Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[pacerron]

I have buckets on some of the plants I planted yesterday. The corn will have to fend for itself.

I got an original WeedPopper today. I put it right in the same category as a weed eater, garage door opener, or microwave. I don't understand why I have not owned one before now? It is wonderful. I was popping out dandelions and putting them in a bag at a rate of 1 every 5 seconds - without bending over. I must have been living a sheltered life.:lightbulb:

Don,
Sounds like it is getting time to wear your "snake gators" while using your "weed poppers"

That could be a song
Ron

 

[EddieWalker]

33 degrees this morning. Miserable all day yesterday in the wind and 2 inches of rain on Saturday. I miss February!!!


Eddie

 

[Lou66]

Low of 36 here last night,, they are showing a low of 28 for tonight.. My garden is covered with good old blue tarps.. Lou

 

[txdon]

TXDon has Asparagus already? Mine haven't even sprouted up.... hmmmm.
Bartcephus

They have already gone to fern.

 

[txdon]

Don,
Sounds like it is getting time to wear your "snake gators" while using your "weed poppers"

That could be a song
Ron

I think you are right there is a song out there I just can't seem to find it right now.

 

[jinman]

They have already gone to fern.

I've been letting about 1 in 10 go on to fern on mine. I don't know how much energy is stored in those 2-3 year-old crowns, so I need to be careful. I'm still cutting more spears than I can eat. Later today, I'll probably go cut at least two dozen and steam them tonight while they are fresh. I also wonder how they would taste in stir-fry with some onions and peppers. Now, I'm making myself hungry.:licking:

 

[Western]

I'll need to get a metal building. I'm thinking about doing it myself but I keep looking at those carport type framed ones with two garage doors. (There is an existing concrete pad out there.) I'm wondering how they compare to just going to the metal shop (like Muller's or similar) and just getting the metal and building myself. Anybody have any suggestions?
View attachment 309884
Bartcephus

JMO, you will get a better frame buying a weld-up kit from Mueller or Metal Mart, I would price both and sometimes Metal Mart has buildings for sale that someone ordered, but the deal fell through (nice savings). Depending on the size of the building you want, you can do a square tubing build yourself (30'x40'", a larger building would be better purchased as a "weld-up/bolt together" that has been pre-engineered.. I know either Mueller or Metal Mart are nice since you can go into their offices, sit down with them and run the numbers. Doing it yourself will save you almost half, if you have the time and skills. Lately I have bought my "shell" , trim and some purlin from Mueller, but I am re-using steel for the frame I already had, otherwise it would have been cheaper to order one of the "weld-ups".

http://www.metalmarts.com/

I also wonder how they would taste in stir-fry with some onions and peppers. Now, I'm making myself hungry.:licking:

Jim, stir fry is great!! that is how my kids preferred asparagus when they where young. We would lightly steam them before frying with the other veggies since they can be a little "tougher". I know the season for them must be on right now, the Azle Walmart had a huge display of great looking asparagus this weekend.

On a side note.... After much research on the Aggie horticulture site, the wife and I found a great set of Apple trees that may have a chance of growing here, at all places...Decatur Lowes! Chilling hours, root rot and other factors affect apples here, but the 2 we got (1st Red Fuji semi-dwarf, 2nd Gala beauty Semi-dwarf) have done well in trials and where propagated in Oklahoma.

Couldn't find the recommended Peach or fig varieties there. Be warned though, Lowes (and other retailers) sell quite a few trees that are not well recommended for the sales area.

 

[jinman]

Below is a photo of my biggest row of asparagus ATF (after the freeze). Notice the taller ferns have done a u-turn and are hanging down due to this morning's 24 degrees. I just went ahead and cut all spears above 4" tall since they all had frostbite. They're in the pan steaming with onion and garlic as I post this. Yum! I know what's for dinner tonight.



Dennis, that's great about the apple trees. Fujis and Galas are two of my favorites along with golden delicious. Actually, Fuji is my very favorite apple ever. I buy them at Sam's in a big bag and inhale them. They don't go to waste around here. I love fresh raw fruit. I want to start a small orchard before I'm too old to see the fruits of my labor.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

32 Degrees in Bowie County. Have to head down to Cass County in a bit. Chilly. I haven't put any seed outside yet. But I do have a garden full of turnips. TXDon has Asparagus already? Mine haven't even sprouted up.... hmmmm. I have a green house full of onions, tomatoes, peppers and some other things in starter containers. Having to wait on getting the garden ready because I'M GETTING A NEW HOME NEXT WEEK. A house and ten acres.... Now I can have a big garden at the house and I won't have to go to the "lease" for my big garden. YEA! I know it sounds crazy to be so excited about a piece of dirt with a house on it, but I am.... Wife and I went out this last weekend to look at progress the sellers have done. (The house is not new...there was some work we agreed upon to close. House has been vacant awhile. Only yard near house has been mowed for about the last year. Having to get a new roof put on house and a new air conditioner heat pump (outside unit). Seller Bank has been pretty good to deal with. Should be closing this week. I can hardly wait to get the tractor out there and bush hog those darn poplar, sumac, or whatever trees those are that pop up everywhere, get a garden area busted up and some seeds in the dirt. I'll need to get a metal building. I'm thinking about doing it myself but I keep looking at those carport type framed ones with two garage doors. (There is an existing concrete pad out there.) I'm wondering how they compare to just going to the metal shop (like Muller's or similar) and just getting the metal and building myself. Anybody have any suggestions?

View attachment 309884

Bartcephus

Don't even think of building a barn without insulation. Makes ALL the difference in the world. You can thank me later with a picture of your new insulated barn.

 

[Bartcephus]

Jinman and TxDon... well, I looked at my asparagus patch today and whoa... I have one stalk about 18 inches high, none of the other crowns sprouted. I planted about 36 crowns. Now I am worried... or do they grow at different rates.

Kyle I'd love to have an insulated barn to keep the condensation down, but I don't know if the budgetary planets are in line. Gonna have to see how all that works out. Went out and measured the existing concrete pad. 25 foot by 30 foot. Not a bad sized little shop. And I finally have a concrete floor to work on. The past couple of years it has been grass or blue chip stone. (Stone hard on the knees, grass... drop a screw and well.... you lost it... also creepers don't roll in the grass.)

Western... DIY and save HALF? I just might be able to afford that insulation after all.....

That wind today was brutal...