Posted on 08/01/2014 12:20:34 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.
Your mileage may vary. Batteries not included. No animals were harmed (maimed, anyway) in the creation of this post.
/johnny
What?!?!?!?
I figured you as a guy who would have a small nuclear device or WWII flame thrower. Turn that sand to glass and take no prisoner nematodes.
I read that sometimes male solitary bees will sleep in trombetta blossoms waiting for a female to show up to get some birds and bees action going.
Hmm, I haven't noticed that, but I tend to squirt stuff with 90% rubbing alcohol to get it really clean..wash with detergent and hot water, rinse, squirt with alcohol, wait about fifteen-20 seconds, and rinse again..
My one friend jokes that my kitchen smells like a doctor's office. I have a trombetta to zoodle, or do something with tomorrow. I will see if I notice any weird film.
I juice stuff alot, and IIRC, cukes, and lemons are a little "filmy" on the cutting board.
That’s so great. Good eats for the winter!
Sorry to hear about the tomatoes. Work is good when you can get it. Hubby has managed to do pretty good this summer finishing concrete, even in a bad economy.
I like those yukon gold potatoes. Haven’t ever grown any. We are overdue on digging our potatoes, but Hubby keeps saying they will last a while longer in the ground.
We found a couple more ears of corn today, but I still have several ears that I cooked a day or so ago. I am thinking about going ahead and making a pasta premivera with corn instead of peas to make sure and use up what’s cooked.
What adventures! Hubby inadvertently had a chicken wing in his compost pile. Something got in there and collapsed the wire fence, and was trapped. Then it tore 2 holes in the wire and escaped.
We suspect a big racoon. Something got all the grapes on the lower rung of the vines last year. He set a live trap and captured a smallish coon. Set the trap again, and the next day, the door was mangled and the trap bent. So we think we have a large one hanging out.
I really don’t like roosters, due to being flogged viciously when I was just a youngun. I was born in Hill Billy Country, so I guess I have always been one.LOL
Sounds like a very productive garden this year. I always get worn out by August, and don’t usually think about planting anything till fall. Winter wheat, garlic, a few cover crops.
Hubby on the other hand just finished his newest garden plot and was raring to go. So he’s been a busy little bee planting and harvesting.
We have more summer squash than we can possibly eat. Last year I pickled some, but I don’t think he ever ate even one. He keeps asking me how I can preserve them, and could I pickle them, and I keep asking him if he likes them pickled.LOL
I did promise that I would pickle a batch of zuke spears. Told hime we only needed a couple of plants. He planted 12 plants. Can you imagine what I’m probably going to have later this year?
What I don’t understand is how come we get such good growth of squash and zip canteloupe and watermelon? I know one thing, I am never planting another pea. Just not worth the effort. Got may\be 3 pods.
Wasn’t worried about climate, but just thought you could help twyn1 with general tips & tricks on garlic culture.
Sorry to hear about the rust problem. Besides new stock, do you need to do anything to the soil to prevent a new outbreak in the replacement stock?
So far, no raccoons. We do not see dead ones on the highway, either. Coyotes, wolves, porcupines, etc., yes. We have various sizes of traps and lead-projectile tools to ward off various varmints. ;)
We did not plan on having a rooster. He is on probation. If he is hard on the hens, Freezer Camp. I have the recipes and canner to make them “useful”, one way or another. I developed a moderate allergy to eggs when my hormones went insane. My GYN thinks the soy in their diets is the cause. Soy is a hormone nightmare. I cannot ingest that, eith byer. I have read many success stories of those who raised soy-free chickens could eat their eggs. I am probably overoptimistic, yet I want an egg salad sammich with a vengeance. I really miss eggs. I have plenty of people to eat them if it does not work out.
One side of my family is Irish Okie/Hillbilly and the other from County Mayo Ireland. Proud of my ancestry. Good people. ;)
Most gardeners roll over and wet themselves over clubroot. The soil is said to be contaminated for 3, 7, or forever-years. I do not agree. Ed Smith’s book say to bring the soil up to a pH of at least 7.2, use compost and no manure and solarize the soil.
I like the flame-thrower idea better. Wood ash and/or lime raises the pH, the scorched Earth idea has some validity? (ornery grin) Wood ash gives 1/3 calcium, and the highest amounts of potassium and magnesium compared to calcitic or dolomitic limestone. Turn the area with the fungus into a big BBQ pit for a while? Roast a pig there on wood chips? Just throwing out some ideas...
Exactly! But mine were pitiful! LOL! But I was just tickled that the silly things grew at all! I need to prep the soil better next time. It was not loose enough, and I didn’t do a concerted effort to feed. Water was good, but the poor thing was probably hungry and its toes were not free to stretch!
Daikon is good shredded and steamed. I like it raw. I cut it up into match stickes about the size of the baby carrots you get in stores, and use it in veggie dips along with the carrots, celery, and cauliflower, etc.
LOL! well, in my case at my rate of production, 12 zuke plants would be about right! LOL! However in your case, it is a horrifying thought! I hope your churches and community love zuke!
I have not even had the temerity to try cantaloup and watermelon.
LOL! I did some snow peas early in the season under a tree. I got several pods, but were not really as productive as I might hope for. I think I might give them a rest too, at least for next year. Not sure why I havent given up on squash yet though.
I read that sometimes male solitary bees will sleep in trombetta blossoms waiting for a female to show up to get some birds and bees action going.
**************************
Well, with all the bees snuggled up in blooms that I’ve got, it must be the local “Bees Knees Motel” .... I’m going to have to start charging rent!
Okay, I sliced and diced a trombetta today, and I have to report there was no film on the cutting board, knife, peeler, or my hands. The trombetta I used was one I harvested three days ago, and it wasn’t refrigerated during that time, so I am guessing the film has something to do with your Trombettas being juicier, newly harvested, or something else...more water as they grew??
Okay, I sliced and diced a trombetta today, and I have to report there was no film on the cutting board, knife, peeler, or my hands.
******************************
VERY strange - mine were sitting on the counter a couple of days, a couple of them over a week. The weird juice situation appears to have gotten worse over time - I don’t recall the first trombettas harvested having this juice ‘problem’. I have at least two small ones on the vines - next time I’ll take pics of what the juice does on my hands.
I checked the garden a little while ago - I have several cucuzza babies that are growing rapidly - maybe up to 6 inches long already so I’m thinking some pollination took place! It seems to be feast or famine - too many or not enough. I like the cucuzza better for the stew so I hope I get some this time.
"Free Republic is here to continue fighting for independence and freedom and against the unconstitutional encroachment of ever expanding socialist government...
We believe in the founding principles with all our hearts and mean to defend them to our dying breath..."
~Jim Robinson
Please support Free Republic
click the pic!
Just saw this - looks good, uses Trombetta & I have a ton of tomatoes to use up:
http://notonlypizza.com/?p=2356#more-2356
“Before the summer finishes, I want to share this amazing vegetable gratin dish with you. My interest in this recipe started as a way to get rid of my mountains of zucchini and trombetta di Albenga squash. Instead it became my favorite summer dish.”
Saw this recipe at that site, too. Both recipes sound pretty good to me.
http://notonlypizza.com/?p=1485
Trying to not look at the bacon dip, or fudge recipe I saw in the sidebar at that site.
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.