Sooooo, is anyone gardening this year???

[silkifyre]

We are! We've started 3 different varieties of tomatoes, 2 diff. cucumbers, and 1 type of watermelon. The maters and cukes are lookin' pretty good, but there are only 2 surviving watermelon babies. I sure HOPE they can stick with us! Unfortunately, all the seedlings became way too leggy and they weren't forming new leaves beyond the first 2 that sprouted, and they started to fall over. We found out too late that the light overhead should remain just 2" above their little "heads!" Now, though, things are looking better for all the survivors, and this afternoon, I think, we'll move them outside to start hardening them before putting them in the ground. We need to borrow somebody's rototiller! We have too much space to do it with a shovel! I'm looking forward to having a large garden. We have more seeds to get started soon, too. Like beets, corn, beans, and more! ;D

[superchicken]

I have a garden 12 months a year, at Kroger and Food Lion--

[Arlene]

HA! if I can get the tiller taken apart and see why it is not working.. and then get it back together I will plant a good one this year... I want one so bad!.. the tiller is old as heck and antique but it worked great the beginning of last year.

[silkifyre]

Ahhhh, so that is another job for the kidnapped one to do for you! You know what would be really good exercise for him, Ar? It would be a terrific workout for you both! Hitch him up to a small plow! He pulls while you direct (but you'd still have to walk behind to keep him movin'! I have a whip if you need one!).

[superchicken]

Oh,Me

[Arlene]

.. great idea.. I used to have a whip here somewhere.. might have gotten gone tho.. things do that round here..

I have a small plow that I found at the creek! I think it is supposed to be attached to a tractor or something.. I dragged that thing all the way up here . talk about achy back!!

;D

[superchicken]

mmmmmmm , don`t know what to say

[Arlene]

I guess I could just make him fix the gas one.. that would be nicer. huh?

[superchicken]

ummmm--still speachless from last time.Don`t know what to say--well I do but won`t.

[Arlene]

yikes! !!

[superchicken]

Yikes???

[Arlene]

you do but you won't " YIKES !

[superchicken]

yes

[silkifyre]

If he fixes the gas one, then you'll have to make him be the one to use it. Gotta make him do SOME work!

[superchicken]

Thanks

[silkifyre]

Anytime!

[silkifyre]

Well, yesterday was Sunday, and Bob's last weekend day. We never did find a rototiller to purchase or rent. We priced some, but man, are they not cheap! We called on an ad for one for sale, but by the time the fellow called back, Bob changed his mind, saying we kinda could use the money elsewhere. Besides that, something else happened. We'd also placed a call for someone who provided tilling services, but again, by the time he called back, I figured it was too late. Here's why...

Bob starting plowing the back 40... by hand! He got HALF the space turned by using hand tools!!! Whew! Well, the back 40 is only 8ft by 37 ft, so it ain't huge, but when ya do it by hand, I'm sure it SEEMS huge! So now part of our tiny yard is a large square of overturned earths that needs declumping and degrassing. Guess who gets to do THAT job! Right! The kids! LOLOL Well, me too, actually. I just hope they don't get it into their heads to have a dirt throwing fight. Cuz then I'll have to get the hose and have me a water fight! (j/k) It's a bit too chilly for that. I'm sure I'll have a wall of resistance when I tell them they have to help break up earthen chunks.

[Arlene]

I am impressed! I did that here.. wanna see pictures?? I can run out and take some I did it in a few spots.. the coop , the flower bed and the side of the yard.. just digging up flowers there tho.. too dry there. it drains too fast. and there are a million pissants there.. I was standing and suddenly my legs started itching and then I looked and my shoes were black.. If that weirdo in the woods watches me then he got MOONED cause I came out of my shoes and pants and ran in the house hahah!!! !!

but anyway.. today I told myself "self, we are going to plant corn and the seeds that are laying in there waiting for that time to plant." hahha I am glad I waited tho.. it is cold as heck here!
48 degrees according to my toes .. and the weather thing at the bottom of the page !

anyway... I am going to finish digging... I use a shovel first then I go back with the hoe and chop it up... it helps when the chickens get in there and scratch too... takes longer but they get it done! I am ready to fence it off up at the coop.. it is a small area.. more like a flower bed but still I can plant corn and cantelopes there.. last time the darn deer got them both.. they seem to KNOW when they get ripe! arggg!

so my garden is going to be all over the place .. and some in buckets.. I will do the tomato plants that way.... I got 4 tires I am going to fill up down at the barn with chicken crap and the shavings and plant potatoes in them.. I hate digging potatoes up! so with the tires I just roll them off and shake the dirt out!! and the potatoes fall out.. just a trick I learned from my daddy ;D

I already planted the onions.. well it was only a few.. I had some of the huge sweet ones in the kitchen too long.. and they were already growing! so I took them apart and got 4 out of each one.. then I said wow! I got some garlic cloves in the house so I sent Mitchell in there and then we planted those.. I don;t think they are going to grow tho.. they are sort of dried out.. what do you think??

also I have dug up and have a million Jeruselem Artichokes I got from someone at PIYY last year or was it the year before?? anyway I have replanted them more spread apart and the ones I put back in the ground look great!

anyone want some of them?

I don;t know hwat else to plant.. any suggestions?? I want to have food this summer . unlike last summer hahah!