Posted on 01/20/2012 9:56:41 AM PST by JustaDumbBlonde
It was just a couple of weeks ago that I was really glad that the last of my garden had frozen. Being blessed with a long growing season is not always what it's cracked-up to be. You understand ... gardening is hard work! When it lasts from March or April until December, it can get tedious.
Then, yesterday, my first order of seeds that I don't need came in from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds. Four beautiful little envelopes that sound like maracas; Baby Lincoln Leeks, Tres Fine Maraichere Endive, Beaumont Broccoli, and Large Fruited Mixture Ornamental Gourds.
I am stoked.
Yep, that's all it takes to get the soil coursing through my veins once again. Newspaper pots are about to be made ... my plastic trays need to be washed in a sudsy bleach solution. Clean off a couple of shelves in the garage and hang up the grow lights. Now, if I could just remember where I put that 55 quart bag of moisture control potting soil ...
.
.
Last week, the Weekly Gardening Thread welcomed the 500th member of the ping list. What a great way to begin our 2012 gardening season! More members = more information to share. Let's grow!
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.
This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you wont be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isnt asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!
I will get sprouts to set out locally from our hardware store (brocolli and cabbage). Last year the brocolli variety I planted had no worms, which is extremely unusual. I forget the name, though. I let one head go to seed so I could possibly plant it this year, but of course I can’t find where I put them. Anyway, the brocolli variety only put out the central head, rather than the central head with off-shoots, which also is unusual. If I put out a different variety this year, it’ll be OK for that reason.
I start tomatoes, squash, cukes, pumpkins, and peppers from peat moss starter cups. Dixie Lee peas, 6 weeks peas, butter beans, green beans, and corn are direct planted. Usually I’ll buy 3 or 4 specimens of a particular tomato variety that I can’t get the seeds for: Parks Whopper. Best tomato I’ve ever grown, hands down.
Will a Home Owners policy cover this expense? It must be darned expensive with the tear out and rebuilding. Nice looking home btw...
No problem on me having a garden!
But we will have to put up $500 non refundable deposit for having Cashmere ... I can understand that. But thought it was high. She likes her new store and her job. But told me that Wal-Mart is not helping money wise in our move! I am so pissed off about that! We are not wealthy and this move will be very difficult for us.
The cutout we did yesterday was at an apartment complex, and insurance on properties like those may be different. That building may look nice, but the place is really a dump. When we removed the wooden shakes and began cutting the honeycomb out, we discovered that it was attached to the back of the sheetrock walls. There was no insulation whatsoever, and we further discovered that the hive was built totally around electrical wiring and outlet boxes. Had the building been insulated, there would have been no room for the bees to ever build a hive.
The apartments were not far from Grambling University and most of the tenants appeared to be students. Cars in the parking lot with student parking stickers.
Thanks for the photo updates! Are you going to thin your corn? The brussel sprouts are beautiful.
It is really chintzy of WalMart to decline some reimbursement for the move.
Thanks for the photo updates! Are you going to thin your corn?
Yes when I get done weeding the watermellon patch.. It’s taking forever.. I hate hurting.. I still have about a 20’ X 20’ spot to do... I will get it.. It just takes me a while.
We have the strangest damn thing going on here. Yesterday our yard was full of birds as usual but today there is not one to bee seen! I think it has to do with the burst of solar radiation that was reported yesterday but my wife thinks we are going to have earthquake??????????
IT is unusually hot where I live all of a sudden.I heard the solar flare thing could cause cell phone grid failures has it happened yet? Your wife could be right.
It IS 2012...
Fresh vegetables are the best, but don't push it...
My wife roasts brussels sprouts with olive oil and butter...droooool.
I’ll bet B’sprouts would be great with corned beef... My wife cuts a cross in the core end and steams them and I smother them in butter
My wife roasts brussels sprouts with olive oil and butter...droooool.
My X taught me to par boil them, Stick them in a baking dish, Cover them with Hunt’s Tomato sauce and top them with Velvita(sp) cheese... Bake at 350 for about 30 mins till they pass the fork test! Damn fine...
I also heard about the way you do them but cutting them in 1/2 first.. Sounds good. I always pick them early, The baby ones have a better taste and are not as bitter.. Most of these will be eaten by my sister and her husband who are down. They got out of the cold for a little while! 81 degrees today in South FL! WOOO HOOO...
Have fun!
It may not be 81 around New England today, but I'll take low 50's with no snow on the ground in late January ANY time. Pepper and cauliflower seedlings looking good...
Corned beef and cabbage is what they call a 'boiled dinner' around these parts...adding brussels sprouts as a side would make it a real serious 'book of matches' night, since we can't open windows this time of year. :-)
Jonny Brussell Sprouts:
Heat olive oil and diced garlic and/or shallots in a pan
(Not too hot - be gentle with olive oil)
Place BS halves flat side down on top of garlic/shallots
Sprinkle with dash of salt, pepper, sometimes cayenne pepper
Add dash of key lime juice to generate steam
Steam/saute - not too hot - until flat sides are browned and tops are cooked
Add butter and more keylime juice @ 2 minutes before plating
Serve with steak and rosemarie roasted new potatoes
yum!
83 up here today. Earlier in the week I figured we’re about done for the winter, put the bananas back outside (still in pots though, just in case) and trimmed the berries and the peach trees. Not quite sure what to do about pruning the apple tree, it certainly needs it but I’m seeing buds and some new growth, I guess I’m not going to get a dormant period this year.
Won’t be getting blueberries from the looks of it. We got about half the chill hours of the least “needy” variety. Hopefully they’ll put their energy into growing instead. The cuttings, along with root cuttings from the blackberries, went into the fridge out back in hopes of getting some new sprouts for hedges and fence rows.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.