What did you do in the garden today?

[Chickenman MAN]

SO THAT"S why my friends across the pond were talking about locking the birds up and not letting them out. I couldn't figure it out, the weather is still so nice there. Now I get it.

Yeah...but I have to say, the weather isn't nice, very wet and rainy... England is very wet........and rainy....

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

We are warming up a bit here. The cumulative total of over 18 inches of snow is actually melting and heavy rain expected for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We aren’t actually drinking all that much at our activities. A glass or two of wine. Today is our “cocktail” party which is ultimately finger foods for dinner. Of course there’s a heavy dose of TV Christmas movies. When we have our Christmas Eve party of cookies we plan on watching the classic Jimmy Stewart movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” We’re making the best we can during the pandemic and limiting our social interactions because we are both high risk from Covid.

 

[Fishychix]

Ordered potato starts! Yes, I can get some starts locally in the early spring, but wanted to try some other varieties. Last year - before all the Covid shutdowns and craziness really took hold, potato starts were already sold out, so I went with local sources, which was fine. However, I was seed shopping and saw a full selection of potatoes - nothing sold out yet - so decided to buy 3 varieties. But, wow - cost seems high, I guess bc demand is there.

I need to find bug netting that isn't crazy $$ - I don't think I'll be successful with brassicas without it - the cabbage loopers were unreal last season....alll season....even with cold weather in Oct once warmed up a bit during the day there were several moths, so I couldn't get them under control even with Bt applied regularly.

Also will be looking for heating pads for seed trays. Germination should be much better with seedling heat pads.

Could you just grab some tulle at your local fabric shop? They have different sized holes. Of course then it’s usually called something else. Tulle has very small, but noticeable holes and organza has very very fine holes. I have used these fabrics outside but not covered my garden in them. Also, you can use your 60% coupon if you have a joanns . Just a suggestion

 

[WthrLady]

Yeah...but I have to say, the weather isn't nice, very wet and rainy... England is very wet........and rainy....

But that's what we consider nice and put the birds out weather here. Anything above 20'F is fair game. We have 50'F today, but our winds are howling at 50 mph, so the poor girls cannot go out without blowing away.

 

[WthrLady]

Could you just grab some tulle at your local fabric shop? They have different sized holes. Of course then it’s usually called something else. Tulle has very small, but noticeable holes and organza has very very fine holes. I have used these fabrics outside but not covered my garden in them. Also, you can use your 60% coupon if you have a joanns . Just a suggestion

It's not UV stable, and it tears quickly in the garden. Tulle, crins, and organza is a no go. I put garden netting and shelters up specifically made for cabbage, lettuce, and broccoli and it went up the same time I planted. SO from hothouse (mine) to the garden, and STILL ended up with worms!

 

[Chickenman MAN]

But that's what we consider nice and put the birds out weather here. Anything above 20'F is fair game. We have 50'F today, but our winds are howling at 50 mph, so the poor girls cannot go out without blowing away.

Oof, now that is bad weather

 

[pennyJo1960]

Afternoon Gardeners we are to have dry days here for bit .. Winter is normaly quite wet here also

 

[WthrLady]

Oof, now that is bad weather

We just call it Tuesday. Tomorrow will be 21 degrees and winds of 50 mph + and snowy. We just call that Wednesday. LOL.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Friends, my yule holiday was beautiful and now it's over.

When the winter holiday ends, we all know what that means....

Garden planning time! Time to crack open those seed catalogues and pick my plants and order as early as possible.

 

[NewBoots]

Just brought in another 12.....SO many. I'm giving them away for Christmas.

My ladies are picking up the pace, they had been only laying an average of 3 a day but the other day I had 6 in one day! The sfh are laying about every other day now. I swear they heard me talking about freezer camp for non-layers.

spent about an hour outside with the ducklings this afternoon.

OMG, how do those babies know how to pose for the cute?!?!?

My husband heard me whining and gave me an early Christmas present. He had ordered me a bunch of lids !!❤❤ They almost fill a tall Pringles can.

That is awesome! Where did he get them all? I am so jealous!

Hopefully I didn’t aggravate my back catching the puppy and getting her out of the chicken yard and into the house.

I hope not either and I hope the hen the pup caught is okay.

I thought some of you in the warmer climates might appreciate my parade of hardy New Englanders taking a winter stroll. Have a great day all.

So sweet! Love the chickens in the snow pics, we never get snow so I'm told.

I need to find bug netting that isn't crazy $$ - I don't think I'll be successful with brassicas without it - the cabbage loopers were unreal last season....alll season....even with cold weather in Oct once warmed up a bit during the day there were several moths, so I couldn't get them under control even with Bt applied regularly.

No butterflies but I'm still pickingn green crawers off my brassicas! Netting next season for sure.

I got 12 yesterday, and extra eggs here...

Beautiful mix of colors!

We aren’t actually drinking all that much at our activities. A glass or two of wine. Today is our “cocktail” party which is ultimately finger foods for dinner. Of course there’s a heavy dose of TV Christmas movies. When we have our Christmas Eve party of cookies we plan on watching the classic Jimmy Stewart movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

DP and I don't have more than a drink each and that is seldom, but I love a "party" night with hors d'oeuvres (had to look up the spelling on that one) and soda pop (don't let myself have that often) and a drink or maybe even 2. I still tend to make too much food but most things will keep. And I still cry during "It's a Wonderful Life".

Garden planning time! Time to crack open those seed catalogues and pick my plants and order as early as possible.

Tomatoes and greens for me this year and yeah, I am getting ready to start the hardiest stuff in the greenhouse.


It's been sunny and lovely today if a little cold but the sun got me moving and I planted 2 more trays of sprouts for the ladies and the last 2 artichokes put into the ground. They seem to do really well in this area so I'm hoping to get some for steaming and if there's a lot of little ones I'll pickle them. Made a big bowl of quinoa salad so we'll have that for lunch and yesterday I took some cocktail shrimp out of the freezer so shrimp cocktails today too!