What did you do in the garden today?

[User395221]

I decided where I think I might stick my lemon tree that I want to get. I dug a few holes, then sent the team in....

Does anyone have experience with plum trees?

 

[chickmom3941]

We have a very old choke cherry tree old gals here talk of making jelly of them ? not sure did have tons of cherries on it last year may try

Yes, you might want to try to make some jelly from it! When I was a kid, my folks used to make choke cherry jelly - it's really good! This spring, I discovered what I think is a large choke cherry bush/tree on our property. I should go check to see if there's any fruit on it. I'm not the greatest at plant identification, but when I researched it, the plant definitely appeared to be a choke cherry. Would love to make some jelly, if they're really choke cherries - just don't want it to be something else and get my family sick!

 

[CapricornFarm]

I decided where I think I might stick my lemon tree that I want to get. I dug a few holes, then sent the team in....

Does anyone have experience with plum trees?

We had one in TN. Great tree, DH loves plums. You want to put it in a sheltered area because if it gets hit by cold when blooming, you have a poor crop.

 

[User395221]

because if it gets hit by cold when blooming, you have a poor crop.

it's never really cold here. It is where it is and it's been there for years, I was just wondering about the graft on it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yeah, it has changed our goals with keeping chickens. Guess we are just going to keep a few for eggs and leave it at that. Turns out our neighbors had a lot of mysterious chicken death before they quit keeping chickens last year. It could have come in from anywhere, but I suspect it was infective in the area already.

Do you have wild turkeys where you live? Or can you get some turkey litter? Turkeys carry a less virulent strain of Marek's disease, so provide natural immunity. If you've had your birds immunized, you need to be aware that the immunization does not confer immunity. All it does is keep the disease from moving to the "tumor" stage. Your birds can still be infected, but will not present with noteable signs. So, they can still pass the disease on to other birds. It can be brought in by just about any bird traveling through your property, if I have my facts straight. You might want to listen to this PBS info: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/tthis-chicken-vaccine-makes-virus-dangerous/

MD is truly a heart breaker. I'm thankful that I've yet to encounter it. I'm doubly thankful that we have a lot of wild turkeys. I encourage them, and may even start putting out some corn for them this fall.

We have a very old choke cherry tree old gals here talk of making jelly of them ? not sure did have tons of cherries on it last year may try

We used to pick them and dare each other to eat them as kids. We'd also grind them up and try to make juice. It took a ton of sugar! I suppose that if you use enough sugar, you could make jam out of rocks.

I decided where I think I might stick my lemon tree that I want to get. I dug a few holes, then sent the team in....

Does anyone have experience with plum trees?

I planted American Plum seedlings several years ago. They produced a couple fruit this season, it's still not ripe, and I bet the birds will get it before I notice that it's ready for picking. The fruit is about 1" diameter. I'm hoping to eventually graft a cultivated variety onto each tree. If that does not work, I'll just enjoy the wild fruit.

it's never really cold here. It is where it is and it's been there for years, I was just wondering about the graft on it.

I think plum needs a period of freezing weather, but... then again... what do I know? A quick google search will turn up the likelihood of being able to grow them where you are.

 

[igorsMistress]

Watered the crepe myrtles, three are still looking good, 1 is struggling. The 3 bushes are really struggling.

My red bird of paradise is really doing well, bushing out with lots of new growth. The sage out there is maintaining but it's still pretty hot with noticeable humidity.

The rose bush hasn't shown improvement yet but I watered it anyway. Hoping that one makes it.

Lots of new growth on the apple tree, but need to get out there and weed again. Have to work today so I'm done out there for today.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Watered the crepe myrtles, three are still looking good, 1 is struggling. The 3 bushes are really struggling.

My red bird of paradise is really doing well, bushing out with lots of new growth. The sage out there is maintaining but it's still pretty hot with noticeable humidity.

The rose bush hasn't shown improvement yet but I watered it anyway. Hoping that one makes it.

Lots of new growth on the apple tree, but need to get out there and weed again. Have to work today so I'm done out there for today.

My rose bush is pretty much dead. Between the japanese beetles eating all the leaves and dry spell we had it gave up even though i watered it.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I have over 8 roses here my Honey suckle has had the hardest time with are unusually hot weather we have been having this year

 

[GardenTillers44]

Do you have wild turkeys where you live? Or can you get some turkey litter? Turkeys carry a less virulent strain of Marek's disease, so provide natural immunity. If you've had your birds immunized, you need to be aware that the immunization does not confer immunity. All it does is keep the disease from moving to the "tumor" stage. Your birds can still be infected, but will not present with noteable signs. So, they can still pass the disease on to other birds. It can be brought in by just about any bird traveling through your property, if I have my facts straight.

Thanks! If ever there was a property designed to harbor Marek's, ours is it. Wild birds have been our family business for 30 years, so we originally set up our property as a wildlife sanctuary. We have encouraged wild birds to nest, feed and poop on our property, and yes they can carry the Marek's virus. We have a resident flock of 50-60 wild turkeys and some of the best wild bird habitat in the state. Unfortunately the turkeys and wild birds along with the usual fur bearing critters visit every chicken yard in the area and probably serve as transport vectors for a variety of avian illnesses. I found out after the onset of our problem that our immediate neighbor lost most of their flock to an unknown disease and gave up chickens. Could have been anything but the possibility is there. Our coop, run and fenced yard is built on the flat terrain that served as the turkey lek and dust bath site for many years, so whatever they left behind was welcomed by our flock. Many poultry experts believe the Marek's virus to be worldwide and airborne and so widespread that virtually every flock has been or will be exposed at some point. We realize the vaccine is "leaky" and is not an immunization, and arguably may do more harm in the long run than good, but they came vaccinated and it is what it has turned out to be. We will have some survivors that will be good layers and wonderful companions that we will care for and enjoy for as long as we can. We just won't be breeding any stock for anyone else but us.

On a lighter note, we had egg salad and ham sandwiches on homemade bread with garden tomatoes for lunch. Delicious!

 

[Latitude33]

Overnight thunderstorms from a tropical storm off Mexico. Checked on the garden and no damage. Cucumbers are producing, sugar pie pumpkins are doing ok, corn is head high, third planting of squash is doing ok. Weather change is nice. Still humid but not in the 100's.