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Post by Mumsey on Jun 19, 2024 10:06:25 GMT -5
Trying to keep a good attitude here, making more appts for Dad's surgery prep. Walked 1.5 miles then 1.5 on treadmill. Watching Wildfire on Netflix while on treadmill. Went out and planted several short rows of beets in open spaces. Dad's are being eaten by critters, probably deer. Cats take care of the small critters. We got 1.75" rain overnight, looks like some wind too. Again, I heard NOTHING! Things are growing fast now. Last night I thinned out the white and yellow beets, chard and kale. Cooked it all up for supper. Some left for today. Peas are going crazy. Red Globe onions are not doing well as expected, new to me. They are falling over and not very big. Patterson and shallots are doing well. Cool, cloudy and humid today, got all outdoor stuff done by 0730 and before more rain moved in.
Busy uncluttering the house, haven't been picking up after myself very well lately. A good vacuuming is on the agenda too. Some sewing to do, pants that need to be cut off for shorts. I always make a pocket out of the legs of jeans for the front of the right thigh area of jean shorts, perfect for phone. Have more curtains to make for living room, got half of them done a few weeks ago.
Dishwasher running, time to get busy with the vacuuming.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jun 19, 2024 22:02:09 GMT -5
Finally finished spreading chicken compost on the future tomato bed and mulching with hay. Will attempt to do second bed for peppers and eggplants and get the plants in by the end of the week. Haven't even posted plant sale yet and need to find someone to help with digging the chicken compost out of the coop and weeding and planting. Slowly getting things done. Reminds me of the song, "Inch by inch, row by row, I'm going to make my garden grow", except more 1/2 inch than inch.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jun 20, 2024 5:17:08 GMT -5
Yesterday was another 6:00 - 10:00 day as the heat is getting intense and kiddo has been sleeping in. Watered and scrubbed kiddo's pool and then went to work on some containers. Decided the Carolina Reaper peppers will go in the wicking planter and reside on the deck. I have no intentions of tasting them but growing for seed and and anyone brave enough to try them. Used the dolly to haul a concrete planter to the garden and planted with geraniums and coleus. When we did the electronics pickup I noticed a box marked hanging basket with a liner visible. The lady there often throws in some gardening related stuff that doesn't sell because she knows I'll put it to use. Turns out it was a monogramed shepherd's hook type stake with two small hanging baskets. Initially I was excited because the letter in the directions was the same as our last name but a bit bummed when I discovered it was an L instead. Initially I thought of making additional letters and having it spell Love but decided that a circular trivet would be easier to attach over it. Soaked the liners overnight and intending to plant impatiens in them and keep it in the shade as those baskets are going to dry out quickly. Today is mammogram day and scheduled my appointment early because I despise going without deodorant. One of the benefits of being rural is that we have access to a mobile mammography unit that is more state-of-the-art than the one at the local hospital and I only have to travel five miles to access it. Never have to wait more than fifteen minutes either. Actually the mammograms don't bother me much anymore as I've grown accustomed to having one or two a year since the car accident in 2010. Going to inventory leftover tomato plants and stop at a friend's workplace and see if she wants any. Was going to taken them along but they'll cook in her car, so will deliver this evening. gardendmpls, I can definitely relate to the row by row saying as I seem to be so far behind this year but it's slowly getting done. The big difference is that I'm not stressing about it, which is a definitely a positive change for me. |
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Post by centralilrookie on Jun 20, 2024 6:10:08 GMT -5
Tuesday with the gardens planted I tried to catch up on things around home. The usual morning chores, outside plant watering, both potted and flower beds. Then I waged war with the weed whacked. Everything in the yard, around the barn and the pasture side of a couple of fence lines were cleaned up. Sleep came easy Tuesday night.
Yesterday sweetheart, the FIL and I made a trip to Chester Illinois to see her aunt and uncle that they hadn’t seen in years. On the way there I recognized the route to be the same as the route to the peach place that we took mom to last year. A short detour and a $160 later sweetheart had peaches, pies and a few other things that I’m sure we absolutely needed. Her uncle is a retired truck driver, Viet Nam war vet very involved with the American Legion and Toys for Tots. Her aunt a sassy little lady, who originated from Hong Kong, that is as committed and passionate to her husband’s activities as a person can be. Visited, had a wonderful lunch and just a darn good time before hitting the road to see this man’s older sister, that is in a nursing home, in Duquoin Illinois. A tad over 500 miles traveled but well worth it.
