Storm Front – Oklahoma Tornado’s

A strong line of thunderstorms setup along the east side of a dryline extending from Kansas south into north Texas area.

Strong and some severe thunderstorms that produced numerous tornado’s fired up on the east side of the dryline and quickly intensified as they moved away from my tiny farm before striking Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman OK. area.

This storm has a confirmed 51 dead and searchers are still sifting rubble for more victims of this storm.

The National Weather Service estimated that the storm that struck Moore, Okla., on Monday had wind speeds of up to 200mph (320kph).

The 1999 storm that struck the same general area of Oklahoma, had winds clocked at 300 mph(480kph), according to the weather service website, and it destroyed or damaged more than 8,000 homes, killing at least two people.

Reference Deadly tornado hits Oklahoma City – Moore and Norman

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AP Photos: Images from the aftermath of devastating Oklahoma tornado

Oklahomans are a hearty, tough, resilient bunch. In the next few days, weeks and months we will bury and grieve for our dead. Then we will do what we always do. We will rebuild our towns, our cities and our lives..

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My Garden – Rookie Mistakes in Your Garden?

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Your best friend

Even if your vegetable garden is the envy of neighbors, it’s still easy to make rookie mistakes that waste precious resources, your time, effort and growing time.

1. Unwise watering. Too much, too little, too hard, too soft they’re all watering mistakes that will wreck your garden. Before adding water, poke a finger a couple of inches into the soil. If it’s moist, save the water don’t water your plants. If it’s dry, gently at the base of plants. Better yet, wind a drip hose ($13 for 50 feet) through your garden; that way, you will deliver moisture to the roots without wasting water on leaves and to evaporation.

2. Forgetting to test. Even veteran gardeners forget to test their soil every year to make sure it has the pH and nutrients plants need. For about $10, you can send a sample to your state extension service and receive a complete analysis. Or, buy a DIY test kit at your local garden center. When you know what your soil is made of, either select plants that thrive in that type of earth, or amend soil to match your garden’s needs.

3. Planting garden divas. Of course you love summer tomatoes, but they can be tricky to grow during summers that are too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. So newbies should try growing a couple of tomato plants just for fun, then load gardens with foolproof veggies and herbs, such as beans, peppers, oregano, and parsley. If you must grow a tomato, plant cherry tomatoes that can survive anything summer can throw at them and even yield fruit into fall.

4. Planting too much. One cherry tomato plant can yield 80 fruit, and a single zucchini plant can keep your neighbors in zucchini bread through winter. So don’t plant more than you can eat, put up, or share with friends. The National Gardening Association says an edible garden of about 200 sq. ft. should keep a family of four in veggies all summer. If you do grow more than you need, can and freeze excess and donate it to a local food bank or plan a swap with fellow gardeners.

5. Growing everything from seed. Some crops, such as salad greens, radishes, carrots, peas, beans, and squash, are easy to grow from seeds that germinate in a couple of weeks. Experience will tell you that eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes are better grown from seedlings, which someone else has nurtured for months. Pick plants that are short and compact. Avoid leggy plants with blooms that are liable to die on the vine as the plant acclimates itself to your garden.

6. Assuming you know. Gardeners often read seed packages and figure they know everything about growing vegetables. Wrong! The more you know about your hardiness zone, soil, weather, insects, and vegetable varieties, the better your garden will grow. So curl up with a good gardening book, and surf the web for garden bloggers that share your passion.

7. Relying on pesticides. Don’t bring out the big guns, which can contaminate the watershed, until you’ve tried less toxic ways to get rid of garden pests. Ladybugs and praying mantis, which you can buy at garden supply stores, will eat garden intruders, such as aphids and beetles. Non toxic insecticidal soaps will take care of soft-bodied insects (don’t use if ladybugs are around).

Heirloom Tomato Salad

1lb. mixed fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/2cup thinly sliced red onions
1/4cup ATHENOS Crumbled Feta Cheese with Basil & Tomato
1/4cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing
2Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
2Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

COMBINE ingredients.
Hint Use a variety of different colored and shaped tomatoes when making this seasonal salad. Just chop, quarter or halve the tomatoes depending on their size.

Salad can be made ahead of time. Prepare as directed, but do not add cheese. Refrigerate up to 8 hours. Toss with cheese just before serving.

