What Did You Do In The Garden?

[digitS']

@lcertuche , rabbits have not bothered my melons or squash. Tree squirrels are not usually in my gardens. Ground squirrels cannot be trusted, at all! They will turn an area anywhere near their burrows into a moonscape by eating anything green.

My gardening: I've been tilling in weeds and the 3% N fertilizer. So much extra weight and trips with my coffee can. It's almost low enuf N to just trump the bag on the ground and spread it with a rake. Really, it is. And, of course, there are benefits to organic fertilizer beyond the current season.

The 5% I used in 2016 wasn't much of a step up. I'm trying to understand why the 8% organic isn't more popular and readily available. I can't bring myself to buy it by the pallet so I guess that I'll just go with the composted chicken manure and be resigned to lugging it around the garden - like the old days.

Steve

 

[lcertuche]

I put a lot of wood chips, sawdust, chicken litter in the garden last summer and this winter and the dirt looks pretty good for a couple of inches. A big difference than the red clay. I throw in what kitchen waste the chickens won't eat (which is practically none). I also put a lot of peat moss and Black Cow cow manure from Wally World. I put wood ash from the wood stove on the garden in early, early spring. I hauled a few old tires to the garden and filled with peat and manure and planted tomatoes. I used the plastic produce crates to plant peppers. I'm growing beans up the fence (eventually) when they grow taller. I've been putting a little 13-13-13 around the plants along with a little epsom salt. I use some ground up eggshells around the tomatoes but want to buy some calcium. I probably should have limed it but didn't. I have a big pot I am growing some basil, rosemary, parsley, and cherry tomatoes. I hope to squeeze a few green in there somewhere.

 

[lcertuche]

@digitS' is ground squirrels the same thing as chipmunks. I haven't seen any here but we sure got a mess of grey squirrels. I've been thinking squirrel and dumplings sound pretty good!

 

[digitS']

There are several types of chipmunks. Perhaps one of them is more closely related to our ground squirrels.

Prairie dogs are probably closely related.

The grey squirrels are in the neighborhood trees and here at home. However, there are no oak or nut trees close to the garden. Only a few pines and fir trees. Probably they are not favoured by grey squirrels.

Steve

 

[Beekissed]

Planted a flat of annuals, landscaped around the peonies and a rose bush, hauled composted chicken litter for those beds and then covered with wood chips.

Planted three perennial herbs in the garden and also some wild daisies I picked out by the mailbox. Watered tomato and lettuce seedlings and all the freshly planted flowers.

Walked around with a huge smile in my heart at all the beautiful growth this year!

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I planted some squash and cucumber plants and put in some seeds. I also planted a few Portuguese kale plants. The price of food at the store made me put in more squash seeds. Crazy prices and they actually spiral cut squash and sell it for huge price. My delicata squash did not sprout. I may go to the farmer's market in the morning and see if they have any.

 

[thistlebloom]

I planted some squash and cucumber plants and put in some seeds. I also planted a few Portuguese kale plants. The price of food at the store made me put in more squash seeds. Crazy prices and they actually spiral cut squash and sell it for huge price. My delicata squash did not sprout. I may go to the farmer's market in the morning and see if they have any.

Which Farmers Market do you go to? I've only been to the one in Hayden, but it's been a few years even then. Saturdays are a big chore day at home for me, so it's hard to take the time to drive to town. But I do love it when I can get there.

 

[ducks4you]

I put a lot of wood chips, sawdust, chicken litter in the garden last summer and this winter and the dirt looks pretty good for a couple of inches. A big difference than the red clay. I throw in what kitchen waste the chickens won't eat (which is practically none). I also put a lot of peat moss and Black Cow cow manure from Wally World. I put wood ash from the wood stove on the garden in early, early spring. I hauled a few old tires to the garden and filled with peat and manure and planted tomatoes. I used the plastic produce crates to plant peppers. I'm growing beans up the fence (eventually) when they grow taller. I've been putting a little 13-13-13 around the plants along with a little epsom salt. I use some ground up eggshells around the tomatoes but want to buy some calcium. I probably should have limed it but didn't. I have a big pot I am growing some basil, rosemary, parsley, and cherry tomatoes. I hope to squeeze a few green in there somewhere.

You know I have read SOOOO many articles that tell you wood ash isn't good for gardening. But, tell me, WHY is the ash pile where I burn weeds and weed trees (all year round) turning into soil and growing weeds and grass, when it isn't good for gardening?
Sorry you had to BUY manure. You need to get more chickens!

 

[ducks4you]

I transplanted the tropical hibiscus from the winter pot to DD's big blue pot which is now in front of the porch. I planted 9 nasturtiums seeds, since they like pink and purple and I found pink nasturtium seeds!!!!
I THINK they will look like this:
http://www.selectseeds.com/product/image/SS/6767/nasturtium_cherrelle_seeds.jpg
I planted the plain old yellow, orange and red ones at my place.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

Which Farmers Market do you go to? I've only been to the one in Hayden, but it's been a few years even then. Saturdays are a big chore day at home for me, so it's hard to take the time to drive to town. But I do love it when I can get there.

The one on 95 and Prairie in Coeur d' Alene. I have not been this year at all. I did not go at all last year.