What did you do in the garden today?

[Liz Birdlover]

Apple tree question...so I planted 2 young apple trees, Red Delicious & Golden Delicious, 2 years ago. The deer visited & munched the bark away.
(I know...should've put up deer netting from the start)
1 tree died, I just replaced it 2 mos ago. Anyway, the remaining original tree, the deer stripped more bark off the minute I moved deer netting to cut grass. I'm surprised it's still thriving. I want to paint some protective bark product on, but the stuff I recall as a kid is not what I'm finding these days. What I recall was more like a paint. The only stuff they have now is like a rubber seal. I think that would strangle the tree wouldn't it? I have to paint darn near the whole trunk.

Any product suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated. I doubt this rubber gunk in a can is good for this particular application.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I picked some perilla and tree collards to go with tonight's dinner and got them soaking to plump up. I'm going to fix the collards with a little bacon and onion...yum!

It's too bleeping hot to be outside today...but a friend gave me an Ayam Cemani rooster last night and I put him in a quarantine cage. He's panting and holding his wings out while he struts around so I better go back out and get him set up better for cooling. Not sure what I'm going to do with him long term. It's fascinating to see his black throat while he pants, but do I really want another coop? Chicken math will be the death of me yet

 

[WIchickMama]

anyone ever use the orange mint variety in mint jelly? I have an abundance of orange and apple mint but not sure I can use the same, first year with both. I guess I should start drinking a lot of tea!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

anyone ever use the orange mint variety in mint jelly? I have an abundance of orange and apple mint but not sure I can use the same, first year with both. I guess I should start drinking a lot of tea!

Orange mint iced tea is delicious & refreshing. I've mixed Hibiscus tea too, so nice! The only type of tea my sugar addict sweetie can drink without a sweetener.

 

[Acre4Me]

@igorsMistress @WthrLady Here are close up pics of the panel "system"

Upper portion: 2x4, with the bevelled piece to hold in the panels

lower portion: 2x4 with another lip (not bevelled), and there are a few metal washers to create a gap for rain to move through.

closeup of the several washers and gap.

mulch helps keep the panels from moving.

or solid foam insulation (black foam "rope"). It stays up there pretty well. If you never move it, it gets anchored in pretty well ny spider webs... which is why I don't recommend pip insulation bc it is a great place for spider egg sacs to be deposited.

last detail - this is an upper corner. we can slide panels in on either side, so the lip on one side does not go all the way to the corner, there is some space for panels to slide in/out..

 

[TJAnonymous]

Weird, all my squash plants have female flowers & no males yet. Usually it's the opposite.

I feel like it's never too late to start any kind of squash, but I don't know your climate so maybe it's not feasible?

Everything's looking good here for the most part. Strawberries are almost done, trying to figure out how to mow them down (they're june bearing) in a raised bed that my back hates.

Hoping for rain tomorrow, I really should be watering but I'm praying instead! Off to check the weather...

I read an article yesterday that said squash will stop producing one gender of flower (either female or male) if they are too hot. Given that we've been over 100 degrees for the past week and it's likely to continue for at least another 10+ days, I'm watching mine closely. So far, I've noticed that female flowers actually have declined. I have 5 zucchini plants and in the past 2-3 days, I've gotten ONE female flower out of the bunch.

 

[Sueby]

That's a bummer @TJAnonymous! I could never handle those temps. It's been nice here, 70s & 80s.

I watered everything reallllly well today. That should ensure rain tomorrow. Thinned out some squash from an over crowded bed & a couple pickling cukes.

Got some pics:
My beans are up to the top of the cattle panel hoop & flowering:

I forgot I planted 1 row of hardneck garlic so I have scapes to cut:

My butterfly weed looks great:

My Egyptian Walking Onions have a couple little purple bulbs on top:

& one of the netted hoops, this one has soyo long cukes & spaghetti squash. & so far no bugs!

 

[igorsMistress]

@igorsMistress @WthrLady Here are close up pics of the panel "system"

Upper portion: 2x4, with the bevelled piece to hold in the panels
View attachment 3150833

lower portion: 2x4 with another lip (not bevelled), and there are a few metal washers to create a gap for rain to move through.
View attachment 3150834

closeup of the several washers and gap.
View attachment 3150835

mulch helps keep the panels from moving.
View attachment 3150836


or solid foam insulation (black foam "rope"). It stays up there pretty well. If you never move it, it gets anchored in pretty well ny spider webs... which is why I don't recommend pip insulation bc it is a great place for spider egg sacs to be deposited.
View attachment 3150837


last detail - this is an upper corner. we can slide panels in on either side, so the lip on one side does not go all the way to the corner, there is some space for panels to slide in/out..
View attachment 3150838

Thanks so much for getting close ups! I like this idea for the front of my coop so will show to hubs. Seems like it will last longer than what I have right now. Things always evolve it seems.

 

[ChicksnMore]

I read an article yesterday that said squash will stop producing one gender of flower (either female or male) if they are too hot. Given that we've been over 100 degrees for the past week and it's likely to continue for at least another 10+ days, I'm watching mine closely. So far, I've noticed that female flowers actually have declined. I have 5 zucchini plants and in the past 2-3 days, I've gotten ONE female flower out of the bunch.

I wonder if this is why I struggle with squash. I can grow them if I use water reservoirs but getting fruit has been hard. They go into wilt daily even with a reservoir. I'll have to try planting them earlier or later to see when they can be happy here.

That's a bummer @TJAnonymous! I could never handle those temps. It's been nice here, 70s & 80s.

I watered everything reallllly well today. That should ensure rain tomorrow. Thinned out some squash from an over crowded bed & a couple pickling cukes.

Got some pics:
My beans are up to the top of the cattle panel hoop & flowering:
View attachment 3150889

I forgot I planted 1 row of hardneck garlic so I have scapes to cut:
View attachment 3150890

My butterfly weed looks great:
View attachment 3150891

My Egyptian Walking Onions have a couple little purple bulbs on top:
View attachment 3150893

& one of the netted hoops, this one has soyo long cukes & spaghetti squash. & so far no bugs!
View attachment 3150892

I'm sitting here drooling over your garden! It looks wonderful! I want Egyptian onions

 

[WthrLady]

corre

Apple tree question...so I planted 2 young apple trees, Red Delicious & Golden Delicious, 2 years ago. The deer visited & munched the bark away.
(I know...should've put up deer netting from the start)
1 tree died, I just replaced it 2 mos ago. Anyway, the remaining original tree, the deer stripped more bark off the minute I moved deer netting to cut grass. I'm surprised it's still thriving. I want to paint some protective bark product on, but the stuff I recall as a kid is not what I'm finding these days. What I recall was more like a paint. The only stuff they have now is like a rubber seal. I think that would strangle the tree wouldn't it? I have to paint darn near the whole trunk.

Any product suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated. I doubt this rubber gunk in a can is good for this particular application.


View attachment 3150689

I use spray paint and call it a day.