What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

Very honestly, my compost pile is more chicken manure than anything. I do try to add as much vegetation as I can. Pretty tough to get manure to compost without vegetation

Next time I turn the pile, I'm going to add some more dried grass.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Next time I turn the pile, I'm going to add some more dried grass.

Grass is good... What about dead leaves? Pond algae?

I am lucky that I tend to get quite a bit of straw and pine shavings from the horses and goats, on top of many cart loads of manure.... Using sand in my coops is also helpful. Seems to make my compost light and fluffy. Definitely a need with our heavy clay soil.

 

[Minanora]

We have 3 Apricot trees. One planted last year, the other two planted in 2021, I think. One of them has grown leaps and bounds since planted. But all look healthy and happy. They are all different varieties. We’ve got some closed buds on all of them this year, but I doubt we will get fruit.

That's awesome! We planted ours in 2017. Building a good framework with pruning is the most important thing for young trees. It's hard to be patient though! It'll make them strong so they can better support a heavy fruit load later in life.

Pruning for fruit yield looks different between varieties of apricots, they bare fruit on different sections of the wood depending on variety. Ours is a Blenheim, which is a 'Royal' type, meaning it puts fruit on the outer (tips) 1/3 of last year's branches. So I have to be careful pruning, and only prune out what's absolutely necessary, and not head back the previous years growth when possible.

ETA: My issues with fruit yield have been late season rains, frost, last year was snow... Destroying the blossoms or raining so hard that the petals cover the stamens so they don't get pollinated. Apricot flowers are very fragile.

 

[jerryse]

High wind and fire hazard here. High of 60.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gardeners guess today is not gardening have
to have taxes done today.
I use to do them, the rules changed and better go in.

 

[WthrLady]

High wind and fire hazard here. High of 60.

Here as well, except we'll be 67.

 

[MotherofOrpies]

My peach tree has started to bloom, last year it had lots of peaches, but I was in the rehabilitation clinic during that time, so they all went to waste this year I hope to be back before they ripen, I hope my family at least will remember to water my trees

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Your apple trunk get eaten by deer? Every one of mine have. Irish Spring soap did not deter these deer.

No deer here, there are plenty in the forest, but not in the gardens, I think, too many people have dogs my dog would be very pleased if a deer came to our garden I know my father had trouble with deer, which ate up all the rose buds on his roses my sister also has deer visiting her garden, to her great displeasure , but she hasn’t got a dog either ..

 

[Sueby]

Windy but dry today. Really didn’t do much outside. I found a length of 6 inch metal garden edging I can use for the asparagus bed. I watered the strawberry bags then started the chocolate tomatoes, tarragon and mint. The temperature here is going down to 29F overnight tonight. I’ve been keeping a close eye on my peach tree and fortunately the buds are forming slowly but not near ready to bloom. My tree is a dwarf so it doesn’t get very tall. After pruning it gets to about 10 feet but I can cover that if necessary. My forsythia that looked like it was starting to bloom stopped. Thank goodness. I did cut some branches and they are blooming nicely in my living room. We may get snow later this week. I’m so over the cold weather.

My forsythia just started to pop too. My peach just has little buds so not worried about that, it's year 3 so I don't think I'll get anything anyway, but maybe. Will add the christmas lights to the lettuce this afternoon tho! It's just sprouting.

I have 2 pair of Guineas. They run fast & make alot of noise lol. The only critters they chase is eachother, round & round a 12x24 bldg, pretty hilarious. I'm sure they get over 10,000 steps a day, but never venture very far...not yet anyway.

This is hilarious.

Question for the Greenstalk owners...

Do you ever worry about high winds knocking it over?

I got mine put together this evening. It's on a little platform in the garden, right next to the hoop house. It seems very stable there but I can't help but worry that during a big storm, it will blow over. I did NOT get the casters so it doesn't roll or anything. I figure if I know in advance that high winds are coming, then I will just dismantle each tier and set it on the ground... I have the 5 tier planter where each level is 10" deep.

Water it well - the weight helps. Also, I've seen people put a tpost in next to it & bungee it to the post - seems easier than dismantling. I have had 60 mph gusts & it hasn't budged.
Oh eta: make sure it is perfectly level too.

 

[Sueby]

Brr, I was so into spring & now winter is back. No like!

My bare root strawberries came in today, I put them in the fridge till Friday when I can get the greenstalk filled & get them planted.

My little venus flytrap is putting out new traps. I wanna catch a bug for it!