Posted on 03/08/2013 1:17:48 PM PST by greeneyes
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I know what you mean. I am thinking that I am going to try something really lazy this year. I’ll buy some of that cheap top soil and mushroom compost from Walmare.
Put the bags on the back patio. Poke some drainage holes in the bottom of the bag. Plant lettuce and spinach seeds. Cover with a row cover if needed, and see what happens.
Finally caught up, and can post. Today was a firewood cutting trip; didn’t get home until after dark.
It’s a good thing we had 2 tillers, because the 1987 Troy finally bit the big one. We brought the remains home from the shop Tuesday, complete with a new set of times on the tiller section. Transmission unit is shot, but at least the engine is good, and will be put to use somehow.
We’ll do some chipping/shredding, weather permitting, with the newer one, then dismount the PTO chipper, and put the tine section back on it—this unit originally came on it—when it’s time for Spring tilling.
Also Tuesday, we also did some shopping, and bought a Little Giant still air incubator, plus the automatic egg turner for it.
The snow finally disappeared from the garden, and the winter wheat is looking like a newly sprouting lawn; no sign of the garlic or asparagus yet, as expected. Too muddy to check on the Egyptian onions.
I dropped 8 artichoke seeds into pots this week; supposed to be able to grow them as an annual here, and still get chokes from this variety. Having lived in artichoke country, I miss them, but not enough to pay $2-3 each for the rusty, half-open ones we get on the shelves around here. Somebody on another board posted that they also live in Zone-5, and were trying to over-winter some, using 2’ of straw over them, after they cut them back. I’m hoping to see a follow-up.
On a whim, we spent $5 on 1-1/4 pound of bulk sugar snap pea seeds, mainly for some soil improvement in an area outside the garden. With any kind of luck, the food bank will get some, as well as replenishing our freezer.
Sorry about your tiller. Sounds like things are moving right along for your gardening chores. Artichokes are a very very good anti-cancer food.
Daylight savings time starts this weekend. That extra hour of daylight after school is the time I use for spring gardening.
I’ll be gone overnight for a seminar on native plants of Missouri. I’ll have to catch up later with the rest of the posters.
Walmare=Walmart
Our county provides a nice list of what to do each month. I didn’t see anything on your county site, but I did find this page which might interest you. Be sure to click on the Horticulture tab, as there is a phone number and email address for questions.
http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/backyardbasics/
I finished cleaning out the fall garden and tilling it on Thursday. We had a light drizzle most of yesterday, so that helps in the moisture department. No heavy rain, but may get some later today.
Thanks for the link! Onion grass really is pretty obnoxious. One problem is we have about an acre & a third & hubby likes to stop mowing when the grass stops growing. However, weeds keep on keeping on & they flower & go to seed. Guess I’ll have to have a word with him. :-)
When you say in Northern part of Houston, do you mean in the city limits or farther up? We are in Conroe. Any chance that you are near us?
Ut wasn’t really rain. more like a heavy drizzle, but we’re grateful for all the precipitation we get. Thanks for the prayer!
You can grow just about anything if your soil is properly amended. The caliche soil in the San Antonio are has a high pH. I use a lot of horse manure on my property. Millbergers and Rainbow Gardens have a lot of quality plants.
You’ve already planted outdoors? That’s pushing it. I’m waiting until the end of the month.
Yeah, I’m pushing it and of course the storm hit last night. I refuse to go out there to check things today.
I got artichokes to bear in a single year. I started them indoors in jan (i’m in the deep south). put them in damp paper towels (the seeds) in ziploc baggies until i saw sprouts. planted those in teeny peat pots. put those peat pots in the fridge at night for 3 or 4 weeks (don’t remember) to simulate a ‘cold season’ for the seedlings. it was good to go from there.
they really need that ‘cold snap’ to think they’ve overwintered and need to bloom.
Thanks! I’ll have to try that.
I’m buying shamrock plants, both green and purple. When weather is consistently warmer, I’ll transplant them in garden. They’ll last thru fall.
Sounds like a great project for March.
Yep, we were on the southern edge of that some and it deposited some much needed rain. The fruit trees are blooming, and with the exception of the pear tree, all escaped without damage.
Wen I went out this AM though, I noticed patches of frost on the ground. No frozen water, no apparent damage to the fresh growth though. There is supposed to be another cold snap in our area tonight, then (hopefully) that’ll be it for this growing season.
I do it every year,it works.
I usually do this too. The little buggers take just one bite, and throw it down.
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