Got about an inch of rain both OKC and over east. Over east had some thick as a brick fog this morning. I was just there and uncovered my collards, onions , garlic .. Most of the collards made it except for a few on the north end. Most of the things I covered made it. The turnips are toast , look about like Larry's pic but I didn't bother covering them. I was just over at Jennifers and looked over the low tunnels a little. It's pretty soggy wet there , I just left the tunnels along , I checked in under them right after the Siberian cold thing the other day , some things got toasted , like Swiss Chard. .,.spinach and onions looked OK.

Day light is getting longer now , now that the sun finally came out.

Rick

It is very wet here. I drove around a little to check on things. Two trees are down in the wildlife garden, which need to be cut up. There always are spots that need brush hogging, but the ground is so wet I cant put a tractor on it.

I picked 3 turnips, and I am cooking them now. I think that the turnips left in the ground may keep much better than the ones I put in the house. The turnips I am cooking sure smell good.

It looks as tho all of the garden plants are dead, but most of the onions and garlic show new life.

Here is something I don't remember seeing before. This looks like ants piling up in the sun, maybe it is warmer there than it is under the soil. The brown spots I assume are ants in piles.

As long as I keep feeling as good as I do now I plan on planting enough stuff to get into trouble with my wife and daughter. I have never been very obedient.

Thanks for starting the thread, Amy.

It is wet here. There's more than an inch in the rain gauge, but that may be from the past week or two. It looked like 3 inches from my window. I'm going to go out and check in a little while.

It's so nice out right now, but much too soggy to do anything. A few days ago, I put straw down in the chicken pen and in their yard as I first walk in. It does help with the mud. I still have my neighbors' roo. They've never even asked about him. He's such a good boy. I'll probably give him to our friends because they want a rooster.

Larry, are your turnips sweet? The ones I pulled maybe 3 weeks ago are so sweet.

I forgot to check my beets the other day. I covered them before it all started, but just now remembered them.

The only other garden news is my SESE order came in.

Still need to order onions. I'm going to plant them a little later as an experiment. I need to rethink a few things and research a little. I know there's a reason why we start things when we start them, but I want to play around with the "reasons" a little.

Looks like we're going to Webbers Falls for the SF. We won't be able to make a weekend of it. The spring is so busy for me...not just in the garden, but with both jobs. And all the animals I have to care for make it difficult to leave for long. I do have my neighbor, but am trying to save her help for when we travel to Portland, etc.

I've been very fortunate in the past that the SF has always been 30 minutes from where I live.

I'm sure the "what will I bring" threads will start soon either here or on FB. As far as plants go, I'm not sure yet, but will maybe have extra heirloom tomatoes and their seeds for sure. They will be second generation plants. Maybe a few peppers too. I'm only keeping a couple of each variety other than the bells and jalapenos.

Anyway...I'm going to walk my poor dog. She's been stuck in the house for far too long. The streets are dry.

Larry , I haven't seen that before , not in the winter.

I remember when I was younger , over east Red Ants would make these big hills usually right by a pond or pond bank. Must have something to do with water.,

Rick

Jennifer, I can not say that my turnips are sweet or not, they just taste like a good turnip, which I think has a little sweetness to it. A lot of people I know put sugar in turnips, I don't but Madge does. If I cook turnips I put salt, pepper, and most often other seasonings. I like the taste of most peppers, and if I have them, I use them in a lot of dishes.

I spent 3 hours outside this afternoon, filling the new beds. Of the 6, 3 are done completely and 1 is 3/4 done. That’s the one I’m using for potatoes, and need to get some amendments to add before I finish it up. So basically done. Of the remaining 2, one is halfway done and the other needs to be started. The last 2 are tomato/pepper/okra beds, so not as urgent as the others. But I’m getting excited and I need to rein myself in for another few weeks.

I can already tell I’m going to be regretting those 600 pounds of bed filler type stuff, though. Soon. Already hit the tylenol and muscle relaxers.

