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    Jelly vs Jam

    I guess I'm not entirely sure of the difference. I know jelly is from juice-- jam has more fruit-- but where is the line you cross from one to the other? I've got a wealth of chokecherries nearly ready to pick ( if the birds dont' get them at the peak of ripeness during this rain), and will be...
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    Seed sales starting!

    Not sure where to post, but I got my first email today from tomatobob.com -- their 50 cent seed specials are starting this month. Not sure how many months he'll have specials, but this is when I start buying next year's seeds. For three years now, I've planted a lot of seeds from this site...
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    Potato Bugs-- how to get rid of them without all the picking?

    My husband has turned into this year's gardener (he's home this year- so he's taken over). We've got lots of potato plants, and lots of potato bugs. He diligently picks and squishes them by the hundreds every day. Until now, we've used nothing but DE, beer (for slugs) etc. in the...
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    Cucumber Beetles-- how do we get rid of them?

    We've got them everywhere, eating all the squash and cucumber plants--- they are covering the ground-- tons of them. What can we do to get rid of them, that isn't poisonous? We're trying to be as organic as possible. Will the chickens eat them? We were hoping to keep them out of the...
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    Herb ID--- Summer Savory or Thyme?

    Buried between weeds and a huge sage patch, I found a small, but sprawling plant. It's quite fragrant--- but not one I planted last year-- perhaps from 2 years ago... I know it doesn't look like chervil-- so the only other possibilities (that I can't identify, at least) are either summer...
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    Windburn-- how bad / permanent is it?

    Dear hubby thought he was doing me a favor by moving my 4 week old seedlings outside for some sun and fresh air yesterday. I work evenings, so he's up hours before me, and before I realized it----- about 35 each of my pepper and tomato seedlings, and some herbs, were pretty windburned. The...
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    Last year's sage-- What do I do with it?

    I wasn't sure if it would last through our zone 4 winter or not- I've got "old" plants in the garden, and don't want to do the wrong thing, in case they did last. Our snow has just melted off them. Do I pull the plants? Cut them back? Or let them be? They are all flattened to the ground...
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    Can you plant "fresh" seeds?

    I've got a hubbard squash left from last year that I want to cook and freeze soon- I'm wondering-do I need to dry out the seeds before planting, or will a "fresh" seed grow? I'll ultimately have seeds to dry and save, but curious if fresh, wet seeds grow, or do they need to be dormant/dry...
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    Cucumbers!!!!! I have 3 boxes of them-need quick ideas!

    Our local food pantry was donated a LOT of cukes, zuchinni and potatoes this week. I happened to be at town hall yesterday when the pantry was open, and they were accosting everyone who came by -- needed to move the cukes.. How I ended up with 3 banana boxes full of them.. I dont' know-- All I...
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    Garden Huckleberries- when to pick, how to use, etc?

    To be honest, I never thought they'd grow, but thought the Garden Huckelberry picture in the SSE catalog was fun looking. Well, I've got 7 or 8 plants in the garden, with large blueberry-sized fruits growing, and turning blue/purple-- so I guess I should find out when to pick them!!!! Also--...
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    Sage-- tell me more!

    Since my herbs don't usually do well, and it's so cold here for most to be perennial, I scattered many sage seeds, as I do all my other herbs, hoping for "some" to use with my fresh turkeys.. Well, I have a TON of plants. I think that literally every seed I planted has come up and is growing to...
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    Looking for a few herb seeds...*Update in post #10

    I know it's a bit late to be looking, but I was in the hospital and recovering from surgery, so I'm behind a bit... And now I can't find a few seeds I would love to plant this year. Mint-- any kind-- especially the different and unique Lavendar-- any kind at all!!! Lemongrass, lemon balm...
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    Asparagus - is it possible to relocate an asparagus bed?

    When we bought our house early last year, we were told there was an established asparagus patch. Well, we found it after it was nearly "done" for the year, and got a nice little harvest this year as well. My problem with it ( same as with a lot of the perennial plants/trees/bushes etc here)...
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    Rhubarb recipes needed, please!

    My rhubarb is huge, and I've never cooked with it. I'd like to try some "baked" recipes with it at first-- if I like it, I will do other things ( preserves, etc). Any quick and easy recipes for a rhubarb newbie ( or harder ones for later? ) Thanks in advance!
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    What can I plant NOW? Zone 4a, at least 2-3 weeks til last frost.

    I'd like to get some things planted outside if I can-- I did plant peas a few days ago, but not sure what I can safely plant outdoors just yet. The "rule of thumb" in this area is not until after the first full moon in June-- there can be hard frosts through the first week of June here in...
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    Gardening software? Does anyone use it?

    I was curious to see if anyone plans their gardens using computer software at all? If you do, what do you use, what do you like about it and what do you not like about it. I thought it might be fun to plan with, and use to plan rotations, etc. I think that mostly, it would help me in the...
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    Seedling pots from newspaper? Need pattern/ instructions

    I apologize to those of you at Sufficient Self-- I've cross posted here ( forgot this forum was here!) I'm looking for a pattern to make seedling pots out of newspaper. I dont' want to buy the "pot maker" you see in catalogs-- I can't justify the cost. Anyone with a pattern or instructions...
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    Argh-- feed store sold out of garlic. Where can I get it ASAP?

    Oh, my wonderful feed/Agway distributer went and sold out of garlic and decided not to order more ( though they told me-"we'll have it all fall") I drove the 25 miles one way to go get some today and nothing! Any suggestions where I can order it right now so I can get it in the ground? I'm...
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    When to cut back asparagus plants?

    I'd love to cut them back now and weed out the bed, but some references are unclear about when it's "ok" to do this. We've had some heavy frosts and the plants are brown now, no longer green. Will I hurt them if I cut them down now? I know it got quite weedy this year and I'd like to clean...
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    Dill, Cilantro, and Chard Questions

    Sorry-- have so many questions!!! I planted a bit of everything to see what grows here--- having just bought our house in March and having NOT gardened in 20+ years...... First--- I've got swiss chard growiing like crazy---- what can I do with it? Time has gotten away from me, and I have no...
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