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Peppers, Basil, Earthworms And (Yuk) Slugs

Source Earthworms ‘protect against slugs’ This wormy news was taken from a BBC report. I really don’t have any real details on what kind of worm(s) work best nor how many worms are necessary to achieve effective slug control. But if you have a slug problem this is worth looking into. Adding more worms to your garden can only be a good benefit to your garden plot.

Earthworms are the secret saviors of the garden, according to new research showing how they can offer protection against slugs. Hidden from view below ground, the humble worms seem to be able to stop slugs eating leaves. Scientists think they boost plants’ resistance to slugs by increasing their uptake of nitrogen.

In tests, the presence of earthworms in the ground reduced the number of leaves damaged by slugs by 60 per cent. Increasing plant diversity also kept the slugs at bay, but to a lesser extent.

Austrian expert Dr Johann Zaller, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, said: “Our results suggest that two processes might be going on. Firstly, earthworms improved the plant’s ability to protect itself against slugs perhaps through the build up of nitrogen containing toxic compounds.
Secondly, even though these slugs are generalists they prefer widely available food, and in high diverse ecosystems slugs eat less in total because they have to switch their diets more often since plants of the same species are less available. The research is reported in the online journal BMC Ecology

Spanish slugs, Arion vulgaris, were then introduced and allowed to roam freely. The slug, which grows to a length of 6 incges(15cm), is one of the 100 most destructive invasive species in Europe and considered a major pest. Slugs damaged 60 per cent less leaves when earthworms were present, regardless of the species composition of the plant communities. Per cent leaf area consumed by slugs was 40 per cent lower in communities containing 12 plant species. Scientists said “Grasses were generally avoided by the slugs.”

Source Love thy neighbor Grow bigger and better peppers by planting Basil near your pepper plants.
The presence of basil positively enhanced germination rates of chilli seeds, validating the claims of many gardeners who recognize the beneficial effect of basil on the growth of chilli plants.

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Super Foods For Your Health – Super Charge Your Diet

Source 37 Superfoods To Start Eating Today

Superfoods are a group of natural, nutrient-dense whole foods that truly are nature’s medicine cabinet. You won’t find these foods created in a processing plant. You probably won’t see them advertised on sexy television commercials either. But if you start to include these foods in your diet, it’s likely you’ll experience improved health and wellness, from the inside-out.

1. Apples. Apples are packed with antioxidants and fiber, so they make a filling and sweet snack.

2. Blueberries. Possibly the smallest superfood on our list, blueberries pack a punch. They’re high in potassium, vitamin C, and healthy antioxidants that can lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.

3. Apricots. Rich in fiber, iron and copper, apricots pack a whole lot of nutrition into each bite. Apricots have also been shown to improve indigestion, earaches, and certain skin diseases.

4. Artichokes. This low calorie vegetable is naturally rich with fiber, vitamins C and K, folate, magnesium and potassium. Artichoke is also versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways. No matter how you eat them, be sure to eat the leaves and not just the heart!

5. Olive Oil. Our friends in the Mediterranean do it right; olive oil has been proven to improve heart health due to its high content of monosaturated fats. Olive oil is also an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial

6. Beets. Beets are loaded with fiber, potassium, and folate, and are free of saturated fats and cholesterol. Researchers believe the red pigment in beets – betacyanin – may protect cells against cancer.

7. Cabbage. Just one serving of cabbage contains 15% of your daily fiber, along with vitamins A, C, and K. Eating cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

8. Tomatoes. Tomatoes are high in antioxidants and can reduce risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, as well as minimize UV damage.

9. Bananas. At just 110 calories per serving, bananas are a great way to get in some potassium and vitamin B-6.

10. Carrots. Carrots are filled with beta-carotene which can improve eyesight and slow down aging cell growth.

11. Dark Chocolate. Dark chocolate is full of compound flavanols, which are a type of antioxidant that decreases inflammation, lowers blood sugar, and improves both positive and negative cholesterol levels. Just make sure you eat it dark, not the candy-coated chocolate found in most supermarkets or snack-shops.

12. Beans. Beans are a low-cost high-impact food that are high in protein and fiber and low in fat. .

13. Mangos. Nicknamed the “King of Fruit, eating mangos can improve your eyesight, skin, memory, digestion, and sex drive.

14. Sardines. They may not look appealing, but sardines can help prevent cancer, improve your bone health, and act as an anti-inflammatory.

