Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I got everything planted. My back was killing me after, and the heat got to me so I took some time off to work on a puzzle. Hopefully tomorrow it's even cooler.

 

[jvls1942]

today is definitely cooler than yesterday. we loaded up about five hundred assorted pots into the car.
going to take them to DD. She sells garden plants and always needs pots.
this morning there were three yearling deer outside the kitchen window. We suspect they are the ones who were born in our yard last year. No sign of the doe. There are a pair of turkeys hanging around the edge of the tree line. We don't see the rest of the flock, if there is one.
going out now to fertilize the grapes and rhubarb.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is refreshing out. I like the predicted temperatures for the week.

That's a lot of pots Jim. I've been slowly getting rid of extra gardening stuff. Nice you have someone who can use them.

Lots of deer here. The wild Tom turkeys sometimes come up in the yard to see my turkeys. We saw the fox last evening taking something across the road. He's been working at my ducks and chickens at times. Not much I can do about it as my big chickens and ducks are free range. Can't do bug patrol if they are locked up.

 

[jvls1942]

well, it was nice while it was cool.
63F and sunny. still too hot for heavy work. then the tire came off of the rim on the dolly I was pushing. That's when I gave up and came in for a cold drink.
when I had guineas, I would start off in the spring with about 30 of them, . by fall I would feel lucky if I had six left. Yup, they are useless unless they are loose.
back then I hatched lots of them, so it was not too expensive to sacrifice a few. Now I would have to buy them, I heard they were six bucks for a keet. too expensive for fox fodder.

 

[jvls1942]

I mixed up a 15 gallon batch of mulch/compost. I am going to try to get it spread before it gets so hot out.
I did get the fertilizer on the grapes and rhubarb yesterday.
there is one grape that reached the top wire last year. I cut the tip off. Now it is sending shoots down both directions of the top wire, AND there is one shoot starting down the lower wire, too.
there is another one that is as tall as the lower wire. it won't take long to reach the top. there are two more that are looking good.

 

[WIchickMama]

I haven't been on for awhile-boy you two have been busy! I got all our plants in the ground both at home and our land-included 10 spruce, 2 lilac, 2 redbud and 2 blueberry!

Fertilized raspberries, blueberries, grapes and strawberries this week, we were supposed to get rain but haven't so I had to water. LOTS of weeding!

Picked some asparagus and left a couple to seed as this is only year 3.

Picked enough rhubarb to make a crisp from 2 plants but again can't over pick as it is year 3 for them and I also put in 3 more this year. I did get 3 lbs from a local farmer though, so I froze that.

That's expensive. We have just holding tanks and get pumped often. So far it isn't that expensive. Yours must be an actual septic system. Apparently we can't even get a mound system here. Too much clay they say.

I thought it was expensive too, but we just have holding tanks as well and need to get them pumped every 12-18 months.

I should probably change the title of this thread to "Two old people trying to garden". Might get more people to join in.

You two crack me up!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like you have been very busy @WIchickMama . I bought the fertilizer for my berries, now I gotta put it on them.

 

[jvls1942]

It would not break my heart if byc and others would get rid of the "like" buttons . then maybe more people would respond.
I just finished mulching the new grapes and old rhubarb. one of the old rhubarb plants is surrounded by baby plants. we must have missed a seed pod last year. that's OK because this old bed needs new blood. I am not going to thin out the seedlings. let the strongest survive. Next year I can transplant some of them.
I learned that I can hang a five gallon bucket from the mower engagement lever on the lawn tractor. It is a hefty rod so no fear of bending it. beats carrying a bucket of cow manure in my lap. lolol
I used up fifteen gallons of compost/mulch on seven plants.
I fear that I will have to add more mulch soon.
when I get the tractor back I will take a load of rotted wood chips for that deed.

 

[jvls1942]

Sounds like you have been very busy @WIchickMama . I bought the fertilizer for my berries, now I gotta put it on them.

all of the blackberries in the big patch showed up dead this spring.
I was going to take the tractor bucket and knock them all down flat. but this week all kinds of new shoots are coming up. Now what can I do ? I might just go through with the bucket a foot off the ground.that shouldn't hurt the new growth too much.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My small BlackBerry area they are all growing from the ground too. I still have to cut them back. I'm hoping I actually get something off them this year, otherwise I told them they are out of here. Let me know how the bucket technique works. I've been known to use the stomp and knock technique in the raspberry bed.

Now I feel guilty "liking" your posts. I mostly do it to acknowledge I read it. I wouldn't miss it either if it was gone.