Country Living Tips

[Hawkeye]

Did you know:

It would take one person 3 weeks to turn over 1 acre of new ground; it would take a middle buster and mule 1 day, and a tractor 4 hours.

Every 5 feet of potato row will yield 10 pounds of potatoes, enough for 1 month supply for family of four.

Got any country living tips?

[Guru]

A recent recollection: don't complain too much about the snow. The nitrogen content it restores the ground with is amazing.

[TheCapitalist]

Wow. I thought about potatos for my little garden. I didn't think i had enough space, but i was wrong!

[rollinthunder]

We used to have a family garden. It was almost two acres and fed three families and each family canned and froze the rest. Everyone gathered up when it came time to cut the corn. I have no idea how many ears I've cut the ends off of and stripped shucks and silk...then passed it on to be cut off the cob. There are 2 tips I can think of...one is the one wheeled row buster we worked the garden with after things grew tall. The other is the way I brought in what we harvested. I took a piece of tin...nailed a 2x4 across one end and attached a piece of rope from one corner of the 2x4 to the other. I pulled it between rows with a 3wheeler and we pilled corn or beans or peas or what ever on it and I'd drag it to the yard and dump it. No one carried baskets in or out of the garden.

[Flowergirl]

Tip for hot busy summer!

If I have too many tomatoes, plums, figs, peaches or other such fruit that freezes well and I don't have time to prepare jelly or can preserves or tomatoes, I freeze them washed whole until I need them and have time to preserve them in canning jars.

[bpitt]

Oh! I got a tip! Do NOT tinkle on the electric fence, even though your bro-in-law SWEARS that it is off!

[rollinthunder]

I have one...don't plant the Tommy Toe's right next to the Better Boys. Last year we planted Three Better Boy and one Tommy Toe tomato plants in huge planters and put them just far enough apart to walk around them. I noticed the Tommy Toes getting really huge...I mean not many slices for a samage...the Better Boys were really small...could't do much with what grew. Someone told me they cross pollinated.
Tell you one thing though....those were the best Tommy Toes I've ever had. They were very red and juicy...the pulp was fairly firm...not squishy...and they tasted wonderful.....a very hardy tomato

[Hawkeye]

Rthunder, most mater plants these days are hybrids and shouldn't cross when planted in close proximity. Were the plants from Bonnie Plant Farm? I think them suckers sucuker us sometime and we don't know WTF happened.

One year I planted all Better Boys (which I do every year) and it was the sorriest crop I ever produced. If they were true BB's, they were puny BB's.

This year I'm raising my own seedlings so I know what I got. I'm going to try some different varieties and forgo BB's for a change.
PS: There's a little tommie toe type hybrid out now called Juliette and one well-maintained plant will turn into a mater tree and produce more great tasting little maters than you an shake a stick at.

[BotanyBabe]

Aphid problems? Plant lantanas near affected plants. They attract ladybird beetles which prey on aphids. If you are worried about nutrient competition, then keep the lantanas in pots and set them near affected plants. Lantanas are hardy and can withstand all kinds of stress.

Do you have pecan trees and never know what to do with the fruit hulls, leaves and shed bark? Well use them as mulch on pathways. These parts contain a natural herbicide that will supress weed growth. Of course, don't use it in your flower beds. lol

Salvia lyrata will be blooming in a few weeks. Don't put herbicide on these! Even though this plant is considered a lawn weed, they are native and attract hummingbirds!

[Flowergirl]

Aphid problems? Plant lantanas near affected plants. They attract ladybird beetles which prey on aphids. If you are worried about nutrient competition, then keep the lantanas in pots and set them near affected plants. Lantanas are hardy and can withstand all kinds of stress.

Do you have pecan trees and never know what to do with the fruit hulls, leaves and shed bark? Well use them as mulch on pathways. These parts contain a natural herbicide that will supress weed growth. Of course, don't use it in your flower beds. lol

Salvia lyrata will be blooming in a few weeks. Don't put herbicide on these! Even though this plant is considered a lawn weed, they are native and attract hummingbirds!

Lyreleaf sage or cancerweed (as it is also commonly called) gets my gardening fever going in the early spring!

[BotanyBabe]

Yes, Lyreleaf sage. I was having trouble remembering the common name. I do that.... a lot! It has the same affect on me as well! I always wait until the blooming period has passed before I mow my lawn. I'm sure my neighbors don't like this, but tough cookies.

[Hawkeye]

i had aphids a plenty on my summer maters and fall greens. I will plant the lantanas and have already ordered a thousand ladybugs by mail order.

[Nana]

Oh lordy, I thought we had enough of dem ladybugs. You better keep them off me and out of my truck, you hear me.:D

[Hawkeye]

not love bugs nana, lady bugs! they red wif black dots :rolleyes:

[BotanyBabe]

So do you think male ladybugs have a complex? http://209.85.48.12/html/emoticons/happy.gif

[Nana]

not love bugs nana, lady bugs! they red wif black dots :rolleyes:

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x137/mselle01/c71.jpg

This is what I am talking about smartypants, more an orange color. I know the difference between ladybugs and lovebugs. :smash:

[Fotno]

We have a ton of Ladybugs around the house too.

[BotanyBabe]

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x137/mselle01/c71.jpg

This is what I am talking about smartypants, more an orange color. I know the difference between ladybugs and lovebugs. :smash:


That made me giggle.
http://bestsmileys.com/lol/10.gif

So now maybe we should research what eats ladybugs for the folks who have too many. :D I would imagine not too many animals would put these critters high on the list of forage. That hard outer wing must be like trying to eat oysters or clams. However, since they eat aphids and aphids suck the sugar out of plants, maybe they are like candy to animals who would eat them. The first thing that pops in my mind is a praying mantis.

[rollinthunder]

We need somethin to eat the love bugs.....the lady bugs can stay....What ever happened to 7 Dust.....

[BotanyBabe]

We need somethin to eat the love bugs.....the lady bugs can stay....What ever happened to 7 Dust.....

It's motor exhaust they are attracted to. I'm just glad those critters don't bite.