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Post by centralilrookie on Jun 21, 2024 5:36:28 GMT -5
Whether it’s the effects of the heat, a long day of traveling Wednesday or maybe the effects of a late morning breakfast date with a buddy but I didn’t have much get up and go yesterday. I did get the outside potted plants watered and the animals tended to. After our breakfast I did get to see his garden that has many plants that I started. His backyard is a maze of paths with flowers, bushes and vegetables all intermixed together.
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Post by martywny on Jun 21, 2024 7:22:54 GMT -5
Now where did I leave off... Our rain total was 6.5" from that last series of storms, did a lot of good for the garden and drained off quickly. Other areas were not so lucky with flooding on roads and yards. We just finished three days of 90+ degree weather, which means I spend a good amount of time watering every morning to make sure nothing dries out. Last Saturday was my granddaughter's 4th birthday so we went out to their house for the party. I guess one is never too old to crawl under tables chasing kids! We had a Father's Day ice cream social at church after Mass, then went to the Legion for a pancake breakfast. The kids all came over with food and cooked out on the grill, I made my usual baked beans. Our oldest granddaughter was condo-sitting up in Toronto for several weeks and brought me two boxes of my favorite teas, the kind you can't buy in the US. The strawberries have come and gone, the final tally is 28 jars of jam, and about a half-dozen bags of shortcake berry/sugar mix for the freezer. The strawberry bed still needs a lot of work, weeds are doing their best to take over. Next up are the Lillian's Caseload peas, just picked our first batch two days ago and they are looking good. We usually freeze them but I think I would like to try canning some small jars this year in addition to freezing. Blueberries are also coming in, picked about a pint so far and we still have a bunch out in the bushes starting to ripen. Everything else is making good progress, found some black swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley and sent them away. Insects are not too bad, had some fungus in places I have been treating with copper and sulfur. We did see our first Japanese beetle yesterday, will be interesting to see how many we get after treating with milky spore. I do need to finish up the lower fence in several places, trying to keep the four-legged varmints at bay with chicken wire at the bottom and electric at the top. I think we need another rain, starting to dry out again...  |
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 21, 2024 8:04:50 GMT -5
Overdid it yesterday. 1 1/2 mile walk early, humid! Then on treadmill for another 1.25 miles. Then mowed the entire yard, total of 5 miles. My feet were not happy this morning but we walked anyway, shortened version due to humidity. Turned the AC on this morning, been trying to run it minimally and keep temp at 78-79, with floor fans it has been quite comfortable. When the humidity stays high though it's less comfortable. Picked peas again, spread grass clippings over newly planted beet rows to retain moisture. Trimmed the Baptisia, falling over everywhere. It's pretty forgiving, just cut each individual stalk to the ground. Deadheaded all Speedwell. Need to pick lettuce again. Potatoes are blooming as are Big Kahuna beans. Kentucky Wonder pole beans are climbing at an astounding rate. Knock on wood, no sign of JB's....yet. Having a hard time typing, cut index finger with pruners yesterday.  Went to the big city yesterday between home jobs, so shopping out of the way til next week. Decided to try a crochet project DD made a video of on Tik Tok. It's a weighted blanket made with pony beads. Luckily I found supplies on sale. It's a tedious thing, hopefully it goes faster once I find a pace. Old fingers and beads........... Not much on the agenda for today except rest up from yesterday. |
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Post by binnylou on Jun 21, 2024 9:00:30 GMT -5
Japanese beetle made an appearance in my flower garden yesterday. He was tucked inside a ready to open rose. The JB trap has been hung and waiting for them to arrive, so I checked the trap. There was maybe a half cup of “something” in the bag. Beetles, I’m assuming. There was one sitting on the yellow plastic flag that holds the bag open. I reached up with my cane, gave the flag a tap, and into the bag goes the beetle. So satisfying.  |
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 21, 2024 9:07:07 GMT -5
