No. I had those when we first bought the house. I HATE those!

Haven't had a lot the last couple of years but for several I was covered up in them . They're looking for a winter place and they're attracted to each others' scent.

When they start gathering , get a large receptacle with a small hole in it ( I use a cast-iron kettle) , fill it with dry leaves / grass / mulch and then collect a few handfulls of the beetles and put 'em in there. This should attract most of them and keep them out of the attic . Keep the container in a sheltered location.

When it warms up , look for any plants with aphids ( roses , some species of oak , I've even sacrificed a row of turnip greens as a " trap" crop ) and set the container there . The beetles will emerge and hopefully lay eggs near the food source. Voila ! Instant bio-control.

Has anyone set in seed taters or onions yet? Marshall grain has a butt load of them available now.

I've never had any luck with potatoes, would love to grow some sweet taters.

I'm setting out onions and planting turnips tomorrow. I'm going to use black plastic weed barrier for the onions as my onion beds usually require a weed-eater before they're ready to harvest.

I think it's still early for taters . Dig a shallow trench , plant 'em then keep hilling the soil up around them as they grow. Don't cover the leaves of the plants . This will make more roots grow and they'll produce more tubers.

I've seen those "tater bags" they sell at Lowe's and that's not a bad idea but you need to keep them out of hot sun.

If you have several old tires you can put the first one flat on the ground and fill it with soil , manure and compost along with your seed taters . As the plants grow keep adding soil, etc. and tires . When the plants start to wilt in warm weather you just remove the tires and harvest .

Don't try to grow them in constantly wet soil . They'll rot in a heartbeat and the fire ants will take over.

Never tried sweet potatoes , sorry.

I used to love planting onions, and would plant around 500...however, they take up so much space, and yield only one return, I've since stopped. If I had the right soil, I'd love to plant some taters. I am going to start some seeds indoors in the next couple of weeks. Probably start with squash and melons. I would love to do peppers and tomatoes, but the last two times have been failures, so...

I didn't plant the onions and greens 'cause I saw this cold front coming. Both can handle a freeze as mature plants but I didn't want to take the risk with sets / seeds .

From my experience , tomatoes and chilis need bottom heat and a LOT of light when starting from seed . I have a 24" double flourescent that adjusts from 2" to 18" high. I lower it to within 1" of the starterss and raise it as they grow. You can also use a brooder lamp ( used for chicks) with a spiral compact-flourescent bulb. If you have a south-facing window that'll work but you have to keep turning the seedlings so they don't grow lopsided.

Bottom heat is the key , though. Helps the roots grow strong. There's quite a few devices for sale but my favorite method is :

Get a smallish ( 10 to 50 gallons) aquarium.

Add about 4" of water .

Put bricks , rocks , whatever to set the seed trays on so they don't get waterlogged .

Add an adjustable submersible aquarium heater to the water . You'll have to play with the settings to get your ideal temperature and watch the water level but you can compensate for weather changes / humidity levels.

The hotter chilis really appreciate a higher temperature . I know my habaneros don't usually take off until daytime temps are in the lower 90's.

Onions are in the ground. We planted 5 bunchs of 1015's 2 bunch's of white ,2 bunch's of purple and 1 bunch of Vidalia's. I think there is close to 650 total. We will be eating onions come the middle of March.

I am truly concerned...there is a doe that hangs out during the spring in a pasture on FM 927 west. I have only seen her after the last freeze of the winter. This is how I know when it's time to plant my garden. Yesterday evening, I was driving back from Hico and there she was, grazing with the cows. I normally only see her in the mornings/early afternoons when I see her, but this was almost dark. I have weeds that shouldn't be coming up until spring, popping up. One of my cactus plants has come out of dormancy. I want to plant, but it's WAY too early, at least according to the calendar.

I was thinking about planting a row of tomato plants this weekend.

Too early, JP. IMO

I'm there with you, but none of the nurseries have those plants yet...at least not around here. I have had only so-so luck doing those from seeds. I will go ahead and start my squash and watermelon plants in cups and keep them on the porch, however. That way, when spring hits, they'll be good to go.

I hope you have plenty of covers . You been outside today ?

Yes...been cool, but not freezing. I have over 200 1 gallon milk jugs in my storage closet for such an event.

(re: the doe) I don't know , LSS . I try to have all the greens planted early and wait for the martins to show up before I plant any vines . They're a bit early this year (already in Houston / Austin) soooooooo, maybe ? Hard to figure nowadays . I waited on Easter two years ago and it was 90 degrees by mid-April.


Planted lettuce Monday. Onions, turnips, and collards this weekend. I'll start sweet corn about mid-February assuming the weather cooperates and I've run all the dang starlings off by then . ( Starlings like to pluck new corn and use it in their nests.)

Easter's March 31st. I'll probably direct-seed squash and melons the first week of March . I might put out tomatoes and chilis but I generally wait until after Easter.

Yeah. I'll be waiting because there isn't anything at the nurseries. I just find it odd that the doe was out and about. She's never out this early...I wait for her appearance with the cows before I plant. It's just been such an odd winter. However, my gut tells me we're going to have a late freeze...I live in two houses in two different counties, so I'm not sure if both will experience it, or what. One of the watermelon varieties I grow takes 100+ days before they are ready. I like to have them ready for July 4th, so, I have to get them growing by mid-March at the latest.