What did you do in the garden today?

[chickengr]

That's how I store my cloves, once I'm sure the outer wrapper leaves are dry and papery.

In case you don't know, never store cloves garlic in the refrigerator. The cold temperature and darkness will simulate vernalization and can trigger sprouting.

I just recently read that if your garlic starts to sprout, remove the green tip, as it's bitter tasting. The clove is still useable.

I never remove the green tip of a sprouting garlic. I don't think it is bitter. maybe bc I like bitter so I don't have a problem.

 

[chickengr]

All of my winter squash have been killed by squash vine borers, even after using BT, injected, as a preventative measure.
Almost all of my cabbages were decimated by a groundhog - just as they were about ready to harvest, even though they were fenced and netted, with logs holding the netting in place. Stupid groundhogs! They got into my neighbor's garden, too.
Each sowing of peas and pole beans were thwarted by some kind of insect. I gave up after 3 attempts.
Our tomatoes are lack-luster. Very few fruits and they don't seem to want to ripen. I'm not really sure what's up, there. The plants seem otherwise healthy.
I coddled my summer squash along and got "some". Much more yellow squash than zucchini.
I had better results from my greenstalks. Not great, but better. Learned some lessons, there. Got lots of lettuces, cucumbers and bush beans. I'm making plans to improve results, next year.
My garlic did fantastic - but, garlic probably doesn't have a lot of pest-foes. I'm processing them for the freeze-dryer.
Overall, it's been a rather disappointing garden-season. I'd like to say it's because of something I could fix, next year. The pest-pressure was just too much. I couldn't keep ahead of it.
It may be time for me to give up on winter squash, altogether. I spent more trying to grow it than it would have cost just buying full-grown.
I'm hoping for a decent harvest on the potatoes and carrots. I have some celery growing, and it's looking puny, but not inedible. I replanted a couple of the greenstalks, so hopefully....

when you pick up last veggies let your chickens in the garden to scratch and peck. they will decimate pests and some weeds. then try winter squash next year. it might work. also when plants are big you can bring 1-2 chickens in the garden late afternoon and they will eat pests not veggies.

 

[chickengr]

Just a dumb butt I am. I cut up some jalapeno and Serrano peppers for my stew and forgot to wash my hands. My nose started itching and I had to scratch it now my nose is on fire.

you are lucky. I had many times my eyes on fire

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Your corn looks delicious. I'm still trying to get mine to work right. It's really tall but not producing properly. I'm thinking that I need nitrogen but I don't want to use chemicals .

Try worm castings. Totally organic, no chemicals. High in nitrogen.

 

[chicken opey]

I'm not talking

about the precut squares that are meant for nest boxes. I'm talking about a 6 foot tall roll that is 8 foot long. Usually standing up in a box at the end of the row.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Traffic...rtificial-Grass-Rug-LHDTRFPEMEGRE68/318677708

Yes, they were rolled and in boxes albeit not at end of rows w $45 tag on it. Bc I had seen price online a lot cheaper- I got employee to scan it. I’m wondering if it was mistagged OR they are about to jump in price and I just got some b4 that

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I watered the newly sown beans & flowers, trimmed squash plants, tied up some stuff & took a couple pics.

The bean trellis is looking good
View attachment 3898192

This squash plant is taller than me & I'm 5'10". Not sure what to do when it runs out of room on the stake. LOLView attachment 3898193

Love the bean trellis! A lovely & functional idea.

 

[Sally PB]

For chipmunks a wooden rat snap trap works well.

I got a rat trap from TSC. Not the wooden kind, this is a double trap, set in an enclosure. I've gotten about a dozen chipmunks and 3 red squirrels. Peanut butter as bait seems to work well.
this trap

For the larger critters, I use live traps. Hubby relocated 1 red squirrel, but I have shot the rest. 4 possums, 1 rabbit, 1 wood chuck. We are overrun with critters this year, possibly due to the very mild winter we had.

I never remove the green tip of a sprouting garlic. I don't think it is bitter. maybe bc I like bitter so I don't have a problem.

I haven't removed it either. I did notice a slight difference in taste, but I have a rather blunt sense of taste and smell.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Has anyone else planted a garden just for their chickens to eat and play in?

I planted a small section of my garden with wheat berry sprouts, sunflowers sprouts, broccoli sprouts, lentil sprouts, chia sprouts, in addition to comfrey, mint, feverfew, lemon balm, rosemary, black berries, lambs quarter, etc.

The sprouts will turn into full size plants if the chickens fail to keep up. I toss more seeds down every other day. They love to forage through there.

I always have an area for my flock to visit & forage. It started decades ago by accident, when I had a wild bird feeder in the furthest corner & seeds from it that had fallen onto the ground began to grow. So then I was growing fresh millet for the Cockatiels. I tossed some pigeon feed there & grew quite a variety of plants. I do that now for my chickens & they really enjoy it. Since they're not out there in it every single day due to my work schedule, it gets a chance to rebound & grow. This year it sort of fizzled with the unexpected drought conditions but it will bounce back. We've been getting rain the past few days here, a blessing.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I got a rat trap from TSC. Not the wooden kind, this is a double trap, set in an enclosure. I've gotten about a dozen chipmunks and 3 red squirrels. Peanut butter as bait seems to work well.
this trap

For the larger critters, I use live traps. Hubby relocated 1 red squirrel, but I have shot the rest. 4 possums, 1 rabbit, 1 wood chuck. We are overrun with critters this year, possibly due to the very mild winter we had.

I haven't removed it either. I did notice a slight difference in taste, but I have a rather blunt sense of taste and smell.

I leave possums alone, they eat ticks & we have plenty with that awful Lyme disease. Maybe you could relocate all next time? Our villains here are deer, which are pretty to see, but darn they are so destructive & there are way too many. DH is talking about venison these days lol.

https://www.homestead.org/outdoor-lore/why-opossums-are-good-benefits-of-opossums/

 

[chicken opey]

I got a new basket yesterday and finding out the stain is not for outdoor use. My arm ended up brown from carrying it.
I think I need to seal these w an outdoor coat of sealant.
If you could see how pitiful the cucumber plants look you wouldn’t believe they are still putting out!
Beans and cucumbers are coming up.
Gourds are growing nicely. These will be for crafts.
My hydrangea didn’t turn the deep red I wanted but still the prettiest blooms so far!
I think we are day 5 of rain!