Kat's Mini "Surburban Farm" take 3

[BSue54]

I have some "other" letters that I will pod up this weekend, as soon as I get a chance to put my current crop of babies in their Solo Cups ;0)

[newatthiskat]

I am hoping you have an N and an O so you can have NO BER

I have been sick and cooped up for a couple of days getting nothing done. Think I am getting sofa sores
Anyway going out to the office for a few hours and picking up some potting soil to pot up my seedlings.
I might do something stupid. I think I am going to buy a plant fromt he store and set it out in my raised bed with a cage and have plastic ready for the freezes. I have never planted out before March 15 before. But if it is just 1 plant then should not be too hard to protect it from freezing. I am thinking a plant starting with M, Q , U, X or Y LOL
Kat

[kath]

BSue~
I think Kat has some good advice about N & O- maybe Neves Azorian Red and Orange Minsk.

Kat, you need to move to another side every 30 minutes to avoid pressure ulcers.

And I'm honored to be the inspiration for your fall alphabet garden...I'll await your list with bated breath.

If your soil is warm enough, the plastic covered cage should be able to give you at least a couple extra weeks. If it got really cold, you could always throw a blanket over just one plant.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

kath

[newatthiskat]

OK did several stupid things today. None of them involved the plant. Could not find one in the letter I needed. But in the few hours I was at work I managed to upload pic to send to a supplier and forgot to buckle the camera case when I put it back. My husband picked it up to help me carry it to the car and wham. It hit teh concrete floor and shattered the UV filter. Ended up standing in line several times. Luckily have a warranty on it. It will be back in 2-3 weeks so no early pics of seedlings No pictures for the commercials. now I will have to hire a pro. Oh well life goes on and I am going to look for my sacrificial lamb tomorrow. Wonder if Home Depot has a Yellow pear or a Marglobe?
Kat

[newatthiskat]

Could not find the appropriate sacrificial Lamb. Nothing could be found in my letters I need. WIll try again tomorrow if I don't head to gonzalas Texas for my mushroom compost. Not looking good that we can take Monday off work.

Did plant up 42 plants today. Only have about 1 million to go.

Husband started assembling my CRW cages and was able to complete 10 today. I have a few with 8 squares, a couple with 9 squares and the rest are going to be 10 squares. I think I will end up with 30 or so cages from one roll. I took some pics with my cell phone but will have to try to figure out how to upload them.
I asked him if he wanted eye protection and leather gloves and he looked at me like I was crazy. He only blead a little and once again I will say he is current with tetnus shot.

I can't believe that I got my Biotamax in today. I only ordered it 3 days ago. Mixed it with my Mycogrow and sprayed roots of all seedlings I planted up. Very excited it came in so fast.

That is it for today,
Kat

[newatthiskat]

Well mild dissappointment today. Can not go to Gonzalas to get my truckload of mushroom compost today. Still feel icky and I am not a good rider to start with. Also complications at work and right now it sucks to be the one in charge with hard decisions to make.

We will replan to go in about 8 days. Also I can scope out the SettFest place. Really excite and plan to attend. Had a great experience in 09. Maybe I can bring more than 2 tomatoes this year LOL

So I am off in search of the illusive Y or M or U or X (good luck with that one LOL), or even Z? Not really much out right now in my area
Also about to get more cups to pot up. Hubby is working again on cages. I think he is geting excited about the garden this year. He felt a great accomplishment in making the cages. Did I mention he only got one cut? It was almost the length of his forearm
After I get back I am definately taking a nap!
Kat

[newatthiskat]

OK bigger dissapointment over my now cancelled trip to get a truck load of mushroom compost. Problem is the new truck. I saw a place locally that had a peat mix and thought I need that right? OK so I thought it would be a good chance to see how the truck handled before the big trip. No such luck. We put a yard of peat mix in it and it drove horrible. I know it weighs alot but the truck was supposed to handle much more weight. SO if you guys want a truck that doesn't live up to it's hype it is a Nissan Titan. Pretty to look at but not good for fake farms
Kat

