Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Western]

We recieved another 4/100ths last night/this morning, add that to the inch we got last night:thumbsup:

Jim, I dont think you could have planned it better , I bet you got some good soaking as I had some heavy run-off. This will help "settle" my new garden spot and should also help a bit on our precipitation deficit.

 

[jinman]

Dang Dennis! I forgot my garden. I'm sure my asparagus, garlic, onions, and sugar snap peas are doin' happy dances in the ground. I've got to get out to the garden later today and cut about a dozen asparagus spears before they go to ferns on me. Last night on the way to dinner, my grandson notice two spears about a foot tall. YUM!

 

[Western]

Jim, your already cutting spears and I was just thinking about getting some stock yesterday:laughing:

I did find a place I had forgotten about for getting my asparagus and fruit trees duh. I want localized, properly grafted stock for N Texas and this place has a great reputation. Used them in the 90's and had great results, cant believe I had to read an article to get my memory "jolted"
They are in De Leon,Texas
Womack Nursery

 

[jinman]

We have purchased asparagus crowns from a local nursery in Montague and also at TSC. I can't tell the difference. I planted the first dozen crowns three years ago and the 2nd planting from TSC was 18 or 20 crowns. I did not lose many. Some took a long while to shoot a spear up, but I think about 30 plants total is plenty for me. I want to get garlic going because it goes like gangbusters around here. I saw a big patch on a vacant lot near Sunset and was tempted to go do an 'inspection' with my spade shovel in hand, but decided against it. At one time there was an old house there and their garlic is still thriving although the lot has been cleared. If I knew who owned it, I'd ask them if I could go dig some up.

 

[Western]

Jim, they may "welcome" you big time for digging it up, of course on the other hand, they may have a use for it too. It would be worth checking with the tax office, you may end up with all of it! I have grown it around the fruit trees, my grandfather said it would help keep crawling bugs away, dont know if that is true, but he did it and so do I.

I want to grow an "herb" garden, likely will be in a box type planter. The wife and I want to give making her own 100% Spaghetti sauce and start some canning:thumbsup:

 

[texasjohn]

Well, got exactly 1 inch last night! Super glad of that!

Having brunch on left over COOPER'S BBQ:thumbsup: Went to Llano yesterday, picked up a 3PH rock rake from Craig's List and had lunch at Cooper's

Best BBQ I've ever had in Texas! If you don't like their cabrito/pork chops/prime rib/beef ribs/pork ribs/chicken/sausage, sides, Frijoles, etc....you simply don't like BBQ

 

[jinman]

John, WOW! 1" of rain and Coopers all in the same day? You are livin' right, Brother.:licking:

Dennis, we raised parsley, basil, sage, cilantro, and thyme a couple of years ago. The basil keeps coming back volunteer. The thyme and cilantro are my favorites, but basil is right up there too. Those are three excellent herbs.

 

[Western]

Jim, thanks for the list! Did you notice if anything in particular grew better here ? I'm thinking most herbs should do well in our climate, at least the ones commonly used in sauces.
Oh, did you use raised beds?

John, I 'm not sure you should use all your luck up in one day:laughing: I know you guys are dryer than we are, but not by much. Sounds like you had a great day, hard to beat a good BBQ!!

 

[bindian]

We got right at 7/8 inch this morning. Nice sleeping weather.
Got my disc back on wheels and outside to wash before painting last night.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/270878-amco-offset-disc.html
hugs, Brandi

 

[txdon]

Well I'm working for the county this week trying to spring clean the gravel road up front. The dead trees trash and beer bottles are going to be gone. For those who drink the 6 pack of coors lite in the bottles - you are being watched.

I was hoping the county would take care of the fallen trees that I pushed to out of the middle of the road way but they just maintained around them and the road narrows.

Beautiful day and I get a bit more day light to boot! However, Daylight Savings Time can be discontinued now that I'm retired and too lazy to change all the clocked devices.

 

[mikim]

got 3/4 in of rain last night....planted wife's asparagus bed today...24' square area (24x24) fenced to keep out deer and rabbits. Now to keep it alive for 3 years to harvest.

 

[mikim]

Wife says freeze time is over -- mesquite is sprouting leaves. Spring has sprung.

 

[CowboyRon]

Wife says freeze time is over -- mesquite is sprouting leaves. Spring has sprung.

My mom always says that too. The Mesquite trees are never wrong.

Sent from my EVO using TractorByNet

 

[txdon]

I'd say mesquite is right 95% of the time but Pecan is right 99%. My native pecan is still not coming out.

I'm going to attempt corn again this year after my 100% failure rate for the past 20 years. This year I will use a secret weapon against the raccoons. A radio blaring at night time the week before I pick it.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I'd say mesquite is right 95% of the time but Pecan is right 99%. My native pecan is still not coming out.

I'm going to attempt corn again this year after my 100% failure rate for the past 20 years. This year I will use a secret weapon against the raccoons. A radio blaring at night time the week before I pick it.

The electric fence has worked good for us to keep the critters out...

 

[texasjohn]

Txdon, you aware right...in 30 yrs I've seen mesquite get frost nipped once, pecan never.

 

[jinman]

Jim, thanks for the list! Did you notice if anything in particular grew better here ? I'm thinking most herbs should do well in our climate, at least the ones commonly used in sauces.
Oh, did you use raised beds?

I just planted herbs in a row like the rest of my garden. Basil grows like gangbusters with water and fertilizer. Mine were more like bushes than plants. Snip off the bloom/seed heads to keep it growing. Sage is pretty easy to grow also. Cilantro is best to plant several plantings a month apart. Once it grows to maturity, it puts on seeds very quickly. By having several plantings, you will have more crops. You can pinch the seeds off, but if you save them, they are Coriander. I don't know how many people know that Cilantro seeds are what is called Coriander. I sure didn't until I started growing it. Thyme is the slowest and most delicate plant to get going. Once it develops into a full plant, it does okay, but the young plants are tiny and delicate. That's all the info I can come up with off the top of my head. As they say, YMMV.

got 3/4 in of rain last night....planted wife's asparagus bed today...24' square area (24x24) fenced to keep out deer and rabbits. Now to keep it alive for 3 years to harvest.

24' x 24' . . . That's not an asparagus bed; it's an asparagus forest. I hope you love it because that's gonna produce a bunch.:thumbsup:

 

[Western]

Thanks Jim,
I didn't know that about Cilantro and Coriander. I will likely do a small raised bed, if I have thyme to build one

 

[NativeSon]

Thanks Jim,
I didn't know that about Cilantro and Coriander. I will likely do a small raised bed, if I have thyme to build one

Jim & Dennis, and ground Coriander is Comino for the Tex-Mex Crowd. A great spice for chilies, stews, and roasts.

Charlie

 

[Western]

Thanks Charlie, another thing I never knew! I have never really tried my hand a growing herbs, spent a good amount of time during my career trying to catch some that did grow ""herb"" though!!:laughing

Looks like today will be a heck of an outside work day, 70*:thumbsup:

Did y'all see the comet last night? I missed it, but it is supposed to be more viewable this evening 10-20 after sundown. (In the West, left of the crescent moon?)