There's nothing more pleasurable than gathering eggs.
Simple pleasures
Oh yes there is, eating them lol
so true DonnaB!!!
Both of you ladies are right on, isn't it amazing how such a simple thing can bring such pleasure. Why do we seem to make so many things so complex that we lose the joy of what we are doing??? That was a great statement Iowa...Haystack
I agree Haystack! I've been to garden tours where some people will point to a few weeds with disgust and seem to totally ignore the beautiful blooms throughout the garden.
I prefer to see the blooms and totally ignore the weeds! :) Kinda like having your glass half full.
Not weeds - "groundcover".
Porkpal, I knew I could count on you...LMBO...Hay
I just finished eating a "wrap" I make with tomato basil tortillas, spinach, alfalfa sprouts & salami & Cheese.. It was my own baby spinach this time.. and I got such a thrill out of eating something I harvested minutes ago.. then had to go back outside to get some green onions! There is something so special to harvesting your own stuff.. never gets old.
Same thing with gathering eggs!
I so so so agree with you IowaAnn!
Here at my house, if it's green (or even greenish) it is "Lawn".....
ZZsBabiez, I agree! Walking out your back door and harvesting your own home grown food to make an awesome meal...Life is good!
I sure do miss having my veggie garden. Like you all said nothing like going out and picking your veggies and eating them right away. My fav was little red potatoes, snow peas, carrots, green onions, basil and a little chopped ham to make a stir fry in spring yum!!!!! then late summer it was yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, red potatoes, green onions, basil, and chopped ham.
Oh you have never eaten broccoli until you have fresh picked it and steamed it 5 minutes with a little salt & butter
DonnaB, broccoli is one vegetable (actually all of the brassica) i've never been successful with in the garden. :( I wish someone would give me some good hints on raising broccoli...I always get the cabbage worms and I don't like to spray any chemicals on them.
There's a truly organic control for cabbage worms, Bt, Bacillus Thuringiensis (I'm sure they spell it right in the article)
http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/cabbage-worms/
Doesn't hurt the bees and good guys, just wormy things....
Gathering eggs is one of Billy's chores and he tells the girls "OK which ever one of you girls laid these wont go in the stew pot" LOL...
Ann Broccoli is a cool weather crop. I usually planted them in Nov for winter crop and again in late Jan for spring crop. I use purchased seedlings from Lowes, never from seed. We have so little Spring I have not been able to grow Cauliflower. It either bolts about a week before it is ready or we get a late hard freeze that kills it and for winter crop is is still to warm to plant it and all they want to do is bolt. I also grew Brussel Sprouts but never could get them very big because of wanting to bolt. Had the pick them very small but very good and tender. cabbages grew great. One yr we had one that grew to 15 lbs
If you value Butterflies Never Ever Use BT. Butterflies are caterpillars before they are Butterflies. I always hand picked any bugs I didn't want on my plants or blasted with water(Aphids). If you will put bird feeders near your garden you will have very little bug problems. If I have to kill a butterfly I would rather it be for baby bird food. Aphids were about my only problem on my winter greens once in a while cucumber beetle on my squash, zucchini, and cucumbers in spring or summer. Oh Marigolds help deter some pest as well. I always planted them and nastriums between my plants. Your Cabbage caterpillar could be one of the white Butterflies. Note: Rue, Dill, Fennel, and Parsley are host plant for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. I just bought 8 plants at Lowes because they were full of the caterpillars
MissJ that is so funny. What a real cutie Billy is. He is so lucky to have you
Wow! Great info DonnaB! I'll have to give broccoli another try next year. I think it would be too late to plant now..right?
when you you get your first hard freeze?? You can plant 90 to 120 days before as long as it is not to hot. I honestly forget how long before you can pick after planting.
I planted started plants late September and again in late January to mid February depending on what kind of winter we are having
This is encouraging.. I love broccoli... Our season is different, but the tip of planting 90 to 120 days before is a big help.. We don't get a hard freeze, but still.. gives me incentive!
ZZ it could be shorter depending on the size of the plants you get. You could probably grow them now as you have cool nights we don't unless you 75 to 85 degrees and muggy a cool night lol. You walk outside and feel like you get slapped in the face from the humidity and you can't see because your glasses fog up. Probably best if temps weren't over 85 degrees for the high
I think I'd have to wait till like August or early Sept.. Our days are so intense hot.. (triple digits) Not muggy, but the heat is really brutal... full sun here would bake a cactus! LOL Our fall nights are awesome... that's when it's really cool at night..
Thank you so much!