Prediction calls for hotter than last year summer! Say it ain’t so! We have seen over the last 3 to 4 years, a distinct change in our planting patterns in our ability to sustain a summer garden with extreme heat, and with our ability to start sooner with late frosts and freezes. It appears we are having to change our planting patterns each and every year as we see these changes come in to play. Our strategy this year will be to plant as early as possible, harvest, break, July and August by starting more seeds and re-planting in September for a late season/fall harvest. Climates vary all over the nation, so this may not apply to you, but for us here in the south, I’m afraid adapting to these changes will be continual for the next several years.
We are impressed with the new seed company as everything seems to be coming along well. I have ordered more for our gardens next year and will add to that. Please check out the link below.
https://survivalgardenseeds.com/?ref=NTVG
365 challenge is going strong! So proud of you all!
41 Comments
Jill, Good to see you back in operation, and glad you and Greg getting better…. Another Hot summer this year Oh boy! Last summer was hot one for sure… Here where I live right outside of Trenton NJ it's been an unseasonable warm winter and so far, no snow… Take Care. ❤
I’m very glad to hear that you and Greg are feeling better. That’s awesome that the peppers are coming back 👍. God bless 🙏🏻💗
Keep on keepin' on, as my daddy used to say. 9 years today, since he died in a car wreck. Take care of your Pops. I hope he's warm and cozy in his tiny home. I enjoy your "take charge of your destiny" mindset. The Pedernales River is a creek after the inch or so of rain on Monday. There's indeed bugs that have wintered. The pests are going to reallyyyy irritate me with my squash! I had better success with my gourd-like squash in September. I read up and found out my squash likes below 90° temps! The squash borers seem more prevalent at over 90°, so start early (April-July) and go again later (September & October.) I love growing long red & asparagus beans. I may try snake beans this year in big pots. The dirt is to rocky here & easier to sit and garden anyway.
Q for you: Why do ants like long beans so much?
So glad to hear that you’re all feeling better. Sorry to hear about the hot weather coming there for the summer 😞
Glad to see you and Greg are better. Sounds like this year is going to be a challenge for gardening.
THUMBS UP
I need to figure out how to do bone broth, mine hasnt been too good 🤣
Oh Jill, I'm so thrilled your doing much better, and to see a new video! I started some celery, but haven't seen any germination yet. I also started some onions. They were BC seeds and I wasn't sure they'd germinate, but all is looking great. I'm so pleased. I am sad to see your aphids showing their evil little selves again. You've given me much to think about in planning my garden this year. I'm having mixed feelings about gardening this year. I'm not gonna plan as extensively as I did last year. Hopefully, I'll have better luck keeping it very simple this year. It's a little disheartening to hear about a summer even hotter and drier than last year. I'm getting to old for all that hot foolishness, ha! God bless you sweetie!
Do you have shade cloth for tunnels , you said okra did good when had shade , Bugs we use un-coated aspirin 6 per 2 gal , it causes the plants early to think they are under attack , they will strengthen their immune systems , we use a fogger sprayer battery powered 2 gal tank , we always add 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap , nonantibacterial clear no dyes colorless , she fogges 1 time a week with that spray , we never use poisons of any kind , outside we use shade screen over cold crops part of the day in spring and summer they run over head on two cables so you can pull them back then when hot part of the day pull them over plants , shade is important , drip tape for watering 8 inch apart holes drips during heat run all day , Good luck Y'all .
Sad you were sick, glad you doing better!!!
With an ear to what you are saying regarding weather—-I have really been thinking of putting together 4-5 small greenhouses. It would be a tiny version of the high tunnel theory. Maybe be able to control temps and rainfall better than outdoors. Just toying with idea.
Starting some seed trays tomorrow hopefully. Seeing all yours lined up there have me wanting to drop everything and do it right now–lol.
Ok buddy…you guys keep taking care of yourself. Don't overdo. Jesus bless.
I think I would try cutting back a couple pepper plants, maybe by 1/3-1/2, just to do my own trial?? You have more knowledge for sure, but would it not be wasted energy for the plant trying to keep the whole dead plant alive instead of putting it's stored energy into new growth??
I'm so happy that you're back
I don't look forward to Spring in Texas I'm terrified of tornadoes
I'm so sorry you and Greg had to endure that flu. I got the stomach & respiratory. One of my blood pressure meds had been gradually depleting my sodium levels. They dropped to a critical level. I ended up spending 6 days in the hospital over Christmas.
Take care of yourselves and Pops. Keeping you in pray.
Glad you guys are feeling better. I've always had success spraying aphids with soapy water made using dish liquid or baby shampoo.
