Michigan

[Olive Hill]

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No personal knowledge of these two companies but a quick google turned up Willis Orchards and Orange Pippin Fruit Trees both selling Northern Spys.

You might also check local orchards/nurseries.

 

[SillyChicken]

Anyone notice that it's still light out after 5:30pm?

86 days to April 1st!


I tried to get a photo of the baby bunnies lastnight but it was too dark in the bunny shed. They're all (12ish) alive and popping in the nest like little hairless popcorn! It's funny how most of them are sitting on end (heads up), and they're stacked in there so tight, but in easy access position when mom feeds them. The big white fat one is sitting on top of all of them.

One of my favorite apple trees is a jonamac. It has just the right tartness, thin skin, white flesh, and just yummy! I have two very old ones in my front yard. They still produce but are in a bad need of pruning and spraying with something. I'd love to get more of them so if any of you come across some let me know. I'm also going to plant a couple pear trees this spring.

Aside from apple and pear trees, what other fruit's grow well for you? Would love a peach tree, but I'm not sure how hardy they are. How about nut trees, like almonds?

Olive, I will be intersted in hearing how the peanuts do up in MI. Are the seeds you used a heritage seed so you can propigate more? I have gotten my plants from bbr, before, partly cause I worked at one and got some great deals... But, you are right about the quality of the plants. I had a huge issue with blight and think it was partly due to the plants I purchased. I won't be buying from them in the future. I've been trying to talk my DH into a small green house building.

I tried pole beans last year and didn't like them. Guess I'm used to the size, qty and texture of a bush bean.

What do you guys do for weed control? I was thinking about putting down landscape cloth. (i hate using black plastic)

 

[chickflick]

I have never found a landscape cloth that actually stops weeds! Even Krisrose got the kind that was copper infused...guaranteed to stop all weeds. Well, the weeds went right thru. i have a hoe that I go out and use frequently, but then again, I don't have a very big garden.
When is hunting season over? Want to take my dogs for a walk in the back fields but don't want to get shot! Have a good one.....

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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Congrats on having your pic on the pic of the week!!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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My plans are to feel guilty that for the first time in years I am not going to plant a garden.

Full layout plan done and nearly all of the seeds on hand!

welcome to the Michigan thread frjeff!

 

[justcelia]

We have EGGS! 4of them!!

I didn't check the egg box yesterday, so it looks like BOTH girls are laying! Same start date!

We are VERY happy!
And a pic of the girls for you Olive Hill! Don't they look happy?

Celia
2 LAYING Brahamas and a Yorkie!

 

[mcbeers]

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Sure are some pretty girls

 

[Olive Hill]

Celia they look great and congrats on the eggs! It's about time those freeloaders got with the program.

I plant thick in 4 foot wide beds and let the plants do the weeding work for me. I have to weed early in the season as they get established but by the time the season really takes off the garden is a jungle of good plants and the weeds have been choked out. It's not without it's drawbacks -- planting thick puts the plants closer together which can be a breeding ground for diseases that can then transfer easily from plant to plant -- but I won't go back to rows anytime soon, or ever. Lol! I can produce 4 times as much on the same size plot with half the work. I just watch closely and prune heavily. I keep tomatoes pruned up off the ground, and prune at the slightest sign of disease. Water from below as much as possible, etc.

I have peach trees that are doing really well. And I don't know about almonds but we have hickory nuts that produce like mad every year.

The peanuts are standard so we should be able to propagate ourselves if they do well. I'll keep you updated on their progress later in the year.

 

[wishtofish]

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Congrats on the 1st Eggs.... It is exciting when the hens first start laying. Mine laid on a Sunday.... beginning of August. My granddaughters were here. The oldest.... (5 at the time) was so thrilled..... I cooked them the egg......

 

[wishtofish]

Looking for a few suggestions for some different breeds to add to my flock.

I want to purchase my new pullets earlier this year. I suppose I'll have to order from one of the mail order houses. I'll start the chicks in a dog crate as I did last March. I didn't get eggs until the beginning of August. I would like to get them by the end of January/ beginning of February this year.....

I've had hens since last March. Purchased one day old pullets from the local Tractor Supply. I started with 8 Red Sex Links, 2 Black Sex Links, one Easter Egger & one hen that I never did figure out what type of chicken it is.... I lost one of the Reds about 6 weeks ago. So I still have 11 hens from my 1st group. All are brown egg layers except for the one laying a Green/blue egg.