What have you done for garden prep so far?

[Dani]

We had a beautiful day before yesterday so right after feeding I was out in the garden tilling but then got a text from my boss to come in for over night. She had 6 call ours this week and just trying to keep their head above water, so I only got about an hour out there before I needed my shower before getting granny lunch to her. Come home to fix dinner and try to take a nap before going back to granny for her dinner then work. I did 9 hours before calling it quotes at work because I never did get my nap in. I was in bed at 6 am - 11 am.
Yesterday was another gorgeous day. I asked my hunny to take granny lunch because I wanted to play. . . Got rows retilled and started redigging my trenches between each row. The ground is still too wet for planting, but at least it looks more and more like a garden verses were patch. I didn't get too play as much as I would have liked though. Making dinner, doing laundry, a little sewing and cleaning house were on the to do list also. With all the doctor appointments with both hunny and granny then work I feel like I just haven't been home much this week other than cooking and sleeping.
I have a few hours before I go to work tonight to do inventory but it is drizzly rain right now. Not sure how my shift is going to end up today. I am scheduled Sun for inventory and Monday floor. Since my scale is still broke I do the night before I am scheduled. As it stands, I will go in today at 3:30pm and work till 5:30 am Mon. Well see if I can do mon night instead.

 

[user 7704]

It's to wet and muddy here to do anything. I'm changing mom's bed because she says it's too tall and she needs a stool to get on it. Not good at 86. Now I have no where to store her antique bed. It's sitting in the living room. Lol

 

[Brent S]

With the rain I decided to just take it easy today. I could plant the greenhouse but an still a little sore from yesterday, so that’s my excuse for being a bum....

 

[Mountain trapper]

It'll be awhile before we can even think about working in our garden.

 

[user 7704]

I found some sprouted potatoes in the pantry and put them in a pot with some starter mix, and watered . Put plastic wrap over it just to see if they sprout. They are under the grow light.

Another case of "We shall see."

 

[Psalm7]

Mud mud and more mud .
I wanted to get the first tilling done this week but supposed to rain all week . I get a vacation mid March so hope to till and start planting that week .

 

[Brent S]

View attachment 9369 It'll be awhile before we can even think about working in our garden.

Wow, it’s beautiful in its own way, but dosent look very easy to live in! Ever thought about a second place down south for the winter?

 

[user 7704]

Mud mud and more mud .
I wanted to get the first tilling done this week but supposed to rain all week . I get a vacation mid March so hope to till and start planting that week .

Psalm, they updated us another inch. If we get as much as they are saying, out our little country roads around the lake, will definitely be flooded. They were close on Friday morning.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Wow, it’s beautiful in its own way, but dosent look very easy to live in! Ever thought about a second place down south for the winter?

I could certainly use a vacation in a warm place right about now. Forecast is for temps near zero or below and more snow. You're right though, there's nothing easy about living up here. But I don't think I'd trade it for any other place that I've ever been. Once construction on our house is finished I won't care if we get snowed in. I'll just leave a vehicle down at the county road and use a tracked vehicle to get in and out.

 

[Brent S]

I could certainly use a vacation in a warm place right about now. Forecast is for temps near zero or below and more snow. You're right though, there's nothing easy about living up here. But I don't think I'd trade it for any other place that I've ever been. Once construction on our house is finished I won't care if we get snowed in. I'll just leave a vehicle down at the county road and use a tracked vehicle to get in and out.

if we are all right about a shtf scenario then living in a place like yours would be the safest place to be. Right now it’s a test of your determination!

 

[Dani]

I found some sprouted potatoes in the pantry and put them in a pot with some starter mix, and watered . Put plastic wrap over it just to see if they sprout. They are under the grow light.

Another case of "We shall see."

I've planted sprouted potatoes that I have bought out in the garden before. They grew just fine. Hope you have a good turn out too.

 

[Dani]

I got out of bed at 10:30 this morning. It was on the chiller side but I still went out to play in the garden. I have 9 beds completed as much as possible right now with almost that many more that won't take much to get there. I was supposed to have worked tonight but I don't have all the products I need so told my boss that I would do Thurs night instead. It worked out since it was just gorgeous outside and granny missed seeing me yesterday. Tomorrow she has a 930 appointment and she was very happy I was going to be going with her. It is supposed to be raining the next 5 days so wouldn't be able to play like I got to today.

 

[user 7704]

I've planted sprouted potatoes that I have bought out in the garden before. They grew just fine. Hope you have a good turn out too.

That's how I always grow potatoes. I put them in large buckets. This time it's inside though. Another....we shall see.

