New Flock Egg of 2020

So the Rhode Islands were hatched, if I remember correctly, about March 15 this year. It is only week 18, and someone laid their first egg.  I got that makeshift nesting box installed, literally, last night after the pullets had roosted.  I had ordered a couple of square three gallon buckets that have yet to arrive. Instinctively, with the new moon last night, I felt that it was a good time to get some form of nesting box installed, temporarily, at least until the buckets arrive. I taped some water-can boxes around the sides to create the "enclosure" and a cardboard lip to hold in the hay.  Today, I had been looking all day for the fake egg to set inside the temporary box to help them to understand that this was the "nesting" box and not a new bed for sleeping in. I finally found the fake egg and headed out to the coop to put the egg in.  Boy, was I surprised; there in the box was the first egg! Crazy! So, yes, I had to run and grab the camera.  

New Flock's First Egg...	Is In da BOX!
Barred needs to get in the photo	What is that thing?
The Funny Temporary Nesting Box	That Actually Works!
Perfect Timing :)

Red Clovers and Pullets Update July 2020

Gardening is finally full on. Took some time and persistance with the crazed weather and temps. But corn is three feet tall now, just starting tassels and I have put the last dose of manure on them before I switch over to the bone meal and potassium. I pulled about 30 apples, either sick looking, had worms or there were simply too many in a bunch.  I think there will be about 70 left to harvest later. I threw those apples into the compost pile. Sun has been too hot for the tomatoes so I now have a shade cloth for mid to late afternoon, then I take it off after 5 as the peak heat has hit and the sun is headed west. The clover that we planted in the first batch is nice and lush. I'm happy with it. 

Red Clover, Red Clover, Send.... 

Pullets, are just about ready to start laying.  These ladies are super friendly. Love their treats. I need to concoct some type of nesting boxes for them.  I'm hoping that the square buckets that I ordered will be large enough.  

I'm speculating that the Rhodes will being the first or second week of August, while the Barred may not start laying until the end of August or even the first of September.  We reallyl don't know their hatching dates, so that will make it a bit harder to determine their ages when they start. 

We moved them onto fresh grass last night, and they seem quite happy with the fresh cool blades of grass under their feet.  The Barred are super smart and curious. They are a fun breed to have. Collectively, they are a bonded flock now, but there is still a special connection between the two Barred Rock within the flock. 

Barred Boot Inspection	Rhode Boot Inspection
My Good Buddy Barr	I Want Pets too
Rhodie Buddies	Curled Neck Feathers
Barred Buddies	A check in
A different check in	All check in

Testing a Temporary Tomato Greenhouse July 2020

Two of the most difficult factors of growing tomatoes in our area is 1) wind, and 2) rain.  If we can keep the disease away, the bugs will usually also stay away. But the rain both over waters the roots and damages the leaves, while the wind will whip them around until they fall over on the ground. I don't want to put the tomatoes in the soil because of the underground pests that I have to also contend with. So keeping them in the five gallon buckets works best. This year, we dug some holes to put the buckets into to help keep the roots cooler during the hottest days and so that we do not need to water too much. I want to have them outside rather than in the greenhouse because it is too difficult to regulate temperatures (heat) in the greenhouse.  

The greenhouse is great in the spring and fall, but not in the summer. So, I created a temporary outdoor greenhouse space facing the south that allows the air to flow easier, protect the plants from the worst of the winds, and I can easily cover when it rains. So far, so good. I used PVC for the North wall with clear vinyl table protectors.  It is spendy, but allows the sun unobscured access to the plants in the greenhouse. On the west and south walls, which are about three feet tall, I used the milky clear plastic sheeting (cheap stuff) more to protect from the winds, allows some light to get through, and can be adjusted easily when I need to throw shade cloth or plastic over them to protect from the intense sun and/or the rains. 

I do need to lay down a bit more black plastic to keep the weeds back since it can't be mowed in there. It's a work in progress.  but the fact that I have some actual tomato fruit started has me super excited. There are 10 small tomatoes on the two taller plants.  I plan to keep them topped out at about 3 feet in hopes of promoting stronger branches. 

