since January 2025
9 threads · 93 replies
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Threads Started
Gardening Memes · May 4, 2026 · 0 replies · 48 views
Community Suggestions · March 19, 2026 · 0 replies · 30 views
Plant Diagnosis · March 15, 2026 · 1 reply · 21 views
Small Space Gardening · Jan. 2, 2026 · 0 replies · 49 views
Cannabis · May 18, 2025 · 3 replies · 163 views
Community Suggestions · March 5, 2025 · 11 replies · 179 views
Foraging & Wild Edibles · Feb. 25, 2025 · 0 replies · 48 views
Mushroom Cultivation · Feb. 25, 2025 · 3 replies · 105 views
Introductions · Jan. 10, 2025 · 28 replies · 236 views
Replies
Such a great idea, thank you! 😃 New Wildlife Gardening section is added https://learndirt.com/community/board/wildlife-gardening/
June 18, 2026
Ooh I like the way it wraps around a pond, I'll bet the wildlife will love that! 😃 We just put out a bird bath and even that has been a big boost for birds and toads, especially in the heat. It looks like it'll be a great space to spend time 😊 wh…
June 13, 2026
Love it, just added it to Specialized Topics 😃 Thanks for the suggestion, will be cool to see how you do it!
June 7, 2026
New soil, let's go! 😁 are you trying anything different this year? I was just given some really good onions too, and want to do them next season. What month did you start them? Hope it's a good harvest!
June 7, 2026
"squirrel-like creature" made me laugh 🐿️😂 but I hope you can beat it to some tasty harvests! 🤞 We've had such bad rodent issues this year too 😭 I was liking the sound of castor bean until I read about the issues for folks with asthma like me 🫤 I…
June 6, 2026
Ooh I'm jealous! 🌱😁 When did you plant the crowns? I really wanted to start some this year but got so overwhelmed with all the garden projects. Hope you share updates so we can follow along 🍿
June 2, 2026
Hey there, welcome in! Is the patch you're working on at the bookstore, or at home? Was thinking it would be fun to buy a book and then sit out in a nice garden and read! 😃 What kind of seating were you thinking? I'm trying to figure somethin…
June 2, 2026
Hi MrsN 👋 welcome in! My Mom said she was visiting her friend at a senior living complex, and was surprised to find they had a whole community garden there for the residents! 😃 I thought that was so cool. I don't know if it was always there, …
May 18, 2026
Oh it's not one of the self-pollinating varieties? I guess that means it's time to get a second cherry tree! 🍒 there are definitely worse problems to have 😁 I asked someone who was looking for a cutting, but I think he's after either a Barbados o…
May 18, 2026
Wow, you've got quite the variety, I'll bet the beneficials and local critters really love hanging out there! 😁 I'm such a big fan of the jojoba and the fairy dusters, I should collect seeds from them and plant some. You're giving me ideas for m…
May 18, 2026
Sheesh, I keep hearing about folks with soil that has too many chemicals in it to grow in 😥 that really stinks! I don't even know what you do about it, I guess some stuff dissipates and breaks down over time, but it seems like other toxins stay …
May 14, 2026
Squash time soon!! 😋 You say compacted native soil and I have nightmare flashbacks to when I first joined my local community garden it was a rock-hard sand pit 😂😭 raised bed would def get things going way faster in a situation like that. I li…
May 11, 2026
I really like these 😁 thank you!! I just made this new board for you (Downloads, eBooks, and Freebies) and moved this and your other book in here so you have a dedicated place to share anything from your library that you're willing to. Thanks aga…
May 11, 2026
Oh this is so cool!! thank you for sharing 😁 I know what I'll be reading 🌱🌱🌱
May 11, 2026
Hey there! 👋 you're definitely in the right place, I think everyone here is a little soil-obsessed 😁 I remember as a kid I was over at my friend's house and his grandma cooked me a bowl of Swiss chard and I've been raving about it still to this …
May 11, 2026
I really miss having a peach tree 😭 We just put in a dwarf mandarin in September too. Very excited about that! 😃 Hopefully we'll both be inundated with fruit in a couple years Tell me more about the native species you planted!