Time has gotten away from us. I just got some plant stuff in the mail and it hit me. It's time to set up the seed starting stuff again. I didn't even get a soil test done this year. I really wanted to know how that sulfur I laid down last year did.

Our ground is a soggy mess right now though. Just some clover with a few bare spots. I have to till this thing sometime, but looks like rain this Sat.

Hope all are doing well and are ready for some more gardening!

I am glad to see someone post, I check this forum several times a day.

I was happy with my soil test, some things are less than perfect, but they are within a range I can work with. On the free Arkansas soil test they never test the nitrogen level, which is okay with me, I just keep a high nitrogen fertilizer on hand, and toss in a few pellets it I think the plant is needing it.

The soil around here is soggy also. I wanted to pull some of my rutabaga a couple of days ago, but I thought the soil was too soggy to walk on, so I get the bright idea to drive my rtv down the rows to pull the rutabaga. The garden was so soggy I could not control the rtv, and was plowing up my spinach. I back the rtv out and go to the closest path to the rutabaga, and walk in, trying to step on areas that looked less soggy. To make the story shorter, I bogged down and could not get out. I finally got out by leaving one shoe, then had to wade the mud back to the rtv and drive into the garden to get my shoe. I ended up having to shower, wash my clothes, and still dont have my shoes clean, all of that for three stinking rutabagas.

I was unloading the back of my rtv before taking it in for repair, and found about 15 onions in a plastic sack, they had been in the back of the rtv since late fall, and were starting to sprout. I planted the onion, so I am thinking that if these bulbs survived the -3 degree temps in the back of my rtv, surely the onions in the ground well be okay, if they don't rot. I do have a few onion bulb that I harvested all but the roots, and about 3/4 inch of the bulb trying to come up.

I still have some seeds on order, I hope that the supply, and supply chain is good this year.

Nothing but the henbit is doing well in my gardens.

Same here with the henbit, Larry. It loves single digit temps apparently.

I don't have time to make a proper post. Just saying hi. Maybe I'll be back this afternoon to post again.

I am still in Lubbock trying to stay well enough to take care of 5 month old and 2 years old. I am not a spring chicken anymore that’s for sure. My son has a two story house and I finally had to move downstairs. It’s so much joy to be here. I did pick up some okra seeds at a store that’s apparently closing. Sales weren’t that great. I did get some espoma fertilizer for a great price. I also picked up some gallon jugs for my winter sowing. Maybe 20 more. That will be enough.

Kim, maybe your like me "A sprung Chicken",or maybe a "has been". It seems as tho everything is past prime. I can't do anything like I use to, but I am thrilled to be able to do the things I do. This has been a beautiful day. I got out and did a little brush hogging, and, while I had the tractor out I drug up part of an old culvert to cut metal from to repair my seeder.

I got a call that my rtv should be ready tomorrow, that is one thing that I really miss, and another thing I really miss is a pocket knife, but it is a lot cheaper to replace a pocket knife than to replace my rtv.

I weeded a couple of mineral tubs this morning. I need to add more potting soil to several of my tubs.

Kim, Lubbock sounds like a nice place to live. I use to haul freight to and from Lubbock some, it seemed to be a little hot and windy, but much better than most of my freighting locations. I drove the northeast most of the time, and did not like that at all. The wide open spaces of Texas is a truckers dream.

Well I have sit and rested long enough, now back to playing outside.

Bakers Creek seeds came in and that's it for me other than onions.

We continue to work on the house and still hoping it is complete by the end of this month. There's some annoying things regarding the foundation and questions about what to do. Apparently piers will crack tile and remodeled items. Piers should be done before remodel. Anyway...we'll figure it out.

Then, my neighbor said the sewer is backing up. It hits them before anyone else in the neighborhood because we haven't noticed any issues yet. The sewer thing (whatever it's called) is at the back of our property and we have to tear down chicken yard fencing and all for the truck to get to the "thing". It's a big truck and will likely leave ruts on our property. It's very annoying. The people behind us do nothing with there property....literally nothing. I haven't seen them step outside in ages, but for some reason the truck always has to drive on our property which is a thriving and active property full of gardens and animals and a hoop house.