 

[Brent S]

Got the greenhouse completely planted today! I put in spinach, 3 lettuces, carrots, radish, broccoli, cauliflower,beets,collards, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, kale, leeks, chives and white onions. Last year I got too busy and let everything get overgrown by weeds, but I need to restock the pantry now and will make the effort to be a more attentive gardener this time. I still have to do a final till in the main garden and will start planting some cold stuff in it this weekend. Feels really good to play in the dirt again.
One thing I’ve learned is the survival packs of heirloom seeds at amazon are awesome. They are cheaper than the box stores by far, but probably not as cheap as the feed stores if your planting a huge amount. Mostly I like the variety you get in these packs. I’m trying leeks and Swiss chard for the first time from them. I have 5 packs in the freezer but think I will get a couple more for just in case.

 

[user 7704]

Got the greenhouse completely planted today! I put in spinach, 3 lettuces, carrots, radish, broccoli, cauliflower,beets,collards, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, kale, leeks, chives and white onions. Last year I got too busy and let everything get overgrown by weeds, but I need to restock the pantry now and will make the effort to be a more attentive gardener this time. I still have to do a final till in the main garden and will start planting some cold stuff in it this weekend. Feels really good to play in the dirt again.
One thing I’ve learned is the survival packs of heirloom seeds at amazon are awesome. They are cheaper than the box stores by far, but probably not as cheap as the feed stores if your planting a huge amount. Mostly I like the variety you get in these packs. I’m trying leeks and Swiss chard for the first time from them. I have 5 packs in the freezer but think I will get a couple more for just in case.

Good for you. I had stuff started under the grow lights and killed them all. Patience is a virtue. Lol

I'm starting them again. The cabbage never sprouted and I planted 9 pots twice. I need to get new grow bulbs I substituted regular bulbs and that was a mistake.

 

[Brent S]

Good for you. I had stuff started under the grow lights and killed them all. Patience is a virtue. Lol

I'm starting them again. The cabbage never sprouted and I planted 9 pots twice. I need to get new grow bulbs I substituted regular bulbs and that was a mistake.

Gardening in general is trial and error, and it never ends. What works well this year may not the next. With the weather changing for us all we will just do our best to adapt as well as we can.

 

[Dani]

I've been working on the garden rows and only have about 8 more to go. It's still too wet to do the final tilling to start planting but it's not supposed to rain till Friday this week. I am going to try to get out there some today to see how wet it still is since it hasn't rained for a few days. Today we have the sun out but last few days, even though it didn't rain, it was overcast. I'm just so ready for it to stop raining. . .

Been working a lot lately anywhere between 9-11 hour shifts and still doing the graveyards. It's hard sleeping during the day, especially when my MIL calls at 10:39 saying no one has brought her lunch to her yet. Then again at 10:55 saying the same thing. Hunny is still driving so on days I have done the over night, it is his job to bring her lunch. That will change next week when he has his surgery and I will be doing both lunch and dinner. No driving for 2 weeks and no lifting over 5 lbs for 4 weeks. I'm just glad he finally told the kids. I felt like they needed to know but thought he should be the one telling them. It has been 3 months since diagnosis, maybe he just needed to let it sink in.

Hunny s bad back keeps him down quite a bit, but the last couple days, he has actually been helping out more. He did a load of laundry, sprayed weed killer around the garden while riding on the golf cart and even grilled steaks last night before I went in to work.

Granny has more good days than bad still, but we can tell she is getting more confused as the days ago by. She can't remember things that happen that day and thinks things happen when I know they dont. It's hard to see a loved one go thru this.

Had one of my 2 mo old baby goats horn get caught in something. Hunny got me up a couple days ago saying I needed to come out to the barn. Poor Gracie Lou's head was covered it blood and three other goats had blood on them. She ripped the horn forward tearing the blood vessel that goes up in it. Looks like I will have a 1 horned goat. I expect it to eventually fall off. She was not happy with me doctoring it and tries to stay clear of me. Hopefully she will get over it soon. She can be a buggar to catch.

 

[user 7704]

I've been working on the garden rows and only have about 8 more to go. It's still too wet to do the final tilling to start planting but it's not supposed to rain till Friday this week. I am going to try to get out there some today to see how wet it still is since it hasn't rained for a few days. Today we have the sun out but last few days, even though it didn't rain, it was overcast. I'm just so ready for it to stop raining. . .

Been working a lot lately anywhere between 9-11 hour shifts and still doing the graveyards. It's hard sleeping during the day, especially when my MIL calls at 10:39 saying no one has brought her lunch to her yet. Then again at 10:55 saying the same thing. Hunny is still driving so on days I have done the over night, it is his job to bring her lunch. That will change next week when he has his surgery and I will be doing both lunch and dinner. No driving for 2 weeks and no lifting over 5 lbs for 4 weeks. I'm just glad he finally told the kids. I felt like they needed to know but thought he should be the one telling them. It has been 3 months since diagnosis, maybe he just needed to let it sink in.

