Land projects 2023

Pics taken 6:55 p.m. June 28.
I think I planted the sunflowers June 3rd?
Holy crap,,! Over 4' tall now
25 days worth. Been planting them for many years and this is unreal.
I WILL have a cam set up on them come fall.
Bucks will hammer them. (the purpose).

 

Pics taken July 1 about 7.p.m.
Pumpkins are starting to send out vines. I stuck a stick at the end of on early this morning. That one vine grew about 3" today.
(No pics.
Sunflowers areputing on incredible growth.

 

You should have good deer pics this year. With the rains you've mention that is some crazy cracked soil. Ours only looks like that after weeks of no rain..
My sunflowers planted a couple of weeks ago are only 4" tall and my pumpkin seed were put in just 2 days ago. We are now rain , hot and muggy. I'm hoping I put down enough powders to kill the grubs and worms before they take out the double seeding I did. Funny slugs were an issue last year, seed killing grubs and cut worms this. Just replanted more pole beans they hit those and squash seed bad this year despite my best efforts. Looks like I'll be doing more plants next year in the green houses.

 

This got me thinking for next year. I'll say it now because I save seed, some of you may too. The deer love my pole beans when I open the garden after harvest they eat the trellises bare. I'm going to save seed this year just for planing around brush and young trees to climb on. The brush may work better in hiding the vines as they grow. Hhmmm I have some seed from 2016 saved. I might as well try those this year. If they grow fine if not well they weren't going to grow in the garden wasting my time. If they do grow I'll know just how long seed lasts in a pill bottle and I'm a year ahead on an idea. Just need to find close sunnier areas near stand sites.

 

Old, do you save pumpkin seeds from pumpkins to plant next year?

 

Not usually I season bake them. I plant multiple varieties so not sure what I'd get. Now when the kids go pick from a farm I have asked them to save me some. I know most farms do pretty much one seed.

When I want to save seed its grocery store seed and let me tell you I get great results especially from sweet/hot peppers and tomatoes

P.S.
the 2016 pole beans were a year that I planted just one type of bean, blue lake pole as I remember. I plant too many varieties of every thing now to risk much seed saving. Tried the blue Hubbard last year from saved seed, ya waste of time as far as great taste

 

I always just buy seeds in the spring.
But I should just save some from plants.
Save a 50$ each year.

 

I have to say the ones I grow from store work better than the seeds I buy. Pill bottles are your friend for seed saving.If you plant all the same variety , save the seed.
Seeds are dang expensive now!

 

How do you recommend saving them?

Get the seeds from the plant and then what?

 

You wash them well in cool/cold water to remove all "attached matter" then lay flat on paper towels and pat as dry as possible. If you have a salad spinner that helps to dry then on wax or parchment spread them out on that and room air dry. I say these two materials because they will absorba bit of moisture but the seeds won't glue themselves to it like paper towel. When those get damp and seeds are fairly dry move to paper towels to finish a day or two. Then place in a dry container like a pill bottle and store in a cool area.

 

BTW
that's for the peppers $ tomatoes seeds as well though use a sieve to wash them . No spinner and air dry.
Beans leave onthe plant and let the pod start drying g out if lots of moisture in the air wait until pods get firm then pull pods or entire plant. Wait until pods dry well before shucking and plants can hang upside down until ready. No washing seed just set out flat until dry and firm then package and store

 

Remember though like with peas leave mature pods on the plant stops flower and growth for further production

 

Thanks Old.

Just concerned with squash/pumpkins.

Will give it a try.

 

BNB when and if you do this you can easily gage the success well in advance of seed buying time simple sprouting one in a little soil or a moist paper towel on a zip loc.

 

Good advice Old,
Thanks.

 

Pic taken July 3 at 7:45 p.m.

 

Things are still very dry around here. I sprayed one of the plots again to knock down the grass, it wasn’t growing very well because it’s so dry. Also sprayed my old clover plot to kill it, this is the plot that the neighbor took advantage of last year so it had to go. It will definitely change to deer movement and he will wonder what the heck is going on. The new “replacement” clover plot is still chugging along alright surprisingly without hardly any rain.

 

Looking good. Not sure I'll get to plots this year ,old school as it were. This said all plot areas are getting mowed. I also have them all lined with several ft /yrds of wild berries and shrubs. Today I dida first picking of raspberries in the uppers areas. The deer have also been browsing heavy on them. Black caps should be ready down hill will hit those next. Blackberries are a ways off.
So edging is a double duty thing for me cover and deer food then food for us as well. Plus when I go natureral on plots the edging is still a big attraction late fall.
1 1/2 #'s of raspberries , so Good!

 

Holy Hell!

Those look Delicious

 

Man just the smell of them while picking was crazy great!
Yes yes they were mine in yogurt and hubbies a Sunday with whipped cream on top.
And I only got stung once..worth it.....lol