What did you do in the garden today?

[CluckNDoodle]

It tastes a little like rose hip tea with a tiny bit of a berry hint in it, COLD of course.
Ever sucked on wild honeysuckle blossoms? Like that.

Sounds yummy!
Yes, there was honeysuckle on the playground when I was in elementary school, lol. We got in trouble for sucking on them.

 

[WthrLady]

We chew grapevine too, but only when I know what, or if, it's been sprayed. That wasn't so much an issue 50+ years ago.

 

[Acre4Me]

Today tomatoes were planted. We have 23 planted. The trellises for squash are up. Will work in getting those planted tomorrow.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Today tomatoes were planted. We have 23 planted. The trellises for squash are up. Will work in getting those planted tomorrow.

Tomato season is almost over here. By the end of June it will be to hot for them, except for the wild tomatoes.

I’ve got a good bed of wild tomatoes, but there’s a broody hen inside of the bed that is picking off the tomatoes as they ripen.

In my sweet potato bed I have a few small wild tomatoes that are producing well.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

I did a walk-around this evening. My Seminole pumpkin stand is thriving. Several pumpkins being formed. The bed will likely quadruple in size or more by summer’s end.

We’re not getting enough rain for the bananas. I’ve been watering them at random times whenever I’m near them with a hose.

Figs are looking great. They’re growing right beside a permanent coop and no doubt getting all of that chicken manure goodness.

 

[LifeSimpleAndSweet]

I did a walk-around this evening. My Seminole pumpkin stand is thriving. Several pumpkins being formed. The bed will likely quadruple in size or more by summer’s end.


View attachment 3522716View attachment 3522717


We’re not getting enough rain for the bananas. I’ve been watering them at random times whenever I’m near them with a hose. View attachment 3522718View attachment 3522719

Figs are looking great. They’re growing right beside a permanent coop and no doubt getting all of that chicken manure goodness.

View attachment 3522721 View attachment 3522722

Your fig looks great! My two were frozen to the ground by the December snap, so I won't get too many this year.

Have you grown your pumpkins that way before?
I want to plant a bunch of winter squash, but I'm hesitant because there is no way I am going to be able to keep the wild vegetation from growing up through it. I wondered if the shade from the leaves might be enough to crowd out the weeds.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Your fig looks great! My two were frozen to the ground by the December snap, so I won't get too many this year.

Have you grown your pumpkins that way before?
I want to plant a bunch of winter squash, but I'm hesitant because there is no way I am going to be able to keep the wild vegetation from growing up through it. I wondered if the shade from the leaves might be enough to crowd out the weeds.

Yes, I grow them this way every year, except last year I tried a different technique that didn’t work as well.

I start by using a chicken tractor to raise a big batch of bitties on for several months. I throw grass clipping, scraps, and other compostable materials in and let the chicks compost them in place. When its time for them to be turned out to free range, I move the coop and plant the pumpkins or tomatoes.

In the past they’ve taken over my entire yard growing them this way.

Last year I tried growing them a long way from the house where I used to give cows hay. I though the hay and manure would give them enough compost, but they didn’t thrive.

This year I went back to using the chicken tractor method, but on the edge of my yard so they can’t shade out the rest of my garden. The “tractor” is one of the TS steel coops that I drag with my truck from one patch of ground to the next.

Yes, they will shade out or starve out most things they grow around. I have a lone okra plant braving the pumpkins but I think it will make it. The chicken dirt is rich enough to support both I think.

 

[Ponypoor]

Been trying to weed my cactus garden… very tricky!

 

[CNJ]

Tomato season is almost over here. By the end of June it will be to hot for them, except for the wild tomatoes.

Have you tried Heat Master tomatoes? It was bred to set fruit in hot weather environments.

https://tomatogrowers.com/products/heatmaster-hybrid?_pos=5&_sid=e7f09db8b&_ss=r

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Have you tried Heat Master tomatoes? It was bred to set fruit in hot weather environments.

https://tomatogrowers.com/products/heatmaster-hybrid?_pos=5&_sid=e7f09db8b&_ss=r

I have not, and would be open to trying. Besides the heat, the other issue here is poor soil. I only know of one large fruited heirloom tomato that likes it on my farm. Otherwise I have to depend on my wild tomatoes. I’d love to figure out other varieties that will thrive here.

I’ve tried Cherokee purples here two years in a row and it was a waste of my effort.