I know I am running way behind on getting things planted in my gardens...but, after being tilled we had rains and freezing temperatures. My 4 garden areas had to be tilled again and I ended up buying a rear-tine tiller to help with weeding and small areas. I also had to fence the gardens so the dogs would not have access to them. The dogs would follow behind me as I tilled, and they ate all the grubs! Really gross, but I would have collected them and given them to the chickens.
I got my highest garden plot planted with purchased tomato, pepper and brocolli plants. I have started more seeds since my original plant starts were frozen to death. We had eight inches of rain and everything is like a marsh that is on the lower area of my pasture. My land is on a hill and only parts are semi-terraced. I went ahead and am starting some corn plants and green beans in starter pots again. I am going to have to till again! Weeds grow really well in tilled soil. My husband and I got the two largest gardens fenced weekend before last and yesterday I tilled (again) and fenced the smaller garden. One side I sunk up to my ankles in mud...but the blueberry plants I put in it seem to like the wet ground. With the 8 inches of rain I have decided I need to create a collection trench to control the flow of water through the garden. I will probably have to mound dirt up too. I will have to keep in mind the swampy areas when planting and make sure only the higher water requiring plants are planted there. The smaller garden area will be for blueberries, strawberries and herbs...maybe asparagus and onions if there is room. The bigger gardens are for corn, green beans, sunflowers and then one for vining plants. Walt at Tractor Supply informed me some people have planted seed three times because of the late freezes, so I am doing pretty good...I didn't loose but one batch and they weren't planted yet. I just need to realize that the temperatures on the news are for Shreveport...and we are always cooler in our area.
I have harvested wild blackberries from around my house and backyard, and Mexican plums! Making Jam or jelly is on my to-do list. But so is getting the two large garden areas tilled and planted is my priority now...or it will get to hot for some things to produce well.
On the baby front...my Toulouse Geese and Roeun and Khaki Campbell Ducks are almost completely feathered out now. My 14 baby chicks are growing out of the brooder, I have 7 smaller chicks in the inside brooder that after being over the hatch date a week, hatched! I think because that area of the incubator did not get as hot...it is the only thing I can think of. I waited several more days to see if any more would hatch but I believe because that side of the incubator registered 105 degrees after our power came back on, they must have cooked inside the shell. I opened the remaining eggs...all but one had fully formed, but dead chicks in them. So I don't think them dropping down to 80 degrees before they hatched hurt them...I think it was when it came back on and the fan stopped working that did it...and the the humidity getting up to 80% after the 8 inches of rain. I think hens hatching eggs is the best way to go, especially with the Sprng storms and erratic electricity in our area. But, I may have My hubby show me what to do to hook up the solar for use in those situations...because it went out for about half an hour yesterday and it wasn't even raining!
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