Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I
covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. I cut a small serving of rhubarb this morning. Dessert at lunch. Discovered that 2 of the 3 rhubarb plants DH got last year have poked their heads through. Still watching the last one. These are fairly expensive, supposed to be red ones. Once they get going good I may start taking cuttings and replace some of the existing plants that don't do very well. Guess in a few days I will start transplanting some of my tomato and pepper seedlings into larger quarters. Am even more sure that they are not going outside until sometime in May. -- USA North Carolina Foothills USDA Zone 7a |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/28/2015 11:03 AM, The Cook wrote:
It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. I cut a small serving of rhubarb this morning. Dessert at lunch. Discovered that 2 of the 3 rhubarb plants DH got last year have poked their heads through. Still watching the last one. These are fairly expensive, supposed to be red ones. Once they get going good I may start taking cuttings and replace some of the existing plants that don't do very well. Guess in a few days I will start transplanting some of my tomato and pepper seedlings into larger quarters. Am even more sure that they are not going outside until sometime in May. We had a little cold snap yesterday ourselves, got down into the high forties. Had to put a blanket back on the bed. G Bright sunshine today and hardly any wind. All the veggies we planted from seed are now up. Yellow squash, green beans, cukes, lima beans, carrots all up and growing. The transplants are also doing well as we got a bit of rain shortly after planting. Picked up the dawg from the vet hospital this morning, had her right meniscus repaired. Very expensive but worth it for this one. She's laying on a rug in the living room now with her "Elizabethan" collar on and groaning about her knee like any other senior citizen. In a few weeks she will be able to run and jump without pain we hope. Maybe take her out for a short leash walk in the garden later today and give her a chance to lay in the sunshine for a bit. George |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
The Cook wrote:
It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. I cut a small serving of rhubarb this morning. Dessert at lunch. Discovered that 2 of the 3 rhubarb plants DH got last year have poked their heads through. Still watching the last one. These are fairly expensive, supposed to be red ones. Once they get going good I may start taking cuttings and replace some of the existing plants that don't do very well. Guess in a few days I will start transplanting some of my tomato and pepper seedlings into larger quarters. Am even more sure that they are not going outside until sometime in May. I noticed yesterday that some of the spinach and bok choy I planted earlier this week has sprouted , but the lettuce hasn't . We're expecting a light freeze tonight , so I'll be covering the hot box with a tarp ... I'll be moving those seedling out into the garden in a couple of weeks , weather permitting . I'll be checking the 10 day forecast first though , don't want a repeat of last year . It froze the night I planted them and cost me a third of my tomato seedlings . Her daffodils sure are purty ! -- Snag |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/28/2015 4:09 PM, Derald wrote:
The Cook wrote: It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. We're having a bit of chill, too. Was high 40's overnight with mid-low 40's forecast for the next couple of nights; days forecast 70-75°. Nothing in the garden here will find those temps objectionable. It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. Dawg is home from the vet too, picked her up at 1100 this morning. Had to have her right knee repaired, had a meniscus blow out. She's playing the poor me game, wanted to be hand fed, have her butt scratched and rolls those big, brown eyes at us. We missed her during her two and a half days away. No one to chase the birds out of the garden and to run the loose cats away. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
George Shirley wrote:
On 3/28/2015 4:09 PM, Derald wrote: The Cook wrote: It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. We're having a bit of chill, too. Was high 40's overnight with mid-low 40's forecast for the next couple of nights; days forecast 70-75°. Nothing in the garden here will find those temps objectionable. It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. Oh quit gloating ! grin We did get a little sun today , but it's still chilly enough out that I have a fire in the stove . And the forecast is still for 31° overnight . -- Snag |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/28/2015 6:01 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:
George Shirley wrote: On 3/28/2015 4:09 PM, Derald wrote: The Cook wrote: It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. We're having a bit of chill, too. Was high 40's overnight with mid-low 40's forecast for the next couple of nights; days forecast 70-75°. Nothing in the garden here will find those temps objectionable. It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. Oh quit gloating ! grin We did get a little sun today , but it's still chilly enough out that I have a fire in the stove . And the forecast is still for 31° overnight . I've got my fingers in my ears and singing La, La to keep from hearing about the cold weather. I DO NOT LIKE COLD ANYTHING BUT ICED TEA, COLA, AND THE ODD BEER. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/28/2015 9:47 PM, Derald wrote:
George Shirley wrote: It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. We've been warm, too, recently. Greens are all bolting and onions are blooming. At least this most recent front brought a little rain to these parts, ahead of the chilly temps. Have garden peas coming along with more just emerging. Our greens are still producing, including lettuce, spinach, etc. The Swiss chard was planted two years ago and is still producing. It's in full shade after high noon and I suspect that's what keeps it producing. We planted Truckers Favorite corn Friday afternoon and when it gets about six inches high we will plant brown crowder peas alongside. After that we will plant squash around the peas. The old Native American "Three Sisters." We plant every square inch we can with stuff to eat or cook with or is just pretty. Going to middle grandson's place tomorrow and help him build some more raised beds. He, our son, and our daughter all are gardeners. The other four grandkids haunt the grocery stores. George |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On Sat, 28 Mar 2015 12:03:09 -0400, The Cook wrote:
It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. I cut a small serving of rhubarb this morning. Dessert at lunch. Discovered that 2 of the 3 rhubarb plants DH got last year have poked their heads through. Still watching the last one. These are fairly expensive, supposed to be red ones. Once they get going good I may start taking cuttings and replace some of the existing plants that don't do very well. Guess in a few days I will start transplanting some of my tomato and pepper seedlings into larger quarters. Am even more sure that they are not going outside until sometime in May. It's coming just a little bit more slowly this year. Spring fever is getting the best of all of us. Here's a pic that might help scare away those cold nights. http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o282/fry_daddy/ perennialhouse1_zpsqnk9q9ne.jpg |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/29/2015 11:18 AM, Derald wrote:
George Shirley wrote: Our greens are still producing, including lettuce, spinach, etc. The Swiss chard was planted two years ago and is still producing. It's in full shade after high noon and I suspect that's what keeps it producing. Could be (chard in shade). I'm certain that collards may be grown as perennials in open shade and that the perennial herbs we grow do best when protected from direct sunlight, past mid-morning, during the hot months. We don't grow any "leaf" lettuce and—although, I try almost every year—we don't have enough consistently cool weather for even so-called "summertime" crisphead lettuce to thrive. In the fall, once the beds are reliably cool, I begin planting lettuce weekly and carrots bi-weekly. Most years, the cool periods aren't sufficiently long for heading lettuce to do much besides blossom; at least, they're pretty and the butterflies like'em. Carrots are far more tolerant of warm winters and I can plant them 'til March with some expectation of fresh carrots for the kitchen. We planted Truckers Favorite corn Friday afternoon and when it gets about six inches high we will plant brown crowder peas alongside. After that we will plant squash around the peas. The old Native American "Three Sisters." We plant every square inch we can with stuff to eat or cook with or is just pretty. No corn (maize) here. This year, I'm contemplating transplanting tomatoes or eggplant (aubergine) into the yellow squash. I can follow the squash with peanuts (for example). OTOH, I have containers enough for three tomato plants, more than enough, and I can direct-seed them with no fiddling around. Eggplant, it shall be, then. Going to middle grandson's place tomorrow and help him build some more raised beds. He, our son, and our daughter all are gardeners. The other four grandkids haunt the grocery stores. DW&I don't see enough of our respective families to know whether any of them gardens. The nearest neighbor who cooks takes fresh herbs from time to time