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WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 24 JUNE 14, 2013
f | June 14, 2013 | greeneyes

Posted on 06/14/2013 12:44:34 PM PDT by greeneyes

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 won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t 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!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; food; gardening; hobby
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To: Nepeta

“Ike made it all the way to Ohio, with the winds of a Cat 1 storm. My power was out for 4 days.”

That storm was huge and power packed. My power was off but I had a battery set up for a small portable TV so I was able to watch it’s destructive path as it traveled to the northern states.

About a month after the storm, we traveled into Houston and from my house into Houston, there were blue tarps over roofs all the way in. It was one after another of blue tarps over businesses and houses where roofs had blown off or trees had crashed into them. When I saw that, I was so glad my roof stayed on. It’s a tile roof so maybe those heavier tiles stayed on better than regular roofing material.

It’s been five years in September since Ike came through. I doubt I will get through this hurricane season without one coming near or through.

We had a property owners meeting a week or so ago, and I reminded all there this is hurricane season and buy provisions now instead of having to rush to the stores with thousands of other people. They just don’t store anything and my words probably went over their heads.


321 posted on 06/20/2013 10:37:08 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: tillacum

I’m not a big greens fan, but I will mix them in a salad, or use them in place of lettuce on a sandwich in a pinch.


322 posted on 06/20/2013 1:36:20 PM PDT by Darth Reardon (Is it any wonder I'm not the president?)
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To: Silentgypsy; JRandomFreeper; greeneyes
Well, I'm not buying regular potato slips to have potatoes. I'm planting Jerusalem Sunflowers as they make an edible root like a potato to eat raw or cook, and they are perennial so that's potatoes growing every year. Not sure if the seeds are confectionery or black. I'll plant the short Sunflowers for the black seed and use whichever seeds the Jerusalem Sunflower has. I did not know the Jerusalem Artichoke was really a Sunflower root.

I'll write this again on tomorrow's new gardening thread. Since I have just been reading about this, I wanted to communicate it.

323 posted on 06/20/2013 2:54:42 PM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella

Are you growing the sunflower for seeds to eat or for oil? It will be interesting to hear how it turns out.


324 posted on 06/21/2013 2:08:50 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Silentgypsy

Turn it under in the fall, or pull and add to the compost pile.


325 posted on 06/21/2013 2:09:35 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

Very interesting.


326 posted on 06/21/2013 2:21:28 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

The short Sunflowers are black seed and they are for oil. The Jerusalem Artichokes are for eating the root and I don’t know if those seeds are black or striped. If they are striped, they are for seed eating.


327 posted on 06/21/2013 5:52:44 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: greeneyes

Thanks!


328 posted on 06/21/2013 7:46:46 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Marcella

Wow! Do you know how they taste? I just dehydrated a bunch of zucchini chips yesterday, and they taste pretty darned good as is (original intent to use in casseroles and stuff). Thanks for posting this!


329 posted on 06/21/2013 7:55:10 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Silentgypsy

“Wow! Do you know how they taste?”

I found a comment about how they taste and I’ll look that up again to be sure I get it right. It was from a seed place and I saved that website in my favorites.

I had heard of Jerusalem Artichokes being a good food, but had no idea it came from a Sunflower. I saw a pictue of roots for planting and they look like knoby bumbs. The directons for planting is to cut the knobs in half, I think it was, and plant. Will find that, too.


330 posted on 06/21/2013 8:14:47 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Silentgypsy
Taste of Jerusalem artichokes: This comes from an expert on Jerusalem artichokes:

“The Jerusalem artichoke looks like a nubby new potato. Inside the dusty brown skin is a creamy white, crisp and sweet interior with a taste that is very much like a water chestnut or perhaps a jicama. (Others liken it to artichoke hearts.)”

331 posted on 06/21/2013 8:42:16 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Silentgypsy
The variety “Fuseau” is not bumpy, it's the one to buy. Here is the description:

Jerusalem Artichoke - Fuseau

“Jerusalem Artichoke Fuseau is a larger, smooth-skinned variety, easy to peel. Try roasted with pork or as a soup. Expect about 4lb/2kg per root.

Belonging to the Sunflower family, they can be grown as an informal summer screen, before harvesting the hardy roots in winter.”

If you go here, you can see it's as big as a potato without bumps (this seed company is out of them at the moment. They ship in mid-March/April):

http://www.marshalls-seeds.ie/jerusalem-artichoke-fuseau-pid2438.html#reviews

332 posted on 06/21/2013 8:57:39 AM PDT by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.)
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To: Marcella

Like jicama? Be still, my heart! (Well, not too still.)


333 posted on 06/21/2013 10:57:57 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Marcella

I’m in west TN, so we do have tornadoes. I lived on the east coast for 36 years, and I recall the hurricanes. Then I went to the desert for 30+ years and dessicated between dust storms. Having lived in an inner urban environment, I prefer to take my chances w/tornadoes as opposed to dealing with speed freaks, heroin addicts and urban youts. I’m too old for that stuff now. (The crust old bat has spoken *giggle*.)


334 posted on 06/21/2013 11:07:04 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Alice in Wonderland

What beach was that? It doesn’t look at all familiar to me. (I only knew Brighton, Coney Island and Rockaway.)


335 posted on 06/21/2013 11:09:11 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Marcella
I have a healthy respect for water because it can be deadly.

I was a good swimmer (junior lifeguard nicknamed "Torpedo") and I never went out past my waist in the ocean. The undertow was insidious. You can learn a lot of life skills from water.

336 posted on 06/21/2013 11:12:23 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Darth Reardon

I harvest kale when the leaves are young and tender without bitterness. I steam it and fold it into mac and cheese and other casseroles for color and nutritive value.


337 posted on 06/21/2013 11:15:59 AM PDT by Silentgypsy
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To: Silentgypsy

Rockaway - Beach 117th


338 posted on 06/21/2013 2:19:52 PM PDT by Alice in Wonderland
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To: Silentgypsy
The undertow was insidious.

The waves aren't too friendly either. About every seventh is what I call a 'super wave' ... a double or even triple wave that can be dangerous. I've gotten caught up in them, been tossed like a rag doll along the bottom, scraping across shells. Not fun.

339 posted on 06/21/2013 2:36:31 PM PDT by Alice in Wonderland
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To: Alice in Wonderland

That’s why I didn’t go deeper than waist. I never counted the waves but I did get tossed around a lot. I enjoyed it most of the time, though. Those sharp shells did hurt.


340 posted on 06/21/2013 2:40:54 PM PDT by Silentgypsy
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