Ducks ALIVE in 2025!

[ducks4you]

 

[ducks4you]

5 winter sowing jugs ready to put outside tomorrow--out of energy today, so they are sitting on they downstairs old red kitchen counter.
1) *leeks: Large American Flag, Giant Musselburgh and Carentan
2) Onion Grano
3) Zebrune Shallots
4) Little Gem Romaine lettuce
5) Lettuce Mesclun
*The leek packages were sample sizes so I combined them all in one planter.
Every planting job is a new skill. I discovered that this is the order of operations for winter sowing in jugs, and I used empty distilled water jugs bc I don't have to clean them:
a) label with a Sharpie on top of distilled water label on the jug
b) cover label with packaging tape
c) use a flip out type razor and punch holes on the bottom of the jug
d) cut all the way around leaving a portion below the handle so that you can flip it back for planting
e) fill with planting soil up to one inch below your slice
f) thoroughly soak with water
g) put a handful of seed starter soil on top
h) plant seeds
i) use a mister to thoroughly moisten seed starter soil and seeds
j) flip top back and secure with tape
k) put jug in the window well

 

[ducks4you]

Not sure whether to take the lids OFF of the jugs, or leave them on.
I have been debating with myself which I often do:
"Sometimes I talk to myself,
then we both laugh and laugh!"
Instructions say to take the lid Off of the jugs so that you don't overwater the seeds/seedlings.
Instructions Also say that rain/snow will fill the jugs from the top.
Further, instructions say that you shouldn't put your jugs right next to the house.
Instructions also say that the dirt will keep the jugs from blowing away.
THAT part I don't believe.
We have had MONTHS of high winds and we will get more of the same.
I think the jugs Will blow away.
I am putting my jugs RIGHT NEXT THE HOUSE in my window wells.
They will be sitting on top of a black plastic garbage bag which should absorb heat.
I Will take off the lids bc I can check them and add some water if I think I need to.
I have a feeling that I am Really gonna enjoy winter sowing gardening!

 

[ducks4you]

I exchanged the extra large white plastic farm supply store bag for one of my kitchen sized biodegradeable white bags on top of my sweet potatoes. It is a Perfect fit!
I don't think that there is enough of a soil gap to interest the cats in digging there.
Besides, both Lynx and Bedcat told me that if the Gene Hackman couple, where his wife died of a hantavirus (carried by rodunts), if they had kept a cat, this wouldn't have happened.
They both said (in chorus,)" "You're Welcome!"

 

[ducks4you]

With apologies bc this video was found on Facebook, but this is an incredible rescue of a calf with foot caught in a fence.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

For those who can't pull this up , YES, 3 passerby's get the calf out of the twisted metal fence ok.

 

[ducks4you]

 

[heirloomgal]

Aside from the carrots and radishes...... I transplant all those every year.

 

[ducks4you]

Here is my messy right side of the counter of the "basement kitchen" that somebody moved here probably from upstairs many years ago. I have a 2 sided sink, with a separate faucet that we hooked up to our cistern water, and counter top to the right and to the left.
Here is where the sweet potatoes are growing and here is where I assembled my first set of "winter sowing."
You can read the labels. I moved them to the window well just outside of this window, and it immediately attracted a ladybug.

 

[ducks4you]

There were leftovers from the cherry pie last week, so I made a 2nd smaller one, cherry pie 2.0 As I recover I get more strength, but, by this time of day I don't have a lot, so, Yes, Virginia, THIS PIE IS sloppy! But it Tastes out of this world.

 

[ducks4you]

Hooray!! I looked at my potato pots in the basement and I have 6 inch growth on the pot I planted first!!!

I will post a photo later today to this post.
University of Illinois Extension suggests direct planting in April:
Potatoes are among the earliest vegetables planted in the garden.

• Early, midseason, and late varieties all may be planted in March or early April.
• Planting too early in damp, cold soils makes it more likely that seed pieces rot before they can grow.
• Potatoes planted in March also may be frozen back to the ground by late frosts. Plants usually recover fully, but the blackened shoots are always demoralizing to the gardener.
• Medium-early plantings, when soils have dried and warmed, may do as well as extremely early, winter-defying plantings.

Maximal tuber formation occurs at soil temperatures between 60° and 70°F.

Potato

Potato tubers form best in cool soils. Potatoes are a cool-season vegetable that ranks with wheat and rice as one of the most important staple crops in the human

extension.illinois.edu

Our Spring temperatures fluctuate quite a bit. THIS WEEK, we are having a warm spell--78 degrees F forecasted for Friday--but the breezes are cool and wintery.
Best to keep my 3 pots inside with their west facing window until after Easter (April 20, 2025.)