Anyway, found that out this morning. After all of that, moving doesn't sound so bad at times.

I'm standing firm on the seed starting. Not gonna do it yet. Looking forward to it, tho.

I had a left over brick of peat that I had planned on using as starting mix. I felt kind of dumb pouring boiling water over it in batches, but fungus gnats are the bane. Maybe it'll actually work.

My slide rule says that now is the time for cabbage starting. Maybe i'll do that this weekend. Man, I really need to till now, but it's just not ready yet.

What are y'all starting? Seeds easy to get this year? I'm behind schedule for sure.

Haven't been too good at seed starting myself. Need to be but just not set up for it.

I've always just bought the plants from the stores. (Brassicas , toms , peppers).

My seed orders are all in for everything else for in ground planting.

But right now I'm more focused on onions and potatoes.

That's where it starts for me.

I till my ground right after fall cleanup.

And it's a good thing too cause it's too wet now.

I amend the ground with cow manure through the winter but I'm running behind on account of these rains lately.

I hope it's not going to be a too wet spring (again).

Rick

Rick, I live in a wet area and have to fight wet soil nearly every spring, most of my south garden has enough organic matter in it to make it easier to work earlier than my other gardens, plus, it is a better draining area, but I don't have any area that drains really well.

I'm rethinking my seed starting. Honestly, I might go ahead and start a tray of brassicas and lettuce. Not many, just a tray. I have room for one tray. Maybe.

And, yep, came home to find the plumber truck got stuck on our property and had to be pulled out. Terrible ruts that will need fixed. I knew that would happen.

Congrats on Tray #1, hwy20!

Do you have much success with red cabbage? I've struggled with it.

Spring wind can be a nightmare on tender plants.

So, the packages of little sweet peppers at the store--the ones that are red, orange, and yellow? You know how delicious they are on salads and other things? Someone on one of the groups (Friends of Roots and Refuge?) I'm in, asked about the variety. People replied that they save seed from those store bought ones.... and they sprout, grow, and produce well. Has anyone tried saving seed from those? I specifically bought a package of organic ones last week and have been saving the seeds from them.

If this works, I'm going to put them in my Vego beds along with some dwarf tomatoes. Those beds are right outside my backdoor and will be super easy to harvest from each morning. The beds are half full of compost and chicken droppings. In a couple of months I'll top them with soil and they'll be ready to plant. I'll probably tuck in a few herbs and flowers too.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a pretty, small shrub? It doesn't need to be native because it's for a bed right next to the house in the backyard. I would prefer the native critters NOT eat it. I grow lots of stuff for all the critters and I want something that stays pretty in that spot for ME.

But, it does need to be smallish.

Edit. I guess the groundhog predicted an early spring. Hmm.

I think we need to get our own LOCAL groundhog, that Yankee groundhog likes to lie to us. I think that is the same groundhog that wrote the Farmers Almanac.

https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240202/Poteau-Pete.png

Amy, I feel better, I would never doubt what Pete says. I went out and started telling, now that I know spring is here. It looks like Pete is leaving Oklahoma, it looks like he is headed for my barn.

Hazel, we did a red cabbage last year that got huge. We didn't do it from seed though, picked it up at a new leaf garden center. The red seed we just started is a Burpee variety called "salad delight". It has a maturity of 50 days, so i'm gonna put em to the test.

I fired up the tiller and ran it a little bit today. Still too wet in a lot of places. May give it another try in a week or two, but I see a lot of rain in the forecast.

Saw lots of Dixondale onions at Stillwater Milling today. Almost took a couple bunches home with me.

Seen any seed potatoes yet?

I'm fixin to check my local feed store.

Rick

I called Atwoods in Ft.Smith about a week ago and was told that they had seed potatoes and onion plants in, but the lady did not know if the onions were Dixondale onions. I use to be able to get Dixondale at Atwoods before the other stores had any onion, or potatoes in stock. It may be worth a call to check who has what.

