What did you do in the garden today?

[WIchickMama]

Morning, it is a beautiful morning here at 57* F. We are headed to hot and steamy for the upcoming weekend, and I have a broody-ugh.

Anyway garden, picked 1 (and the 1st) blueberry yesterday, cherry tomatoes have been steady, green beans are started to roll in, have a couple zucchini started, lots if acorn squash flowers, and and a few buttercup squash on the vines. Picked my first Lemon Boy tomato yesterday, never had this type before so we will see.

Stay cool if you can and get dirty today!

 

[esturtz27]

I get up about 6, to let the chickens out. I have thought about going out to weed with a headlamp, but wondered if I'd have every bug in the neighborhood on me.

I think it would be very interesting to sit out there and watch for critters... Maybe jump up and yell BOO! to see if I can scare them away.

The bugs weren't too bad the few times I did it but you gotta have a head lamp with a red light. That way you aren't a walking attraction lol....I was out for a little weeding one night and found out what had dug under the fence. It was a burly little armadillo! Those things are tanks! He wasn't happy to see me hanging out either. Also the constant coyote ruckus... they aren't a pack anymore they are a herd.

 

[Fishychix]

I watered and it rained, a bit. Im glad I watered anyway. Its been so dry and my tomatoes are all wilty still, desperately trying to hold on. I work less hours right now and have a week off, hopefully I can get them out of their funk.
I have an a big space in a bed right now but dont know what i could plant. I have checked out Sandhill Preservation and may go with sweet potatoes. The only downside is their amazing amount of variety and my lack of knowledge . I just dont know whats good for me to eat vs whats good for only the critters to eat. They do sell assortments that are grouped by color, northern, etc. that helps a bit I guess. Thanks for the tip @Acre4Me!

 

[Acre4Me]

One sweet potato bed. This contains one each of the 12 varieties I received. The two on left, top row were planted about 10 days after the others. But, there are vining and bush types. Also different leaf types: regular leaf, cut leaf and oak leaf are some that come to mind.

 

[Acre4Me]

I watered and it rained, a bit. Im glad I watered anyway. Its been so dry and my tomatoes are all wilty still, desperately trying to hold on. I work less hours right now and have a week off, hopefully I can get them out of their funk.
I have an a big space in a bed right now but dont know what i could plant. I have checked out Sandhill Preservation and may go with sweet potatoes. The only downside is their amazing amount of variety and my lack of knowledge . I just dont know whats good for me to eat vs whats good for only the critters to eat. They do sell assortments that are grouped by color, northern, etc. that helps a bit I guess. Thanks for the tip @Acre4Me!

One thing that helped me in choosing was “early” or “mid-season” only, and I also tried to stick with bush or “vining” the two lowest vining categories. Of course, with assortments, I did not get to choose those. Sandhill may or may not still be shipping. Text to ask -I think they may be shipping thru end of this week.

 

[esturtz27]

One sweet potato bed. This contains one each of the 12 varieties I received. The two on left, top row were planted about 10 days after the others. But, there are vining and bush types. Also different leaf types: regular leaf, cut leaf and oak leaf are some that come to mind.

View attachment 3185710

I have a question, I hope you don't mind. Do you harvest sweet potatoes the same way you harvest potatoes? This is my first year growing them and I've no idea when to pull them

 

[Acre4Me]

I have a question, I hope you don't mind. Do you harvest sweet potatoes the same way you harvest potatoes? This is my first year growing them and I've no idea when to pull them

Lol emoji bc I’ve never grown sweet potatoes before! But, regular potatoes flower then start to die off and the message is clear they are done. Sweet potatoes aren’t that obvious from what I’ve read. They hate cold and I’ve read that sustained soil temps of 55F or lower is bad for them as fungus can take hold. They need a 7-10 day curing before using too. Regular potatoes you can dig and cook that day, but a sweet potato is fairly flavorless (I’ve read) straight from the ground. Plus curing helps them heal scrapes/nicks and develop a tougher skin so they store longer.

 

[esturtz27]

Lol emoji bc I’ve never grown sweet potatoes before! But, regular potatoes flower then start to die off and the message is clear they are done. Sweet potatoes aren’t that obvious from what I’ve read. They hate cold and I’ve read that sustained soil temps of 55F or lower is bad for them as fungus can take hold. They need a 7-10 day curing before using too. Regular potatoes you can dig and cook that day, but a sweet potato is fairly flavorless (I’ve read) straight from the ground. Plus curing helps them heal scrapes/nicks and develop a tougher skin so they store longer.

That's all great to know(thank you) ! Lol I don't think the temps will be a problem here. I had no idea about the curing....I would've been disappointed with some tasteless taters. Mine are all flowers right now...just blooming beautiful purple and white morning glory like blooms. I'll keep an eye on them for die off. My husband says I tend to jump them early so I will try to ignore it till they are completely brown. I hope we get sweet potatoes as we lost almost all our red and gold spuds to an ant colony . I'm glad to have chickens... they've attacked my cucumbers but have loved eating those ants too.

 

[igorsMistress]

Well I’ve lost the Carolina jessamine and the beach party lilac

 

[Iluveggers]

Headed out to water now. Later than I wanted but still before the 10:00 heat wave starts.