What did you do in the garden today?

[Smokerbill]

The squash seed I planted a few days ago started sprouting. I moved those off of the heating pad and under the grow lights. I'll keep an eye on the others and move them as they break ground.

 

[WthrLady]

Morning all
I tossed my old hen in the garden to let her get some sun and digging done while I worked outside.
I turned the irrigation on for 5 minutes for each of the zones that were the worst for weeds so that I could walk the spreader there and get the weed killer to stick. I know it will kill dandelion and clover too, but I have GOT to get the bindweed under control. It is thriving in the drought where nothing else is and it is spreading like wildfire.
I hosed off the firebreaks and spread in there as well.
The liquid spectricide that I sprayed on May 30 has finally killed what I sprayed on it. Here is hoping it is a full and longer kill than roundup, which killed in one day, but only for a month at best.
I sent in our state and federal drought report this morning. We are only getting worse in my corner of the county. 5 miles south of me, they had two inches of rain, which helped a little. We've had nothing. I estimate IF I even harvest hay it will only be 20-25% of a NORMAL harvest. And my pasture is shot. I'm going to have to hope for a damp cooler spring next year and split it and overseed it and hope for the best.
MEANWHILE, my neighbor's across and down the the street are still watering their 2 inch high lawn for 10 hours a day. (4 houses) OMFG! They still look as bad as mine, but I'm not stressing out the well system.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Morning all
I tossed my old hen in the garden to let her get some sun and digging done while I worked outside.
I turned the irrigation on for 5 minutes for each of the zones that were the worst for weeds so that I could walk the spreader there and get the weed killer to stick. I know it will kill dandelion and clover too, but I have GOT to get the bindweed under control. It is thriving in the drought where nothing else is and it is spreading like wildfire.
I hosed off the firebreaks and spread in there as well.
The liquid spectricide that I sprayed on May 30 has finally killed what I sprayed on it. Here is hoping it is a full and longer kill than roundup, which killed in one day, but only for a month at best.
I sent in our state and federal drought report this morning. We are only getting worse in my corner of the county. 5 miles south of me, they had two inches of rain, which helped a little. We've had nothing. I estimate IF I even harvest hay it will only be 20-25% of a NORMAL harvest. And my pasture is shot. I'm going to have to hope for a damp cooler spring next year and split it and overseed it and hope for the best.
MEANWHILE, my neighbor's across and down the the street are still watering their 2 inch high lawn for 10 hours a day. (4 houses) OMFG! They still look as bad as mine, but I'm not stressing out the well system.

Can you put pressure on County officials to limit unnecessary use of water such as watering the lawn or washing cars?

 

[TJAnonymous]

Anyone else think the "Cleaning and Storing Eggs' topic photo on the BYC homepage looks like butt cheeks? It gives me a double take every time I see it.

 

[Smokerbill]

Well, fencing two sides of my garden off to the chickens didn't work. They ranged further than normal to get around the barrier and munch on some of my brassicas. Oh well, as long as they don't dust bathe in my seedlings I guess it's ok.

 

[WthrLady]

Can you put pressure on County officials to limit unnecessary use of water such as watering the lawn or washing cars?

Nope. Private wells, private use. If your well goes dry it goes dry, and then you're shipping in water at an insane rate, but they obviously don't know or care. The city south of us has voluntary 'please only water your lawn every other day' at the moment, but judging by the neon green lawns, golf courses, and parking lot verges, that is not happening, nor have they cut down on car washing businesses, which usually have lines.

My well is 420 feet deep, so those using water below my well in excess can be lowering my table. The inconsideration and waste is driving me insane. If the water is there and you want to pay to pump it out of the ground, fine, it's your money. But we are on year 3 of drought.

 

[Smokerbill]

The compost pile I put together on Saturday is already cooking at 155 degrees one foot from the top. And that's in new material I added to the top yesterday. I mowed some grass, so I raked it up and made two lasagna layers of grass, small branches mixed with leaves (brown and crunchy), and wood chips from the run. Gave it another big watering yesterday too.

The wood chips came from an arborist last fall that was grinding up trees by my house. They dumped 10 or 12 yards at my place, and they composted all winter. The pile was steaming when everything was covered with snow. LOL

So I guess the woodchips are already filled with all the good bacteria and fungus needed for composting, and just needed to be mixed with fresh material and water to start cooking again.

I have more dirty fir shavings and woodchips I need to clean out, so next time I mow and rake up grass I'll add to the pile. It should be good for adding to the garden late this fall or winter.




This is the pile of woodchips the arborists gave me.

 

[Acre4Me]

@BReeder! did you ever make the Victorian BBQ sauce? I am making some right now. Smells really good. Wondered if you’ve had any.

Others, if you are curious, It is 8C chopped Rhubarb, 3.5 C brown sugar, onion, raisins, salt, vinegar, and spices: allspice, cinnamon, ginger. Recipe is in Ball canning book.

 

[Smokerbill]

Two varieties of tomatoes I planted are more vigorous than the others so far. I planted two each of six varieties to find out which does best in my garden.

Back row, from left to right:
Large Cherry - Early Girl - Black Krim

Front row, L to R:
Roma - Oregon Spring - Stupice


Large Cherry:



Oregon Spring:



One each of the Black Krim, Early Girl and Roma are doing pretty well. After the season is over I'll decide which varieties to replant next year, and whether there are any I won't plant again.

 

[jerryse]

Are cultivated varieties also male/female? I bought 2 each of 2 varieties, a red (Einset) and a green (Niagara).

I thought one of the Niagara had died in the frost on May 26, but it's sending out new growth.

No they have been selected for self pollination.