15. Mushrooms. Mushrooms can help us be healthier, fitter, happier, and live longer. So go make friends with your favorite fungi

16. Pomegranates. A symbol of fertility and health, the pomegranate is great tasting fruit that’s an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, and can also help you lose fat.

17. Avocado. Avocados are packed with over 25 essential nutrients: vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as lots of fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

18. Coffee. Benefits of coffee include reduced risk for heart disease, dementia, and skin cancer. It has even been proven to lessen symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

19. Oranges. Eating oranges can help with arthritis, prevent kidney stones, and with ample amounts of calcium, contributes to healthy bones and teeth.

20. Broccoli. Mustard oils found in broccoli have been shown to fight the most malignant cancer stem cells. It’s also high in fiber and phytonutrients.

21. Honey. Honey’s antibacterial properties help guard against bacterial viruses like E. Coli and salmonella.

22. Oats are extremely high in insoluble fiber, and are a good source of low-glycemic complex carbohydrates.

23. Kale. Kale is packed with vitamins A, C, and K, not to mention fiber and calcium.

24. Brussel Sprouts. Brussel sprouts may not have been your favorite food growing up, but there’s a reason your mother made you eat them. These small vegetables can improve your digestion, lower cholesterol, and protect your DNA..

25. Figs. In only one half a cup of dried figs there are 7.3g of both soluble and insoluble fiber. This makes figs the perfect superfood for slowing digestion and keeping you full longer.

26. Bok Choy. This extremely nutritious cruciferous vegetable provides plenty of calcium and potassium, along with carotenoids (such as beta-carotene), which may improve eye health.

27. Pumpkin. More than just a Halloween decoration, pumpkins are a low calorie food with lots of vitamin A and fiber.

28. Oysters. Oysters are a low density, high energy food and a good source of lean protein.

29. Brown Rice. This high-fiber food has a lower glycemic index than white rice, so it will keep you full for longer without causing a dramatic increase in your blood sugar levels.

30. Edamame. These beans include all nine amino acids, as well as lots of vitamins and minerals that improve immune health and battle disease.

31. Salmon. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids as well as protein, selenium, and vitamin D, making this superfood a must have if you’re interested in protecting your heart’s health and improving your metabolism.

32. Spinach. Spinach is densely packed with nutrients, and although one cup can hold your entire daily dose of vitamins K and A, its only about 40 calories! Spinach can also be paired with most foods on this list in order to really reach maximum nutrient intake.

33. Garlic. From cancer prevention to heart health to immune system boosting, you can thank allicin (the active ingredient in garlic) for these benefits.

34. Tea. Tea has less caffeine than coffee but still performs as an agent against cancers, heart disease and clogged arteries.

35. Ginger. Ginger has long been used for curing ills of all kinds, from minor stomach pains to arthritis, and even migraines.

36. Turkey. Your favorite Thanksgiving meal is a low fat source of protein with vitamins B3 and B6, as well as selenium, which promotes thyroid health.

37. Walnuts. Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, and are loaded with monosaturated fats, which can improve your heart health.

Start eating foods that are good for your health.

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Cantaloupe Or Muskmelon? Both Are Delicious And Easy To Grow.

Cantaloupe and Muskmelon are can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 11. They prefer Full Sun exposure, a somewhat Sandy soil that is slightly Acidic to Neutral.

What we gardeners commonly refer to as ‘cantaloupe’ is actually (most likely) not a true cantaloupe, rather, it’s a type of muskmelon. (True cantaloupe has a rough, warty rind and is not widely grown or commercially available in the US.) Also known as Rockmelon in some parts of Australia and I don’t know why. Muskmelons are a heat loving fruit with a long growing season. Their cultural and growing requirements are very similar to other melons like watermelons. They have a net like, tan rind, and sweet orange flesh. The names muskmelon and cantaloupe are often used interchangeably by home gardeners. I will use the name cantaloupe when writing about Muskmelons and Cantaloupe.

Cantaloupe likes loamy, well-drained soil. Handle them gently when you transplant. Add lots of compost to the area before planting and after planting. Mulching with black plastic will serve multiple purposes. It will warm the soil, hinder weed growth and keep developing fruits clean.

Fertilize when vines start growing. While cantaloupe vines are growing, blooming, and setting fruit, they need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Water in the morning, and try to avoid wetting the leaves. Reduce watering once fruit are growing. Dry weather produces the sweetest melon.

