Ok, so now we’re worrying about drought again. But in the meantime, we’re working like mad. I tilled the area where our onion plants will be planted, starting today. Will’s busy tilling the rest of the Wolf Garden, working in the manure and killing down the first wave of weeds. We’ll be tilling it, probably at least two more times before planting, letting the weeds sprout in between times. That also further distributes the rotted manure we’ve put there.
While Will’s busy tilling, I’m busy planting squash and pumpkin seeds to grow inside until the plants are safe enough to go outside. Next will be the melons and finally, the cabbage family. In between this, I’m sure Will is going to be hauling more manure to other gardens. So, I’ll be manning the gate in the cow yard to get him in and out without escaping cows. Hey, they see all that green grass sprouting up too! We’ve got tons of hay, literally, so they need to stay in there, eating that, letting the pasture really get up nice and tall.
This time of the year is so exciting. Yesterday, I saw at least five deer grazing on the newly seeded red clover in the Wolf Pasture. The maples are flowering such a pretty red color, our spring flowers are popping out, and I’ll even have to mow the yard and orchard later today. That’s my Zen time, when I’m too tired to do other work. I saw the first asparagus spears coming up today too. Not enough for a meal but maybe to add to a stir-fry for dinner. I can’t wait!
I’ve got the Hummingbird and Oriole feeders full and ready for the first birds. Nobody yet, but I’m sure they’ll be around soon. Spring is so fun, even though it’s a lot of work. — Jackie
Hi all! Jackie, because spring is coming in fast here I’ve resorted to planting in boxes. I’ve got good garden soil I bought and I layer a couple of pieces of cardboard on the bottom. I came across the idea in magazines and online. It’s one way to use up boxes we get with shipping and online purchases. I’m not sure how good it will work but I don’t have enough money or time to put in raised beds. I want to use a tiller on the ground for corn. But all the tillers are having problems. Later I will surround the boxes with wood or something for raised beds. Then remove any cardboard from the sides.
What do you think about this idea? If the boxes are too tall I will cut them down. We have a pile of old boxes that are by my compost pile and they have been sitting out for over a year. The ones on the bottom are rotting into the ground. I have one metal raised bed and I put my strawberries in it and some liner pots that I put holes in. I have some light weight plant covers to go over them to keep the birds and bugs off.
The weather is talking about a freeze for several days next week. But I’m going to try putting out my squash but clip a plastic sheet over the plants and tucking 1 or more big soda bottle full of water next to the plants. In the morning I need run out and uncover the plants. Do you think this will work? I’m running out of room for plant starts. I’ve got a 93 day growing season and to get the really long season plants to produce I’m trying these methods. Any opinion on these ideas? Take care!
I think the cardboard under the soil is a good thing to keep invasive weeds like quack grass from growing up through your bed. I’ve done raised beds with no sides and they’ve done well for a year or so. After a while, the sides kind of wash down though. Yes, I think your squash will probably do okay, provided the temperature doesn’t go down too low, like the 20’s. Your protection will keep frost off though. When we lived at 7,600 feet in Montana, we had snow from October until July of the next year. I used plastic tents and Wall’O Water plant protectors under those. I did have a good garden but it was a lot more work.
Thank you Jackie! With food prices going up I’m really worried about having quality food, as opposed to endless noodle bowls and peanut butter sandwiches. I’ve lived on that when younger but don’t recommend it. I hope y’all don’t have a drought. Today I have three yard size trash cans to put beneath the edge of the metal roof on a garage. I’ve got window screen to put over the tops for now until I can buy more lids. Weather this year has warmer then the last two. Like you I’m worried about a drought. I don’t know how you manage to do all that you do. You’re older than me and still doing the work that 30 year old wouldn’t do. Hugs Cat.
Our birds are back; so happy to see barn swallows that put their nest under our deck. No one walks there, so their droppings do not cause any problems and I love how they zoom around eating mosquitoes. The hummingbirds drink from feeder in front of my kitchen sink window, and the orioles love the grape jelly/orange slices from feeder on deck. Of course, the house finches are gobbling it up too. Haven’t lured the goldfinches in to their thistle seed yet; not sure where they are.
Question on celery: First time trying this vegetable, I transplanted them into garden now, but they are only 1″ tall. Just never grew since sprouting, so I’m hoping something changes?
Also, it seems like my onion seeds aren’t producing as strong a seedling as they have in the past years. They are Clear Dawn, and my 2022 seeds are better than my 2024 batch is. Should I start over with new bulbs next year and begin saving seed from a fresh crop?
