Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

Is celery hard to grow? I have never grown that before. Is it an annual or like asparagus and rhubarb does it grow back again?

I don't think it's hard to grow although others tell me that it is. I've had difficulty getting it sprouted before - but the trick is to just sprinkle the seeds on top of already damp dirt and then throw an eensie bit on top to barely cover it. Sometimes I don't even put dirt on top. If you plant it too far down it won't sprout. I grow them in Thai take out round plastic dishes and then just rip the seedlings out when they get about an inch to inch and a half and transplant. I've never had issues.

It won't survive full winter, but it will survive a frost or two.

I think it's great fun to plant.

 

[lazy gardener]

I plan to start this weekend. What do you use as a medium for your seed tapes?

Copied from Frugal living:
I used toilet paper: Pulled off 4' sections, folded them up on my quilt mat, and used the rotary cutter to cut the whole pile in half the long way. Unfold, separate the plys so that one half width length gives you 2 strips that are about 2" x 48". I then laid one out on the table, used a syringe to put a drop of glue (flour and water) every 1.5" down one side. Use a sharp pencil to pick up each seed from a plate, and deposit it on the drop of glue. It helps to keep a bit of water to dip the pencil lead so the seeds will stick to it, but, after you get going, you can then use any residual paste that you might pick up from the previous deposit. After a seed has been laid in each spot, fold the tape lengthwise, being sure that the paper adheres well at the "spots". Drape it in a safe place until it's thoroughly dry. Rinse and repeat.

Is celery hard to grow? I have never grown that before. Is it an annual or like asparagus and rhubarb does it grow back again?

I've grown it before. One year I had a bumper crop of super tender, incredibly tasty, succulent celery. It was stringy until it got hit by a very mild frost, then it was incredible. However, celery is very frost sensitive, so I couldn't figure that one out. Any trials since then have been nothing to brag about.

BTW, unless you're familiar with the Frugal Living thread, I'd recommend you check it out. Current topic: carrots and tire planters.

 

[buckabucka]

All I have going is onions and leeks. I'd like to start some early greens this weekend.

My celery experiment was years ago, only semi-successful. I'd try again if I liked celery more, but I might go back to peanut experiments this year. The only problem is I may have to mix my soil with 50% de-con. We have serious rodents this year, - everywhere!

 

[TayFray!]

Someone should make a forum for the upcoming augusta swaps, I know there has been one in the past, but there should be one for this year, the first one is march 28th, so can someone make this? and share it on this page? I know hoppy normally makes one.

 

[Marcy54]

All I have going is onions and leeks. I'd like to start some early greens this weekend.

My celery experiment was years ago, only semi-successful. I'd try again if I liked celery more, but I might go back to peanut experiments this year. The only problem is I may have to mix my soil with 50% de-con. We have serious rodents this year, - everywhere!

Have you considered straw bail gardening? You could put hardware cloth around the bails.

 

[Cknldy]

My RIR rooster seems to be doing better. I take my little weeding rake with me when I go visit. It is one of those little curved rakes, the bowl of it easily holds an egg if one needs to be fished out of the back of a coop. It can also be used to nudge a rooster. No more attack issues, when I say move along and give him a nudge forward, he moves forward. Kind of hard ranging the birds in-between the snow banks, especially since they like to fly up on the banks around the paths. I have noticed that I am now seeing some wood on my raised beds showing in the back yard. I have a tractor coming for meat chickens in mid April, there is hope that the snow could be gone by then. Thanks everyone for your rooster comments.

Don't ever forget your rake! When you do he'll get you again. He doesn't fear or respect you, it is the rake he knows will get him. I did the same thing with a hoe and only forgot it once- big mistake! Finally had it the last time my 8 yr old (at the time) came screaming and crying to the house cuz he tried to fight the roo off using everything I had taught him plus pure adrenaline- a big stick and a pot ended the terror. The kids cried cuz I killed him but cracked jokes as we ate him. End of problem

 

[Marcy54]

Don't ever forget your rake! When you do he'll get you again. He doesn't fear or respect you, it is the rake he knows will get him. I did the same thing with a hoe and only forgot it once- big mistake! Finally had it the last time my 8 yr old (at the time) came screaming and crying to the house cuz he tried to fight the roo off using everything I had taught him plus pure adrenaline- a big stick and a pot ended the terror. The kids cried cuz I killed him but cracked jokes as we ate him. End of problem

he would make a family sized meal!

 

[lazy gardener]

Have you considered straw bail gardening? You could put hardware cloth around the bails.

Those rodents will just consider the hdw cloth to be their personal ladder to a garden of delight.

 

[buckabucka]

Well, I'd thought about planting beets entirely enclosed in hardware cloth, but it seems a little expensive and impractical. Last year was the first year we lost all of our beets, so with some vigilance, maybe I can get this rodent thing under control.

I am having a bad time with chickens right now. One in the house with sour crop. I thought I had noticed too late, but she's hanging in there and eating some today. I appreciated the lengthy feature article on crop problems, which saved me lots of searching. She's not out of the woods yet.

Sour crop is the least of my problems though. Three balding over-mated hens were getting picked on and needed bluekote, but the picking didn't stop entirely. One hen was suddenly pulling feathers from everyone. She has pinless peepers now.

I moved the three victims out of that coop into a sectioned off area in another one, but the head victim started pulling feathers on the others and needed peepers too. Everyone seems to be starting up on the feather pulling. They have a high protein feed, but I may try a different one, just in case that is the issue. Really, I think they need to get out, but they only have a run in the snowless season.

I ordered more peepers. If I have to, I will outfit every one of them until the green grass shows up, but I'm hoping that is not necessary.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

What percent protein are you feeding? Also get a flock block.

I'm having a bad time of it, too - have a really bad bumble toe and then an old biddy of mine seems to have rheumatoid arthritis in her toes. They're getting swollen and starting to curl.