Once fruit begins to grow, prune end buds off vines. Your plants may produce fewer melons, but they will be larger and of better quality. Vines produce male and female flowers separately on the same plant. They often begin producing male flowers several weeks before the females appear. Don’t give up or become discouraged when the first blooms do not produce fruit. Blossoms require pollination to set fruit, so be Bee friendly. Use no insecticides that will harm bees!

When cantaloupe rinds begin to change from green to tan or yellow, the melon is probably ripe, but be careful not to pick too early. Look for a crack in the stem where it attaches to the fruit. This is a sign of ripeness. The fruit should be easy to separate from the vine, but if they fall off by themselves they are usually overripe. Harvest melons when vines are dry, and be careful not to damage them. They will soften after harvesting, but will not continue to sweeten off the vine.
Cantaloupe can be stored uncut for 5 or 6 days. If cut, they can last in the refrigerator for about 3 days, wrapped tightly in plastic.

Some of the varieties recommended by home gardeners are.
* Hale’s Best Jumbo – 80-90 days to maturity. Produces 3-pound, aromatic melons.
* Minnesota Midget – 70-80 days. Early variety suited for Northern gardens. Produces smallish 1-pound, sweet flavored melons.
* Bush Star – 90 days to maturity. Bush variety suits gardeners with limited space.
* Ambrosia – 85 days to maturity. One of the sweetest varieties.

* Source Heirloom Organics – How to Grow Cantaloupe A Guide to Growing Cantaloupe
* Source Backyard vegetable gardening – Growing Cantaloupe

Saving Seed from the Garden Not every plant’s seeds are worth keeping. Hybrid plants are developed by crossing specific parent plants. Hybrids are wonderful plants but the seed is often sterile or does not reproduce true to the parent plant.
Choose disease free plants with qualities you desire. Look for the most flavorful vegetables or beautiful flowers. Consider size, harvest time and other characteristics.

Always harvest only mature seed. For example, cucumber seeds at the eating stage are not ripe and will not germinate if saved. You must allow the fruit and seed to fully mature. Because seed set reduces the vigor of the plant and discourages further fruit production, wait until near the end of the season to save fruit for seed.

Seed contained in fleshy fruits like cantaloupe should be cleaned using the wet method. Tomatoes, melons, squash, cucumber and roses are prepared this way. Scoop the seed masses out of the fruit or lightly crush fruits. Put the seed mass and a small amount of warm water in a bucket or jar. Let the mix ferment for two to four days. Stir daily. The fermentation process kills viruses and separates the good seed from the bad seed and fruit pulp. After two to four days, the good viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the container while the pulp and bad seed float. Pour off the pulp, water, bad seed and mold. Spread the good seed on a screen or paper towel to dry.

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Gardening It’s Fun, It May Be Your Best Medicine – Special Report: Death By Mushroom!

Source Sun’s blood pressure benefits ‘may outdo cancer risks
Who Knew? Health benefits From Sunshine may be more numerous than anyone thought.
Get out into your garden, soak up a few of the suns UV rays, become a heather person by gardening.

Edinburgh University research suggests sunlight helps reduce blood pressure, cutting heart attack and stroke risks and even prolonging life. The suns UV rays were found to release a compound that lowers blood pressure.
Heart disease and stroke linked to high blood pressure are estimated to lead to about 80 times more deaths than those from skin cancer.

Dr Richard Weller Edinburgh University said “Dietary vitamin D supplements alone will not compensate for lack of sunlight. Production of the blood pressure reducing compound, nitric oxide, is separate from the body’s manufacture of vitamin D, which rises after exposure to sunshine.” Researchers said that until now vitamin D production had been considered the sole benefit of the sun to human health.

Test results showed that blood pressure dropped significantly for an hour after exposure to UV rays.

Wild Mushrooms Can Kill You

Unless your a ‘Real’ mushroom expert and can make proper identification ‘Without Error’ Don’t harvest or eat any wild mushrooms that you or your friends may harvested.

Death by Mushroom – Christina Hale, 57, found the death cap mushrooms, Amanita phalloides, while foraging under a tree in her garden in Bridgwater, Somerset, and assumed they were edible. She added them to a can of Cream of Mushroom soup which she ate for dinner, along with her husband, Jocelyn Lynch.

