Posted on 06/01/2025 5:48:14 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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I didn't really get anything accomplished. After getting sidetracked with the mattress/bed thing, it was almost noon before I started working on the car. Got it mostly apart and found out I needed an 18mm socket in 1/2" drive. Broke my 3/8" to 1/2" adapter trying to use my 18mm - 3/8" socket. Nonsensical too because there's two different sized bolts holding a bracket that's basically symmetrical(except for one hole probably being bigger). Little over an hour into and had to put it back together and run two towns away to the auto parts store for a socket.
Well when you drive two towns over, you might was well shop the stores there because it could save you from making a special trip later. Country Living. Got a few things from the little Walmart. Grocery store was a bust.
So there went the second half of the day. I own a new 18mm socket and did get to sleep on a better mattress last night so that's something.
Just did a garden check. Cilantro really doesn't like being dry but bounces back with new leaves which I found interesting. I think I taste tested a leaf from stressed cilantro a few days ago which is why it didn't taste great.
You can see the new growth and an old stressed stem/leaf laying in the dirt on the right.
Got something new bugging my Tatsoi. It was cabbage worms last Fall but I don't know what this is. I've looked all over the plants and see no bugs or bug eggs. No worms of course either. I haven't looked at night with a flashlight.
What it be Dianna? Flea Beetles that I just haven't' seen is what I'm thinking.
Other than that, my one bed of mixed plants is doing good. Got a few baby Rutgers maters.
Including some picture perfect Salanova. Evidently it really likes goat manure. It's 8-10 inches in diameter so I can have salad any time now. It's one of three. Only had four seeds left this year.
I have another bed ready to go so I guess I should stick a few heat lovers in there. Got some white scalloped summer squash and baby watermelons. Small enough fruit to grow on a trellis. Got cukes and pole/bush beans too.
WOW! That is one GORGEOUS Salanova! I picked leaves from ‘Buttercrunch’ this morning for me and the chickens. Plenty to go around. ;)
The chewing looks like flea beetles, since the holes go all the way through. But they’re usually pretty easy to spot and hang around the underside of the leaves when they’re not feeding. Maybe they’ve moved off to lay eggs? Those would be on the underside of the leaves though, too. Slugs, maybe?
Meh. Soapy water kills just about everything, or put out a shallow saucer of beer and see if you attract any slugs.
Yeah I think they got in did their damage and left. With the new job and no need for watering, I haven't been out there much. Needs watering now so I gotta fill a tank. I read earlier that they lay eggs at the base of plant stems but haven't checked yet.
Will run up to Menard's sometime in the next week to get some 1/4" drip line to water the other beds. I'm soaking beans(x3), watermelon(x2), cucumber(x2) and squash seeds(x1) right now, four of each variety. Got the cups they're in sitting on a heat mat set for 86.
I planted in bed 2 this Spring. Last Fall I planted in bed 3 and it's empty right now. Bed 4 has been killed off with black tarp and is ready to fluff and amend. Beds 1 and 5 are staying empty for walking room when I get back to working on the tunnel.
Beans and squash are bush varieties. Cukes can climb a hunk of cattle panel. Got plenty of hay to keep watermelons mulched and fruit clean.
Forgot to add; The damage hasn’t really changed since I first saw it 2-3 weeks ago. I think I’ll try cutting some outer leaves off to stimulate new inner leaf growth.
Your mention of watermelon made me decide to grow the summer stuff. Little front yard garden wasn’t big enough but I kept buying seeds every year. Good thing melon/bean seeds last. I have no idea why I have four packets of Sugar Baby watermelon seed but I do. Must have been on clearance or something. I’ve got those and the slightly bigger Otome soaking.
The lavendar I planted is english lavender “Lavandula angustifolia “. Hubbys was the hidicote. Big difference IMO.
I’m going to have to make a note of that. Thanks for your tip!
The lavender of “Provence “ .....
https://www.gardenia.net/genus/lavandula-angustifolia-english-lavender
Yes that is it.
I have a great recipe that a friend gave me for grilled salmon that uses herbs de Provence and fresh dill. Add lemon zest and lemon juice to the top and sides of your salmon. Then add the hdP to all sides except the skin. Drizzle olive oil all over then add a generous amount of snipped fresh dill. Grill the salmon.
We usually serve with rice and asparagus or green beans almondine. It’s out of this world.
I just noticed my neighbors are growing peppers and tomatoes. I’m spreading the disease... or cure!
The “joys” of living in the country LOL!
We got ‘manured’ yesterday. The Cow Palace was cleaning house & running up/down the road with a huge manure spreader. It was loaded every time but the last, the only time I didn’t see it piled higher than the sides - they must have made 6 trips.
