I ended up getting nearly 100% germination on the Purple Passion asparagus seeds I got from Kitchen Garden Seeds. Yay. I have over 100 little teeny asparagus ferns in cups now. NOW we see how many of them actually LIVE to transplant. I have a reputation. Ahem.
My sweet peppers are finally putting on new growth, it’s finally warmed up outside where they’ve been. My frostbitten tomatoes are starting to green up. The ones that will live. I’m busy transplanting eggplants and hot peppers since it’s finally warm enough outside for them. Also transplanting my rice into the big garden.
Started my flour corn and sweet corn seeds germinating in a glass dish like I saw tubebender do. I’m reminded to ping him now that I’ve mentioned his name.
Busy week ahead planting stuff out in the big garden. Planting, laying papers, mulching. We’re expanding the garden this year. Again. I’m going to grow (try to grow) black oil sunflower seeds and millet for my chickens. And some Texas Gourdseed corn for them too.
In other BIG news related to new things and spring arrivals, our big fat Buff Orpington setting hen is a mommy. Mommy X 5. We let her sit on 6 eggs. Not expecting success the first time. We don’t have a setting box, just sort of a shelf with small ledge for the hens to lay on. It was a scramble to get the babies and get them into a box with heat lamp inside. I was afraid they’d fall off the shelf and break little chick parts.
Mama Buff pinched a blister on hubby’s hand while he was stealing her babies. We’re adding on to the coop this weekend to give her a spot to set and brood. Next time we’ll let her keep the babies. Daddy chicken is a Rhode Island Red and the hens are Rhode Island, Black Australorp and Buff Orpington. So the only purebreds will be any Rhode Island Reds. BUT they’re all chickens and will lay eggs and end up in the crockpot eventually.
That’s some great progress and good news for the chickens. I know if I raised them, I would not be able to wring their little necks. However, I suspect that hubby would be able to.
Youngest daughter has located our source of anitbiotic free, GMO free, free range source of chickens from a young man she went to school with who is homesteading. He has agreed to sell her/us his extras.
She has agreed to go help him with the processing so she will have the knowledge and skills, in case we decide to try to raise some chicks in the future.