Whatcha Up To???

[Mr_Yan]

12/26/14 Harvested Brussels sprouts. Over three seasons I've grown five plants and this is the first time I've gotten sprouts larger than beans. Some of these got to about the size of a US quarter but US nickel was more common. In November we were below zero Fahrenheit so I would say they were more than frost kissed.

 

[w_r_ranch]

Kind of cold here, 47 & rainy... Ran out & harvested a couple heads of cauliflower to make a some soup.

Built a fire & we are all hunkered down until this front passes.

 

[ErnieCopp]

First, i cussed Jack Frost, then i cussed the weather forecaster, and then i prayed the frost was not deep enough to hurt my avocado tree.

Forecast was for 41 degrees after an nice warm day about 70, and it dropped to 31 on the veranda so probably high 20's away from the house.

Damage will not show up for a day or two but i will cover the weak ones tonight.

When you live in the cold country you prepare for the freeze, but here where it is not supposed to frost at all, we wait for a forecast of mid thirties, before we cover, and that was not enough margin last night.

Ernie

 

[Mr_Yan]

When you live in the cold country you prepare for the freeze, but here where it is not supposed to frost at all, we wait for a forecast of mid thirties, before we cover, and that was not enough margin last night.

I gambled this year after reading that an El Nino was expected. I still had parsnips, leeks, greens, and Brussles Sprouts in the ground in November and we plunged to about zero Fahrenheit for the better part of a week. The parsnips and leeks are still in the ground. I harvested the sprouts yesterday. The greens are trashed waste but still in the garden.

Now we're maintaining above average temps. heck yesterday we were in the upper 40's and we all went out to play.

 

[ErnieCopp]

Yan,
I know about prepping for cold weather, for sure. When i had the tree nursery in Idaho, We knew that by mid October we had to have thirty miles of drip tube rolled up and drained, and all main lines blown out dry, along with all the other preparation, and not one time did we get caught with a deep freeze. But i just cannot time it right down here, as we do not want to cover too soon as that sweats the foliage, and so we get caught the other way.

Ernie

 

[Mr_Yan]

...We knew that by mid October we had to have thirty miles of drip tube rolled up and drained, and all main lines blown out dry, along with all the other preparation, and not one time did we get caught with a deep freeze...

Yeah, I failed this year.

When we were well below ten F I still had 75 feet of hose with a wand nozzle on it connected to the house and my rain barrels full. The hose was moved to my basement and may still be OK as we just froze solid we didn't repeatedly freeze / thaw / freeze. The barrels had 2 inches of ice on all sides when I used buckets to drain them.

 

[ErnieCopp]

These are pictures of my Marmalade tree, AKA Kumquat trees. They make absolutely the best marmalade in the world, but this year they are larger and sweeter than normal, so i am going to experiment by addiing 10% or so of green Mexican Limes.

Not enough rain the last three years to grow grass and weeds on our hillsides, but perfect rain this year and while it is very temporary, a lot of this country now is as Emerald Green as Ireland is supposed to be.

Ernie

 

[Rahab222]

My peppers and lettuce are growing on their own. The garden's unattended until I get a really nice day to shred some leaves and till into my beds. I need to get some onions in the ground, but Houston has had A LOT of rain with temps in the 40s. Nothing freezing yet; then I'll have to get out and cover everything. My strawberry plants in (4) elevated 5' x 5' boxes are beautiful. I need to retreat them with Sluggo Plus to get rid of the pill bugs that beat me to most of the strawberries last year. Strawberry plants can sustain temps down to 28; as long as there aren't strong winds. I've been looking through all the seed catalogs that have come in. Very few of them list a Zone for the plants/seeds they sell. Without this information, how do I know if the plants will grow and produce in Zone 9? I'm looking for a different green bean to grow, other than Kentucky Wonder which didn't do well the last two years. Any suggestions for a green bean? I grow mine vertically to save space. I could change this to plants if anybody has a better suggestion.

 

[Mr_Yan]

Over the last few days I've cut up the maple branches I cut down at the start of November. These new Fiskars loppers really will eat through branches.

 

[45 ACP]

Tied up the leaves so they cover the head of the cauliflower (this keeps them white).

^^ Thanks for that tip!! ^^

Not much going on in my garden. Picked some lettuce and made a salad for me and Momma. I didnt put down any fresh compost before planting my fall garden and I think its affecting the growth. All my plants are small and not growing very fast. Broccoli is not doing anything, Cauliflower have heads on them and look ok, carrots are doing well, but everything else is just kinda blah....

 

[w_r_ranch]

Still kind of cold here (highs have only been in the upper 30s/lower 40s) & it's fixing to get even colder. That being the case, I had to get some stuff done as I don't want to get any sicker than I already am...

I finally installed the new battery in the Gator, then fed the cattle & put out 2 rolls of hay.

Refilled the bird feeders.

Rehung the ranch sign so I could get my Jeep back in the garage.

Brought up more firewood & started a fire to take the chill off.

Made bread & a pot of ham/bean soup for tonight's supper. Mrs Ranch made a batch of peanut butter cookies w/ chocolate chips.

Completed the 2015 Spring Garden Plan & continue looking at my seed catalogs.

