Gardens in Okla. Dry! Dry!

braggscowboy · #1 04/09/11, 09:53 AM

Okies, how is your gardens doing? I have had to water my beans and okra to try to get it to break the ground. How is everyone's garden doing across the country? Any Pics? Thanks!

FarmboyBill · #2 04/09/11, 10:32 AM

yep, Im gonna plant mine today, (I think). I also think itsw a waste of time and water, the water I have to haul.

braggscowboy · #3 04/09/11, 10:46 AM

Bill, I have had mine out since last two weeks of March. Had to cover twice, but everything is looking good other that a cutworm. Got him, but he got a tomato and two peppers.

Oggie · #4 04/09/11, 10:55 AM

It's illegal to even fire up the charcoal grill.

If we don’t get some moisture, soon, it’s going to be a repeat of the firestorms of 2000.

am1too · #5 04/09/11, 12:47 PM

Yep she is dry alright and gonna be a dry year. I water at or after dusk and have 2 plus inches of ground oak leaf mulch. I have always found watering after sunset to give me the most punch for the least. One can get a manual timer or an eltctric set up to eliminate hassle.

I wasn't really impressed with a 100' of soaker hose. Maybe after things got wet and you left it on 24 hrs. My mom said she used soaker hose in the high desert. Just moved it row to row.

edit to add: My raised bed stuff is still wet after a week under the mulch with less than a gallon per plant.

whiterock · #6 04/09/11, 11:39 PM

i gave up and started watering yesterday. I been watering the onions and the tomatoes i had put out, the other is still seed in dry ground. I have more tomatoes and peppers to put out soon, probably Monday. May not make, but gonna make the effort anyhow.

mountainlaurel · #7 04/10/11, 06:59 AM

Y'all have my sympathy. I was reading that OK is the driest it's been since 1934 or 1924, I don't remember which one.

But I did read that the NE is supposed to be better off than the rest of OK. I sure hope rain comes to you soon. I'd give you some of ours if that is possible We were under a state of emergency here last year for drought. Our hay just all burned up. I don't want to see a repeat of that and I wish that you don't see it either.

mothernature · #8 04/10/11, 07:41 AM

I'm in north Tx west of DFW and it is DRY!!!! Seems like Dallas gets all the rain and surrounding areas get nothing. Hope all the city folk have patio gardens!

FarmboyBill · #9 04/10/11, 02:33 PM

Found out today at church that a trailer with a bull dozer from Beggs was flying by on a call to Cleveland. They had nearly 20 Fire Departments there trying to stop fires over thousand acres and a couple doz houses.

TheMartianChick · #10 04/10/11, 03:35 PM

I wish we could send some of the wet weather that we've been having to those areas experiencing fires. My backyard is just starting to dry out a bit, but there is rain in the forecast...again! Most of my gardening is going on in the greenhouse. It is just far too muddy to plant anything yet.

OkieDavid · #11 04/10/11, 07:01 PM

I'm having to water much more than normal. Been a real slow start this year

Dutchie · #12 04/10/11, 07:05 PM

I am in the middle of planting and water every morning, sometimes at night as well.

am1too · #13 04/10/11, 10:38 PM

I tilled in compost in my garden and put mulch on it. Holds water really well. Things are sprouting. I'm in central OK and havent had an rain to speak of since September.

anette · #14 04/11/11, 09:46 AM

South of you Okies, but its dry here too. I watered last weekend and this weekend to get my peas to sprout. Planted corn yesterday along with zuccini and squash. This morning... RAIN ! ! !

Thank you, Lord.

bdbcoc · #15 04/11/11, 11:28 AM

I've just started planting in the garden but the soil seems nice not too dry yet. I water early mornings. I haven't transplanted my seed starys yet though. Just watered our fruit trees which look good but some leaves were starting to curl.

jcatblum · #16 04/11/11, 04:54 PM

I am not planting anything this year. I normally do a pretty large garden in town, but since we are going to move out to our farm somtime between June & July. It isn't worth it to me this year, with the crazy stress of moving. Plus I am not sure how "good" of a well we have at the farm. I would hate to use up all the water on the garden & not have a shower!

Next season I will have rain barrels in place & the garden will be big & plentiful!

I will say we haven't had to mow our yard yet this year, at least that has been nice.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #17 04/11/11, 04:58 PM

I have been irrigating gardens and flower beds/fruit trees/berries/ etc to the tune of 1000-1500 gallons a day for weeks.

"I am not planting anything this year. I normally do a pretty large garden in town, but since we are going to move out to our farm somtime between June & July. "

With the economy getting like it is - I'd think seriously about getting something in both in town and at the farm if its not too far away. As dry as it is and with the likely failure of both the southern and northern wheat crops on top of the freezing of all the spring vegetables in Texas, Florida and Mexico, the prices of food are getting ready to skyrocket. The dryness has the southern corn crops are not looking too good either. As cold and wet as it is in the Northern grain belt may mean the corn crops are late to nonexistent there also.

jcatblum · #18 04/11/11, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

I have been irrigating gardens and flower beds/fruit trees/berries/ etc to the tune of 1000-1500 gallons a day for weeks.

"I am not planting anything this year. I normally do a pretty large garden in town, but since we are going to move out to our farm somtime between June & July. "

With the economy getting like it is - I'd think seriously about getting something in both in town and at the farm if its not too far away. As dry as it is and with the likely failure of both the southern and northern wheat crops on top of the freezing of all the spring vegetables in Texas, Florida and Mexico, the prices of food are getting ready to skyrocket. The dryness has the southern corn crops are not looking too good either. As cold and wet as it is in the Northern grain belt may mean the corn crops are late to nonexistent there also.

The farm is a 40 min drive, so $15 in gas round trip (if I take the car instead of the truck). We are only out there about 6 or 7 days a month now. I did think about throwing out some pumkin & melon seeds, but that was before I knew how dry it was going to be. We found melons last year when we bought the place, and it had to have been at least 4 years since anyone planted melons. The land usually has about 15 acres of hay, and gets 2 cuttings a year. The hay looks so sad right now! I figure come fall there might be 1 good cutting!

In town even using 2 water barrels my water bill goes up at least $30 a month to tend to the plants. I did consider planting in containers, in hopes of moving my plants with me, but honestly it is enough just trying to make the home repairs & pack right now! I would rather spend the $$$ at the farmers market than kill my self trying to grow a large garden & spend hours putting it all up this year.

My dad always says when you have plenty of money, you don't have enough time. When you have plenty of time, you don't have enough money!

FarmboyBill · #19 04/11/11, 07:18 PM

If you think water barrels is going to do the trick for you for a garden. I guarantee that the water you have somewhere tween May and Sept wont be enough to water a garden the size of your barrels. I have a stock tank that is around 30in tall, and 6ft dia, and its full. That wouldnt last a month in July, Aug here. I have another oblong tank, same highth, around 5ft long, and it has around 6in in it. I use it to water the 16 chickens.

Oldcountryboy · #20 04/11/11, 09:10 PM

I'm living right on the boundry line between dry and green counties in N.E. Oklahoma. My garden hasn't been damp enough to sprout a seed. However, we did get a good little soaker last night. Now if only the wind will stay away. Everytime we get a little rain the wind wicks it away.