What did you do in the garden today?

[DParker75089]

Everything I've read claims that Fava Beans (aka, "Broad Beans") are cold hardy down to 14°F. I'm not sure that's right, at least not when they're starting out. We haven't gotten below 25°F yet.

 

[Sueby]

I just saw on the news the end of the week will will see -30. Uhhh, thats a drastic chnage from the 50s we’ve had!

eta: thats windchill! Sorry!

 

[Sueby]

Oh & there was a big chicken farm fire here recently, they said 100,000 chickens died. That prolly won’t bode well for egg prices here. It was an egglands best supplier.

 

[Sally PB]

brought home a pound of chia to sprout for the girls too

Please tell me what you do and how it goes. I tried a couple times to sprout chia and got goo that got gross. I have most of a 3 pound bag from Costco, so a really good supply.

 

[Swiss]

Watching garden and grafting videos to pass the time.

That's been helping me soothe that gardening itch, too! In fact, it got me to Google LED grow lights, and I found Lowe's had some 36" long ones on sale (57% off!!!). So, after talking with my husband about it, I bought 4! And discovered that a shelving unit in the basement is the perfect size! So, I cleaned it off and he helped me bring it upstairs to the spare room.

I am SO excited for what this means for seed starting!!! I can start more seeds, and do WAY less work!
The only grow lights I've ever had are Aerogardens. I would take the grow bowls off, wrap the light fixtures in aluminum foil to harness as much light as possible, and have to constantly be rotating the plants so they would each get enough light. I happy danced when my husband immediately agreed that 4 was a good idea!!

Here is what my old setup was:

 

[Iluveggers]

I do know Purina had feed specifically labeled Layer, but i buy Kalmbach 17% pellets. I don't really have many choices. I bought the feed for molting last time, but thats the only time ive ever seen it. What should they be eating over winter then?

I use a starter/grower all the time since my local distributor doesn’t have an all flock. I just supplement oyster shell on the side at all times. Figure that’s easiest, if I even have chicks they can all eat the same, and if anyone has stopped laying for any reason, no extra calcium to mess them up!

Freezing here this weekend too. Not looking forward to it!

 

[BReeder!]

That's been helping me soothe that gardening itch, too! In fact, it got me to Google LED grow lights, and I found Lowe's had some 36" long ones on sale (57% off!!!). So, after talking with my husband about it, I bought 4! And discovered that a shelving unit in the basement is the perfect size! So, I cleaned it off and he helped me bring it upstairs to the spare room.

I am SO excited for what this means for seed starting!!! I can start more seeds, and do WAY less work!
The only grow lights I've ever had are Aerogardens. I would take the grow bowls off, wrap the light fixtures in aluminum foil to harness as much light as possible, and have to constantly be rotating the plants so they would each get enough light. I happy danced when my husband immediately agreed that 4 was a good idea!!
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Here is what my old setup was:
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If you can hang them in at that the lights can be adjusted in height is a huge help. I keep my cheap LED grow lights just above the top of the plants. If they are several inches above the plants the might get leggy trying to each for the light.

 

[BReeder!]

I'm in California (Bay Area) for a few days for work. Highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. That's a lot better than back home in the Chicagoland area, which is freezing right now. If I could bottle up this warmer air and bring it back I would. LOL.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Ugh. We are having an ice storm this evening. It's only been sleeting for an hour and everything already has a major coating of ice. We'll easily have over a half inch of ice by morning... And more (the worst part) on the way for tomorrow night.

I'm praying to God the nets over my chicken/goat yard hold up. The ice storm last year snapped half the support poles across the entire yard. We replaced them with heavier duty wood posts so if the ice puts major weight on the netting it will likely tear the net rather than snap the wood. Of course I don't want the animals to get caught up in the nets either.... Very worried about it.

 

[WthrLady]

I just saw on the news the end of the week will will see -30. Uhhh, thats a drastic chnage from the 50s we’ve had!

eta: thats windchill! Sorry!

You're welcome to it. I'm sick of it. I'm tired of bulky clothes, frozen fingers and toes, and hauling water and breaking ice.