NH Homesteader- turkeys!

[Mini Horses]

Glad to see I'm not the only one ooooohing & aaaaahing over the seed porn. Had no garden this past year and swear that will not be the case this year. I can't wait for Spring! I'm saving any of my paper feed bags but, most are not that. One of my jobs is in stores where I often get big boxes covering pre-set product sets to put out.. I bring the boxes home for use in walkways primarily. Have my panels & posts waiting.....anxious to do this!!! Getting all my canning stuff together & looking to buy a used stove to set in the garage for canning to keep heat from house.

Never had a car in there have bathroom, sinks, etc. already there. It's set up like an apartment actually but I moved the furniture out (with my son!). Have chairs & big folding table to work at....ready !!

 

[NH homesteader]

Hooray for lazy weeders! I'll start saving!

I will be learning how to can this year. Partially because I am running low on freezer space these days!

I had told my daughter she can pick out something new and interesting to plant in the garden. Sounds like she might go with watermelon... Can't blame her on that!

 

[CntryBoy777]

It all sounds so Good!!....NH ya may want to start some inside before weather Breaks up there...especially on those that have long 'Seed to Harvest' days...this will give ya a Headstart on those days and continue harvesting before Frost....some of the watermelons have some really long days til Harvest on them....we grow Jubilees here...the biggest this yr was 48lbs....a couple of yrs ago had a 53 lb'er.... they are my Favorite....here's a pic of the big one this yr... ....bet your little one would love it how my Mom used to fix them....cut into cubes.. freeze in ziplock bags...then pull em out and put in blender for a Watermelon Slush!!...MMmmm!!! Good...she did cantaloupe too.

 

[NH homesteader]

That's a great idea, watermelon slush! It's nice to have treats that don't have a ton of added sugar and processed junk!

I do start seeds... But the long things like watermelon are still tough. I usually can't put anything in the ground until memorial day or even June 1st.

 

[farmerjan]

There are a few shorter watermelons but still they do take time. Try a cold frame in the garden, some 2x10 or 2x12 scraps of wood nailed in a rectangle and an old glass window overtop a couple of weeks before last frost date. If you can get a couple old storm windows from the aluminum windows they will last longer than one with a wood frame. Take the top off (as soon as they sprout) in the daytime unless it is real cold, put it on at night and they will have a faster start to getting you to some watermelons while not having to transplant them. And then just lift the frame off when they start to spread and it is warmer.

 

[samssimonsays]

I am with you! This year was closer to July as we had a late frost come through that killed most everyone's lovely started gardens. By the time we were able to plant, it was just too late. I had been so excited for a garden too...

 

[NH homesteader]

Good idea farmerjan. I have about a million old windows lying around (husband can't say no to free stuff!) so I'll try to make that happen.

We planted late this year and then had a massive drought. Bad year. I ended up with a lot of beans and a couple tomatoes. Everything else was unimpressive. Or didn't grow at all.

 

[CntryBoy777]

The smaller 'Personal' melons don't take nearly as long so just be sure to look at that 'Days to Harvest' or 'Seed to Fruit' info on pkgs....the seeds that make bigger plants ya can put in paper sacks (lunch bag or take out size) to give more root room and when it gets warm enough to put out just dig the hole and put it in...it will not set the Plant back getting used to new soil and root room....ya do have to keep sack in plastic pot or something to support sack....if really thin then double....we start tomatos in late Feb to early Mar here...last average frost date is Apr 10....the sack keeps plant from getting root bound in those little starter cups or peat pots.

 

[farmerjan]

All that mulch will be a BIG help to overcome drought conditions. And if you do water, it will keep the moisture from disappearing into the air in 5 min flat....I run soaker hoses along the plants when it gets real dry, water goes where it needs to be, the mulch holds the moisture and you don't have to water but a couple of times during the drought. If it rains alot, the mulch will keep the plants from getting muddy and scraggly and after a year or two, the earthworms will create alot of deep burrows that will actually cause the water to sink further into the soil and it won't get waterlogged either. Honest, it does work. Plus you can get into the garden without tracking 5 lbs of red clay soil, like here, in on your feet.

 

[farmerjan]

You can also make A frame type cold frames with the windows so don't have to have a frame, just be able to open the 2 ends for air when it gets hot inside during sunny days.