Jen, I have two Dawn peppers. One for me and one for you. I did put some more seed into a pot and will bring the smaller ones to the SF in case anyone wants one.

Felt good to spend a couple of hours outdoors this evening. The weather was perfect. And it was not muddy at all.

Jen, I’ll have peppers. Yellow bell, Jalapeno, Thai hot, Tam Jalapeno

i’m one of the ones looking for a couple mineral tubs.

I have so many plants begging to go in the ground, but too cold and wet this weekend.

Nothing has changed for Saturday and Sunday night chance of freeze

Weather Underground says low of 35 Saturday, 32 Sunday night.

NWS at Will Rogers says Saturday 32, Sunday 35

Mesonet at Norman station says 33 Saturday night, 35 Sunday night.

Its 5 gallon bucket time.

Looks like the freeze line will be just west of OKC Saturday night. If colder air to the NW moves further than they think, we will get a freeze.

I don’t have a rain gauge but we got a bunch of rain. I would venture to say close to 2”. I went out between strings to empty trays and put pots in crates so they can drain freely. I love how everything looks so clean and beautiful after the rain. We live off of a gravel road. White powder covers everything and after the rain it’s just vibrant green.

Lynn, thanks for posting the weather forecast, ours looks much the same, except a day later. I expect a freeze because I most often run a little colder than Ft. Smith.

Rebecca, depending on if I am able to come, and the amount of room I have, I think we can get you at least one mineral tub. I want to honor what ever commitment I made last year. If we have to drive Madge's car, room will probably be an issue. Madge does not want to go in our old farm truck, it is a torture chamber. If we have to have someone else to bring us, we have no idea of the room available.

Madge and I both are still issues that probably wont go away, so it is hard to plan very far ahead.

Madge just got a text that her daughter broke her arm. They were the ones that were talking about taking us to Spring Fling, so that looks as tho a door closes.

Madge has a Dr. appointment on the 25, I have an appintment the next week. It seems as though every time we get cleaned up we have to go to the doctor, maybe its the soap that is killing us. Soap was not invented till after the flood, that may be why people lived so long back then.

Larry first I am sad you won’t make the fling. Second you are so funny. I was just telling someone that I was raised on antibacterial soap dial specifically. And then they started putting chlorine in the water and then they said when you mix chlorine and the chemical in dial soap, it creates toxic fumes. Great not what I wanted to hear. Maybe that’s why I’ve had so many health issues who knows. Stay well and stay away from doctors as much as you can.

Kim, I am not going to give up on Spring Fling, its just that the odds are mounting up that we wont be able to come.

It has started raining hard again, but I don't think it will last long, but I do expect these showers often for the next few days.

Oh, I get it Larry. I seriously considered not coming this year because it’s another long drive for me and I was kind of looking forward to it being at Norman so that I wouldn’t have so far to go but I hate to miss it. I don’t think I even have any plants this year to bring. We’ll see either. It will work out or it won’t right.

Kim, I understand about the long drive. The drive for us would be a little over 180 miles, we would more than likely make a 2 day trip of if. We had talked about going, then stopping on I 40 some where for the night. We would find a nice place to spend the night and have a nice meal, sorta like a mini vacation. Madge and I don't like to drive, and out health is declining.

I expect that I have near 800 plants, so I am sure I can share a few. I live on a busy hwy, and can place a free sign on about anything and it will be gone in a while. A fellow stopped about 2 hours ago wanting the rack off of a dead deer lying out in the pasture, I was just going to push what is left of the dear over to a brush pile so I would not be running over it with the brush hog or mower. I guess that is a long way of saying that I think that I can give away any plants that I don't want.

Larry it’s 180 miles for me as well. I’m still on the fence about coming. My sister in law might ride with me.

We had a nice rain. Not flooding rain by any means, but very nice.

I didn't work outside today. I was actually really tired. It's been a full work week. Lots of people with lots of needs.

Sitting around does make me feel guilty. Like I'm not being a good steward of time. I did sit from about 6 to 7....and it felt good.

Kim and Larry, I'm sad that you might not come to SF. Just keep us updated. I can take a few sweet potatoes to people if you can't, Larry. I won't have as many OR as good, but I can do what I can do.

And Kim, I can find someone trustworthy to take your herbs if you can't come. LOL I already have yours chosen and in a separate tray.

