Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickwhispers]

Oh my gosh this weather. The wind is just so terrible, especially in the open farmland areas.

And it is my LAST day at my job. I have show up, I can't not go to work even if the roads are brutal. It is written in the policy book that during the final two weeks, any absences that aren't accompanied by a doctor's note means that person forfeits all accrued vacation and sick time. I want that to buffer my last paycheck, so I'd rather not lose it.

I understand that! Good luck on your new endeavors!

Congrats on your son making it to state! My niece is a Capac cheerleader and I grew up with a teacher there! I hope he does well!

X2!

Quote: I hope I have more time this year for flowers! I used to have huge gardens. Last 10 years have not been conducive time wise for much extra in the garden! Love irises. and hollyhocks! and coneflowers, and well just about everything you can grow!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Well the  weather sure sucks today!  VERY gusty winds here, and of course, a snow day.  I think I may take advantage of this to print/plot my FINAL garden plan of the year.  I got everything I need to wintersowing yesterday, but forgot the duct tape to hold the milkjugs shut.  I may just get a bunch put together and have DH pick up the tape on his way home from work (NOT taking 3 kids to the store for tape!).

I know i have dill, poppies, hardy hibiscus, and coneflower seeds in my drawer......and I have an ebay watch-list FULL of other things to get once DH gets his paycheck deposited.  I grabbed some hollyhocks yesterday, and my son just HAD to have watermelon seeds.  We have NEVER had success with those, but we will continue to try i guess.


Does anyone have a favorite pickling cuke variety?  

I think I used Marketmore 78... I also had a unique Asian variety, that were long and curvy, but I would not pickle those again. Too furry for my taste. Actually, the best pickling I ever did was Zucchini! Everyone who tried those were amazed that they weren't cukes. That recipe I *think* I found on epicurious.com. If I can grow zucchini this year, I will def do that again.

What variety Hollyhocks did you get? Do you think the warmish spell will be enough to trick them into blooming the 1st year?

 

[gladahmae]

I think I used Marketmore 78... Actually, the best pickling I ever did was zucchini!

What variety Hollyhocks did you get? Do you think the warmish spell will be enough to trick them into blooming the 1st year?

Don't know about the blooming but I just winter sow them like everything else! The ones I gave my mom a few years ago bloomed their first year (came up in May in the milk jugs)

I'll keep an eye out for marketmores I guess. We were gifted pickle stuff from our neighbors last year and the fridge pickles were sooooooo good! Almost can't stand to eat the store bought ones now!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@gladahmae Do you use milk jugs only? I use a variety, basically any clear plastic I can come up with. I've had fair success with the quarter sheet cake from Kroger. The only thing is that the bottoms (that become "tops") are black, so do need to be removed really early on after germination. I think last year I'd just stuck them on temporarily if a storm was rolling thru. So basically I do not think those would work for annuals very well either.

Now what technique do you use for separating your seedlings? Me, I like The Brownie Technique. http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2013/03/transplanting-winter-sown-perennials-updated-bumped/

 

[snowflake]

I hear ya on the gardening thing!
But my garden only has bearded iris flowers! About 3000 of them in every color size and shape!

Iris are my favorite, several yrs back I had Iris bores take out most of my Iris. Bought some from Winterberry farms this week, They had one named Peggy Sue, that was our daughters name, she passed away last yr. so I Had to buy it,. and of course a couple to go with

spent most of the day driving people to and from this AM . roads are very icy and visability very poor hope every one has a safe drive day

Dog really want's to go for a walk,,....maybe if the wind dies down

 

[snowflake]

Mindy, forgot to ask, can you post some pictures of your Iris when they bloom

and Raz, the farm that lost the last battle, was she the one we saw on the news that had followed all the rules then they changed the rules?

 

[mindylee]

I have pics on computer from last yr. Ill post some once I leave the ER.

 

[gladahmae]

@gladahmae Do you use milk jugs only? I use a variety, basically any clear plastic I can come up with. I've had fair success with the quarter sheet cake from Kroger. The only thing is that the bottoms (that become "tops") are black, so do need to be removed really early on after germination. I think last year I'd just stuck them on temporarily if a storm was rolling thru. So basically I do not think those would work for annuals very well either.

Now what technique do you use for separating your seedlings? Me, I like The Brownie Technique. http://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2013/03/transplanting-winter-sown-perennials-updated-bumped/

I use milk jugs mainly because we go through so much milk. One year I saved the icecream buckets from work and used those. I have milk jugs and yogurt/cottage cheese containers to use too for bigger stuff (squash, etc).

I also use the chop off a piece and plant it method for flowers. I'm a little more meticulous with the veggies.

 

[jlynnet]

Mindylee, I may need to visit for some Iris! I have purple and a yellow, but would love some more.

 

[RaZ]

and Raz, the farm that lost the last battle, was she the one we saw on the news that had followed all the rules then they changed the rules?

I don't know. The Detroit area media rarely, if ever broadcasts anything to do with farming. It might have aired in another area.
Sweet Peas Farm.