What did you do in the garden today?

[MotherofOrpies]

I‘ve got a food dehydrator , it depends on what you call cheap ( compared to a freeze dryer, it was a bargain) since I finally got some solar panels last year ( only 2 small ones, but hey, every little bit helps) I always try to run energy consuming machines when the sun shines

 

[Liz Birdlover]

me too. for me red lettuce is for decoration only.

I've got red & a few varieties of green. Why does it seem to be the red lettuce that wilts fastest? Or is this just in my refrigerator?

 

[Acre4Me]

Chicken run is covered and completely predator proof now!! We put metal roof panels up to meet the wall of the barn, so something can’t enter up top between the 1’ gap that was between the roof and barn wall.

Asparagus fresh from garden is yummy. We’ve been picking it this week!

Something is just wrong with this pic.

OHIO has most tornadoes this year?? So weird.

 

[Sally PB]

Still pondering the freeze dryer.
The nutritional value is so much better than canning as is the shelf life.
We have low power costs up here, so it wouldn't cost me too much to run.
I'd need to buy it oil, and would have to get a blender to make powders.
I'd rather it than the dehydrator.

I am really curious about the power they draw. Then I'd look up what it would cost to run. And add on 50% because it's always more than you'd think.

I've used it 2 or 3 times and never been very impressed with it.

I'd much rather have the freeze dryer, simply to preserve taste and better shelf life. It is just so hard to justify the cost... Even with food costs rising.

I wonder which I'd like better. I have a dehydrator already.

I love my Excalibur. It wasn't cheap, even back when we bought it, about 28 years ago.

 

[Swiss]

is it an early variety? my may crest peach tree was first to wake up even before the fig trees.

Both peach trees say their bloom time is late. But now I wonder because it ripens in late July, and the other, apparently, ripens in September. How are they supposed to be pollinator buddies if their ripening time is that different? Oh well, they are self pollinating.

I finally fed the seedlings yesterday. I need to top up the tomatoes with soil.

We got our soap making ingredients in the mail yesterday! I'm pretty excited because I've wanted to try making soap for YEARS. It should also cut our expenses down a bit, which is always nice.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. The grandkids planted the early peas yesterday. Then they decided they needed to burn some more energy and started cleaning up the other half of that garden area. We all decided halfway through that we would officially name this plot the “Rock Garden.” I asked them to pile all the rocks in the spot with a really big rock. We’re getting rain now so everything is getting a good drink. I’m using this rainy morning to run errands and hope to get more outdoor work done this afternoon or give my wee beasties baths. I’m leaning towards the baths.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Regarding the peach trees. My peach tree always blooms before my apple trees.

 

[Sueby]

I'm sorry and we've had warmer, dryer summers too but colder winters. That said, it's still a good climate. *spooky fingers* come to the southern Oregon coast, we have cookies...

See the sprout with the seed coat still on it? (The little green thing next to it is a weed.)
View attachment 3806210
It's a pepper. I have had a lot of seeds do this this year. In years past, these usually dry out and die. The leaves never make it out of the seed coat. I don't know why this happens; maybe because the soil is too cool or too dry?

Anyway, I have saved every one of these by dripping a drop of water onto the seed coat, 2-3 times a day. It keeps the coat from drying out, sticking to the seed leaves. This little guy is now a cayenne pepper seedling.

This has happened to me quite a bit this year, it's annoying.

Spit has enzyme or something that helps dissolve the stuff holding the hat " seed coat" on .

Good to know!

Common sense should have told me that the spit would be placed on the fingertip, and then transferred to the seed coat. Sleepy brain imagined licking the little seedling.... so, yeah. I'm going to bed, now.

Hilarious.

Morning. Raining here - shocking, I know. I see low 30s in the forecast which means colder for me. Wondering if I need to cover anything - probably should & easy enough to do.

I keep finding peanut shells in my compost - I sure hope there wasn't enough to cause me problems with all the potting mix I made from it. Onions seem to be growing well in it, but it's too early to tell with anything else.

 

[Sally PB]

We got our soap making ingredients in the mail yesterday! I'm pretty excited because I've wanted to try making soap for YEARS. It should also cut our expenses down a bit, which is always nice.

Please tell us about this, with pictures.

 

[jerryse]

We had frost. I have been planning on when to start winter squash seeds. I consider May 15 frost free. I think I will plant May 1. Should be ok by the time they sprout. If it does frost I can cover them.