[dice]

Air shocks:
http://www.amazon.com/monroe-ma822-m...SIN=B000C55T7W

[newatthiskat]

I think my next auto will have to be a truck. I went for all looks no substance on this one for my hubby. Well I can't really say that it does haul around all his work stuff with no problem. But I paid extra for the towing system. Can't immagine it towing anything. OH well back to the drawing board.
Dice that is a good idea. I am going to call the dealership and see if installing better air shocks will void warranty.
I will try to find local compost of something. problem is East Texas really doesn't compost much.
Well off to get lab work drawn. I think they are going to take all my remaining blood today. Can I just tell them to give it back if I need more?
Kat

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

I think my next auto will have to be a truck. I went for all looks no substance on this one for my hubby. Well I can't really say that it does haul around all his work stuff with no problem. But I paid extra for the towing system. Can't immagine it towing anything. OH well back to the drawing board.
Dice that is a good idea. I am going to call the dealership and see if installing better air shocks will void warranty.
I will try to find local compost of something. problem is East Texas really doesn't compost much.
Well off to get lab work drawn. I think they are going to take all my remaining blood today. Can I just tell them to give it back if I need more?
Kat

There is a big difference between towing capacity and what you can haul in the back of the truck.

Your Titan depending on what year it was made has a GVWR of around 6,500 to 7,000 lbs.
With the weight of the truck at 5,000 to 6,000 lbs that means that you can only haul a wee bit in the truck.
The GVWR is the combined weight of the truck total with everything you can haul.
towing capacity is what the truck can pull this would be the horse power the brakes and the suspicion. the truck has.

GCWR is the well this will explain it better then me.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...3uA1yQ&cad=rja
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a cubic yard of peat moss weighs anywhere from 285 to 1,778 lbs
Worth

[newatthiskat]

THanks for the info Worth. The truck is just pretty to look at LOL. Good thing all he needs to do is throw ladders and some tools in it.

On another note. I am up to about 30 planted tomatoes and 18 pepper plants. Can not wait for salsa this year.
I will plant more but keep running out of daylight. Also have now run out of my new CRW cages.

My DH plowed up even more of our side yard for me. I now have a small area for peppers and squash and cucumbers.

I picked up about 10 extra spaces for tomato plants as well. Happy happy me
I think the new neighbors are confused by what is going on in my yard. Right now it looks like I have a cage farm.

I have to make alot of plans to do things different this year. I am planting to the equivelant of a sand box. I have actually sunk in ankle deep. This year I will fertalize and water like I am container gardening. I am thinking add that in with adding a mulch to keep as much moisture in the soil as possible. We are in a drought that will take about 9 inches of rain to get us out of. Our luck it will all come at once. Then I will be glad I have sand

Kat

[newatthiskat]

My raised bed tomatoes have been in the ground a while. I noticed my first baby tomato on Yellow Pear.
I know I should not be super excited but after last year I will take anything
The rest of my garden has been in the ground varying amounts of time (not long enough). I will actually be putting 6 more in the ground again tomorrow. Yes I said again. stupid animals are digging up my tomatoes. They seam to pick on the ones that I only have one of.
I only have 28 CRW cages made. My dear sweet hubby broke his ribs in a softball game so I don't have any more. I did start spreading out my mulch and am hoping that the animals will not like walking on it. I think the culprit is my cat going after moles. but that is giving him the benefit of a doubt.
Kat

[coronabarb]

Kat,

The CRW cages make a huge difference! I had a lot of waste with the plants that did w/o and sprawled. You will be very happy for each cage you make. For me, it was almost a waste to start a plant, let it sprawl and either get eaten by things or get sun scald.

[troad]

Kat said:
So I am off in search of the illusive Y or M or U or X (good luck with that one LOL), or even Z? Not really much out right now in my area.

??? So you do need more seeds he asked slyly.

[tam91]

Matt's Wild Cherry?
Does Green Zebra count as a "Z"?
U and X. Hmm.