Hello little friend! This ladybug investigated my giant swiss chard quite thoroughly before settling in a leaf curl. #gardening#insects#ladybug@gardening
@Stitch26@gardening I love the many different names for ladybugs! My favorite is probably the languages that decided to call them cows (presumably due to their spots).
My Fordhook Giant swiss chard says it is FREE and I cannot put it back in its cage, tornado watch and huge hail threat be damned! (The regular chard was just fine going back into the wire cloches.) #gardening@gardening
Got my cucumbers and nasturtium sowed! I had an extra spot so I threw some lettuce mix seeds in it for fun.
I used some cheap wire mesh plant protectors to gaurd against hail and blown debris, and they seemed to have worked pretty well. Might need to get some cheap wire trash cans if the weather keeps up like this.
(And I'm finding new ways to deal with earwigs this season, so those holes in the swiss chard will hopefully be the last!)
@JimmyB@gardening
I've had some luck with oil+soy sauce tub traps. The other common trap style I see recommended for erawigs is rolled up newspaper, which have failed for me so far but seems like they should have potential.
Planted my cool-weather crops: chard (Ruby Red and Giant Fordhook), beets (Touchstone Gold and Early Wonder), and carrots (Danvers 126). I tried to lay them all out like the square foot gardening book says, but the carrot seeds blew in the wind so they'll just come up wherever this year.
Also have some volunteer dill (a bit early; we'll see if it survives) and some carrots that sprouted mid-winter!
I'll sow seeds for the cool weather crops next weeked! Set up the big raised bed today. Still thinking about the layout and whether I want two cucumbers, and if I prefer my basil in a bucket for frost protection.
I got hungry while working outside today and grabbed a snack from the carrot bucket. I've still got a few left in it!
Next #quilting project: using up some batting scraps to make a small lap blanket. This is part of the Acadia National Park block from Carol Doak's 60 Fabulous Paper Pieces Stars. #sewing@quilting@sewing
I bought Polartec Neoshell fabric last year and sewed myself a pair of Jalie 4343 mittens to wear as a shell over my running gloves. This pair continues to be one of the best things I've ever sewn. Blocks the wind, lets sweaty gross air out, and washes well. #running#sewing@sewing