What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

I really have the itch to pot tomatoes. They will not get transplanted to the garden until May, but I can transplant to 4" or 6" pots as they grow. I'm thinking the ability to transplant to 6"should give me a longer window to get them started and that might result in stronger, thicker plants to put in the garden. With only having until August to harvest tomatoes in prime weather conditions (heat), I often throw so many underdeveloped tomatoes into the compost pile. Perhaps trying this new concept of extra early (by 2 added weeks) starts will get me tomatoes sooner, meaning more overall yield as they continue to produce - at least for the indeterminate ones, but I'll start the determinate early too just to see if they yield faster.

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

I spread chicken manure to be tilled in this week.

 

[Sueby]

shouldn't BRs have yellow skin and legs? I don't own them, it is just what I read about them.

They should, yes. Not sure how far back you read, but that was the debate with my chicken - supposed to be a BR but doesn't have yellow legs. & doesn't have pink legs like a CM. It was suggested that there could be a pale leg gene in there somewhere & I'm thinking mine is just hatchery quality, hence the incorrect leg color & rather poor barring.

Morning all. Waiting for the snow/rain to come. It's rather warm (35) so I'm guessing more rain than snow! I'm good with that, hoping it will wash away the ice that all my paths around the yard have turned into.

Going to head to amazon after this & order a seed mat to get my peppers started. I need to map out the garden too. Problem is I can't decide if I want to deal with the stupid cuke & squash bugs this year or just not plant any of either plant. My thought is lots & lots of onions & garlic instead for a year & maybe the bugs won't be so bad next year.

I also plant my tomatoes that way too.

Have a great day gardeners!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

shouldn't BRs have yellow skin and legs? I don't own them, it is just what I read about them.

I captured 2 pictures from the Pure Poultry website and one picture does show a much more yellow leg. The pictures of my BR's when they were about 12 weeks old shows a bit more yellow on the leg. The other one of my little Princess was taken this past January. Her legs were much paler with less yellow. Could be she is a cross or less time free ranging in the grass. The chickens that have more ample access to fresh grass have yellower skin due to the color of the fat in their skin. Just like cows develop a more yellow hue to their fat and milk when they are pasture fed. If my BR's are crosses it makes no difference to me. I have my chickens for egg production only. As long as they make eggs I don't stress over their heritage so much. I just prefer breeds that can deal with New England weather and it's temperature extremes from sub-zero to 100F.


This shot of Princess was taken last January. As you can see there's ice on the ground and very little green grass.

Zoom in on this shot and you can see a more yellow hue to two of my little BR's. This was taken in June

 

[Sueby]

Word Sarah. Couldn't care less if she is a mutt or what, but the debate all started because the place I got her from was a hot mess. I ordered 1 BO, 1 Araucana (purely out of curiosity because I knew it wouldn't be one) & 1 BR. I ended up with 1 EE, 1 Australorp, 1 GLW & the 1 in question. It cracks me up that out of 3 chickens ordered, 4 could possibly be wrong. But in the end all I wanted was backyard chickens in the middle of COVID that I didn't have to leg band to tell apart & that's exactly what I got!

 

[Sally PB]

Yup. Bury them laying down.

Can I do it on my hands and knees instead? I can get better leverage that way.

 

[BReeder!]

Finally a week of milder weather. Spring really is on the way.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

No frost or freezes in the forecast here!

Just lots of rain.....

 

[wyoDreamer]

@BReeder! I am not understanding your comment:
"With only having until August to harvest tomatoes in prime weather conditions (heat), I often throw so many underdeveloped tomatoes into the compost pile. "

Here in northern Wisconsin, I start getting tomatoes in late July and usually pick tomatoes until first hard frost in October. I have covered my tomatoes and been harvesting until there is snow on the ground.

 

[BReeder!]

No frost or freezes in the forecast here!View attachment 2540726
Just lots of rain.....

That's Arpil/May here. I still have a while until I see a 60F.