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Sky's are overcast in Missouri, and the temperature is 70 degrees indoors and out. We have had some sunny days with moderate temps in the high 40's, so I have worked outside for at least 30 minutes each day double digging my raised beds and turning under the winter rye in preperations for spring planting.

This weekend I will be starting some carrots, onions, and beets, as well as bringing out some potatoes for exposure to light, and getting growing going on.

I have one bed for potatoes ready to go on 4/1, but the pot I ordered from Mega Greenhouse has not arrived yet for the other. Just hoping it gets here in time.

The indoor lemons are about ping pong size. The tomatoes are bigger than olives, but smaller than ping pong ball. The tomato plant has some more flowers.

I have made tentative plans for all of my raised gardens. I have 13 beds that are 3' x 4'. and one that is 2' x 4'. 8 of the beds are close enough to a walnut tree, that they can't be used for tomatoes and peppers or potatoes, so I often plant the nightshade family in container pots on the patio.

I didn't get to plant the rye and vetch in all the beds last year and while researching spring wheat, I found some articles on using mustard as a cover crop. Including the links for your information below:

http://plantcovercrops.com/mustard-as-a-cover-crop/

http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Managing-Cover-Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition/Text-Version/Nonlegume-Cover-Crops/Brassicas-and-Mustards

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/01/16/prep-your-garden-spring-mustard

Racehorse transplanted some fruit trees in February, and needs some advice for the San Antonio area. Most of his trees whether in pots or transplanted are doing well.

The transplanted Granny Smith is alive, but has failed to put on new growth. Any help would be welcome.

Have a great weekend, and God Bless.

1 posted on 03/21/2014 12:44:59 PM PDT by greeneyes
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To: greeneyes
The leaves on one or two of our tomatoes have tiny light dots, like they were burned.
Is this a virus ? What to do ?
2 posted on 03/21/2014 12:47:27 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Rip it out by the roots.)
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To: greeneyes; Diana in Wisconsin; gardengirl; girlangler; SunkenCiv; HungarianGypsy; Gabz; ...

Pinging the list.


3 posted on 03/21/2014 12:48:13 PM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

Please add me to the ping list. We are still under somewhat of a glacier here in New England, but I expect it will melt some time.


7 posted on 03/21/2014 1:12:25 PM PDT by Republicanprofessor
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To: greeneyes

Weather looks ugly next week doesn’t look like any March planting this year!


12 posted on 03/21/2014 1:18:41 PM PDT by Free Vulcan (Vote Republican! You can vote Democrat when you're dead...)
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To: greeneyes

There’s still snow on the ground here. LOTS of it.

It’s not forecast to warm up until April.

>:(


14 posted on 03/21/2014 1:24:50 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: greeneyes

Still no internet here, so I’ll be scarce. Had a few asparagus show up this morning. first of the year.

/johnny


19 posted on 03/21/2014 1:36:10 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes

Transplanted tomato seedlings from their starter container to bigger containers yesterday and today.


24 posted on 03/21/2014 1:40:48 PM PDT by painter ( Isaiah: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: greeneyes

I have several raised planter beds with kale and Swiss Chard.
What is the reasoning behind changing the soil in raised beds?
I’ve heard it recommended but never knew the reason. Any info appreciated!


26 posted on 03/21/2014 1:50:08 PM PDT by Don@VB (Power Corrupts)
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To: greeneyes

Could I get on the ping list, please?


27 posted on 03/21/2014 1:57:38 PM PDT by crazycatlady
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To: greeneyes

It’s 39 degrees here in Massachusetts. We started some tomato seeds on Sunday in peat pots on our kitchen table. We still have snow on the ground, but there are finally some clear areas in the woods, and so we are hopeful.


42 posted on 03/21/2014 2:53:19 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: greeneyes
Ack, couldn't take it anymore so threw out some cucumber seeds just now and hooked up the water hose. Hey, the Farmers’ Almanac said root crops and transplants today but barren days tomorrow. Maybe not roots but the upcoming barren days is my excuse.

While out there, my wild cat came to see what I was up to while things in the neighborhood are quiet. Between us tilling and the neighbors drilling and big tractor trailers driving through for some reason, she's been skiddish. Did I tell y'all she had her kittens? I don't know where she's keeping them but she better think about bringing them closer to the house what with everything going on around here.

50 posted on 03/21/2014 3:40:42 PM PDT by bgill
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To: greeneyes

Coming to the end of the winter season, which was pretty much a bust. I started seeds early, then waited, and waited, and waited for the temps to cool. There wasn’t a single two week period we didn’t see 80 degrees this “winter”. I got one head of broccoli, and almost got a head of cauliflower only to find it chewed down to nothing when I went to harvest. Now I fear I’ve waited too long to plant my spring crops.

On the bright side, my Roma and Martian tomatoes made it through the winter and are starting to produce. So did a couple green peppers, and a poblano pepper plant is loaded with peppers.

Finally got a hold of some turmeric root, which is taking forever to start. I’m keeping my hopes up, as the ginger root did the same thing but finally took off.

This year, I’m going to learn to prune my tomatoes and peppers back to maximize production over growth. Really, I am. Uh huh.