Thank you for the weather forecast. I will be changing to varieties that mature earlier to fit into the narrowing windows of temperature and rain suitable for them. Also, will be looking to techniques and crops used in desert regions. (Of course, then, we'd have an unexpected monsoon). I've already stocked up on row covers to provide shade and protection from cold and insects. Also looking at various mulches for best to keep soil moist and cool in summer.
I had a similar flu-like thing that took about 2-3 weeks to fully get through
Ugh..
Alert. Alert. I'm in PHX and the Winds are Pretty Bad. Just letting U know. It should reach U late tonight or tomorrow morning. Good Video!
Correction I just noticed most of the winds are moving from south to north. May not affect U.
Very thankful you and your family are doing ok. Still watching your video but in case you don’t mention it North Texas will get some cold in the first two weeks of February according to the weather people. Up and down, I know. Maybe some ice/snow. Weather now is very hard to predict so we will see.
Glad y'all are feeling better! Hubs had a stomach flu about two weeks ago and it laid him up for several days. Must be going around, like those things do.
I've been doing some deep diving into far-forward weather forecasts and it is indeed looking to be some major changes again this year. Things like you are doing (frost covers inside of the high tunnels, for instance) will probably become the usual for us during winters going forward. Looking at what folks in the northern midwest do for fall and winter might be helpful for us all down here.
The summer is probably going to be brutally hot and sere this year. I won't be surprised if we see a three month stretch without any measurable precipitation, while suffering through temps at 100 F and over for weeks at a time. I agree with your strategy for concentrating on spring and fall plantings. "Adapt or die"
I'm going to get even more rain barrels set up ASAP. Thinking I might use them as a surround for my hoop house, letting them act as a thermal mass to stabilize temps (both hot and cold) as well as serve to water my plants and chickens. Been working hard on my compost too, so it'll help with moisture retention and drainage in my soils. Got extra shade cloth standing by, thinking I'll grab even more while I can still find it. I have both 60% and 80% on hand, and both have already come in handy for me here. Even my okra and peppers appreciated a respite from the afternoon sun this last summer.
Folks need to be thinking now about things like garden tools, posts and supports, trellis and fencing, amendments and whatever else they think they will need for the next year (or two!). Those types of things are already showing signs of becoming scarcer than usual, not to mention more expensive. Same with chicks, feed and their associated equipment and supplies. Large metal barrels, big galvanized trash cans are also much more expensive already. My local feed store went up on the price of the big blue water barrels (55-gal) for the third time in a year, but they are still cheaper than anywhere else I have found within 30-ish miles.
I was picking up some spray paint and rust prevention the other day and realized just how much that has gone up in price. Whee! That's one of those things I didn't prep for and now I'm paying for it. Oh well, it probably won't get any cheaper anytime soon.
I found this great product that isn't new but new to me and has a lot of uses. It isn't cheap, but a little goes a long way and it works better than anything else I have tried. It's call Renaissance Wax and it is used in museums and by collectors to protect things made of wood, glazed ceramics, metal, and such. I was told it worked wonders for things like garden tools and self-defense tools (bang-bang!) that you don't use real often or need to store away for a time. I tried it out on an old hunting piece after removing rust and restoring the finish and working parts. I checked it after over a year of storage in its sleeve in a closet. Not a speck of rust, no fingerprints, no gummy or oily feeling, absolutely perfect finish. I'm not associated with whoever makes/sells it, and I don't have any links or anything to make a dime off of. I just wanted to share a good product I found useful at some important tasks. Gotta take care of ALL our tools. Looks like we might be needing them.
I'm making room in the pantry to add some more jars and cans. Gotta work through a good bit of stuff I've already put up. I'll try to catch up with everyone else later this year, but for now I'm just plumb out of space to store much more preserved food! Even my dehydrated and FD jars are having to jockey for a place.
Hugs!
I was so glad to see you're back and doing better. I had the same bug a month ago, it hangs on for awhile. Keeping you all in my prayers.
So glad you are better! I’ve missed your videos. Got cabbage and onion seeds growing in the green house. Definitely ordering the seeds you are talking about! Blessings my friend!