May 11, 2026
It looks really good, great work!! That mulch must go a long way towards keeping the moisture in 😃 Really love the rainwater harvesting too. So important here. What kind of fruit trees do you have? I'm thinking about putting some more in myself, …
May 7, 2026
You're in luck, @daveshel, this is actually something I've been working on - but you pushed me to get it done. It's added now, along with a few other sorting options to help with sifting through posts. I think it'll be a big help! Let me know …
May 6, 2026
They almost look like they're painted. Mesmerizing! 🤩 The space basil story is so cool! What a great crossover, plants + space, I love that 👨🚀🌱 How does it taste??
May 6, 2026
Hey Cindy, nice to meet you 😊 It sounds like you've got a lot going on! What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about it all? Curious what you're growing in your yard, too
May 6, 2026
Hey thanks for your support by the way, Korbatojn! I knew that quite a few gardeners had built them from the plans already, but hadn't seen any out in the wild until last week- when someone sent me photos of their build. It was so freakin' cool to s…
May 6, 2026
Hi Tommr, What kinda soil do you have in Gainesville, is it sandy? Not sure if you've seen Jim Kovaleski on YouTube but he grows in Florida during the winters and was a big inspiration to me as I was getting into veggies. He was getting free comp…
May 6, 2026
Hey Gene, glad you're here! I love your poster there, "hoes over mows" 🤣 really cool design and could not agree more with the sentiment as well 😁 Sorry I took forever to respond, we've seen quite a few more permaculturists come along since, an…
May 6, 2026
Hi Georgia! 👋 I'm curious to hear about the ways you've been composting, and how your soil is coming along. I'm learning as much as I can about different composting methods too, and excited to try some different ones. I might start a worm bin or …
May 6, 2026
Hey, a fellow Arizonan! You must have very different challenges up in Flagstaff than I do in Tucson. So close, yet worlds apart 🙃 It sounds like you're focused on the same things as many folks here, and there sure is such a need for it, too! Look…
May 6, 2026
Almost positive those are black soldier fly larvae, very beneficial for composting as they'll eat decomposing organic matter much faster than worms. Should be good teamwork where the BSFL will eat things FAST, and then the worms will do a second…
May 4, 2026
Hey Monica 👋 I used to live in Vermont, though that was before I was into growing. Sure is beautiful up there 😁 I never would have expected you could grow lavendar there. I miss the blueberries!! 🫐🤤 What kind of wild herbs are you able to fin…
April 23, 2026
Oh that'll probably make a huge difference!! I remember when I first started I had the tiniest little patio surrounded by 4-story apartments on every side, and those shadows really make it SO hard 😭 You must be excited to trade that for a bit of …
April 23, 2026
Hey, nice to see a permaculturist here, welcome! 👋 Sorry I didn't say hi sooner I'd imagine all 3 of those places have somewhat similar climates, depending on whereabouts you are, no? Curious how much adapting it took for you to get used to growi…
April 23, 2026
Hi, welcome in! Redshoe and I were just talking about asparagus recently 😋 pretty cool you can still grow stuff like lettuce, peas, and spinach which are just about finished now for us Arizonans, too hot over here! 🥵🌵 What kinda trees are yo…
April 23, 2026
Wow, I didn't know there were doubles! They make me think of that Grateful Dead song, Scarlet Begonias ☺️ Do you have to do anything to keep them away from the strawberries? I expect once they get a taste for a berry they'd never leave them alone…
April 23, 2026
Hey glad you're here! 😃 Strawberries are one of my all-time faves too 🍓🤤 What are those pink flowers on the bottom? They're gorgeous
April 20, 2026
They look so cheerful! 🤩 Glad it finally warmed up in Buffalo, I know those winters are long. I've got some sweet peas that are just about that same bright red color with bits of pink, and they always make me smile 😊 Love your daffodils too
April 20, 2026
It's nice that your partner loves gardening too, that sounds like exactly the kind of family where a kiddo will grow up to appreciate nature 💚🤗 My Mom's garden is what inspired my as a kid and eventually led me down this path 😁 Excited to hear w…
April 19, 2026
Hi Korbatojn, welcome in! 👋 Looks like you've got a gorgeous space, I'm jealous of the rain and rich soil you've got 😃 Is that salvia edible? I've got some variety growing, and I'm not sure what it is but the leaves taste crazy strong! I kn…
April 19, 2026
Love it 😃 Just added it right below this Community Suggestions board. Thanks for suggesting this!
