It sure got cold last night while I was in Pilates. I walked out and about blew away. A gust of dust hit me in the face the minute I opened the door and caused me to cough all night.

It's not bad out there right now, tho.

But, I'm at work until late tonight.

Did anyone have anything planted that got frost damaged? How did your frost cover do, Rebecca?

I got a notification that my onions were delivered today. And my Greenstalk spinner base is supposed to be delivered on Friday. I'll have a busy weekend.

Maybe it sounds crazy to say this, but I would like a little rain soon.

I had a few minutes yesterday afternoon to look over the kitchen garden. It is a weedy mess. But, it appears that several strawberries have made it. I'm going to look for some everbearing ones this weekend for the Greenstalk. I won't buy many just because they send out runners...free plants. I'll fill in with the lettuce and other leafy things. I'm really excited to try this out. I wish I could afford another one right now, but it's okay. If this one works well, I can save for a second one.

Hoping the third week of March has nice weather because I'll be off work for most of it. Dreaming of what I can get done that week....

Kim, how is your daughter and granddaughter? I've heard several people talk about a nationwide stomach bug that is terrible.

My girls are home and healing. It’s rotavirus and it was terrible. Sophie had four boys. They are in the house for the next few days during this cold and possible rain. Plants all look great. I will water in the morning.

Amy sorry I didn’t state the dates of the free shipping. I only order off I get free shipping or I am desperate. …Larry I like to keep my jugs in sight so I don’t forget them but I usually end up putting them on north side of the house in mostly shade. They grow slower there but it works out better in the long run. My basil sprouted the other day. It will be interesting to see if it lived. It was my purple saved seed. I noticed saved seed always sprout faster. Even if they are older

Kim, I would do better placing my plants on the north side of the house also, that is the side we enter.

I have been hunting seeds, I know I have more, but have not found them. I don't see how a person can lose seeds in a house, but I seem to not have a problem with it at all.

I need to pick up more flats tomorrow when we go to town, I should have more flats also. but they seem to hide. When neighbor and I worked together last year, I think we got a lot of our junk mixed, but I always have to buy some new supplies every year.

I wish I was closer Larry. I have loads of flats I am getting rid of. Yes put your jugs on the entry side. They will germinate and grow slower but that is really a good thing.

The bundles of onions look great. Generous bundles and none that look too big.

That’s awesome Jennifer. I need to finish planting mine.

Kim, I wish you lived closer to me also, and also I could use someone to help me organize my seeds. I know I have several ounces of pepper and tomato seeds somewhere, but I have not found any of the oz. bags yet. I have found several packs that have 20 to 30 seeds in them, some I planted all that was in the pack. In my mind I hear Madge say you are planting too much, but I have plenty of room, plus I have plenty people to give plants and veggies to.

I am also going to start some sweet potato slips. I have some purple sweet potatoes and some Red Wine Velvet that are ready to start producing slips, but I am going to try to start some Covington that I harvested in 2022. Because the Covington keep so well if is slow to get them started making slips. I will also place some of last years harvest into the potting soil with a heat mat under them. I get nervous ever year, but so far I have always had slips on time, but I wont be making 100's of slips like I did last year.

Jennifer, I am glad you are happy with your onions. Next year I may order from Dizondale also, even with Bonnie being a little cheaper per bundle, they still may cost more at harvest time. I found 2 more sacks of onion sets when I was searching for my seeds. The sets are old enough that they have shrunk enough to be of no use.

Larry, I've only not grown Dixondale once....and they didn't do well. Of course, there were other factors at play. It was the first year for my kitchen garden and it was 2015, the year we had way too much rain.

But, ever since, I've grown Dixondale and have had good results. Maybe one mediocre year in 2018. They are expensive, but I don't have to buy onions at the store from June to February/March (January this year).

Yeah....I need to figure out our sweet potato situation this year. I really want to try some in the Survivalist Garden. I'm new to sweet potatoes really. Three years ago, I purchased from George. Then, I tried them in containers for a couple of years, but can't remember where I got the slips. Maybe Rick bought them? Moni gave me some last year.

Where should I buy them? Anyone have any recommendations?

We've had rain here at work. Not sure about at home, tho.

