What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

I walked the garden and decided I need to deep mulch again this year, probably 30 bags worth. I've put it down rather thin the past couple of years.
I let the hens run rampant in there for the day.
I also cleaned out 26 birdhouses, sprayed them and hung up 6 more. I did have one that was beyond repair and tossed that.
The purple Martin gourds are now empty, sprayed, and up again too.

The girls and I painted up some birdhouse gourds and put them out for the birds. However the only thing that nested there was wasps. Any suggestions on how to deter wasps without also deterring birds?

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

Got my new shop light grow lights set up and most everything moved under them. I need to try starting another batch of marigolds this weekend, the last batch had terrible germination rates.

 

[igorsMistress]

I walked the garden this afternoon while our son was checking out our shade setup. More corn sprouts today, broccoli is growing flowers and the last two Armenian cukes came up. I don’t like the look of some of the leaves on the brassicas so I’m going to pull the mulch in that bed, and the three small ones, and replace it with the seeding straw. That’s all I did out there. Oh, and I noticed the grass is starting to turn green.

 

[chickengr]

we had some rain tonight. hope it watered our thirsty soil and didn't flood the coops.

 

[WthrLady]

The girls and I painted up some birdhouse gourds and put them out for the birds. However the only thing that nested there was wasps. Any suggestions on how to deter wasps without also deterring birds?

birds deter wasps.
So if the hole is the wrong size, birds won't move in. If birds move in, the wasps won't.
Although I have grackles that moved into my owl box, but if an owl moves in, then I consider the grackles a snack bar in the den. LOL

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Still over a foot of snow in the yard and taller berms here and there. The snow melt is finally trickling down into the soil and the sump pump is working. The snow pack around the fruit trees might be low enough tomorrow that I can plan on pruning them and putting down the pellet stove ash. There's still several days in the forecast where the overnight temps are in the single digits or teens so no planting inside the front covered porch yet.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

Can you explain what this is and why you do it?

When my baby pepper plants get around 6 leaves or so I pinch the top two sets of leaves off with the little stem . This helps to make them have more branches for them set fruit on. When I don't do it I get a tall pepper plant that is more apt to get top heavy and break. This is just what I find to be successful in my garden to get lots of peppers. May not be for everyone, but look into it and maybe try a couple for an experiment! If you're starting seeds I always suggest a few weeks early if topping for them to recover and push out side branches!

 

[igorsMistress]

I watered today because the soil was kinda dry and I need to fertilize tomorrow. There’s a sunchoke sprout, more corn (and a mushroom), and more onions too. DH is going out of town tomorrow so I’m spending time with him today, but I can’t wait to get out in the garden and get some more done. That rotten bird pullled up an onion sprout serves it right, punk.

 

[igorsMistress]

When my baby pepper plants get around 6 leaves or so I pinch the top two sets of leaves off with the little stem . This helps to make them have more branches to them set fruit on. When I don't do it I get a tall pepper plant that is more apt to get top heavy and break. This is just what I find to be successful in my garden to get lots of peppers. May not be for everyone, but look into it and maybe try a couple for an experiment! If you're starting seeds I always suggest a few weeks early if topping for them to recover and push out side branches!

Yup, fruit grows on the side branches and not the main stem. This forces the plant to put on more side growth giving more opportunity for flowers and fruit.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

Yup, fruit grows on the side branches and not the main stem. This forces the plant to put on more side growth giving more opportunity for flowers and fruit.

Exactly!