>>>planted some potatoes in fie gallon buckets and they are doing marvelously.<<<
I have been amazed at my potatoes this year... The old tyme wisdom has always been that potatoes ‘round here should always be planted on the Ides of March. (15th) However this year, bad (rainy) weather and the lack of seed potatoes (finally got them from Colorado) caused me to not plant till after the middle of May - over 2 months later. They are doing great. Usually you have large numbers of beetles gnawing on the leaves within a couple of weeks of them coming up - I have had absolutely none this year with the late planting. Don’t know if I should attribute it to the cool weather or to the time I planted them (maybe the beetles reproductive cycle is earlier in the year) Potatoes are about 18” tall and looking healthier than ever. Anxious to see how they yield.
I know the beetles were around earlier, because they were attacking the tomatoes. Oh, the plastic ground cover works nicely for controlling them - shake the tomato plant, then you can easily see the beetles on the plastic - then step on them! Works really well!
My daughter offered to help me organize my pantry today as it was a disaster area. My late sister hoarded more than I and in my haste to prepare her house for sale, boxes were just dumped in my pantry. Anyway, during the process, I discovered only one dehydrator where there should be two. Now, I have to rack my brain to see if I can remember who I lent it to before I need it. Oh the joys of growing old.
On another more interesting note, hubby is helping a grand nephew restore a 1964 backhoe. It's nearly finished and I am just dreaming of the rocks I can retrieve from the river with that baby!!!