Larsen Poultry Ranch - homesteading journey

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Finally got the pumpkins in the ground

 

[Baymule]

Fantastic! You are doing great!

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Fantastic! You are doing great!

Not really, but thank you for saying so. At least with them in the ground there's a chance they might actually fruit.

I started putting the structure up for the beans to be able to climb and somehow it's missing two legs. Plus I couldn't get it attached in the middle so it's very wonky looking right now. Hubby says he'll help me fix it. Once I get it up then I'll be able to plant the cucumbers in their row, then figure out what rows to plant the peppers and tomatoes.

I rearranged a bunch of the plants so I should be able to get them all on a drip line or two, and we can get them on the automated system. I put the rest of the cloth bags for the raised beds where they are supposed to go, just need to get them filled with dirt.

 

[Baymule]

For climbing beans, I drove T-posts and ran hay string for the beans to climb in. I left it there until a killing frost, let the vines dry out, then cut it all loose with a pocket knife. Folded up, stomped flat, it fit in a trash bag and gone.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Got more plants in the ground over the weekend, and hubby helped fix the structure. Which the neighbor can see through her main window so she asked if can be moved. So now we are going to take it down, maybe to use by the pool zone? And I think we can rustle up at least one hog panel for the cucumber plants and maybe some more for the beans, but might do the t posts and string for them. Not sure yet.

Row of pumpkin (right) and the black beans.

Structure in the middle

Row of cucumber, with space at the end

Added spaghetti squash to the end of the cucumber row, wrapping to the next row. Then paprika peppers and shi****o peppers. Then a row of straight neck squash and gray zucchini. Then a row of habanada peppers and nadapeno peppers. The water sprinkler just reaches all of these rows. Additional rows will need additional water source. Will probably have to change method of watering anyhow, as I think overhead watering may contribute towards powdery mildew in the squash plants.

I'm thinking about placing the grapes along the back area where the end of the structure currently is, as that is where the neighbor can see. Then encouraging the grapes to grow upwards, she doesn't mind plants in her view she just doesn't like the ugly structure. If I can get the grapes growing upwards they will start making a stronger trunk and then I'll be in a good position to get them attached to a trellis arbor thingy once we finally get the garage/shop in so we'll have a shady zone to work/sit in by the garage/shop.

Still need to plant the tomatoes and last of the squash, but I moved the tomatoes set out where they are supposed to go, they'll get planted tonight. I'm happy the garden is finally coming together.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Hubby fixed the floor in the bathroom on Sunday, it had a weak spot we had been stepping around since we moved in, where the subfloor was broken or cut or something. He finally cut it out and put good subfloor/plywood in. Penny the cat in picture for scale. It's so weird to step in that area and not have the floor be squishy.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

The elderberry berries are turning blue? Not sure what variety I have, I ordered cuttings of several and only this one survived. How do I know when I should pick them?

 

[Mini Horses]

Pick when dark blue or blackish. Notice the stems turn to a purplish color. Cut the whole "umbrella" of stems. Set up a bowl with a piece of fine wire over -- small hole hardware wire is good, then drag the stems across...berries go into holes & pull off, drop into bowl. First pic, ready, bottom, too green. Prob a couple days & both ready. Don't use green.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Pick when dark blue or blackish. Notice the stems turn to a purplish color. Cut the whole "umbrella" of stems. Set up a bowl with a piece of fine wire over -- small hole hardware wire is good, then drag the stems across...berries go into holes & pull off, drop into bowl. First pic, ready, bottom, too green. Prob a couple days & both ready. Don't use green.

Yay! Thanks! I need to figure out what I'm going to do with them too lol. Might just try dehydrating them and then I can decide later.

 

[Mini Horses]

Freeze or dehydrate...I have several qts canned.