Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[ducks4you]

A Master Gardener's Seed Starting Schedule
Mr. Vogt is a Professor Emeritis from the University of Illinois College of A.C.E.S., specialties in vegetables and herbs.

Agricultural​

Consumer​

Environmental​

Sciences​

He is also a Master Gardener, sends seeds to Seed Savers, and grows all sorts of common and unusual crops at his farm.

Chuck Vogt's Seed Starting Schedule
WHEN TO SOW FOR TRANSPLANTING FOR A SPRING GARDEN
January 15-February 15 (go out in March/April)
celery
celeriac
parsley
onion
shallot (from seed)
leek
chives

February 16-February 28
rosemary]]better off w/clone or cultivar
lavendar]]better off w/clone or cultivar

March 1-March 15(go out late March/early April)
cabbage
broccoli
cauliflower
kohlrabi
collards
kale
lettuce
oregano

March 15-March 31
fennel
dill
pepper
eggplant
sage

April 1-April 15
tomato (develop faster and go leggy if started earlier)

April 15-April 30
cucumber]]develop Very fast, put out when it has 1st true leaves
watermelon]]develop Very fast, put out when it has 1st true leaves

May 1-Mar 15
basil(don't put out before Memorial Day)
***
WHEN TO SOW FOR TRANSPLANTING FOR A FALL GARDEN
June 1-June15
brussels sprouts(bitter when grown for a spring schedule)(transplant in July)(harvest mid October)
==not going to make tight sprouts
==Glucosinolates in spring grown brussels sprouts
"The bitter taste of Brussels sprouts comes from compounds called glucosinolates and their degradation products, he explains. These bitter tasting compounds are an important part of the plant’s defence mechanism against leaf-eating enemies, such as insects, nematodes, slugs, and herbivores, like pigeons and deer. They are also responsible for many of the health-giving properties of Brussels and other brassicas, particularly their antioxidant and anti-cancer properties."

Brussels: a bittersweet story

Brussels: a bittersweet story

www.soci.org

July 1- July 15
broccoli
cauliflower
kohlrabi
late cabbage
collards
kale (flowering and regular)
fennel (florence)

July 15-July 30
early cabbage

August 1-August 15
kohlrabi
lettuce
dill (for weed)(don't want to flower late, so big fronds)
************************************
I can probably start some seedlings a good week earlier bc I garden 90 minutes drive south of KKK, (commonly known as, Triple K Town.)

 

[ducks4you]

Speaking of storing seeds...

How to Store Seeds​

There are four important factors for good seed storage:

• Keep the temperature cool – ideally below 40 ℉ (4 ℃), but cool room temperature will do
• Seeds must be dry
• Block out light
• Avoid bugs, rodents, and other pests

Storage Temperature
If you want to keep seeds from one growing season to the next, don't stash them in a garage or garden shed. Sure, those areas may be cool in the winter, but temperature fluctuations are bad for seed storage.

Don't leave your seeds sitting in a greenhouse or near a heat source, like near a furnace or in your kitchen! This will shorten their lives.


https://commonsensehome.com/how-to-...erseries&utm_medium=foreverseries&utm_id=2023
I am NOT READY to consider cold storage, like an AG department.
I do grab up dessicant packages and throw them in my seed cabinet drawers.

 

[ducks4you]

(Same article)

How long do seeds last?​

Some seeds store better than others, and will easily last from one year to the next. Others lose viability quickly in storage.

Seeds that last only 1-2 years include:

• Leek
• Onion
• Parsley
• Parsnip
• Pepper
• Sweet Corn

Seeds that last 3-4 years include:

• Beans
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Squash
• Watermelon

Seeds that keep 5 Years or More:

• Basil
• Cucumber
• Endive
• Radish
• Tomatoes

 

[ducks4you]

11 HERBS
I wrote about this on my 2024 thread.
One of my goals this year starts very soon, growing herbs inside.
No great success, but location could be the reason.
DD's have forbade that I take the stairs downstairs for a the next few weeks, but I can start herbs on top of the fridge and in the first floor bedroom off of the kitchen.
Here is a good article, (reposted Here), about 2 groups of herbs and their humidity requirements.
Those that need more humidity need to be grown in my small indoor "greenhouse."
Those that need a drier environment should be started on top of my fridge, where I have an LED grow light, and a heat mat. I can check these seedlings daily.
I am tired of eldest DD (Chef) BUYING fresh herbs for an arm and a leg to use for cooking, and I didn't get my herb garden restored yet outside.
I want to grow the following herbs successfully this winter indoors:
Basil
Sage
Thyme
Chives
Oregano
Rosemary

https://seedsnsuch.com/blogs/gardeners-greenroom/holiday-herbs-the-winter-herb-garden?utm_campaign=November blog #4 (01JDAH673KH334J94N3RVYY1X5)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Newsletter Engaged&_kx=8_66wdLQXLg8onEfykI06sO3N1jq-aqVv0qRx5AlDEs.VMbpN5

