The Castle Rock MARE-TERNITY WARD

Message Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Holly on May 01, 2016, 06:58:01 PM

Title: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on May 01, 2016, 06:58:01 PM: I Love to veggie garden! This year I have a 40 x 60 area set aside to garden in, so far have Cukes, Zukes summer squash, green beans tomatos, okra, of many different varieties planted, Have even been harvesting already!

Who else gardens?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on May 01, 2016, 07:05:17 PM: I have a black thumb, so no garden here. I'm happy when the violas pop up on their own.

Do like the garden fresh veggies, when I can get them.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on May 01, 2016, 07:09:52 PM: Oh no!!
I grew up with a garden, but when I started my own a few years ago I had so much ( and still do ) to learn..... Ive recently found a tomato variety that should thrive in this Texas heat!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on May 01, 2016, 08:55:23 PM: I grew up on a farm in New York, and we had a big garden, an orchard of all kinds of apples and pears, a concord grape arbor, rhubarb as high as the first story of our 3 story barn, huge blackberry and raspberry patches, and the wonderful northern strawberries -- both domesticated and those tiny wild ones (they were the best!!). But here in Florida, its so hard to get anything to survive the extreme heat.

But, I used to run my horses in a smaller paddock over the winter here, so in the spring, I could set up a new garden in this horrid Florida sand! But with good horse manure, things did grow, but certainly not as nicely as they did in the colder temperatures!!

You'll have to keep us posted on how things go for you!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Anna on May 02, 2016, 03:40:25 AM: I garden - well not strictly 'garden' as my plants are all in pots right now waiting until we get a new garden organised once the house construction has been finished. Last year we did make a small garden in the corner of one of the fields to mark the area where some of our beloved animals have been buried - still got some more planting up to do over there once the weather warms up. But I'm a plant person, never seem to have much luck with veggies I'm afraid - all my fresh veggies come from the local village stores :-[
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Renée on May 02, 2016, 03:52:37 AM: I like to garden even though I don't know much and the temperatures here make it hard. We get serious heat in the summer and then snow in the winter so it is hard to find plants that do well. I like Anna am more a flower gardener than a veggie gardener but my youngest keeps on at me to start growing some food so maybe I will get organised. At the moment we just have our herbs and tomatoes in pots.
How about sharing some pics to give me ideas. ;)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on May 02, 2016, 01:53:05 PM: I have some things in pots, like the asparagus, because its my first year growing it and I am not positive where I can put it permanently just yet. I have some jalapenos, coolepenos, green peppers and banana peppers in a few pots, I have onion and cilantro , some other herbs in select areas. The majority is cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes and green beans...
Please excuse the mess in the yard, weve had serious flooding and all the water is piled against my horse fence, and still 6 inches deep, cant get there to rake it out, going to have to do major clean up!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 02, 2016, 07:44:09 PM: Ace Holly !!

I also love to garden , more though in the summer than the winter here. I have some photos of my veggie garden that Ill find and add :)

My biggest Zhuccini was nearly 2m long . Theres nothing better than fresh veggies grown by yourself :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on May 02, 2016, 08:47:01 PM: WOW, Ryan! That sounds HUGE !! Can't wait to see the pictures!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 03, 2016, 07:57:09 PM: Some of the things I grew during the summer months here. :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on May 03, 2016, 08:39:06 PM: Love it Ryan!!
I see you7 do raised beds too, I am slowly switching over, so much easier on the back!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on May 03, 2016, 08:42:26 PM: Wonderful Ryan! Looks just yummy. I miss gardening, and all the fresh veggies, but here, the Florida heat is hard on growing, unless you want to do lots of special work to protect the plants. Years ago, I probably would have fought harder to grow things, but I'll try some "cold weather" veggies in the late fall and see how it goes again. Those veggies have my mouth watering !!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 03, 2016, 09:18:52 PM: Thankyou ladies :)

Yeah I switched to raised beds last year and it really did make a massive difference.

Im learning each year what works and what doesnt here, what needs support and what likes to be eaten by the ducks and rabbits.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on May 03, 2016, 09:34:37 PM: It has been trial and error here too... I dont know if yall like pickles or pickled things , But I have a very yummy cucumber pickle receipt...

for a full 1 gallon container, I fill with fresh cut cukes,
I use 1/3 a package of Mrs Wages Kosher Dill Pickle seasoning1-2 cups vinegar depending on how much you like vinegar, 1/2 -1 cup sugar depending on how sweet you like it, and I heat that up til disolved, pour into container over cukes, add water to fill, screw on lid tip a few times , let sit 24 hrs then start snacking...
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 31, 2016, 07:57:34 PM: Hows your veggies coming along Holly ? :)

Ive opted not to plant anything over the winter months here. I Put some lettuce, Baby cauliflowers and broccoli in , but woke to the rabbits had had a three course meal with them, so Im just going to work on fencing for around the raised garden beds so I can plant them out without feeding the local wildlife come summer :)

(which I wish would hurry up ) ;pray
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Rocklone on May 31, 2016, 07:58:31 PM: I planted three tomato plants. Ive had a skin rash ever since. I god damn hate tomatoes anyway.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 31, 2016, 08:00:34 PM: Take a pic , just in case anyone says you should be gardening , you will have the photo to prove your "Allergic to it " :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Rocklone on May 31, 2016, 08:02:55 PM: haha i should!

Worst part is i have a degree in countryside management so should be able to plat all this stuff successfully. I did plant some lilies and marigolds. They're alive.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on May 31, 2016, 09:36:07 PM: Well, we're headed for summer here! It's been in the 90's, with some scattered rain. For me, I wish it would cool off, but that won't come for many months.

This past weekend, I didn't do the veggies, but planted lots of plants in front of my house, and started the bush and plant clean up I should have done in the spring, before the sap started rising. But, leave it to me, to always be a bit "behind the 8 ball" when it comes to getting things done out in the hot sun!!

I'm still going to try a few tomatoes, but I'm thinking in those "upside down" hanging planters. Thought I'd give them a try for some "cherry" tomatoes. At least the critters won't eat them!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on May 31, 2016, 11:49:07 PM: Sounds great Diane , Love cherry tomatoes :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Renée on June 01, 2016, 04:26:06 AM: I am behind as well this year. I am not going to do the full blown veggie patch this year but probably just some tomatoes and strawberries to keep the boys happy. I did manage to keep my geraniums alive this winter and they are starting to come back nicely. I will take some pics of my garden when it stops raining. My parents are due to arrive on Monday and every single time they visit it rains. It is totally insane cos where I live it hardly ever rains. All my friends think it is funny and as soon as it rains they say" so when did your mum get her?" Luckily she only comes once a year. lol
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on September 20, 2016, 11:10:38 PM: Bumping this back up as i get excited for the better weather :)

Holly, how did your veggie garden do this year ? And Diane did you get many Tomatoes ?

