What did you do in the garden today?

@CrealCritter I'm glad you're feeling better! Do you have all your rain barrels put? We're getting rain now, and I'm collecting it all over the property.
Last year we had a pipe that ran to the back by the garden, but this last January it was leaking. We ended up digging a long trench in our front years before we found the pipe. It runs right under the asphalt driveway. So we had to cut it off. So saved rain water will be more important than ever.
I mulched all of our fruit trees today, with two year old unsprayed hay. I cleaned up the greenhouse, and collected rain.

milkmansdaughter said:

@CrealCritter I'm glad you're feeling better! Do you have all your rain barrels put? We're getting rain now, and I'm collecting it all over the property.
Last year we had a pipe that ran to the back by the garden, but this last January it was leaking. We ended up digging a long trench in our front years before we found the pipe. It runs right under the asphalt driveway. So we had to cut it off. So saved rain water will be more important than ever.
I mulched all of our fruit trees today, with two year old unsprayed hay. I cleaned up the greenhouse, and collected rain.

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Both my gardens are about 30 feet from a spring fed creek so no need to collect water

Chic Rustler said:

Lucky you. We are beginning a very dry hot summer

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My next window is this weeknd according to the weather guessers.

CrealCritter, glad you're feeling better!

My garden is doing well, except the lawn area… The promised rain for this week turned into one good rainfall when we had the thunderstorm and nothing else, except temps in the mid to high 70's. I've been watching and watering the veggies and the sweet pea bed I just planted a week ago, but the lawn is at the mercy of the weather now. For once I wish it would just rain and rain for a few days lol

Water, water! ChicRustler -- if you feel water collection is good for you, consider re-routing you laundry water....with your family I am certain you have plenty of washer loads.

The soaps generally do not hurt the plants -- in fact, could help with bug control. Just a thought with the heat in TX. Sometimes collection and use areas are not convenient but a spigot and hose can often be enough to make it worthwhile....ESPECIALLY if you are on metered water & pay for it. With a well, just elect to pump. Of course, rain water has some pluses for the plants and can be used for animal watering.

You TX people have been able to start up before those of us further North. NICE! So keep showing pics of what we later planters hope to see in our backyard.

My raised bed should be done tonight. Then we'll fill it up and plant my teeny garden by the weekend, lol.

The remnants of tropical storm Alberto are rolling into the mountains, and it is setting in wet. My plants look better though. I have lots of replanting to do with corn and beans. My zucchini plant has a big bloom on it, but the plant is not growing well. Not sure what is going on with it. However, picked another bunch of strawberries today for a pie! Hope to make more jam later this week...

Are the strawberries wild or cultivated? I love a raw strawberry pie with glaze and whipped cream.

So today, after work, I went to a hardware store that also has a small nursery type area for plants, bushes, etc., lot of seeds. I wanted a sizeable amount of turnips as my chickens & goats loved them last winter when a neighbor offered a large amount of them to me. He only wanted the greens, left almost all the roots. So, 3 front end loaders later, I felt I should plant them somewhere. This was Jan and so they were good in ground all that time.

Of course, after finding the seed AND some other that was 1/2 price -- sometimes I hate bargains! -- I walked out to see what he had in the "bushes" area. Some fruiting blueberries immediately caught my eye....then, the apple trees. Always wanted them and never got to it. Now, I am not wanting to wait on things for 4-5 yrs to start to bear. To my amazement, there were some lovely trees that had fruit already formed. I now own a Gala, Gold Delicious & Granny Smith. The chore now is to decide WHERE to plant them, how to protect them (goats eat & horses rub down & break them off -- plus eat fruit). At this time I am thinking WHY didn't you wait and think about it 24 hrs??? Also, won't they taste great later this summer? I did ask for & got a 20% discount, so $32 per tree was acceptable to me. They are about 10-12', well branched, lovely trees. How could I resist? Most often $50-75 like these. Was in the car, now I need to go back to pick them up. Prob be tomorrow, they are tagged sold.

Wow - you did GOOD! Apple trees and turnip seeds! Have fun planting...

Strawberries are cultivated. We don't have a lot of wild ones here. Happy planting on your turnips and trees. Remember: dig a $100 hole for a $25 tree.