What did you do in the garden today?

[Acre4Me]

We’ve grown radishes -several varieties. But, at best, we like them sort of. So, a few years ago we tried small, white Japanese turnips as an alternate to the radishes (small, crisp, quick to grow). We really liked them! We then tried regular purple top turnips, but we didn’t love them as much -good, but the white ones we preferred. So, last year we tried Rutabaga - because, it was new to us and it’s fun to say “rutabaga”. We really liked those!! Turns out rutabaga are related to turnips and brassicas. This year I have 6 varieties of rutabaga to grow! Lol.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Tonight's episode of TJ's farm - Part 2

DH just came in the house and said "lights won't turn on in the barn and there's a crackling sound..."

Went out there with some flashlights. Found what we THINK is the culprit... There's an army of ANTS coming in a window and literally swarming inside a switch outlet box that controls all the lights in the barn.

So who mentioned ants today and jinxed me???

I sprayed the switch box and area with Raid and put some Borax on the window sill....

*sigh* I swear the drama never ends. It's always SOMETHING...

 

[Swiss]

It's been a while since I've posted! It took way too long to get my garden planted (and I'm still not done). I'm not terribly sure how well it will do, but the plants are happy to be out of their cups and in the ground. I forgot to check on my strawberry and rhubarb crowns, so they dried out and died. Well, one strawberry survived, but I ordered more, and that's the last thing for this year's garden.

I discovered a patch of wild strawberries in our yard while mowing last week or the week before, so avoided mowing over them. 2 days ago, I picked 3.25 oz, and today I got basically the same amount. They are AMAZING! These things are tiny, but absolutely PACKED with flavor.
Today's haul:

 

[Chicken poppy]

It's been a while since I've posted! It took way too long to get my garden planted (and I'm still not done). I'm not terribly sure how well it will do, but the plants are happy to be out of their cups and in the ground. I forgot to check on my strawberry and rhubarb crowns, so they dried out and died. Well, one strawberry survived, but I ordered more, and that's the last thing for this year's garden.

I discovered a patch of wild strawberries in our yard while mowing last week or the week before, so avoided mowing over them. 2 days ago, I picked 3.25 oz, and today I got basically the same amount. They are AMAZING! These things are tiny, but absolutely PACKED with flavor.
Today's haul:
View attachment 3150130

Fresh, tiny, and they look delicious!


We have some strawberries here, but those darn bunnies keep eating them all! Wild blackberries are almost ready for picking, though!

 

[CNJ]

I have a huge Rosemary in the garden

I wonder if we can start a yogurt culture with Rosemary? I started one with chili pepper, lime leaf, and I just put a few Lavender flower in a cup of hot milk, out of curiosity. If it works, it will be flavorful.

 

[chickengr]

My rat terrier would eat your birds & run away. He was obsessed with the chickens when I first got them, we ended up spraying him with the hose a couple times because nothing else worked & he finally got over it. He no longer obsesses but I'm sure he would still eat them if he could. He is a good guard dog, always on duty, always on the hunt - no matter how annoying.

View attachment 3149162

I had terrier mixes that totally ignored chickens and killed rats. I do miss them.

another breed that is ok with chickens and kill rats is pinscher. but they are tiny dogs and cannot guard the house. I am thinking to get them and keep them in the chicken's runs at night and my 2 big girls (german shepherds) free in the rest of the plot at night only.

I plan to fil the rest of chicken feeders with dirt and transplant some peppers in there. that way if I sell the house I can take them with me. I might put 2 beans in each as well. for the rest my gardening consist of watering only.

 

[chickengr]

I actually had to get these ants identified. Prior to this, I didn't know there were various types of fire ants with unique lifestyles. It was quite a learning process...I was googling, emailing & calling people in various states with fire ant issues. The ants we hear about most of the time, are the ones that build mounds.

There are over 200 types of fire ants!!! Ugh!!! Well, getting them identified is the 1st step, gotta know what you're up against. My local state extension service helped me, actually sent a few experts to collect some live ants.

Mine are the European Fire Ants. No mounds, so who knows where the heck their home base is! They like running up my shovel, crawl inside my glove & Sting the crap out of me. I tuck pant legs into socks, which saves my thighs from stings, but then they crawl up my clothes, I brush them off the front, but they crawl up my back then Sting the back of my neck. They know to keep crawling looking for bare skin to Sting & they sting over & over while hanging on. Try to kill by crushing...nope, they curl up in a ball, you stomp, then they unfurl & walk away unscathed! I cut 1 in half with shovel & both parts were still crawling & trying to sting, before finally dying...like it was possessed! They're evil I tell ya!

Deal with fire ants according to the type, treatment varies. Spinosad bait is best for the European as you Cannot find their home, no mounds, they truck on for hundreds of feet long, 20 feet deep, tunnels with multiple queens.

https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/myrmica_ruba.htm

Myrmica rubra https://g.co/kgs/y5Ca3M

I get severe reactions to their stings, painful swelling lasts a whole week.

https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1191&title=Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas#Biology

I really want to get some phorid flies, but I guess science is still working on that idea before it can become mainstream.

https://animals.mom.com/flies-lay-eggs-ant-heads-6226.html

I am in europe and I remember fire ants making mounds. I had no idea there are so many species of those evil crumbles. I was about 5 yo when I got bitten by them. it was hell of pain. I was given a pot of boiled water and spilled it over their mound. it was the only way to stop my crying.

 

[chickengr]

I don't think you want ANY dog with a high prey drive around your chickens .... unless you want to get rid of the chickens.

you are 100% right. any suggestion for a dog?

 

[chickengr]

Regarding squash cross pollinating...

There are 4 species of squash: moschato, maxima, pepo, and mixta. If the varieties you have are of the same species, yes, they will cross.

So you need the Latin name of each kind of squash, so you know what species it is. It should be on the seed packet.

I have only grown butternut, which I know is moschato.

my mother had sort of maxima squash near some decorative red turban gourds/squash/pumpkin(?). next year she harvested red butt maxima squash

 

[MACCanadianCoop]

you are 100% right. any suggestion for a dog?

https://khpet.com/blogs/dogs/which-dog-breeds-are-good-with-chickens