What did you do in the garden today?

[chickengr]

I also read that we can use the condensation from our HVAC for non food plants, something I wasn’t too sure about and was advised not to do in the past. I like the idea though, during monsoon season I capture up to five gallons in a day depending on the humidity and it always feels like such a waste to dump it, especially when we don’t actually get rain.

I would water trees and flowers with it.

 

[chickengr]

Here's pics of 2 of em...idk what's wrong with em...any suggestions to help em grow?
They were down by the coop in full sun so I brought em up to deck to give em little shade.
I stuck my finger beside em so yall can see better how tiny they are.

too much water? they prefer poor soil and I always put some stones before I plant them. drainage is crucial for sage.

 

[madsnbot]

Today my muscadine started to fruit

 

[Jeri B]

I picked my first cucumber today

 

[chickengr]

Bugs. Always part of life, but I know trying 3 things to see how they do.

1. Double sided sticky cards. Yellow bc attracts some insects. Some areas they are catching a lot of bugs, but I don’t know how meaningful it is.
View attachment 3153785

2. Yellow bowls of soapy water. Some bowls are white-spray painted gloss yellow. Seems to be working well -wide variety of insects. Needs refreshed every day or so. Read that this can be somewhat helpful with SVB
View attachment 3153786

Grasshoppers: little ones present right now and read that this is most effective time to control them. They eat up several plant types, so I want to get rid of them. I read that wheat germ mixed with Sevin (carbaryl) is very effective. They love wheat germ. Be aware-sone stores do t carry wheat germ-I had to go to 2 stores to find any.

do these traps attract bees as well?

 

[chickengr]

I hand pollinated 2 zucchinis. now wait and see if I finally get at least 2 zucchinis. as far as I can see I don't have male and female flowers at the same time.

 

[Acre4Me]

I sure wish I would start getting notifications about this thread again! The only way I can re-find it is to get on my computer, which I rarely do.

Hi Karen!!

 

[igorsMistress]

I sure wish I would start getting notifications about this thread again! The only way I can re-find it is to get on my computer, which I rarely do.

Karen, so nice to see you!

 

[igorsMistress]

Yeah we scalded at 150F and then dunked in ice water and the feathers came off pretty easy, but it was still tedious enough for him that he's over it. I'm going to look into washing machine drum pluckers.

I should add, it kills his back.

I can totally relate, I hate plucking!

 

[Sueby]

@Sally PB - looks great! That's a lot of EWO!

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.

I have mine in the ground too, I need to get some bug netting on them I guess.

This time it’s some moonshine cherries. I have no idea what to do with them, banana splits?

YUM! I used to make brandied cherries every year, I miss them. We'd just sit & chow down on the jar. I bet I'd love the moonshine ones, I love moonshine.

I love butterfly weed, and the seed pods look like something from Fantasia. We first started growing it back in Portland but haven't found the right spot for it here.

I adore the seed pods! So beautiful. This was a pic from last year:

@Sueby I'm ridiculously happy for you to get your dishwasher, as I've spent most of my life without one, want one, and have no space for one. xD Enjoy!

OMG I'm so excited for it!

Bent some conduit for use in the garden as supports for bug netting.

In the foreground is the summer squash, behind it are Rutabaga, then 3 kinds of pumpkins.
View attachment 3152901


Spouse made two more planters. These are taller than the first two. Behind the first ones on the deck.
View attachment 3152906


View attachment 3153099

Now I need to figure out how to cover the squash on Trellises. I am alreasdy seeing cabbage looper moths, so the SVB probably isn’t far behind.

I have my squash & cukes covered - it's kind of a pain to hand pollinate, but life without bugs just might be worth it. I have never hand pollinated cukes, I'm not sure it's reasonably possible. But my point was I have the cattle panel trellises covered with bug netting & it stinks. LOL

Um...is mint and sage supposed to be in shade? Maybe that's what's wrong with my sage?!

