Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Western]

Jim, forgot to ask you what mini tiller you have? If you feel up to it, (I asked in someones older thread posted in General Lawn and garden) read that thread and give your :2cents: so that others in that forum can read it that are in the market for a "mini". I never considered one until you mention yours a few post back, so thanks for that too!!:thumbsup:

 

[foreman Etexas]

I haven't posted here for a while ... got pretty intense here. The iphone advised take immediate shelter. It turned black, quiet and then rain and about 45-50 mph winds (I believe) ... then all of a sudden the sky just turned bright orange ??? I've heard trees down and a couple roofs missing. I see no damage here.

Can not believe the pictures coming in from Moore ... I have friends in that area that are okay with damage to property ... Its terrible.

Glad to hear from you Blueriver.

 

[farmgirl19]

Western; I know that I feel better, knowing you will be looking out for all of us! Thanks!

Light rain here, and wind is blowing. It began sprinkling, just as I pulled in the gate.

 

[jinman]

I've had 0.80" of lovely rain here after the gust front moved over and cooled things off. The gusts were maybe 35 mph at most, so this is a great rain for me. I'm looking at the radar and see there is more coming, so I'm hoping for an inch or more before this is over. My garden, yard, ponds, and flowers are all smilin'. . . not to mention the old guy in the house too.

 

[Bird]

This morning, we had a south breeze in excess of 20 mph, but then it shifted this afternoon to a northwest wind 21 mph gusting to 36. And about 2 p.m., the temperature dropped from 77 to 59 and the wind has died down and we're getting a nice moderate to heavy rain. Not quite a half inch in my gauge so far, but if this lasts very long, we'll catch up with you, Jim.

 

[jinman]

Well, I feel like it's Christmas morning and I got all that I wanted.:cloud9: The storm dropped an inch, it cooled off, and now the sun is out with light shifting breeze. Oh! If it only could be this way all year long.

This morning I got out to my garden very early because I had an experiment in the back of my head that I wanted to try before the storm rolled in. I have lots of deer fence netting left over from previous years. It's a case of "I should throw it away, but I just can't" syndrome. I cut pieces of that netting about 36" square and put them down over my larger young tender squash and cucumber plants. It's like a hairnet for squash that will keep it from getting whipped by the wind and broken during a rainstorm. Here's a couple of photos:



I also took a couple of pictures of my okra coming up. I wanted to make sure I gave the okra plenty of chance to have a good stand, so I ran the planter up/down the rows twice. These photos just scream, "Thin me!" Hey, I had the seed, so I might as well make sure, right?



I have everything nicely tilled and the middle rows loose and weeded. It was such a good feeling to be ready for the rain. I'll get my tomato trellis netting up later this week, but the tomatoes are all tied to the bamboo stake so they won't get blow around too much. By the looks of my beans, I'm going to be picking beans before long. I really like how healthy they look. I've thinned and cultivated the blackeyes. They start out leggy, but I cultivate and pull dirt around the stem to give them support and make sure they have better roots.



All my ****** melons are growing like crazy, but this particular vine seems really happy. It already is putting on blooms. My sugar snap peas and onions are doing very well.



This morning while tilling, my wife picked sugar snap peas and got all the ones shown below. They are sweet and delicious. I don't know whether I like them better in stir-fry or just raw with some ranch dip. Both ways are mighty tasty.



Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful comments about my great-grandson, Noah. It's a good thing my granddaughter lives over 80 miles from me or I wouldn't get anything done because I'd want to drop in and hold him for awhile every day. Newborn babies are such a gift from God and so precious to hold and love. The fact that he is healthy and good-natured is just icing on the cake.



My sugar snap peas are hard to keep up with. I picked about a double handful three days ago and my wife picke

 

[farmgirl19]

Oh sure, rub it in. As soon as I posted about the light rain, it quit! Not enough to get the rain gauge wet. At least it is cool enough to have the doors and windows open!

Your okra looks like mine did a week or so ago. I thinned it, finally, but wanted to wait and make sure it was all going to stay around before I did.

I'll water again tomorrow evening, I guess. However, my squash is happy! And the Texas Bird of Paradise is in full bloom, so plenty of bees here to pollinate everything.

 

[Western]

LOOVEE the cool breeze! I agree, I could do these temps all day- every day:thumbsup:

I ended up with almost another 1/2", can you guys say "we dodged a bullet" and got a little precip taboot!!

FG19, hey, I'm just a worry wart I guess:laughing: But weather is a integral part of our lives and anyone in the "rural" lifestyle. Nice to pass on observations and to hear ones made by others, good way to stay up-to-date and informed.

Jim, I have a "love-hate" relationship with some of your post:laughing: Almost like you "try" to find something to do Not sure I want to retire now!! (you need a boat) Your garden looks great too!! Glad I took yours and Birds advice, my ****** melons are outgrowing all the other cucumbrits?? You know I'm just jack'n with ya , Like Will Smith said in the movie Men In Black "lotta love for ya":laughing: you and Bird make us "youngsters" look bad

Bird, I had to mow my yard after the little rain last week, almost like thats what it was waiting for. I'm sure you will be mowing the neighborhood this week sometime after today's rain:thumbsup:

 

[Bird]

As soon as I posted about the light rain, it quit!

