What have you done today in the Garden?

That made me laugh Jewell. I keep a nail file/cleaner in the glove box of our truck so that I can do one last clean out before groceries and appointments in town. The nurse who did my Vac shot yesterday, smiled and said "Gardener hands".

 

Today is trying to transition all perenials and outdoor plants ( exception of peppers, ground cherries and tomatoes). It's only 7 C but cloudy, so a good day to be outside. Either today or tomorrow they will move to the greenhouse. The lows are still -1 to 0, but I think the two heat lamps and a soil cable will use less power than the seven T5 grow lights they need to remain indoors. And the plants will be healthier.

I potted the strawberry starts, and they live outside except at night. Tonight they will overnight in the greenhouse. All but two of the 25 are showing signs of life. I'll give the two a couple of weeks and then contact the shipper. If they had thrown in a couple of extra I wouldn't contact them, but because they only sent exactly 25 I will call them. A deal is a deal.

@Pacnorwest - I ordered some Plantskyd today from the company. It wasn't an option last year so they are branching out to Canada. The deer nibbled my blueberries last night even with the bloodmeal around their base. I think in large part because my spring is so delayed this year - pickins are slim. We also have huge amounts of White Tail deer which are less skitish and very imp like. They have only been here for three years and have pushed out the Mule Deer. The Mule Deer we used to have gave humans a wide and cautious berth. It's worth a shot! As for today it is cutting some sapplings and wiring them over the Blueberries with some netting.

 

Good to see you’re stayin outta trouble… buzzy …nice seedlings.

 

Today I planted sweet peppers. Bell in colors and banana. Some that are new to me also, Cubanelle Nassau and Tapas Spanish Padron.

I hope to improve my Hors d'oeuvre game by the start of the fall football season.

 

Sounds like a good plan. Pre game snackes is always in my mind when I plant peppers…

 

It looks like your plantlets are coming right along. Who’s the happy camper then. I am with you about contacting the shipper about those bad plants. Like you said mate, “A deal’s a deal”.

 

Dirtmechanic. Banana peppers, halved from top to bottom and with seeds and any integument removed, and stuffed with an herb/cream cheese make a great appetizer. We had a group of folks over to see our garden, served these and they were "hoovered" up!

 

This is why there are no hot peppers this season. If I cannot eat it in the garden how can I eat it in the house or serve it to money sucking relatives?

 

We like to run our banana peppers through a mandolin and then do a cold pack pickle. Jars and jars of them. For on top of pizza, nachos, burritos, sandwiches.....nom nom nom.

 

Not a lot today.
I started on the re-pointing of the small patio behind the shed.
It's been a pain for years. The roots of next door's trees which are close to the fence, spread under it looking for water as they don't water their garden. Over the years they've caused, "heave," not a lot but enough ,to raise the patio a bit which will disturb the mortar.
I had to dig out any cracked mortar before attempting to re-point it. It's another pain mixing mortar in a bucket, I have to add some yellow dye and plasticiser. I didn't get very far today, just a couple of square yards as I ran out of plasticiser. I thought I had more left after doing the main patio than I had. So I had to go to Sainsbury's Homebase for some. They sell cement, but not plasticiser. Useless store!
I went to Tool Station. The young man behind the counter looked blank, but searched his computer and found that they had it.
Anyway, it was gone 3.00pm, so I called it a day...well an afternoon, as I didn't start until after lunch.

If it doesn't rain, I'll carry on tomorrow.

I'm watching the sport on TV.

 

I STRUCK GOLD TODAY! As a young garndener and busy young working mom with three ankle biters, I did not know or have the time for understanding the value of compost. Living in the bush as we do, there are plenty of spots for piles of biodegradeable items that are out of sight and out of mind.

For the last twenty five years ( with the exception of the last two), I have been wheelbarrowing my weeds to a steep bank on the edge of our property and dumping them. There was so much that I was extending the bank. The snow left that area and I went exploring this morning. It is 7 feet tall, and about 4 feet diameter of rich dark well aged compost!! Whew hew! Score one for the home team!

My plan is to take one of the large grain bags with handles down to the bottom and shovel it in. Then use the front end loader on the tractor to bring in up and make a new pile. I am very excited. This pile is pre-any herbicide ever making its way onto the farm, so it will be very safe for the greenhouse. This is a GOOD day.

 

We should shoot up a skyrocket er something. Well done you.
I think it is a good idea to to bag your gold. I would say that because that is exactly what I do. As soon as my compost is ready, I remove it from the heap, bag it and store it. It is so handy to just take a bag to amend this or that. Much easier than having to stop a project and shovel it at perhaps the climatically wrong moment, for example.
Great cackler pic.

 

Nothing today i went to see my friend Marion and her partner Barry for the afternoon.

 

I am a huge fan of compost! We have two piles, one active and one ready to use. It does so much for amending the soil in the gardens and adding to potting soil for our pot herbs.
We just shovel the compost into a small wagon attached to our riding lawn mower, and transport it where it is needed (everywhere0!.
Melody, "ankle biters"? We call them "rug rats" !

 

@Melody Mc. I bet your smile breaks wider when you see the cost of premium bagged compost! Now about those lotto tickets....

I mostly am done planting. Now it's down to the squeeze. You know, when you squeeze one more plant in there between others? Still fencing, and have some trellis work yet. I guess I will weave the sauce tomatoes as they are determinant.