Ive just planted some strawberry varieties. Chose to plant them into a half wine barrel this year.

Pineapple strawberry, bubblegum strawberry, razzberry strawberry. They sound great , so i have my fingers crossed they produce fruit :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on September 21, 2016, 05:57:58 AM: Oh, those sound yummy, Ryan. I've never heard of those varieties. You're going to have to tell us about them.

My plans for tomatoes just never materialized. I did buy the hanging planters, but never got around to planting. Even did my outside gardening in my front yard, which looked lovely, but at vacation time while I was away, my house-sitter didn't water, and things died in the hot Florida heat. So, I pruned back some things, but many just needed to be pulled and new plants started.

Can't wait to hear about those strawberries!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on September 21, 2016, 10:36:38 AM: Strawberries, YUMMMM !
Diane sorry you lost you other garden stuff!
Our veggie garden did fantastic, we ended up with 6 rows green beans harvested, close to 15 zucchini plants, quite a few squash, many , many cucumbers, and new plants from cukes I missed that started their own plants , so I am actually getting cukes again, several dozens of tomatoes, made some salsa. Started the asperagus this year. My okra was a failure, Jalapenos did ok, stayed to small to stuff.
I am thinking a fall pea garden would be wonderful!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on September 21, 2016, 06:00:16 PM: Holly, what part of the world are you in? What varieties, and how, are you planting for fall peas?

Only got tomatoes planted here too! Mine are in cinder block planters along the walkway. I have two cherry tomatoes, and two regular size, all heirloom types. We've not had many the last couple months. Partly due to heat and partly to being a bit too shady. They're coming on like gangbusters now though! I find I like tomatoes very much...when they're homegrown and have flavor.

I'll take any suggestions for what to plant going into fall and early winter. I may be doing a bit of cold-framing, to see HOW to do it. Also to determine WHAT I can be successful with.

So far, this property seems willing to produce, as long as I say my prayers and thank it for what it gives me. For that, I'm truly grateful.

To finish......

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING to our forum friends Ryan and Carly Are (and others) who are down and under!!

Happy first day of Autumn for us. ;-)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on September 21, 2016, 06:30:18 PM: Fall is good for those "cold" veggies -- zucchini, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, any of the squashes. And fabulous about the seasons, I completely forgot. :(

(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss323/Euler5853/happyfalll2272726.gif) (http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt244/cherie313/HPYSPRING.jpg)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on September 21, 2016, 07:15:17 PM: Im rather happy that the seasons are changing , its been a very wet and cold last few months.

Rule of thumb ( old wives tale) is to plant your summer veggies on Melbourne Cup Day here, which is the first Tuesday in Nov. I like to wait a couple of extra weeks just to make sure the morning frosts are gone , my cucumbers and zucchinis always seem to take a bashing from the frost.

So this year im planting , Cucumbers, zucchinis, variety of large tomatoes, spring onions , Corn , Lettuces, Rocket, Capsicums, chili, snow peas and green beans. Maybe some cherry tomatoes in large pots.

Im also going to plant some herbs of basil, coriander, Thyme, garlic chives.

Sorry to hear you lost some plants from the heat Diane.

Julie , you are right , home grown tomatoes have so much more flavor when grown yourself and good thing is they will grow in pots :)

Holly how do you make your salsa ? I really want to make a pasta sauce I can bottle from the tomatoes I harvest this year and would love to try a salsa too :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on September 21, 2016, 08:39:08 PM: Where I am, the rule of thumb is plant after Mother's Day (second Sunday in May), and it's usually best to add a couple weeks to that.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on September 27, 2016, 12:13:45 AM: Who can tell me what this lovely piece of Antique farming equipment is ?

I have alot through the garden at home, this is definitely my favorite.

I think it is an old hay baler, there are massive spikes under the little flowers at the front that Ive covered with a little garden :)

Id love to know the year that this originates from :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on September 27, 2016, 05:56:50 AM: My vote would be hay baler too. How unique!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on September 27, 2016, 09:14:04 AM: I am in Texas, USA. NE of Houston.
I am trying peas in the fall because our spring is so short lived and the poor peas burn up heading into the warmer weather. So I thought, try them after the heat headed towards colder weather. I dont know if it will work, but its worth a try.
I havent planted yet, our weather is still 90 degrees w/out heat index. I still have some squash and cucumbers producing.
And that hay baler is amazing!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on October 24, 2016, 03:53:01 PM: We planted our fall garden!
Sweet peas, surgar snap peas, snow peas, carrots spinach and broccoli. Everything is starting to come up and its been a week. First time at fall gardening so hope it works out!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on October 24, 2016, 05:44:16 PM: Hope it grows wonderfully!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on October 24, 2016, 07:30:17 PM: Good Luck Holly , Hope you get a massive crop :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on October 25, 2016, 01:03:33 PM: I do too, its always challenging the first time you try a new garden, so much to learn. I love fresh peas so really wanting to be able to have enough to freeze!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on October 25, 2016, 04:02:23 PM: I love fresh veggies and what you've planted sounds wonderful!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on October 25, 2016, 05:38:12 PM: Grab some Pics when everything is growing Holly , would love to see how everything's growing for you :)

Hope you get plenty so that your able to freeze :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on November 03, 2016, 12:23:14 AM: I supposedly have the little rotary hoe coming home this weekend. I gave it to someone to borrow last year and I think they forgot they had it.

It comes in really handy to turn the soil over and to mix in the chicken and cow manure.

As we still seem to be in the middle of winter here ( we are four weeks away from summer ) Im glad I havent planted anything yet. Most would of failed due to the frost.

Im ready now for the weather to start getting warmer ;pray
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on November 04, 2016, 08:59:44 AM: We're having such a mild fall, things are growing like mad! I planted my fall garden at my neighbors, so I will get pics when I go over, if I remember!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on November 04, 2016, 08:55:48 PM: Yes, Holly, do share pics please. I'll have to vicariously enjoy everyone else's fall and Southern Hemisphere gardens. With the arrival of our niece, and all of the rain events the last 6 weeks, I haven't been able to nurture anything more than the tomatoes I already had. Of my herbs, only the mint managed to survive the drenching. Good thing it did too! It's been the primary ingredient in a chamomile and mint tea my niece needs for her upset stomach. Thanks, Nature!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on November 07, 2016, 04:05:29 PM: I keep forgetting to get pictures! My neighbor and I planted in her garden as we didnt need 2 going. I will try to remember next time I head over there!!

