What did you do in the garden today?

[GardenNut]

Looking forward to your progress Dan!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote:

 

[dan26552]

Looking forward to your progress Dan!

Me too.

e

 

[lazy gardener]

Shoveled the snow off the hay bale cold frame. Wouldn't you know it... there was a big fat vole in the trap. This makes 4 voles on the same chocolate chip, at the same hole, with the same trap. Now, I'm looking at this evidence, and thinking to myself... voles aren't the brightest creatures that God ever created. This fact in it'self speaks highly against the theory of evolution. Wouldn't you think, that with selection of the fittest, by now, they would have evolved into a more intelligent vole. Now, here we have a family of voles who are sharing the same tunnel, and they aren't bright enough to figure out that chocolate is bad for their health. Now, if Mama, and Papa, and Bubba and little Sara Sue all tried the chocolate and ended up dead... wouldn't you think that the rest of the cousins and aunts and uncles would decide that eating chocolate was a bad idea???

 

[lazy gardener]

Shoveled the snow off the hay bale cold frame. Wouldn't you know it... there was a big fat vole in the trap. This makes 4 voles on the same chocolate chip, at the same hole, with the same trap. Now, I'm looking at this evidence, and thinking to myself... voles aren't the brightest creatures that God ever created. This fact in it'self speaks highly against the theory of evolution. Wouldn't you think, that with selection of the fittest, by now, they would have evolved into a more intelligent vole. Now, here we have a family of voles who are sharing the same tunnel, and they aren't bright enough to figure out that chocolate is bad for their health. Now, if Mama, and Papa, and Bubba and little Sara Sue all tried the chocolate and ended up dead... wouldn't you think that the rest of the cousins and aunts and uncles would decide that eating chocolate was a bad idea???

 

[GardenNut]

But chocolate is so good! I guess voles definitely aren't analytical

 

[chickadoodles]

lazy gardener you crack me up!

Hopefully soon you will no more voles!

 

[APK1]

Hi everyone -
Let's see - it's been busy....

My cucumbers never took off - the (what was supposed to be a dwarf) squash took over that planter box and choked them out, we've had one "freeze" here in San Antonio, and she's still kicking. Still getting yellow squash off of her that actually taste pretty good. Someone mentioned...oh, 100 pages or so ago that their squash tasted weird this year and I was a bit concerned for that. My green beans finally gave up their last batch over Thanksgiving, so the vines went to the chickens. My herbs (mint, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, rosemary, regular and purple basil) are still doing great! I think it's because they are so close to the house and are enjoying the residual heat, so that makes the chickens and I happy. I've got one little purple bell pepper that I found for like .39 at lowes one day that is still doing ok, she's got two blossoms on her. My tomato is probably about 5 feet high, someone should really tell her that it's December. I'm really reluctant to cut her back...and I've never had this happen before....she's got a TON of blossoms on her, but not a single tomato. It is bizarre to me, I've ALWAYS been super successful with tomatoes of all kinds and this is just confusing the crap out of me. I'll try and remember to put some pictures up later today when I get home, it is a large and beautiful plant...just lazy perhaps? LOL

Over the last couple months we've added a banana tree and a nectarine tree that doesn't require a cross pollinator so I'm curious to see how that'll work out. If not, my daughter's room really could use the shade from it in the summer months. My fig tree dropped all of his leaves, but I've got about 8 figs on there still. I'm really rooting for this guy to do well, I found it for $4 3 years ago and have been helping it limp along...I want it to do well sooooo bad.

Other than that, bulbs got planted, my 6 month clean out of the coop was all put into the large planter beds in the back and the girls have been enjoying working those spots for me. They do such an awesome job and love all the goodies they find in there. Everything's been mulched that needs it, and this weekend I've got to get the huge ornamental grasses cut back out front. Supposed to actually drop to the 20s, so I've got to find the plastic to cover up the kitchen beds (herbs, tomato, peppers) and get that ready.

I love seeing everyone's posts and hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Cheers-
Alexis

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi everyone -
Let's see - it's been busy....

My cucumbers never took off - the (what was supposed to be a dwarf) squash took over that planter box and choked them out, we've had one "freeze" here in San Antonio, and she's still kicking. Still getting yellow squash off of her that actually taste pretty good. Someone mentioned...oh, 100 pages or so ago that their squash tasted weird this year and I was a bit concerned for that. My green beans finally gave up their last batch over Thanksgiving, so the vines went to the chickens. My herbs (mint, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, rosemary, regular and purple basil) are still doing great! I think it's because they are so close to the house and are enjoying the residual heat, so that makes the chickens and I happy. I've got one little purple bell pepper that I found for like .39 at lowes one day that is still doing ok, she's got two blossoms on her. My tomato is probably about 5 feet high, someone should really tell her that it's December. I'm really reluctant to cut her back...and I've never had this happen before....she's got a TON of blossoms on her, but not a single tomato. It is bizarre to me, I've ALWAYS been super successful with tomatoes of all kinds and this is just confusing the crap out of me. I'll try and remember to put some pictures up later today when I get home, it is a large and beautiful plant...just lazy perhaps? LOL

Over the last couple months we've added a banana tree and a nectarine tree that doesn't require a cross pollinator so I'm curious to see how that'll work out. If not, my daughter's room really could use the shade from it in the summer months. My fig tree dropped all of his leaves, but I've got about 8 figs on there still. I'm really rooting for this guy to do well, I found it for $4 3 years ago and have been helping it limp along...I want it to do well sooooo bad.

Other than that, bulbs got planted, my 6 month clean out of the coop was all put into the large planter beds in the back and the girls have been enjoying working those spots for me. They do such an awesome job and love all the goodies they find in there. Everything's been mulched that needs it, and this weekend I've got to get the huge ornamental grasses cut back out front. Supposed to actually drop to the 20s, so I've got to find the plastic to cover up the kitchen beds (herbs, tomato, peppers) and get that ready.

I love seeing everyone's posts and hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Cheers-
Alexis

Alexis, care to share your general location? A lot of folks put it in their profile. It helps people connect, and have a better mental picture of what your plant/chicken needs/management style is. As for your tomato, here's my theory: It's not warm enough. Pollen can't do it's job if it's too warm, and I'm guessing that it also can't do it's job if it's too cold. You might try erecting a plastic tent around/over that tomato, and see if it makes a difference. Tomatoes do not require insects for pollination. The pollen can be distributed by air current, or movement of the plant. All you have to do is grab those vines, and give them a gentle shake every day or so. If your temp drops to the 20's you may want to put a blanket or sheet over your tomato at night also if you want to keep it going.

 

[APK1]

Hi lazy -

I'm in San Antonio.

We've had highs pretty consistently in the 70s-low 80s up until last week. Its been plenty warm for her to be doin' her job, and I've got the plastic ready to go for the weekend to make sure she doesn't croak on me. She's been in the ground all summer/fall and I didn't get a single fruit from her. She gets roughed up every time I'm in there weeding, etc so I think there is enough shaking going on. I'm going to definitely keep her as long as I can...I'm interested in how it'll all turn out.

Have a great day all!