weekly garden thread volume 38 sept. 19, 2014

Free Republic | Sept. 19, 2014 | greeneyes

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

CREASY GREENS , also called wild mustard, upland cress , etc.
CREASY GREENS (Barbarea verna) or land cress is a European biennial heirloom .
It is easier to grow than watercress with the same peppery taste and can be eaten raw like watercress in salads or cooked like spinach.
A favorite southern tradition with a peppery taste .
Also called "scurvy grass" due to its high vitamin content (Vitamin A ,C, etc.)
See :
community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/45709.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/edible-wild-plant-creasy-greens-zmaz84zloeck.aspx#axzz3DnKQofEI

[greeneyes]

I really have to defer to others on this issue, as we have no deer in our neighborhood. Thanks goodness - I know it’s a challenge.

The almanac has an ad for www.GardenDefenders.com and indicates a sale. Might be worth checking it out. Good luck.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

CREASY GREENS , while a biennial, is winter hardy and will reseed itself.
I believe that it remins green even under snowfall, but is used mostly as a Spring tonic due to vitamin content .
Since it is a mustard familu cultiver, it can easily get out of control.
YMMV

[greeneyes]

Good to hear from you. We sometimes grow winter wheat and cut it early to clear the way for potato patch. It makes a pretty good mulch cover, after drying a bit.

[CynicalBear]

Thanks for the ping. Tomatoes are still healthy and producing including the new plants put out at the end of July so the baking soda wash to stop the blight is definitely working. That didn’t work on the pumpkins nor did anything else. All of them died except for two that I may get two green pumpkins from. Fall peas are in flower and late planted beans (August 2) are producing. Setting the hydroponics in the greenhouse for this winter again. Have enough vegetables canned or frozen to last till next years crops. Filled the freezer with chicken, rabbit, turkey, and pork. It was a good year and looking forward to the fresh stuff still coming and the greenhouse stuff.

[gorush]

My wife has perfected it. We have 3 EarthBox’s on a garden wagon w/ the wire sides removed. She pulls it into and out the sun as needed...all winter. Our garage is heated so any sunny day above freezing is is pulled outside. We have fresh greens most of the year...Central Wisconsin here, so the winters are nothing to sneeze at.

[greeneyes]

Next year is starting this month.LOL Winter gardening with some patches outdoors and others inside. Keeps a person going while waiting for spring.

[gorush]

We make approximately 4-5’ dia. WWF tubes around each plant and drive a fence post in to attach it to. It might work in your situation, maybe not. Good luck.

[MikeinMotley]

i think most people call it just ‘greens’ we say creasy salad or picking ‘salad’ from the ‘salad patch’ around here in southern Va it’s just ‘creasy salad’... see post 21

Mike

[who knows what evil?]

Currently drying bumper crop of tomatoes in dehydrator...picked all ripe veggies in gardens last night in anticipation of frost. Despite the crisis mongering of the local weather 'forecasters' (OMG!!! It's the COLDEST air of the season so far...); the temp stayed at 35, and frost was patchy and light, at best...did not lose any plants. Round 2 tonight, but I suspect wind shifting around to the south this evening will keep the frost at bay once again.

If Mitt Romney has an outdoor garden at his place up north; his got nailed last night. Always look for the silver lining. :-)

[greeneyes]

I grow peppers and tomatoes indoors. Lettuce, carrots, spinach, winter wheat, winter rye, and vetch are winter crops here. The veggies require a sheltered location and covers.

Things like winter rye and vetch are cover crops grown mainly to prevent soil erosion, compost, and soil improvement.

Regarding your tomato. If it's indeterminate, it may very well grow some more. I have an indoor tomato plant that I grew last winter. About a month ago or so the leaves were all icky and all the produce was harvested.

I cut it way back leaving some nice leaves, and it has grown and is now flowering.

[greeneyes]

Even in the Fifties, there is an impact to growth. I usually cover mine at night once we get 55 or less - if I still have any growing.

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the post. Learn something new here all the time.LOL

[trisham]

I don’t know what to tell you. We have herds of deer here but they’ve never sampled our tomatoes. Are you certain that it’s deer?

[greeneyes]

We have some things with enough to last till the next season.

We didn’t plant nearly enough tomatoes this year though. Next year will be more planted in the new patch.

[who knows what evil?]

We have 3 EarthBox’s on a garden wagon w/ the wire sides removed.

I have dozens of Earth Boxes that have nothing to do all winter...I may steal that idea and give a couple of them a similar test-drive this winter.

[greeneyes]

I have to go now for a while. Be back later. Lord willing and the computer don’t crash.

[trisham]

This was in May and June.:)

[gorush]

Good luck!

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Nepeta:".. deer kept the tomato plants munched down so that I got very few tomatoes."

A couple of weeks ago (9/5), there was an offer of Moruga Scorpion Peppers (hotest scovill units)here on the forum from Ladysforest .
I plan on making a "hot pepper tea" to deter deer,rabbits, woodchucks,squirrels, etc. and other browseing critters.
Probably will need to be reapplied after rainfall.
Tea Recipie: One gallon jug,water ,3-4 hot peppers split with seeds, 4-5 drops of Dawn dishwashing soap (as surfactant), let it brew in sunlight for 4-5 days.
Strain tea to keep out solids , and place in hand sprayer for manual application.

This will be an experimental deterant, as I haven't yet made the tea yet this year.
Moruga Scorpion Peppers alledgedly have 180,000- 2 million scovill units, varies according to maturity and method grown.
The 'heat' is throughout the pepper, but concentrated in the seeds.That is why peppers are split.
Use gloves and protective eyeware-its not for the faint of heart, or for the careless !!