What did you do in the garden today?

[TropicalBabies]

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.
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Sorrel.
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You make it look so easy and stylish... You must have a tasty lawn and really nice girls

 

[cavemanrich]

You make it look so easy and stylish... You must have a tasty lawn and really nice girls

Probably both,,,,
Well the lawn is just grass with all other things growing in it. I do not use herbicide, since both my chickies and grandchildren like to play in it.
Here are my chickies,,,,,

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Stores just starting to bring in gardening stuff. Only these were there today, but had to buy. What better way to welcome in a snow storm and 6+ inches of snow plus wind, than to plant some strawberry seeds! Yes, its January, but if you look at the seed packet - the seeds sprout in 30-40 days! Strawberry seeds are notoriously hard to sprout, so it will be interesting to see if there is success. Also, I've had the seeds in the fridge for a couple of months as others who've grown the seeds say that chilling them for at least a month helps with germination. btw, it was my first order for Burpee seeds direct from Burpee...I was surprised that packaging was not as colorful as in the stores, but it doesn't really matter - I just want some good plants this year!
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I've never had good luck with those seed starting pods. I do better with using small containers and adding starter mix. It's less expensive as well. This year I'm going to use TP cardboard tubes for my seed "pots." I hope you had a better experience with Burpee than I did. I purchased heirloom beet seeds a few years back. The shipping cost alone was ridiculous and none of the seeds germinated. Let me know how your seeds do.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

It's pretty frozen here too. Lots of stuff on paper/digital/research etc. but not much to do outside of course. It'll be in the teens out this weekend, which is the coldest we've gotten this year.
Last year I was displeased with how out of shape I was in the spring when it came time to labor those garden beds into shape, so this year I have a light exercise routine and weight lifting that I'm doing to get my muscles ready for spring. Hopefully by the time spring rolls around I will be able to put in the work I need to with less help than last year.

I'm right there with you on the exercise. When I was still working there was not time to do any extra fitness activities. Now that I'm retired I go to exercise classes at the Senior Center and they just started a walking class so I'm hoping I'll be in better shape to do the gardening and other yard work come Spring.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Damnnn lol

I hope Weather lady's power does not go out.

 

[WthrLady]

I hope Weather lady's power does not go out.

So far so good. We filled water reserves last night in case we did/do. No power means no well. No power means no heated stock tanks. Have to be able to water critters.

We're used to it. Just a PIA.

We have wild asparagus here in the fields and ditches. Delicacy and the mowers make a point to go around it.

Currently -11 with the wind. Glad it's Dhs turn to do morning stock feedings.View attachment 1646392

 

[WthrLady]

 

[Acre4Me]

I've never had good luck with those seed starting pods. I do better with using small containers and adding starter mix. It's less expensive as well. This year I'm going to use TP cardboard tubes for my seed "pots." I hope you had a better experience with Burpee than I did. I purchased heirloom beet seeds a few years back. The shipping cost alone was ridiculous and none of the seeds germinated. Let me know how your seeds do.

I did hesitate on buying the pods, but I've used them in the past with ok success. But for some of the other seeds, they will be started in other larger pots using a soil mix, such as our pepper plants.

As far as Burpee, I've had good luck with packets purchased in store. This is my first time buying seed from them. But, they have a $3 flat rate seed ship cost, no matter the quantity of seed packets. I've seen this same thing with other seed companies.

We planted Burpee beet seeds last year - they were tasty - the few that grew anyway. They were not as large as I was expecting either. So, this year's beets will be grown from seeds from another supplier, which are already in hand. However, it will likely take about 3 years to get the garden into a much better condition. I don't think the previous owners really amended the soil at all, and primarily grew sauce tomatoes with a few fresh eating tomatoes. As we amend the soil and add organic matter, it will only improve.

I've ordered some seeds (for 2019) from an Heirloom grower I've never used - quite the bargain too, as there are strict rules (state and Fed) on seed germination, packaging numbers, etc and that heirloom company indicates that they overfill the packets so that all packets will - without a doubt - conform to these strict rules, while making quick work of the handfilled packages. It is true, after I read that disclaimer, I re-examined my seed packets and sure enough...way more seed than package states! Compare this to the Strawberry seeds I just planted from Burpee. Package says 125 seeds (and Strawberry seeds are tiny!), and they are in a small foil package within the labelled paper envelope. I'm pretty sure there are only 125 seeds in there maybe a scant few more...

 

[MissChick@dee]

I had good luck with Burpee’s. I buy starter plants on perennials just because of where I live. I bought Laramie strawberries that grow well in Wyoming. I sent a email that 1/3 of the starters did not take. They sent me 25 more no charge.
When my blueberry bush did not take off they sent me a new one. Silly me blueberries was just a bad choice on my part I’d have to water with vinegar to correct the Ph of my soil. I felt guilty on that one.

 

[WthrLady]

That's why I switched to honeyberries. Not as finicky about ph.