What did you do in the garden today?

[chicken opey]

They bought me the mini, but there’s nothing mini about mine!
I think mine is rogosa. What do you think?

 

[Smokerbill]

I pulled out the last 5 bok choi plants since a couple were starting to bolt. Got some into the fridge and gave some to the chickens. Gave the garden a good shot of water then sprinkled a few Sluggo Plus granules around the potatoes and beans, which are the only plants with bug holes in the leaves.

It's time to start tying the tomato plants to the ropes and poles. They're loving this 80+ weather we're having right now and growing fast. In a couple days it'll be back down to 60s and 70s for the high temps.

 

[Sally PB]

They're here. Two weeks ahead of schedule, like everything else this year.

Japanese Beetles. Or maybe I should call them Chickie Snack Beetles.

 

[fuzzi]

Biting bugs are vicious this year. Yes, the typical ones, fire ants, horse flies, but we really have an overabundance of those tiny biting gnats! Little ba$!@rds, climb inside my shirt, get hung up in my hair, which is usually in a ponytail, so I'm itching & scratching, pulling my shirt out, messing hair up & wiping my face...yeah, DH asked me if I got into a wrestling match with the groundhogs, or some critters that dig dirt. I didn't realize it, but on my knees pulling weeds with no gloves, then wiping the sweat out of my eyes & scratching hairdo loose & tugging on my shirt trying to blow the darn gnats out from under my shirt, all with gardening hands...yeah, I was a sight alright.

(Oh yeah...so basically in the garden...been watering, sweating, swearing at biting bugs & pulling weeds.)

We have gnats this year as well, though we hardly noticed them in the past. They keep going for my face, ugh!

 

[fuzzi]

They're here. Two weeks ahead of schedule, like everything else this year.
View attachment 3868819
Japanese Beetles. Or maybe I should call them Chickie Snack Beetles.

I saw a pair in tandem on my tithonia. The girls enjoyed them, num num.

 

[fuzzi]

Not technically something I did in my garden, but I will be using it for garden and chicken stuff!

Before stain:

After:

I used the roller on the area above the door, then climbed the ladder to add another coat with a brush. I used a 1" brush to stain the grooves in the boards and touch up the areas the roller missed. The wood soaked up all the stain I applied. By 8:30 I had to stop, I was dripping sweat, but I will work on the left side and the door tomorrow morning. I will get someone to help me stain the area at the peak!

Most of the gardens got a good soaking by hose this afternoon. I think it's been at least three weeks since we've had any rain. The local farmers' crops are withering in the fields.

 

[Minanora]

What does this do for garlic?

I dug one garlic plant to see how it's going down there. Just fine! This year, I got some German White. I've been growing Music for several years now.

Recipe...? It sounds interesting!

The sulfur helps prevent rot and, at least for my soil/water it helps with pH. My native pH is over 8... Our water is very hard.

I get stiff if I do. But man, my allergies are winning and all I want to do is lay in a hammock in the shade.

I mowed at the property.... OMG I'm so itchy.... So thankful for n95 masks. We had to come home.... That bad after I mowed.

This is true! We do this in the garden, but we also have fruit trees. We decided to go for fruits that are harder to find or taste amazing ripened on the tree. So, we have a good variety, but no apples bc they are easy to source in the store.

Home orchard is the best.

Biting bugs are vicious this year. Yes, the typical ones, fire ants, horse flies, but we really have an overabundance of those tiny biting gnats! Little ba$!@rds, climb inside my shirt, get hung up in my hair, which is usually in a ponytail, so I'm itching & scratching, pulling my shirt out, messing hair up & wiping my face...yeah, DH asked me if I got into a wrestling match with the groundhogs, or some critters that dig dirt. I didn't realize it, but on my knees pulling weeds with no gloves, then wiping the sweat out of my eyes & scratching hairdo loose & tugging on my shirt trying to blow the darn gnats out from under my shirt, all with gardening hands...yeah, I was a sight alright.

(Oh yeah...so basically in the garden...been watering, sweating, swearing at biting bugs & pulling weeds.)

Ok, so, no, literally, we're home from the property a day early because of the insane pollen from mowing.... But, no-see-ems.... I'm almost legit dying from the bites. I'm literally itching so badly that could give myself carpetburn to try to make it go away. This is the worst. So much worse than mosquitos... I'm immune to poison oak and ivy so that doesn't compare anymore.


I hate this so much. I'm so itchy.....

 

[chicken opey]

I’ve confirmed this is a Butternut Rogosa Violina Gioia and not a mini
I knew it was not a mini but maybe an oversized normal one. The more I read about Rogosa the more I can’t wait!
When dd was starting those seeds she grabbed the wrong pack. I’m glad she did.
But this plant wants lots of room!
Aside from zinnias I would not plant anything near it. It’s spilling out of garden too

 

[chicken opey]

The sulfur helps prevent rot and, at least for my soil/water it helps with pH. My native pH is over 8... Our water is very hard.


I mowed at the property.... OMG I'm so itchy.... So thankful for n95 masks. We had to come home.... That bad after I mowed.

Home orchard is the best.

Ok, so, no, literally, we're home from the property a day early because of the insane pollen from mowing.... But, no-see-ems.... I'm almost legit dying from the bites. I'm literally itching so badly that could give myself carpetburn to try to make it go away. This is the worst. So much worse than mosquitos... I'm immune to poison oak and ivy so that doesn't compare anymore.


I hate this so much. I'm so itchy.....

I hate that yall are itchy - if you don’t mind me asking- what are you spraying on yourself for bug control?
We’ve had luck w putting citronella in a diffuser- use on table if we’re sitting outside and spraying Tera shield. I’m not too proud to use Off either.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I have some EZ straw and was worried about putting it into my garden because of all news of people ruining their gardens with straw that's been sprayed even though it's labeled safe. Have you used it before and it turned out ok? I never have enough mulch and keep eyeballing it in my garage.

Actually, I have found that EZ straw is better to use in the garden because it’s not loaded with seeds and bugs. It doesn’t get blown all that much either.