My sage is in full sun in a raised bed & is doing great. I'm not sure what's happening with yours.

Good morning everyone. I’m sitting on the patio watching the clouds. They’re thick enough to block the sun so it’s comfortable, but I don’t think we’ll get any rain today. Gave the fruit trees a squirt of neem oil last night and checked the soil; the surface has dried a bit but where there’s mulch it’s still damp to the touch so hopefully I’m on the right track. I didn’t have the heart to cut down the biggest of the tomato plants and there are a couple of tomatoes that are nearly ready. Got the soaker going on the aloes, swept the patio and moved a few blocks to make “tables” for my solar cookers. I’m done outside but have projects inside to get done.

There were some rather frightening stories on the news about water rights this morning. The feds will get involved over the water from the Colorado if the states can’t come to an agreement on allocation. Afterward I was perusing some tips for new things we can implement, but I moved the rain gutters and barrels to the top of my to do list. I found tree ring soaker hoses, which I had already asked hubs to make from the existing hoses I have. I also read that we can use the condensation from our HVAC for non food plants, something I wasn’t too sure about and was advised not to do in the past. I like the idea though, during monsoon season I capture up to five gallons in a day depending on the humidity and it always feels like such a waste to dump it, especially when we don’t actually get rain.

I think about you every time I see the water issues on the news. It is such a complicated situation. I'm glad you're allowed to collect.

Woke up to the sound of thunder

Now I have that song in my head...

Hey Gardeners we are all sick here creeping crud. Son brought it home covid test said no !

I have a friend who tested twice with a home test, both negative but he knew he had it & went in for a doc test & it came back positive. Not to be a debbie downer, but just thought I'd mention it.

This is the first year it's been marked as a federal/state/bank holiday (I THINK).

I believe you are correct. I'm a state employee & it is not a holiday we get off until next year. For whatever weird contract reason.

Bugs. Always part of life, but I know trying 3 things to see how they do.

1. Double sided sticky cards. Yellow bc attracts some insects. Some areas they are catching a lot of bugs, but I don’t know how meaningful it is.
View attachment 3153785

2. Yellow bowls of soapy water. Some bowls are white-spray painted gloss yellow. Seems to be working well -wide variety of insects. Needs refreshed every day or so. Read that this can be somewhat helpful with SVB
View attachment 3153786

Grasshoppers: little ones present right now and read that this is most effective time to control them. They eat up several plant types, so I want to get rid of them. I read that wheat germ mixed with Sevin (carbaryl) is very effective. They love wheat germ. Be aware-sone stores do t carry wheat germ-I had to go to 2 stores to find any.

I'd be interested to hear your results - please keep us updated on this experiment. I'm also wondering if you'll get any bees.

Penny discovered DP's pond and jumped in. It isn't planted yet so no real damage done, it just means we'll have to put a fence around it when It's done and fully planted. But she was having such a good time we filled a kids wading pool up and she loved it. She must be part duck, she'd splash on her belly then streak around the yard and jump in again from a yard away.

This cracked me up! I found my dog in a very large pot I have next to the deck with 2 jalpeno plant in it this am - digging, trying to get to the chippy under the deck. Dirt & pepper leaves everywhere. I could do nothing but laugh at his chippy OCD.

Anyway, it was 47 when I got up this am. Beautiful out! My tomatoes disagree tho, I'm sure. I got 3 squash hand pollinated yesterday, the girls had been opened the day before but I opened the flower up & pollinated them anyway, not sure if that'll work or not or if viability is only the 1 day they are open. I did it again today. We shall see. I've got the bush squash starting up the trellises & trimmed a few bottom leaves, very excited about this concept.

The electrician was here yesterday so we're able to put a little more of the kitchen together. Last of the cabinets arrived at the shipper on Fri so we should be able to finish up the kitchen next weekend. Man, I cannot wait to have a kitchen again.