What did you do in the garden today?

[Sueby]

Thank you @BReeder! - great info on the strawberries! I'm thinking junebearing for jam. Although I'd love to pick a strawberry every time I walk by!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

More storms coming tomorrow so I’m back on garden prep. It looks like it’s an early spring here still no frost in the 10 day forecast if that’s accurate then our last frost for the season was probably around March 10th! It’s still to cool to plant warm season crops though. I plan on starting some zinnias and finishing weeding the main garden today if it’s dry enough.

 

[BReeder!]

finishing weeding the main garden today if it’s dry enough.

Finish weeding? I wish. It's just about to begin here. As we get warmer here in IL, the weeds are just staying to pop up. I only noticed a few so far, but I'm certain there are more weeds out there waiting to sprout. I'm hoping that mulching with straw and compost helps. I did see a squash or pumpkin sprout in the compost pile though. I need to turn it again too get it to heat back up. It cooled off significantly when I was out there the other day.

 

[Elyrian1]

Ok, so the 12x3 strawberry bed is a go. Now I need recommendations on what strawberries to get from y'all since I KNOW every one of you grows them!

Tristar or Ozark Beauty. Everbearing, self-pollinating, and good down to zone 4.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I have Quinault, Allstar, Ozark Beauty, and Pineberries growing in my Strawberry tower. I figured a mix would keep things interesting.... In the top of the tower, I planted some alpine strawberry seeds about a week ago. I don't really see a lot of sprouting but I didn't amend the soil I put in there like I usually do. I just put topsoil in which tends to compact A LOT. I might need to mix in some compost and peat to help loosen it up a bit and then try again with more strawberry seeds. The only problem is getting the white/yellow alpine seeds right now is difficult because they are sold out.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Today will be mostly an indoors day, with a bit of tidying up the yard if weather cooperates and I have time leftover. Looked around last night and realized it looks like a tornado went through our living room.

 

[WthrLady]

Checked the post holes. 20 inches across and 18 inches deep, and full of water. So setting concrete today is a hard NOPE.

I've got cinnamon roll dough going. Cold outside. and I have no motivation to do anything but a bit of online work and maybe some weaving. The rest of the housework is already done. The wind is blowing the right direction to clean the shop and garage, but I don't want the doors open to the cold for the plants, nor do I want to work in the cold.

I did check the seedlings on the shelves, all look good. The think the tomato sprouts are missing the heating mats as they have stalled in growth since taking them off, which is typical of tomatoes. As soon as I get the green house up and going I'll move things around to be warmer for them.

 

[BReeder!]

Feeling good about the tomato starts. These are the San Marzanos. They are really doing well.

 

[Sueby]

I didn't realize that there were self pollinating strawberries! How handy! & the more I think about it, the better a mix of a few sound. Thanks guys for the info. I see the couple places I get seeds from online are already sold out so we'll see what I can actually find.

 

[WthrLady]

Went to Goodwill yesterday near our Home Depot. It's not one I really like to go to as it is a DUMP. You want to burn what you've been wearing after you've been in there. It's dirty, disorganized and just icky. The stuff inside is dirty, smelly, and usually broken and just shoved places. It is not in a good part of town, and I swear they don't care. (It is well known that Goodwill sorts and sends better items to better parts of town where they can get more money from them.) The other stores in town were over an hour away, and are HUGE, clean, and one is like going into a department store.
Anyway, I went in as I was looking for old baking sheets or trays to use under the seedlings, and I was in the neighborhood, so I figured I'd pop in. OMG the PRICES?!?!? I don't know if this across the board at Goodwill now, or if this shop is marked up to pocket $.

The cost of a plain, glass, Anchor hocking DIRTY 9x13 baking dish was $5.99. It's $5.97 at Walmart NEW!
Those 12x12 scrapbook paper holders that are plastic? JUST the LID was marked at 2.99, the other half was missing.
A simple plain plastic tray like from a cafeteria was 3.99!
Glass pie plate was 4.99

I couldn't believe it!
I ended up just getting some heavy aluminum tins at the grocery until I get to restaurant supply for some bakery trays.