Michigan

[NovaAman]

Yup, I am growing all those things UP this year. The only thing that will be growing/vining out will be the melons and pumkins.

 

[RaZ]

My hops have reached the top of one trellis that is 13 feet tall. There is about a foot gap before they reach a branch of the ash tree. I fully expect them to be there in a day or 2. Maybe I can get a picture tomorrow or Wednesday.

ETA: Hops are quite aggressive growers. I have a new one sprouting up in the porch...35 feet away from the parent plant!

 

[Juise]

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I always plant my peas inside, they never seem to come up otherwise.

Thanks for making me feel better, hehe.

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Same here. I did a soil test about 5 years ago. I took a sample or 2 from each corner and several of the ground level beds. I mixed it all together then sent the sample off for analysis. I doubt the soil chemistry changes much from one end of the yard to the other.
I bought the soil pH metre to check on my own more often. I use it mostly near the house and garage foundations because cement and concrete can leach nutrients from the immediate soil. For less than $20, you can get a baseline analysis and go from there.

Okay, I will have to look into what what pH metres are I guess, lol. I didn't know that about foundations, but it makes sense. I worry about the soil being different because it has all been added in one way or another, none of it is "native", if you know what I mean, this was all sand.

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Oops.
I pulled away from the curb and accidentally knocked over Crabby's garbage can.
I hope it doesn't happen again in the morning when I have to leave early.

Oh, Raz.

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I was going to start the peas in starter pots that you just plant in the ground, but the neighbor has put his in last week already, and they are about 2 inches high already... So I figured, may as well... Would this be un-advisable? I can put them in pots... I have got to start my cukes, toms, waters, cants, peppers... potatoes and carrot I will put direct in ground or planters. I grew carrots in planters last year and the year before so they'd come in fat and short. Tasted sooooooo good. LOL.

My mum started hers outside already, too, and most of hers have biffed it to frost. I do not think it would be unwise to wait another week or so before direct sowing peas.

I think you can go either way with the cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes, I usually direct sow them, but I started them inside this year. Why? Cause I got a greenhouse in my livingroom and it is sweet!

The kids were pretty disappointed when I put flats in it, though, it was the best jungle gym ever up until then, lol. I would get your indoor seeds started asap, though.

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I grow green beans, sugar snap peas, and cucumbers on the fence that surrounds my garden. It makes harvest easier and it frees up a lot of spance in the garden for other things.

Our veggies have been in a ton of little beds all around the house up until this year, and I'm excited to get that great big bed done. I am planning on growing up the perimeter fence cucumbers on one side, zuccini on the next, peas on the third, and climbing spinach on the fourth, in with whatever other beans there are leftover that won't fit on the corn.

 

[Juise]

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My hops have reached the top of one trellis that is 13 feet tall. There is about a foot gap before they reach a branch of the ash tree. I fully expect them to be there in a day or 2. Maybe I can get a picture tomorrow or Wednesday.

ETA: Hops are quite aggressive growers. I have a new one sprouting up in the porch...35 feet away from the parent plant!

Raz, this must speak volumes as to how much I suck, since mine are gone, lol.

 

[Opa]

I was just looking at the sign up roster for Chickenstock and I believe that we will vastly surpass last year's number. I quickly added and found that already we will have 70 people there and Chickenstock is still 2 months away.

 

[Juise]

Ugh, I am going to make a third double shot espresso or I will never make it to bedtime. Someone should probably take this robot away from me.

 

[Juise]

Speaking of, I really want to go, but the husband is very ho-hum. I haven't sold him on it yet. Is there a date I need to sign up by? I would like to donate a woodworking type thing or two to the auction thing if we can make it.

 

[RaZ]

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Raz, this must speak volumes as to how much I suck, since mine are gone, lol.

Don't give up yet. The hops I had at the other end of the yard were decimated by the chickens last year. They ate every leaf and stem that they could reach. I noticed that they are up about 6 - 8 inches now. The same thing happened to my hosta bed as well. But I have a bunch of hostas coming up that I thought were goners.

Some cheap fencing are keeping the chickies out of the areas of tender edibles. I also moved the fencing to allow them access to the compost pile. It was 4 feet tall on Saturday and today it is about half that height. And almost 5 times as wide.

 

[Juise]

You know, you might have something there. The hops were in their 6th year this year, but it was the first time the chickens had access to the young shoots...

My compost pile is the same, heh.

 

[RaZ]

Speaking of, I really want to go, but the husband is very ho-hum. I haven't sold him on it yet. Is there a date I need ?

Are you saying you need a date?
I'm available. You and Sarah can fight it out.