April 14, 2026
Nothing like a fresh start, and it looks like you're off to a good one! 😁 jealous of the dwarf grapefruit, yum 😋 I've been out shoveling mulch too, now's the time to pile it on heavy before the heat - sounds like we'll all be ready! I was jus…
April 14, 2026
Hi Digger! 👋 Glad you're here 😊 I'm also on a journey to try to find the best ways to discourage critters without having to kill any more than necessary. So much to learn about deterrence! Not sure what kind you're dealing with in Ohio, but do…
April 12, 2026
For some reason I expected the germination to take forever too, but I guess that doesn't make sense in a place where rain is so infrequent. I've never grown any cacti from seed, but you know it sounds really fun so I'll try it It's hilarious h…
April 6, 2026
Ok that's super helpful, I didn't realize how much quicker it would be from root stock. I knew it's a waiting game for a while, but patience is my middle name! 😌 Thank you for all the info, I'm excited to try it 😁 I'll report back in 3 years
April 6, 2026
They've been loving the globemallow here too, I really like the peachy-colored ones 🤩 Hey so I saw asparagus growing in a demonstration garden here last year and didn't realize before that it would grow in this climate and make it through the sum…
April 3, 2026
Wow, how long did they take from seed to get to where they are? I don't know that I've ever seen cacti so small! I saved some seed from the barrel cactus fruit I've been eating, but haven't tried germinating them yet. I assumed they might take fo…
April 3, 2026
Hi there! 👋 I like those clematis too, I'm not familiar with them but they sure do look nice 😃 I'll bet your kids loved growing up with a garden, I know I did! My Mom's garden is what inspired me to get into growing 🥰 We had really compact soi…
April 3, 2026
Hey there, welcome in! Colorado is one of my favorite places to visit, you've got a gorgeous state 🏔️ I think you're the first Colorado gardener here so far, but there will definitely be others soon. I'd guess you have some of the same soil issu…
April 3, 2026
We just got another truckload of wood chips, that's been huge like Redshoe said - it's turned our community garden into one big sponge. Pretty amazing to compare how the rain runs off and erodes the bare sand outside, but inside the chips just soak …
April 2, 2026
Wow, I can't believe you have tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants already, that's wild! 🤯 did they just go right through winter with no frost? Those mulberries look TOO good omg 🤤 glad you're getting some harvests! I was just eating the last of t…
April 1, 2026
Ah I didn't realize there were self-pollinating varieties! That has me excited to do some mulberry research 😃 It's also great to hear about your moringa experience, I want to try again to grow one and time my planting better so it has time to roo…
April 1, 2026
I was really sad to read that mulberries are banned down here in Pima county, because that's one I was really interested in. I guess the concern is pollen? (same with olive trees). They seem to be banned in a lot of places (Vegas maybe, parts of Tex…
March 29, 2026
It was a big shock when I first got here, that's for sure! 😂 I was used to 50" of rain / year in Jersey, and then even more than that in North Carolina. Really love it here though, it's helped me learn so much about building healthy soil, since …
March 26, 2026
I like the idea of the metal barrier, we're putting up some aluminum flashing along the top of the fence at my community garden to keep the ground squirrels and mice out. Do a Google search for "tree baffle" you might find something that works - …
March 26, 2026
Hey Redshoe, nice to see you over here! 👋😃 I think it's been 5 years in Tucson for me, too, after quite a while growing on the East Coast. What a difference as you said LOL 🤣🌵 You really transformed your place, wow!! That ocotillo is huge 😆 Love it
March 26, 2026
Hey J.Rowsom, glad you're here! What are you planting in Vegas right now? I just planted a bunch of cucurbits in Tucson - doing loofahs, Armenian cukes, butternut squash, pumpkins all to climb up an overhanging trellis as a living shade canopy 😁
March 22, 2026
Exhibit B, critter hollowed out the daikon pods to get to the seeds 😂
March 21, 2026
Hi Herb, welcome in! What are those plants?? I don't know that I've ever seen anything like them before 😮
March 17, 2026
Great idea! I just put it on my list of features to build, so I'll let you know when it's implemented. Thanks for the suggestion 😃
March 16, 2026
I really like that first one, it looks like an undersea creature! 🪼😃
March 14, 2026
Oh sorry I forgot. Search the site for "Tucson Planting Guide" or for "March", I made one for each month with the timing for indoor seeds, direct-sow, and transplant. I see you're 9b so you might have to adjust slightly, but it should get you pr…
March 13, 2026
So I don't know if this is universally true in every climate, but where I am in the Sonoran Desert we only have about 2.5 months between our last spring frost, and our 100F+ days at the start of summer. I start mine indoors in January to get a big j…
March 13, 2026
Voting is added! Let me know if it's working for you or if you run into any issues with it
March 10, 2026
Would that be like a hashtag that we all use as a community to stay in touch over there? I don't know, they've phased hashtags out on some of the social platforms so I don't usually use them anymore 🤔 what were you thinking?
