Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[COChix]

@Blooie Congrats on Kendra's big day. What s great video, thanks for sharing and so happy for you and your family.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Kale is mostly a spring/fall veggie. It likes cooler weather. If you try to grow kale during the months when it's over 80* consistently, it will bolt before you get leaves big enough for eating. Tomatoes, peppers, and squash (pumpkins) are 'hot' weather plants. They need consistent warm weather to thrive. If you plant them too late in the year, you're not going to get 'fruit' from them. Raised beds are great if you live in a climate with a short 'warm' season. The raised beds typically have a warmer soil temp, than in ground beds, and will allow you to grow 'warm' weather crops more easily. If you live in a place that has very warm (75*+) weather from May through September, don't even try to grow greens of any kind, broccoli, or peas in raised beds. The raised beds just get too warm for those types of plants.

Thanks for all the gardening tips!! I guess I should have know about the kale since this particular variety was called "winter wonderland mix" and I think likes cool temps maybe more than usual or turns cool colors in colder weather.. so does that mean I have to wait to plant it now or? It was high 40s low 50s today. Been raining a lot. Summer here is June, July, August, but this past fall it stayed really warm and nice. It doesn't usually get over 80 until the summer months. So do I still have time to plant the kale or should I just wait at this point? I think when we tried our veggies it was already summer or about to be so that could have been the problem with the peppers. Or maybe we planted too soon. Soil wasn't warm I don't think. Maybe I could try the warm stuff in the beds and other stuff in the ground? Is there anything else that grows well in those beds besides the peppers, tomatoes, and squash? Thankfully I don't really like peas and lettuces/most greens bore me but the girls, as I found out yesterday and today, LOVE broccoli. Just love it. Kale too but the broccoli was gone in minutes. Is there a good way to grow that? Thanks for all the gardening tips. But sorry for hijacking, maybe i should make a thread haha

Anyhow, Blooie that is fantastic!

 

[junebuggena]

Thanks for all the gardening tips!! I guess I should have know about the kale since this particular variety was called "winter wonderland mix" and I think likes cool temps maybe more than usual or turns cool colors in colder weather.. so does that mean I have to wait to plant it now or? It was high 40s low 50s today. Been raining a lot. Summer here is June, July, August, but this past fall it stayed really warm and nice. It doesn't usually get over 80 until the summer months. So do I still have time to plant the kale or should I just wait at this point? I think when we tried our veggies it was already summer or about to be so that could have been the problem with the peppers. Or maybe we planted too soon. Soil wasn't warm I don't think. Maybe I could try the warm stuff in the beds and other stuff in the ground? Is there anything else that grows well in those beds besides the peppers, tomatoes, and squash? Thankfully I don't really like peas and lettuces/most greens bore me but the girls, as I found out yesterday and today, LOVE broccoli. Just love it. Kale too but the broccoli was gone in minutes. Is there a good way to grow that? Thanks for all the gardening tips. But sorry for hijacking, maybe i should make a thread haha

Anyhow, Blooie that is fantastic!

It's a bit too late to start kale. If you want to try, plant it in a spot that gets morning sun, and afternoon shade to protect it from getting too much heat. Or wait till August to plant, for a fall crop. It's very frost resistant, so as long as you don't get a hard freeze, you should be able to harvest from the end of September till mid-November. Tomatoes and warm season veggies need to be going in the ground now, to be mature and ready for fruit production come summer.
Warm season veggies- tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn,
Cool season crops- Kale, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy, cabbages, spinach, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, chard
Onions do well in hot or cool weather, but I rarely manage to grow them to harvest. The chooks break into my beds as soon as they start to sprout and eat them all.
Herbs aren't picky about where or when they grow, but many can be very invasive. Mints, oregano, marjoram, lemon balm, and chives are best suited to container planting, otherwise they will take over whatever bed they are planted in.

 

[jrjoplin]

I raised the shelf another inch and they are back inside the cave. It's supposed to be rainy this week so I may wait till next weekend to move them outside.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

They look comfortable.....

 

[aart]

I spoke too soon at last check they are all in front of the cave asleep.

what a great pic!

Yesterday finally got the proper roosts in (two levels) and took out MHP...six weeks old... day before yesterday they were all on top of MHP in the coop.

MHP removed, went out last night to check. All six sitting next to each other on lowest roost. Facing the same direction! All I could see were six little butts...did not have to train them at all... this morning 39F when I got up...

<thumbsup> Where are you located?

 

[mobius]

<thumbsup> Where are you located?

Deepest NW Montana!

 

[aart]

Quote: You're having warmer weather than I.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

This is my morning... U.P. style

 

[mobius]

You're having warmer weather than I.

It has been dreary, rainy and cold for weeks; thus keeping me from outdoor projects...but it is lightening up and last two days have been glorious!! So lots got done, like the proper roosts both in and out of the coop, repurposing an extra laying box for waterer (perfect fit) etc. MHP has been taken down and the chicks are doing PERFECT!