Leghorns -19 weeks to first eggs

[AllenK RGV]

Speaking of mosquitos they have been driving a spray truck through 2x this week. Hadn't seen one all winter/fall then this week 2 do their drive by. Expecting a cold bump later this afternoon, so one day more winter this season then back in the 80's.

Since our ground got a good soaking pretty much half my neighbord were doing yardwork yesterday, one pulled an old tree stump, others were digging out mud pits at their fenceline for new plantings. People around here seem to not want to waste the opportunity of cool weather and soft mud to dig in.

 

[RUNuts]

I bought a banana tree last month and had it in the living room. Crazy Lady suggested it go outside yesterday. 60°F - no problem. Then 40°F overnight?!? Chilly! I was gonna run the fence today, but am baking bread after a large breakfast. Hope the banana likes the cool. And it warms up after lunch.

60°F later tomorrow, so short lived cold snap. With all the rain the last 2 weeks, the whole yard is a mud pit. Would like some garden soil, but the nursery was closed yesterday due to muddiness?

Good news, I got 6 45 gallon tree pots. If the ground doesn't dry out, I'll try a container garden. Expand on the 4 - 55 gallon drum halves. The last time I put these in the dog yard, filled with dirt then went inside for a rest. When I returned, the dogs were smiling, all standing around the now emptied half drum. They had so much fun. Dirt everywhere. No chance of scooping any up. I was a little upset.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Fortunately for me no plants need to come in from this front we are expecting lows in the mid 50's from it I get tired of moving containers inside then out again. I haven't grown banana plants but a neighbor across the back fence did and they only had problems with a freeze into the 28-30 light freezes they shook off. His were in the ground.

According to a Floridian Nursery they really benefit from loads of fertilizer and loose soil. So you might want to get some manure for your dogs to roll in when you put em in the ground!

 

[RUNuts]

Planting next to the compost bins. Good enough?

Can't do anything for the light, loamy soil though. Heavy clay or death! I hope they don't drown and rot.

Don't need manure have chicken chit! Boy, do I have it!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Planting next to the compost bins. Good enough?

Can't do anything for the light, loamy soil though. Heavy clay or death! I hope they don't drown and rot.

Don't need manure have chicken chit! Boy, do I have it!

Sounds like the perfect spot to me, compost and all the assorted creepy crawlies loosen soil so you don't have to. Smart thinking, I don't think they will drown because at that rent house after a hard rain everyone's back yards seemed to drain and stagnate in our respective back yards you could see standing water for a week at a time. Then the mosquito's came! I got tired of that and dug down 3 feet, placed a 600gph pump and backfilled the hole with gravel. Also, for your occasional hard freezes something like christmass lights plus some roll material like this around the stand should suffice:
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/row-cover-ultimate/frost-protection-fabric-rolls you might think you are planting just the one tree but they produce asexually and grow into a stand.

 

[RUNuts]

I researched bananas before I decided I needed one. Several in the neighborhood appear to be fine. I mean the frost killed everything above grade, but I'll see what happens in the spring now that I'm looking for it. I'm also planning on stopping at the neighbors to see if I can adopt a pup! If this one lives.

There are several varieties and it takes 18 months to fruit. If this one survives, I've got a chance at fruit this year. See me in the fall. Fruiting will be a challenge if it freezes each winter. Neat information on microclimates too. Bananas are an understory plant. Should have planted when I still had oak trees. Kinda thin now.

We are making lemonade. Planting more fruit trees. Trying to find a everbearing mulberry in stock.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ahh your losing Oaks too just like @KikisGirls ? Sad news to hear.

I researched bananas before I decided I needed one. Several in the neighborhood appear to be fine. I mean the frost killed everything above grade, but I'll see what happens in the spring now that I'm looking for it. I'm also planning on stopping at the neighbors to see if I can adopt a pup! If this one lives.

There are several varieties and it takes 18 months to fruit. If this one survives, I've got a chance at fruit this year. See me in the fall. Fruiting will be a challenge if it freezes each winter. Neat information on microclimates too. Bananas are an understory plant. Should have planted when I still had oak trees. Kinda thin now.

We are making lemonade. Planting more fruit trees. Trying to find a everbearing mulberry in stock.

It does suck when those hard frosts come through and you are left with just the rootstock. I have 4-5 citrus that I need to remove man those are thorny too.

So my weatherman didn't do a good jub of getting the forecast right, He said toights low was going to be around 52F we just pushed through the 50's 4 hours after the front arrived.

So doing the plant drag again

 

[RUNuts]

Plants in the garage. Not risking the banana. Chilly all day today, so I only got a bit done in the garage. Didn't feel like dressing up.

14 eggs today. 6 white and 8 brown. Looks like I need to pin the leghorns and do checks. We got 7 white eggs on the 31st. Perchance, they are not up to full production yet? Or one is not well. All acting fine.

10 brown layers at 5 per week should average 7+ a day. Bouncing between 5 and 9. 50 for the last 7 days and we are spot on average wise.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Plants in the garage. Not risking the banana. Chilly all day today, so I only got a bit done in the garage. Didn't feel like dressing up.

14 eggs today. 6 white and 8 brown. Looks like I need to pin the leghorns and do checks. We got 7 white eggs on the 31st. Perchance, they are not up to full production yet? Or one is not well. All acting fine.

10 brown layers at 5 per week should average 7+ a day. Bouncing between 5 and 9. 50 for the last 7 days and we are spot on average wise.

Mine have settled into a one every other day so out of the 5 gals I get them on a two day cycle usually a 4:1. At least it is looking like we coastal types will not be playng the plant shuffle game any more this year now!

 

[Kiki]

I lost all 12 of my avocado plants.
I am not pleased that I didn't bring them indoors the second time.