Weekly Garden Thread - June 24-30, 2023 [Talkin' Tomatoes Edition]

June 24, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You need a hunting- breed puppy on your porch! Arikara spotted and treed her first squirrel this morning.

She’s only 14 weeks old, so that bodes well for her future in The Pack. :)

I have a chipmunk living in my greenhouse - but so far all he’s doing is digging holes and planting sunflower seeds he’s stealing from under the bird feeder, so no harm, no foul. I’m sure if I were over-run, I’d be feeling differently. ;)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Bon! You are correct, belladona family!

Angels-trumpet-Brugmansia

Angel Trumpet Toxic Effects

(Excerpt!) snip..."How toxic are angel’s trumpets?

Although the angel’s trumpet plant is beautiful to look at, certain alkaloids in the leaves, flowers, and seeds are considered toxic, including:

atropine
scopolamine
hyoscyamine

All three compounds are anticholinergicTrusted Source, which means that they block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a compound responsible for nerve transmission in the nervous system. As a result, anticholinergic compounds can inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system and affect the heart, digestive system, and more.

According to researchTrusted Source, ingesting as few as 10 flowers of the angel’s trumpet plant can result in death from toxicity."...SNIP

SNIP..."(Discussion of Medicinal aspects of compounds, hallucinogenic effects, poisoning symptoms etc.... Although the angel’s trumpet plant can be a gorgeous addition to any garden or greenhouse, it’s important to understand that this plant contains compounds that are toxic to humans and animals. Ingesting the leaves, flowers, or seeds of the angel’s trumpet plant can lead to severe poisoning — or in some cases, death."

[Pollard]

Been reading good things about Espoma brand

[Pollard]

As of today's forecast, both Thurs and Fri, a high of 102 degrees.

Global Regional Warming but only for a couple of days. The cattle around here are all gonna fart/burp at the same time Thursday morning I guess. /s

[Qiviut]

We have the first chipmunk I have seen in years. I think he might be eating some of mom’s flowers (seed heads).

The squirrels have gotten very ‘cheeky’ lately. We used to have a pair of red-shouldered hawks that patrolled overhead & nested in the woods bordering the front pasture where my garden is located. They are large hawks & went after the chickens sometimes. No squirrel in his right mind would dare venture out into an open space (my garden is out in the open) with the hawks around.

About 3 years ago, the hawks moved their nest to a nearby neighborhood that was overrun with squirrels & easier hunting. Gradually, the squirrels around here have gotten complacent & are venturing out into the open rather boldly (and are making it to my garden).

My SIL’s Collie keeps their yard/garden squirrel free. The deer stay out of their yard as well. My garden is a bit too far for her to keep an eye on it for me, along with her own yard.

Harvested the first Dragon Egg cukes this morning! I also pulled some of the larger Tokyo White scallions. The ‘regular’ onions are getting big enough to be harvested - my SIL was a bit ahead of me planting onions & she is pulling some of hers that are a decent size, so mine should be close.

Deep into all things ‘herbs’ - getting a list of what I want to plant next year, also herbs that flower & are deer resistant so we can replace some of the plants they are currently eating to the ground.

With all the rain, the huge borage got heavy & some branches were on the ground & all over other plants - propped it up with a trellis, so it’s still a happening place for the bees. Next year, I will allow more room for a borage, maybe 2 ... I really love them.

[TheConservativeParty]

Yes indeed. The Tomato-Tone is an Espoma product. A nice garden thread poster recommended it. It was different than I expected, is applied dry and worked into the soil. Expected to mix it up in water like fertilizer. Supposed to apply every 2 weeks. I hope to have a healthy crop of tomatoes to pick in a few weeks. Flowers blooming now.

[TheConservativeParty]

Wasn’t it great to get rain last night! The lawn looks refreshed. Had some wind but minimal damage, things like snapdragons that have heavy flowers and not so strong stems. My lilies survived fine even with big flowers and buds on long stems. Planted about 20 big lily bulbs last fall from The Lily Garden dot com and they are doing great.

Yay for rain!
💦💦💦

[TheConservativeParty]

I don’t have a rain gauge but a decent amount of rainwater in my wheel barrow this morning. The lawn sure looks better.

[Liz]

Summer Tomato and Olive Relish
Spice up your late-summer dishes with an easy homemade relish. This one packs a variety of produce with vine-ripe tomatoes, sweet onion and savory Kalamata olives. Kick the mild Mediterranean flavor up a notch with a few dashes of chili sauce. Serve over fresh fish or chicken or use as a healthy spread on sandwiches.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. firm vine-ripe tomatoes, preferably beefsteak variety
1/2 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce or chili garlic sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Makes 6 servings (~1/2 cup).

Per serving: 45 calories, 1.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 8 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 0 g dietary fiber, 320 mg sodium, 5 g sugar, 0 g added sugar.

