What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

G’morning all. We moved soil to the backyard but I’m waiting for the coco coir to finish soaking up water so I can mix everything for the last raised bed. I filled the wheelbarrow half full with water yesterday but that wasn’t enough. I saw a single luffa sprout yesterday afternoon and by this morning some rotten bird had eaten it! So I put in some melon seeds and covered with a milk jug until they’re big enough. My next project before it gets too hot is this area

The soil is soft here and it has slowly moved downhill. My plan is to build a wall between the little trees and the garden to shore that up, then move the dirt back and then use pavers to make a walkway between the retaining wall and the back of the garden. The pool can’t stay there this summer because the trees don’t provide enough shade yet. I think I’m going to put pavers in the pool area though so the ducks can’t dig big holes in there and mess it all up. Provided we siphon the pool, my method, instead of dump it, the grandsons method, I think it’ll work out ok.

 

[jerryse]

Cloudy, wind advisory again. High of 79.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Crushed eggshells will disappear into compost relatively quickly. However, just because we can't see the eggshells anymore, that does not necessarily mean the calcium is release into the soil. The science behind the process is that the calcium carbonate bond is very stable and dissolves slowly, so the calcium release process could take months or even years. If you powder the eggshells, that will speed up the process. Or, if you can get the chickens to eat some of the eggshells, their digestive system will draw out the calcium and more will be released in their poo.

I don't crush my eggshells. They disappear because the chickens or other critters eat them. But even the eggshells that get buried in the compost seem to dissolve quickly within a few months. I have tons of worms in my compost too... Also those big fat thick white grubs.

Stop and consider this logically for a moment... If you put full eggshells in your garden, your plants will feed off them for the entire garden season. Yet people are claiming that if you put them (crushed or not) in your compost, that they will not be bioavailable to plant life for months or years? That's illogical. Even if they break down into microscopic particles, they will still be bioavailable to the microbial life in the soil. Heck, even human bones can decompose in soil in 5 to 10 years and they are much thicker and more dense than an eggshell.

So I will agree to disagree with the opinion that eggshells must be powdered or fed to chickens to release their minerals and nutrients back to the soil. My experience has been different.

 

[akroberts1085]

I know that I have posted this already but I am going to post again so that anyone wants to write this down and keep it with the garden records. Banana peel: chop the peels and put in a bowl. Fill with water and let it soak for 1 hour. Cinnamon milk: 2tsp cinnamon 1c of milk 1c of water. Strain into a spray bottle. Treats powdery mildew and black spots on plants. Coffee grounds: Put used coffee grounds in a bowl add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 c club soda. Add to soil every 2 weeks. Hard boiled egg water: Allow to cool completely then add to plants. Tea bag: Cut the tea bag open and add 2 tbsp of oats. Put it in a cup and fill with boiling water. Steep for 1 hour. Strain. This is great for plants that thrive on nitrogen.

 

[Molpet]

That is interesting. I am glad it worked for you. That is not one of the crushed eggshell benefits that is mentioned in the articles I have read. Maybe you are on to something new?

I had read to spray milk on leaves for mildew. I didn't have any, but milk is supposed to work because of the calcium. So I thought I would try the powered eggshells. And it worked for me. Your milage may vary

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I caved and got my beneficial nematodes today. I’d been putting it off because it keeps getting below freezing outside and I want to put some in the garden boxes, but I rechecked the info and it said they can be stored for up to a month. If I’m still getting below freezing temps in a month my garden probably has bigger issues. Or hopefully they’ll have propagated enough in the starts and house plants to colonize the boxes, I’m not picky as long as they take care of the creepy crawlies that munched down so many of my veggies last year.

 

[Acre4Me]

30$ sounds like an unlimited basic monthly plan.

Yesterday I went to one (of two that I know of) automatic car wash in my town. There are a few self serve ones. I hadn’t been there for awhile, but car really needed it. I was shocked at the cost. They definitely increased it since last time. It was $27 for ONE wash (highest level…all the stuff), and the cheapest was $19. Their schtick is pay $27 for one wash or sign up for the monthly unlimited plan (which is $27)….i can cancel, but that’s a pain and I don’t need a weekly or daily wash. So, I went with $22 wash (bc I had $22 in cash) and figured it might be time to explore the self serve wash places to compare. One of the self serve places even has an indoor self-serve dog wash - it looks pretty modern and nice.

 

[WthrLady]

HOLY COW!
Ya, ours start at 8 and go up to $30 for all the bells and whistles.
I only wash the new truck when I can no longer see out the front window.
I live down a gravel road, so what's the point, just get dirty again on the way home.

Winds howling all day from 40-60 mph. Picked up some brahma sized nest boxes today and some dill seed. I'll crank up the incubator next week and get seeds in soil too.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Yesterday I went to one (of two that I know of) automatic car wash in my town. There are a few self serve ones. I hadn’t been there for awhile, but car really needed it. I was shocked at the cost. They definitely increased it since last time. It was $27 for ONE wash (highest level…all the stuff), and the cheapest was $19. Their schtick is pay $27 for one wash or sign up for the monthly unlimited plan (which is $27)….i can cancel, but that’s a pain and I don’t need a weekly or daily wash. So, I went with $22 wash (bc I had $22 in cash) and figured it might be time to explore the self serve wash places to compare. One of the self serve places even has an indoor self-serve dog wash - it looks pretty modern and nice.

Did you know that TSC has dog wash stations? I believe I was told that they are free for customers to use, but don't quote me on that...

 

[TJAnonymous]

My DS washes his Mustang religiously every weekend he's home from college. This week is spring break so he's been home all week... He washed it last Saturday or Sunday. Less than a day later, it was COVERED with plant sperm (neon yellow pollen). Poor kid was crestfallen.