As I mentioned, I wanted something temporary in this build because I don't want to put the time and resources into something permanent if this isn't really going to help with the tomatoes. We dont' have the best or consistant tomato growing seasons, (like this year) so if I can figure out a way to improve my tomato crops in our region, and that does not cost a lot of money to do, that's my mission. If this works, I have a plan of action for next year to build a better space on the south side of my green house that is "outside" and better for my tomatoes. 

Tomato Space from the East	Tomato space from the West
Some actual Fruit!

They Caught Up! Barred with the Rhodes.

Remember when I thought the Barred Rock pullets might be bantams?  Well, they are not. I truly think that their health (or lack of) was contributing to their stunted size relative to the Rhode Island Reds.  They are all very curious and inquisitive pullets at the moment. The new feathers are shining and they appear to all be very healthy now. What a difference a little nurturing does.

Rhode Island Red 15 wks	Barred Plymouth Rock 13 wks
The Shiny Rhodies	What is that thing you brought?
The Curious Barred	What's Over There?
Side by Side for Size!

Almost a Month Later in July 2020

So it has been almost a month.  Remember I thought I had one peach on the "peachtree"? Well, turns out it is a bing cherry tree.  Shock! Probably better in the long run for us. But now we need to replace the peach tree that we accidentally mowed over a couple years ago. So I picked that one lone now ripe cherry. Cool. 

Apple trees are heavy with apples this year.  We will need to thin it out again.  I don't want to thin too much, but at this rate, it will probably be about 50% of the current apples being pulled off to make room for the remaining.  One tree has a lot more apples than the other, but we should have plenty of apples this year for canning, freezing, and dehydrating. 

Last week, I harvested thyme, marjoram, and parsley for drying. I may need to replant the parsley later. I can't seem to get it to stop trying to bolt. We also have a ton of sweet pea pods.  I'll pick more tomorrow to see if I can freeze them for cooking later. 

Peapods

I have not had much luck with the cucumbers. I have tried one more time. Fingers crossed, they look like they will survive. I'll take what I can get. The acorn squash plants are doing very well.  I had planted extra because I thought they wouldn't survive, like the cucumber, but they actually did much better. Trying to give away the spare starts to others who might want them.  

Acorn Squash

Green bean bush plants are doing fairly well, flowering, etc.  The hardest thing on them, at this point, is that the extreme weather conditions change from hot to cool, then rainy.  It has been difficult for most of my plants.  

Bush Green Beans

Our corn actually is doing well.  I had put extra steer manure around them about a week after transplanting them, and so the soil is "hot" compared to the actual temperatures. I'm glad I thought to do that, early on. 

Corn Transplanted end of May

My onions have been spectacular this year. Apparently the perfect weather for them? Or a change in the type of fertilizer. Regardless, this is the best little crop of onions I have EVER had. 

Walla Walla Sweet Onions

Broccoli has finally started to put out nice sized florets. These were planted/started early April, transplanted in the ground mid April, and yes, 12 weeks later, I finally have something to show for all the hard work of protecting them from the strong winds, the nasty cabbage moth, and other things. I almost waited too long on a few of them since they want to bolt with the few warm days we have had.  They need to be cooked right away. We have enough for a meal with more in the garden that should be ready very soon.  Cauliflower has been on the slower side, but it does not look bad, or attacked by the bugs. Just slow to mature. 

Broccoli Florets	Another Broccoli Floret
Broccoli Ready to Eat	Cauliflower Plants

Today, I finally transplanted the dill, basil, and lavender in the new garden bed.  I had them in the grow tent for a couple of weeks to ensure that they would (probably) survive outside once I could get them out there.  Again, the weather has been less than helpful. Since the plants are still tiny, I circled them.  The basil sprouts are the hardest to see because of the light but the circles are faintly in four areas where the little tiny sprouts are located. 

Lavender Sprout	Basil Sprouts
Dill Sprouts