What did you do in the garden today?

[chickengr]

I really have the itch to pot tomatoes. They will not get transplanted to the garden until May, but I can transplant to 4" or 6" pots as they grow. I'm thinking the ability to transplant to 6"should give me a longer window to get them started and that might result in stronger, thicker plants to put in the garden. With only having until August to harvest tomatoes in prime weather conditions (heat), I often throw so many underdeveloped tomatoes into the compost pile. Perhaps trying this new concept of extra early (by 2 added weeks) starts will get me tomatoes sooner, meaning more overall yield as they continue to produce - at least for the indeterminate ones, but I'll start the determinate early too just to see if they yield faster.

a neighbor of mine has a small concrete courtyard. she grows tomatoes in pots and they are fine. you that live in a cold climate might consider growing a few in pots so that you can move them inside after august when it gets cold.

 

[chickengr]

No frost or freezes in the forecast here!View attachment 2540726
Just lots of rain.....

we have the same temperature (around 60) but plenty of sunshine this week

 

[chickengr]

Just because they are cute, and they will live next to the garden come spring. View attachment 2540775
EE: Such cute fluffy cheeks! We asked for "browns" and they are pretty similar in color....right now anyway!


View attachment 2540776
Speckled Sussex. One has died. Although we made sure all chicks were drinking, and all chicks got a drop of Nutri Drench when we got home, I think the one that died was not able to eat or something. Never had a full crop, was chirping a lot. But this was first hatch of the year for the hatchery's spring season (they hatch year round, but only selected production types for the off-season).



View attachment 2540777
Barred Rock girls. A few years ago, 4-H kid submitted these in one category, and won Grand Champion! We haven't had BR chicks for a couple of years, so it was time for some more!

I am not an expert, but with those huge white spots on BR's heads shouldn't be boys? please keep us posted, I am really curious.

 

[ackie]

I did some more weeding today. I have had a couple things pop up outside but they are not looking so hot after the freeze soo may just end up starting over.

I found a calendar for my location and it suggests starting a lot of things inside that I was gunna start outside so now I'm reassessing. Well, planning on reassessing.

Friday and Saturday I put a ton of work into spraying 2 peach and 2 plum trees for brown rot. Using chemicals this year because the natural solution I used last year... I do think it helped but it recommends spraying every 2 weeks and one of these trees is huge... I was using a 16' ladder at some point. Not my idea of fun... so it's just not viable for me on my own. SO realized at some point on Saturday that me being outside alone on ladders was probably unsafe whoops.

Anywho that's my current update.

Crocus

squirrel frand

lettuce that has overwintered in the garden

and inside baby basil

 

[Acre4Me]

I am not an expert, but with those huge white spots on BR's heads shouldn't be boys? please keep us posted, I am really curious.

I’m wondering too. But only 2 have spots I’m suspicious of due to the size of the spot.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I am not an expert, but with those huge white spots on BR's heads shouldn't be boys? please keep us posted, I am really curious.

I’m wondering too. But only 2 have spots I’m suspicious of due to the size of the spot.

It has more to do with the shape of the spot than the total area of white. The males spots are supposed to wrap around or almost be a grouping of spots while the female spots are supposed to more solid. These are male

And these are female.

There are few strains of the breed that can’t be sexed this way but I can’t remember what they are.

 

[Hermits Garden]

Our forecast says we're supposed to be up to 59 today! I'm afraid to believe it, because they have been so verrrrry wrong so many times. But who knows? Maybe I can put some of my potted irises in the ground? They've been in pots since the the move in April, but we couldn't put them in the ground before because we were renting while we built this house.

I've got some physical stuff that means I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting right now...but maybe if I dig just a little at a time...

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Walked around yesterday and took pictures of the flowers so I thought I’d post them! We’ve got crocus blooming too but not as pretty as ackie’s

 

[Acre4Me]

It has more to do with the shape of the spot than the total area of white. The males spots are supposed to wrap around or almost be a grouping of spots while the female spots are supposed to more solid. These are male View attachment 2541856
And these are female.View attachment 2541857
There are few strains of the breed that can’t be sexed this way but I can’t remember what they are.

Ah! Great! I'll have to inspect them. This hatchery sold the BR as sexed, and errors can occur, of course. We have only ever gotten 1 mis-sexed bird so far from this hatchery, and it was an EE.

 

[Acre4Me]

I've got some physical stuff that means I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting right now...but maybe if I dig just a little at a time

Noooo! One always regrets not taking it easy if there is a specific medical reason. Usually "no heavy lifting" is associated with an injury or surgery. Once upon a time, I had abdominal surgery. My parents came to help out, and I hadn't seen them in some time so I decided to sit in a chair (yes, just sit in a regular chair) to chat for a long while....you don't realize how much you use abdominal muscles to just keep yourself upright in a chair. That decision was felt for awhile!

Welcome to the Garden thread!