What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

Here’s hoping you can keep them alive until spring!

If we have a mild enough winter that I could do that, we would be overrun by the critters/bugs that winter normally kills off. And hubby would be EXTREMELY grumpy.

We need a "good winter" this year. Meaning adequate snowfall and cold enough temperatures to thin out the little critters (mice, voles, chipmunks) and the bugs (especially the ticks!) so that they aren't such a problem next year.

 

[akroberts1085]

Yesterday I picked some green beans and cherry tomatoes. I got 1 yellow squash. That's about it

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

We need a "good winter" this year. Meaning adequate snowfall and cold enough temperatures to thin out the little critters (mice, voles, chipmunks) and the bugs (especially the ticks!) so that they aren't such a problem next year.

Same here. So many bugs this year. The forecasts are all talking about milder-than-average winter though, which is not promising.

I’m putting together backup plans: right now they involve ordering some beneficial nematodes in the spring and starting some dill and marigolds early so they’ll be ready to draw in the good bugs and repel the bad when everything else goes in. And I’ve heard eggshells over the surface around the plants will help dissuade some pests, so when those go in the garden I won’t be mixing them in next year. I already have neem oil, BT and diatomaceous earth on hand, but at least two of the three are useless when it rains a lot (not sure about the BT).

 

[chickengr]

I found a good way to roast my round eggplant slices. I mix the slices with some olive oil, garlic salt, and roast it spread out on a pan at 450F for ten minutes. Then let them sit in the oven to let them dry out. It's still soft and creamy on the inside and they don't fall apart when I move them. I like to use them on my sandwiches. View attachment 3968478View attachment 3968480

thank you for the idea. I picked up egg plants and was thinking how to cook them.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sweet potatoes are all out of the ground. The voles (pretty sure it was voles, not mice) were having parties under the black plastic -we found a few nests. Some very nice sweet potatoes were damaged. Grrr.. will be prepared next year.

But, we did get a nice harvest, and 4-5 varieties (out of 11 that we planted) are worthy of repeat purchase. We planted 3 white varieties, and 8 orange varieties.

Here’s the harvest in the curing tent:

Funny story time:

Older neighbor has (again) been adopted by a kitten. He had 2 cats one adopted him 6 years ago when she showed up out of some bushes, and the other was from a relative that moved. So, a few weeks ago this tiny kitten comes out of the bushes, they take it in and feed it -it has grown well. Neighbor was standing in his barn a day ago with the kitten in his arm, and looks down to see a near identical second kitten at his feet! Whaaat? Where have you been? It must be a sibling to the first, and is just a little smaller -probably bc it wasn’t being fed like the first. So, they’ve accepted both, and plan to get them fixed around March as they will be around 6 months then. He was shocked with the sudden appearance, but the cats all love him, in particular. I don’t think they ever owned a cat prior to moving into this house. Here are the two kittens!

 

[cj2024]

This is my first ripe papaya off my volunteer papaya tree. It has no seeds and the texture was firm. I used a potato peeler to take the skin off and cubed them. It tastes like a sweet papaya, but the flesh couldn't be scooped out. I will wait a little longer before I cut open the next one. I was a little early on this one. It will become softer as it ripens.

 

[Sueby]

If we have a mild enough winter that I could do that, we would be overrun by the critters/bugs that winter normally kills off. And hubby would be EXTREMELY grumpy.

We need a "good winter" this year. Meaning adequate snowfall and cold enough temperatures to thin out the little critters (mice, voles, chipmunks) and the bugs (especially the ticks!) so that they aren't such a problem next year.

Same. As much as I don't want to deal with snow - we need a nice snowy, cold winter. The critters are out of control with mild winters the last few years.

I set up the trail cam at the coop & 2 traps, I saw some weird looking marks on the chicken feeder that made me fear it was rats. It's been up for 2 nights & hasn't seen anything yet, but we did catch a mouse. Here's hoping it's nothing, don't want to be feeding rats!

Nice harvest @Acre4Me. Those kitties are so cute!

I wish we could get cats, they just don't live long outside here. I think between the coyotes, fox, eagles, etc. they don't stand a chance. I always cringe when someone is looking for their cat on our local facebook page, they rarely make it home.

I have 120 lbs of chicken I need to divide up, vacuum seal & freeze right now. That's where I'll be...

 

[jerryse]

Sweet potatoes are all out of the ground. The voles (pretty sure it was voles, not mice) were having parties under the black plastic -we found a few nests. Some very nice sweet potatoes were damaged. Grrr.. will be prepared next year.

But, we did get a nice harvest, and 4-5 varieties (out of 11 that we planted) are worthy of repeat purchase. We planted 3 white varieties, and 8 orange varieties.

Here’s the harvest in the curing tent:
View attachment 3969135

View attachment 3969136
View attachment 3969137

Funny story time:

Older neighbor has (again) been adopted by a kitten. He had 2 cats one adopted him 6 years ago when she showed up out of some bushes, and the other was from a relative that moved. So, a few weeks ago this tiny kitten comes out of the bushes, they take it in and feed it -it has grown well. Neighbor was standing in his barn a day ago with the kitten in his arm, and looks down to see a near identical second kitten at his feet! Whaaat? Where have you been? It must be a sibling to the first, and is just a little smaller -probably bc it wasn’t being fed like the first. So, they’ve accepted both, and plan to get them fixed around March as they will be around 6 months then. He was shocked with the sudden appearance, but the cats all love him, in particular. I don’t think they ever owned a cat prior to moving into this house. Here are the two kittens!

View attachment 3969142

Mother was probably a feral hobo. My in-laws had a momma cat show up once. She had kittens in the rafters of a old shed. When the kittens were ready to wean, she left never to return. Grandma said she was a hobo.

 

[cj2024]

thank you for the idea. I picked up egg plants and was thinking how to cook them.

This video recipe took a little effort, but I really liked it.

 

[jerryse]

Beautiful weather. High of 80 today. We need rain but the best chance is on 31st. June and July were nearly double the average rainfall. I guess it averages out. Not doing much today. I gave the hollyhock starts a good soaking.