Only gardening today will be watering the plants on the light shelf.

Jennifer maybe somebody could bring you slips to the spring fling. That would be perfect planting time.

Jennifer, around here we use to be able to get slips, but they seem hard to find now. I have never bought any slips online, but there are dozens of places that sell them. I use to be able to buy slips at the Farmers Co-op, but they only sell plants now, at least around here. I was given some Covington plants one time, and like the Covington better than any of the others I have tried, because they keep so well.

We had sweet potatoes about a week ago. I thought that the sweet potatoes looked a little small for the ones Madge normally cooks, so I ask Madge " where did you get these potatoes", she said "in there", I did not tell her that she got the ones I had set aside to use for slips, but I have plenty more to choose from. I like to use the smaller sweet potatoes for slips ,because they fit in a flat better, but I often use flower pots in making slips also, but I always place a plastic sack in the pot so the water so dose not run out onto the floor or bed. I have my light shelves set up on the bed so I don't have to bend caring for the seedlings.

I am officially on my new computer I used to order slips from Sandhill Preservation Center. They were always very healthy and did well. Now I prefer to sprout my own. I usually get potatoes from natural grocers. they work really well. It is raining so I inside for a couple days. Learning this new laptop and listening to tiny puppies squeal is very relaxing. Larry I designated bins to keep seeds in. I like 5 gal or 2 gal buckets. But I have used clear totes. Find sonething with a lid that works for you. Label one direct sow and the other start indoors. Every time you come across a seed pack put it the proper container. Ask madge where is a good place cool and dry to store them. I also like to keep a basket or bowl close to these for seeds i am using and dont want to put away yet. My system may not work for everyone but it keeps me from laying pkgs down everywhere.

Kim, most of my seeds are in zip up Craftsman tool satchels and in tote boxes, I just have too much junk to keep up with. I think I found the most likely place my missing seeds are. My neighbor call today to ask if I had unloaded some plant supplies down by the green house, I had not, but he ask me to meat him down at the greenhouse and tell him about all the stuff that showed up while he was gone. I noticed that some of my stuff was down there, I must have not brought it back home from last year. Anyway someone dropped off cases of peat pots, seed starting trays and lids, soil test kits, and other supplies, it looked like someone had been to an auction and bought a truckload of supplies, it was old and dusty, but in good shape. I don't think he, nor I will be buying supplies for a long time, other than potting soil, and he is going after a load of Happy Frog tomorrow.

Neighbor is wanting me to help him again this year, he tells me I wont have to do anything, just boss. I may be able to help him some, but I have more to do here than I can get done

Larry you sound like I was years ago. Seeds here there and everywhere. Coat pocket, jeans, basket, and even left out in the garden. And I would forget what I had so I would just get more. I used to use an old nail apron to hold my seeds while I was in the garden. I’ll have to find it. It works really well. That sounds like y’all got blessed with a good amount of stuff. That will help out so much.

Found a jewel of a gardener. In southern Oklahoma………………………https://youtu.be/mGSoGygals8?si=pJLkK6e-pnOxfhxS

I use to watch his videos, if I am not mistaken he was the first one that I saw making wicking feed tubs, so I had to make a few. I had made some a few years before by using tote bins, but. for me the tubs worked better, and lasted much better.

It looks like he has lots of great videos. And he gives out his number to text him if I have questions.

That's cool, Kim. I'll have to check out his videos.

I forgot to mention that I will have horseradish to bring to the SF. I forgot that I dumped my giant pot of it in the fall, separated them all out, and stuck them in the mineral tubs and random pots until I noticed something the other day sprouting in the mineral tubs. I was confused for a minute because I had sweet potatoes in those tubs. THEN, I remembered the horseradish. This is what happens when you don't mark/tag things. LOL

Jacob, good to hear from you. I've watched a few of your mom's videos and she often has a bit about your part of the farm.

Very impressive work you're doing!

Thanks for sharing the pictures especially the winter scene. Beautiful.

I don't hate winter either. I like all the seasons except when it gets over 95 in the summer.

Jacob, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think about you from time to time, wondering what you are up to, you are a very impressive young man.