(I know that I'm over the top with my plants. BUT, I care for them and love them and want them to go to good homes. Each of them. Especially those herbs and especially the perennial ones.)

I did nothing in the garden other than look at stuff. Can't remember if I already said this, but I got the remainder of the WS beets in the garden last night. It was a great time to do that. And last night was simply perfect weather wise.

The peppers and few other things on the light shelf got watered. Really, that was it.

Monday might be the day to plant tomatoes.

Jennifer, don't count us out yet, I have always heard "That where there is a will, there's a way". We just have not figured out the way yet.

I have some "Baker Family heirloom" tomato plants. I got the seeds from George a few years ago, and I though that some of the group might want to keep those going. I needed to grow them out and save seeds, because my seeds are getting old. Matter of fact the purple sweet potatoes I have been growing are from George. The Covington sweet potatoes were given to me by my friend and neighbor, who has been dead for a few years. I love regrowing plants, or seeds that are given to me, and I love passing seeds and plants along to others. I regrow the Heavy Hitter okra seeds that have been passed to me by George, and Ron, but I grow them every year, that is the only okra that I grow.

I just down today. Must be the cold gloomy rain. I’ll be fine before the fling. I look forward to it every year. I’m also exhausted from my trip to Lubbock. I don’t travel as well any more. I wish I had a driver

Kim, you do so much! I get tired just hearing all you do. This cold gray spell has me a little down, too, although I'm very excited about the rain, as are all the plants (especially weeds) outdoors. And speaking of rain gauges, I finally had to order a new one--the old one lasted 8 years, so bought the exact one again. . . still cheap.

Our yard is a symphony of weeds, with Henbit playing the major role. I'd go do a walk-around, except it's COLD out there. Plus, in all those weeds, I'm sure there are a plethora of ticks. . . and as you all may know, Alpha gal is spreading. I almost always find at leasts one tick on me if I'm out there for more than a few minutes. DEET and duct tape are our friends.

I'm laughing--guess there's something to be said for my procrastination. . . I didn't get plants in a few days ago, and how glad I am now that I didn't. Brrr. . . and wet. . .

And I'm feeling sad about not coming to SF just to see you all and to pick up some of Larry's 800 plants!

Rebecca, I'd be willing to part with two of my mineral tubs if you come get them. The catch--you'd have to empty them out first. . .which is a shame, since they have good soil in them, but can't begin to imagine how much they weigh as they are.

Nancy I feel like I could do alot more if I didn’t run out of breath. I need a new rain gauge. I’ve always gotten free ones so not sure what to look for.

What the!!! Kim, went to Amazon to post the cheap one I just bought for $5.97 4 days ago, and got this! Double the price! Holy buckets! It's plastic, no frills, but worked for 8 years. And glad I bought it 4 days ago!

I am so sorry about your breathing problems. I know you've had your share of health issues. Prayers.

I'm so annoyed by this cold spell, I was just getting into my daily walk-ariounds, and leaning down to pull out a few weeds here and there....... grr. Happy weekend you all. I hope your plants make it through unscathed!

They say the tree pollen is at extreme levels. That must be my problem, I've been battling all week with congestion, sore throat, cough, its really kickin my butt. Went to the doc yesterday, no covid, no flu, no strep .............its just gotta be severe allergies. And I've got too much to do for this and rain on top of that.

I'm gonna have to cover the plants. But getting in the garden is going to be a muddy mess. I need a source for cardboard. And I don't feel like it.

Not much change in the forecast

Weather Underground .... Saturday 35 , Sunday 32

NWS at Will Rogers ........ Sat 32, Sun 31

Mesonet at Norman Air Port ........ Both nights 33

These are the times when I wonder why I do this .

I just got hit with dime to quarter size hail. I hope it did not beat the leaves off my little tomato plants.

What a week !

I was seriously considering trying to get to spring fling, but I broke my ankle. Had to have firemen come pick me up and ambulance to the hospital. They CTed my head and x-rayed my ankle. Head was OK. I'm not supposed to put weight on it. The boot weighs 4,000 pounds. Seriously it's like it's nailed to the floor. We are adjusting, but it's not fun. Our routine is screwed up.

X O X

Dang, Amy ........... makes my troubles seem insignificant. That's gonna make gardening tough duty.

