Grasshopper When Will You Listen

[Pulsegleaner]

As far as I am concerned, the wacky weather me and NYBoy have around here is one of the main reasons we (or, at least I) have such cruddy garden luck and still have no clue what will and won't work. Specifically the problem that come a little later, as we break into "spring". In most areas (I assume) spring is a comparatively even gradual affair. Each day in general it's a bit warmer until the weather reaches the summer peaks. That's how it USED to be around here. Now spring is chaos with mid summer temps on day, and threat of snow the next. And that is murder on ALL the plants. The cold weather crops (peas, vetches, etc.) can't cut it, because the heat spikes roast them. The warm weather crops can't because the cold snaps linger on to kill them (most years now, it's almost the end of JUNE before we can really count on warm weather every day) And then come August, the whole cycle starts in reverse. My garlic is small because of bad genetics but I only get ANYTHING one year in four or five because in the rest of the years either the winter gets so cold it freezes all the way down to the bottom and the bulbs rot, or it never gets cold enough for the plants to go into accumulation mode, and the burn themselves out without making any bulbs.) I've upped it a bit by planting in big pots and leaving them in the garage over the winter (just warm enough to keep the deepest of freezes away) but it's still long odds. Almost EVERYTHING needs to be started indoors to work now.

 

[Nyboy]

Pulse think you hit nail on head !!!!!!!

 

[Pulsegleaner]

That's why I do so much of this mad seed hunting; 99% of the time a version of a crop that goes against type for the plant is the only one that works here. It's one of the reasons I TREASURED the peas I used to have with the triple P trait (not it's real name but the one I used to use because I can't remember the real one. It makes the peas really really tiny, like bird shot sized) and have been tearing my hair out finding replacements ever since. Their tininess meant that their tiny plants made pods that were no bigger than the last joint of my finger, and hence not all that much use for cooking but those reduced peas had reduced growth time, so I could go seed to see in 30-45 days. THAT I can pull off. Now I rely on a pea from southern Italy with a little heat tolerance, so I can get a couple flushes out before the heat kills them (provided I remember to leave the first flush alone; that's the only one that will have time for it's seed to really mature for next year.)

 

[valley ranch]

Nyboy, You're right to have suggested that. The Drier combines with water that sits on the bottom of the tank, carries it through to be burned in the engine. There is usually quite a bit of water by the time it gets into the lines, because the pick up is above the bottom of the tank.

 

[aftermidnight]

As far as I am concerned, the wacky weather me and NYBoy have around here is one of the main reasons we (or, at least I) have such cruddy garden luck and still have no clue what will and won't work. Specifically the problem that come a little later, as we break into "spring". In most areas (I assume) spring is a comparatively even gradual affair. Each day in general it's a bit warmer until the weather reaches the summer peaks. That's how it USED to be around here. Now spring is chaos with mid summer temps on day, and threat of snow the next. And that is murder on ALL the plants. The cold weather crops (peas, vetches, etc.) can't cut it, because the heat spikes roast them. The warm weather crops can't because the cold snaps linger on to kill them (most years now, it's almost the end of JUNE before we can really count on warm weather every day) And then come August, the whole cycle starts in reverse. My garlic is small because of bad genetics but I only get ANYTHING one year in four or five because in the rest of the years either the winter gets so cold it freezes all the way down to the bottom and the bulbs rot, or it never gets cold enough for the plants to go into accumulation mode, and the burn themselves out without making any bulbs.) I've upped it a bit by planting in big pots and leaving them in the garage over the winter (just warm enough to keep the deepest of freezes away) but it's still long odds. Almost EVERYTHING needs to be started indoors to work now.

Same here, we used to get 4 seasons, not anymore some years it's winter (although mostly mild) straight into summer, forget about spring . Things I used to direct seed now every year get started in the greenhouse or in the basement under lights. I can remember when I used to direct sow beans in March, now they're all started in the greenhouse.
Annette

 

[Nyboy]

As a teenage my father would take my car away if I let gas go below 1/4 tank, he claimed all the gunck in tank then got sucked up into motor.

 

[Smart Red]

Perhaps that was a little exaggerated, but running out of gas is a good way to gunk up the engine so he was only protecting you from that eventuality. There is nothing sacred about that last 1/4th tank. It's just that you never know exactly how close to empty you're getting.

New cars will tell you, but I still like to refill when I get down to 1/4 tank. Old habits, it suppose, since my dad said much the same thing.

 

[Nyboy]

I did have to learn the hard way oil light is not a suggestion to get oil changed.

 

[Smart Red]

I hate cars with those "Idiot" lights. Always preferred seeing gauges, myself.
Nope!
Now cars will talk to you nicely suggesting it's time for an oil change, but back in the stone ages -- when I was first driving -- red lights meant STOP! Most likely it was already too late once the light went on, but continuing to drive was a guarantee that a new engine (or car) was in your future.