Hope to finish my garden today, a little late for south-central Iowa, but I move slower than I used to, ha. Each year I attempt new ways of user-friendly gardening, like trellis for string beans, peas, cucumbers, and have table-top height raised beds for onions, carrots, etc. Dirt is over a foot deep in them. Have laid old carpet on top of spots that are hard to till, to help with grass/weed management.
Good info on lids; I’ve had good luck with Ball and Kerr from years of buying but will now be sure to look for brands mentioned too.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all. Thanks, Jackie, for guiding us!
We just got Goldfinches, along with a lot of other summer birds. No Hummers or Orioles yet, but the feeders are out and waiting.
For the celery, try feeding the plants some fertilizer, whether it’s MiracleGro, manure tea or fish emulsion. Next year, try starting them a little earlier. What seed starting medium did you use this year? The brand has a lot to do with how well the baby seedlings do.\
I hate using old carpet as mulch. Both Will and I have done that in the far past. It’s nasty! It gets wet, rots and leaves tons of strings and bits of rubber-like fiber everywhere in the garden. As it’s wet, it’s heavy to pull up in the fall or when you finally decide to get rid of it.
Happy Mother’s Day!!
Uh oh, hadn’t thought of when the carpet falls apart later!
I used the Pro Mix potting soil you’d recommended long ago, and now will give the celery fish emulsion drinks to see if that helps. I’d started them in March, and was happy with their germination, just not growing for me.
Thanks!
Celery does sometimes grow slowly. The fish emulsion should help a lot.
I’m glad Will is able to get the fields plowed and weather is staying so nice.
Makes all this so much easier but not less work to be done.
I’m appreciating the nice warm weather. Had quite a bit of rain again last
night so had to wait a bit to get out and do more work.
I understand having to watch the gate so the cows don’t wander in to taste the
green grass and everything coming up.
Glad you have plenty of hay for them and other animals too.
I enjoy the pictures you shared of the flowers beginning to show their beauty
and the beautiful maples flowering too.
Time for me to call it a night so can be back at it tomorrow.
Thanks for sharing what you and Will are up to.
You’re welcome, Cindy. With all this warm weather (it was 90 yesterday and warmer today!), we’re getting tons done. This is so bizarre for this time of the year in Minnesota!! Now we’re worried about fire danger, especially with the strong wind. It’s sure bringing on the leaves and flowers though.
I’ve been fighting back 3 foot tall weeds/grass in my garden after getting back on my feet from knee replacement. My rows are short, just for the 2 of us, so it wasn’t overwhelming. Our daughter weed-eated, and I began planting/direct sowing. But there’s been plenty of weeds keep coming up in the rows. Our rains are completely over and everything outside the garden will be dead and brown in northern California by the end of May. Fixing irrigation and timers and watching seeds come up!
After the plants in our garden are up, we till between the rows then hand weed between the plants. When this is done, we slap down a thick layer of mulch over the whole deal, just leaving the plants sticking up. That really helps keep the weeds down. I hope your knee replacement is doing well. Mine? Not so hot, even after a year and two years. : (
We have the most Baltimore Orioles I have ever seen-5 to 7 at the feeders at one time. Saw first hummingbird today. We may get frost tonight in Southern Wisconsin. I haven’t planted any of my started plants in the garden-too risky. The ground is still dry and after having good rain we need more. Can you ever have the weather you want-Hah?
Wow! We haven’t seen an Oriole yet but yesterday I saw the first Hummingbird at the feeder. Brr. Frost this time of the year sucks. We are forecast a cold snap, and I sure hope it doesn’t get that cold although we haven’t anything planted outside but for the onions. A freeze might do in our fruit tree blooms, however. Not happy about that. Nope, you never seem to get the ideal weather, do you?
I got my first hummingbird April 1rst. I was watching my backyard seed feeder, and a hummer flew in with some house finches to see what was being eating. Then he buzzed off. I put up a feeder and had hummers that evening. They are so fun to watch, and I love the other birds, too.
Good luck with your garden. It has rained all evening here; but we had some damaging hail. Hopefully it did not damage too much of the little sprouts coming up in the fields here.
That’s too bad about the hail. It’s a great enemy of farmers and gardeners, for sure. I saw our first hummingbird yesterday but no Orioles. It’s dry as heck here with no rain in sight. We’ll keep working at the gardens and pray for rain.
I share your love of spring. It’s like nature is saying “here’s another chance. Keep trying.”
And I will.
Yep, we will too. It’s so amazing to watch the leaves and blossoms pop out like magic. I never get tired of the bright colors and speed it happens.