Garden 2022

[UrbanHunter]

Well I fouled up a bit today. We are having snow, wind, and lows in the teens. That's not such a bad thing except I left the top of one of my raised bed open, now I have fully developed lettuce and spinach with 3" of snow on it and no extra warmth going into a cold night......

What can I say but oops......

That's the risk you run with the removable tops, you can get an early start but you can either cook your plants by leaving them closed on a warm day for freeze them by leaving them open on a cold day... I have been doing this for almost 10 years and I think it is only the second time I have done this.

 

[Bacpacker]

Well I fouled up a bit today. We are having snow, wind, and lows in the teens. That's not such a bad thing except I left the top of one of my raised bed open, now I have fully developed lettuce and spinach with 3" of snow on it and no extra warmth going into a cold night......

What can I say but oops......

That's the risk you run with the removable tops, you can get an early start but you can either cook your plants by leaving them closed on a warm day for freeze them by leaving them open on a cold day... I have been doing this for almost 10 years and I think it is only the second time I have done this.

The snow might serve as a blanket and insulate the plants, spinach anyway.
I didn't get around to covering my tater bed last night. Got dark before I got done. Hopefully the snow will protect them and the peas

 

[Amish Heart]

I left the window glass tops on the green bean bins and the high winds caught them and broke the glass. Still need to pick that up.

 

[UrbanHunter]

The snow might serve as a blanket and insulate the plants, spinach anyway.
I didn't get around to covering my tater bed last night. Got dark before I got done. Hopefully the snow will protect them and the peas

I was hoping that if I got the lid closed early enough that the solar gain would help, but the temp outside is 26 and dropping, if it actually gets to 18 all night long then the plants have a poor outlook. Thankfully, 2 of the beds remained closed all day and they should be fine. Tomorrow it is expected to get to 40 so that will help the others. I think this was the last cold snap in the 10 day forecast. It looks like I can turn on my rain water collection system on Monday, crazy weather, up then down, then up again....

 

[txcatlady]

Got 3 loads of mushroom compost delivered today. Husband insisted on spreading and tilling it in. Told him it needed to sit and cook but he got all hiney hurt so I said go ahead. We will have to get 3 strands of electric fence up before I plant anything as the hogs rooted that part of yard already. Usually that is his only contribution to garden. I may plant my domestic berries tomorrow and get syrup tubs moved out of the yard. New asparagus roots and established ones in syrup buckets need to get in ground soon as well. Hoping last years carrots will go to seed soon. They are in syrup tub too.

 

[Double R]

Need to get seeds started. We’re late. Just not feeling like it right now. Maybe feel better once they are started. Got a little cheap greenhouse set up last weekend. Put a new mint plant in it to see if it gets to cold in it. Just could not see getting a real greenhouse here anymore.

 

[hashbrown]

Since we haven’t put out a substantial garden in the last 3 years I figured I should drag out the tillers and see if I could get them to run. I tried to start the rear tine and the engine was stuck along with having rotten gas. I got the carb cleaned out this afternoon and got the engine freed up. I’ll get a new plug in the morning and I think it will fire up. The mini tiller fired right up but I really hope I can get the big tiller going I really don’t want to buy another one of those. I made the whole ordeal a learning opportunity for the boy. I just stood back and told him what to do.

 

[Double R]

@hashbrown It’s so nice to see young men doing something productive. If we ever become “neighbors” your always welcome to use any of our tillers

 

[Weedygarden]

Since we haven’t put out a substantial garden in the last 3 years I figured I should drag out the tillers and see if I could get them to run. I tried to start the rear tine and the engine was stuck along with having rotten gas. I got the carb cleaned out this afternoon and got the engine freed up. I’ll get a new plug in the morning and I think it will fire up. The mini tiller fired right up but I really hope I can get the big tiller going I really don’t want to buy another one of those. I made the whole ordeal a learning opportunity for the boy. I just stood back and told him what to do.
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You really have a nice hardware collection in a wonderful sorter. Of course you know that and I remember that this was discussed somewhere previously.

 

[hashbrown]

You really have a nice hardware collection in a wonderful sorter. Of course you know that and I remember that this was discussed somewhere previously.

With the sort of junk I work on its damn sure handy!

 

[Weedygarden]

With the sort of junk I work on its damn sure handy!

One summer, I did all kinds of work for my bachelor uncle on his ranch. He had a quonset hut that needed a good workover and cleaning and I worked out there for many hours to do that. One of the things I did was to sort a bunch of hardware that was tossed willy nilly. He sure could have used a hardware sorter like that. I think we used a bunch of ice cream buckets to sort like things.

 

[hashbrown]

@hashbrown It’s so nice to see young men doing something productive. If we ever become “neighbors” your always welcome to use any of our tillers

I hope he makes a good well rounded man!

 

[hashbrown]

One summer, I did all kinds of work for my bachelor uncle on his ranch. He had a quonset hut that needed a good workover and cleaning and I worked out there for many hours to do that. One of the things I did was to sort a bunch of hardware that was tossed willy nilly. He sure could have used a hardware sorter like that. I think we used a bunch of ice cream buckets to sort like things.