I wish there was a variety of tomato for winter, they are one of my faves!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 01, 2017, 07:52:57 PM: Ive had plenty of fruit this year, a couple of trees that produced plenty last year have not this year so ill be keeping a close eye on them for next year.

Apples, Pears, nectarines, almonds so far and just waiting on my "Nashi Pear" for the fruit to grow. By far, my fav fruit tree :)

Im hoping to have the soil in the veggie gardens removed and fresh soil ordered and ready to go for winter, Just waiting on the Bob cat to come home.

I have really missed having fresh veggies out of the garden, just didnt want to over do it over the summer with my coccyx the way it is.

Hows your winter crop coming along Holly ?

Anyone else have anything in at the moment ?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 02, 2017, 05:10:59 PM: Not here, but certainly thinking about it again. We've had "cold" weather here, down in the low 30's - 40's at night (not really cold if you're from up north like me), but I'm thinking of a spring garden, because the summer here gets too hot for much to grow and not get burned out.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 05, 2017, 08:10:55 PM: Hubby bought a rototiller for Valentine's days lol!! Tilled garden once so far, going to bring in a load of dirt and add some fertilizer and till again. We are loaded with clay so using it as a base to build apon.
Meanwhile the broccoli was all that survived the winter. Soon to harvest.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 07, 2017, 05:07:07 PM: Last year I put chicken and cow manure into the soil to add some nutrients before planting. Then through the growing process, I used a seaweed based product.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 09, 2017, 05:06:31 PM: Ive heard good results from doing that!
I usually throw in my kitchen scraps all winter, along with all used horse bedding and manure. I also throw in a bag of alfalfa cubes ( 50 lbs) right before the final till.
We use a lot of DE also I find it helps a lot.
I have all my seeds bought, and already got my tomatoes. A bit more top do and we will be planting ready.

Turns out we didnt harvest the broccoli in time... it all went wonky in a few days, but we did learn something!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 09, 2017, 05:36:26 PM: Would never have thought to add some alfalfa to the soil. Guessing it adds good drainage to the soil ?

Sorry to hear about the broccoli. Similar story, I grew some lettuces a couple of years ago and they were the most amazing looking lettuces I had ever seen. I kept thinking , ill just leave them for one more day and the day I decided to go out and pick them they went from lettuces to arugula , I was devastated :(

So until I can enclose one of the beds , i cant grow anything that the ducks like

There is nothing better than a homegrown tomato Holly, are you trying different varieties ?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 09, 2017, 09:49:27 PM: Alfalfa adds calcium and makes a nice rich organic compost. Calcium Helps keep tomatoes from splitting.
We have so much clay that I add as much organic compost as I possibly can each season. Thankfully horse poo is abundant as well as leaves. Lol
I am doing celebrity tomatoes again, (12) and I am trying the better boys (12) also. 2 grape tomatoes also. I may add some heat tolerant variety when temps really warm up.
What type of tomato do you like?
We have a really hard time growing green pepper plants, not sure why. My neighbors do too. Yet jalapeno grows fine.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 13, 2017, 12:51:17 PM: Tilled the garden yesterday, having another 10 yards of soil brought in today, going to have to spread and til in again. Super excited because planting season is almost here!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 13, 2017, 05:36:59 PM: Looks good Holly , I am extra impressed with the fencing , hope it keeps the unwanted pests out.

I grew grape tomatoes last year but only because they self seeded from the year before. The ones I like ( or like to grow) are the big ones. I think they were heirloom ones and they grew wonderfully. The only problem I had were some split, so thanks for giving me the answer :)

One I did try that didnt grow very well at all were the Russian purple tomatoes. They were slow growing and did not cope is the aussie heat.

Peppers/ capsicums I didnt have any luck with last year. Im not sure why, maybe we had the same problem.?

Love hearing about your garden Holly , Its giving me great inspiration come September :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 13, 2017, 05:46:10 PM: What a pretty garden, Holly!!! I'm envious of that fencing!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on February 14, 2017, 08:08:59 AM: Just a quick post, will update in a bit. Something about Holly's post re: alfalfa adding calcium bothered me, so I did a brief search and came up with this:

http://www.dummies.com/home-garden/gardening/organic-gardening/fertilizing-your-organic-garden/

Check it out, I'll be back..... >:D >:D >:D

Approximately 0835 returned to edit

As far as what I'm planning this year.....ROSES!! BWAAAHAAAHAAAHAAAHAAAAA!!!

My husband told me yesterday, during a conversation with a group of friends, that I could put roses "anywhere." Boy, did I do the happy dance!! Of course, I know anywhere isn't...really. I have to keep any gardens out of possible (unknown to me) travel paths for projects.

So, our garden will be Heritage tomatoes like last year. They did do well in the cinder blocks BUT I think they had a bit too much shade. So I'll be moving them. We'll have regular and grape types. A couple of squash plants. Watermelon and cantaloupe. Corn...lots and LOTS of corn. I LOVE corn. CORNY, CORN CORN!! ;D ;D ;D Cilantro. Herbs. Haven't decided what else.

I'll also be planting my scads and scads of flower seeds that I didn't feel safe planting last year. I have quite a few morning glories (and maybe a couple other climbers, won't know until I dig them out of storage. Ooopss...a pun!! :P ) that I'm going to plant on the south side of the trailers for beauty and shade.

I'm also doing an experiment. Lucky (the Jack Russell Terrier) likes to hunt white grubs. She finds them, digs them up and plays with them. This year, I'm going to see if I can teach her to hunt tobacco worms. These are a type of hornworm that like to munch tomatoes. One grub can just about strip a tomato plant of leaves in about 8 hours. They start out very small, around a 1/2" and maybe the diameter of spaghetti. They grow grossly quickly though! The chickens like to eat them, Lucky likes to hunt. I don't mind hand-picking them. If Lucky can help me find them more quickly and accurately I'll be very happy! I'll let y'all know how it goes.

One last question for Holly. Did you put landscaping cloth down under your raised bed? If no, why? If yes, what did you use?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on February 14, 2017, 09:26:07 AM: I have a black thumb, so don't garden, and I don't can, but my MIL does both (she ran a small greenhouse til last year); from her I know corn on the cob freezes beautifully. I'm pretty sure you just blanch and bag for freezing, but I'm sure you could look it up.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 15, 2017, 05:17:51 PM: Sounds like your going to have quite the crop this year Julie. Thanks for the link, didnt realize half of the things on there could be used as fertilizers.

