What did you do in the garden today?

[akroberts1085]

Well, for THIS time of year. Weird that we're green still and not crunchy. not complaining mind you, but the FLIES in the barns are becoming a problem.

I feel ya. These stinking flies are about to cause me to lose what little bit of tolerance I have for bugs and insects. I'm now also getting baby horse flies, AKA (biting flies), it's really bad.

 

[Minanora]

This has been a really bad year for flies here, everyone I know in our local has agreed.

This was not my year for melons. But that is partially because of the chickens absolutely destroying them yesterday. I have one watermelon vine left and one cantaloupe plant.

For tomatoes, old German has put on 5 fruit. Amish paste are the size of softballs, federale is doing well and even Jersey devil has more fruit than last year, but I started the seeds for them instead of my SIL. My own hybrid paste is doing really well. Sunray is doing okay. Lucky tiger is happy. Green sausage is out of control.... So many.... But that plant is a nightmare to try to maintain. I let it go wild.

I got fruit on my ever bearing strawberries, Albion. But the honeye have only made runners. I will be adding more Albion, those are the best strawberries I've ever grown. Ate one today that was like eating a bite of jam.

My zucchini and summer squash sucked this year. I haven't replaced any, too busy.

Good year for garlic, beans and potatoes here. Plus stone fruit.

 

[Supercow]

Himrod seedless grapes, before and after

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I need to find a better way to water my shady section of the garden; the second sowing of peas are a third the size of the first, with a fraction of the pods. Either that or plant other things there, the parsley has been happy so far.

Third sowing have broken ground though!

 

[Sally PB]

Himrod seedless grapes, before and after

You make your own raisins? COOL! I'm might have to try that with some of my grapes.

 

[WthrLady]

I feel ya. These stinking flies are about to cause me to lose what little bit of tolerance I have for bugs and insects. I'm now also getting baby horse flies, AKA (biting flies), it's really bad.

I'm breaking down and spraying today. The hens are stuck inside due to the contractors and the flies drive me nuts, they have to be driving them nuts. The alpacas are wearing cattle tags with insecticide on them, and they're STILL overrun with flies.

They're just icky.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I use sweet PDZ on the poop boards in the old hens coop and don’t seem to have a problem with flies in there. I don’t use it very often in the young hens coop but yesterday the flies were swarming in the afternoon. I think I need to sprinkle some around them and see if that chases them away.
This morning’s haul: I started harvesting the black turtle beans. There were way more beans going into drying mode but my back was hurting from lifting the canner yesterday.

Chocolate cherry tomatoes ripening. Yay!

 

[Minanora]

I'm breaking down and spraying today. The hens are stuck inside due to the contractors and the flies drive me nuts, they have to be driving them nuts. The alpacas are wearing cattle tags with insecticide on them, and they're STILL overrun with flies.

They're just icky.

Are you using the Redmond garlic salt? It really helps the animals repel the flies. Or even just adding garlic powder to feed. I add garlic to everyone's food, even the dogs. Redmond also has the 10 fine garlic and mineral block. You can get that at TSC usually.

 

[Minanora]

I use sweet PDZ on the poop boards in the old hens coop and don’t seem to have a problem with flies in there.

I use pdz in my coop as well. I put it everywhere, just a sprinkle over the bedding every few days. No ammonia smell, no poo smell. My local hay and feed sells it in 50# bags for $17.

 

[Supercow]

You make your own raisins? COOL! I'm might have to try that with some of my grapes.

For sure. Just make sure you've got a seedless grape variety. Himrod has been great for us in a not particularly grape-friendly location (flat land given to early spring frosts) at latitude 46 N.

The raisins that I prepare are dark and quite hard because I dry them super thoroughly to avoid spoilage. I guess in principle it should be possible to get a brighter color (lemon juice / ascorbic acid bath) and a softer texture (shorter drying time, however I consider it risky) but the way I do it (3 days at 65 C, shuffle the plates every so often) is simple enough and everybody understands there's always the next thing demanding your attention.