What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Wow, I have tu buy expensive stuff, every time I try to save money and diy, in the end I have to spend even more money to fix what went wrong there is always the screw that won’t let go, or something else that isn’t supposed to be there, but is….

To be fair, I had found a YouTube video that seemed to provide step by step instructions along with itemizing everything to buy. All with links. However I quickly discovered lots of gaps, like that the wiring diagram they released was incorrect and didn't match a screen capture of their wiring from their video. Annoying...but thankfully I was able to figure it out from the screen capture and draw up the CORRECT schematic. After bumbling my way through the first attempt (currently installed in my main chicken coop), I purchased another round of materials for the duck coop. The picture I posted is from that attempt. Naturally it went much more smoothly.

My point to all of this is that there are videos and websites that kinda walk you through it.

 

[TJAnonymous]

That door controller looks awesome. I really wanted to diy an automatic door. I’m always looking for an excuse to heat up a soldering iron. I simply didn’t have the time. I had chicks outgrowing their brooder and no coop to move them to. It was just easier to order the door and screw it on once I got the coop itself all built and painted.

I didn't solder a single wire. I just used various size terminal connectors (depending on how many wires needed to connect to the power relay terminal) or splice connectors and a crimping tool.

 

[Sally PB]

Strawberry plants are very sensitive to the depth they are in the soil. If the crown (where the roots meet the stems) is a bit too deep or a bit too high then the plant will not survive. If it is a tiny bit one way or the other, then it will survive long enough to get your hopes up but will never do well. And then it dies.

Well, that explains what happened two years ago. I covered them with leaves (not straw) way too deep and they died. Except for 3.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We have never had a real bad winter for me not to leave the strawberry and all been fine.

 

[WthrLady]

We get down to -25 real temp and I never cover my berries either.

 

[Acre4Me]

Hey, for those that have grown edamame - do they get bugs? Or pretty trouble free like beans? Trying to decide where to put them next year. & will a cattle panel trellis be good, or overkill? Or do they not need support?

They are like beans. Main bugs here are JB and grasshoppers. They are a bit stiffer and more rooted than regular green beans. When ready to harvest, I cut them off at ground, then harvest off the cut bushes in the shade. The chickens like the leaves or they go in the compost. I wash, dry in pod then freeze in pods.

 

[Acre4Me]

My Christmas present arrived!! Three Tree Peonies! They are grafted so are likely to bloom next year.

They are not flowering now, of course. But we dug holes, amended the foil and put them in their new places. Hopefully they survive to next year

 

[Smokerbill]

I cut off all the growing tops of my indeterminate tomatoes. I read doing that is supposed to encourage the existing fruits to ripen quicker. We'll see what happens.

 

[CNJ]

I cut off all the growing tops of my indeterminate tomatoes. I read doing that is supposed to encourage the existing fruits to ripen quicker. We'll see what happens.

I am going with determinate Red Snapper, Hossinator and Tycoon on my next project. I am still searching for the most disease resistant large tomato variety for my area. However, I will still grow indeterminate Brad's Atomic Grape, Princess Yum Yum and Purple Zebra in 9 foot cattle fence cages without pruning. I was able to grow these small varieties in my yard and they taste good.

 

[Sueby]

They are like beans. Main bugs here are JB and grasshoppers. They are a bit stiffer and more rooted than regular green beans. When ready to harvest, I cut them off at ground, then harvest off the cut bushes in the shade. The chickens like the leaves or they go in the compost. I wash, dry in pod then freeze in pods.

Perfect, thanks! I copied & pasted to my garden notes so I don't forget this great idea.

I cut off all the growing tops of my indeterminate tomatoes. I read doing that is supposed to encourage the existing fruits to ripen quicker. We'll see what happens.

I sorta do that with my Brandywines every year in August - I pull all new growth & any flowers that develop. I don't with the sungolds, those things ripen over night & keep giving forever.

Morning all. Rain is coming for the next couple days from Ophelia. I have not watered the garden since spring - this is insane!