I have two 5 gallon buckets full of nuts and bolts that need sorting now! I should have been down there on some of those cold winter days doing exactly what you are talking about!

 

[Weedygarden]

I have two 5 gallon buckets full of nuts and bolts that need sorting now! I should have been down there on some of those cold winter days doing exactly what you are talking about!

It happens so easily. I have some that I need to sort now as well.
You were recuperating and recovering this past winter though!

 

[Double R]

With the sort of junk I work on its damn sure handy!

That’s some pictures I won’t be showing hubby. He’ll drool all over my screen

 

[Amish Heart]

Laughing at the ice cream buckets, Weedy. They are used here for everything. I even use them to store dry food in. Everyone buys the family sized ice cream here so there's always lots of buckets.

 

[WVDragonlady]

I'll be doing a lot of seedling transplanting in the next couple of days. As soon as I can get to my greenhouse We got 4 in of snow but the winds drifted up to 8 inches in some places. They were nasty yesterday.
Bok Choy, one cantaloupe, more tomato, zucchini seeds have germinated. Haven't checked them yet today.
I need to get those in the cells and on the heat mats and under the grow lights.
For some reason my marigolds aren't germinating yet and the seeds are only a year old. I plant those with all the plants, those and basil everywhere.
The cucumber seeds are growing like crazy. I told hubby he'll have to leave some plants on people's doorsteps. I have 10 plants but only need 2 for us.

 

[UrbanHunter]

It got down to 18F last night and we have a high of 38F today....

It has been a good day, I had been lazy with my spring seed starting, I only started 1 cup with each type of seed, I had lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage started that way, so yesterday I had to move each plant into it's own pad... I ended up with a half dozen each of broccoli and cabbage, and 15 head romaine plants. I did the same thing with my indoor cherry tomatoes, only 4 of them.

Went out and checked the outdoor raised beds (with tops), they are all doing fine. The one that was left open and had 3"s of snow in it is okay too, the lettuce wilted a little and the spinach looks great, I guess I closed it just in time. Tonight they are forecasting a low of 25F and that is well within my operating range with the raised bed tops, so I guess I dodged a bullet on that one.

On my indoor garden patch, I have a tub with beets and turnips, never had much luck with either indoors (this is my second try), anyway because we are eating the beet leaves now I had to trim back the turnips to give the beets room. When I check on this this morning the turnips are starting to round out (like little golf balls). I am wondering if trimming the leaves triggered a response.

My herbs are going nuts, the wife is trying to figure out ways to preserve them, currently we have basil hanging in the cupboard and it is smelling up the kitchen (kinda nice). Indoor container gardening is very interesting, to say the least.

I watched the full series of the Tudor Monastery Farm this week and I realized that I have been growing leeks all wrong... go figure. I like looking at how people handled things in an non-mechanized society.

 

[Bacpacker]

It got down to 18F last night and we have a high of 38F today....

It has been a good day, I had been lazy with my spring seed starting, I only started 1 cup with each type of seed, I had lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage started that way, so yesterday I had to move each plant into it's own pad... I ended up with a half dozen each of broccoli and cabbage, and 15 head romaine plants. I did the same thing with my indoor cherry tomatoes, only 4 of them.

Went out and checked the outdoor raised beds (with tops), they are all doing fine. The one that was left open and had 3"s of snow in it is okay too, the lettuce wilted a little and the spinach looks great, I guess I closed it just in time. Tonight they are forecasting a low of 25F and that is well within my operating range with the raised bed tops, so I guess I dodged a bullet on that one.

On my indoor garden patch, I have a tub with beets and turnips, never had much luck with either indoors (this is my second try), anyway because we are eating the beet leaves now I had to trim back the turnips to give the beets room. When I check on this this morning the turnips are starting to round out (like little golf balls). I am wondering if trimming the leaves triggered a response.

My herbs are going nuts, the wife is trying to figure out ways to preserve them, currently we have basil hanging in the cupboard and it is smelling up the kitchen (kinda nice). Indoor container gardening is very interesting, to say the least.

I watched the full series of the Tudor Monastery Farm this week and I realized that I have been growing leeks all wrong... go figure. I like looking at how people handled things in an non-mechanized society.

Care to share the leek secrets

 

[UrbanHunter]

Care to share the leek secrets

I have been starting leeks and then moving them outside in spring, in the program they let them grow over winter and harvested them in spring..

 

[hashbrown]

Well, it turned out to be a great day! We got the rear tine engine freed up yesterday. I had so much oil in the cylinder we decide to rinse it out and let it sit overnight. It started up this afternoon and ran well! I have new belts for it and will change the oil and it should be ready to go to work.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cMX6ENNf6NA?feature=share

 

[Neb]

I have been starting leeks and then moving them outside in spring, in the program they let them grow over winter and harvested them in spring..

