Can they be the eggs of an insect? spores from fungus? I have no idea.

I'm thinking more along the lines of spores.

MoonShadows said:On Sunday afternoon while picking some spinach for salad, I found some small, what looked like, black bugs on the underside of some of the spinach leaves in my greenhouse. They seemed to be localized to one or two plants. I pulled the plants and disposed of them outside the greenhouse. Yesterday, I only found 1 leaf with a couple of those black "bugs". I picked it, and after looking at it through my 30x magnifying lens decided it is not a bug at all. I took a pin and easily opened it up. It was soft and black throughout. Not sure what it is. Any guesses?

Here's pic I found on the internet of it on a basil leaf.


Here's another one (ignore the powdery mildew in this picture)

Weird!!

No real guess here.. yuck

Wait... we're they moving around or were they stationary spots? If they were moving, could they be flea beetles? I always think of them as tiny black spots...but they move and jump so fast that it can't be them if the spots were just sitting still.

No movement at all even if I prod them. I have only seen 1 additional black spot on one leaf in the past two days.

That's a relief!

Beets, carrots and peas have sprouted in the garden bed. Took spring long enough!!!

Only planted peas...haven't checked them today...will try to plant cold weather crops later this week.....

My peas are up.

Baby veggie seedlings spent the day outside today for most of the day. Back in now under the lights.

Now, that our chickens have been gone for almost a year, we decided to turn their old run into a garden area. (We turned the coop into a garden shed last year.) We planted 3 grapevines in there last year on the left side. Yesterday, I took down the wall facing the house to open it up and get rid of that "cage" look. I want to weed and till up the area on the right, add some mushroom compost and move a bunch of the cabbages and Brussel sprouts there. I have 15 of each growing in a 6'x3' cold frame in my greenhouse and they are getting much too crowded. I'll also plant some more lettuce and spinach.

Before


During


After


I might also take down that wall on the left to open up the area even more.

Great area for a garden....lots of fertilizer!

MoonShadows said:Now, that our chickens have been gone for almost a year, we decided to turn their old run into a garden area. (We turned the coop into a garden shed last year.) We planted 3 grapevines in there last year on the left side. Yesterday, I took down the wall facing the house to open it up and get rid of that "cage" look. I want to weed and till up the area on the right, add some mushroom compost and move a bunch of the cabbages and Brussel sprouts there. I have 15 of each growing in a 6'x3' cold frame in my greenhouse and they are getting much too crowded. I'll also plant some more lettuce and spinach.

Before


During


After


I might also take down that wall on the left to open up the area even more.

Oh I am sure a garden will do very well there but I would for sure miss those chickens.

Planted lettuce, dill, beets & carrots.......hoping tonight's rain will be good for the seeds! Also planted some poppy seeds........

RobinD said:Planted lettuce, dill, beets & carrots.......hoping tonight's rain will be good for the seeds! Also planted some poppy seeds........

Is now a good time to get the dill seed going? I have some to plant just want sure when to do it. Can I place it in my raised beds? It will it take over everything?

Newyorkrita said:

Oh I am sure a garden will do very well there but I would for sure miss those chickens.

I miss sitting on my deck watching them, and I miss the eggs. I don't miss cleaning the coop and run, or going out there on cold winter days. The hawk, fox and raccoon attacks got so bad I had to keep them locked in all day. I did find them a good home with a friend who has a farm.

Mark, I always plant a few rows of dill early, then plant more around Memorial Day.....Dill does reseed, but is easily pulled out....actually, I never pull it, am happy to have it come up where it likes, & I use a lot of it.....

Sounds like a plan to me! I love the stuff, I don't mind a little reseeding, I'll likely be putting it in a bed with my lettuces and see what happens, thanks for the advice!

I planted my dill weeks ago myself and it is just coming up now so I think now is a good time to sow it.

MoonShadows said:

I miss sitting on my deck watching them, and I miss the eggs. I don't miss cleaning the coop and run, or going out there on cold winter days. The hawk, fox and raccoon attacks got so bad I had to keep them locked in all day. I did find them a good home with a friend who has a farm.

Always the pros and cons to keeping the chickens. They are so entertaining but I wouldn't love winter maintenance either.