I too love corn and will try some again next year. had a problem with aphids last year so not all were edible, but geeee they were nice and sweet :)

Cilantro or coriander as its known here hates frost, so its one thing i tend to plant a little further into the hotter months :)

When i redo the soil in my beds i have newspaper ready to go to lay the bottom of the beds, the cloth works great too, My SIL has done her beds with that.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 15, 2017, 06:37:23 PM: I have always tried to add natural compost as fertilizer, though I do add some non organic vegetable with added calcium from mericle grow.
Don't forget Diotomatious Earth. (DE) it adds so much to your soil.
I like to add brown and green organic compost...Really helps .
I don't put anything under my raised garden, it has a few inches of solid clay when we started the garden a few years ago, so it has a stable base. I like using the natural edge boards so the extra water has a place to go, remember I have heavy rains here as well as a creek that likes to overflow, so when I build it has to be raised, and I would rather water more frequently than to have a garden that can't drain.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 15, 2017, 06:50:52 PM: I also wanted to add, I like worms( not grubs) in my garden, I don't know if laying anything under the raised bed will prohibit them from coming in?
How many of y'all compost? I tried a barrel to compost in a few years ago but didn't work out, I do have an old chicken coop I am thinking would make a great place to compost,it's also not to close to house or barn lol.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: paintponylvr on February 23, 2017, 01:22:24 AM: Soooo.... I've been watching lots of Utubes, reading lots of blogs, reading books and studying as much as I can get my hands on. Everything printed says start "small" but when we've started small, that's when I've killed everything. So this year, working on going bigger. WE'll see how it goes. Just got my first order of seeds.

Working on garden beds. Though the timing is a bit wrong, will be starting seeds while setting up some of the beds. Incorporating beds into our yard fence for the dogs - hoping having a solid fence 3' fence w/ a 2' wide section of earth 18-24" deep - will stop the dogs from getting out of the yard. Doing the whole yard, will almost quadruple the dog area and again, HOPEFULLY, stop them from digging holes under the fences and leaving. In the meantime, the gardens will grow... Right???

Most of the raised beds are/will be pony manure. Then compost from the chicken coops - manure, hay, pony manure, kitchen scraps, leaves, pine straw... Oh, and compost from the DLM under the penned rabbits.

Holly - don't you find that the DE kills your "good bugs" in the gardens? I know that we have a lot of sand and I'm working towards amending that to a better quality soil. I want good worms and bugs, so need to encourage them to come in/up. I was working with DE and have a very large bag, but have stopped using it except for minimal parasite assistance (seems dealing with equine lice is a regular thing on this property, too) and in the dust boxes for the chickens mixed with dirt and wood ash from our fireplace.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 25, 2017, 10:00:27 AM: Yes any exoskeleton bug can be killed by DE. I do not keep DE on my plants at all times, but more of an as needed. I don't add it to the soil, however there's no EXO skeleton bugs I want in my soil.
I also plant flowers around my garden to bring in bees. I kind of have a save the bees thing going on so I try to do my part in keeping them with a food supply.
I got my tomatoes planted, zucchini, summer squash and green beans. Hopefully cucumbers today.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 27, 2017, 05:54:52 PM: Even though i didn't plant anything in the beds this year, I still have my fruit trees to enjoy.

The larger apples are "Granny Smith" , Planted 6 years ago, the smaller ones on the other side are "Royal Gala" they were planted 3 years ago.

And my favorite , in the middle are "Nashi Pears" They are the juiciest fruit ive ever tried. Its like having a pear and a glass of juice at the same time.

I have one pear tree that has fruited but the fruit is still growing !!

Now dont suppose anyone would have a good recipe for "Chutney" ? :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on February 27, 2017, 05:59:02 PM: Love apples, but Shayne is allergic, so I don't do much with apples. I've made myself applesauce, apple crisp (which I then eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner), and then just eat them plain or with caramel dip. [Speaking of applesauce, that sounds good, think I'll take a pint out of the freezer. Made some and froze it last fall.]
I don't even know what chutney is, so can't help you. ???
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 27, 2017, 06:06:29 PM: There maybe another name for it, Its very much like a "relish" but made with fruits, cinnamon other spices ect. :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on February 27, 2017, 09:51:27 PM: Clueless here too!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on February 27, 2017, 11:36:15 PM: Apple chutney sounds grownup applesauce.

I googled apple chutney, and this recipe sounds good (there is also a pork dish recipe, but I only read the apple chutney part):
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spiced-pork-chops-with-apple-chutney

Didn't care for all the ingredients in this recipe (near the bottom of the page), but enjoyed reading the page:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/03/07/apple_chutney_as_easy_to_make_as_applesauce_but_a_million_times_better.html

This one sounds like it could be good too: http://emerils.com/121750/apple-chutney
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 28, 2017, 05:42:19 AM: I think I have a recipe for chutney, but I'll have to check after work. Beautiful fruit, by the way!!!! I grew up in New York on a 100 acre farm, and we had a wonderful apple orchard, with many different varieties. Memories of fresh fruit picked from the tree....Ah.....
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 28, 2017, 05:18:50 PM: Ah, I found my chutney recipes. Had to get out my canning recipes, and there they were!

You can use any kind of fruit -- I used a blend of different fruits in the same chutney, like apples, peaches, pears, mangoes, kiwis, papayas, apricots, etc. And most of my recipes called for onions (which my kids hated, so I didn't include them). And since my recipes were for canning, some made from 2 pints up to 6 quarts. And I loved trying the different spices with them -- from ginger to even curry (I like curry), but all included mixing raisins (I used white raisins since they were harder to find for my kids to complain about -- plus they just blended in with the basic fruit colors), ginger, cinnamon, sugar, lemon peel or chopped lemons and vinegar to offset the sugar.

So, I have a recipe for fruit chutney, curried fruit chutney, apple chutney and tomato chutney (never really liked this one).
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 28, 2017, 05:20:21 PM: I jumped on old faithful google last night to see what was like "Chutney". I gather its like a Jam or Relish but more towards the "Savory" category.

Thanks for the recipe Chanda I will check it out tonight. :)

thanks for the compliment Diane :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 28, 2017, 05:23:15 PM: Thanks Diane , I love Curry and Ginger is one of my favorite if not my favorite :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 28, 2017, 06:14:21 PM: Mine too. Can you do a recipe that makes enough for canning?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on March 01, 2017, 10:04:22 AM: Sounds amazing!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: paintponylvr on March 01, 2017, 03:08:38 PM: Well, I guess the 50 hour reign of the Stomach flu is over! You guys are making my mouth water, course I haven't had much to eat since Monday about 2 pm (lunch)...

