What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

And my problem is finding the NON-pleated ones. UGH.
They do not do well in the microwave, and the plastic they're starting to use shreds after it gets cold.
I'm sticking to my Tupperware, and old glass.
And humidity...OMG....we are saturated, even in drought. It's only 75'F right now, but we are sticky wet, humid. The kind where your sock slip and your bra doesn't sit right. Swampy, am I right @TJAnonymous ?

 

[fuzzi]

Those Kuhli loaches are cool-i! For some reason they make me think of those poisonous sea snakes.

I did a 50% water change to my 75 gallon fish tank. The total dissolved solids were over 800ppm so I figured it was time. I used my python and put the water into 5 gallon buckets out in the yard.

It's too hot and muggy outside to do much, so I focused my efforts today on my water gardening, aquariums.

I ordered more Kuhlis a couple months ago, but quarantined them in my shrimp tank. Now that the 29g is clean I decided it was time to move those kuhlis that had survived.

All 12 were alive with the shrimp!

And they were tough to catch...

They're now acclimating to the 29g water in a specimen cup, hanging inside the big aquarium. I know they will be "happier" going from a 5.5 to a 29 gallon tank...plus they have some great great aunts and uncles to meet. Kuhli loaches are extremely gregarious.

@Liz Birdlover

 

[fuzzi]

I do all my breads by hand I prefer it.

I'm thinking about it. There's so much junk added to store-bought bread that I think it's about time to try a different route.

 

[Smokerbill]

I spent 45 minutes watering the entire garden this morning, then cleaned and refilled the chickens' 5 gallon watering bucket.

Earlier this week I noticed that the vines on a couple potato plants were starting to wilt. I yanked them both out and tossed them away. Not sure what the cause is, and I hope it doesn't spread to the rest of the vines.

Over the next 10 days overnight temperatures will drop to between 40 and 46 degrees, daytime highs will range between 55 and 65 degrees. My pepper plants will be pretty much dormant during all that time. Next year I think I wait until June before I put pepper plants in the ground.

 

[WthrLady]

I'm thinking about it. There's so much junk added to store-bought bread that I think it's about time to try a different route.

Oh I make my own bread, grind my own flours, but I don't work it by hand. I use a dough mixer, actually made to make Chinese dumpling dough. It mixes and ferments(proofs) the dough, so I don't have to.

 

[fuzzi]

Got a new toy today, a weed burner torch. I hit all the weeds growing through cracks in the asphalt driveway, and at the edge of the pea gravel around the house foundation. Fire is fun! Hahahahahaha!

I wonder how that might work on wisteria, poison ivy?

I weeded this a couple weeks ago, see all the wisteria popping up?

 

[Smokerbill]

I wonder how that might work on wisteria, poison ivy?
View attachment 3836108
I weeded this a couple weeks ago, see all the wisteria popping up?

There's a strong warning in the torch instructions saying to never use the torch on poison ivy or oak. The irritating chemicals will be in the smoke, and inhaling it could be problematic.

I'm sure it's fine for wisteria. With lots of plants the torch kills only the above ground part, and they'll regrow from the roots. I guess if the plants are torched often enough the roots will die too.

 

[fuzzi]

I'm sad to read that people are having trouble with Baker Creek seeds. I've recommended them for several years.

I haven't been paying attention to which company/germination rates on my seeds, but I will now.

A lot of the seed I've planted so far is saved seed.

I've had germination issues with Burpee, other name brands bought locally, so I tried Baker Creek last year, was happy with them.

Some of the seeds I purchased in October germinates fine, like the melons, squash (5 varieties) and one lettuce. But the borage and the other lettuce never sprouted, planted them twice.

 

[WthrLady]

I wonder how that might work on wisteria, poison ivy?
View attachment 3836108
I weeded this a couple weeks ago, see all the wisteria popping up?

It does not work on poison ivy, ragweed, alfalfa, curly dock, wild asters, yellow nut sedge, or the morning glory family/bindweed. It might melt it, but it comes back with a vengance- think the terror in Indiana Jones and the melty face scenes with the Lost Arc at the end.

But I agree, walking around with the dragon torch is great fun.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Guess we get to see what will blossom starting spinach inside.