What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I finished cleaning out my deep litter coop for this year, the bottom layer was so rich and dark and composted so deep tilled it into the garden. My soil is a lot of clay so while i'd rather do the no till method, the soil gets so hard and compacted there's no other option. Maybe eventually with continuing to add chicken coop compost it will get to where I don't have to till. It's a large garden so that might take a while. Made rows in the open part and cleaned up the few raised beds and added some chives into the bed with the oregano, thyme, sage and mint. Planted some new things - golden amaranth, broom corn, japanese hull less popcorn, bok choi, broccoli raab, this year in addition to the staples - peas, kale, radish, collards, peppers, a few cherry tomato, basil, parsley, summer squash, pumpkin, watermelon, carrots, marigolds. Didn't plant green beans this year. Trying to grow only things chickens can eat so when I let them in to clean up later in the year there's no problems. I know it's a little early for some of the warmer weather crops for here in western PA but I've got squash seeds coming up from one I left there last fall so even with a few chilly nights the soil seems to be staying warm enough for them to grow.
There's just something so satisfying about looking over a freshly planted garden with all the neat rows (and no weeds!) and all the expectation of the good food to come. I thank God every day for having the space and ability to grow a nice garden and raise chickens.

Add gypsum to your soil before tilling. We have clay here too, and while I don’t till, just add it every year to the garden, over time it has helped considerably.

 

[WthrLady]

They do, and they do. The seed take 3-6 years to form a bulb, from which a flower grows.

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

Hmm, it says video unnavailble.

Teflon tape can be purchased at any hardware store.
It really helps with leaky threads.

 

[Smokerbill]

The garden needed no water this morning. I removed the fence hoop thingy that was over the top of my tomato bed. Thinned out seedlings: carrots, beets and chard. I wish beets and chard didn't have multiple seeds in each little pod, or whatever they're called. My fat fingers have a hard time plucking out the extras. I should probably use a magnifying glass and tiny scissors to thin them out. LOL

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

3 wall clouds and two funnels off my back deck last night, but the largest one didn't drop for another 17 miles north of me. And it was a massive tornado then.

Nothing but watering today.
I contemplated building a chickhouse/grow out/broody cage, but decided while watering, that MAYBE after this season, I'll take down the Harbor freight greenhouse and build something from scratch. ALL the panel in the greenhouse are UV decayed to foggy yellow after only 3 years and ridiculously fragile. Most of the roof panels have tons of holes from hail. One more good hail storm and they're through.

I don't know.....

Oh, I know. I desperately want a greenhouse but I am loathe to build one only to have to redo the cover every few years. I'm still waiting for an idea for a cheap indestructible cover.

 

[DLA]

Add gypsum to your soil before tilling. We have clay here too, and while I don’t till, just add it every year to the garden, over time it has helped considerably.

Thanks for the info. I looked into adding gypsum previously which is a good solution if you want spend the money and buy it to reapply it every year. In researching found that adding compost will get the same effect however it just takes longer for the soil to be amended but it also is a more lasting solution. After a few years I shouldn't have to do much tilling. Also it's a good way to get rid of everything when I clean out the coop.

 

[JedJackson]

It's been a glorious morning here, so far. After weeks of gray and rain, it is sunny and warm. I planted a row of crookneck squash, some rainbow Swiss chard, and a few tomato plants. Watered peas, carrots, spinach and the rest. Also planted out some seed raised cosmos and bachelor's buttons. And I let the chickens out into the yard since I was nearby to watch them. They rarely get to free range but when they do they love it.

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

I am taking a break and inwardly whining because now there is nothing left for me to do on that chicken run than cover it with wire.

The structure is 8 feet high.
It's hot.
It's humid.
The bugs are biting me.
The neighbor's cow got out and left a pie in my work space.
I'm tired.

Thinking of taking a break and mowing...

 

[JedJackson]

I am taking a break and inwardly whining because now there is nothing left for me to do on that chicken run than cover it with wire.

The structure is 8 feet high.
It's hot.
It's humid.
The bugs are biting me.
The neighbor's cow got out and left a pie in my work space.
I'm tired.

Thinking of taking a break and mowing...

Darn neighbor's cow! Why do they always go exactly where they shouldn't?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I am taking a break and inwardly whining because now there is nothing left for me to do on that chicken run than cover it with wire.

The structure is 8 feet high.
It's hot.
It's humid.
The bugs are biting me.
The neighbor's cow got out and left a pie in my work space.
I'm tired.

Thinking of taking a break and mowing...

It's hot and humid here too. I just went out to pick some veggies and I'm melting! I waited until too late in the day to go out there. It's definitely the time of year that need to be more careful about timing my garden tending in the morning and evening ONLY. Lol

I wish I could remember which bok choy this is! It still hasn't bolted and the other one is covered in flowers. I planted Win Win and Joi Choy so I guess I'm getting more seeds of both and marking them next year. Lol