When I went to trim around the mailbox (across the road from our driveway) there was a huge pile of manure next to it (2/3 - 1/2 of a 5 gallon bucket - not a small pile). Plus, on the actual post about 18” up was a ‘splat’ about the size of a baseball. On one if those trips, some ‘piled high’ came off the load & landed next to the mailbox. Another foot & it would have been ON the mailbox. It’s pretty stinky, but should dry out fast. Knowing mom, once she sees it, she’ll take a shovel down there & push it into the ditch behind the mailbox. I was too tired to do anything with it last night.
One more thing - I found out our AC wasn’t turned on! Evidently, when the maintenance check was done a couple of months ago, it got set to ‘heat only’ from ‘heat/cool’. Once I realized what was going on, I put it on ‘cool only’ & lowered the thermostat. What a difference ... glad I figured it out before temps hit 91 & we have company.
I got both side dishes made last night & I’m about to start on the casserole, which is an easy recipe. On schedule - yay! Both cousins (twin boy & girl) are excited to see us & each other. They’re 5 years older than me & were in mom & dad’s wedding, so she’s got pictures ready to go.
PS - no digging in the wash tubs last night :-)
That's one of my biggest problems but I managed to pry myself off of this puter at 7am today and have been pulling weeds/grass ever since. I'm further along than last year at making it to the other end of the tunnel and my knees are killing me. My uncle used to have to use his hands to lift his legs into a vehicle - arthritic knees.
Got quite a bit of Horse Nettle at that end which for now is preventing me from going the last four foot with the bed length. Pulled it all last year with probably a 50% success rate with pulling fully intact roots. Time to break out the spray. Got everything pulled around them so I can cover the ground and just spray the nettle. They're just starting to flower which is supposed to be the best time to spray them, while they're putting all their energy into flowers. Root system is apt to be weaker(according to the spray mfg).
Knees feeling better now. Gonna go back out and rake some manure into Bed 3 and sow those melon and bean seeds. Watermelon may go in Bed 4 which isn't fully prepped but I can make four nice rich fluffy holes for them. Or I may just prep it. At least I can stand up for that.
Harvested that head of Salanova because it distinctly changed shape overnight and is taller and more cone shaped, getting ready to bolt I think.
Cut off the ugliest outer leaves of the Tatsoi and finally saw a flea beetle. It was way down in the middle and when I touched it with the pruners, it jumped but it was a lame jump so it ended up further down. Weak from the transition process to making eggs probably.
Slight chance of rain here today but I'll squeeze in a water tank fill trip. Need it because I have a feeling we're done with getting so much rain that it waters the tunnel by seeping in sideways.
Oh, and I have a family of Red Milk Snakes living under Bed 4. Saw a small one yesterday but it went right back in a hole. Killed a slightly bigger one this morning but now that I know what they are, they can stay. Nonvenomous and eat mice.
They are pretty snakes! Hopefully, they will do the job & keep the rodents under control.
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( . . )
Made a reasonable To Do list and got it all done. Tunnel is now planted as much as it can be for a while, 50% or so. Filled a water tank for the garden but that spring water is kinda cold so I'll water by hand with warmer water at least until they germinate. Soil temp is what it is but I don't want to chill it any for things that like 90 degrees temps to germinate.
That’s Black Gold, Baby! Now you know why I love Ithaca and whoever our current Steer is. They make the BEST compost!
I goofed off today and went to a neighboring town to drop off donations at St. Vincent’s and then did some thrift shopping. Also did a ‘Butter Run’ as our local Kwik Trip has it on sale for $2.99/# which is a steal. I watered yesterday; the garden could hold her own today.
Tomorrow morning I am up early and finishing planting the garden. If it doesn’t go in tomorrow, it’s going into the compost pile! I just have flowers to tuck in and if the Chippies have found my pole beans, a re-plant of them.
Don’t forget - later in the season we’ll be playing, ‘What’s Growing in Diana’s Compost Pile?’ It’s always an adventure! I got some really nice Butternut Squash last year and a few free potatoes. ;)
The Southern Living chicken bacon ranch casserole was a huge success. My cousin told me it was the best casserole he’d ever had & I should be “cooking for cash” LOL! Even mom admitted she really liked it after being very negative about the recipe. :-)
I have to make a list every day these days.
I’ll be happy with this garden. Still have some seeds to get in and two large pots to fill for leaf crops.
Start thinking ahead as to what you’re going to make from your Garden Bounty this season.
For example, here is a Copy Cat Recipe for the Pasta Fagioli Soup that they serve at Olive Garden.
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pasta-fagioli-soup/#RecipeCard
Looking at this recipe, there are SIX ingredients that I’ll be growing and can easily incorporate into this soup:
Onions
Garlic
Tomatoes
Beans
Spinach, and...
Chicken Stock (which I make all year and freeze)
Granted, I DO NOT want to eat Hot Soup in the middle of Summer, but you can make this ahead and freeze it for Fall & Winter.
Note: Put the Pasta in there uncooked if you’re going to freeze this. You may need to add a little more water or broth when you reheat it, but it will cook up just fine!
Yum! :)
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