and behaved as if he liked the ginger. Despite my offers, he doesn't seem interested in growing his own seasonings so... We live in a subdivision in between Tomball, TX and The Woodlands, TX. 290 homes here, I only know of three of us that actually garden. I posted on the web site that I would teach vegetable and herb gardening practices and also how to preserve the food you grow. No one was interested. At least it seemed so, no one bothered to reply. Most of the neighbors just grow grass and whatever the builder put in for plantings. One thing builders plant around here is Pineapple guava, neighbor across the street was originally from Puerto Rico and she didn't even recognize the plants. I will be watching the fruit this year as last year we had a late freeze that dropped the fruit and ruined it. I'm thinking maybe guava wine or just jellies and jams. Spotted some big turtles in the retention pond, required in this part of Texas. I know there's no firearm use here but I need to ask if air guns are considered firearms by the idiots that run the subdivision. If not, we may have turtle stew or soup or both on the menu before long. Also spotted a family of nutria rats there, they're not protected so are easy prey. The hides are worth a couple of bucks and I need to research the tail bounty. In Louisiana you got five bucks for every nutria tail brought in. Cajuns got a large amount of the rats out of the wetlands there. Plus I've eaten nutria meat before and it is no worse than muskrat or squirrel. I need to put the scope on my 1100 fps air rifle. Dewberries we are cultivating are blooming still and the early blooms have set fruit. Have to watch the dog or she will be nipping the berries off the vines. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 3/28/2015 11:05 PM, George Shirley wrote:
On 3/28/2015 6:01 PM, Terry Coombs wrote: George Shirley wrote: On 3/28/2015 4:09 PM, Derald wrote: The Cook wrote: It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. We're having a bit of chill, too. Was high 40's overnight with mid-low 40's forecast for the next couple of nights; days forecast 70-75°. Nothing in the garden here will find those temps objectionable. It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. Oh quit gloating ! grin We did get a little sun today , but it's still chilly enough out that I have a fire in the stove . And the forecast is still for 31° overnight . I've got my fingers in my ears and singing La, La to keep from hearing about the cold weather. I DO NOT LIKE COLD ANYTHING BUT ICED TEA, COLA, AND THE ODD BEER. I'm still laughing from George Wills comment this morning calling it "negative global warming". |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring? correction
On 4/5/2015 2:30 PM, Frank wrote:
I'm still laughing from George Wills comment this morning calling it "negative global warming". Will said, "insufficient global warming" in blaming economy for poor job growth. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
What Happened to Spring?
On 4/5/2015 1:30 PM, Frank wrote:
On 3/28/2015 11:05 PM, George Shirley wrote: On 3/28/2015 6:01 PM, Terry Coombs wrote: George Shirley wrote: On 3/28/2015 4:09 PM, Derald wrote: The Cook wrote: It was down to 31°F last night and 26°F predicted for tonight. I covered my onions and spinach with 2 layers of row cover. Took it off today so they don't cook. Back on tonight. I found some volunteer lettuce plants yesterday. Dug the up and put them in the greenhouse. They go back out when it warms up. Thank goodness the peas haven't germinated yet. We're having a bit of chill, too. Was high 40's overnight with mid-low 40's forecast for the next couple of nights; days forecast 70-75°. Nothing in the garden here will find those temps objectionable. It's 1645 right now and the temp is 81F on the shaded back porch. Lots of sunshine today and every thing we planted so far is up and growing. Happy, happy. Oh quit gloating ! grin We did get a little sun today , but it's still chilly enough out that I have a fire in the stove . And the forecast is still for 31° overnight . I've got my fingers in my ears and singing La, La to keep from hearing about the cold weather. I DO NOT LIKE COLD ANYTHING BUT ICED TEA, COLA, AND THE ODD BEER. I'm still laughing from George Wills comment this morning calling it "negative global warming". I saw that one too, I think he and I could be friends easily. At 1451 today I am reading 58F. What happened to my spring? Having said that I just came in from the garden, a tiny zucchini is showing on one plant. I must keep an eye on it or it will be two feet long by Tuesday. All the tomatoes and sweet chiles have tiny blooms either open or opening soon. Dear wife is out cutting lettuces for our Easter dinner at 5 pm this afternoon with the kids, grands, and great grands. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|