What did you do in the garden today?

[CedarLane]

How did your peas do this year? We had an excellent pea harvest this year. We put more in the freezer than we can use this winter (45 pints and 10 quart) and my sister picked our patch after we were finished and was able to put enough in her freezer for her family too (her peas didn't do well this year). We planted the same amount as usual. I like to can or freeze as much as possible. I can't imagine what my grocery bill would be if I had to buy all my veggies and meats all year!

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I'm having trouble getting the seeds to come up. I don't know if problem is germinating or something else.

I had a little better results when I put them in damp paper towels in the house to germinate. Then I put the germinated seeds in six pack seedling containers because I don't know what stage I lost the earlier attempts. I thought temperature might be the problem. Or watering. Or a combination.

Maybe a clear plastic bag placed over the pots while germination and the first few days might help?!

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I previously mentioned that I bought a "new" used Murray riding mower at a pretty good price at our local Fleet store. The original owner had them put in a brand-new engine and then never paid for it. So, I got it for about half the price of what the shop had into the repair job.

Anyways, little update, after only a few hours, the Nikki carburetor flooded out, drained a tankful of gas into the engine block, and put the mower into hydro-lock and the rider was unable to start or run. Bummer!

Of course, although the engine has a 2-year warranty, it does not cover the carburetor.

I talked to the head mechanic at the shop about options, and he just suggested I add a manual on/off valve inline the gas line. So, I dumped the engine oil (which was full of gas), blew out the gas in the spark plug hole, and put everything back together with a on/off value on the gas line.

Happy to report that the engine started right up and is working great. Only thing I have to do is to remember to manually turn off the gas valve when I'm done mowing just in case the carb floods again. I'm still very happy with the purchase, but it's disappointing that these new carbs can go bad in no time at all.

I'm not a mechanic, but I love it when I can fix things on my own and save a $100 shop repair bill. I can live with the on/off valve on the gas line. I have installed those valves on all my other riding mowers over the past few years. Just makes it so much easier to drain old gas and/or change out the fuel filter. This is the first time I have needed that shutoff valve for a flooding carb, but it's a cheaper fix than replacing the carb itself. I bought that 3 pack of valves about 6 years ago and it only cost me $5.00 at the time. I still had one valve left in the pack, so it did not even cost me anything this time.

I bought this rider mainly to tow behind my carts, as in the picture above. I load it up with all my gardening supplies and stuff when I work out in the gardens. Also, when I sift my chicken run compost, I hook up a Gorilla cart to the rider and take it wherever I need the compost. When I make a new hügelkultur raised garden bed, I load up a cart with heavy logs and drive it over to the raised beds. When I was younger, I just used a one-wheeled wheelbarrow. But now I'm all for saving my back and letting the riders pull the heavy carts.

Wow, whatever you did is beyond my capabilities good for you!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

How did your peas do this year? We had an excellent pea harvest this year. We put more in the freezer than we can use this winter (45 pints and 10 quart) and my sister picked our patch after we were finished and was able to put enough in her freezer for her family too (her peas didn't do well this year). We planted the same amount as usual. I like to can or freeze as much as possible. I can't imagine what my grocery bill would be if I had to buy all my veggies and meats all year!

I was happy with my pea harvest. I planted 2 16 foot rows of the bush variety. The package said no trellising necessary however these plants got up to 4 feet tall. I trellised up to 3 feet but I think the yield would have been better if I had prepared for taller plants. I split the harvest with my daughter I have over 2 pounds in the freezer so I’m happy. And I agree, buying quality produce is expensive. I also freeze and can what I produce. Apparently peaches did not do well all over this year. Fortunately my peach harvest last year was really good and I still have 7 or 8 pounds of frozen peaches from that. Enough to make 2 batches of peach preserves.

 

[gtaus]

Wow, whatever you did is beyond my capabilities good for you!

Thanks. I'm not a mechanic, so whenever I fix something myself and save lots of money, I like to post it online and maybe encourage others to try it. YouTube is a great resource for me to see how to fix some things. I find lots of things beyond my knowledge, but within my capabilities once I see how the repair is done.

 

[Acre4Me]

Washed, cleaned and finely chopped up about 16 cups of Rhubarb, portioned for future baking.

Too bad you all can’t see the next few hours of my life…it will be laugh worthy I think. The 2 female Nigerian Dwarf goats (not in milk, so no large udders) will be washed, then we will attempt to trim their coats. Neither of these things we have done before. I’m expecting to be wet, dirty and covered in short goat hair. Hopefully neither escape. If it takes too long, then only one will be done today, and the other tomorrow.

 

[Smokerbill]

First zucchini today, and lots more setting on. It begins!

 

[TJAnonymous]

Washed, cleaned and finely chopped up about 16 cups of Rhubarb, portioned for future baking.

Too bad you all can’t see the next few hours of my life…it will be laugh worthy I think. The 2 female Nigerian Dwarf goats (not in milk, so no large udders) will be washed, then we will attempt to trim their coats. Neither of these things we have done before. I’m expecting to be wet, dirty and covered in short goat hair. Hopefully neither escape. If it takes too long, then only one will be done today, and the other tomorrow.

I have a ND buck who could really use a bath and a trim while you're at it....

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Picked half the 15x15 foot patch of sweet corn today. Hopefully get the rest done tomorrow.

 

[Sueby]

I picked a handful of beans for dinner tonight to go along with the spatchcocked chicken I'm about to throw on the grill.

Coworkers are coming over tomorrow, they will leave with lots of cucumbers in hand! I never expected all 5 seeds to germinate & grow like mad.

I ended up with 2 gallon ziplocks of chopped & washed rhubarb so far, I have 2 plants DH has to pick from this weekend. Probably another half gallon. I really need to get to making some jam to clean out the freezer since I need to defrost our frost free freezer. I also have a gallon ziplock of blanched green beans put up already, once the baggie is full I'm going to vacuum seal & see how that goes. I wish I had cut them up, but I will from now on.

I don't want to jinx myself, but I have not really see any japanese beetles since the mad infulx a couple weeks ago. Seems very odd to me, but I'm thankful for it!