What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

Maybe eventually with continuing to add chicken coop compost it will get to where I don't have to till

I have some pretty clay heavy soil here and just a foot down is nothing but clay mixed with sand and gravel (like digging in concrete). I have been mixing in rough (unsifted) compost for the part 6 years we have been here and the garden soil is really showing a difference. Don't feel the need four s compost to look all black and crumbly - there's typically still bits of straw, shavings, etc in my compost when I spread it. Late Fall or early Winter is the best time to add the compost. After harvesting, I mix my compost into the top few inches of the raised beds and till it into the ground as part of the preparation for winter. Winter freeze and thaw cycles help to work the compost into the soil even more, loosening it up for Spring. The winter season also gives the compost time to "cool off" in case it is too "hot" with nitrogen.

 

[BReeder!]

I wish I liked asparagus.

Buy some and plant it! I did this year and 5 of 6 six crowns are definitely growing - the 6th one I'm still holding out for as number 5 even just popped up a stalk this past week. I didn't do anything crazy. Just planted them in a raised bed. I water it if there's no rain and I will add some compost this Fall. Easy!

 

[BReeder!]

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.

I built mine this year. Harbor freight just like @WthrLady has and is talking about. It's great so far, but I realize the day will come when the panels are shot. I am thinking I may replace then with UV resistant plexy when that time comes. I think the clips that the greenhouse has to hold the panels in place will work on plexy as well.

 

[BReeder!]

I've had to do some tedious cut-and-spray things here.

When I moved in ten years ago, there was a trumpet vine growing up a tree at the edge of my yard.

I thought, "Oooooh! How pretty!!!"

Last year I spent hours each day for a week, bent over, snipping
Every - Single - Last - Trumpet - Vine - Sprout
out of my lawn, by the thousands. Snip, then a drop of roundup on each tiny sprout stump. I was merciless all year. It worked, but boy did my back hurt!

My netting has a trumpet vine plant growing on the fence. I secretly hack away anything on my side. This is same neighbor with the raspberries that are spreading into my garden pathway near the shared fence. I don't complain because the wife is innocent enough and just doesn't realize how invasive some things can be. It seems like she is just getting into garden in her later years and is learning some things the hard way. They also built the fence so I don't say anything about the vine being on it, although I know it's going to cause damage from the weight as well as the moisture. Pretty sure the husband isn't a fan of the trumpet vine either actually as he has mentioned that it will damage the fence - and like a bale he's close not to fight with his wife though. I think of my secret hacking at the vine as helping him fight that battle. Lol.

 

[Sally PB]

They are done flowering, but this is showing up where the flowers were. They are starting to swell. Any idea what’s going on?

Adding in, cut them off and let the plant have the energy for the bulb underground. Growing daffs from seed is a time consuming PI...Butt.

Pardon my ignorance, but don’t daffodils grow from bulbs? I thought they didn’t grow from seeds.

Well, I suppose this is good. If I can find a way to harvest the seeds, I can plant them somewhere else.

I let mine go to seed. Not every flower has been pollinated, so not every one makes a seed head.

I used to dehead them, but I have WAY too many now. Might not be a bad idea for the first few years, though, to let the bulbs strengthen.

The seeds are about the size of peppercorns, shiny and black. As noted, it will be several years before they flower. There's a reason you don't see daffodil seeds for sale.

When they first grow, the leaves are more slender and shorter than a plant from a bulb. If you pull one up, you'll see a tiny little bulb at the bottom.

 

[TJAnonymous]

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.

I live in the Ozark foothills. When we moved into our house in 2020, the garden area was nothing but rocks and red clay soil. It took me 3 years of tilling in lots of compost each spring to get a dream garden. I make my own compost. Not from deep litter but that doesn't really matter. The very first year (before I had homemade compost), I did purchase bags of humus, manure, and Top soil but not enough to make much difference. My garden is only 20 ft x 20 ft. After working in my compost, the soil is dark, rich, and full of worms & microbial life.

 

[WthrLady]

I built mine this year. Harbor freight just like @WthrLady has and is talking about. It's great so far, but I realize the day will come when the panels are shot. I am thinking I may replace then with UV resistant plexy when that time comes. I think the clips that the greenhouse has to hold the panels in place will work on plexy as well.

When I think of all the plexiglass safety panels that were tossed in the trash after pandemic...ugh.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Still sick, coughing, taking meds, tired bc little sleep. But, I'm the last in the house to get this bug, and everyone else was better in a couple of days from the worst symptoms, so Im hoping I'm the same.

Cloudy,was rainy earlier. I suppose I should at least do a once over of the animals and garden - Teen has been out and assured me everyone has water and food, but I like to verify at least 1x per 24 hours bc "oops" sometimes one group gets forgotten by teen.

We have an egg eater - but she has gotten "better" at her task. The eggs only have one end broken, and almost as if she can lick out the insides, they are completely cleaned out of contents, no mess in the nest box, and no evidence on any beaks. Now we need to figure out who this is.
View attachment 3503813

I have several egg eaters. I've given up trying to stop the behavior. The best option I have is to simply collect eggs often to limit exposure.

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

My netting has a trumpet vine plant growing on the fence. I secretly hack away anything on my side. This is same neighbor with the raspberries that are spreading into my garden pathway near the shared fence. I don't complain because the wife is innocent enough and just doesn't realize how invasive some things can be. It seems like she is just getting into garden in her later years and is learning some things the hard way. They also built the fence so I don't say anything about the vine being on it, although I know it's going to cause damage from the weight as well as the moisture. Pretty sure the husband isn't a fan of the trumpet vibe either actually as he has mentioned that it will damage the fence - and like a bale he's close not to fight with his wife though. I think of my secret hacking at the vibe as helping him fight that battle. Lol.

Oh, NOOOOOOO!
Raspberries AND a trumpet vine!

Watch out, she may have her eye on some wisteria and Tree of Heaven!

 

[Smokerbill]

50....we had 50 tornado warnings here yesterday

Dang!