Thread: It's gardening time!

Originally Posted by Joegags

It snowed here (Chicago) last night - still sticking to the grass.

We missed that lot but there are large areas of my yard still covered in snow over a foot deep. In the last week or so over 2/3 of the snow has gone though so there is hope yet.

The frost has been reported as being over 8 feet into the ground with many frozen city water lines. Ours froze up for the first time in 25 years. The city came out and thawed it out and we have had a tap constantly running for about 4 months now. The wait time to have your line thawed out was about 2 weeks at one point.

Spring can't come quick enough and I might not even bitch about having to cut the grass again. Well, at least not for the first few times anyway. Most of the rest of the country has it as bad or worse than we did.

Bob

How do they Thaw them out??

Well... Though the wife and I planned out how to raise this years garden, and where we could get a shipment of topsoil delivered; it looks like its going to be a non starter for us .

The wifes got a summer gig going on in the Caribbean, and I think I might join her this year. You just can't leave a garden unatendded for a month in ks.

Oh well...

My peppers start life in a red party cup, with a few holes melted in the bottom. I stack that cup into another for bottom watering. After they are established I move them outside to harden off. Then into the ground, or a cheap 3-5 gallon nursery pot.

This Jolokia pep sprouted up a 4-5 days ago. It's a 3rd generation. This little guy will produce a VERY VERY hot pepper!



Dont give up on your peppers as they take longer to sprout!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

How do they Thaw them out??

Think welding machine on steroids and some really heavy gauge cables. Attach the one cable at the water main side and one at the house and giver a ton of amps for a few minutes.

Frozen pipes keep Thunder Bay thaw machine crew moving - Thunder Bay - CBC News

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Think welding machine on steroids and some really heavy gauge cables. Attach the one cable at the water main side and one at the house and giver a ton of amps for a few minutes.

Frozen pipes keep Thunder Bay thaw machine crew moving - Thunder Bay - CBC News

Bob

Wow, thats interesting

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Wow, thats interesting

These machines got a good workout in cities right across Canada this year I am sure. We were lucky in that it took only 2-3 minutes to thaw the line running under the street to our house. I have heard some can take up to 20 minutes to thaw at 200amps or maybe more being pored threw the line. Almost as bad as trying to start a cold diesel at -20c/40c without a tiger torch.

Bob

Not so much about gardening, but i was about to lower the Thuja fence in front of my house yesterday. Had to leave one until later as i noticed greenfinch having a nest in it. With 6 little eggs. I do not want to destroy anyones home (and wifey wouldn't forgive me).
Within few weeks we are about to see happy family event.

I am starting to get a bit jealous with these lovely spring photos being posted. We had a 10cm/4 inch snow dump a couple of days ago and today looks like another 10cm/4 inch snow dump if the forecasters are correct. I wish somebody would drive a stake through the heart of this winter, this is getting ridiculous.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I am starting to get a bit jealous with these lovely spring photos being posted. We had a 10cm/4 inch snow dump a couple of days ago and today looks like another 10cm/4 inch snow dump if the forecasters are correct. I wish somebody would drive a stake through the heart of this winter, this is getting ridiculous.

Bob

I know the feeling. If the wintertime lasts too long, then you'll jump straight to summer without having a decent springtime in between. Happened here for too many times.
Here in the south we almost made a record of having less snow than ever in previous 80 years. Only about 10 cm and it stayed only for about week. Still had 'normal' freezing temps. Not nice either. But i just saw from the news that up north in the sami country they still have normal winter and currently about 180+ cm snow.

Down here the springtime is coming fast but nights are still freezing so it's is no time for gardening yet. Daytime temps have been warm 55 F or so. Wifey is waiting to start messing with the herbs, veggies, potatoes, tomatoes and whatever.
Here's how parts of the backyard looks (before gardening starts):