Growing Herbs in the Garden: Best Herbs for Beginners

Best herbs for a home garden especially for a beginner and herb-growing tips from the gardening experts at The Old Farmer's Almanac.

www.almanac.com

https://www.tipsbulletin.com/herbs-to-plant-in-fall/

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/plant-a-tea-garden-10849

Johnny's Seeds had a link to an herb growing guide, a PDF. Can't find the link, but it is Very thorough.
If I come upon it again, I will share.

 

[ducks4you]

FIX MY GATES!!
Not exactly plant related, but by straightening up the post with the heavy and formally sagging gate to the Inner Sanctum, and holding it with straps, the winter should freeze and hold it in place.
In 2025 I have 6 gates that need attention.
We can do them 1 at a time, starting with this gate bc we have never done this before and the ponies aren't around this gate, unless we let them into the Inner Sanctum, which is not very much.
We can cut our teeth on this fencepost and then know about proper curing time.
We will dig around and secure the posts with cement.
#2 and #3 will be the east and west fences on the North Pasture, in May before the boys get their north pasture back.
#4 will be the south gate on the South Pasture, do before ponies get their south pasture back.
#5 will be the gate that leads from behind the barn to the south pasture. Ponies can spend a few days this summer stuck in the north pasture.
Last gate, #6 will be the gate that leads from around the barn to the north pasture.
Ponies can spend a few days in the South pasture while we work on that one, probably Septemberish, when I can get outside again, after left knee healing.
New fencing (2008) came with much heavier stainless steel gates. I kept 3 of the 8 ft wide and 2 of the 4 ft wide hollow steel gates and none of those are sagging.
We will level all supporting posts and give them a couple of days for the cement to dry.

What Should I Set My Fence Posts in?

We recently had a new dog fence built around the whole of our acre of land, and all the wooden posts were set directly into the dirt – even the ones on the corners taking the tension.

takeayard.com

SAKRETE 50 lb. Fence Post Concrete Mix 100033425 - The Home Depot

Find the SAKRETE 50 lb. Fence Post Mix 100033425, covers approximately 0.5 cu. ft. mix with cement mix accelerator for fast set times from The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

Solved! This is How Long It Takes Concrete to “Dry”

Find out how long it takes for concrete to dry for you to be able to walk and drive on it. And learn how you can aid the curing process for best results.

www.bobvila.com

How Long Should I Let The Concrete On Fence Posts Dry Before Attaching Panels?

Whether you're using a quick-set post concrete or a standard concrete mix, the drying time varies according to the type of mix, the weather, and soil moisture. A quick-setting mix is dry enough in four hours, while a standard mix requires 24 to 48 hours.

www.hunker.com

 

[ducks4you]

Use hot peppers for insect control:
Sounds like cayenne pepper works on everything, the other hot peppers, not so much. Here is a recipe:

• Puree one garlic bulb and one small onion in a blender or food processor.
• Add 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) of cayenne powder and 1 quart (1 L.) of water.
• Let steep for an hour.
• Strain any chunks through cheesecloth, discard chunks of onion and garlic, and add 1 tablespoon (15 ml.) of dish soap to the liquid.
• Put in a sprayer and spray both the upper and lower surfaces of plants that are infested.

You can also start with 2 cups (473 ml.) of hot peppers, chopped. Note: Make sure you are protected. Wear goggles, long sleeves, and gloves; you might want to cover your mouth and nose as well.

• Chop up the peppers small enough so that you can measure out 2 cups (473 ml).
• Dump the cut peppers into a food processor and add one head of garlic, 1 tablespoon (15 ml.) of cayenne pepper and puree along with enough water to keep the food processor going.
• Once you are done pureeing the mixture, place it in a large bucket and add 4 gallons (15 L.) of water. Let this sit for 24 hours.
• After 24 hours, strain out the peppers and add to the liquid 3 tablespoons (44 ml.) of dish soap.
• Pour into a garden sprayer or spray bottle to use as needed.

 

[baymule]

I can’t wait to see your garden growing!

 

[ducks4you]

Me, TOO!!!!