55 posted on 03/21/2014 3:56:50 PM PDT by Darth Reardon (Is it any wonder I'm not the president?)
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To: greeneyes; All
It's 85° in the Hill Country with no sign of another freeze this year. The Mrs and I went to the nursery yesterday and bought a Shinseiki Pear and two Pomegranate to add to our little orchard. We also bought some pepper plants to replace the ones that died off in the house last month. I spent couple hours today turning the soil in the raised beds and planting the peppers and tomato plants. Everything is now being watered well.
I was "helped" by our two goslings who can't get the idea that they are water birds and should be in the pond. They've been following me around like little puppies all day long.
The rest of the flock is doing well. We haven't had any losses from the new chicks (knock on wood), and the dummy ducks have finally gotten the idea that they are supposed to lay eggs in their duck-house and not hidden someplace on the farm.

We're supposed to get some rain tomorrow or Sunday. I can only hope. We really need the moisture.

58 posted on 03/21/2014 4:01:56 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?")
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To: greeneyes; Mrs. Don-o

Does anyone grow worms? I should have about ten pounds of castings for my Missus when she starts planting.

I use Rubbermaid totes and bought my first worms at WalMart. Use newspaper and old phonebooks for bedding. Feed them coffee ground, teabags and kitchen scraps.

Best pets ever.


87 posted on 03/22/2014 10:00:39 AM PDT by don-o (He will not share His glory and He will NOT be mocked! Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!)
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To: greeneyes

Hi all, our frozen tundra here in Michigan is melting. It’s been in the high 30’s (balmy!) and a few days in the 40’s. Still lots of snow left to melt and the only garden related news to report is that in plowing the snow which we had so much of, the compost pit got buried and the heavy plastic sides and top cracked and are all broken up. A few nights ago our daughter came home from work at 10pm and found 4 deer right there next to my car sniffing around anything that might be edible. I imagine I have lots of Egyptian walking onions up and growing but there is still about a foot of snow over them. Have been in west Michigan since the mid 70’s and we have never had a late March with so much snow on the ground and nothing is green yet. At least I can read about everyone elses good garden news.


115 posted on 03/22/2014 6:23:52 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Let's make Mark Levin's The Liberty Amendments a reality!)
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Thought this was interesting. I might post it on one of the prepper threads sometime:

http://www.caroldeppe.com/The%2020%20Potato%20a%20Day%20Diet.html


124 posted on 03/22/2014 9:35:46 PM PDT by Ellendra ("Laws were most numerous when the Commonwealth was most corrupt." -Tacitus)
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To: greeneyes; All

Overcast, here, too today. Not cold, but...funky. Humid & intermittently drippy. Loaded up the pups & the bubba & went to Fanick’s again. Got a couple of Oscar okras (my seeds are Clemson spineless), a strawberry in a hanging basket (don’t I need to transplant this?), a spearmint, some big marigolds & alyssum. Still no Romas :-/ I only saw 1 group of onions & they didn’t look like what I was looking for. And got some supplies.

Spinach, carrots & turnips coming along. A few of the turnips are about 10 times the size of the others. Not sure what’s up with that.
Will be planting beets Monday or Tuesday & getting the new things situated.

Hope you feel better, applegate.
Thanks, everyone, for all the links.
God Bless.

patriot08- I forgot to ask about dewberries, but will call. They had a *bunch* of blueberries & (I think) blackberries, though.


156 posted on 03/23/2014 3:44:59 PM PDT by KGeorge (Till we're together again, Gypsy girl. May 28, 1998- June 3, 2013)
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To: greeneyes

I have shovel hands this morning. Spread poo on the garden Friday afternoon. Spread poo on the garden Saturday. Spread poo on the garden Sunday. Planted three orchard trees and two red maples, 9 each broccoli and cauliflower, and 36 lettuces.


178 posted on 03/24/2014 7:03:01 AM PDT by Augie
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To: greeneyes; Marcella; rightly_dividing; Silentgypsy; murrie; ApplegateRanch; Ellendra; TArcher; ...

Hi greeneyes and everyone! Checking in late!

Rainy and cold today.

All of my ordered seeds have arrived. I still have a couple of live plants ordered which I’m waiting on from Burpee.

I sprouted some of my seeds, including the Tbone squash! Other sprouts are flax, Atkins Tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peas, and a couple of green bean varieties among others. They really need to get their little toes into some dirt cups, but I’ve been buried under some other projects. *sigh*

As per last year, I have tried sprouting parsley seeds, but they have not responded yet. So, even if I wanted to have parsley sprouts for sandwiches, not happening! It is still too early to tell whether my parsley plant survived the last freeze. I’m thinking it didn’t.

Darlin is suggesting that I concentrate in my experiments on some root veggies this season because I am truly clueless about most of them. As you know I’ve been working with walking onions and a grocery store eating onion. Darlin and I saw some onion sets which are beginning to sprout in a bin at the grocery store, so we bought a few of those to also play with. I have some Asian radishes and some short carrots I want to try this season. Perhaps some beats as well.

I saw a friend at the grocery store who sells pecans from her nut crop each year and she assured me I’m not too late this year to fertilize our trees.

I reported last week, I think, that we obtained 3 tomato plants from Lowes. 2 are heirloom, and another is a hybrid Darlin likes. We are excited because they are preparing to bloom! We have not planted them because we are still bringing them in at night, as the temps are dangerously close to freezing.

Happy gardening to all!


257 posted on 03/26/2014 10:49:17 AM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: greeneyes

Thank you, greeneyes!


270 posted on 03/26/2014 3:26:54 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (Make sure she doesnÂ’t get ahold of the gom jabbar)
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