That's about what happened to me, too, but at least I got about .58" of rain before it quit.

Dennis, I usually hate to do a halfway job, but I ran the lawnmower over our yard, and just the front yard next door Saturday; didn't do any trimming or edging, so I already need to do some mowing as soon as it gets dry enough.

 

[jinman]

Jim, forgot to ask you what mini tiller you have? If you feel up to it, (I asked in someones older thread posted in General Lawn and garden) read that thread and give your :2cents: so that others in that forum can read it that are in the market for a "mini". I never considered one until you mention yours a few post back, so thanks for that too!!:thumbsup:

I'll post in that forum, but I have very little to recommend. People either love or hate their cultivators, sometimes for the same reason. I truly have a love-hate relationship with mine, but mostly I understand it and have a routine that works for me. I've had two identical cultivators since 1991. Both were different Brands, but identical. If I ever buy another, it will be a Honda (I think). I'll explain in the other forum.

 

[farmgirl19]

We'll need a link, please, jinman!

 

[dave1949]

<snip>
As I said before, for some reason IMO, mother natures rain seems more palatable to plants. I think all I accomplished watering yesterday is a "slip-n-slide" theme park for the moles:laughing: Even my St Augustine seems to prefer rain over well water, the Bermuda will drink darn near anything that isn't 120 proof:drink:

That seems to be a common belief and experience. I have wondered too why it would be so.

It could be the temperature of the water if your well water is cold. It could be that plants "prepare" for rain based on the humidity change or whatever. During hot, dry spells when watering is most common, it makes sense that plants would be doing whatever they can to conserve moisture, not prepare to receive it.

Anyways, a 1/2" rain seems to do more than 1" worth out of the hose.

 

[jinman]

Anyways, a 1/2" rain seems to do more than 1" worth out of the hose.

I agree. I think it's dissolved nitrogen from the atmosphere and more ions than ground water.

Farmgirl19: I don't understand what link you want. My little Bolens 2-cycle tiller or a Honda FG110 4 cycle tiller? Just pay close attention to the reviews. Some people like me can make almost anything run, even when we shouldn't. The Bolens is less than ideal, but I have another one and plenty of spare parts. I just replaced the carburetor on my Bolens this year. It runs great, but today it started making a funny noise, and I think the the flexible drive shaft may be near the failure stage. I work these much harder than they were ever designed to function. The Honda seems to be made better and performs better. It's worth every penny of the $50 more in my opinion. The reviews back me up. I think the Mantis is fine, just over-priced.

 

[Western]

I think she wanted to know where the thread was? it is here

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/general-lawn-garden/203408-mini-tiller-cultivator.html

 

[texasjohn]

I vote for nitrogen as well, possibly from lightening associated with the storm.

 

[txdon]

Jim, FG19, I have the Honda FG110 4 cycle mini tiller. I love it . it is so light I just carry it around with one hand. I use it like you use yours. It is so easy to start and runs so quiet. I was a little reluctant to get one because of the price but after my 2 cycle died I sprang for it and am glad I did. I also use mine to aerate and crunch up my mulch pile.

It is powerful and the only problem I had with it was after tilling my yard to prep it for grass seed it started running slow. The ground was very hard dry and dusty and the air filter clogged up. I cleaned the air filter and off she went again.

 

[farmgirl19]

Sorry, jinman, yes, I wanted the link to your reviews. Thanks to Western for reading my mind!

I had a great uncle that always said "1/4" from above is better than an inch from a hose". I think it might be, because more area gets covered, so the moisture is more available to the grass and plants for a bit longer. When watering one small area, the moisture leaches into dry areas quickly. But, that is just my theory.

 

[NativeSon]

Wow what a storm. Lots of wind and thunder but we got 2 1/2 inches of rain that was greatly needed. The out flow wind before the storm was a little scary, but it slowed down after the rain started.

Our oldest son called from DFW area about 4pm and said that a very strong thunderstorm was leaving Dallas and headed our way. I called my wife and told her that #1 son suggested she leave work early to avoid the rain and wind. Well she didn't leave soon enough. She got home, turned in the drive and found we had a tree down just inside of the gate. So she gathered up her stuff and made a mad-dash of about 60 yards to the house. She was huffing and puffing and all kinds of upset, but I have to say that "wet look" thing works well on her.

After a change to some dry clothes and a shot of nerve medicine (Scotch) she was good to go.

After I get her off to work this morning I'll get the tree out of the drive and survey for other damage. But with the rain.......all & all a good night.

Charlie

 

[houstonscott]

We got about .5in yesterday. Seemed to split and go north and south of Ft. Hood and Oglesby. Rain stopped just as we were getting run off. Lawns watered but ground took it up fast. Looking for that big one before June.

HS

 

[txdon]

We had .02" rain yesterday. Since I got my rain gauge, 106 days ago, we have had a total of 3", we are hurting for rain. There is no moister found as I am digging mesquite. My 16 Hr.estimate for mesquite removal is growing.