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  1. Smiles Jr.

    Tomatoe problem!!!

    Hi everybody. I know, I know, it's been a long time. Life always gets in the way ;). I have been a gardener for many years and luckily this is the first time for this issue for me. I started my heirloom seeds at the end of February in my greenhouse. I am an heirloom seed saver for as many garden...
  2. Smiles Jr.

    A few random questions.

    When the growing season gives way to fall and winter I never know what to do with my asparagus bed. There are always a few tall stalks and some late summer weeds. Do you cut the "fern looking" stalks to the ground? Do you cover the bed with leaves or mulch? My Brussels sprouts didn't do very...
  3. Smiles Jr.

    A change in their formula?

    The bugs have been terrible! I don't like it but there are times, like now, when I feel like I'm forced to use chemicals in the gardens. Last week I purchased a bottle of "Sevin" and used it just this week. I have used it sparingly for many years. This time it looks different, smells different...
  4. Smiles Jr.

    A very interesting plant???

    What is it? This volunteer showed up in one of my raised beds. I have watered it and watched it grow for almost 4 months. It has small yellow flowers, large heart-shaped leaves and the seed pods have very sharp needles. It's about 4 ft tall.
  5. Smiles Jr.

    I've just about had it!!! My poor Bluebirds!!!

    I have tried for 6 years to coax bluebirds to stay on our property. Each spring I see bluebirds for only one or two weeks and then they are gone. I have studied and studied and studied on how to make them want to stay. I have built three blue bluebird houses according to all of the "expert's"...
  6. Smiles Jr.

    Hi from Smiles Jr.

    I know, I know, it's been a very long time since I've poked my head in here. I think of you guys often. I sincerely hope everyone is doing OK under the current world conditions.
  7. Smiles Jr.

    Critters and tomatoes! Yikes!

    Hi again everyone, it seems that the only time I talk to you guys is when I'm waiving the distress flag. Sorry. In all my years of gardening I have never had animals get into tomato plants. Oh yeah, when I free ranged our chickens they would jump up to peck now and then. But this attack is...
  8. Smiles Jr.

    Zenias too tall!

    For the past three years I have been planting Zenias in a flower bed in front of our porch. I select seed packets that say the plants will be 10 to 12 inches tall. Every year they grow to 24 inches tall or more. They are beautiful but sometime in August they fall over because they are so...
  9. Smiles Jr.

    Asparagus cutting

    Hi everyone. It's been a long while and I see a bunch of new names. I've been told to let newly planted asparagus grow for 3 years before a harvest should be made. Mine are just starting their 3rd season and the stalks are 1 to 2 ft. tall now. I'm wondering if I should cut them back to 2 or 3...
  10. Smiles Jr.

    Mail order pills????

    Four months ago DW and I decided that we would order some "dietary supplement pills" on-line from a vitamin company. She has tried just about everything to get rid of a skin condition. She had a conversation with the dermatologist during her last Dr. appointment and he said it may not hurt to...
  11. Smiles Jr.

    Facebook Messenger Hacked????

    I don't get on facebook but my wife does every day. This is how her family communicates with silly little posts and she evidently enjoys it. Yesterday I received a call from our DIL saying that she received a Facebook message that did not seem right and it was from DW's account. Then someone...
  12. Smiles Jr.

    Chipmunks !!!!!

    Chipmunks !!!! We have an abundance of the little boogers and they are very destructive. Holes in the soil everywhere, scratching in the attic, AND ruining my tender starts in the greenhouse. Between the moles and the chipmunks our yard looks like bombs have gone off everywhere. Does anyone...
  13. Smiles Jr.

    Pruning peach trees

    I'm somewhat familiar with the importance of pruning grapevines as it has a major impact on fruit production but I have no experience with peach trees. I have 12 semi dwarf peach trees in the orchard (planted 6, 7, and 8 years ago) and their production has been very mixed from year to year...
  14. Smiles Jr.

    Overloaded peach trees

    I have 5 peach trees - 3 yrs. old - that are so heavily loaded with fruit that I'm very concerned about the limbs breaking. I have dozens of 2x4s and 2x2s propping up the branches but I'm afraid it isn't enough. What do you guys do? Is this a case where some thinking was needed two months ago...
  15. Smiles Jr.

    Now What?!?!

    Our apple trees are looking pretty bad. I have sprayed and sprayed and sprayed and now my trees look very bad. I have followed very closely the instructions for the fruit tree spray I used. Once in February with dormant oil, once in April, May, and June with fruit tree spray that contains...
  16. Smiles Jr.

    Worried about my grapes

    Our newest grape arbors are now 5 years old and I have not harvested one measly grape yet. I did not try to harvest anything the first three years and they had a bad case of black-rot the 4th year. Two weeks ago all of the vines had beautiful little bunches of tiny green grapes starting...
  17. Smiles Jr.

    Looking for a cotton bonnet

    Can someone recommend a place on line to look for a bonnet like they show on Little House on the Prairie. I'm looking for one with a long beak or bill in front. It's special gift for a very special friend.
  18. Smiles Jr.

    Dormant oil spray discovery

    I've been having trouble with my apple trees here at PlayStation. In 2012 I helped my mom and dad with their apple harvest and we collected three bushels of beautiful apples from only 5 semi dwarf Macintosh trees. Dad used to take very good care (meticulous) of all the fruits and veggies here...
  19. Smiles Jr.

    Hurting

    About a month ago I lost a battle with a large round bale of hay and hurt my leg and back. After a trip to the ER and several follow-up visits to the Dr. in early November we discovered torn ligaments and a tear in my left thigh muscle. Well it has been a month now and it's not getting any...
  20. Smiles Jr.

    A busy morning here at PlayStation

    I finally remembered to tuck my camera into my bibs this morning. The kids are off school this week for some kind of fall break. Emily and I moved the mini-donkeys to a different paddock. Repaired hundreds of feet of fencing damaged by our bad-boy bull. Moved 61 baby pigs from furrowing pens...
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