Does Walmart Carry Garden Soil Fo Tomatoes

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kittriana said:Picked up some mushroom compost for the raised beds-will help stir up the differing types of compost I use. Seed beds a month late, green stuff like parsley, fennel, arugula, spinach, kales...had to drench the beds after seeding since the ants and bugs thought lunch was served, but I expected that, chuckl, potted up the Gypsi pepper, but haven't stripped and trimmed it yet, dark was too close. My daughter is happy the beds are looking cleaner, chuckl. Rain supposed to be tomorrow, temps are dropping to 70's as highs. California had said the La Ninas were back, so I guess they are getting rain. Sent a Care pkg to my dad- cookies and thymes...my fireants have taken the hint and removed themselves from the beds, now I need to see where they went. My Doo went missing for 2 nights, but showed up this morning in the kitchen window acting like the jungle was after him. Glad those 2 loose dogs didn't get him after all (they did kill a neighbors flock of chickens) and Doo climbed into his carrier up on the bookshelf and slept all day. Poor boy, worn out not accustomed to being an outdoor overnight cat. More planting tomorro and setting up the wire covers that keep the cats off the seedlings. Am beginning to wind down from being away so long. Stay well, guys Glad you're getting things sorted out, Kat. The blasted ants are giving me fits here...we've got fireants, but what we have to deal with mostly are what I've ID'd as Argentine ants. I bought several bags of potting soil when Wallyworld had them half-price to use in containers this spring. I needed a little potting soil the other day when I potted up a pepper plant from the garden...yep, ant infestation in the bags!!!! In the past I've simply sealed the bags up and set them in the sun to "bake" them out....much cooler now. Someone (thanks to whoever it was!!!) told me to scatter the potting soil out on a tarp or something flat and the ants will leave...that makes sense, so I'll be going that route when the time comes. Blasted ants!!!! Rain comes in here tonight/in the morning...up to 3/4" "predicted". My entire fall garden consists of six little "Green Collards - Bonnie's Choice". I have no idea how these will be, but it's what was available around here...got them at Lowes...the local co-op ended up getting the same ones. The garden looks mighty empty with those six little green flags waving in the breeze. Along with the rain coming in, it looks like lots of wind, too....gusts to 30mph. So, sum total of new plantings for my fall garden is six collard plants in the main garden and four broccoli plants in the big white tub. I got the garden neated up a bit and the electric fence back going. I've still got to decide which pepper plants I'm over-wintering. So far it looks like the potted-up Jalapeno TAM(hot) and possibly both of the poblanos will go into my seedling room for the winter. I'm also thinking of throwing down some additional collard seeds, maybe some lettuce and spinach, and maybe some carrots. I've got one row that I want to grow something. So, Doo might've spent a life or two on his excursion, eh? Sounds like he had an experience and was glad to be back where he keeps his people. The poorest of the poor, a nation of children taking care of children - https://handsofloveusa.org/ South Alabama Weather

gardenfish said:Rain today and tomorrow and then a cool down, followed by cool temps next week. Guess we've seen the last of the 80s in temps. I will use some well aged rabbit manure on my spinach and lettuce before it rains. I got this rabbit from a friend, she ordered a pick up truck full! I got a 5 gallon bucket for now. Can't believe how much faster lettuce and spinach grows in the fall than in the spring; I'm picking already and it's very sweet. Just about time to pull all tomatoes, I've harvested 3, but don't think the others will mature now. Same cool down happening down here. High Friday is supposed to be 61F but by Tuesday will be back up to around 75F. Lows dipping down into the upper 40's. The poorest of the poor, a nation of children taking care of children - https://handsofloveusa.org/ South Alabama Weather

Name: SoCal Orange County (Zone 10a) Lazy Gardener or Melonator

I might be able to thin my seedlings and get a salad of micro greens soon. 2022 wishlist: Summer Glow and Blonde Vision.

