Posted on 12/22/2017 6:28:55 PM PST by greeneyes
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My garlic has sprouted, but the bed with the newly purchased which was planted first is not growing as well as the ones I planted from my previous harvest.
The lemon tree has nice golden lemons with only a pea sized spot of green at the bottom, so I'll be using them pretty soon. I brought it into the house along with the aloe plant and one of the turmeric plants.
I duct taped a 10x20 ft plastic sheet above the patio doors and made a lean to type tent with the plant cart and grow light there, along with an electric heater.
This avoids having to heat an 8x12 ft uninsulated greenhouse. This space is about 2.5 x 7 x 7 ft area to heat. There will be enough space for a couple of more pots for spinach and lettuce on the outer/cooler side.
I added a crockpot of water with a lid that is missing the center screw/handle, and that brought the humidity up to the desirable level. This spring we plan to put up something similar only thicker plastic and use a heavy duty curtain rod for ease of entrance/exit to the rest. That will give us a better situation for the next winter as well as more space as the weather becomes warmer.
On the very sunny days, I have thrown back one edge of the plastic and basked in the sunlight at a warm 80+ degrees. It feels like summer. LOL
Hubby is going to be researching some sort of solar energy methods for heating it so we can start saving and planning for that.
I did most of my shopping on line this year and those are here, so I have gifts to wrap tonight. I hope all is well with you. Have a great weekend. Prayers up for all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
PINGING THE LIST.
Merry Christmas to All and God Bless America!
(((HUGS)))
We're getting a bit of much needed rain this evening. Not a lot but even snow would be welcome.
Snow and 25F right now here in the Colorado Rockies. Many months till I plant anything, but I am thinking about what I will do in spring.
Settling into a long New England winter (the season of "dead things").
So, what's with the garlic sprouting in December?
We plant in October and cover with a foot of mulched leaves - won't see them poke up until May. We have plenty dried to last us through the winter, though.
Stay warm and have a blessed Christmas.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
One of my dog walking neighbors stopped by needing Rosemary for something and remembered that I have two plants. She was so happy and I was too.
We are getting a light dusting this evening...not enough o ensure a “white Christmas” but it’s pretty while it’s falling.
Hugs right back at you!
I will be looking at Spring too. Will have so much more room to start the seeds this year. I may actually do a lot of that.
I usually plant in Sept. or Oct. Was late getting it started.
I covered both beds with straw, after the night time temps dipped. I just went out to check and saw the sprouts peeping out from that bed that had grown so much.
Usually, I also cover with a row cover, but last year, I just used straw, and it turned out ok. So I’ll try it again this year.
I left a small sprig of Rosemary growing in the raised bed and covered it with straw - was amazed to see it was still green. Sure it will die away next week - really cold spell coming in.
I wish that Walmart had had some Rosemary trimmed like Xmas trees this year - but didn’t happen.
Oh I do too. haven’t found any this year.
As for rosemary in a pot trimmed like a Christmas tree, check your local greenhouse or grocery stores. Our local food mart has them at the start of the Christmas season. Lovely aroma.
Merry Christmas Y’all. Our garlic is thriving...
It’s been very dry here in Missouri. Yesterday we received 1/4 of rain and then overnight, about 1/4 inch of wet snow.
Looks nice. We really need the moisture.
Merry Christmas, Greeneyes!
We have moved from ‘Veggie Mode’ to ‘Meat Mode.’ We now have wild hog, bear, venison, fish, elk, wild turkey and beef in the freezer(s)!
Last night we had some nice Rib-eye steaks on the grill with some frozen broccoli from June, though! ;)
I am currently making Crock-Pot Mushrooms for our Family Christmas with Beau’s side of the family later this afternoon. We’ll see my family on the 30th, when I’m bringing Jalapeno Popper Dip.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/230775/crock-pot-mushrooms/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/jalapeno-popper-dip
Seed catalogs are stacking up - but I’ve decided I’m only going with tried-and-true and/or AAS Winner varieties this next season. I’m also hoping for my Greenhouse, but I think I have to muddle through for another season with just my grow light racks - but I am getting a second set, brand new, from a friend who is moving, so it’s all good, Baby! :)
We have new cement flooring in the shed, and 8 of the dogs moved in there in their own kennels and doggy condos. Man, that is SO much easier feeding them than tromping up and down the hill ever was. I love it! (More poop to deal with, but it is what it is).
The mule (Ithaca) escaped his pasture, and was on the front lawn yesterday morning - nibbling our still-green grass, so I lured him into the paddock with a promise of oats and hay. Of course, this stuff ONLY happens when Beau is away!
My raised beds have been put ‘to bed’ - layer of wet newspaper covered with a heavy layer of pine needles ..... I defy weeds to grow over the winter until it’s time to plant again!
One little rosemary plant left in the my herb garden - will cover with pine needles this weekend because there is a cold blast coming Christmas Day. Right now it’s been in the high 60’s the last couple of days, perfect to be out and about taking care of things around the farm.
Yesterday, I got all the limbs/debris, brought down by the very heavy snow Dec. 8-9, hauled away. Some big branches were partially broken off & hanging in the trees so that took a pole saw & lots of effort to get them down. Once down, I had to use a pruning saw to cut them into manageable pieces. My huge, ratcheted loppers were able to handle most of the rest in getting them to a size I could load/haul. It took from lunch to dark to do it all & I was whipped.
Today, the LAST leaf raking will occur - the big maple in the front yard finally has lost almost all of it’s leaves (this is the 3rd time I’ve had to rake/haul leaves just on this tree) - yay!!
Merry Christmas and best wishes for a joyous New Year to you & everyone as we head for 2018, Spring (I can’t wait!), and another MAGA year. :-)
Our local grocery has never had them, but Walmart has sometimes. We don’t have a local nursery - the nearest one is 40 miles away. We have a local feed store, but they don’t have plants-just seeds, grains, and some farming supplies.
Walmart is the most likely, and they didn’t have any this year.
Ithaca, glad he had a treat. Nice to hear all your news. We came back fro church once years ago to see all 5 of our Saanen dairy goats loose in the yard eating everything they shouldn’t. They just stood there and looked at us when we drove up. Have a very Merry Christmas.
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