The couple both fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea and although a doctor initially diagnosed norovirus, two days later, the pair were admitted to hospital, where Mrs Hale, was taken straight into intensive care. She died on November 19, four days after eating the mushrooms, having suffered major organ failure. Mr Lynch, who had eaten a smaller amount of soup, recovered.

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Beet’s (Beetroot) 101 – Growing, Harvesting And Cooking

Source Growing beetroot BBC Gardening
Stop that, don’t let your children see you making an ugly face while reading about how to plant, grow, harvest and eat your garden fresh beets.

Freshly pulled beets (beetroot) are wonderfully tender with a delicious earthy taste. Best of all, they’re really easy to grow from seed.

Beets prefer to be grown in moist, fertile soil in a sunny spot, but will also thrive in raised beds or pots. Sow seeds directly into the soil from mid-spring and for a fall crop plant in early August to September.

* To make a seed bed, remove weeds and dig or till using a rototiller. Removing any particularly large stones if you have rocks in your garden.
Level working over the area to be planted with a rake to leave a fine finish. Spread a general granular fertilizer across the site and rake into the soil.

* Seed can be sown directly into the soil from March to June in most of the U.S.A. Make a 3/4 to 1 inch deep trench with the corner of a rake, hoe (or a cane will do) and drop in your seeds every 3 to 4 inches apart.
Cover, water well. Note If you want a plentiful supply of beets, sow seeds every 14 to days keeping rows 8 inches apart.

If you have a small garden, beets are easy to grow in pots. To grow in pots (ideal for round varieties, not long cylindrical ones), choose containers that are at least 8 inches in diameter and at least 8 inches deep.
Fill loosely with multi-purpose compost leaving the compost just shy of the top of your pot.
Tap the pot gently to settle, and firm with your finger tips aiming to leave a 1 1/2 inch gap between the surface of the compost and the top of your pot. Sow seeds thinly across the surface and cover with 3/4 inch of compost. Water and thin out seedlings when they’re about 3/4 inch tall, leaving a 3 to 4 inch spacing between your plants.

Harvest your beets while small and very tender. Ping Pong ball to Golf ball size. To harvest, gently hold the tops and lift while levering under the root with a hand fork. Remove the tops by twisting them off with your hands to prevent the plants bleeding their juice. Don’t throw away beet tops (greens), they taste great and can be eaten fresh in salads or cooked and eaten like spinach.

Beets may be boiled, broiled, eaten fresh in salads, or pickled.
* Grate, slice or 1/4 small raw beets to be used in salads.
** Source Beet / Beetroot Cooking Tips
** Source How to pickle beets

*** Beets are a super food Beets are loaded with fiber, potassium, and folate, and are free of saturated fats and cholesterol. Researchers believe the red pigment in beets – betacyanin – may protect cells against cancer.

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Cabbage Worms And Loopers – Who Knew?

The term cabbage worm is primarily used for any of four kinds of larvae that feed on cabbages and other cole crops. Host plants include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, radishes, turnips, rutabagas and kohlrabi.

The imported cabbage worm is the green larva of the cabbage butterfly or cabbage white, any of several largely white butterflies. The Small White butterfly is a small, common, cosmopolitan butterfly whose caterpillar has fine, short fuzz and is bright green. It prefers cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
A larger Old World butterfly is called Large White.
A common North American butterfly is known as the southern cabbage butterfly.
The Green-veined White butterfly occurs in Europe and North America.

The cabbage looper, is a member of the moth family. The caterpillar is smooth and green with white stripes. It is called a “looper” because it arches its body as it crawls, inchworm style. This species is very destructive to plants due to its voracious consumption of leaves. It is not restricted to cole crops. Other plant hosts include tomato, cucumber, and potato. The adult of the species is a nocturnal brown moth.

The cabbage webworm is a widely distributed webworm native to southern Europe or Asia that also injures cabbages and other vegetables in the Gulf states of the United States.

The diamondback moth or, is a member of the moth family Plutellidae. The caterpillar is smooth and solid green in color. When disturbed, it thrashes and drops off the plant. The newly emerged larva is a leaf miner, entering the tissues of the leaf and consuming the parenchyma between the two outer layers of the leaf. Larger larvae make holes through the leaf, consuming all the tissue. The adult of the species is a small, elongated gray moth with whitish spots on the forewings that form two diamond shapes when the moth is at rest. The diamondback moth is primarily a tropical species, but is migratory, reaching temperate zones in most years.