I have started a few seeds. I got some 105 count inserts, and I thought that I would try working with them, at this point I still like my old method of starting seeds better, but to be honest I think that most people resist change, and have to warm up to a new idea.

Madge ordered some cucumber seeds last year, and we really liked the smaller cucumbers we got from the vine, but we don't remember the name of the seeds. I started some seeds that I had, hoping that they were what we liked so well. The plants are already up, and it looks like they will be head high by planting time, and I am afraid they are not the ones Madge wants. I have at least 3 or 4 kinds of cucumber seeds, and some Beit Alpha cucumber seeds ordered, they should have been here weeks ago.

Well, I have found most of my seeds, they were in a building next to neighbor's greenhouse. I said that I was not going to start seeds like I did last year, well, the count is already up to near 200 plants that friends and neighbors want, and, I am sure that count will rise. I will have to use neighbor's greenhouse to get the count of seedlings that is needed.

Jacob great to see your pictures and post. You have been very busy. Larry I am so glad you found your seeds.

Sitting in the shade trying to decide what is the priority. So many projects so many things to do and I don’t want to do any of it. Got woke up thought my sister was having a stroke and ended up being very weird symptoms of Covid. She’s on her way home now. I was going to go to Denton but my car won’t start. Tried to figure that out and didn’t get very far. I did get a lot of planting done yesterday maybe three mineral tubs. Chinese and regular cabbages and mustard greens

Sorry about your car, Kim. That is frustrating. Hope your sister is okay.

Congrats on your planting.

I was at a local nursery today (Southwoods) looking at their seeds, and they had their first shipments of tomatoes and peppers in… and people were absolutely loading up their carts. It’s still a full month from our average last frost date. I guess they have figured out that people will buy early and have to come back for replacements when they get frozen out. That’s one way to make money, I guess. And it makes me glad I know better, and glad I can start my own seeds. They sell one plant for what I pay for a pack of seeds from Seeds n Such.

Jacob, I know you’re usually too busy for social media, but I really enjoy it when you post. I think some of us need to road trip up there too see you on a market day.

I think I can finish filling the new beds tomorrow. Definitely a relief to have that done. Then more cleanup has to happen.

Dawn always told me to watch my pecan trees for the definitive sign of spring. They won’t start to bud out until they’re certain its the right time. They’re never wrong. Well, y’all guess what is happening over here. We know we’ll get more freezes, and we’ve had our heaviest snows at the end of March. But the buds are there.

I have late spring bulbs to go in tomorrow.

I forgot about the pecan trees. I was wondering what the mesquite were doing. I planted squash seeds outside today. If they freeze I have lots more. I spent many hours working on my car but still never got it running. Well tinkering is more like it. It makes one click sound when I turn the key. At first I thought battery connection but after cleaning taking everything apart redoing still no go. And my mechanic didn’t answer my text so not really sure what to do

It's funny you mention that, Rebecca. I looked at my pecan tree today and thought that I should check. But, I've barely sat down all day and forgot to do it.

Kim , possibly a bad battery , might have somebody give you a jump.

Rick

Rick I tried that twice actually. I took the battery cables completely apart and cleaned everything with one of those post cleaners and yeah I just can’t figure it out. My son suggested I might have a loose starter wire at the starter so when I get home from church I will get my grungy clothes on and lay under the van and see what I can see

That's possible too. For starting , you need a good battery , the battery clamps clean and tight ( no yellowish green corrosion) and the wire connections to the starter clean and tight.

It's possible that the the battery is so bad that jumping may not work , check and see if your head lights will turn on. You might try changing out the battery with a known good battery from another vehicle.

The starter itself could also be bad , like the starter solenoid.

Rick

Most of my battery problem stem from a bad connection, if you can move the battery connectors there is a good chance you wont get enough juice to start the car. The clicking sound sounds like low voltage which can come from a lose connection or bad battery. I check my solenoid by jumping across the connection with a pair of wire pliers. Expect sparks to fly, and be careful not to get burned. I am 80 years old, and have done this most of my life, an still cant keep from jumping when the sparks fly.

I have a tractor sitting at the end of the driveway with a bad ground connection and I will have to repair that before I can start it. Most of my junk has most of the safety features unhooked because of starting issues, it is just less wires to check.

