Posted on 08/28/2015 1:33:15 PM PDT by greeneyes
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These pics are from last spring.
This is what our little whistlepig (groundchuck) did to our purple velour beans:
He also ate all of the blossoms from two containers of petunias, and did some damage to the greens on our radishes!
How is your leg now?
If you’re headed to the Runge Nature Center, it’s west of St. Louis and safe enough. We’ve been there a couple of times and it’s very cool.
MDC has many well cared for recreation areas and some that are “natural.”
The Fiery Fork area and Burnt Mill Cave properties are as wild as they were when Daniel Boone came through...
how do you can zucchini and cucumbers? I had way too many this year. I didn’t think I could store them - can or freeze - without making a mush!
We’re still hitting near 100° every day, and that’s still at 6:00 PM!!!
76° is our daily low - if we’re lucky!!!
Mums the word...
I want to grow Mums for the fall. Is it best to start from seed or plantings?
I want to grow about 36 of them and place them all around my yard. I know that they will die at frost, but I plan on keeping some inside for a short while.
I always buy them at a premium and thought now would be a good time to start thinking of late October color.
Your help and input would be appreciated.
Thanks, I’ll have to look it up. Can’t remember anything these days. We are on the mailing list thanks to our grand daughter - when she was in third grade she signed up and put down our address. LOL
You are welcome. Glad to be of service.
I pickle them in a water bath canner. Zukes make the best pickle spears - recipes are in the Ball Blue Book of canning and preserving. It’s my Bible of canning.
Oh I forgot. Make sure you trim off the blossom end on your cukes or it will be mushy. Some also add a grape leaf, or use pickle crisp - most walmarts have it.
I particularly like to take a batch of cukes and cover them with vinegar, water, salt, garlic, mustard seed, black peppercorns and a pinch of sugar or stevia. Layer the cukes with sliced red onions makes a good fresh veggie side dish or add on top of your salad. Make about a half gallon at a time - we eat it fast.
I do understand your pain. August is usually full of dog - days like that here. Just this year has been very strange with lots more rain than usual too.
In fact, the people at the farmer’s market are saying that’s why the tomatoes and zukes aren’t doing well - too much water.
Our record spring rainfalls quickly evaporated into dust starting in June.
Well, I have no experience with mums really. I usually buy one big pretty pot full from Walmart, and stick it inside a cement pot standing on the front porch. That’s it. I do think they are pretty, but I barely have time or energy for veggies right now.
Hoping that someone else will chime in. Maybe tubebender knows - his wife grows all sorts of flowers.
I would send some rain to you if I could.
Thanks Greeneyes, my veggies are on their last leg. I am looking to bring some new life into the garden as we transition into fall.
My two compost bins are doing great.
That’s good. Hubby has been delightedly using his chipper to grind up leaves and tree limbs and putting them into a big pile with chicken wire around it.
If I get any energy, I’ll probably plant some beets and carrots and maybe get the beds ready for the winter ground cover - probably just rye this year, as I have lots of seed on hand for that.
Oh, right, pickles duh!
I was thinking of the behemoth cucumbers I’ve been growing! next year I hope to catch them earlier ;)
you grow rye? I would love to do that! the rye flour around here is expensive- so probably old! I can’t find rye berries at all.
Lady Bender says Mums are a fall planting here and and they last until frost. She buys established plants and puts them in pots on the deck. Our close proximity to Humboldt Bay and the Pacific ocean are tough on the blossoms including Marigolds. Your mileage amy vary...
It got up to a near record high of 77 degrees here in Benderville 2 days ago...
Thank you. I am just looking for a cheaper way to grow them. Imay go visit a commercial grower and buy a tray or two.
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