The back-eyed peas…You need to wait to plant those. They do much better in the heat. I certainly would not plant them in the early spring…they might grow, but they will take their SWEET time putting off a harvest. Best just wait it out. This is just me… back acre- I would do half sweet corn, and half blackeye peas..There is this nasty little bug called the Cowpea curculio..They usually do not come in for the first harvest, but after that, they will move in and sting your peas. If they are stung, they are not edible..That is why most folks around here, and even in Ga., will plant a massive area, go through and pick everything in1 week, and then mow them down and get them tilled in. Your plants will look beautiful, and you will feel like you are doing yourself a dis-service, by cutting down such nice plants…BUT, that bug can render an entire field of peas, trash and ya really don't want that. My family just picks a spot, and broadcasts the seeds…If you can do it just before a rain..even better.. YES, it will be the worst mess of tangled up plants, and vines that you have ever seen…BUT, you don't need to baby the plants when picking, if you are going through and picking once. Oh, and blackeyed peas MUST be taken inside in the cool, as soon as they are picked. Spread out an old sheet on the floor and spread them out for a few hours. They will go through a "heat" if they are not, and they will sour QUICK!…
Hey Jill, wow cant believe the aphids in those cool temps. Weather is going to be in the 20's next week and we are covering the onions, carrots and garlic a few days. Let's pray this year is not as hot and dry as last. We cant grow in those conditions without any rain. We will be installing 50% shade cover over the entire garden. Last year we invested in two very large shade covers. We will be praying for a mild spring and summer with some rain. God Bless, Mike
Oh no you didn't say HOTTER 😭😜thank you for the great info! Also where do you get your purple Hull bean seeds?
Times they are a changing #greatreset#weatherwars but #Godwillprovide
My husband and I both had the crud. I didn't have it too bad, hubby has it worse which is normal for him. Glad ur better. Most of my fruit trees r blooming , so no plums or peaches.
Do u have a shade cloth for tunnels
My purple hull peas outdid every bean I planted last year. I picked & canned them as green beans & they are excellent! The heat did not bother them, rather they seemed to relish it. Aphids like them too, but since I learned from you to check the actual percentage of Neem oil in what I buy—I’m hoping for better results this year. Strangely, the aphids stayed mostly in one area about 4’ long 🤷♀️
I’m glad you’re better. Nothing makes us appreciate feeling good as much as a round of not!
Im glad your feeling better Jill!
Missed you— glad to hear ya'll are feeling better now. In agreement with the weather never know which way its going. Maybe we all can figure it out
Jill, Question – Can you please tell me where you buy your grow bins, seed trays and the heating mats you spoke of? I'm looking for good quality, especially on the heat mats. I'm so glad yall are feeling better. I've been praying for you. Much love from Leon County in East Texas. ♥
I agree with your strategy. I plan to get peppers, tomatoes, corn planted early spring. Then blackeyed peas and okra, which should be able to get through the heat of summer. Then squash, green beans and a second round of tomatoes late summer.
I'm in north Florida and I know I won't do much until late summer/ fall.Its to dang hot. I will do peppers, okra,eggplant , squash and tomatoes ( most stuff is for neighbors lol).Its nothing HUGE just a little something. Im focusing on flowers for to attract butterflies and bee's. And focusing on my soil for the future. Glad you all are doing better.
Just started watching you and I saw your aphids! Do you think buying lady bugs would help? Saw this on another channel I watch and they went to town on those bugs.
This is a big reason we left Florida and headed north. It became very expensive to try and grow anything with no guarantee. The heat and humidity left us limited to what we could grow. Plus we have livestock and the heat is rough on them and parasites are a huge issue. As much as people don’t like the snow and winter, it’s really necessary to keep the balance of nature in check.
Glad to see you back. Warmish up here, sunny 40's. Pray for me that I get the part time job I need. 🙏 pushing 70 folks, still good, healthy and hardy. I need it to pay my bills. Bless.
Good morning Ms Jill! I’m glad to hear that you and Greg are feeling better.
I think that it will be a warmer Spring and Summer than last year. As for keeping the high tunnels cooler, do you use shade cloth? Danny and Wanda over at Deep South use a 40%, black shade cloth that seems to help keep it a bit cooler. Just a thought. I think that this year is going to be a difficult year for gardeners. I guess we will see! God bless!
So glad you and your husband are feeling better. Take care of yourself! Look forward to seeing more of your videos as you are able to make them and post! ❤
Wacky weather. We are finally getting a good snow at my place in Vermont. God Bless Jill. Feel better.
Hey Jill 🤗
Been missing you’ll ..
soooo happy you and Greg are feeling better..
over all your garden is still doing great .. what beautiful cauliflowers and onions…
Hey I like your tomato plant ..
always one of my favorite to eat fresh ..
Your right we having crazy weather.. here in Texas
Oh wow that not good another hot hot summer
Going to have to work on our gardens little harder..
Thank you for your advice
And letting us know so we can prepare a little better for the summer❤
Take care love hugs and always lots of prayers..
thanks for keeping us posted..
Oh almost all out of my canned jalapeños … we call it Jill jalapeño… 😘
Use your delicious recipe ..
Have to can more this year ..
Stay warm take care 💕
Blessing
👩🌾
We had frost and fog. There is a stomach bug going around. I,ve got daffodils. We had 17 mph wind. Thats kept us from fishing. The kids are moving really soon. Love you all