Gardening Question of the Day for Tuesday, April 1, 2008
(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from the Old Farmer's Almanac))
I have some old radish seeds that I didn't use last year. Can I still use them this year in my garden? (answer).
I have some old radish seeds that I didn't use last year. Can I still use them this year in my garden? (answer).
From The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Baby Calf grows inside Award-Winning Giant Pumpkin
(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)
Texan cattle farmer, Teg Whisson, got more than he bargained for after winning a recent produce competition in Fort Worth. His 1485lb history making giant pumpkin began to grow legs - quite literally - as they unloaded the prize on his ranch return. Two hours later, Whisson was delivering a calf. Not as one would expect from its labouring mother but actually from within Whisson's prize pumpkin.
Texan cattle farmer, Teg Whisson, got more than he bargained for after winning a recent produce competition in Fort Worth. His 1485lb history making giant pumpkin began to grow legs - quite literally - as they unloaded the prize on his ranch return. Two hours later, Whisson was delivering a calf. Not as one would expect from its labouring mother but actually from within Whisson's prize pumpkin.
While on the surface this story may seem incredibly far-fetched, one only has to understand Whisson's experimental tendencies in Artificial Insemination (AI) to realise the situation isn't far removed from normality.
"After we finished dosing up the heifers we still had some sperm left over. Jed [Whisson's 2IC], who was probably more inebriated than I after a few celebratory drinks challenged me to inseminate my pumpkin patch. We did it as a joke and never really thought anything would come of it," said Whisson.
Pumpkins and cattle have occupied Whissons time for the past 23 years. His countless awards for his Hereford bull and breeding stock have made Teg a sought after 'guru' in AI procedures and new technologies. Combined with his pastime of growing giant pumpkins he has became infamous within the Texan Country Fairs association.
But nobody ever expected that the two could mix.
The concoction that was syringed into the fledgling pumpkin was a mix of bull sperm and fertile eggs, the same that Whisson impregnates in all his heifers. It's a new technology that Whisson had been trialling to increase fertility rates in his breeding stock with amazing success.
So, how does a calf grow inside a pumpkin? Well, it seemed all the conditions were perfect for this little bovine to mature. The pumpkin seemingly nurtured the calf with enough inner warmth due to its incredible bulk and obviously supplied the foetus with enough nutrient.
"When the calf finally birthed, the pumpkin deflated like a punctured balloon. It was an extraordinary experience."
While the pumpkin was certainly a great incubator during gestation, it apparently wasn't enough to prepare the calf for life after birth. A few short hours later the young animal struggled to continue its breathing and died.
Whisson was asked whether he would try this experiment again. "No. It wasn't an experiment just some harmless fun that produced an incredible result. Pumpkins aren't made to rear baby calves and it's harder to produce a giant pumpkin than a few breeding heifers. We'll stick with nature's intentions."
Source: April 1st Media
The Sustainable Garden - Growing Food from Seed
(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)
Gardening is not only an enjoyable pastime, but a way to avoid the high cost and hidden chemical additives of mass marketed produce. Growing food from seed requires only a small initial investment and can quickly become a self-sustaining pursuit. Test your green thumb one seed at at time!
Gardening is not only an enjoyable pastime, but a way to avoid the high cost and hidden chemical additives of mass marketed produce. Growing food from seed requires only a small initial investment and can quickly become a self-sustaining pursuit. Test your green thumb one seed at at time!
Plant Fertilizers For Better Plant Performance
(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)
This article focuses on using plant fertilizer to help you get the most out of your garden. Plant fertilizer is an important ingredient when working on your garden.
This article focuses on using plant fertilizer to help you get the most out of your garden. Plant fertilizer is an important ingredient when working on your garden.
A Brief Guide to Water Gardens
(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)
Gardening is undergoing rapid changes and new forms are being introduced with amazing frequency. Today, one of the newest trends is water gardening. This type of gardening is done specifically in sources of water such as fountains, ponds and waterfalls. They can be enhanced with rocks and with fish and lighting. In fact, you can do your water gardening in a plastic tub too. There are really several options.
Gardening is undergoing rapid changes and new forms are being introduced with amazing frequency. Today, one of the newest trends is water gardening. This type of gardening is done specifically in sources of water such as fountains, ponds and waterfalls. They can be enhanced with rocks and with fish and lighting. In fact, you can do your water gardening in a plastic tub too. There are really several options.
