WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 1 JANUARY 4, 2013

Free Republic | Jan 4, 2013 | greeneyes

[greeneyes]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!

[greeneyes]

Bakers Creek Seeds is one company that sells heirloom seeds. They test them to make sure they are not GMO.

There are other companies too that you can google. I like Baker’s Creek because they are headquartered in a Missouri town near where I grew up. Plus, they sell only non GMO and are serious about preserving the heritage.

You will pay a little more, maybe but you can save your seed for the next year. GMO free corn is getting harder to come by, so I only get my corn seeds from them now.

[greeneyes]

Beautiful Scene for the Holidays, but seriously don’t you have even 1 indoor plant? Green bells do really well indoors just in case you are interested.

Also the Peace Lily will help oxygenate your room, it’s not edible, but needs less light and is beautiful plant.

[left that other site]

Chinese Hot Pot sounds Wonderful!

In Japan a similar dish is called “Shabu-Shabu”(Splash-Splash)

[Arrowhead1952]

Getting some slow soaking rain today, but we really need runoff rain. Highland lakes chain is only 43% capacity and should be around 70% or more this time of the year.

[rightly_dividing]

Happy new year and 1st edition thread of '13.

I guess I am still procrastinating some, but I did get out my seed inventory and made some choices.

My young ghost peppers have taken a turn for the worse and had some leaves shrivel up and drop off. The soil feels like it is too hard and needs some loosening up. I don't know if I should re-pot them this time of year or not; I would really hate to lose them. Doctoring sick plants is really the toughest part of learning to grow stuff.

[greeneyes]

Well, it was different and a big hit with the kids who could win awards for picky eating and great aversion to trying anything that could be a veggie.LOL.

So we might have to try it again.

[bgill]

Wow, you still have peppers? The last ones here are drying on a rack. Brrr, it’s freezing in Texas. Some places nearby had snow but we’re in a little warm pocket so it’s just wet and cold.

Yesterday, I froze the last of the ripened tomatoes and finished off the last of the green tomatoes into baked goods. I’ve been trying out several green tomato recipes lately. Here’s the ones from yesterday (all are keepers!):

GREEN TOMATO MUFFINS - makes 2 dozen mini bite sized muffins

1 C diced green tomatoes
1 C flour
1/4 C oil
1 egg
1/3 C water
1/3 C shredded cheese (I used a wee bit of cheddar and one stick of string mozzarella)
dash of salt
1 1/2 T honey
1/2 t baking powder

Bake at 400 about 15 minutes.

GREEN TOMATO BREAD - makes one 8x4” loaf

1 1/2 C flour
1 C diced green tomatoes
1 C sugar
1 egg
1/2 C oil
dash salt
1/2 T baking powder
1 1/2 t cinnamon
dash nutmeg
1 t vanilla

Bake 350 for 45 minutes.

GREEN TOMATO COOKIES - makes 3 dozen 3” drop sized cookies

1 C green tomatoes, pureed (using an immersion hand held chopper thingy you’ll get like half puree and half chunks which is fine)
2 C flour
1 1/2 C oatmeal (quick oat works)
1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
6 oz white chocolate chips (or take a meat hammer to white almond bark leftover from Christmas)
raisins - however much equals two little boxes
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 t pumpkin pie spice
dash salt
< 1/4 C water (or however much to get it moist enough)

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. The best are done when the bottoms get brown. Brown bottoms as in not pale but not burned but to the crispy point.

[dennisw]

Red bananas look very nice but I have a lot more of the yellow ones growing. Inevitably the home grown bananas are smaller than the supermarket bought. These red bananas need to ripen more, then they look deeper red all over. I'll put them back in the paper bag. They look great but taste same as the yellows

[left that other site]

Another similar dish is Mongolian Fire Pot.

The principles are the same, but some of the ingredients differ.

[greeneyes]

Well, it is better than no rain, but I understand your concern. Are you doing any kind of water collection off your roof? Texas has quite a few articles about the worth and methods of doing that.