Amy I swear what are we going to do with y’all. Two years in a row, we tried to get close to you and Nancy to make it easier and two years you can’t make it. I hope you heal quickly and well. No time for all that is there. Lynn I got hit with Hall the other night and was scared to go look and absolutely no damage to anything. It must not have come down forcefully enough even though on my tin roof and air conditioner. it sounded like it was beating the heck out of everything. I hope you don’t have much damage. The one year I got hail when I was over in Quitaque I was hammered all my plants were just torn up bent over broken, but they all recovered and came back with vengeance so there’s always hope. The advice of Dawn I didn’t touch them for two weeks and then I began trimming obviously broken branches, but they survived and produced.

Amy, I saw that you posted about your ankle on FB. I'm so, so sorry. What a bummer.

And we'll miss you at SF and Nancy too! I'm super glad your head is okay, tho.

Nancy, I can't keep a rain gauge for longer than a year or two. Do you bring yours in during freezes or make sure it's empty? I always forget to do that. I'm going to order the one you posted.

Kim, I'm sorry you're feeling down. Maybe you'll perk up next week. You can't be too hard on yourself. You went through a LOT last year. You're doing great and will only get better and healthier.

I get down too sometimes. Usually it's me being hard on myself because of all the things I want to do and can't get them all done. I know that I work really hard at my job and at home. And there's only so many hours in the day. I know that, but still am hard on myself.

I realize I've reached my limit when I start getting clumsy. Dropping things, tripping. I've broken more glass items in the past month than I have in my entire life. And it's from pushing myself too hard.

Anyway, once you've rested from your trip and have some sunshine time in the garden, you'll probably feel much better.

We had some hail a couple of nights ago. I don't think it did any damage. We might have had some last night too, but I was snoozing hard. It was still dark when I went out to feed the chickens and shop cats so I couldn't see anything in the garden really.

Friday nights are usually spent grocery shopping and we go out to dinner.

AND, I've added the sourdough to the Friday routine. I forgot what I was doing and made a big mess of it this morning, but it's fed (probably way too much ugh!) and hopefully won't outgrow the jar. Stupid mistake.

I'll find out when I get home from work.

Madge said that she could hear it hailing late yesterday, it must not have been very bad because I would have heard it on our metal roof. I am fed up with this weather also. I have too many plants to put under the lights, and most are too large to do well under the light. The lawn is mush, and I am not able to do anything outside.

I was looking forward to Spring Fling also, that is one reason I started so many seeds. I am so thankful that I got to come last year, and maybe something will work out this year, but I doubt that out health will permit us to come next year.

Madge just called her daughter to see how she was doing. They were in Canton Tx. at the large Flea market, at this point she is not letting her broken arm slow her down a lot. So, maybe Madge and my health may be the our biggest hold back as far as us attending Spring Fling.

Kim, my plants are fine, thank goodness. I think they're small enough to just bend with the hit. I think it was last year that hail tore up leaves on my larger plants. But they recovered.

Amy, I am glad you are okay. Falls seem to be more dangerous as we age.

I have not checked my garden, but all I have out there is onions, garlic, and a few bug eaten cabbage.

The plants in the house are just maxed out, most are too tall for the shelves, and getting too thin, but if I can make it to Tuesday I should be okay, I will place them outside again.

I would like to make another 36 sweet potato cuttings. I already have 7 trays that I don't have lights for, but the sweet potato cuttings can do without light for a few days

Thank you, Jennifer. Actually, it was two years ago since my lobectomy and all that. It’s amazing how fast time is flying. But I do think I am worn out from my trip to Lubbock. I lost a whole day that week driving because I just kind of took my time and didn’t get in a hurry. The whole trip I was about ready to fall asleep and had to drive with the air conditioner on and windows wide open. That stretched through the 6666 ranch is long and quiet

The 6666 Ranch. I hear that Taylor Sheridan is writing a spinoff of Yellowstone that will center on the 6666 .

I got my soil test back today. Need to add 46-0-0. My nitrogen is " medium " . They say to add 2# per 1000 foot. My garden is 500 sq ft, so I will add a pound. Not sure as to how to do that, whether to walk through the garden with a spreader or apply it to the bottom of the plants, or along the rows ?

