What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I can relate too! I live in the Ozark foothills so not only is my soil heavy red clay but also very rocky! I've spent a lot of labor adding compost and other goodies to improve my soil. That's also why I have a lot of raised beds using just about anything I can get....the metal beds and old tires. I really want to try old garage door sections but I haven't had time to track any down.

Our soil is a mix of sand and clay over pockets of caliche with rocks all over. I’ve spread a chip drop over most of the yard except the gardens. Those have spent a lot of time being amended with compost and litter from my bunnies, ducks and chickens. The shade garden had quail living in it for a while too. I’m finally able to find worms in the soil this year.

Monday and Tuesday were glorious, sunny, highs in the upper 60’s.
Today was overcast. Supposedly with a high of 65 ( it wasn’t at my house. ).
Tomorrow and Thursday we have a winter storm warning. Expecting 2” of snow, 1” of sleet and 1/10” of ice.

@igorsMistress those Thai chili seeds you sent me (last year or the year before?) are sprouting!!

I think that was last year. I’m so happy they’re growing! I hope they do well for you.

 

[Sueby]

I love watching mine when they get a new area to vandalize explore! But I really do love to watch them explore, all the chit chatting and scratching.

I'd take a good look at her crop and vent, and check her weight. When mine mope it's usually something is or is going wrong.

Same with me, that's why I like to put changes off, gives me plenty of time to second guess myself.

Nice garden, did you leave a space to get a wheelbarrow or cart in past the fence? Did you put down a weed barrier to keep the aisles so nice and weed-free?

How do you like the flavor on the Russian tarragon? I'd always heard that it had no flavor and so I've always stuck with French tarragon. That said, sometimes my tarragon just seems bland with too little flavor.

THIS!!! This is why we don't have male dogs, and fence the raised beds to keep the outside male cats out.

The dinner went well and the kitchen is clean again! This morning I planted a tray of celery starts but it's supposed to get down to 23 tonight which is nothing to a lot of you folks but that is mighty cold for here. We got a good deal of rain the last 2 days so I can't complain too much.

Thank you, she looked much better yesterday, we'll see what today brings. I did catch her & check her over, she looks fantastic. She's reddening up so hopefully she's just feeling weird. & yes, I can get the wheelbarrow in, I left very large paths all around, I use my garden bench a lot instead of bending so the room is a necessity! I did not put any weed barrier down, but I put wood chips out to keep the weeds at bay. I do end up weeding a bit, but it doesn't get bad. Man I can't wait to get back in there!!

Speaking of, pushing 70 today & then 6-8 inches of snow on Friday.

I know yall have been on this thread a lot longer than I have so just thought I'd ask...
Do yall ever share your garden layout, plans for the upcoming season? I'm a visual person and am trying to get an idea of how best to use the new space I've got in back near the run.

I posted the beginning of my garden plan here a couple weeks ago - here it is again. You've reminded me I need to work on it more & I need to add my 2 new herb beds! (created at https://vegplotter.com/ in case anyone is interested in a free online plotter - it's not perfect but it works)

I saw rhubarb peeking through yesterday!

 

[Acre4Me]

Off to pick up chicks later this morning! Hour and a half drive each way, but no shipping stress.

Picked up the fencing we ordered. 300 ft of 1x2 welded wire, 4 ft tall. So expensive at 60% more per roll than we paid in 2020. But, we weren’t able to find any since then. So, when we found some, we bought it. This will eventually be used to redo the chicken run fence/enclosure. Our goal is to have the run completely enclosed to actually be predator proof.

Only a week since spouse’s surgery…seems like longer, of course, bc I get to do the work of two people here, however, seems like healing is progressing bc nothing has gotten worse. Leg is completely encased in thick, soft cast/splint, so we can’t see incision. Skill with crutches has improved, though!!

Bathroom renovation: close to being done, we have a working shower and sink in the main bath now. Contractor was able to fit us in so that spouse could take a shower. Spouse was going to complete these small things, that was before breaking their leg! The half bath has no door or sink yet…will have to wait for contractor to be available again.


Snow/sleet tonight/tomorrow. Very cold temps. But hopefully it’s the last really cold snap. I removed the south vent cover on the coop, and will remove the north vent cover next week. Always better to have more air, but those north winds can be pretty wicked! There is a window and eave vents, so there is always air circulation in the coop, even with the vent covers up.

 

[Sally PB]

Out and about today. I have a $50 Lowes gift card that is burning a hole in my pocket. I think I can manage to spend it! Between garden stuff and maybe another cast iron pan... yeah, I think it'll be easy. And if they have chicken feed, it'll be hard not to go way over and part with some cash. I haven't been in a Lowes in many years, so I don't know what they have any more.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

@karenerwin and @Sueby
Thank you both so much for sharing your plans with me!!! Companion planting definitely keeps popping out at me too!
I guess I'll start with what we definitely eat then go with the Companions for those things.
Is there anywhere that shows your what flowers are good Companions for vegetables?

 

[Sueby]

@karenerwin and @Sueby
Thank you both so much for sharing your plans with me!!! Companion planting definitely keeps popping out at me too!
I guess I'll start with what we definitely eat then go with the Companions for those things.
Is there anywhere that shows your what flowers are good Companions for vegetables?

The app I mentioned I use does give companion vegetables, not sure about flowers though. I'm sure if you just google companion for whatever you're looking for you'll get good info.

This sassy little thing bit me today, we had a bit of a standoff. She stalks me & sneaks up behind me & pecks me! Today she got pecked back, I win.

 

[Sally PB]

Is there anywhere that shows your what flowers are good Companions for vegetables?

If you like old fashioned things called "books," this one is very helpful for companion planting:
Carrots Love Tomatoes, by Louise Riotte.

I have had good results keeping soldier bugs away from my tomatoes by planting marigolds near them. The other effect of having marigolds is they attracted a BUNCH of Japanese Beetles, which loved the flowers.

Most people would see that as a bad thing, but I didn't. I catch those JBs and feed them to my chickens. Having them in a concentrated spot helps me catch them. Good protein for the chickens, pest control, and they're free.

 

[3xhhheather]

Most people would see that as a bad thing, but I didn't. I catch those JBs and feed them to my chickens. Having them in a concentrated spot helps me catch them. Good protein for the chickens, pest control, and they're free.

I use my roses & blackberries for that, the beetles leave everything else alone and the ducks know to follow me around the yard to the different bushes

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning all. I’m sure you have received enough feedback on garden planning by now @Gammas Bearded Babies. We all share our garden plans and learn from each other. I get a lot of my information on gardening from the old farmers almanac website. They have tons of information available and you can enter your zipcode to get more information tailored to your growing region. I enjoy seeing the variety of garden designs from the other gardeners here. Ok, someone mentioned Russian tarragon vs French tarragon. I think it was @NewBoots, French tarragon is much more fragrant but I can’t grow it here. The Russian tarragon does grow I just have to use more. Warm today and heading to high 50’s. Major snowstorm coming Thursday night into Friday night. They’re saying 9 to 12 inches for my area. Oh fun. However, we aren’t supposed to get a nasty messy mix. Just plain snow. Yay! Then our temps will be back to winter. No gardening yet. Have a great day.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Oh I LUV old fashions!!!
Thank u!