Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[jinman]

That is just too funny! Of course, now you know that stupid song is going to be going through my head the rest of the day.

Okay, if you like that one, try this one. Sorry I don't have these so you can download them to your Ipod.

Oh Frosty Nite! (Sung to tune of Oh Holy Night!)

Oh woe is me!
I listened to the forecast.
This is the night that they said it would freeze.
Long have I toiled to grow my infant garden.
The warning says all is lost due to frost.
I’ve tilled and planted every tasty veggie
With hopes of future tantalizing meals.

Fall on my knees.
Place buckets over ‘maters.
Oh night to be despised
The night the front came through
Oh night to be despised
Oh night my vittles froze.

Etc, etc, etc.

 

[Western]

Looking outside, it plays tricks on your mind. Looks nice until you open the door, then you get the blast of cool air.. I never got into the "Global warming" thread, but I think one side has been vindicated:laughing: This is just crazy, but at least I haven't fertilized much of the garden. I will likely have to replant too, which is a sad state of affairs. My beans are about 6" tall, Okra about 4".

We may be planting in August this year:laughing:

Jim, I have jobs to do here, but the job I had to do was one of those "We need it done yesterday" kind of things. When I left, the forecast was 60% chance of rain and mid 40's for today/night. :confused3: Oh, shop has concrete, so no "barn" status.

 

[Bird]

We finally got that rain that was forecast. I'll bet there was at least 0.02" in my gauge, although the NWS says Denton has gotten .07". And they say it's now 43 going for a low tonight of 34, and currently north wind at 21 mpg gusting to 31. I don't think it ever got under 31 mph while I was out there in shorts and a t-shirt refilling the bird feeder.:laughing:

 

[farmgirl19]

Jinman; I thank you for the laughs, and songs. It has helped keep me from crying, worrying about my garden. I don't have an iPod player anyway. I'm blonde, so a little technologically challenged. Don't want things that are too complicated! :laughing:

I have covered what I can, but much is too tall for buckets, etc. It is too windy for many things, such as sheets, blankets, etc. I can always replant okra, since it will grow in the heat and LOVE it, but I don't think I can make tomatoes if I have to plant again, this late. Maybe I can start some seeds indoors to plant for a fall garden. I fear what's left of the peach crop may be gone, if we get what they are predicting.

 

[jinman]

Looking outside, it plays tricks on your mind. Looks nice until you open the door, then you get the blast of cool air. . .

. . .Jim, I have jobs to do here, but the job I had to do was one of those "We need it done yesterday" kind of things.

Dennis, you are sure right about the way it looks and the temperature. With things so green out, it is NOT supposed to be this cold. However, I've been putting on two light jackets and feeling comfortable, especially while working.

Those 'gotta have it yesterday' jobs are often because somebody higher up the food chain is coming for a visit and they want everything to look perfect. It's either that or they have budget that has to be spent before they lose it.

Farmgirl19: Do you have any of those tall kitchen bags? For big plants, you can use them because they are 13 gallons and will cover a very big tomato plant. If the have a drawstring, it can be tightened to hold them in place or you can just put a rock on the bottom. I would use them in a heartbeat if I did not have buckets. For a light freeze, they would be perfect. I just hate to see you do nothing and lose your plants. I know how hard it is to get the plants established and growing well on their own. Almost any store carries those bags, so you should be able to get some if you don't have any handy.

Here are a couple of pictures of my buckets and row cover over my beans. The only tomatoes that I can get into coffee cans are the early girls. The rest are too tall. I already have some tiny tomatoes on my sweet 100s. You can see in the photos that I have left my onions and sugar snap peas uncovered. I don't think they'll skip a beat. They tolerate light freezes very well. In the first picture, notice on the far left that I already have asparagus ferns about 5' tall or more. I'm still getting a lot of spears even though the ferns are well established.

 

[Western]

Jim, you have enough color in your garden now, looks like Walt Disney threw up!:laughing: Actually, if I didn't sleep all day, my garden would look similar

Bird, you have more "ca hone's" than me out in shorts and a T..How much of that seed blew away as you poured it?..LOL. Saw our 1st Bunting today, great color.

Farmgirl, I bet your right about the peaches, wonder if it will get the Erath County ones too?? At least Parker Co. will have some peaches, that is if you do the "rain" dance:shocked:

 

[Bird]

Yep, Jim, I don't know whether you'll grow anything in that garden or not, but it sure is pretty and colorful.

 

[farmgirl19]

jinman; Thanks for the idea of the bags. I had some of those on hand. Took me forever in the cold wind to get them covered, and even tied, the wicked wind may try to carry everything away. At least I tried.

Now, I am frozen! Think I'll go turn on an electric blanket and get a warm shower. At least I don't have to leave for work before daylight tomorrow, so can uncover as soon as temps begin coming up above freezing.

Western; I think it just too cold out there for me to do that "rain" dance. Maybe I'll get that done this weekend!

