What did you do in the garden today?

[Rick589]

I considered making refrigerator pickles but thought it would be good to start getting reacquainted with the water bath processing process. I plan on doing a lot of it this summer.

I thought about making shelf stable pickles at one point but went with refrigerator pickles just because I think a non-cooked pickle tastes better. Of course, the downside is that, because we make so many, they take up a lot of refrigerator acreage. But, this is one of several reasons why we have a second fridge.

All 14 chickens got a couple hours of free ranging time this evening. The three different age groups are starting to get along with each other pretty well now. The youngest four include three cockerels, and they're almost as big as the others now, but their hormones haven't kicked in yet. It'll be happening soon, and the change in flock dynamics will be interesting to watch.

Now that you brought chickens up. I’ve recently noticed that one of our hens, of course the one that is the friendliest to me, has taken to having an issue with our two new peeps. No issues to speak of when they’re out and about but once they go in for the night she seems to, with intent, go after them. If she’s on a roost and the peeps come in she will, at times, jump off the roost just to peck at them. None of the others do this including the rooster, in fact the rest of the flock acts as if they don’t care that they’re there.

 

[Rick589]

Temps have been nice here for this week so far, in the 70’s, with the added bonus of actually being able to see the sun. Yesterday evening we gathered up the spent cucumber plants, weeded around the watermelon and cantaloupe. The loupes are nearly done as are the watermelon which are needing to pulled within the next few days at the latest. Pulled another 3-4 pounds of tomatoes to get ready for another batch of canned ‘maters. Fall peas will be in the ground within the week and the sweet potatoes are developing nicely with an anticipated harvest around the end of September at the earliest.

 

[Molpet]

I thought about making shelf stable pickles at one point but went with refrigerator pickles just because I think a non-cooked pickle tastes better. Of course, the downside is that, because we make so many, they take up a lot of refrigerator acreage. But, this is one of several reasons why we have a second fridge.

Now that you brought chickens up. I’ve recently noticed that one of our hens, of course the one that is the friendliest to me, has taken to having an issue with our two new peeps. No issues to speak of when they’re out and about but once they go in for the night she seems to, with intent, go after them. If she’s on a roost and the peeps come in she will, at times, jump off the roost just to peck at them. None of the others do this including the rooster, in fact the rest of the flock acts as if they don’t care that they’re there.

Usually it's the lowest ranking hens that picks on the littles here. I have 2 chasing eight 10 weeks olds, 3 are CX and bigger than the bully.
I harvested the biggest CX this morning before all this chasing caused a heart attack. She dressed out at 8 lbs 10oz.

 

[dirkandlorie]

No, just make lime water, and gently lower each fresh egg into the container ( they need to be covered by at least 2 inches of lime water) I had collected many eggs and when I put another one in, heard a crack, I couldn’t see into the pot and hoped all was well, after a few days, all the eggs had spoiled cos one egg had cracked thats why I wrote „carefully“!

Thank you, should I try putting them in quart mason jars in case one breaks? Lessen my chances of losing them all?

 

[Sally PB]

Looks like I’m finally going to be getting some loofah flowers soon!

They take a LONG time to grow. I can barely get any in my climate, and I start them inside around April 1st. In three years of trying, I got ONE loofah. This year I decided to skip it.

so trying my hand at waterglassing this year. My pickling lime arrived and I have a 1 gallon jar to use for waterglassing, but have a question for those who've done this before. Can I just mix up the lime water, put it in the jar, and add eggs as I collect them?

That's how I do it. I use a pasta scoop thingie to lower them in/take them out. It's just a cheap plastic one; I don't use it for anything else.

Thank you, should I try putting them in quart mason jars in case one breaks? Lessen my chances of losing them all?

I would recommend this. I had one break in a gallon jar. I don't know how long it sat there, but I figured it out due to the smell. I threw out everything in the jar, as I wasn't taking any chances that the rest were still safe. I buried them out in the field, and flies were all over the eggs before I could put any dirt over them.

 

[OnlySympathy]

Look at this wonderful watermelon my neighbor got before camping. We were all dying after cutting it open. I was saying that I need to grow some next year to prevent this from happening again

 

[OnlySympathy]

They take a LONG time to grow. I can barely get any in my climate, and I start them inside around April 1st. In three years of trying, I got ONE loofah. This year I decided to skip it

I started mine late April but I still have around 80 days before frost so I’m hoping to at least get a couple. If I get one I will be happy

 

[Rick589]

Look at this wonderful watermelon my neighbor got before camping. We were all dying after cutting it open. I was saying that I need to grow some next year to prevent this from happening again View attachment 4193259

Did they buy it? Bad enough when you grow them and harvest too soon but worse when you pay, often times way too much, for them.

 

[OnlySympathy]

Did they buy it? Bad enough when you grow them and harvest too soon but worse when you pay, often times way too much, for them.

Yeah they bought it. We all agree that it was well worth it for the laugh

 

[dirkandlorie]

They take a LONG time to grow. I can barely get any in my climate, and I start them inside around April 1st. In three years of trying, I got ONE loofah. This year I decided to skip it.

That's how I do it. I use a pasta scoop thingie to lower them in/take them out. It's just a cheap plastic one; I don't use it for anything else.

I would recommend this. I had one break in a gallon jar. I don't know how long it sat there, but I figured it out due to the smell. I threw out everything in the jar, as I wasn't taking any chances that the rest were still safe. I buried them out in the field, and flies were all over the eggs before I could put any dirt over them.

Thank you, think I'm ready to start with the eggs I collect today. I just love a new experiment, wish me luck y'all!