What did you do in the garden today?

[Dr Evy]

Did some weeding yesterday. The strawberry plants are getting big, not big enough to produce a fruit this year unfortunately.

Turns out the ant problem is bigger than I thought. There’s a huge any colony underneath basically my whole garden, so that’ll be fun to deal with. We have a bad caterpillar problem too. While I was on vacation they ate all of my lettuce and a couple of my other plants. Thankfully most of the plants they ate were just decorative, but it’s still annoying. Anybody know how to deal with caterpillars?

 

[igorsMistress]

You guys my rooster cracks me up. He’s a jerk right now, you know how those teenagers get! I left the crew in the coop while I cleaned the water bucket and he was in there growling at me

 

[WthrLady]

Did some weeding yesterday. The strawberry plants are getting big, not big enough to produce a fruit this year unfortunately. View attachment 3147986

Turns out the ant problem is bigger than I thought. There’s a huge any colony underneath basically my whole garden, so that’ll be fun to deal with. We have a bad caterpillar problem too. While I was on vacation they ate all of my lettuce and a couple of my other plants. Thankfully most of the plants they ate were just decorative, but it’s still annoying. Anybody know how to deal with caterpillars?

BT spray for the caterpillars and borax powder (away from the plants) when you have a couple dry days in a row for the ants. It doesn't take much. sprinkle it on the mounds. It poisons the whole colony. They take it as candy down in the next. 20 mule team in the laundry row.

 

[WIchickMama]

found sawfly larvae on my strawberries-and they are eating the leaves!!!! NO!!!

They better watch out!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I did this will strawberries in the past. Killed about 1/3 of the bed with too much fertilizer! So, I remind myself of this every time I use fertilizer.

I have a hard time imaging any gardening pro who hasn't done this at least once....

I'm by far no gardening pro but I've done it more than once so I guess I didn't learn the first time!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I always plant more squash when I pull those - the bugs have had their way with the original plants & the 2nd round always does much better.

Good idea Sueby! I never got around to planting some spaghetti squash so maybe that's what I'll put in there.....

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'm pretty much writing off my onions this year. All the leaves are turning brown. Of course, everything was knocked over because the squirrels got into them. I have pulled several large bulbs only to find them half eaten. The rest of the bulbs are tiny....barely bigger than a walnut. Oh well....I'll salvage what I can and move on. Next year I will plant them in a bed that is better protected.

OH, forgot to add, I think a bunny or squirrel has pretty much eaten all my purslane too. I originally planted it for my chickens but never got around to harvesting any to give to them. I guess I'm not too upset if it kept them from eating things I DO care about like my sunflowers. Maybe I'll use that as a trap crop next year.....

 

[Elyrian1]

Lost a pullet at point of lay yesterday. No sign of trauma or sickness whatsoever. Only thing I can think is that giant turd cockerel jumped on her and knocked her down between the coop and the run wall, maybe broke her neck. It was cranked all the way back. I'm soooo eating him. I told DH and we're culling that roo this weekend. With any luck we'll get all four of our excess cockerels off to freezer camp this weekend. Sure it's a pinch early and they may be a pinch small, but better than losing hens!

Garden is holding on! I'm glad you all were talking about what to plant after garlic, because that's been on my mind since I harvested mine. Got a lovely empty bed staring at me that I want to put to work! Lol

 

[Sally PB]

OH, forgot to add, I think a bunny or squirrel has pretty much eaten all my purslane too. I originally planted it for my chickens but never got around to harvesting any to give to them. I guess I'm not too upset if it kept them from eating things I DO care about like my sunflowers. Maybe I'll use that as a trap crop next year.....

Purslane grows as a weed here. As weeds go, I like it. It's edible, though not my favorite to eat. It grows close to the ground, so it shades the soil, keeping it moist, and keeping out other weeds.

First tomato flower. It's a variety called Hungarian Heart. First time growing that, for me. So far, I'm impressed!

The storm last night was reasonably kind to us. Lots of rain, about 2 inches, I think. As far as I know, no wind damage.

 

[Duckpip]

just put it in a dish with some water and in a couple of hours it will be as if you have just picked them up.

Thank you so much! I threw one out because I thought it wasn't salvageable, but I will definitely try this for another one I have that's a little deflated.