Hunny s bad back keeps him down quite a bit, but the last couple days, he has actually been helping out more. He did a load of laundry, sprayed weed killer around the garden while riding on the golf cart and even grilled steaks last night before I went in to work.

Granny has more good days than bad still, but we can tell she is getting more confused as the days ago by. She can't remember things that happen that day and thinks things happen when I know they dont. It's hard to see a loved one go thru this.

Had one of my 2 mo old baby goats horn get caught in something. Hunny got me up a couple days ago saying I needed to come out to the barn. Poor Gracie Lou's head was covered it blood and three other goats had blood on them. She ripped the horn forward tearing the blood vessel that goes up in it. Looks like I will have a 1 horned goat. I expect it to eventually fall off. She was not happy with me doctoring it and tries to stay clear of me. Hopefully she will get over it soon. She can be a buggar to catch.

Your days have certainly been busy. Wishing you and yours the best. My MIL is getting worse all the time. She wakes her daughter in the middle of the night looking for kids or her dead husband etc. It's very sad.

 

[user 7704]

Tomorrow, fingers crossed, I'm going to plant some snow peas. The rows won t be pretty, but I'm going to get them in the ground before the new rain comes. I'm going to mulch with newspapers to try and keep Spring weeds under my control.

 

[Brent S]

It was too cold and windy to work in the garden or outside today. Would like till some rows in the main garden but tomorrow doesn’t look much better. I’m sick of winter.... ok, compared to Mav and Arctic I should just be quiet here!

 

[user 7704]

True Brent. I can't believe I didn't have a measurable snow this year. Therefore ; I am ready for Spring. I'm already so behind on prep.

 

[user 7704]

Finally planted 4 short rows of snap peas. 15' each.

I didn't get out tiller but used the hand cultivator . Ended up mulching beside the rows because I wasn't able to get the weeds.

I'm happy though. Today was supposed to be our only day without rain, but it has become really cloudy already. May bet up to 2.5 more inches by Saturday. The ramp and access road is still covered.

My back.....on the other hand is yelling at me.

 

[Maverick]

What garden? we still have 7 feet of snow on the ground, still snowing here for the next several days.

 

[user 7704]

What garden? we still have 7 feet of snow on the ground, still snowing here for the next several days.

I'm sorry I didn't get my one snow this year, but now I'm ready for Spring.

In my zone, peas should be planted early March. Cabbage and cold crops too, but I'm behind.

 

[Brent S]

I got 1 1/2 rows in the garden tilled in with manure and planted today. I will try to get a row of peas in over the weekend but there is rain forecasted so we will see. Sorry about the deep snow Mav. I can’t even imagine dealing with 7ft of it!

 

[user 7704]

Planted some container lettuce, kale and spinach today. Also put two trap cages beside them because the squirrels are taking over. Maybe some of the older neighbors still eat squirrels. My cousins would fry the entire head and suck out the brains. Sorry, not for me.

 

[DrHenley]

Well, the bugs came out in force. I had every known cabbage pest going to town on the collards, and even the three freezing nights we had in a row didn't seem to stop them. So I got some diatomaceous earth and mixed up a water solution in a sprayer and sprayed the collards down good, including the undersides of the leaves. Once it dried, there was a nice coat of DE powder on the plants that stopped the bugs cold. The only aphids I found were two winged adults that found gaps in the DE coating on the same leaf. That was the only bugs I found anywhere, just that one leaf.

Aphids are pretty easy to find, just look for a wilting leaf and look under it and you'll find the little bloodsuckers if you look closely enough.

 

[user 7704]

Well, the bugs came out in force. I had every known cabbage pest going to town on the collards, and even the three freezing nights we had in a row didn't seem to stop them. So I got some diatomaceous earth and mixed up a water solution in a sprayer and sprayed the collards down good, including the undersides of the leaves. Once it dried, there was a nice coat of DE powder on the plants that stopped the bugs cold. The only aphids I found were two winged adults that found gaps in the DE coating on the same leaf. That was the only bugs I found anywhere, just that one leaf.

Aphids are pretty easy to find, just look for a wilting leaf and look under it and you'll find the little bloodsuckers if you look closely enough.

I've never used DE. I need to have some on hand. Most of my gardening problems have been from tomato diseases and the fact that I had walnut trees and now can't grow certain plants.

 

[Brent S]

I've never used DE. I need to have some on hand. Most of my gardening problems have been from tomato diseases and the fact that I had walnut trees and now can't grow certain plants.

You can get DE powder at big box stores in the pool supplies.

 

[Brent S]

I added twenty more bags of composted manure to the garden rows today. Was a little short so went and got six more, but ran out of steam so they are still in the back of the Jeep. Was hoping to plant peas but will try to finish tomorrow. Had a productive weekend though and got caught up on housework and worked on multiple projects. I might actually get to move into the master bedroom before I die of old age!