Michigan

[M.sue]

OK.....at work & sneaking this in.....Talking about gardeninig & planting with a client, they informed me that there are different varieties of asparagus like there are various types of tomatoes, melons, peppers, etc....lol I already knew that!! Anyway for those of you have planted....What type did you plant and do you perfer one brand over the other? This particular person had the Mary Washington variety.

Well, I'm in Texas but I just wanted to say that I also planted Mary Washington, which is a very old open pollinated variety . The "Jersey" types are all-male hybrids which supposedly produce better, but since I planted 30 crowns for 6 people I think I'll have enough. Plus I can collect seed from mine, if I want to.

This is good to know for I am so green about asparagus. We have never planted it, usually took the easy way out & bought it from the market or better yet picked it wild. I guess I'll check and see whats available in my area and go from there. Thanks for the reply.

 

[swampducks]

SWAPDUCKS I seen your post on BYC about the little chicks you've ordered. Now are you going to stop at TSC when you go into town and buy some or just look or not even enter?

If I go in it will be to BUY FOOD ONLY!!!! I may be tempted to look though.

 

[swampducks]

Good Morning Gardeners! :happy_flower

Another lovely day shaping up out there, already 48.9 degrees and it seems to be climbing fairly fast. Predicted high for the Alpena area is 68 with a chance of T-storms but nothing on the radar so far. Yesterday I took out my trusty spade fork (can't think of its other name at the moment. should I call it Bill?) and poked a couple spots in my mini veggie bed, the one where I put the beans and the bunnies can't get into, and I did not hit any frost! So unusual. So I took my weed cutter and sliced the weeds from the fall off of their roots. I think it's a bit wet to do any real digging for now so I'l hold off a few more days.

I didn't plant any seeds indoors yet but I think today is the day. Going to plant the tomatoes that need the longest time to grow and any flower seeds that do, too. At the very least I'll lay them out on the coffee table and try to create order out of chaos while dreaming of the perfect garden I have yet to grow.

Oh goody, i'ts now 49.4!

 

[Dascountry]

It's 11 am and 43 here right now. But the sun is out! My lettuce has sprouted from the indoor pot Going to try and get some work outside done today. Hope all have a wonderful day.

 

[M.sue]

Good Evening Gardeners,
My DH & I were discussing planting some grapes. I want to put a split rail fence some where out back for them climb up on. I was thinking Concord grapes would be great.....ohhhh, the jam and wine I could make!! Plus I figured they'd be a great scrumptious treat for my chickens.
A relative shared a tip with me via email about moldy berries that I never knew and I'd like to pass it along. It said to mix1 part vinegar to 10 parts water, place berries in solution, swirl around & drain. You can rinse berries if you wish but it's not necessary because there's supposedly no taste of the solution. After, just place in frig. Berries are suppose to last much longer than usual I 'm gonna try it next time I get some. :rainbow-sun

 

[Dascountry]

Good Evening Gardeners,
My DH & I were discussing planting some grapes. I want to put a split rail fence some where out back for them climb up on. I was thinking Concord grapes would be great.....ohhhh, the jam and wine I could make!! Plus I figured they'd be a great scrumptious treat for my chickens.
A relative shared a tip with me via email about moldy berries that I never knew and I'd like to pass it along. It said to mix1 part vinegar to 10 parts water, place berries in solution, swirl around & drain. You can rinse berries if you wish but it's not necessary because there's supposedly no taste of the solution. After, just place in frig. Berries are suppose to last much longer than usual I 'm gonna try it next time I get some. :rainbow-sun

Thanks for the tip...if I remember I'm gunna try it also

 

[swampducks]

Interesting info M. sue, thanks. As I am the only one who eats grapes they often go moldy on me before I can finish so I almost never buy any . Concord makes a pretty sweet wine, just so you know. There are other grapes for making drier wines, but if you prefer sweet wine, go for it.

btw my high was 73.5! about 20-25 degrees higher than normal

 

[M.sue]

Interesting info M. sue, thanks. As I am the only one who eats grapes they often go moldy on me before I can finish so I almost never buy any . Concord makes a pretty sweet wine, just so you know. There are other grapes for making drier wines, but if you prefer sweet wine, go for it.

btw my high was 73.5! about 20-25 degrees higher than normal

Yeah, I prefer Sweet Red Wine.....the sweeter the better. DH saw where someone had concord grapes that needed pruning & that if the shoots are planted now we could have grapes in the fall. Something else to add to add to My To Do List for the weekend.

 

[swampducks]

Generally concord grapes will give you a sweet white, at least the one called Niagra from ST Julian's Winery in MI does. But maybe they don't leave the skins in as long.

I ordered 10 black elderberry seedlings from my conservation district office. DH has made elderberry wine and I've made jelly and it's incredibly good. Used to get them wild, they grow in ditches on the side of the road but the county decided to clean the ditches and there went my supply. First year they've offered elderberry. Now I just have to protect them from the deer and not get too impatient waiting for them to grow.

 

[M.sue]

Maybe it's one of their speciality wines or something......a special formulation & aging process. Can't say......all I know is that I like to drink the stuff! lol