More news!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 01, 2017, 05:59:40 PM: Sorry you have been unwell again Paula , Hope your health is on the improve :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on March 01, 2017, 07:09:00 PM: Not Shayne's favorite, but I'm making chili for supper. Haven't had it in quite awhile. It's really mild and simple, the way my family likes it, so Shayne can just suck it up, as we haven't had it in over a year, probably.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 01, 2017, 07:15:06 PM: Ooooh would you mind posting the recipe on the foodie thread (when you have time). Id love to make it but has to be mild as you say yours is :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on March 01, 2017, 07:57:22 PM: Quote from: Ryan on March 01, 2017, 07:15:06 PM
Ooooh would you mind posting the recipe on the foodie thread (when you have time). Id love to make it but has to be mild as you say yours is :)
Oops, I thought I was on the Foodie thread. Will do.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on March 05, 2017, 02:51:09 PM: Green beans have sprouted!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 06, 2017, 05:48:20 PM: Exciting Holly :)

I get excited when things finally sprout at home , My other half just looks at me weirdly :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on March 06, 2017, 06:44:01 PM: I know what you mean. It's so exciting to see something sprout after waiting for it!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on March 07, 2017, 10:11:30 AM: Lol they are already 3-4 inches tall, I told hubby I must have magic beans lol.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 07, 2017, 05:35:30 PM: Im going to try and get one of the beds ready to put a few things in for winter.

Holly what did you plant this winter ? I do get frost here so need ideas that are frost friendly :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on March 08, 2017, 08:13:37 PM: We did broccoli and carrots. Tried peas but it didn't work out. I heard cabbage cauliflower and kale do well in winter....
Let me know what you decide!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 01, 2017, 06:44:38 PM: Hows is your veggie garden coming along Holly ?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on June 02, 2017, 10:06:43 PM: Good on tomatoes and green beans. Squash and zucchini didn't do good with new dirt. To much mulch so were having to add nitrogen. Its been a long process figuring it out. But better now.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 05, 2017, 09:18:24 PM: Do you get frosts at all ? My Zucchinis failed miserably the first two years and I think it was because I planted them too early, they really dont like the cooler weather at all, including morning frosts or a drops in temp.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 06, 2017, 12:03:04 AM: Quote from: Holly on May 01, 2016, 06:58:01 PM
I Love to veggie garden! This year I have a 40 x 60 area set aside to garden in, so far have Cukes, Zukes summer squash, green beans tomatos, okra, of many different varieties planted, Have even been harvesting already!

Who else gardens?

GARDENING IN FLORIDA I live about fifty miles south of Diane and it is very difficult to garden in South Florida. We had beautiful gardens in Missouri 30 years ago and never had any success here in Ft Myers. In the fall of 2016, my husband and my school boy that works for us made raised beds of concrete blocks and filled them with composted horse manure aged 8 years. My first plants melted with the humidity turned black and died. When Home Depot starts selling plants is not necessarily time to start a garden in Florida. November my plants took off and started growing. We had great eggplants, collard greens (my hens love them my husband does not), onions, peas, peppers, blue berries, figs, turnips, and peppers. Tomatoes got too tall and bushy and the worms eat them up--same with corn. Zuchini and cucumbers, melons are very very difficult and always get the wilt even with resistant varieties. Pineapples do well. Tobacco we raised one year and now it is too hot hot hot for anything. I still have sweet potatoe vines and sugarcane is coming along. I have a coffee tree --it needs shade. I also experimented with exotic fruit trees/bushes last year---gogi berries, barbadoes cherries, guavas, etc. and we raise coconut trees from coconuts. I have a veery small dragon fruit plant I got from my Vietamese neighbor. Oh , yes and we are starting bananas
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 06, 2017, 07:00:30 PM: Clara I am very jealous of your continuous hot weather , I would love to grow some of the things you do. Pineapples and bananas and coconuts would be amazing. We get a very hot summer here but unfortunately our winters are freezing (Its 9 am and currently 7 degrees Celsius).

Do you have any tips or is there anything you add to your soil ? I didnt plant anything last year but come sept / Oct this year , I plan to put in a variety of things.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 06, 2017, 09:32:39 PM: NO, I DID NOT ADD ANY MIRACLE GROW OR ANYTHING. KEEP IN MIND THE COMPOST WAS ALSO PINE SHREDDED BEDDING AS WELL AS HORSE MANURE WHAT PART OF AUSTRALIA ARE U IN? HOW COLD IS THAT TEMPERATURE U SAID. USUALLY OUR WINTERS ARE VERY MODERATE AND DRY. I DID NOT EVEN SHEET MY HORSES THIS WINTER. wE NOW HAVE A BIG RAIN EVENT COMING OFF yUCITAN MEXICO WHICH HAS BROKEN OUR DROUGHT AND STARTED hURRICANE SEASON. THE HEAT NOW WILL GET INTOLERABLE WITH HORRIBLE HUMIDITY. I KEPT MY HORSES IN ALL DAY. I DO NOT WANT SCRATCHES OR RAIN ROT. WINTER IS GARDENING SEASON HERE. HOW MANY ACRES DO U HAVE? I HAVE 5.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 06, 2017, 09:48:21 PM: Im at the bottom of Australia , I Live south of Melbourne on the "Mornington peninsula" Our warmer nights during winter are around 41 Fahrenheit but it does get a lot colder than that. Im close to beaches so it doesnt snow.

I dont rug my little ones , but my 2 x TBs are rugged like Eskimos , I am on just under 11 acres.

hopefully hurricane season is nice to you, I would be happy with the rain but not the winds, hate wind....
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 07, 2017, 10:01:11 PM: OH AND i FORGOT, THE COMPOST IS SANDY AS OUR SOIL IS SAND UNLESS IT HAS ORGANIC MATTER IN IT. I WILL HAVE TO LOOK UP WHERE U LIVE. oH, AND WE DO HAVE ALLIGATORS , HAVE NOT HAD ANY ON MY MINI RANCH YET. LUCKY AND LUCKY FOR THEM BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WOULD KILL THEM.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 08, 2017, 01:14:12 AM: Yeah NO THANKS , you can have the alligators , im now happy with the worlds deadliest snakes ;)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on June 08, 2017, 05:58:57 PM: I'm not sure Ryan. I think I dislike snakes more than the alligators. At least the alligators are easy to shoot -- and they are big enough not to hide under the bushes you walk by. I think I'll take an alligator over the worlds deadliest snakes! Yikes!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 08, 2017, 06:36:56 PM: You are probably right Diane, it does worry me when Its really hot where they are hiding , I try to make as much noise as possible as they hate vibration.

