Ducks4you 2021 Ragtag Thread

[Ridgerunner]

the small difference in elevation is signifigant.

It can be extremely significant and not just for houses. Put your chicken coop and run on higher ground. I hate to think of a pig pen where it stays wet. Put your outbuildings on higher ground. Think about drainage when positioning a garden, flower bed, or planting trees. It can make your life a lot easier.

Many years back in a different location we got about 16" of rain in about half a day. Over a day and a half the total as 24". 1" of elevation kept our house from flooding. We were one of two houses on the street that did not flood. I noticed how just a mall difference in elevation can make a big difference.

 

[baymule]

We are at part of the highest elevation in our county, at 610 feet by the road, the house sits a little lower, A gully goes through our property and we put up swales to slow the run off. I also use tree trunks and branches in various places to combat erosion.

No way I would live in a flood zone!

 

[ducks4you]

Check THIS out:

The Old Farmer's Almanac Organic Weed Barrier Paper

The Old Farmer's Almanac Weed Barrier Paper is infused with fertilizer to protect and feed plants for a full growing season. Designed for organic food crops, Weed Barrier Paper is excellent for use on flowers, shrubs, and home gardens too.

www.simplygro.com

• One 3 x 50 Roll Covers 150 Square Feet

 

[ducks4you]

You can also try paper grocery sacks, and, of course, PREEN.

 

[Marie2020]

Btw, DD got her Samsung Galaxy to take much better pictures, like this one, IMHO worthy of a calendar.
View attachment 40326

That is a great capture.

 

[Marie2020]

Took the glass lid off of the tomato terrarium this afternoon. Cooking away like a sauna inside!
Here are some articles to help keep your fruit blossoms from freezing:

How to Protect Fruit Trees from Late Frost | Davey Tree

Learn how you can protect your citrus trees, peach trees and apple trees from late frost and the factors affecting freeze damage. You should plan to cover your fruit tree whenever the temperatures is expected to drop below 28 degrees F.

blog.davey.com

"You'd never dream that Christmas lights would give off enough heat to keep your plants from freezing, but they will. You can string them up and down your plants. This option works great for trees as well. Not only will you look festive on cold nights, but you'll also awake to plants that have been kept warm all night."

9 Ways to Protect Your Plants from an Unexpected Frost

Need an easy frost protection for plants? Here are 9 easy ways to protect your plants, more than just using plastic cover.

morningchores.com

There's been many a house fire from Christmas lights. I haven't used them for years

 

[ducks4you]

Most LED lights are very safe today.

 

[ducks4you]

Checking on my beds after yet A N O T H E R!!!! downpour this morning.
I had buried 1/2 of last year's tomatoes that rotted there, and some of them volunteered.
I may have MANY more tomatoes this year than I thought I would have.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE volunteers!!!!
They are always tougher than the plants you nurse along.
I even have a volunteer potato growing with my okra, bc I moved dirt there from my potato bed.
Guess I missed it. WHY bother pulling it out?!?!?
Funny, all of this rain hasn't rotted my potatoes. They are ALL sending up stems and leaves, and soon, flowers.
2nd try at asparagus. DD's said that theirs is doing ok. Don't know how often they look, and I haven't had Time to look. Mine are healthy, just need some more weeding and paper treatment. Maybe, in 2 years, I will have a small harvest. We'll see it they decide to spread.
Checked on my sweet corn. Most of it (2020 seeds) have sprouted and are LOVING all of the rain.
Probably bc the south side of my garage drains well, and they are growing in 6 years of rotting and dumped used stall bedding. They are, after all HEAVY feeders.
I have good drainage on all of my beds, except north of the garage, but I planted wax begonias and impatiens there and I think they Like the extra watering.
Found some cheapo boxed packages of sweet corn yesterday at Menard's, so they will get planted in the front of the others in the next few days.
Bought 4 packages, don't know how many, but we'll see.
Also bought 4 packages of pole beans.
REMEMBER, do NOT plant pole beans next to your sweet/indian corn.
The stalks are NOT strong enough to hold up to any vining.
When they are talking, "3 sisters planting", it means bush beans and any kind of squash, not necessary pumpkins.

 

[ducks4you]

HAPPY to say that my spearmint came back.
I should be harvesting for mint sauce soon!
Even "invasive" plants don't always "bloom where you plant them."

 

[ducks4you]

Found a volunteer Mr. Lincoln rose!
I dug it out--it was 6 inches next to the mother rose--and potted it up right there.
Hoping it makes it!!
I have NEVER tried this before, so wish me luck.