Alice, it doesn't matter about where the ants go...they're everywhere around here, it's really incredible the number of them. I could lay a piece of wood down on the ground where there is no ants...give it a week or two and they'll probably have eggs under it. It's a constant battle to keep them out of the house, much less the garden. Why they're so bad here is a big question. In my last Waterloo in the garden ths year, when it got so overgrown with weeds, I had bitter melon come up as a ground cover in part of it. There's been nothing from outside the garden brought in that would account for that vast growth. But, none the less, it was there. I'm convinced my garden plot was either a barnyard, house place, or dump site back in the early 1900's. I was working in the garden the other day and found a child's old white marble...have found bits and pieces of porcelain, metal objects, etc.,. So, I'm wondering if I'm actually turning some seeds up from decades ago. The house/barn place would have been gone by 1950 so it probably dated back into the late 1800's. My father mentioned once that he recalled the old house, but it was gone by time our family moved onto this piece of land. Interestingly the bitter melon came up in a section of new ground that I worked last year....added roughly 4' to the southern edge of the plot and that's where the bitter melon showed up! Probably what I'll do with the potting soil is carry it to the edge of the yard bordering the hay field and spread a couple of bags at a time out on a tarp. Where they will go is anyone's guess but they'll have to travel a long way to bother the garden or house. The bags are sitting on the deck where I have my container plants so I'm going to treat beneath and around the deck with some ant granules and try to at least halt the assault there. It really seems that MGrow is cornering the market on potting soil and other amendments in the big box stores. You can go to Walmart and then go to Lowes and you see basically the same stuff. The only way around it is to shop the local co-ops, which I'd rather do, but lots of time their hours and mine don't line up. The co-ops usually have more "commercial" type of potting soil / growing mixes. I'll just have to make more effort to get to the co-ops when they're open! ardesia said:[quote="Intheswamp"] . Someone (thanks to whoever it was!!!) told me to scatter the potting soil out on a tarp or something flat and the ants will leave...that makes sense, so I'll be going that route when the time comes. Blasted ants!!!! /quote] Be careful Ed, when those ants "leave" where will they go? Other areas of YOUR garden? Better to somehow eradicate them up front. I hate to sound like a snob but I no longer buy any garden amendments from WalMart. It was years ago but the first chamberbitter in my yard came in a bag of WM cow manure. I had never seen it before I spread that manure then it was everywhere. Later I had other issues like the ants you are seeing, etc. I gave up! The poorest of the poor, a nation of children taking care of children - https://handsofloveusa.org/ South Alabama Weather

I've never seen an Atwoods around here. Basically what you see around here are farmer cooperatives, Lowe's, Home Depot, Marvin's, and Ace Hardware. And a few independent hardware stores. The poorest of the poor, a nation of children taking care of children - https://handsofloveusa.org/ South Alabama Weather

Ants in bags, I water the bag, thoroughly, close it up, drown them, leave it overnight, then allow it to lay out and drain. I spread it on a tarp and they are just as happy as they were in the bag. How I am relocating ants in the garden, drown em good. Had 1.25" with thunder this morning. Cold rain, by the way. Sunshine and high today 76*, winds are gusting and feel great. Seeds coming up from what I planted the 25th. In that spot I cannot remember what I threw down, naturally. LOOKS like one of the spinaches... 2 beds down, 2 days to work on that 3rd bed, and the tub that will be lemon thyme. cilantro, beets, parsley, fennel, spinach, Purple Wave mustard, Arugula, and volunteer fernleaf dill. So many roads to take, choices to make, and laughs to share!

ardesia Oct 28, 2021 5:11 AM CST

I think you would really have to seal them under the water, maybe leave the wet bag in the sun so they cooked a bit. Fire ants float, it was common to see rafts of them in deep puddles at my last home. I just found this online. "How Fire Ants Float In 2017, after Hurricane Harvey made its way inland, Texas residents were stunned to find RIFAs using their nestmates as a living raft to float atop the flood waters. The floating fire ants link their legs together to build a raft, which allows them to float to a new, dry location where they can rebuild their colony. Fire ants have a waxy exterior that protects them from drying out in the hot temperatures of the south, but in conditions where they encounter flood waters, this waxy layer also helps to expel water." My ACE carries Ocean Forest and Happy Frog potting mixes, there are others from the same company, one is called Strawberry Fields. It is from CA and I have been told it was originally made up for the happy folks who were growing the then illegal maryjane. Those growers could afford the best and It is good stuff, pricey, but worth it to me. The Ocean Forest needs to be cut with some perlite as it is pretty dense, it has a lot of kelp in there with the forest products. If I had the room I would mix up my own potting mediums, I think that is the safest and probably cheapest for large containers and raised beds. Minds are like parachutes; they work better when they are open.

