What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

@Acre4Me could you enlighten me a bit? I'm having a hard time finding risk data on using fresh chicken manure. I'm seeing e coli get thrown around a bit, but nothing concrete beyond the risk of handling it.

I can see the logic behind the concern with pathogens. However, I think (just opinion here) pathogens can be minimized on harvested matter of you are careful with application of compost/manure tea and do not apply within several days of harvest.

 

[Acre4Me]

Regarding poop and pathogens, generally, biggest concern is with the possibility of pathogens that can harm humans. Some animals, like cows or poultry can carry pathogens that make humans sick (e coli and salmonella as examples). But some poop doesn’t carry human pathogens (rabbit for example). So, the heat of composting and aging both help with removing the pathogens.

while I can’t link a specific article, I’ll assume there is good data out there somewhere on this regarding time frames. Consider there are composting toilets for human waste and I recall reading something long ago that there is a fairly long time period to compost human waste before using it in a garden (lots of potential disease vectors there).

currently, I’ve just used my oldest compost (with lots of chicken poop in it) this year. The compost looks pretty close to coarse dirt, so I’m assuming it’s all good to use this year. For tea, it is often common to let it sit and “brew” for several days, so if it gets hot in the sun this would potentially kill any pathogens.

 

[littledog]

My FIL passed two yrs ago but had a awesome asparagus patch. Took MIL to town other day she picked a bundle to give us she doesn't like them or gardening.
He was a awesome gardener miss him biggly. Never forget prob 15yrs ago when he first started harvesting that patch of asparagus asked DW if she liked them it was the first time either of us had tried them

So sorry he passed, sounds like he was an awesome gardener. When we bought our place here, one of the perks was that it had an asparagus patch. Priceless, since new plants take two years to produce.

tomatoes should be ok, just leave them alone. I have had enough experience with tomatoes and storms. egg plants are tough as well. I even had a few cucumbers recover.

Thanks, I still have hopes for a few plants, in spite of the hailstorm. Today I went to McLendons and bought a three-pack of eggplant, but saved room in the bed for the eggplants I have, that are still small but seem healthy.
I also bought 5 tomatoes, a couple salad types, a "black cherry" a "Mortgage Lifter" but I want sauce tomatoes and the only ones I saw at first were Romas that looked really horrible, so I didn't buy any. But after searching, I found a healthy San Marzano!
I planted all those and saved space in case my seedling Romas decide to live after getting hailed on.

I don't like seeing outside cars they are the worst for killing wildlife.
Neighbor has had his cat free ranging.

We have a neighbor cat - we assume she's not feral because she wears a reflective collar, but no license - she's a sweet purry kitty, who loves our dog, monitors our property for mice and rats, and sometimes comes inside to purr and get petted.
But today she ticked me off - I was working in the garden, and she killed a tiny baby wild rabbit and left three legs and one ear right in my newly- planted cuke bed!

I did a ton of work in the garden today - but while going to McLendons for new tomatoes and eggplants, I was only gone for maybe 40 minutes. When I came home, I saw various things on the other side of the fence - they were seed packages - I wondered, did a rogue wind pick up and blow them away?

No, I was idiotic enough to leave the packs of seeds I planned to plant sitting out, and in the brief time I was gone, the crows ripped into all my seed packs. They spread the corn and bush bean seeds all over my lettuce and spinach bed, and totally ate my pole bean seeds, that I'd been planning to plant that day.

After scooping up my corn and bush bean seeds into containers and starting to plant my new tomatoes, a crow came by and landed on my pumpkin trellis. to make fun of me. I shook my finger at him or her, they took off laughing.

 

[BullChick]

That behavior is why cats are so dangerous. They kill for sport, not for food.

 

[littledog]

Agree with you in general, but this cat eats what she hunts, not for sport. Which is respectable, because she could conceivably survive in the wild without humans in her life. But realistically dangerous to her, because hunting involves crossing dangerous roads and possibly contacting dangerous people. Also because eating wild animals can subject her to various parasites and diseases.

 

[WthrLady]

Popping out to deal with some weeds that will only die for the season with spray. DEEP rooted things. I'm on year 3 of dealing with them. I am hoping the roots get less and less happy with me and will finally kill the thing all together. It' took 6 years to get rid of the bindweed. I do see less and less of it each year, but it even laughs at 6 inch deep mulch.

I have a couple of deliveries in the city today, free tomato plants...sigh, but at least they'll have a home. A quick run to the hardware store and the market and back up the mighty hill.

MAAAAYbe the fabric store don't know if DS has the patience for that. LOL. He just wants out of the house. LOL. I think he forgets he has a truck and can GO where ever and when ever he wants.

Get down and dirty today everyone!

 

[Acre4Me]

morning robin update. Appears momma is experienced - still 4 chicks, and they look healthy - and growing.

 

[Sueby]

@Acre4Me sorry you were so sick, hope your on the mend! I've always thought the new born robins looked like little old men.

@NewBoots your garlic looks great! Can't wait for mine.

@chickinlittles sorry for your troubles, but your cherries are BEAUTIFUL! & making me drool.

Supposed to be 90 today, I'm not sure what happened to spring, just jumped right into summer! The garden is loving it though, I actually hand pollinated a summer squash today. Got the last of my cayenne peppers in too, just waiting to pick up a few habaneros from my friend & the garden is full. Yay, no more babysitting starts in the house! Everything is all mulched for the season too.

I am wishing I had grown some Kale. I don't like to eat it (blech) but I'm thinking a little in a smoothie would be a good idea. Gotta squeeze in those veggies I despise somehow! I wish I had some room for it. Is it easy to grow?

I need to work out a little room, I'm thinking under the cuke trellis, for some chives. I miss having them. Going to try & get some seeds in today, if I don't melt. I'm going to put a block of ice out for the chickens too, poor things walking around with their wings up & it's only May.

I've never made compost tea, I'm just finally getting into a good groove with the compost pile. But it is something I've thought about looking into one of these days - but doing it like @NewBoots does, with plants instead of poop.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. Good golly, yesterday was a hot one almost 90F. Not so humid so it was bearable. Going to the mid 80's today with a little humidity. Cleaning the grills yesterday gave me a surprise, both grills need to retire. I ordered a small gas grill from HD which will be fully assembled and ready to pick up on Monday or Tuesday. DD wants to gift me a new charcoal grill + smoker for an early birthday present so that's exciting too. Can't wait for it to arrive. Finally, my corn is coming up. Undeniably corn shoots popping through an entire 10 foot row with a few popping through on the other rows. I'm so excited. Now if the darn lima beans would get moving. Sorry you don't like kale @Sueby. I really wasn't a fan until I managed to get some very fresh stuff which was amazing. You can eat fresh, young kale just like lettuce or chard in a salad. I'm just thrilled mine is doing well this year. I will be planting the dinosaur kale (aka black lettuce) in August along with collards for "winter" greens. I have a couple of more errands this morning then will be planting my spicy peppers. The temps are supposed to be a bit cooler on Monday and Tuesday so those look like grass mowing and trimming days. And oh yeah, need to assemble the brooder soon. It's still chick season!

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I like growing nasturtiums, and I got some fancy seeds from a friend. They just bloomed pink and are so beautiful! All I need to add to my collection now is white, coral, and purple colored flowers.

I bought a bunch of different seed from Territorial Seed - Tall Trailing, I put in 4 hanging baskets on the porch, Night & Day I put on dark blue pots, Tip top Alaska in pots and Phoenix I planted down by the coop in the herb bed.