Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Bird]

NWS says it's 37 degrees with a wind chill of 25 with winds at 28 mph, gusting to 36. It does feel chilly outside and a grass fire would not be good.

 

[jinman]

Yes, and most of my garden is already in the ground and looking REALLY good. I need a LOT more rain, but certainly could do without a freeze.

Farmgirl, aren't the Parker County peach trees already in full bloom? I heard somebody say that a freeze could actually do self-thinning of fruit, but I suspect growers would rather do that themselves. I DO NOT want my Parker County peaches damaged. It's become an annual event to come down there and buy a bushel of delicious peaches every year. Last year, Wise County peaches were scrawny and lousy, but still selling at ridiculous prices. We went to Weatherford and bought big delicious peaches for less. The savings paid for our gas and we got better peaches.

We live in a house where all the ceilings are cathedral style. The relentless wind blew all night last night and is whistled around our bedroom and every nook and cranny in our metal roof. I awoke several times, but went back to sleep quickly. This cool snap is really late. I have been holding off on putting out tomatoes, peppers, and any frost damaged garden crop. I'll get them in at the end of this next week. I've learned that the date for Wise County that works best is the last week in March instead of the middle. I've got onions and sugar snap peas growing nicely, but a little freeze should not hurt them. My asparagus is just going bonkers. I can't keep up with it. I sent 40 spears to my MIL/FIL last week when my wife went there to help them. I need to get out and cut more today if it isn't too wet.

The rain dropped a full 1" of rain here. We were lucky to be under one of the heaviest bands in these last storms. After a good rain like that, my spirit and attitude just soars. I love springtime even if I struggle with allergies. Seeing things green up after the winter doldrums is a thrill to me. I'm sorry everyone else did not see the great rain totals, but thrilled to have it here.

 

[Lou66]

Guess I will hang my tarps this afternoon,, over my garden,, going to get down to 32f.:shocked:. just got everything planted last week end.. all my pepper and tomatoe plants are about 3 inches high.:thumbsup:. this is my small garden 8 x 40 ft.. haven't planted the big garden yet 80 x 150.. do it when I get back from Vegas the first of April.:cool2:. Lou

 

[farmgirl19]

Most of the peaches are in bloom. Prices will likely be high, if the freeze gets part of the crop. I bought several bushels last year, and ate all that I could, while freezing the rest. Just bought 1/2 a bushel at a time, and bought the next 2 days later, until there were no more peaches. Took a package out last week and just ate them as they defrosted. At least it gave me a taste of summer, in this winter that I am sick of! :licking:

Your asparagus is like my Swiss chard, the more I harvest, the better it produces! I gave 5 T-shirt bags full of greens to friend last week! I'll harvest another 3 bags this week, and share a couple of bags, and cook a bag for me and the dogs. Yes, I home cook for them too. I like to know what goes into their food isn't all chemicals and cr*p. I grow organically here, but am sure not every farmer locally does. At least I know I am not buying GMO, and you can be sure the pet food companies, as well as human pre-processed food makeers are.

 

[txdon]

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:

 

[Western]

28* on my porch, dont now what the wind chill is. Blew like crazy yesterday, hope it dies down before work tonight:laughing: Try to sleep all day, so I can go be miserable all night!

 

[texasjohn]

33.4 outside according to my wireless Ambient weather station. Mesquites budded out 3 days ago...they were right.. No freeze!

 

[Bartcephus]

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?



Bartcephus

 

[Bird]

NWS forecast a low of 30, but shows the current temperature to be 28. Now they're forecasting 28 again tonight.

 

[jinman]

The Bowie airport reports 28 F this morning, but we always seem to be a few degrees colder down here in Sunset. My thermometer said 24 F a few minutes ago and now is dipping down to 23.8 F as the sun peeks up. I'm so glad I don't have tomatoes and peppers in my garden yet, especially since it's too muddy to be out covering them after the rain. I hope my small sugar snap peas aren't hurt. I think they can take some cold. We'll see. . .

 

[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...