It's tax season now.

I usually get my seed potatoes right when I'm trying to pay my taxes.

Rick

Rick, I didn't see any potatoes today. Wife picked up some garlic from the spot that Potatoes usually are hanging out. Onions, garlic & peanuts were about it. Should be all over the place in a couple of weeks though.

Lawdy...anybody else feel that earthquake? It was a pretty good one and lasted a bit.

Shake, rattle, and roll here in Tulsa.

Guess I’m not going out in the rain to clean up the garden this weekend. Apparently I’m going dishwasher shopping

We didn't feel it. Pretty sure I was still awake too.

Yeah, Rebecca, it's a bit soggy for garden cleanup. Mine needs it too. I still haven't cut down the asparagus ferns. I usually do that in November.

Heading to the grocery store this morning. I'm always a little annoyed when I have to buy fresh veggies.

We will do texturing and painting today and then have dinner plans with friends. Nothing too exciting going on around here this weekend.

I saw on Facebook that something was felt in western Arkansas, but not by me, I would have to be shaken out of bed to feel anything.

Its too wet to do anything here outside, so Madge and I will go out to eat around noon, we don't do night things anymore because it is too hard to find our way back home.

We may stop by Atwoods and check to see if the their onions are Dixondale. I know I can get Bonnie plants anywhere. Bonnie has a greenhouse operation less than 20 miles away, but they don't sell to the public.

Well, Atwoods did not have onion plants, all they had were sets, which I already have plenty of.. I was hoping to get some plants and plant them in the house or on the porch, if on the porch, I would bring them into the house if extremely cold weather was headed our way. I have never tried this before, but, was hoping to get some very large onions.

Lowes had some very pretty and healthy lettuce plants, brassicas, and herbs. I didn't buy any but really wanted to.

However, I did buy a peat pellet tray. It has space for 72 seedlings, so that is what I'll start this week. Maybe on Tuesday. I'll do cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and kale.

Rick went to Ellisons in Norman and said they had Dixondale onions.... and potatoes.

I have ceiling texture in my hair, on my face....I'm really tired, but need to get around to go out with our friends.

I remember now why I put off this project for so long....

Yep, I got my seed potatoes , Red Pontiac and Yukon gold. ,50 lb sacks of both.

I'll share with Jennifer and take the rest over east.

Got a few lbs of onion sets , white ,red , and yellow.

Didn't get any onion bundles just yet but will a little later.

Don't want to get them too early and have to hold them too long to put in the ground.

Most of the usual Dixon Dale varieties are available now.

Winter's not over with yet.

I hearing about a pattern change around the middle of Feb.

Maybe more arctic cold.

I hope it gets it over with and not linger into early March.

Rick

Hi all. . . thought I'd stop and say hi--I'm hoping we can get to Webbers Falls this year. Gardening has come to nearly a full stop, though I'll grow some peppers and herbs and onions. Love the peppers! I saw in an earlier post that you wanted to grow Sugar Rush Peach peppers, Jennifer? I'm sure I'll have extra plants and should have plenty of seeds.

The rest of my time this spring will be in trying to clean up the existing beds! And that could be a full-time job. Although I'm feeling pretty good physically now (after a few years with the bad hip, it's good as new), GDW is in bad shape with his knees. Geez, if it's not one thing, it's another.

All around us--Tulsa, Wagoner, Tahlequa--were talking about the earthquake--we were both up--our critters weren't acting up, and we didn't feel a thing. Weird. My own guess, flawed as it may be, is that it's because our place is pretty much solid rock. . . (haha, you know, build your house upon a rock!)

Someone I chat with researched and said the earthquake was shallower than what we usually get and those are felt further away. I have no scientific evidence, but I wonder if those along a fault line felt it and those not close to the fault did not? We were up, the animals were asleep, we felt nothing. A mile away, my kids felt it (in 2nd floor apartments which shake more). I worked for a guy in the early 70s who told me THEN Tulsa sat on a fault line. He built an earthquake "proof" house back then.

Good to see you Nancy!