What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

We did a little research on our corn and pumpkins to see why they were struggling to sprout and figured we needed a soil test to get some conclusive results.

We tested the soil for all the essentials and everything was checking out except nitrogen. Come to find out that corn and pumpkins are heavy nitrogen eaters and we needed to build up organic loam. So we got a small amount of manure layered around the roots of each plant and watered it in. I'm hoping for the best! The plants are healthy, they just need a boost.

Ya corn, a grass, is a very heavy feeder. This is why we grow soybeans between rotations, and STILL use nitrogren additives in the soil.

 

[jerryse]

Got to 85 and humid . Still resting from the weekend . Too big of a change from last weeks 60s temps .

 

[NewBoots]

Don't mean to double post but some unexpected progress got made on the back entrance behind our property by my son, Walter! He's a talented kid who loves to explore and build so I offered him a task.

Of his own accord he gathered his supplies and set out to clear this small path out into the woods behind our land. I'm not sure who owns it but it seems uncleared and untouched so we'll be cautious. Still, a chance to possibly forage some fun food?

Here's some before and after's he took. We're going to have to build a small bridge (our first big wood project, likely) if we want to make a safe way across a very small drainage system.

Great job to Walter on clearing the path. The pictures of before and after are kind of hard to see, is there a trick to it I'm missing?

@jerryse 85 and humid would wear me right out.

Had to take one of the outside cats to the vet and set up a cage in the barn/garage so we can medicate him for a week. That's my excuse for getting not much more than watering done today.

Got my second set of fabric pots delivered today and the 5 gallon bucket screw-top lids so there's that. Going to have to scrounge up another pallet right quick.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Allen, do your chickens go for the scorpions over there at all? We have a small version of scorpion, about the size of a quarter and my chickens never pass on those morsels. One of your real scorpions a chicken may not want to tangle with. Curious

Like the seed exchange but don't know what i have to offer???

I can't imagine them passing on a scorpion. I just find them all the time under logs and timbers the chicken cannot turn over. I am sure it is a they would if they could but they can't so they don't situation. I never find scorpions in chicken accessible areas. Also they gladly do the chicken race thing when I toss one alive or dead their way, so they seem highly coveted to them.

LOOFAH seeds?

 

[karenerwin]

I was very busy today in the garden!! We went and filled the back of my husband's van with garden soil ( $12). The lady figured we could probably get a half yard in there. I think we got more than that in there but I don't know for sure. We had to shovel it ourselves but that was no big deal. Then when we got home I spent most of the afternoon unloading it a wagon load at a time. I filled the 2 half barrel raised beds ( mixed garden soil, peat and manure) after putting a good layer of gravel on the bottom ( we stopped on the road so I could get out and fill a small bucket with gravel from the bottom of the small bluff faces). Today the high was supposed to be 82 F, but I think it got hotter than that. We were also supposed to get thunderstorms but that didn't happen today. Which is good because we have gotten a LOT of rain the last 2 days!
Anyway, I planted 1 of the half barrels with the yellow squash starts I grew and the other half barrel I planted with bush beans ( that I bought because none of mine sprouted).
After a break for lunch, I finished unloading the soil from the van. I thought about going to get another load but it was already 5:40PM and they close at 6. So I'll go back tomorrow for another load, and probably back to the rescue place to get more manure.
I planted 2 tomatilloes that I bought the other day. I got lucky that I bought 2 because the tag said plant 2 for cross pollination ( I didn't see that until I was planting them!). I also planted 6 green pepper plants, a couple of onions that I started from seed ( 2 came up LOL!) and I "planted" a bunch of marigold seeds that I saved from last year. Then I went to the regular garden and thinned out the lettuce, some of which I transplanted into the raised bed.
Next it was off to the chicken yard. The coop and yard area for the 6 older meat chickens is disgusting!! I have been opening the outer door so they can go into a (little bit) bigger enclosed yard, but most of them are reluctant to go out there. Anyway I shoveled out 4 or 5 four gallon buckets of muck from the "dirt" floor of their coop. That went into my empty compost bin. Then I racked leaves and collected sticks to put down on the dirt floor to help keep them out of the mud (we are supposed to have another 2 days of rains/thunderstorms.
I came in took a shower and then it was time to give the puppies their first bath! I know, my husband thinks I should have given them their bath before I took mine, but I was covered in dirt and poop and manure (at least it felt like I was!) so I needed to get clean first.
They did pretty good for a first bath!
Ate dinner, collected eggs, locked up chickens. The 4 chicks I gave to the broody are doing great! (2 black sex link and 2 Black Asians). The other broody decided she would rather sit on eggs ( which is why they other broody has all 4 instead of just 2 chicks).
Now I'm relaxing and planning my day for tomorrow!!
I can't wait until I have the entire raised bed filled and planted!!!
Talked to my mom this evening, she is sounding a little better!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I am so happy you got talk with your Ma @karenerwin glad to hear she is feeling better also

 

[NewBoots]

@karenerwin, you are a machine!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Coyote woke up my girls and they told me it was time to GO OUT and tell those little punks who runs this place! That was probably 2 hours ago, but I suffer from hypervigilance. So it is yet another sleep interrupted night. I love those girls for looking out for our interests.

My gloves will be here tomorrow(Thursday)!

Hopefully operation "Prickly Pear" can restart. We are expecting even more rain in the near future so they should root fast and the ground will be easy to work.

 

[Sueby]

Operation Prickly Pear - I've been hearing the coyotes here too lately. My little Patrick has nothing on them though, lol.

@karenerwin that is a lot of soil to move! 1 more load & the beds will all be filled?

Good morning everyone! Hot & humid today (hot for me, not hot for some of you, lol). I watered the garden yesterday. I have 2 Dahlias coming up, so I know at least 2 survived my winter neglect. All my little bean & squash seedlings are looking really good, cukes - meh. I think they're just a little slower & the fact that the bunny keeps eating them... I think I'll be picking some lettuce this weekend, FINALLY!!

I pulled out an old bed that I used to have my rhubarb in, I just needed the ground to dry out a little so I can get the tractor up there to pick up the bucket of rocks & it's done - looks like today will work & I might as well turn the compost while the tractor is running. Or I just might turn on the ac & hide inside!

Have a great day all!

 

[Acre4Me]

Wow @karenerwin - a busy day yesterday! Glad your mom sounds better.

I planted 2 tomatilloes that I bought the other day. I got lucky that I bought 2 because the tag said plant 2 for cross pollination ( I didn't see that until I was planting them!)

uh, oh! I started 2 tomatillos, but one had a weak stem so I didn’t plant it, I only planted one. Package is seeds did not indicate to plant two -I guess we’ll see what happens.