I would worry about the horses with the alligators , though Id be quite happy to learn to shoot a gun if needed :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 10, 2017, 11:14:30 PM: i agree with Diane. I will take alligators any day to poisonous snakes. on the theme of snakes it is the start of python season in south Florida. They killed 158 giant pythons last year. They are invasive species, not native--- started by pet owners releasing them in the Everglades. Look up u tube Florida Python swallows alligator
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 12, 2017, 07:41:33 PM: I saw that on you tube earlier this year. Have you had many alligators or these snakes on your properties ?

I think id freak out !! :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 13, 2017, 11:50:32 AM: We had a giant iguana during huge rain last year. Another former pet I am sure. No pythons yet, but they are spreading farther north. Alligators can be in any water, but so far we have not had one, just lots of wading birds and otters that ate my fish, bobcats, raccoons, posseums, squirrels, rabbits, sometimes coyotes, wild hogs,---- our biggest problem now are armadillos. They have invaded every state; aleins from Mexico and Central America. They dig horrible holes and I am afraid my horses are going to break a leg. I also have big horses. Armadillos are hard to kill, nocturnal--they are busy wile we sleep, and carry disease. watch armadillo hunts on u-tube I will send u a photo of one that won't dig anymore holes at our house after double ought buckshot.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 13, 2017, 12:13:43 PM: Ryan here is that photo I promises u!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 13, 2017, 07:11:25 PM: He wont be causing you any more grief. That is quite a variety of wild animals you have around. We have plenty of rabbits and foxes. Foxes are my biggest concern due to the diseases they have and spread around. Do you have a water catchment / lake/ dam ? I have the same problem with birds eating my fish. We put Rainbow trout and red finn in a few years back but not sure how many survived .
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 15, 2017, 02:32:59 AM: yes i have a small lake. When your trout get big i am coming over. Love to catch trout!!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 15, 2017, 06:56:09 PM: Lol your welcome anytime :)

Well we put fingerlings in about 5 years ago but we had a terrible trouble with cormorants so not sure how many survived. I used to see them in the warmer months eating the mozzies but havent seen any over the last year.

They certainly cleaned up the lake though, it was covered in reeds back in 2007 when we brought the place and now its all clear :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 17, 2017, 08:04:38 PM: here are some pineapples my friends are raising cool right?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on June 17, 2017, 08:42:06 PM: Very cool. And delish!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on June 18, 2017, 10:12:57 AM: Well, Clara, my boys help as best they can each year -- getting rid of alligators! They get permits for 3 counties each year -- Charlotte, Desoto and Highlands. It's hard to believe they were once a protected species, and now they are all over causing all kinds of havoc killing pets and attacking people. They should have "open season" on them for a couple of years and bring this ornery population down.

And trout! You'll have to stand in line! My favorite eating fish. I grew up on a 100 acre farm in New York, and we had a series of ponds for trout -- the "base" pond being our swimming pond, too, about the size of a football field! My grandfather fished everyday and when it was "trout night", my grandfather would stand at the end of his driveway so the school bus driver would know to drop up off at his house, as there was something special waiting for us at grandma's house!

We did catch a black-tip shark on vacation! Yum yum! Good eating for all 18 of us, with plenty left over for another fish night party later this summer!

Jon, one of my boys, has pineapples growing on his property. He hasn't checked them in a while, so crossing my fingers the raccoons have not enjoyed them before we get to!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: clara cain on June 20, 2017, 12:20:16 AM: 000mygooood those are some photos diane!!!!!!!!!!!your boys are some kind of crocodile dundes!!!!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 20, 2017, 12:35:55 AM: Wowzers !!!!!!

Think Im happy with the snakes after all :)

How was the trout cooked ? Ill try and catch one when the weather gets a little better :)

Fingers crossed the Raccoons have left his pineapples alone ;pray
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on June 21, 2017, 06:02:11 AM: The boys mostly sell the meat to the meat plant, but we do get to keep some of the tail meat, and alligator is quite tasty!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on June 21, 2017, 06:54:06 PM: Never tried alligator , its not something that we see on many menus here. Id be game to try it though , im willing to give most foods a try.

The only thing i would never try is Horse meat, which I read in disgust last week we are about to start exporting overseas :-[
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on June 21, 2017, 09:01:24 PM: Diane, those pictures would make my oldest son green with envy! He loves hunting , that would be right up his alley!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: paintponylvr on June 22, 2017, 11:30:35 PM: Wow, those are not small! I've never tried alligator either.

I have a picture of a baby pineapple tree here at a nursery. I don't think I'm going to do pineapple, but the plants sure are interesting.

Ryan - it's been about 25 years since I last had horse meat - over seas. Honestly, it was better than most beef and it's much leaner, too. I've never fully understood the not liking to eat it here in the US. I also remember when horse meat was used for dog food - dogs did so much better then than they do now on a lot of the dry kibble. Not so many health issues, either. And here in the US, with the current "over supply" of horses - many of them not injured or sick - I'd think we could make use of that RATHER than overfilling and then closing down all the "Rescue" operations. But that discussion is probably best kept for anther thread, especially since I have a much different "take" on that subject than most. :)

I have not yet gotten the gardens prepared that I wanted to have this year. However, the areas where I plan on putting the fruit trees is getting slowly amended and prepared to take trees. No, I didn't get them this spring as planned, but seriously looking at getting SOME of them this fall. At least we are on our way with preparations, I'm ok with that! ;)

The two black berry plants have been planted and they have small amounts of fruit!! ;D

The Goji berry "bushes" were planted and they do appear to be growing now.

The two honey berry plants have not been transplanted yet and while they are still alive, they are probably container root bound... OOPS! ::)

I'll see if I can get some pics of them this weekend.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on December 05, 2017, 08:38:15 PM: I am about to start planting out this years veggie garden. I've held back an extra month this year as we have too many frosts lately.

Ill add some pics when things are in the ground :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 17, 2018, 04:35:51 PM: Picked my first batch of White nectarines. Really happy with the amount of fruit , as this is the first year it has fruited :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 17, 2018, 04:44:40 PM: I also picked some Blood plums and almonds. I didnt get many plums as the birds got to them before I could net in time. The ones I did have left over , I made Jam out of. I just got a basic recipe for jam and added a couple of cloves and some cinnamon too and it was sooooo good !!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on January 17, 2018, 06:25:04 PM: Post me some fruit, Ryan, they all look good, and I love almonds. Just don't expect me to make anything from them, I don't can or freeze, I just eat.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on January 17, 2018, 06:28:23 PM: All looks so yummy!!! You can send some here, too. I used to can a lot when my kids were younger, but I'm with Chanda. That all looks so good, I think I'd just EAT, too!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 17, 2018, 09:36:41 PM: Yeah I dont think id bother canning as Id have nothing to put into the cans. :)

My almonds are the first thing ready in the orchard each year. If I dont pick them in time they explode due to the heat.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 22, 2018, 07:10:58 PM: Harvested 72 yellow Nectarines off my "Dwarf Plant" , apples have been netted and Nashi Pears are getting bigger.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on January 23, 2018, 12:08:24 AM: Goodness! Send some to Florida!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on January 23, 2018, 10:43:13 PM: Nectarines!! One of my favorite fruits!!