March 8, 2026
Yeah I was thinking about this, I've got it on my list but just need to decide exactly how I want it all to work. Thanks for the suggestion 😄 look for this sometime in the next month or two!
March 8, 2026
I didn't realize you're in Tucson too, a local desert dweller! 🌵 the soil sure needs a LOT of improving here for veggies, doesn't it?! 😂 the good news is with enough organic matter, anything is possible!!
Feb. 12, 2026
Hey @Ausetkmt, welcome in and happy Winter! ☃️ It'll be time for spring planting before we know it 😁🌱
Dec. 23, 2025
Gorgeous grow! 🤩 Love that first plant especially, with the frosty buds and super dark leaves contrasting 😎 glad you're here! I want more veggie growers to see that cannabis is just another plant they can grow, and I want weed growers to realize …
Dec. 16, 2025
Hope it's just one! That sounds frustrating to lose a cover crop season, though I'm sure it'll feel good to get the breach taken care of. I'll be spending some of this winter replacing critter barrier at my local community garden too, so hopef…
Dec. 7, 2025
Aw dang, that seems like a tough one! If the tunnel runs straight down, I wonder if you could push some PVC through it all the way down to where it meets the mesh. That would make an unclimbable pipe interior the first thing that voles would meet…
Dec. 6, 2025
I haven't dealt with moles personally, I've got gopher problems myself but I remember reading that moles don't eat plants or plant roots. I think they're insectivorous and also help aerate soil 🤔
Dec. 4, 2025
I like your point about waiting until the plants are dormant, that should help you get more access. Not sure if you get winter rains but that would help too. Steady irrigation is probably important, I think patchy watering might cause worse pocketin…
Oct. 14, 2025
Yeah the lime is is pretty immobile (even more so if your soil happens to be clay), so I'd figure it would take at least a year with a surface application for it to really get down to the root zone and raise the pH. And of course too much tilling wo…
Oct. 7, 2025
Hi GSF713, you're in the same growing zone as me over here in Arizona (but I'm sure your get a fair deal more rain). Love your goals! You can grow through the winter, right? Are you planting anything now for the cool season? We're about to start lea…
Sept. 15, 2025
Hi Nicole 👋 sounds like something's going on, hopefully I can help you figure it out! When I hear few flowers and no fruit, I immediately think about phosphorus. That has the most effect on flowering and fruiting, so I wonder if you may have a ph…
Aug. 29, 2025
Hi LindaFayMaumee 👋 glad you're here! I'm curious about that orchard you're working on, what kind of trees are you growing? Gorgeous photos, I love those coneflowers 😍 are those echinacea?