 

[Western]

I had to make a fire in the fireplace, because I was "told" to:laughing: Wife said," feels and smalls like Christmas time" . So 1st thing in the morning, I will park my tractor blocking the door to her Ornaments, (just in case the urge hits her), once a year is enough!!

Said I should be at or around 30-31*, didn't catch the "blizzard chill" but I bet it feels like 20's at daybreak

 

[NativeSon]

View attachment 315847 ,,

foreman,, hang on to those pictures,, the youngest one in this picture just turned 44 yesterday,, always brings a smile to my face.. Lou

Classic picture....Can't wait to get the grandkids out to take them to the tank for their first fishing leason. They range 3-5 years and I know it will be like herding cats, but a lot of fun.

Charlie

 

[farmgirl19]

Looks like I may have dodged the freeze in the garden! I don't see frost on the squash plants, and haven't uncovered the tomato plants yet. Have frost on the barn roof, as well as on the grass near the barn, and even on the "horse biscuits" at the pasture gate, but closer to the house, doesn't look as frosty. I guess I'll go out after I finish this last cup of coffee and begin uncovering, so the plants don't bake, when the sun hits them. I sure hope we all survived this late frost and cold snap.

Thanks for the ideas, y'all. I really appreciate them.

 

[Bird]

Fox 4 news this morning says the Dallas area set a new record; lowest temperature ever for this late in the year. And the NWS says it's 33 degrees in Denton.

 

[farmgirl19]

jinman: "Tiny tomatoes"?! Check out what I was going to lose. I am also including a picture of one of my rose bushes.

 

[jinman]

Farmgirl19, those tomatoes look huge considering the date. I'm glad you got them protected. Unfortunately, whether you dance or not, I think this next week will be pretty dry. At least that's our forecast. You may sunburn your bippy out there because there's not a chance of rain.

My thermometer dropped to 33.8 F this morning, so there was really no freeze. Doesn't matter. . . I slept a whole lot better knowing my garden was protected. I guess the question remaining is what about tonight? I'll go out in awhile and uncover my plants, but I think I'll leave the plastic folded between rows and leave the buckets nearby. If Farmgirl dances up a storm, I might need to protect the garden from hail. :laughing:

Foreman Etexas: I'm sorry I forgot to mention how cute your boy is and how happy he looks to be fishin' with you. My brother had a shallow pond full of little bass and my grandson must have caught a dozen. I don't think all of them added up to a pound, but he had a ball.

My geese visitors have disappeared. Maybe the cold snap made them head south.

Tomorrow, I have to go to a an old high school buddy's funeral in Krum, Tx. He was just 64 and passed away from a heart attack. Cecil worked for over 30 years in Piggly Wiggly stores and was a store manager. He started there in High School. About 17 years ago I saw him and he told me he finally got sick of spending his whole life inside a grocery store. He just quit and started doing home restorations on classic period homes. He was still doing construction when he passed away. He was one of those guys who never gained an ounce and always looked like he was in shape. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop you from having a heart attack as we know from TxDon's history. Cecil will be missed. He was always amiable and fun to be around.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Weather folks are saying we aren't out of the woods yet. If the wind calms and the skies remain clear it could freeze in low areas.

 

[Lou66]

Jim sorry to hear about your friend passing.. My condolence.. Lou

 

[Western]

Jim, Also sorry to here about your friend, 65 isn't "old" anymore.

When I finally went to bed, it was 38* at 3:30am. Haven't went out to check the garden yet, have my fingers crossed. From the door, the beans dont look to happy about all this.

 

[Lou66]

jinman: "Tiny tomatoes"?! Check out what I was going to lose. I am also including a picture of one of my rose bushes.

Good looking Tomatoes farmgirl.. do like the knockout roses,, my wife has maybe 50 roses bushes,, I like the knockout but a lot of trimming on them thru out the girl.. Lou

 

[farmgirl19]

My garden appears to be no worse for the wear, this morning. I waited until the sun was beginning to hit the bags covering the plants, then was worried I'd bake the plants, and uncovered them. Luckily, I had time today. I had to leave the house for work before daylight yesterday morning.

jinman; Sorry to hear of your friend. I agree with Western, he wasn't old.

Have a good day, and thanks again, y'all!

 

[Western]

Damage Assessment: Tomatoes look great!! peppers look a bit "aggravated, as do the beans. Some of the melons, cucumbers and cantaloupe are worse than others, so maybe I wont have to thin them. Of course the onions and radish loved the "coolness" Corn doesn't look to happy either.. As expected the Okra will probably be a total loss, glad I have 4 packets of seed left over.

Overall, not bad, considering.

Farmgirl, did you buy the older ready to set tomato plants? I saw them at several places already half grown for around $7 this year. Here my tomatoes are just flowering and yours are almost ready to head to college!! Either way, your tomatoes look nice and happy:thumbsup: