What did you do in the garden today?

[fuzzi]

Finished up the cold prep... Well, sorta. I just realized that I forgot to hook up the de-icers for the ducks, bachelor pen, and my buck (goat) whose currently separated from the herd. Looks like I'll have to deal with all that in the morning.

I did get both outdoor water pumps covered and the outdoor spigots on the house. One of the new covers is missing pieces so DH will have to take it back to Lowes tomorrow and swap it out.

I got my herbs (rosemary, parsley, thyme, and oregano) covered up for the night. Anyone know off the cuff what the cold tolerance is for these herbs? Just wondering if I should bring them in the garage. Or maybe my new gardening shed. Not insulated but at least they'd be out of the elements. I can always plant more from the gazillion seeds I have but what I've got growing now is really nice...

Rosemary and oregano are perennials here, zone 8a. It does get below 20° but not frequently.

I did some cold weather preparatory work today, as it's supposed to go below freezing tomorrow night, and down to 20° on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Outdoor faucets have been wrapped, house plants have come in from the porch. I have some row cover material that's supposed to also be good for cold temperatures, so I plan to lay it down over the carrot, lettuce, and turnip beds tomorrow. The collards don't care, I've seen them covered with ice and snow, laughing it off...well, sorta.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Rosemary and oregano are perennials here, zone 8a. It does get below 20° but not frequently.

I did some cold weather preparatory work today, as it's supposed to go below freezing tomorrow night, and down to 20° on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Outdoor faucets have been wrapped, house plants have come in from the porch. I have some row cover material that's supposed to also be good for cold temperatures, so I plan to lay it down over the carrot, lettuce, and turnip beds tomorrow. The collards don't care, I've seen them covered with ice and snow, laughing it off...well, sorta.

You just reminded me... I found a couple of carrot volunteers this weekend. Probably ones I missed when I harvested this summer. I didn't cover them... Maybe I should have?

 

[chickengr]

I’ve planted two 10’ rows of bush beans, and up to eight 4’ rows of pole beans to get around 1/2 to 1 cup of dried beans per foot of beans in any year. Since many recipes call for 1/2 -2C of dried beans, that is several hearty meals. It varies according to bean type -some are better producers than others. I plant pole or bush, and bush beans will sometimes grow, produce, and fully dry with enough time for a fall crop if something else, such as beets or spinach to follow. Pole beans are slower to grow and produce, but often mine will grow around the full 10’ height of my towers, so many beans on long vines.

The ones I just purchased are bush beans. The only bush beans I planted in 2023 were green beans and soybeans, so these dried ones will be a good addition for 2024.

As far as saving seed, I’m not sure- I can’t remember how easily beans will cross pollinate.

thank you. in my climate 10' tall beans are mission impossible. I have some pole bean seeds and will plant them somewhere in a partial shade and that they survive summer. luckily I have plenty of room so I can plant different varieties apart.

 

[chickengr]

Same. I gave up on bush beans, waaaay too hard on the back. Everything here now grows vertical or it's going in a greenstalk.

Nice day today. Have a HUGE pot of stock cooking on the stove. Going to make some turkey soup & store the rest tomorrow. Not sure if I'll can it or try & find room in the freezer. Made what I'm calling a Thanksgiving Shepherds Pie with all the leftovers, the fridge was way too crowded.

Let my feather picker back in with the rest of the flock & she started plucking feathers immediately. Grrrrr. It's unfortunate she is one of the few still laying or she'd be in the pot with the turkey! Not sure what I'm going to do with her. She was a new POL pullet this spring, I need her.

trim her beak. my layer hybrids have trimmed beaks and I have no issues with them.

 

[chickengr]

although the forecast didn't say it we had frost this morning. in the southeast of my house dog's water had a thin crust of ice. luckily my coops are on the west side down the slope so only the first coop had frozen water. I keep ducks there and they don't mind cold.

my new little garden is protected by the house and a small "hill" so ginger and dragon fruit are still alive.

 

[jerryse]

23 with a high of 26. Feels cold out there.

 

[WthrLady]

Currently 16°F feels like 9F
No seed catalogs seen yet

 

[Sueby]

trim her beak. my layer hybrids have trimmed beaks and I have no issues with them.

I'll have to look that up, not anything I've ever done before but sounds less mean than keeping her separated - if it works. Thanks!

 

[Happy hen lover]

I wrap carrots in kitchen towel and they last longer in fridge.

Good to know I will do that also. I have tea towels galor.

 

[chickengr]

all I did today is I chased off my muscovy ducks who ate all my lettuce.