Posted on 01/01/2026 5:52:41 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a 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.
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Made those zucchini boats yesterday. Could only find young zucchini at the store but they turned out great. It’s been ages since I made them.
Love your Howard posts!
Glad you enjoyed the zucchini recipe.
Howard is a very handsome dog.
1 hour in the oven was perfect some crunch in the bottom half of the zucchini. And I used sliced smoked provolone and then before serving a sprinkle of parmesan. I grow a limited amount of zucchini each year. (Ha!) or try to. I just peel and shred and freeze for zucchini bread.
Love your version of the zucchini recipe.
Wow that is high praise coming from you. 😌
Zucchini Biscuits
Easy, warm, cheesy delicious do ahead--make/bake/freeze. Rewarm when needed.
Ing 1 ¼ c shredded zucchini 2 c flour 1 ½ TBS b/powder 1 tsp s/p ½ tsp gar/powder 1-2 dashes red pepper flakes ¼ c butter in small cubes 1 c whole milk 1 egg 1 ½ cups shredded cheese combo-cheddar blend, Parm, Mozzarella. Topping: garlic paste or powder mixed w/ 3 TBS melted butter
Instructions Shred zucchini w/ skin on using box grater. Drain well in colander. Press down to squeeze-out and blot liquid; as much as you can, to make light biscuits. Batter: combine flour, b/powder, cut in butter cubes til crumbly. Mix in whisked egg/milk/cheese/zucchini just til incorporated. Do not overmix. Ice cream scoop dough 2" apart on parchmented b/sheet. Bake 400-deg 20 min; tops begin to turn golden. With 3-5 min left to bake, quickly pull out biscuits; liberally brush tops w/ garlic butter, then finish baking. Serve warm.
Chef Notes: press out liquid from shredded zucchini before using. Drain an hour in colander; press w/ paper towels. A little salt pulls out liquid. Once formed, bake right away on parchment for fluffiest biscuits.
Not sure if I posted my latest vehicle woes or not. Transmission went out on the Trailblazer I bought back in Sept. I was hoping 2005 was new enough to not have what was a common issue with them but I guess not. The fluid pump goes bad on them. Have to take the transmission out and half disassemble it at which point you might as well just rebuild it. Will have to wait for warm weather.
Same with the Chevy truck that lost oil pressure that will need an engine rebuild.
Been getting by with the Focus which has electrical issues. Bought a spare battery and keep it in the trunk. Can’t run the heater fan though so there’s been a few cold trips to work at 4am.
Bought an old 1991 F-150 yesterday. Point A to point B with good heat and I can tow/haul stuff again.
My Mama, God rest her soul, loved the figs from the trees that her (very legal) immigrant parents planted. I wasn’t a fan, but then, I was a kid. Turned my nose up at plenty of (food) things, and learned the hard way to stop doing that.
Now I enjoy figs! ;)
I LOVE pickled watermelon rind! Not sure if I can still have it, since I’m allergic to watermelon now - a sad fact of being overexposed as a youngster. It might be worth the try! They are pickled after all!! It might be enough of a difference that a Benadryl and some Zantac (two different allergen receptors) might stave off the need for an epi-pen, which I would be sooo happy to test as long as hubby agrees. It would be really cool if I could have something watermelon again. He might not agree.
Super cute! I was wondering how Howard has been doing!
*** In 1976, she was diagnosed with leukemia and was treated regularly in La Jolla, California. ***
Thanks for sharing that.
Many years ago, our pastor, a Monsignor, died from complications of leukemia. We all loved him dearly.
There was a bone marrow drive for him when we learned of his diagnosis, and although no one was a match for him, there WAS a match for a 5 year old near us! He happened to go to my kids’ parochial grade school, and then a year or two later, we moved, and discovered that he and his family were our NEXT DOOR neighbors. Lovely family!
Monsignor passed, but the 5 year old became an adult while we still lived there. I’ve lost track of the family, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the boy, now a man, is still very much alive. At least, I hope so.
Omg, our family LOVES Bob Ross! Happy little trees! 😍
I find his shows to be SO meditative!
Vietnam Veteran. And he had a lovely couple that took in all of his paintings when he passed and found a museum for his art.
https://www.heirloomsathome.com/expanded-bob-ross-museum-exhibit/
Bob Ross, as far as I am concerned, is an American treasure. ❤️
"Yes, watermelon rind can cause the same allergic reaction as the red flesh, because the allergenic proteins are present in both parts of the fruit.
Key allergens such as malate dehydrogenase, profilin, and triosephosphate isomerase are found not only in the flesh but also in the rind and seeds. A clinical case study confirmed IgE reactivity to protein extracts from both the pulp and the inner part of the rind, indicating that allergic individuals may react to either or both parts.
Additionally, some people may experience oral allergy syndrome (OAS) when consuming raw watermelon, and symptoms can occur regardless of whether the flesh or rind is eaten—especially if the rind is consumed raw or in pickled form.
Therefore, individuals with a diagnosed watermelon allergy are generally advised to avoid all parts of the fruit, including the rind."
In a 5 gallon pot you want to keep the trees small, prune in the winter to about 40 inches tall with perhaps a schedule of 3 or 4 short lateral branches. (There are youtubes on this) Keeping them short also makes them easier to move and store in a Dark place overwinter. (You do not want them to break dormancy in January or February and begin to bud out!)
Production depends on fertilization. The Millenial Gardener has a good schedule for fertilizing I have used the fertilization schedule shown in this video with good results.
Millenial Gardener Fertilizing figs
I once had about 30 varieties. These are the ones that I retained after giving most of the others away. (They are all common figs, no wasp needed for pollination)
Campaniere
Cavalier
I 258 (Italian 258)
LSU Tiger
Improved Celeste
Borjasotte Gris
Any of the figs shown above could be grown in pots. I 258 and Borjasotte Gris are probably my favorites.
Another good choice...Violette De Bordeaux... would be another good choice.
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Youtube as a resource. There are a large number of videos showing fig varieties. Figaholics has a large number of variety reviews:
You can see some of these varieties in this video : (I 258, LSU Tiger, Improved Celeste, Borjasotte Gris).
Youtube Peaceful Heritage Nursery cold hardy figs
I know you want figs in pots, but for anyone else looking at this they should note how he grows his In Ground figs for production; He prunes the main stem low, bending or training 3 lateral branche with weights, then allowing upward scaffolds to form on those branches.
You should also note that he provides fencing on the sides of his greenhouse to protect the figs from raccoons and opposum that I know you have in the Shannandoah valley. Be aware of these animal thieves before you invest a lot of time and money on your figs! An in-ground that survives the winters and gets large may allow you to out-produce their predation. (Look at the time! Good night!)
Ok, thank you! I’m so sad.
If I ever get to Heaven, maybe I can eat watermelon again there! Or maybe I won’t care.
Thank you very much!
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