I have a question: how do you know when to harvest the almonds? They look like they're fuzzy, how do you remove the fuzz? Does it dry up and fall off? Can you eat them while they're green and fuzzy?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Chanda on January 23, 2018, 11:17:04 PM: Quote from: Silver City Heritage Farm on January 23, 2018, 10:43:13 PM
Nectarines!! One of my favorite fruits!!

I have a question: how do you know when to harvest the almonds? They look like they're fuzzy, how do you remove the fuzz? Does it dry up and fall off? Can you eat them while they're green and fuzzy?

Almonds are actually a fruit similar to peach, except that we eat the "pit" instead of the fleshy part.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on January 24, 2018, 03:25:22 PM: All seeds for march garden bought! Almost time to till..... so ready for fresh veggies again!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 29, 2018, 05:16:28 PM: Quote from: Silver City Heritage Farm on January 23, 2018, 10:43:13 PM
Nectarines!! One of my favorite fruits!!

I have a question: how do you know when to harvest the almonds? They look like they're fuzzy, how do you remove the fuzz? Does it dry up and fall off? Can you eat them while they're green and fuzzy?

Well I dont actually lol. I do know that they are the first ready each year. Its one of those things that needs regular checking. Once I see 1-2 open on the ground , I net for a couple of weeks. Once I see more on the ground I know to pick them all before the sun bursts them.

Pear trees have been netted , My Zucchinis are flowering as are cucumbers. Tomatoes are starting to grow and there plenty of flowers. Corn is steadily growing too. Watermelon is my trial and error this year. They are growing well so far but not sure I got the seedlings into the ground early enough.

Pictures soon :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on January 30, 2018, 03:26:07 PM: Holly, when do anticipate being able to start planting? Do you start yours inside and then transplant?

I'm working on my plans too. Hopefully, I haven't killed my last few roses, firethorn and a jessamine by leaving them in pots overwinter.

I think our spring will be late coming this year. My daffodils are JUST start to poke their tips out. Usually, we have blooms by mid January.

I'll be planting the Heritage seeds Paula gave me for Christmas. (Teeeheehee....thanks again, Paula!!) I'll also watch and see how many volunteer tomatoes come up. Then, I'll add more, plant PLENTY of corny, corn, corn, bell peppers and flowers. Haven't decided what else yet, but I'm sure there will be more.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 30, 2018, 05:22:13 PM: Holly, If you have zucchinis or cucumbers in your plans for this year, wait an extra month before you plant the seedlings. I did , just to be sure that the cold nights and frosts had gone. They are both going crazy this year. Ill take some pics tonight.

Its one month today since I planted them and Im a couple of days off my first zucchini :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on January 30, 2018, 05:31:04 PM: WOW! This all sounds so yummy, I may just have to plant a garden again!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on January 31, 2018, 05:20:40 PM: 4 Weeks from seedlings :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 01, 2018, 06:02:37 AM: Looking great!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on February 01, 2018, 07:20:18 AM: Ryan, do you pick yours when they're teeny weeny, and still have the flowers attached? Do you then stuff the blossoms and eat them?

I'm curious because you share some of the best recipes!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 01, 2018, 06:39:32 PM: I havent as yet Julie, though I have always wanted too try that. I was always told that they become very woody as they grew. I had one a few years back that grew to be 1.2m :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on February 02, 2018, 08:24:35 PM: Dang Ryan, that was so big you could have hollowed it out and used it for a canoe!! 😂😂😂

I've got a lot of free time for the next 90 days. No reason at all for not working on garden plots. As slowly as I move, I should have at LEAST one 3 x 9 foot plot ready by mid-March. >:D
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 05, 2018, 05:28:51 PM: Hahahahaha "Canoe" !!

Cant wait to see some pics Julie :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on February 06, 2018, 06:37:35 PM: First two for the year. I scooped them out and stuffed them with sundried tomatoes, red onion, fetta, rice, fresh oregano, basil and parsley .

baked in the oven for 25 mins. They were really easy and tasty :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on February 15, 2018, 08:48:41 PM: Well, I can't the pictures from my phone to download to my computer.....because it's SO SMART, and thinks it knows what I want. >:( :o >:(

I spent 5 hours one day, setting up one garden bed. It's made from my portable chicken pen that is 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall by 9 feet long (guesstimate.) I set it up where I want to place one semi-raised bed, and is about 2 feet from the chain link fencing of Spanky's pen. After I had it in the spot, I arched a cattle panel over each end, which left a spot about 2 feet wide in the middle that isn't covered by cattle panel. One end of the panel is butted up against the chicken pen, and the other is against the fence. (Imagine the pen as a horse. One end sits touching the near side, the other is against the fen on the off side--the pen is inside the arch.) This left me with an aisle on the one side. I then used some green plastic garden fencing that is 3 feet wide to enclose most of the top of the arches. It left a space about 2 feet wide along the top, which is about 6 feet high at the top of the arch. (Remember this, it's important later. ;)) I used a tarp to cover one end of the chicken pen, and set up a roost. Each long side of the pen also has a sheet of tin along the outside of it. To finish, I layered leaves, then old OLD manure from Spanky's old lot, then I raked up the hay from the barn and put it on top. I damped everything down......then ran out of steam. The plan is, to pen the chickens up there until 1 April, so that they can till it up for me. That's why I put the tin along the sides, so they wouldn't kick everything out and leave a 6 inch deep pit. (I learned that after previous times penning them up.)

That was last week. I've spent the time since trying to herd, entice, chase, bribe and beg them into that pen. What I have left (after storms and a couple of predator losses) are two Campine hens and my original little bantam rooster, Chauncy. Campine's are a wonderful breed to have if you're not in town. They are intelligent, curious, healthy, hardy, free range well, and are fairly steady layers of medium eggs. Mine are a pale pinkish tan in color. They don't, however, care to be penned up, hence the chasing during the last week. I finally bit the bullet, and didn't feed them yesterday or this morning. (That didn't stop them from raiding the cat food dishes though. Chauncy chased the stray kitties off and the hens ate to their hearts' content.) When I went out this afternoon, I took TASTY, DELICIOUS table scraps. I made sure that they got to peek into the dish, then I went down to the pen and chucked it in. The mistake they made was all running into the pen at the same time--trapped!! I chuckled like this >:D >:D as I closed and locked the door.

