What did you do in the garden today?

[henless]

I had some asparagus that didn't come up last year. I planted some to replace them. Purple Passion is what I plant. Also trimmed up my trumpet vine. Didn't get to it last year.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I had some asparagus that didn't come up last year. I planted some to replace them. Purple Passion is what I plant. Also trimmed up my trumpet vine. Didn't get to it last year.

Do you know why it did not come up?

 

[Acre4Me]

What do you grow besides strawberries?

First year with a garden after many years without one. We've only had one summer in this house and almost didn't get a garden started last year, but the previous owners had put in some raised beds, so at least part of the work was done.

We like to grow potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, peas. Always try some new things, so tried some black beans this year, but planted for a fall harvest, but too late - the frost killed them before they fully developed. Tried 3 kinds of melons: the orange one would have been great, but just took too long to grow so couldn't really fully ripen, then the watermelon was a disappointment (and it was a cooler climate type) with hardly any red, and the third kind (green interior) grew and ripened but was a disappointment in taste.

This year we have several varieties of peppers to start from seed - most new to us. Try to get the raspberry plants in, but need to determine location. Bought a cold-weather Fig (great reviews from midwestern growers, most in colder areas than here) so am hopeful to get a few figs next year, after it gets established this year. Have some melon seeds that supposedly grow well in my kind of climate...so will try those out (they are orange flesh melons).

I did plant some potato starts in one raised bed in the fall, as I read that you can plant them to overwinter and they will begin to grow when they determine the right temp in the spring. Maybe they will grow, maybe not, but I figured worth a shot!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Awh...ya had to ask about the asparagus
I did not cut them back this year on purpose because the chickens love them as a hideout. I don’t know how this will effect them.
I have regular & purple asparagus. The purple stays purple even after cooking.
I get a lot of harvest from them considering they are only 4 years old.
So...the dig monsters started digging last winter and I slapped down the only wire I had 1” chicken wire. OMG!!! I had spears growing like corkscrews thru the wire. Spears splitting and looking all deformed. So now I have lg. 3” diamond wire and I’ll redo that box too. Chickens are a HUGE challenge. They like the tender tiny baby asparagus ferns they might peck a tip of a matured spear. But I get Tons of seed pods they like those best...there’s plenty to keep reseeding and monsters munching. I’m still thinking of a way to protect them until harvest. Any suggestions?

 

[MissChick@dee]

First year with a garden after many years without one. We've only had one summer in this house and almost didn't get a garden started last year, but the previous owners had put in some raised beds, so at least part of the work was done.

We like to grow potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, peas. Always try some new things, so tried some black beans this year, but planted for a fall harvest, but too late - the frost killed them before they fully developed. Tried 3 kinds of melons: the orange one would have been great, but just took too long to grow so couldn't really fully ripen, then the watermelon was a disappointment (and it was a cooler climate type) with hardly any red, and the third kind (green interior) grew and ripened but was a disappointment in taste.

This year we have several varieties of peppers to start from seed - most new to us. Try to get the raspberry plants in, but need to determine location. Bought a cold-weather Fig (great reviews from midwestern growers, most in colder areas than here) so am hopeful to get a few figs next year, after it gets established this year. Have some melon seeds that supposedly grow well in my kind of climate...so will try those out (they are orange flesh melons).

I did plant some potato starts in one raised bed in the fall, as I read that you can plant them to overwinter and they will begin to grow when they determine the right temp in the spring. Maybe they will grow, maybe not, but I figured worth a shot!

Do you know what zone you are in?

 

[Acre4Me]

Do you know what zone you are in?

We are 6a. That means avg extreme min temp is -10 to -5F. And this Sunday we are expected to be around -9F at night! BRRR... The grow season isn't too bad with last frost first week of May, and first frost is in October. We have all beds East and South Exposure, so first light through evening for most beds, but not all. Planning to put some beds in on the SE corner of our little plot to maximize sun for the peppers!

 

[TropicalBabies]

Awh...ya had to ask about the asparagus
I did not cut them back this year on purpose because the chickens love them as a hideout. I don’t know how this will effect them.
I have regular & purple asparagus. The purple stays purple even after cooking.
I get a lot of harvest from them considering they are only 4 years old.
So...the dig monsters started digging last winter and I slapped down the only wire I had 1” chicken wire. OMG!!! I had spears growing like corkscrews thru the wire. Spears splitting and looking all deformed. So now I have lg. 3” diamond wire and I’ll redo that box too. Chickens are a HUGE challenge. They like the tender tiny baby asparagus ferns they might peck a tip of a matured spear. But I get Tons of seed pods they like those best...there’s plenty to keep reseeding and monsters munching. I’m still thinking of a way to protect them until harvest. Any suggestions?

ha ha ha aha... ha ha!! No suggestions.
Pretty sure my chickens are why I am a bit at a loss in my garden. They already dug up a bunch of my seedlings. I had a few more pkgs in the fridge and was able to salvage my lettuce, arugula and bok choy. I actually lowered myself and bought some pepper, swiss chard and tomato starts from HD. I confess I needed some instant gratification, I needed a garden win! no matter how short lived... I think the only way I will be able to enjoy my garden short of getting rid of my chickens is to build cages to fit over the boxes. More time and money... but that is all i can come up with. So, for the asparagus I would go 20" H and probably a larger welded wire on the lid so i could put my hand through for harvest but monsters would be too uncomfortable to fit through. regular chicken wire for the sides.
Anybody else have suggestions?

 

[TropicalBabies]

View attachment 1646123 So last night we got rain. Yesterday (or day before can’t remember) I spent hours shoveling a path to the coop. Raked all the snow off the roof of the run. And the rain melted ALL the snow
It was a beautiful 42 degrees & sunny!
So today I did Iris’s. Last summer my brother brought over a huge Matt of tangled bulbs. Left them on my front door step. We were out of town for the day. I thought they would be in terrible shape so I brought them in soaked them in totes and began separating them.

I think everyone's kitchen counters should look like this.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I think I’ll just rename my garden to “Wireland” lol
My boxes get wire around them with removable galvanized poles and zip tie’s so everything is easy to remove and work inside the box. I’ll build panels ... someday ... in my spare time!

 

[cavemanrich]

Any suggestions?

regular chicken wire for the sides.
Anybody else have suggestions?

I container grow much of what I plant. I also have only 5 chickens presently. They freerange where my pots are usually in the afternoons. There is plenty of other greens available in lawn. The hens do nibble on the outer edges, but are not able to enter and destroy .
Dill.

Sorrel.