Source Identifying and Controlling Cabbage Worms Organic Controls for Cabbage Worms. Check your plants frequently for worms, especially if you have seen the butterflies nearby. Check plants thoroughly, and hand-pick and destroy any worms you find. If you have a serious infestation, purchase bacillus thuringiensis (BT) from your garden center and apply it according to the directions.

Source Ohio State University Department of Entomology
Source CSU/Denver County Extension Master Gardener
Source University of Illinois The bug review

Hint: Removal of cabbage worms by hand, many time is all that is needed. However for a organic control you can use bacillus thuringiensis (BT) without the need to call in the big guns using highly toxic commercial insecticides.

Young seedlings are easily killed by insects. Keep a keen eye out for these critters. Adult plants can fend off and recover from an insect infection much better than young seedlings.

Homemade Insect controls
* 1 cup tobacco, steeped in hot water, strained when cool into:
1 gallon water
Or Soak tobacco in warm water for 24 hours to make a weak tea then strain.
This will kill caterpillars, aphids and some worms but do not use on solanceous plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

* 1/4 to 1 package chewing tobacco
1 ounce listerine
1 teaspoon dish soap
1 gallon water
Not very organic and extremely toxic

* 3 Tablespoons liquid detergent
1 gallon water
Kills slugs. Use weekly

* 2 Tablespoons salt
1 quart warm water
Kills cabbage worms and spider mites – mix and spray as needed

Hint Add Neem oil added to the homemade insecticidal spray
Neem oil is a natural pesticide.

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Billions Maybe Trillions Of Cicada’s Will Soon Hatch

Source East Coast about to see power of big numbers in coming cicada invasion Cicada’s or some times they are called locus, will soon be hatching and it’s all about Sex! If you live in the east or northeast U.S.A. try to enjoy this event, it only occurs every 17 years.

Any day now, billions of cicadas with bulging red eyes will crawl out of the earth after 17 years underground and overrun the East Coast. They will arrive in such numbers that people from North Carolina to Connecticut will be outnumbered roughly 600 to 1.

Cicada’s (locus) are harmless and won’t hurt you or other animals. At worst, they might damage a few saplings or young shrubs. They have been waiting 17 years and they’re looking for just one thing, sex.

They will emerge only when the ground temperature reaches precisely 64 degrees. After a few weeks up in the trees, they will die and their offspring will go underground, not to return until 2030.

Experts say that they really don’t have a handle on how many cicadas are lurking underground but that 30 billion seems like a good estimate. At the Smithsonian Institution, researcher Gary Hevel thinks it may be more like 1 trillion.

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May And It’s To Cold To Plant My Garden – What’s Up With That?

The Bad News Is: The 3rd morning of May. My temperature was setting at 31.7 (-0.16C) for more than 3 hours. It wasn’t a hard freeze but it surely was not beneficial for my warm weather plants like yellow summer squash and peppers. Checking my soil temperature I found my soil at two inches deep is 48 (9C)degrees, still a full 12 degrees below the 60 degrees (15.5C) needed for planting most summer garden crops. Note: When planting peppers you soil temperature needs to be 70+ degrees. Peppers germinate best with soil temperatures between 75 to 80 degrees.

The Good News Is: My weather guy is forecasting night time temperatures falling into the low 40′s and pushing into the low 80′s by Tuesday next week. What a difference a year makes. May 3rd 2012 we had a low of 60 degrees and a high of 97 degrees, squash and cucumber were in full bloom.

Brrrr, I just went out an inspected my peppers and squash. I think the peppers will recover from this cold spell, but I’m not so sure that the squash will recover. If they don’t look any better in a day or so I will rip them out and replant squash the same time I plant my cucumber seed.

It warmed up a bit and this afternoon I (using a tractor and box blade) moved another 500 or so pounds of old hay and cow dung onto my compost pile. It seems that I can use my homemade compost faster than I can make it!

offkilteracres

Find of the day Texasprepper2 Greenhouse Build Post If your in need of a cheap, easy to build (DIY) green house, check out this site.

He has a very good and easy step by step How To description on building this green house and it’s supported by a lot of good pictures making this an easy cheap functional green house project.

From my For What’s It’s Worth Department: Don’t forget today is World Naked Gardening Day – May 4th 2013

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