What did you do in the garden today?

[cj2024]

My lettuce has become over grown. I really need to pick it through to thin it out. The chooks will get some fresh crisp lettuce tomorrow for a treat!

 

[cj2024]

DH thinks his Tai Dragon Chili is an over-achiever

View attachment 4153757

1st cucumber today got chopped up for the hens!

I made a cup of hot chili pepper water and got addicted to it.
I used 1tbs coarse Hawaiian salt, 1tbs sugar, 2tbs rice vinegar, 1tsp minced garlic, handful of hot red chili peppers, 1 cup of water, and pureed it in a blender. I use it as a dip for fish and other meat.

 

[chicken opey]

I have never grown Lima beans. I like them but never thought to plant any! Are they easy like a regular bean?

I like the bush variety bc it’s very hardy and can grow in lil soil. Mine are in a tall container so I don’t have to bend over. Next time I need more than 4 if the fam wants some too at same time

 

[Rick589]

I like the bush variety bc it’s very hardy and can grow in lil soil. Mine are in a tall container so I don’t have to bend over. Next time I need more than 4 if the fam wants some too at same time

What is the secret? I’ve attempted limas several times and although I get good plants they never produce any pods, and my nitrogen is actually on the low side.

 

[Rick589]

Pulled a few more rows of Red Pontiac potatoes this morning and a few more blackberries from a rogue bush. This rogue bush, which I planted years ago,is actually the one that we took cuttings from to plant our ‘proper row’ of shrubs. We allowed it to go wild next to the shed for the chickens but our Prima Donnas have decided they no longer have interest in blackberries…………….
unless broken up and hand fed to them.
Just one more chicken/human interaction confirming that chickens, like cats, have staff.

 

[Sally PB]

what do you do with your birds?!

I wet down the dirt in the run where they like to dustbathe.

Sometimes I do give them chilled fruit, like watermelon.

I do this too. Watermelon with seeds, so they get those as an extra treat.

This article, by our late, great member Aart has good advice.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[Rick589]

Noticed that our blackberries and raspberries have, after a ripening surge, have slowed down. Temps have been hot, not sure if that factors in.

 

[jerryse]

Picked more raspberries about 5 quarts. Heat advisory. I got my Artic Cool T-shirt on today. Pic of my purple raspberry bush and my Adara plum graft has about 5 feet of growth.

 

[Molpet]

I got my Artic Cool T-shirt on today.

are they worth the money?

 

[Sylvester017]

Trimmed and thinned the tomatoes for air circulation and pulled the lettuce. My beans are growing..finally! Lucky I even got that done- 100 degrees and crazy wind, plus my husband had a full shoulder replacement surgery yesterday - so my garden will have to wait. Oh- I did see SVB eggs on my Table King Acorn squash plants. Need to order some BT! I wonder what it would be like to be able to say " oh what shall I do with all my time since I don't have any SVB or cabbage moths to deal with?" Hahah

Get well wishes to your DH!!!

I broke my right humerus last yr & had surgery to put a brace & pins to connect the bone. It was a 24-hr job for DH to care for me as my arm was in a sling for over 8 months. DH took a yr off work to care for me. His benefits ran out & got a new job! That's dedication! Otherwise the ER wanted to put me in a care facility but insurance benefits are limited!

DH took over planting our garden 100% this past yr since I was incapacitated. I'm slowly returning to small chores w/therapy but he's mostly handling the gardens & chickens now.

He was so happy picking the 1st cucumber yesterday & chopping it up for the hens.

Today he harvested a Black Beauty zucchini for our dinner.

Does anyone know why there are white spots on the zucchini leaves? I've had zucchini a couple seasons & get white leaf spots/mold? or is that normal? The fruit is fine but the leaves get spotted.