My Ph is up to 6.3. It had fallen to 5.7 last year. They recommend a 6 to 7 range for vegetables.

Heads up Larry , large tornado around Idabel maybe headed up your way.

Looks like there might be a train of them.

Rick

Thanks, Rick, our weather is a little unpleasant, but so far just a lot of lightning and rain, we are trying to keep an eye on the weather.

Lynn, I wish I was close, I would give you your 46-0-0, you can use 32-0-0 also, just use a little more. I just toss mine out away from the plant and work it in, or water it in. The Urea will melt pretty quick. Your PH is about what mine is, I think, I don't get a test but ever few years.

Larry, I appreciate that, but I have some 46-0-0 . My PH has been slowly dropping. Last spring it was down to 5.7. I added lime last summer and its already got it up to 6.3.

Lynn, it seems pretty normal for my PH to drop, I expect my pasture is down to 5.5, maybe lower. I don't like for garden to get below 6.2, or 6.3, by keeping it between 6.2 and 6.7, my garden does pretty well. Lime has really gone up in price here.

I need for this rain to stop for a while, or at least slow down.

Right now, I've gotten 1.71" of rain for the week.

I rounded up enough paver stones to create a path in the midrows of the garden. Got my buckets ready.

Tonight will be too close for comfort but no one is predicting a freeze . I won't take my chances. Tomorrow night will be the freeze.

Weather Underground says 34* , and we hit that at 8 am tomorrow. But Sunday night is 32* at 7 am .

NWS says " Low around 33 " tonight , Sunday night 31*

Mesonet says 34*, also at 8 am ........... and 32* Sunday night.

I'm no weather forecaster, but the skies are suppose to clear Sunday afternoon, and if the clouds move out sooner than they expect, then Sunday night will be colder. And I've found they're not too good at predicting when cloud cover moves out.

It's muddy now. Really muddy.
I'm super happy that I brought the tomatoes in last night, although I read the forecast wrong.
For Saturday it showed a low in the 30's. I assumed that meant in the early hours, but occasionally that isn't the case. The temperature drops to the 30's this evening. This morning, it was 40's.
BUT, I'm glad I don't have to slosh out there and carry up trays, slipping and sliding. They're in. All the the other things--even the sweet potatoes--are covered up in the hoop house with a frost cloth. Hope everything makes it.


Other than that, I've been doing chores/tasks inside for the past 3 hours. Things I didn't want to do and kept putting off.
And messing with the sourdough and kombucha. I surely don't have award winning sourdough....it's bread. Made from sourdough starter. That's about all I can say. It tastes good, tho.
And fed the indoor plants.
In a couple of hours, we're going to deliver some eggs and go to a couple of stores to look for a frame. Finally made a choice for art above/behind the piano. I ordered a print of my FB cover photo. It's one of my favorites--Girl with Rabbits. Fredrick Stuart Church is the artist.

It's very spring/summer, so I thought it would be interesting to keep it up through the summer and chose another print for fall/winter. Maybe something with deer/reindeer.

Anyway...

I hope it is dry enough to plant out my tomatoes on Monday. They're getting really big.

I am a little down, I don't like to have to stay inside. I have too many plants, and most are too large, but it will soon be warm enough to move them out side where they will be easier to care for. Some of my plants I hope to plant in a few days.

I lost another classmate this week, the funeral was this morning, but Madge and I did not feel like going. This is the year for the class to turn 82, many, maybe most, are here anymore, the ones that are here are dragging around about like I am.

I have no idea how much rain we have received, but it was a lot more than we needed. Its too bad we can put some of this rain in the bank, and draw it out when we need it.

I need to get over at Jennifer's and cover the potatoes . Shame on me.

Their up now.

Problem is , the garden is muddy now and the wind is gusting 40 mph out of the north and it's in the forties .. burrr...

But they'll get bit the next morning or two. Suppose to snow a little here in the morning at around 36* . Monday morning's a light freeze at 30*.

Potatoes do come back after they bit back with a frost/freeze but they turn purple for a while and it cuts the yield down some.

I'll get myself ashamed enough to get on over. ( maybe a nip of whiskey will do it ).