I wish you lived close, I have a load tester and a battery charger, those are handy when you have battery problems.

All the lights bells and whistles are on like normal.
So it’s been doing this thing for a while now. Turn the key and it clicks one time turn the key clicks one time turn the key starts right up. It’s probably been a month that it’s been doing that. I seriously thought it was my ground wire connection loose so I wasn’t really too concerned about it but now I can see were it might’ve been the starter going out. I have that happen on another car. The problem is living so far out in the country that no one will come out here to help me. My mechanic used to come to me all the time but he is so busy that he does not have time to come down here now.

Kim, what kind of car do you have? Chances are that everything is hard to get to, our cars are the same way, and I just take them in to the shop, sometimes I have them hauled to the shop. Madge's car, I try to keep in pretty good shape, but my truck is not in as good of shape, but I don't take it far from the house.

Kim, do you watch any videos about how to repair a problem like you are having? I have found the Youtube videos very helpful.

My daughter and her boy friend just left, and he took all the hydraulic cylinders off my Kubota tractor to get them repaired. I have the Long tractor at the end of the driveway waiting for an electrical repair. I will try to get the hydraulic

It’s a Chrysler town and country 2001. And yes everything is very hard to get to. My son will come tomorrow and help me

It could be the ignition key switch worn out too . or a wire connection to the switch.

https://repairpal.com/key-may-not-start-car-or-release-from-ignition-081

Rick

It’s kind of old so it wouldn’t surprise me.

From reading all the comments (complaints) on that link I would say that Chrysler SUCKS.

So never buy a Chrysler.

Rick

Three years ago I paid $1300 for it I spent maybe 1000 including tires in the last three years so I feel like I got a really good deal. I watch lots of YouTube videos too on different things and read lots of stuff and they are full of complaints about how hard they are to work on etc.

Rebecca, I hear you on the price of seedlings. We've got a 36 count flat of cabbage that is worth north of $180 of Bonnie plants. There's no way a field planter could be economical that way. I guess they are targeting container growers that are in the market for only 1 or 2 plants. But it seems like they really increased prices last year.

Bonnie increases prices every year,.

I just bought some Bonnie brassicas plants for $5.58 a 6 -pack.

I may be forced to start my own plants in the near future.

Rick

Rick I started mine using the winter sowing method it’s pretty hands off after you get seeds planted. They are all planted in their final destination now and looking great

Yeah I need to start my own plants , but just don't have the time and setup to do it.

Rick

All the brassica I I have started germinate quickly and grow well, and the seeds are cheap. I dont buy a lot of hybrid seeds because they cost too much. I buy most of my seeds by the ounce at farmers co-op, and they have cost from .69 to around 1.99 an ounce, you can get a lot of seeds in an ounce. I can use a pack for 3 or 4 years and toss the rest of the seeds out in the pasture of feed them to the birds, and still be better off than buying plants for a buck each. But I will agree that about everything is going up like crazy.

My neighbor called me yesterday morning and ask me to start him another 40 Sungold and another 40 Early Girl, when I told him that I was out of both of those seeds, he said that he was in town and would stop and get an once of each. When I checked with him yesterday evening, he told me that they were over $300.00 an once, and he did not order any. I think that he is beginning to realize how much money I saved us last year by starting 1300 tomatoes and 750 sweet potatoes, because the plants here were selling $1.00 each buying them by the 6 pack.

I ordered some Red Snapper tomato seeds from Walmart online and they were $20.00 for 50 seeds, and they are not here yet. I also ordered 20 Hossinator tomato seeds, and I think that they were .40 each. I don't normally do this, but Madge ordered some kind of wild. unknow tomato seeds last year and was really happy with them.

I've had wind protection on my mind today and thought about using some of the 4" corrugated pipe I have leftover from downspout drains.

Anybody use pipe/tube for "wind collars" on seedlings going into the ground? Wonder how high they should stick up at planting? The goal is just to get them through that tender stage. And the wind here is...well, you know.

We used to save number 10 cans top and bottom cut out at the school for gardeners it works great for that wind protection in the early seedling stage.

They were about 6” above ground

Rick car is fixed. It was the starter.

Glad to hear it. Did you get another starter.

Rick

Yes