Posted on 11/13/2021 6:31:44 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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.
If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.
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It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.
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The focus below is on Boston but tells a larger story:
Boston didn’t dip below 50 degrees until October 18th this year, 5 days later than the prior record in 2018. We also tied a record for the longest stretch of days with a min of 50 or higher, 141 days (From May 29 to October 18). As of this writing, Boston still hasn’t dropped below 40 degrees, which places 4th latest on record (November 7th, 2017 & 1971 being the latest).
And it isn’t just Boston…the first frost has lagged behind by several weeks for just about all of New England. Concord, New Hampshire didn’t drop to 32 degrees until October 24th, about a month later than average! And way up in Caribou, Maine it took until October 25th to finally hit 32 degrees, well over a month later than average.https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/11/02/boston-2021-growing-season-over-frost-cold-temperatures-nights-massachusetts/
I am for this Climate Change here!
Good Morning All. I am new to dehydrating and was wondering what your favorite thing is to dehydrate or have any tips for me. I have found that so many things I buy go bad before I use them and dehydrating seems to be an answer to that problem. So far I have had success with dehydrating jalapenos, cilantro, and orange slices. The jalapenos and orange slices I ground to a powder for use in soups and stews and baking this winter. I live in SE Texas and have plans to grow some things that I can dehydrate later, like onions, jalapenos, herbs. I haven’t tried jerky yet. Thanks for any input.
Our veggies turned out great this year, especially tomatoes.
Now, all vines are cut and removed. Remaining green tomatoes are turning red and good for salads.
We’re enjoying pasta putanesca, tomatoes bisque and tomato soup (with mandatory cheese sandwiches) and have put away enough of each to last through next April...
Welcome, Uptowngirl!
My favorite thing to dehydrate are the ‘Juliet’ variety of tomatoes for Sun Dried Tomatoes that I dry with Italian Seasoning on them, then put in ziplock bags and keep in the freezer. We like them on salads, in soups and casseroles, just for snacking, or re-constituted with EVOO for use on pizza or bruschetta.
https://www.totallytomato.com/product/T00400/9
Beau is a major hunter so we always have TONS of ground meat around here, so making Jerky is a ‘thing’ at our house. I would encourage you to give it a try.
We have a Presto dehydrator that I treated us to a few years ago. LOVE it. #06301
https://www.gopresto.com/product/category/dehydrators
I got an early morning text (as I was pouring my very first cup of coffee) with good news ... we’ll be “processing” again this week. That 22 lb frozen turkey is really messing up the room in the freezer - a bit too early to start thawing - major rearranging is going to have to happen. It’s a gorgeous fall day here, so those in the woods early are getting a real treat.
Tomorrow is “leaf” day. I have a firm commitment from the bro & his mower/bagger to get up the leaves & fill up the compost bin. Since I am hobbling around with this stinkin’ sciatica issue, I definitely need the help! He was also researching alternatives for me and my mower(s).
Mini-rant: I love my JD mower(s); however, WHY do they always have to make things so complicated and expensive? A “bagger” for my mower was about $3K last time I looked into it, has to be installed by the dealer AND is not something you can take off when you don’t need it. It makes the mower so wide, it would not fit in the pole barn, nor could I mow around almost all the bushes/landscaping - dad spaced all that he’s planted for a 48” deck & without the bagger attachment, the deck is 60” which is also problematic. JD claims you need this “power” attachment to shoot the leaves/grass back into the ‘bins’. Most mowers just attach a plastic chute & it works fine.
Anyway, we are NOT spending any more money for “baggers” plus my brother saw some ideas that likely would work with his mower (less than $100) & at least one of mine - we still have the 48” deck tractor-style mower in addition to the 60” zero turn so I can use either for leaves.
Yesterday, I woke up with no “brain fog” after my week of whatever bug it was that I came down with the Friday before. It was also the first day I did not experience the crushing fatigue that had me taking naps every day & going to bed at 7:30 every night. I feel like myself again. I have exercises for the sciatica that work, I just have to start doing them regularly a couple of times a day .... with the ‘bug’ going on last week, I just didn’t do them and I’m paying the price for it. This too shall pass :-)
Company coming today, so I have some work to do in the house - we had “surprise” company Thursday which really messed up the day, but that scenario had the bonus of forcing vacuuming, dusting, & bathroom cleaning so I do not have to do it today, just some “touchup” stuff.
Have a great weekend!
P.S. I still have lots of healthy kale out in the garden and salad greens growing in the greenhouse.
Diana likes to say it’s impossible to hijack this thread, but I’d like to try. What is the best way to paint or seal regular old lumber — not pressure treated, just cheap pine — against the elements? I’m making two septic tank covers with a square frame of 2x6s and a row of 1x8s for the top. They will sit atop a platform of regular red brick, i.e., no ground cotact. What’s the best way to seal the wood against the elements? Appearance doesn’t matter; I just want the wood to last as long as possible. Any suggestions? Thanks! PS: I live in the desert, with very hot, dry weather and a 6-week monsoon season. Moisture is not a problem, but unrelenting sun and heat could be.
I am dealing with all of the small ones that we dug weeks ago and are sprouting a little bit. I am going to make a big batch of 'Garlic Mashers' which means I boil them with the skins on, then mash them with GOBS Of garlic, butter and cream, then package them in meal-size servings and freeze. Heaven on a plate!
Next year may be different; potatoes LOVED our dry season, but I am going to try German Butterball and Red Norland again. Both are proving to be great varieties for us here in Zone 4/5.
Amen!
Longer growing season, lower heating bills, less wear and tear on the cars, time to clean up outside and get ready for winter.
What’s not to like?
I have almost got my garden all ready for the spring. There are a few more things to do but the nice weather forecast for the next week will allow for that.
We’ll be cleaning our chimney and putting the snow tires on the cars in the next week, and having the wood stove all ready for firing up.
I’ve done garlic, but the hardneck garlic has bigger cloves so it’s worth slicing them up and doing that.
However, windows do need to be open for that. The first day or so will burn your eyes out.
I consulted my ‘resident expert’ and he said that your best bet to protect the plywood is to find yourself some WHITE paint (for the most reflectivity) that is house paint with the highest UV rating you can find.
Since you live in the desert, you probably should be able to find that locally because it would be pretty standard for house paint in your area.
My advice? Always find the OLDEST geezer working at the Hardware Store and ask HIM what to do. ;)
The only thing I know of to protect wood from the sun/UV is spar varnish. It needs to have the UV blockers in it.
It’s not cheap but there really isn’t much that can hold up to that kind of sun. Regular paint just doesn’t have quite the durability.
If you wanted paint, obviously a light color to reflect as much sunlight as possible, but a good house paint of floor/decking paint could work, too, but I doubt it’s going to be much cheaper than the spar varnish.
Paris Hilton’s lavish wedding reception featured gold-leaf gold-leaf wrapped baked potatoes.
Gold sheets are very fragile.......get the same effect with gold foil.
Pink is her fave color so they poured pink champagne over pink sherbet.......bridesmaids wore pink.
Good Morning! :-)
I have done quite a bit if turkey jerky in the past, and every year I dehydrate San Marzano tomatoes and keep them in 3 or 4 Ziplocs in the fridge bin. I do that when I get sick of canning.
Leftover heaven..........the Thanksgiving sandwich.
LOL, my dehydrator was a Christmas gift from hubby as a newlywed 1978 . It’s still growing strong. I got a wok too, see where this was going. The way to a man’s heart.......
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