What did you do in the garden today?

[akroberts1085]

@TJAnonymous @akroberts1085 , that's too hot!

Temperature is ramping up here. High of 86 tomorrow, and Sunday 98 degrees is forecasted. Kind of hot for the Pacific Northwest.

I created shade for my peas by placing boards above the vines. With the gaps I left between them I'm guessing the boards are blocking around 70% of the sunshine.
I'll try to post a pic later.

Right now the peas are in prime production mode. Hopefully the shading will keep the plants cool enough that they don't get stressed. I might even spray them with water during the heat of the day to cool them off.

ETA: It's later now... I need to replace the wide piece of cement board with narrow boards.

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I would love to be at 86 right now. It was 100 by 11 ish or so. Too stinking HOT. To go outside I have to get out there and back in the house quick because the heat just causes my entire body to feel like I have just ran a marathon.

 

[Sally PB]

Today I was weeding, and making GREAT progress. Then something crawled down my lower back and I yelped and swiped. It was still there, so I was peeling off my sweat-stuck pants and shirt to get it out. I was afraid it was a yellow jacket, as I've seen them around.

I think it was a deer fly, or maybe a regular fly. Not a yellow jacket as that would have been a scream worthy event, not just a yelp.

Even if the neighbor had been in the front yard, I was screened by lots of trees and bushes. At that moment, I didn't care, I just had to get the bug off me.

 

[akroberts1085]

Today I was weeding, and making GREAT progress. Then something crawled down my lower back and I yelped and swiped. It was still there, so I was peeling off my sweat-stuck pants and shirt to get it out. I was afraid it was a yellow jacket, as I've seen them around.

I think it was a deer fly, or maybe a regular fly. Not a yellow jacket as that would have been a scream worthy event, not just a yelp.

Even if the neighbor had been in the front yard, I was screened by lots of trees and bushes. At that moment, I didn't care, I just had to get the bug off me.

I wouldn't have had any protection from my neighbors seeing me but I would have lost my clothes just the same. Did you see the Cinnamon milk recipe I posted. It's supposed to be for powdery mildew and black spots.

 

[Sally PB]

Did you see the Cinnamon milk recipe I posted. It's supposed to be for powdery mildew and black spots.

Yes! Thanks. I copied it and saved it in my "garden info" folder.

 

[Sally PB]

Oh, I dug up the sick looking rhubarb. I don't know what crown rot looks like, but suspect that is what is going on.

I really hope the other two are ok. The rhubarb jam I made is really good, and I want to make it every year out of my own rhubarb.

 

[fuzzi]

Got home from work, upper 80s but not overly humid, so I decided to tackle mowing the yard. Some areas are brown from the drought and heat, but other areas are knee-high in grass and weeds. I got the southwest corner done, around the coop, and around the raised beds. I dumped it in the run, then decided to get some more done...and discovered where the Yellow Jackets have their nest. Argh.

I was only stung once, thankfully, but I had to stop mowing to put ice on the ankle.

Yellow Jackets are so nasty and aggressive, I'd like to nuke'em.

 

[akroberts1085]

Oh, I dug up the sick looking rhubarb. I don't know what crown rot looks like, but suspect that is what is going on.

I really hope the other two are ok. The rhubarb jam I made is really good, and I want to make it every year out of my own rhubarb.

Can you please post the recipe for it? I'm going to try growing Rhubarb next year. I don't know if I have ever had it so I might as well.

 

[akroberts1085]

Yes! Thanks. I copied it and saved it in my "garden info" folder.

You're welcome. I came across it I think in an email so I decided to write it down and I also wrote down 3 or 4 other things for the garden.

 

[Sally PB]

Can you please post the recipe for it? I'm going to try growing Rhubarb next year. I don't know if I have ever had it so I might as well.

Sure. I tweaked it from the recipe I found online. This is a tangy jam. The sugar is about 40% less than the original recipe.

RHUBARB JAM

12 cups rhubarb, cut into small pieces
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/8 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Put the rhubarb and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Cover and let rest in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight. The sugar will draw liquid out of the rhubarb.

Pour the rhubarb/sugar mix into a large stainless steel or enamel pan. Add the lemon juice and cinnamon. (Don't use an aluminum pan, as it will react with the lemon juice.)

Bring to a boil, lower heat, and boil 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn heat down to low, and continue cooking until thickened. Stir often to keep mixture from scorching.

When it's a jam-like consistency, pour into clean, sterile, half-pint jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes. If you want to do pint jars, process for 15 minutes.

I think this made about 3 pints...?

I want to try putting some cloves in it next year. Just a bit, as a little clove goes a long way. I'd try 1/4 teaspoon in this recipe.

 

[akroberts1085]

Banana Peel: Chop the peel and put in a bowl fill with water and let it soak for 1 hour. I'm a dope bc I didn't write down what it's for. Coffee Grounds: Put used coffee grounds in a bowl add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 c club soda. Add to soil every 2 weeks. Hard Boiled Egg Water: Allow to cool completely then add to plants. It's good for calcium. Tea Bag: Cut the tea bag open and add 1 TBSP oats. Put in a cup and fill with boiling water. Steep for 1 hour. Strain. This is good for nitrogen loving plants.