Posted on 09/05/2014 12:05:45 PM PDT by greeneyes
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Hubby gets the clearance mushrooms. Sometimes 5 or 6 packs at a time. I’ll have 3 or 4 dryer shelves from that.
I’m growing ginger this summer. I’ll probably dehydrate some of that for powder to use when the fresh isn’t so fresh anymore.
I also have a pot of turmeric. Hubby bought some fresh turmeric at the Asian market and I just planted it about 2” deep and kept it watered. It’s actually an attractive plant. Ditto the ginger. Both like shade so I have a perfect spot for their containers under a big oak in my backyard. I guess I’ll dry turmeric too if I get any.
Thanks for the ping!
Not sure what a Buddha Belly is in bamboo...
I have been enjoying gathering my tiny harvest.
I have let several of my okra pods go to seed, and I was considering them the other day and realized that I needed to be careful not to mix the seeds up since I have 3 varieties, so I can know what I have when I want to plant next year (or whenever.) The thought occurred to me that I can take my black marker and actually write on the outer pod the variety name, so when I pick it there will be no question about which variety I have.
I’m sure others have also figured out good ways to do this, but since I am a relative newby, I think this approach will do for me!
What has been even better is that as I take my walks, I’ve been the neighborhood waif, and some of my neighbors have been sharing bits of THEIR harvests with me! I have some squash from them (as you know, mine were a bust again this year mostly!)
While I’ve been enjoying our tiny harvest of tomatoes (most of which are in the process of being prepped for the freezer) - where I really hit the jackpot is from some of my neighbors who have been canning! I got a jar of peach preserves and an armful of peaches from one neighbor, and today I got a jar of chow-chow relish from another.
I shared with them small messes of okra and some other small bounties.
It has been a joyful week. The weather has turned off cool, and fall is here!
Okra will cross if it’s within several hundred feet of another variety.
If you want to save okra seeds and are growing more than one type you will have to either stagger the plantings so only one type is blooming at a time, plant only one type per year, or use some sort of restriction (bagging the blooms and pollinating by hand) technique.
http://www.southernexposure.com/okra-ezp-63.html
Says 1/8 mile separation for home use.
Which isn’t to say you can’t keep the seeds you have. They will all still be okra :) But you may have the odd child or two in the bunch...
The southernexposure.com site has a lot of seed saving tips for each type of veggie.
http://www.southernexposure.com/kohlrabi-ezp-59.html
http://www.southernexposure.com/muskmelon-cantaloupe-ezp-62.html
etc.
The best book I’ve found on the subject is ‘Seed to Seed’ by Ashworth. Worth every penny if you want to save seed from this or that. Plus it gives tips for each region as to planting dates and other cultural notes to increase success for each particular veg. including how to bag or hand pollinate if you can’t use the distance isolation. Gives detailed instructions on how to save corn seed which I found highly useful. YMMV.
We are cool today too. About 69 degrees today. Zukes are coming on strong it seems. The largesti is now about a foot long. We’ll probably be making some zuke pickles soon.
A dog does not have to be big to be a danger.
A few years ago I was taking one of my walks in a part of the neighborhood in which I do not walk very often. Darlin’ had some work in that area.
One of local neighbors had a generic small brown dog. Prolly about a foot high. I was not in its territory. It came running out from its hedge next to the house. It came after me and fortunately I was able to holler at it and take a threatening stance to ward it off until I could get back to tell Darlin’ about it.
I was armed with a stick and I resumed my walk which took me past that place again. I made sure I was across the street from its yard, but it still came out to get me. I struck it with the stick several times and yet it persisted until once more I could get far enough away that it finally retreated.
There were several neighbors watching, and I learned from some of them that there were a number of neighborhood children on that street who had been similarly menaced.
Darlin’ pointed out to me that one of these little determined critters can slash an artery in the ankle or lower leg and you can literally bleed out seriously while trying to ward the dog off and get away.
The idea of the kids being on bikes, or simply walking past gave me the jim-jams, so I called the police to report it. They took my report, and I felt a sort of ho-hum attitude at the other end of the line. Oh well.
Several hours later, we heard a knock on the door and it was the investigating officer. When he went to the yard, it attacked him, and if he had not had his heavy boots on, it would have harmed him. He took a fuller report and told us that the dog would not be long for this world. It saddened me, but it truly was a danger.
RE: dehydration: Would you ping me to that episode too if/when you find it? Thanks!
Nevermind... just saw this link to Marcella.
Thanks
LOL! Thanks for the info on the crossing okra and seed saving. Had not realized that they would cross!
Odd children do not bother me, so I’ll take your advice and plant them anyway! I just really wanted to see what the three varieties were like. I already knew about the Clemson Spineless, but also wanted to see what the Orange Jing and the Eagle pass were all about. Love all three!
I’ll probably do that rotation in the future now that I know that all three are happy here in this locale.
I am interested in that book. Thanks for the Amazon link!
Those are cool varieties. I’ve only grown the Clemson Spineless on your list. I’ve wanted to grow the Orange Jing for several years but they’re always sold out by the time I think of it.
You may have Orange Spineless seeds in your hoard! Or Spineless Eagle. Or or or.
I’ve decided to grow a dwarf variety next year so I can put it in my raised bed. All my okra drowned this year. *sigh*
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Agreed. Once, some years ago, I was out running and a dog of about 30 or 40 pounds ran up behind me and bit me on the back of the thigh. Thank goodness I was wearing heavy sweat pants, and escaped all but a couple of bruises. I followed it home to its owner, knocked on the door and told her what had happened. She told me that was impossible, that her dog had never bitten anyone. Fortunately, it never happened again.
LOL! The possibilities are staggering! LOL Spineless Eagle!
I really like the Jing and the Eagle Pass. They are very different, but are both great in gumbo! ... as is Clemson.
I empathize with your regret for your drowned-ed okra bed. Hope you remember to get the other seeds for this next year!
Daum !! I never thought of that- drying the excess mushrooms for later use.
I always get all panicky and saute mushrooms just becasue I dont want them to go to waste !
Brilliant !
Lazy AND cheap.
/johnny
Well hold onto your socks, and grab a rubber raft and life preserver and grab a snow showvbel.
Joe Bastardi(Satruday about 1140 AM via 'EXCELLENCE')has come out with his fall/winter forecast and says that many of us can expect a Fall surprise of snow, wet, and cold.
Don't quit gardening now !
How to Make Dehydrator Tray Liners out of Plastic Canvas Part 1
Anyone who attends , much less goes and graduates from CIA (Culinary Institute) is a CONNOISSEUR
You may appreciate the subtleties of flavor, ambiance ,presentation ,aroma , etc.
but I SIR ! .. am a 'KINDA-Sewer' who only appreciates taste (the subtleties be damned ) and envy your expierience.
I never thought of mushroom powder; it is brilliant !! ( or, I have had too much Harp, and am talking through my leprechaun hat !)
Regardless ,.. brilliant !
Now there’ a thought, but the school would have a hissy fit if she got on the bus with it.
For some reason the dogs don’t come get close enough to spray them when I am there.
It is true. Little dogs are sometimes more agressive, and very persistant. It’s kinda easy to feel that you are bigger and therefore they can’t hurt you that much.
I’d say this little dog is no more than 10 lbs. I always have a walking stick with me just in case, if I get out of my yard.
The thing is we think we are in “our” territory, but the dog’s idea of its territory is apparently different.LOL
The big dog has destroyed one of the neighbors shrubs by leaning on them and scratching his back and sides against it. I would have had a discussion about replacing it, if I was him, but he hasn’t ever discussed it with them.
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