Weekly Garden Thread - August 17-23, 2019

August 17, 2019 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[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.

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[Diana in Wisconsin]

I canned a batch (4 quarts) of Bloody Mary Mix yesterday and this morning I am canning Salsa; should be 10 pints when I’m done, with a little leftover to ‘sample’ at lunch. ;)

I still have a lot of green tomatoes on, but I pawned off all of my currently-ripe cucumbers to the daughter of a friend who is learning to can pickles today with her Aunt. :)

My garden is a MESS, but it’s so humid and sloppy-wet out there that it’s going to have to wait for an upcoming cooler and drier day.

Liz - I have two large heads of red cabbage to use. Got any recipes for me? Nothing too fattening! ;)

[Liz]

I'm exhausted just reading what you've accomplished.

Red cabbage is the quintessential German side dish with roast pork.
I love the sweet/sour flavor combo in this Rachel Ray Sauteed Red Cabbage recipe.

ING 2 tb evo, small onion in slices, 1/2 red cabbage, shredded, 1/3 cup white or apple cider vinegar, 2 rounded tb sugar, tsp mustard seed, S/p

METHOD Heat skillet on med-high. Add oil and onion; saute 2 minutes. Add cabbage, turn in pan, sauteing til it wilts, 3-5 minutes.
Add vinegar; turn cabbage to coat. Sprinkle sugar over; turn again. Add mustard seed, s/p. Reduce heat a bit; cook/stir 10 min til ready to serve.

[Liz]

I'm exhausted just reading what you've accomplished.

Red cabbage is the quintessential German side dish with roast pork.
I love the sweet/sour flavor combo in this Rachel Ray Sauteed Red Cabbage recipe.

ING 2 tb evo, small onion in slices, 1/2 red cabbage, shredded, 1/3 cup white or apple cider vinegar, 2 rounded tb sugar, tsp mustard seed, S/p

METHOD Heat skillet on med-high. Add oil and onion; saute 2 minutes. Add cabbage, turn in pan, sauteing til it wilts, 3-5 minutes.
Add vinegar; turn cabbage to coat. Sprinkle sugar over; turn again. Add mustard seed, s/p. Reduce heat a bit; cook/stir 10 min til ready to serve.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That sounds perfect!

We’re having T-bones on the grill for supper and the remaining Sweet Corn that Beau bought on Saturday. The cabbage will be a great side to that.

Thanks! :)

[Liz]

So glad you liked it, Di.

[Augie]

The report from Central Missouri is much the same as last week - hot and dry with some rainfall over the weekend.

Tomatoes continue to improve, cukes are hanging in there.

One of my Ayers pear trees is so heavy with fruit the lower limbs are literally laying on the ground. It won’t be long before they are ready to pick.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, crud! Mr. Wonderful doesn’t like cooked cabbage; he’s not a Sauerkraut kind of guy, either.

Plan B is to make a Cole Slaw with the cabbage, shredded carrots, some golden raisins and purchased slaw (Marzetti’s) dressing that I bought for another use. (No recipe; I’m just going to wing it.)

Anyhow, that cabbages WILL get used and I’ll make the cooked version for Mom & I when Beau is back to Bear Camp next week. :)

[Liz]

The Cole Slaw sounds delicious....good thinking.

[tubebender]

I have 34 Cinderella Pumpkins this size and smaller on 3 hills (about 6 plants)

[tubebender]

Two more Skunks wandered into my Raccoon traps last night...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yikes! Do you usually have this much trouble with skunks?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[tubebender]

Do you usually have this much trouble with skunks?

Only when I'm trying to catch the Raccoons that destroyed my 2019 corn crop...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I think they’re both conspiring against you this year!

[Califreak]

What? You mean your town doesn't have Wendy's?

[tubebender]

What did say your address was...

[Califreak]

They’re actually kind of cute if they leave stuff alone and don’t spray.

[Black Agnes]

How impossibly cute.

Did they spray the cages?

Or the cage movers?

[Ellendra]

If you leave a skunk in the trap, would the smell keep the coons away?

(Give it food and water, of course)

[tubebender]

I don’t know about the Raccoons but I know it would keep the gardeners away for sure.

Skunks can carry rabies out here in the northwest...