pod Oct 28, 2021 5:52 AM CST

Adding my 2 cents on fire ants. If I want to keep them out of containers, I try to find drip trays that will fit under the container. The drip tray allows me to monitor fire ant activity. I use a fire ant deterrent under the drip tray or if the container sits on the soil, I will use it on the soil. Never in food containers. If I drill holes in large containers to use for plants, I only drill them on the sides, not underneath. Again, this allows me to be on the lookout for fire ant activity. When they get in my raised beds it is a struggle. I will sacrifice plants and use copious amounts of boiling water. I have even used a long funnel, plunging it into the soil and pouring boiling water into the depths through the funnel. On the surface, I use food grade diatomaceous earth as a deterrent. Years ago, a customer was a football coach. We were discussing fire ants and I asked what they used on the football field to deter ants but was safe to use for the students. He said they used Ajax or Comet sprinkled on the mounds. It simply move the ants out of the area. I have found that will work to just discourage them from a site. Basically that is what the boiling water does also although I like to imagine those that are screaming in agony. And the battle continues. Believe in yourself even when no one else will. ~ Sasquatch

Floating fire ants... Yes, they will definitely float in a mound. When I was a kid the old farm pond behind the house would get low during a drought and the fire ants would build mounds around the edge of it. Then the rains would come and flood those mounds. We had an old wooden boat that we fished (and swam) off of and we were always on the lookout for the floating ants. It was like the floating mounds were vicious pirate ships. When a mound would bump into the boat it was instantly a massive boarding party!!! We kept our eyes open but one would sneak attack us on occasion!!! Floating mounds/colonies are weird things...you can touch them (quickly) and they're a really weird sensation!!! Little devils they are!!!! I'm pretty sure that my problem is with Argentine ants as they seldom sting (if ever?) sting...they will bite on occasion, but no biggie there. I've had success simply closing up bags of potting soil and letting the summer sun run them out of the bags....but, it's not so hot anymore. @sallyg , the soapy water mentioned will definitely kill them. They invade the house on occasion, sometimes around the kitchen sink...I figured I'd try some soapy water (Dawn) and it was almost an instant kill. I thought the soap was supposed to act kind of as a desiccant, drying out their exoskeleton, but they died instantly while soaking wet. Would a soapy water residue in the soil make it bad for plants??? We use insecticidal soap in the garden....??? @ardesia , I'll watch the sidewalk in front of our local ACE store. It's getting restocked after a fire wiped it out seven or eight months ago. Now to remember the names Ocean Forest (and some perlite) and Happy Frog. I think I've seen Happy Frog "somewhere". @pod , it must of been you that mentioned setting pots on "something" and treating the "something". When I planted my ill-fated late-season cucumbers, I set the big tub on a square of the foam squares that look like giant jigsaw puzzles and fit together to make exercise or kid's play mats. I sprayed down the mat good with ant poison a couple of times and haven't had *any* issues with ants in that tub. We have several of these mats so I'll be using them under more containers. The only problem is that most of my old pots have holes in the bottom. I might have to set them in a drip tray to keep the poison from possibly getting to the plant roots. The big tub has the drain holes in the side, about an inch from the bottom. I like the mental image of the ants screaming in agony at their demise. The poorest of the poor, a nation of children taking care of children - https://handsofloveusa.org/ South Alabama Weather

Name: SoCal Orange County (Zone 10a) Lazy Gardener or Melonator

I believe the rats will be on top of that chain. 2022 wishlist: Summer Glow and Blonde Vision.

Name: SoCal Orange County (Zone 10a) Lazy Gardener or Melonator

My vegetables have sprouted, I don't know what they are but very nice growth, I just sowed them recently. 2022 wishlist: Summer Glow and Blonde Vision.

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Does Walmart Carry Garden Soil Fo Tomatoes

Source: https://garden.org/thread/view/142031/2021-Vegetable-Gardening/?offset=3760

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