Aug. 23, 2025
Good to see you here, Beth! Your garden always looks so nice, I love the contrasting textures and color 😊 Hopefully we'll see some NorCal gardeners here soon you can connect with. The community is still super now, but it's growing each week 🌱 …
July 29, 2025
I'd say the most important starting place is finding a good source of carbonaceous "brown" material - stuff like wood chips, dry leaves, shredded cardboard, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, dry pine needles, chopped up dried dead branches, etc. …
June 19, 2025
Hey Shannon, welcome in! 👋 Sounds like you and @themightyfoo are in the same or similar zones and area, so you two can bounce ideas back and forth for your Portland climate 😄 It sounds like you really got a great spot there with everything the…
June 17, 2025
Hi Shannon, thanks for letting me know, I felt like something was off today but you helped me narrow down what it was I think I got it all fixed! 😃 You should be able to access everything now, but let me know if you run into any more errors
June 17, 2025
Ooh yeah that will help, when you harvest the beans, you can mulch with what's left of the bush. My whole world has become beans, peas, chickpeas, hairy vetch, alfalfa, all the legumes! I've gone nitrogen-crazy 🤪😂
May 6, 2025
Sounds like you've got a great pH! You're right the P & K help with fruiting and flowering a lot more than the nitrogen. Before that, in the vegetative stage, nitrogen is key. It's the primary element plants need, so it should make a big differe…
May 6, 2025
It's usually called like a "mention", so @Bonnie means I'm directing my comment at your username. What it's supposed to do is send a notification to the recipient saying "hey somebody mentioned you in this thread" but I haven't built that functio…
May 2, 2025
Hey @Bonnie, love your photo! 🌼 I'm in AZ too and have seen the wonders of shade cloth first-hand on those sweltering summer days 😂 I will say that while my tomatoes and other warm season veggies love the extended season with shade cloth, my 40% sha…
April 20, 2025
Hey @littlefaith! 👋 Glad to hear you're having fun with your plants, I started in a city with a few potted plants too 🌱😊 Now a decade later I'm trying to restore ecosystems and regenerate deserts and help gardeners connect - it got a little out …
April 15, 2025
Nice to meet you, MuckAndGrass! I'm also in zone 9A down in Arizona in the US. I'm honestly shocked that there is zone 9A in Bristol! 🤯 Love the wildlife gardening, and I've turned a couple plots at my community garden into a little food forest t…
April 2, 2025
I always thought it would be hard, but it's actually super easy. I kept reading guides that overcomplicated it, that said you need all kinds of fancy equipment and a completely sterile laboratory environment. Ridiculously complicated processes, …
March 12, 2025
Ooh very exciting! I'm in Southern Arizona in a 9a so probably very similar to your climate (just with more summer monsoon rain). Very sandy soil here, the cover crops have been HUGE for improving it, I can't believe how much my soil has transformed…
Feb. 16, 2025
I forgot how different they look when they're small! What does putting them in the fridge do, is that vernalization?
Feb. 12, 2025
Love artichokes! I just added the ability to attach images to existing replies. Give it a try, let me know if it works 😃 Still working on getting it so we can upload images as we post new replies, but for now we should at least be able to attach …
Feb. 12, 2025
Hi Plot22Mabel 👋 we're looking forward to seeing new faces around here too! Thanks for the suggestion, I love the idea for a seed-starting section and just added it 👌 In general I'm here to support you all, so I love hearing ideas for improvin…
Feb. 10, 2025
Glad they're doing well! It sounds very similar to when I vernalize hardneck garlic in the fridge in case the winter is not cold enough. Make sure the cloves are dry, wrap in paper towel, and then inside a plastic bag. I always worry about mold, but…
Feb. 8, 2025
Oh they like that vernalization? Do you put them in a bag in the fridge so they don't dry out? Yum, strawberries are my favorite! We've been having really good success with artichokes here in Arizona, they seem to like the hot, dry climate and th…
Feb. 7, 2025
Hi Joanna, so nice that you're here! 😊 I used to live in NJ in Zone 7a, so I'm familiar with the mid-Atlantic climate. Admittedly, though, I've never grown a dahlia. *GASP*! Maybe I ought to 🤔
Feb. 7, 2025
For a basic seed-starting mix I usually do roughly 2 parts coco peat, 1 part screened compost, and 1 part perlite. Some folks do peat moss instead of coco peat. I've recently swapped the perlite for sand since it's abundant where I am in the d…
Jan. 27, 2025