 

[ErnieCopp]

Thinly sliced a big bowl of Kumquats for Marmalade, and for every ten Kumquats, i added one sliced Mexican Lime, to perk up the tartness. Kumquats are twice as big this year but with only half the sharp flavor.

Also separated a quart of Jap Persimmon pulp from fruit my daughter gave me, for some Persimmon bread.

I am far too modest to take pictures of anything i do in the Kitchen, as the pictures would clearly show that Linda does the cooking around here.

Ernie

 

[ErnieCopp]

Mexican lime peels made the marmalade a little bitter,tastes like English marmalade made from bitter Spanish oranges, but added some tartness to it, I will use lemons on the next batch lif more tartness is needed.

Using a double boiler to concentrate the marmalade rather than doing so much stirring. Listend to the reports of rare snowfalls in Southern CA. It looked like about two inches 8 miles West at Camp Pendleton/Oceanside, and maybe a little less 7 miles East in Escondido. happens about every 20 to 50 years, so it gets lots of attention. None that i saw here at the house but did get over an inch of rain.

Ernie

 

[w_r_ranch]

Still cold & rainy here the last couple of days... just plain nasty. I did not like having to go out for another load of firewood.

Trying to stay busy by continuing the detailing of the truck.

When I get tired of that, I perused the seed catalogs to finish my plant selection for the spring garden & then started ordering (1 more order to go).

 

[w_r_ranch]

Finished the seed ordering.

Then cleaned/sanitized 13 flats & the 3" starter pots to minimize the risk of any spores or pathogens infecting the new plants.

Started detailing the interior of Mrs. Ranch's Jeep by washing her floor mats... little by little I'm getting it done.

 

[Rahab222]

I ordered my onions and fertilizer for same from Dixondale Farms tonight. I'm going to plant A LOT more onions this year than last. I really missed them when they were all gone. The weather in Houston has been cold and wet for an extended period now. We're expecting a freeze tomorrow night (Sunday/Monday) so I'll have to get out tomorrow and cover all my plants. The navel oranges are great this year - really sweet! The kumquats are still hanging on the tree. Wish I knew of something to do with them besides marmalade, since nobody I know cares for that. However, all the jam and salsa we made last summer was a huge hit for Christmas baskets this year. I have people sending back the empty jars for refills. Stay warm everybody!

 

[Rahab222]

WR, When do you plant your seeds for seedlings since we're in the same area pretty much? Especially tomatoes? I've got the potatoes and onions down. I wonder if my pepper plants will survive the winter and continue to produce if I cover them? They are 6-7 feet each and still producing. What do you think?

 

[ErnieCopp]

Almost 32 degrees when i went to bed, so expected harder frost. So was surprised to see it warmed during the night and no more damage, so i think we missed a big hit. Blackened the tops of the Lantana, probably damaged the begoinas, but do not see any damage yet on other plants, but have not been out checking closely..

But if they dodged this bullet, they will live to fight another day,

 

[ErnieCopp]

Rahab,
I have often wondered if it is me or the other folk that have a loose wire somewhere, because three of my favorite fruits are Kumquats, dried figs and ripe persimmons and very very few of my friends and relatives care for any of those.

But regardless of that, i feel lucky it is that way and not the other way around. This will be the first year of my life that i will have all i want of all three of those.

Ernie

 

[w_r_ranch]

WR, When do you plant your seeds for seedlings since we're in the same area pretty much? Especially tomatoes?

I start my tomato & pepper seed between the last week of January & the first week of February as my target for transplanting into the garden is around the 15th of March (depending on the weather & soil temperature).

I wonder if my pepper plants will survive the winter and continue to produce if I cover them? They are 6-7 feet each and still producing. What do you think?

I've never experimented with overwintering them myself, I always replant new ones for a couple of reasons:

• Minimize the risk of having insect eggs or fungus spores carried over from the previous year.

• Easier to run the rototiller without obstacles in the way

Many people do overwinter them, although their results are a mix of successes & failures IMO.

 

[Mr_Yan]

I shoveled three inches of snow

 

[w_r_ranch]

Made pizza dough for tonight's supper.

Continue detailing Mrs. Ranch's interior.

 

[Rahab222]

WR; Thanks for answering my questions on starting my seeds. I'm going to try to do some of my own tomato transplants this year, but I've never had any luck with growing peppers from seed. What kind of medium do you start your seeds in? I have plenty of shop lights.

I pulled all my peppers of any decent size today and got about a gallon. Also a couple of gallons of navel oranges. Got everything covered for tonight's first freeze - 29 degrees. Houston is supposed to really get slammed this Weds. night/Thursday morning with an arctic freeze. They've already issued freeze warnings.

I sure would like to salvage my pepper plants at least until spring since they are all loaded with peppers still. Some creature dug up about half of my lettuce patch, so I'm going to have to replant. One box of my strawberries already has flowers on the plants.

Good to see the discussions starting up again as everybody looks forward to a new planting season.

 

[w_r_ranch]

What kind of medium do you start your seeds in?

Miracle-Gro seed starting mix (Walmart usually has it at a good price).

 

[w_r_ranch]

Finished detailing Mrs. Ranch's Jeep. Started detailing the truck's interior...

Made a blackberry cobbler.