What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

The doctor visit WAS GOOD news!! She can go to the wedding. He basically said she could do whatever she wants. She does have to keep her leg wrapped until the drain hole scabs over and he said NO FALLS!

I am so happy happy for you treasure the time she is with you please

 

[igorsMistress]

The doctor visit WAS GOOD news!! She can go to the wedding. He basically said she could do whatever she wants. She does have to keep her leg wrapped until the drain hole scabs over and he said NO FALLS!

That's awesome news! Great that her doc has a sense of humor too

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. For many of us the season is coming to an end. The only thing ready for picking today was one poblano. I almost pulled a leek but I noticed it had baby leaves emerging from the center and that means it's still growing. Plans for today is to start cleaning up the garden beds that are done for the season. I might get another handful of beans tomorrow, but I believe the pole beans are done. I still have apples that are destined for applesauce. After that the canner is going to bed until next year. The chickens are still laying like crazy so I may start selling again. I re-organized my canned goods yesterday. Tomato products have two large wooden shelves to themselves. Pickles, fruit and jams have two shelves opposite them. The shelves are in the cool part of the basement. I need to start dehydrating my herbs. I thought I would start with the basil. Since this is my first time dehydrating, any pointers are greatly appreciated. Should I pick up some desiccant packs for storing dried herbs? Sounds like you are getting better @penny1960, good to know. I'm glad your Mother is on the mend as well @karenerwin. I am so in awe of your bean harvest @Acre4Me, and you were worried. So glad to hear you are rebuilding your gardens to deal with the drainage issue. It's a lot of work now but you will have an even more amazing garden going forward. For the sake of your lovely cacti @AllenK RGV I will not offer any advice on your plants. Before I retired I was known as the "plant lady" who could grow anything EXCEPT for cacti and succulents. I've even been called "cactus killer." So I don't even try to go there anymore. Have a great day everyone.

 

[chickmom3941]

The doctor visit WAS GOOD news!! She can go to the wedding. He basically said she could do whatever she wants. She does have to keep her leg wrapped until the drain hole scabs over and he said NO FALLS!

So happy for your mom (and you!). I agree with Penny1960 to really treasure the time you have with her.
In the garden, Hubs transplanted our 4 blueberry bushes to a totally different spot. We originally planted them near some raspberry bushes, but over the years the raspberry bushes have slowly spread into the blueberry bed and were trying to take over the whole area. So the blueberries now have their very own bed with lots of compost, including llama & chicken manure. We will also be using pine needles for mulch. I think they will do a lot better in a spot of their own, where we can cater to them. Might even add a few more bushes!
The pumpkins are getting bigger, although I noticed some powdery mildew on some of the leaves yesterday - had to dispose of all the affected leaves. Hopefully, the plants can hang in there long enough for the pumpkins to fully mature. There was frost in northern Minnesota last night, but none forecasted for our area in the near future.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good morning gardeners. For many of us the season is coming to an end. The only thing ready for picking today was one poblano. I almost pulled a leek but I noticed it had baby leaves emerging from the center and that means it's still growing. Plans for today is to start cleaning up the garden beds that are done for the season. I might get another handful of beans tomorrow, but I believe the pole beans are done. I still have apples that are destined for applesauce. After that the canner is going to bed until next year. The chickens are still laying like crazy so I may start selling again. I re-organized my canned goods yesterday. Tomato products have two large wooden shelves to themselves. Pickles, fruit and jams have two shelves opposite them. The shelves are in the cool part of the basement. I need to start dehydrating my herbs. I thought I would start with the basil. Since this is my first time dehydrating, any pointers are greatly appreciated. Should I pick up some desiccant packs for storing dried herbs? Sounds like you are getting better @penny1960, good to know. I'm glad your Mother is on the mend as well @karenerwin. I am so in awe of your bean harvest @Acre4Me, and you were worried. So glad to hear you are rebuilding your gardens to deal with the drainage issue. It's a lot of work now but you will have an even more amazing garden going forward. For the sake of your lovely cacti @AllenK RGV I will not offer any advice on your plants. Before I retired I was known as the "plant lady" who could grow anything EXCEPT for cacti and succulents. I've even been called "cactus killer." So I don't even try to go there anymore. Have a great day everyone.

I prefer to keep my dehydrated herbs in the freezer in vacuum sealed bags, but it depends how quickly you go through them. If not freezing or vacuum sealing I would use the dessicant. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon if you don't have any.

 

[igorsMistress]

good morning gardeners

It's a beautiful morning, cool and crisp with big clouds in the sky. We got some rain last night.

I was looking at the mesquite tree that I cut the suckers off of and the upper branches are starting to grow leaves.

I'm off to let the flocks out and get ready for work. Have a great day everyone

 

[Sueby]

I'm glad everyone's feeling better & getting good news & good harvests!

@Wee Farmer Sarah or anyone in a cold climate - what do you do with your beds for the winter? Do you cover them with anything like mulch, cover crops? First year with raised beds & I plan on no-till gardening. I'm thinking of just leaving the straw on top that was my mulch this year.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I'm glad everyone's feeling better & getting good news & good harvests!

@Wee Farmer Sarah or anyone in a cold climate - what do you do with your beds for the winter? Do you cover them with anything like mulch, cover crops? First year with raised beds & I plan on no-till gardening. I'm thinking of just leaving the straw on top that was my mulch this year.

Good morning @Sueby. Last year I just cleared all the dead plants and left the gardens bare all winter. Some of the beds got weeds in them this year so after I clean everything out I plan on putting some compost and a combination of chopped leaves (I have a leaf blower/ mulcher) and straw. I'm thinking about putting a layer of cardboard on the beds that got the most weeds so that the weeds won't return next Spring. The cardboard becomes fertilizer after it decomposes. If you have cardboard on hand I would try it on at least one of the beds and do a comparison. Oh, I am totally in awe of your dahlias. Mine have grown a little more and looking forward to digging them up and re-planting next Spring. What do you store your "bulbs" in? Are they bulbs or corms?

 

[Sueby]

I think I will try that with the cardboard - rake all the straw into half of them & cover the other half with cardboard!

I do love my dahlias, as you all well know from my constant pics. They are actually tubers I believe. I overwintered them in vermiculite in the mudroom that gets down to 33 degrees at times. I'm not all that good with it, I forget to add a little moisture here & there so I lost 50%. But it's really not that hard to do. After the first frost has killed the foliage dig them up, cut the stalks to about an inch or 2, let them dry a few days, clean them up & put them in a box with vermiculite or peat moss. Check on them & if they start to dry out spritz with some water.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I am curious I am not finding a gardening centered swap/exchange/sale link on BYC. (Hint- Please lobby for one if it doesn't exist) I tried google for "artichoke live plant" as I have been trying and failing over and over to get my Green Globe seeds up and started so they get the winter cooling for a spring time harvest. They are all out of stock or pointless sponsored links at Google. Is there any chance anyone plans on doing a divide on their plants in the near future and able to stop by the post office?

When I lived 20 miles further inland I had no seed start issues. However here I am having issues with nearly everything(20 miles from the coast).