What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Wow, peaches already huh? What did you can - like sliced peaches or pie filling or something?
Curious as this is my first year that my peach tree has produced. I don't know if I'll get anything tho, I just thinned the peaches & a bunch have teeth marks (stupid squirrels) and the rest are oozing. I have peach leaf curl & need to treat in the fall, but I'm hoping for a few anyway.

I did a mix... Sliced peaches in water, some in syrup, and some pie filling. This was also the first year mine has really produced. We got 3 peaches last year but they were so wormy that they were useless. This year, we've had so many that I lost dozens a day to squirrels and it didn't matter. I think all the rain we've had created a bumper crop. This variety is called Belle of Georgia. I have a Redhaven too but it won't be ready for harvest until August, I think.

As for my attempts at organic peaches, I definitely lost the battle. Nylons were useless. Clemson bags were a little better but peaches didn't ripen the same with the bags on. Skins were thicker and didn't peel off easily, even after blanching. Every peach had bug damage and over half had worms. I think if I want peaches with less damage, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and actually spray every other week. It just hate the chemicals, cost, and time suck.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I was feeding chickens this morning and thought I had a dead hen. She's one who has pretty much stopped eating already and I don't think she is going to be around for very long. She was laying on her side, legs splayed, eyes half open, beak gaping. She didn't even move when I stepped right beside her. I was certain she had finally passed... But nope... Just playing possum. I did separate her with some food and water, just to keep the roosters from harassing her.

 

[dirkandlorie]

I was feeding chickens this morning and thought I had a dead hen. She's one who has pretty much stopped eating already and I don't think she is going to be around for very long. She was laying on her side, legs splayed, eyes half open, beak gaping. She didn't even move when I stepped right beside her. I was certain she had finally passed... But nope... Just playing possum. I did separate her with some food and water, just to keep the roosters from harassing her.

That poor baby, was it the heat that's doing her in?

 

[chicken opey]

I have a chicken question.
My middle chicks born in April, 9 weeks old, fully feathered and beautiful. I sexed them w help of others a few weeks ago - 2 pullets, 4 cockerels - 2 undecided.
Shouldn’t the cockerels be crowing or making crowing noises by now?

 

[5.3acredream]

I heard the low-to-the-ground humming buzz that I associate with Japanese beetles showing up. Usually I don't see them until around the 4th of July. I don't think I've ever seen them in June.

I found my culprit and as luck would have it, it's in the same family! Asiatic beetles have been eating my roses and beans. So I ended up spraying the Bt anyway since it will take care of ALL the beetles (supposedly). I need to get a dust buster for my war efforts.

 

[Sueby]

I heard the low-to-the-ground humming buzz that I associate with Japanese beetles showing up. Usually I don't see them until around the 4th of July. I don't think I've ever seen them in June.

I was surprised, it seems so early. I found it dead, floating in the dogs outdoor water bowl. They aren't here en masse yet, but it won't be long.

I did a mix... Sliced peaches in water, some in syrup, and some pie filling. This was also the first year mine has really produced. We got 3 peaches last year but they were so wormy that they were useless. This year, we've had so many that I lost dozens a day to squirrels and it didn't matter. I think all the rain we've had created a bumper crop. This variety is called Belle of Georgia. I have a Redhaven too but it won't be ready for harvest until August, I think.

As for my attempts at organic peaches, I definitely lost the battle. Nylons were useless. Clemson bags were a little better but peaches didn't ripen the same with the bags on. Skins were thicker and didn't peel off easily, even after blanching. Every peach had bug damage and over half had worms. I think if I want peaches with less damage, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and actually spray every other week. It just hate the chemicals, cost, and time suck.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with peach issues, lol. I had SO many peaches too but the tree is young so I knocked off a lot of them so branches don't break. I guess I'll have to wait a little longer to see how they develop & see if I need to do more treatment to keep them heathy, I don't really want to have to spray either. Because they are oozing I saw lots of ants. @Wee Farmer Sarah the tree seems to be getting worse with the leaf curl, I see a couple damaged branches so I will spray with copper in the fall. I probably need to feed it at some point too. I'll have to research that.

 

[Rick589]

That poor baby, was it the heat that's doing her in?

Does anyone ever want to do anything or even move in hot humid weather?

 

[Rick589]

I have a chicken question.
My middle chicks born in April, 9 weeks old, fully feathered and beautiful. I sexed them w help of others a few weeks ago - 2 pullets, 4 cockerels - 2 undecided.
Shouldn’t the cockerels be crowing or making crowing noises by now?

Seems to me my roosters started their practice runs when a few weeks older than yours. Even if your two unknowns are girls your four hen total is going to get beat up with a one to one ratio. Once the crowing starts with four roosters you’ll stand a good chance of having the incessant crowing competitions, at least we did with just two boys.

 

[Paz]

I have a chicken question.
My middle chicks born in April, 9 weeks old, fully feathered and beautiful. I sexed them w help of others a few weeks ago - 2 pullets, 4 cockerels - 2 undecided.
Shouldn’t the cockerels be crowing or making crowing noises by now?

It depends. I had a rooster, Sexless, who started at around nine months, and he wasn’t doing it much until his brother became soup, and his lesbian flockmate became my dog’s food. (My dog used to be a killer). I had him for over three years I think, and he was the best cock I’ve ever had. Not that Tan, my current guy is a bad rooster, of course. Tan started crowing at around three months old. Jupiter (Sexless’s brother) at 6 months old. And the rest I don’t remember.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

The wee beasties asked me to get up early so I did. The temperature was 76F at 5:30 am. It almost felt cool. My big garden including the lettuce looks good. So relieved. Everything else is looking good. I made more ice for the chickens and started one load of laundry. Other than watering the fruit trees and flowers in the front yard and taking care of the chickens and dogs I’m not doing anything else but sweating today. I’m sorry about your leaf curl @Sueby. The first year I had it on my peach tree I removed the affected leaves and put them in the trash. It still comes back every year but only for a short time. I do spray with neem oil so perhaps that has an effect on it.