Now, do you remember what I said to remember above, about the space up top? By the time I'd wobbled the (about) 20 feet to the house, I heard cackling. Looked over my shoulder just in time to see the 2 hens fly out. >:( >:( >:( They ran off like the crazy women they are. Since it was close to roosting time, I went ahead and let Chauncy out. I'll look to see if I have a tarp long enough to cover it all, and try again another day.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on February 16, 2018, 08:42:46 AM: HA! This had me laughing!! So enjoyable to read, and you make me tired just thinking of all you're doing!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 01, 2018, 04:15:34 PM: Hahahahaha that is funny Julie.

Are you going to planting some veggies this year ?
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on March 03, 2018, 07:15:23 PM: Yes Ryan, I'll be doing vegetables this year. I'll also be doing herbs, and another attempt at flowers. I still have most of my super, duper low price jackpot seeds, so I'll plant them ALL and see what sprouts. My mint that I'd planted in a block survived the snows last year, but died off this fall. My husband wanted to pull it out, but I convinced him to let me just cut it back. ;D It's sprouting back now! As far as using the chickens as tillers....I'm still trying to *entice* them into the pen. I've been really REALLY mean this week....I've not fed them much of anything for the last 2 days. Hopefully, by mid-day tomorrow they'll be hungry enough to rush into the pen. Of course, me not feeding them doesn't say much. They've beaten up the cats so many times over the cat food, that I'm not sure they're hungry at all. ::) ::)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on March 03, 2018, 07:57:54 PM: HA!!! I just love your stories! They make me smile! ;D
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 05, 2018, 05:25:23 PM: Me too :)

Thats quite the seed collection , I hope you get a bumper crop :)

I saw something online the other day. Old hay bales being used as veggie plots. They had planted the seedlings into the middle and it looked really great. It kept the moisture in during the really hot days !!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Silver City Heritage Farm on March 21, 2018, 01:26:27 PM: Quote from: Ryan on March 05, 2018, 05:25:23 PM

I saw something online the other day. Old hay bales being used as veggie plots. They had planted the seedlings into the middle and it looked really great. It kept the moisture in during the really hot days !!

Paula's the one you'd want to ask about this. She's done quite a bit of research on it, even tried it at her old place just before she moved to her permanent home. As to me growing veggies this year......weeeeellll.........let me tell you about it.

Yesterday, I played Adventures in Chicken Land again. I'll be making a separate post on that, with pictures. I also picked out Spanky's pen and stall. (Bad on me, I hadn't done it in a couple of months.) On Monday, my husband took down his old turn out pen. We're going to use the fencing to split his current run in two, so that I can alternate him. Perhaps I'll even clip chicken wings, so that they can run around without RUNNING AWAY. >:D

Anyway, I used the pen and stall muck, along with what we removed from the old lot, to start a flower bed. I placed it over the plot where we'd buried Penny and Guacho. I did it yesterday, since I knew we'd be having showers off and on the next couple of days. I layered the newer stuff on the bottom, with the older well composted on top. I figured that, this way, the seeds would be fed and stay a bit warmer when we get the cool nights later this week. I used seeds from my secret stash. Here's what I found out: cheap seeds often don't have seeds in the packets! :o I know that seeds are packed by weight, so after the first couple of empty packs I started to pay a bit more attention to what I was doing. (Okay, I'll admit it. I was racing the weather. I'd not had good luck with a previous small planting. So I set up the plot, and was just scattering the seeds any old kind of way. I planned to lightly rake over the entire plot when I was done.) I thought that my inattention was causing me to not notice the tiny seeds falling out. That wasn't so. About one in 7 had no seeds. That's okay though, I managed to get about 50 packets scattered and only used my Old-Fashioned mix and all of the seeds that started with the letter A. Yes, my flower seeds were alphabetized. Doesn't EVERYone do that, when they have hundreds of seeds stashed??

Now, to answer Ryan's question about vegetables: I have more than I thought, WOO HOO!! I'd managed to dig out my gardening tote/stash a couple of months ago and had taken it out to the barn. Imagine my horror when I got home one day, and my husband and nephew had *cleaned up* the barn for me. I admit it, I haven't kept it as organized as I usually do. The loss of my dogs--particularly my little Lucky Girl--had affected me more deeply than I realized and I wasn't keeping things up. I couldn't find anything! They promised me they'd thrown nothing away, I just had to find it. While working down there yesterday, I moved a tool box. It was awfully light, so curiosity got me and I looked inside. Seeds, seeds, glorious seeds!! ;D ;D I found out that I've managed to gather quite a collection of vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers and I don't remember what all else. I can say that there isn't ONE packet of corn though. That must be remedied ASAP.

So there ya go....adventures at Silver City Heritage Farmstead. As and I look at my clock in shock at the hour, I must sign off for now and get busy!

Everyone have a most blessed day, and I hope you get to recognize at least one of God's little miracles as you finish out the week.

Julie
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on March 21, 2018, 05:16:34 PM: I just LOVE your stories!! They always give me a smile at the end of the day!! Hope you find some corn seeds!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 21, 2018, 05:34:33 PM: Hahaha your stories always give me a good chuckle too :)

Best of luck with this years crop, hope to see some pics !!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Holly on March 26, 2018, 07:26:08 AM: Planted first round last week and we've sprouted!! O hh looking forward to the veggies this year!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on March 26, 2018, 06:50:41 PM: ^^like^^ :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on April 03, 2018, 09:40:02 PM: Just about finished here for the year. Harvested what corn I could, Aphids got to most of them before I could get to the aphids.

Picked heaps of apples , which turned out much better than last year. Have a few zucchinis just about ready , then that will be just about game over.
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on April 10, 2018, 08:28:01 PM: I planted a few Watermelon seedlings, One thing I didnt think would grow as I planted so late.

Was about to start pulling the plants up and what do I see ? Both would have to be 25kgs each, Not quite sure how I didnt see these growing ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on April 10, 2018, 09:13:51 PM: Gorgeous!!! I'm jealous!!
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on April 10, 2018, 11:38:12 PM: I was only thinking last week , Wont be planting those again , got none LOL

Not sure how I missed them hahahaha
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: Ryan on November 14, 2018, 09:50:42 PM: Ive just started preparation for this years home grown veggie attempt :)

Ive ordered chicken manure to mix into the garden beds. I am hoping to have the seedlings in the ground in the next few weeks.

Wish me a bumper crop :)
Title: Re: Gardening!
Post by: dcwolcott on November 15, 2018, 07:25:39 AM: I'll be looking forward to seeing your bumper crop this year!!