The guy with the prize winning carrots plants the sprouts in a 9" deep hole with a minimal amount of dirt then lets the rain slowly back fill the holes. That way he get 9" of blanched leaks since 5hey grew without sun light turning them green.

Ben

 

[Bacpacker]

I put out more snow peas today. First planting is all up and looks like it tolerated the snow and cold just fine. Taters OTOH got bit. I still think they'll leaf back out, plus I still have a little over 10 lbs to plant yet.

After seeing Urbans post about leeks, and the fact mine were in the asparagus bed and I noticed a spear come up right next to a large leek plant, I figured I better pull them. First one came out pretty easy, but wasn't very large diameter, although it was longer than I expected. Next one broke off about 3" underground. I ended up using my tater fork to loosen the soil and still broke 2 more off. I think I ended up with about 10 altogether. Some were close to 1.5" diameter, others maybe 1/2", but they all had super long roots and a lot of them. They did not want to turn loose.

I hadn't grown them before and pulled a few last fall/early winter and left the rest to see if they would over winter. They really grew thru the cold. length and diameter. They were super fragrant as well. I'll try and post up some pics of the harvest

Noe for the important part, other than adding them to tater soup, what are some other uses, reciepes for them?

 

[hashbrown]

I put out more snow peas today. First planting is all up and looks like it tolerated the snow and cold just fine. Taters OTOH got bit. I still think they'll leaf back out, plus I still have a little over 10 lbs to plant yet.

After seeing Urbans post about leeks, and the fact mine were in the asparagus bed and I noticed a spear come up right next to a large leek plant, I figured I better pull them. First one came out pretty easy, but wasn't very large diameter, although it was longer than I expected. Next one broke off about 3" underground. I ended up using my tater fork to loosen the soil and still broke 2 more off. I think I ended up with about 10 altogether. Some were close to 1.5" diameter, others maybe 1/2", but they all had super long roots and a lot of them. They did not want to turn loose.

I hadn't grown them before and pulled a few last fall/early winter and left the rest to see if they would over winter. They really grew thru the cold. length and diameter. They were super fragrant as well. I'll try and post up some pics of the harvest

Noe for the important part, other than adding them to tater soup, what are some other uses, reciepes for them?

I thought about buying a package of Snow peas today in the grocery store until I saw the price, it was no bigger than a zip lock sandwich bag and was 5 bucks!

 

[Bacpacker]

I thought about buying a package of Snow peas today in the grocery store until I saw the price, it was no bigger than a zip lock sandwich bag and was 5 bucks!

I love em, but they always cost way too much in the store. I was picking them off the plants and eating in the garden last year. Gonna try and do some fall crops with them this year too. I've been planting about every 3 weeks

 

[LadyLocust]

Well I tried a new to me method for starting seeds. It's apparently working. I have 16 cabbage, 10 brocs., 72+ tomatoes, 36 anaheim peppers, as well as flowers. Will wait another week to start beans and faster growing things. I'm gunna have to do like @WVDragonlady & leave plants on people's doorsteps. We don't have the space to grow all of them.

@UrbanHunter The Edwardian Farm has garden info too (strawberries in particular,) but the series as a whole is a little more all-over the place.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Today I will turn on my rain water collection system. I want to collect a little and then drain it out before I start collecting in earnest.

Last year I did like @LadyLocust and @WVDragonlady; I ended up with way more plants than I had space for, this year I am just barely starting enough seeds to cover what I expect to use. Because my indoor growing space is so small and I am growing things that I can harvest I am starting my seeds in tight quarters (up to a dozen seeds to a cup) and then splitting them up after they sprout. The wife says that transplanting them 2 or 3 times is too much labor, but I figure it saves space and allows for staggered planting. Everything is a trade-off, if I had twice as much space I would do things completely different, but I don't so I will make the most of what I have.

FYI, Last year I gave away 8 flats of small plants and you would have thought I was passing out gold bars from the look on the wife's face.....

 

[LadyLocust]

Out running errands, I noticed our farm/garden place had fruit trees. I picked up a macintosh apple and a bing cherry & 2 huge pots to put them in for now & we find a place before they outgrow them.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Today I got the rain water collection turned back on. Then I was looking at my raised beds and decided to nuke them with DE, mostly around the edge where the plastic liner hits the soil, I am assuming that the slugs have been making their homes there and that has to end. I also planted some peas along my grape vine lattice. Tonight I will start my tomato plant seeds.

There is so much to do and so little time. This weekend I will be installing some irrigation lines to some of the outlying beds, the wife wants to put flowers at the trees at the south side of the house so I may need to run lines to them too. Every year I day dream about putting in a small greenhouse, but every year there is something more important to do.

 

[Tommyice]

Out running errands, I noticed our farm/garden place had fruit trees. I picked up a macintosh apple and a bing cherry & 2 huge pots to put them in for now & we find a place before they outgrow them.

I got 2 apple trees from Stark Bros called columnar trees specifically for growing in patio pots. Last year I got 2 of them from either Shumway’s or Gurney’s.