What did you do in the garden today?

[oregonkat]

Hello! Wow. Wasn’t getting alerts for a bit and then didn’t want to think about my sad garden. Between flood that excessive heat and humidity it’s done a toll. My tomatoes and peppers going nuts finally!!! Few lbs a day. Good enough for us!!! Just got first loofah a potatoes. Everything else dead. But a lot of people in the area lost garden all together so I feel lucky I got a decent harvest before it’s death. Crazy rain and storm forecasted next week. It could help or hurt. Guess we’ll find out.

Southern Oregon could use some of your rain. We are on fire here. Air quality in the danger zone. Thankfully we live up in the hills and not on the valley floor where the smoke is terrible but we are at higher risk of a burn. My garden is raging however. Tomatoes just starting to come on so canning season is close. Raspberries were terrific this season and I expect the fall berries to be even better.

 

[Birdsong 82]

There’s for real fires going on right now in Oregon?! We had record breaking flooding about a month ago I work for DOT and we are still repairing closed roads and damaged drainage systems From that because our flood repair work was getting flooded out but last month NO rain hot and humid. Crazy VA. But if your having fires I wish I could send you rain. Are you out of danger zone?!

 

[dunnmom]

Well, I just learned what happens when you plant carrots in Mar. and don't pull them until Jul. Pretty tough and bitter... Horse carrots is what my mother in law calls them. After a taste test, though, I'm wondering if even a horse would have higher standards. The one in the picture made me laugh. I'm about to let the kids play with it.

I think I might try making some carrot tape for a fall harvest and drop it in when I drop in my bean seeds. I'm waiting for the heat wave to pass first, though. Seeds might cook at these temps.

 

[deepbluesea]

Hah! It looks like it's wearing chaps!

 

[Birdsong 82]

That’s funny I get a few of those every year and my daughter always call some carrot pants. Don’t feel bad I’m having the same yuck care experience you are. Pulled him out all excited because they were the biggest carrots I’ve ever gotten and then I ate one. There went that excitement. LOL

 

[Birdsong 82]

View attachment 1474855 Well, I just learned what happens when you plant carrots in Mar. and don't pull them until Jul. Pretty tough and bitter... Horse carrots is what my mother in law calls them. After a taste test, though, I'm wondering if even a horse would have higher standards. The one in the picture made me laugh. I'm about to let the kids play with it.

I think I might try making some carrot tape for a fall harvest and drop it in when I drop in my bean seeds. I'm waiting for the heat wave to pass first, though. Seeds might cook at these temps.

You’ve sparked my curiosity. What is carrot tape

 

[oregonkat]

There’s for real fires going on right now in Oregon?! We had record breaking flooding about a month ago I work for DOT and we are still repairing closed roads and damaged drainage systems From that because our flood repair work was getting flooded out but last month NO rain hot and humid. Crazy VA. But if your having fires I wish I could send you rain. Are you out of danger zone?!

There are 170 wildfires now in S. Oregon and N. California. This is, unfortunately, the new normal. Our crews are overworked and tired already and the air is grey with smoke all the time. I expect that the rates of lung diseases will start to climb significantly in the near future. Our fire risk at this time of year is always high so the use of any kind of machinery is pretty much forbidden. But we always try to look on the brighter side of things. Our valley is stunning now with all the vineyards getting their fruit and the rows all perfectly pruned and tidy. The smaller farms on the valley floor are rich with vegetables and flowers and even though everything is kind of foggy to look at, it is still beautiful!

 

[Birdsong 82]

Didn’t realize all the wildfires were still going on. I don’t have TV at my house so my news comes from the radio which isn’t always the best. I’m sorry to hear that that sounds rough. I’m glad you’re looking at the brighter side of things and that the vineyards are still flourishing and That you and your family are safe

 

[dunnmom]

You’ve sparked my curiosity. What is carrot tape

Well, you can buy it, but some people make it. You can use long lengths of toilet paper as your "tape". Apparently, all you do is make a thick flour water paste as a glue and stick the seeds onto the TP spaced to the correct spacing, then fold it over and dry it.

Then you lay it out in rows in your garden, and cover it with a tiny bit of soil, then gently water so your seeds don't get washed all over. I've never done it myself, but I might try because I would love some nice neat rows of carrots that don't require a lot of thinning.

I'm wondering, though, if burying it is even necessary, since carrots are sown so shallowly anyway. Maybe I'd just cover it with gardening cloth instead, just until I see sprouts.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Ahhh. I am definitely going to have to try that. I hate putting down carrot seeds because when you tried to place one yet end up place in like 20. And thining them Is one thing I hate the most. Mine are never in neat like that. when I try that I will probably use my all natural brown paper towels because I know sometimes toilet Paper has extra stuff in it. And I’m so very weird about what I put in my garden. Probably more than I need to be. Thank you for that suggestion!