I ran across the information when I was researching info on cisterns and water collection. I didn’t save the link though. I think it was one of the university extension services that had a bunch of info.

IIRC, there may also be some kind of tax credit for implementing.

[greeneyes]

My lemon tree sometimes has trouble, but it is usually aphids that they get in the summer when the plant is outdoors.

Any plants that I am growing indoors, I use compost, vermiculite, and peat is roughly equal proportions, or potting mix. Garden soil tends to have too many soil-borne problems in my experience for indoor growing.

[Mac n Jac]

Also in the cold/wet part of TX today. Not going to complain about rain as we need as much as we can get at the moment.

Here’s my project for the day:
http://www.globalbuckets.org/2009/06/can-2-buckets-reduce-world-hunger.html

I like the idea of “self-watering” as I have heat related issues so tough to get out and do the necessary watering in July/Aug/Sep when it’s 105 and needs it the most

[real saxophonist]

Purple jalapenos grown in a small container in my window:

Sliced them up with some black-eyed peas for New Year. Got the seeds from Pepper Joe.

Here's the plant they came from:

Yes, that's snow outside.

[momtothree]

Ooooh, Trisham! So beautiful, so serene. Actually, you are gardening if you planted Spring bulbs.. they are just sleeping. Sshhhhh!

[momtothree]

Ooooh, Trisham! So beautiful, so serene. Actually, you are gardening if you planted Spring bulbs.. they are just sleeping. Sshhhhh!

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the recipes. Yes, I still have peppers indoors. I dug up 4 plants at the end of summer, stuck them in pots and set them in front of my SW facing patio doors.

They have been blooming and producing steadily. Two of the plants are fooled you jalepeno, and the others are green bells.

All my green tomatoes are various shades of red. I still have a few left for salads, but they will be gone within a week possibly.

I am seriously thinking about going ahead and planting some more tomatoes even though it is 3 months early, as I plan to grow some in pots outdoors anyway. So why not get them going for a jump start-maybe I could even have vine ripened by the time I am eating the spring lettuce.LOL

[greeneyes]

Bananas don’t grow in Missouri. However, I did see that they have developed a dwarf that is supposed to be adapted to a cooler climate, so I just might have to try it.

Hubby said our best bet for banana flavor is to grow pawpaw tree which is native to Missouri, but I have never eaten one.

Thanks for the picture.

[greeneyes]

That sounds good too. I am thinking that a Spring or Fall get together out doors at our council fire pit using a good old fashiioned cast iron dutch oven and wood fire might provide an interesting combo of early American Pioneer and Asian traditions. LOL.

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the pictures. This is my first year for growing peppers indoors. Had I known they would do so well, I would have done it sooner. Planning to grow many more indoors next year.

[Ellendra]

When I got home after celebrating Christmas at my brother’s place, I was overjoyed to find a stack of gardening catalogs waiting for me. Timing is everything! Granted, I don’t have any money to order with, but the pictures make these cold winter days better.

Mom sprung for a pack of watermelon seeds for me to start on my next plant breeding project. I’ve been looking for a small (less than 5 pounds) watermelon, with good flavor and vigorous growth, that produces well, and if it has the rind that turns yellow when ripe that’s a bonus. I thought I’d found the right one when I bought some Golden Midget seeds, but it was the sickliest, most pathetic-looking plant I’ve ever grown! No vigor at all! Since other growers I talked to had the same experience, I decided to try something else. I’m going to start with Fairy watermelon, which is a hybrid, and if it meets my standards I’ll start breeding it into an open-pollinated variety. I’ve been making progress on doing that with a pumpkin variety. It’ll take a few years to get the characteristics to stabilize, but I think I can do it. Besides, plant breeding is more fun than the lottery!

It’s looking more and more like I’ll be camping out at my land most of next year, and to be honest, I’m looking forward to it! I’ve never felt “right” being in the city, I need open spaces and fresh, wild air. I’d rather have a job to work at, gardening for a living has it’s risks, but at the same time I think it could be the best thing I could do right now.