What did you do in the garden today?

MissChick@dee · Jan 25, 2019

ChocolateMouse said:
Oh man, I would like to grow sweet potatoes, but our growing season is short and our soil is chilly which makes it tough to do. I've heard that the vines are really great snacks for rabbits, very nutrient dense and great for growing kits to processing size. I may have to look into how to grow some in future years.

I put work into starters. Cuttings in water and they had about 8” of roots and vines with leaves when I put them outside. A friend gave me KOZY COATS from Burpee. Depending on how much water you put in them they act like either a cone or a circle to protect from frost. I really like them.
My season is short too. Without the “coats” they probably never would of produced decent size tubers.

Wee Farmer Sarah · Jan 25, 2019

I have thought about growing sweet potatoes, but I did so well with the butternut squash this past year I don't think I need anymore beta-carotene. I still have squash in the freezer. But I do want to try raising a hill or two of white potatoes.

pennyJo1960 · Jan 25, 2019

We grow mostly yukon gold potato the 15 lb bags we buy at Costco seed really well just in the bags

MissChick@dee · Jan 25, 2019

Today I finished cleaning and re-wireing one of my asparagus boxes. The wire in the other box was frozen solid in the soil so I’ll wait for a sunny day to get to that one. Today’s box is right in front of the gate to the run. It’s a very popular hiding place for my chickens. So funny they came running out and plowed right into each other as they put on the breaks....they didn’t know what to think because it was all gone. I heard allot of chicken cussing going on!

MissChick@dee · Jan 25, 2019

penny1960 said:
We grow mostly yukon gold potato the 15 lb bags we buy at Costco seed really well just in the bags

I save those bags too. Great for storing all kinds of things. Especially tubers!

Acre4Me · Jan 25, 2019

ChocolateMouse said:
Oh man, I would like to grow sweet potatoes, but our growing season is short and our soil is chilly which makes it tough to do. I've heard that the vines are really great snacks for rabbits, very nutrient dense and great for growing kits to processing size. I may have to look into how to grow some in future years.

First, I've never grown sweet potatoes, so I can only go on what I've read or been told! While seeking out some seeds to try this year, I was on the Sandhill Preservation site. Apparently, one crop they focus on is sweet potatoes...they sell a few kinds, I think. Out of curiosity I read some of their growing tips for sweet potatoes, and how there needs to be so many "heat units" and how to alter those heat units for success. This was learned when they lived in the panhandle of Northern Idaho (pretty cold), and they currently are in a zone 4b area, growing and selling sweet potatoes. Anyway, if you are interested, go to their site, then "sweet potatoes" drop down menu under "home", then go under "growing information". There is a concise read on sweet potato culture, tips, etc. I found it interesting, in part because I've never grown them, so didn't know much about how to cultivate. Still no plans on my part to plant or grow any sweet potatoes - maybe in the future!

https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/sweet-potato

TropicalBabies · Jan 25, 2019

I came across these photos today of this time last year.

and then...

And this is now...

I harvested two, 2, small cherry toms and I am really hoping for some lettuce.

Acre4Me · Jan 25, 2019

TropicalBabies said:
I came across these photos today of this time last year.

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and then...

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And this is now...

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I harvested two, 2, small cherry toms and I am really hoping for some lettuce.

Really nice!! I see your raised beds are raised above the ground. Is there a reason for them to be high like that, or for there to be space between them and the ground?