Rick

Jennifer it is mud here too. I love rain but I don’t like mud. I think the rain is done for this week. My 5 gallon buckets under the eaves of the house are overflowing. So I will have rain water when I need it again. Probably not for days and days. Larry, I like a good rainy day because it gives me an excuse to do something in the house that I normally wouldn’t do because I’m out playing in the garden. So it’s kinda nice to Catch up on housework. All of my plants are outside and I don’t plan on bringing any in. I got out yesterday and fertilized everything on the property while my corner of the property and I hope it didn’t all get washed away, but it is what it is. I’ll use liquid fertilizer in a week. I had mixed up all my bits of bio tone, plant tone and garden tone together. I used it all up fertilizing everything. I do have one bag of plant tone left I just bought when I was in Lubbock. My greens are taking off, which is nice because I want to can some mustard greens this season. I don’t like the store-bought ones because they put stuff in there. I don’t care for I just want greens and bacon fat. I may get my Roselle wall after all because lots of volunteers and if they do well when I transplant, I could possibly have as many as 20.

Poke salad is about to come up in places .I like to cook me a mess or two of that along with a little bacon fat this spring. .I like the smell of them while there're cooking on the stove.

AS far as safety goes , I just top off the young plants and DON"T EAT THEM RAW.

Boil them down in a pot , drain the first water out of them and boil again until tender and let simmer with some bacon . Works for me.

https://foragerchef.com/pokeweed/

Rick

We have alot of poke and sorrel here

I think it's a much under appreciated wild green.

It can be canned too just like spinach.

Just don't use the same water it was cooked in.

Drain it and fill the jars along with fresh water. Same processing time as spinach.

Rick

I went out to check the garden, it is still there, very little erosion, but could have been a lot, the water marks on the front ditch show that it almost overflowed across the garden. We are expecting more rain, and a chance of bad weather with hail.

I does not look like I can take my plants out before next Tue., or Wed.. After about a week the weather shows lows around 50 degrees, but this time of the year.

As far as I know, I have enough fertilizer to last me for a couple of years. When covid hit I tried to stock extra supplies, and I sorts went overboard. I store my fertilizer in 5 gal buckets, and milk jugs. I need to get some lime, that is something that I don't normally keep on hand.

I refused to be ahhhHHHHH..... shamed of myself.

The potatoes at Jennifers are covered now.

At least I got to wear my Siberian cap.

Is it April yet ? Didn't think it was...........hiccup !

Rick

I just put the buckets over my tomatoes , and I'm havin trouble typing cuz my hands are frozen

Lynn , might throw some row cover ( blankets..) over the buckets , just for added insurance.

I haven't put out any toms yet , glad I haven't.

I got a few flats of them brought inside.

Rick

We have had 6.75 inches of rain so far. It's just squishy everywhere. I'll throw some straw over the potatoes tomorrow. Just supposed to get down to 40° tonight. My potatoes are just breaking through the surface so it won't take much straw. II'veI I've

Back to the poke greens , they can be mixed with "lambs quarter" and "Dock" , another wild green that comes up about the same time. ( neither one of those is as poisonous as raw poke.).

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=974b188b43388658&rlz=1C1CHZL_enUS689US690&sxsrf=AHTn8zo0pb5_Q53B5jgvNrbSFLtvtVdxvA:1743901358592&q=Dock+plant+images&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwik9IHomsKMAxWd5ckDHag-EjoQ1QJ6BAhfEAE&biw=1902&bih=863&dpr=1

https://foragerchef.com/lambs-quarters-wild-spinach/

Rick

It was a really good day despite the weather. So many tasks were completed.

I finally stopped about an hour ago and ate some dinner. I was getting to that clumsy stage--starting to trip over my own feet.

We got the potatoes covered. It was cold and windy, but we've been in worse. The mud and puddles made it harder tho. I think we're good for the light freeze coming up.

At 6:15 am, looks like we're gonna miss a freeze by a couple of degrees. Still a couple hours to go.

But what caught my eye is there's only a small part of the state that is seeing 32*, except for the Panhandle. Down I-44 between here and Lawton its 32*.

Its warmer in NW Oklahoma. One little pocket of freezing temps. I wonder what causes that ?

Nothing in my area below 35* , click " weather station " , " temp and wind "

PWS

We were at 35 this morning.

I'm sitting at my desk with my space heater now. I need to go set up classrooms and don't feel like leaving my little heater.

Probably won't do any gardening today. lol