 

[ducks4you]

12 PERENNIALS
Sometimes we forgot about the perennials, just like we can neglect our old friends, when the new and exciting "(kids) seeds and flowers and vegetables on the block" take our gaze away.
I am assessing my perennials today, starting with the great successes and ending with aclose to epic fail and an epic fail.
Magnolia Jane
EPIC SUCCESS!! The double trunk is about to outgrow it's protective fencing that has kept me from mowing too close. I get loads of flowers in the Spring and it flowers out in places several other time of the year. In the summer leafed out it keeps people from looking in our living room, too.
Front walk-tulips
I am fortunate in that I don't have anything that is digging mine up. They keep coming back to bloom every April. If they can hold on until 2026 I PROMISE to dig them out and separate them.
I keep missing my window to dig up the clump of purple tulips by the gate and fencing near the street. Hopefully i will get to it this Spring.
Black Iris and Yellow Iris
My black (really deep deep purple) Iris are practically indestructible! I have had to move them, and I even have some holding their on against the north side of the house where they don't get much light.
A friend gave me some yellow iris, and they are doing well, full south, south side of the garage.
Again, 2026 will be a division year for all of them.
Daffodils
I have them in various places, doing well, multiplying, and they will have to wait until 2026 for division, like the others.
Roses
UNfortunately I may have lost my yellow knockout rose this year!
Stupid blackberries overtook it, and I couldn't get to cutting them down enough to give it some room to breathe.
IF I could cut the blackberries Now, they wouldn't offer winter protection, so I might as well leave them be.
So, it's wait and see until the Spring.
The blackberries killed off another rose, east of the knockout and closer to the garage, but the rose west of the knockout did fine.
Peach Trees
Both doing well. I covered my baby peach tree (I think? it's a Redhaven,) that made it through last winter, and I was concerned about heavy locust hatchouts last Spring, which didn't really happen.
It was covered with growth and leaves all summer, and it took awhile to drop it's leaves this Fall.
I had a single blossom this Spring that dropped off. I expect a few peaches in 2026, but I am patient.
My established Peach tree--box store, so ???--gave me NO fruit in 2024.
I had to saw off a low dead branch this summer and there is more that is dead, just no more Branches dead. This one could use a really good pruning this winter. Then we will see if the fruit problem is a pollination problem. Beautiful tree, just a lousy FRUIT tree.
Johnagold Apple Trees
I planted 2 of them a few years ago. They really produced this summer. I missed out on half of the fruit, which I picked up off of the ground and fed to my horses.
They both need a good pruning this winter to keep them going.
Red (???) Apple Tree
THIS was the tree that lost limbs, which I sawed off. I was POSITIVE that it was a gonner, then, in 2024, it took off and gave me what would have been about five 5 gallon buckets of apples. Like the other apple trees I missed out on half of the harvest. Distractions were my knee and my mare who was dying over the summer.
ALL new growth is about 3-4 ft off of the ground, so not rootstock.
It also needs pruning. We always liked the apples, just have no idea what kind of apple tree this is.
Montmorency Tart Cherry Trees
I say "trees" but the older one bit the dust over the last winter. When I clean up the wood pile area next to my fire pit I will saw it down and burn it.
The taller one started to do the same thing, summer leaf drop, as the dead one. I missed the harvest--knee issues, again--and it would have been a Very good cherry harvest! I hope the local birds enjoyed themselves!!
In late August I set up a soaker hose. The tree responded by leafing out many of it's 2025 leaves and a few cherry blossoms. Since I watered it last we have had some good rains. I chose my oldest soaker hose primarily bc I can't count of DD's to do all the horse feeding and some cleanup and also put this one away. It will probably be ok left out, not gonna cry about it.
Still, I need more research and observation. It could be a number of different issues with this tree.
I think that if I severely prune it and make sure that it gets enough water I should be able to save it.

7 Common Cherry Tree Diseases and How to Treat Them

Pathogens can put a full halt to charming cherry blossoms or juicy fruit. Prevent this loss with our tips on how to treat these common cherry tree diseases.

www.lawnstarter.com

Golden Delicious Apple Tree
THIS was my pony's special apple tree, in their turnout area, and they have been enjoying apple from it for YEARS.
This Fall the apples fell, they were gobbled up, then I look out and the tree had fallen over.
DH got the tractor out, we put a chain on the fallen over trunk, nudged it, it finished breaking and we dragged it out to our north pasture burn pile.
UNfortunately this tree broke below the root stock. Whatever tries to grow there will be a question mark, so it is destined to gradual sawing to the ground.
Will I replace it? ABSOLUTELY!! Even if I go cheap with a box store apple tree!. Just gotta figure out where to grow it.