Just did garden tour. Wonder why Asiatic Lilies and garden phlox are only 1/2 as tall as they should be? Asiatic lilies have bloomed and done. Oriental ones are starting. They seem near normal height. Wonder if last year's drought has carry over effects. I had one carrot that wasn't dug last year. Unbelievable how much top there is and a ton of flower heads. Don't know what kind it is but will save seed. All the white clusters you see are the heads, all from a single carrot.  |
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Post by gardendmpls on Jun 21, 2024 9:26:45 GMT -5
I spend a good amount of time watering every morning to make sure nothing dries out. Since I use mulch to slow evaporation, I try not to water unless the plants are recently started from seed or transplanted. Minimizing watering causes plants to grow deep roots down to the water table (or the moist area above it). Then, if it hasn't rained for a week or so, I will do a deep watering, but we usually get rain at least once a week. If your soil is very sandy where the water runs right out, then you would have to water. Soil with a lot of compost stays moist longer and the hay mulch I use helps a lot, also. |
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Post by binnylou on Jun 21, 2024 10:12:16 GMT -5
Mumsey, before you save those carrots seeds for next years crop, research carrot and Queen Anne’s Lace crossing.
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Post by binnylou on Jun 21, 2024 10:34:16 GMT -5
Mumsey, in years past, my Stargazers would be head high. Even the ones that the deer didn’t top are about waist high. Meadow Rue, normally above my head, is about knee high. Coral Reef Poppy is about three inches tall and I figure death is near. Sedum Autumn Joy is about 2/3 its normal size. Peony plants are normal size and bloomed vigorously. Clematis gave lots of bloom. Daylilies are really loaded with flower bud. The single rose in the flower garden had a great first flush and is starting another. I’ve been blaming the roots from the windbreak for robbing nutrition from the soil and the plants. Hadn’t considered drought carryover as a reason for these changes.
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Post by emmsmommy on Jun 21, 2024 15:14:57 GMT -5
Yesterday was a bit of an easy day except for early watering and taking approximately 30 tomato and pepper plants to one of the gardening neighbors. This morning I felt like a bit of a slacker as I didn't get outside until 6:30. Managed to water everything and then sort out leftover plants. All the cardboard picked up earlier in the week is now on the ground in the new garden.
Already have a resident frog in the wading pool with the arrowhead and water chestnuts. Hubby has been home most of the week due to the heat and he had a sale scheduled this morning so showered and got kiddo up as the lady from the thrift store said hubby's electronics pile had grown tremendously. Kiddo is on an orange juice kick and when in the world did the prices soar to $8 a gallon! Yeah I bought it, but wow! The cart full of cardboard made up for the sticker shock though. Once back home I made hubby stand with a fencepost while I eyeballed where it needed to be and then we played hot potato with the post driver as I left it on the side of the tomato bed in full sun. Now that I know where the fence line will be, I can start planning new beds and get those cattle panel arches up. More importantly I can finally settle on the location of the greenhouse!
Plans for this evening are getting the five WV 63 tomato plants into the first bed of the old garden as I'm planning to save seed from them. I have one of the bean trial varieties at the end of the same bed and will be putting up a trellis for them as they're starting to put out tendrils. Then it will be a matter of mulching.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jun 21, 2024 18:48:58 GMT -5
Kiddo is on an orange juice kick and when in the world did the prices soar to $8 a gallon! I think since orange greening disease spread the prices have been high. What I do is save a container and fill it with 1/2 OJ and 1/2 water. Then I add vanilla and a sweetener (I like Monk fruit Truvia- not bitter like stevia). The concoction tastes sort of like an Orange Julius and I actually prefer it to pure OJ, which is too acidic for me. |
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Post by datgirl on Jun 22, 2024 14:40:56 GMT -5
My son came over this morning and finished the greenhouse. Bolted into the concrete and caulked. Now hubby can run electric for lights an a heater. Now I have to figure out shelves etc. So happy and grateful my son put it together and made it happen.
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