Directions
Peel tomatoes, using either serrated swivel-blade vegetable peeler or hot water method*.
Halve tomatoes crosswise and scoop out seeds. Finely chop tomatoes including inner flesh.
Place chopped tomatoes in mixing bowl. Add onion, olives, chili sauce, salt and pepper and combine.
Cover relish and refrigerate 1 hour.

Notes
To peel tomatoes using the hot water method, drop 2-3 tomatoes at a time into a large pot of boiling water until the skins crack, 1-2 minutes. Immediately transfer tomatoes to a bowl of ice water. When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, use your fingers to pull off the skin. Halve tomatoes lengthwise and use your thumb to push out seeds, then your fingers to remove pulpy ribs.

[MomwithHope]

We have 4 rose bushes, all eons old from the house I grew up in Chicago.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Tomatos! I planted them on raised hills this year. I had some Red plastic "Mulch" purchased and partially used 4 or 5 years ago and decided to use the rest this year. There is 1/2" drip irrigation, emitters every 18" underneath the mulch. The red plastic is supposed to encourage tomato growth and it appears to be doing that. It also conserves the drip irrigation water and pretty much removes splash back from soil onto the lower leaves. (I usually use straw mulch in a raised bed, but I am getting tired of the wood frames rotting out and acting as Termite food.) These are all started from seed. A hardware store Chefs Choice tomato that I was not able to plant quickly enough stunted and produced 3 tomatoes 2 of which have ripened! June 9 compared to June 23:

The Far Row in the 6-9 picture is shown on 6-23 from the other side. Tomatoes in the 6-23 Pictures (from the righ)t; Heirloom "Old German" (over the pot of Sage); Heirloom Amish Paste; Hybrid Chefs Choice Orange; 2 Heirloom Annanas Noire; Jaune Flame at the end.

Here is a weedy looking Sweet 100 with several braces of tomatos!

Here is Tomato variety "42", which is Determinate, about 24" to 36" high, and supposed to produce with in 42 days. Its about the same size as Stupice, but Stupice is indeterminate and will grow until you cut it down or it dies from mold or disease or frost. It is loaded with small 2-3" tomatoes! I wanted this because the early production and the fact that it is determinate and I can remove it for something else once its done and later maturing tomatoes begin producion. (I used some Kraft paper for mulch in this row!)

Newly planted tomato seedlings, Burpee's Long Keeper and companion plants, and Johnny's seeds Prospera F1 Basil. (Very long harvest season!)

Notes...I cut out sections of 4" drain pipe and push them down into the soil to protect new seedlings from pill bugs and sow bugs. Since I have rice hulls, I fill the area inside with the hulls to prevent splash back and conserve water. It pretty much elimnates this kind of damage. The inverted wire baskets protect transplants from sun and from squirrels until they are established. (Thank you who ever suggested these "Cloches"! (MwH or MetMom or Quiviut?) Note the potato onions in the back ground!

[linMcHlp]

Looks wonderful; thanks; bless you.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Glad you’re getting into herbs! Borage is a wonderful plant, all the way around - but it will readily self-seed, so don’t be surprised if you have a few ‘freebies’ next season as it is.

I am using my new oven today to bake a Cherry Pie with cherries from my own tree. It smells heavenly - and I made sure there were no drips in my new oven, LOL! I’ll be a spaz about it for a while, then it’ll just become another ‘tool’ in my arsenal. ;)

We got a full 1/2” inch of rain overnight and showers off and on this afternoon. The temps are only in the 70’s, so that inspired the Beagles to go on ‘walkabout’ for FIVE HOURS, today. (I inherited anr elderly female Beagle from a hunting friend; she’s 13 and it’s time to retire, but that girl doses not quit!) They took Tony (dog in training) with, and he came back with the biggest THORN in his right hind paw that I have ever seen. I pulled it out, and now he owes me his life, LOL!

My feeder was raided by the ‘coon last night; forgot to take it in, so I won’t be forgetting to do that again. Well, I probably will. ;)

My lettuces (Red Romaine) have all bolted, so I am salvaging what I can, then will plant bush beans where they are.

So far from the garden I’ve gotten asparagus, a few zukes, broccoli, lettuces, kale, herbs and now the cherries. The apple trees and the peach tree are loaded - the pears, not so much. I fertilized all the tomatoes before the rain last night. The garden is starting to deliver!

At ‘brunch’ today we had some applesauce from last season and homemade (sugar free) grape juice with our eggs and ham. It’s so wonderful eating things you’ve put up yourself. :)

Tonight I’m doing a Sheet Pan Dinner (in my new oven - still thrilling, LOL!) with sliced pork loin and Rosemary and a bunch of veggies from the garden. A garden salad to go with.

Life Is Good!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

We just had a shower (Sunday, 1pm), and though nothing significant - I’ll take it! Every drop counts this season. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That sounds so good! One could also use canned tomatoes from the previous summer, I would think.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, Pete! Everything looks wonderful. Loved your running commentary, LOL!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Found this show the other night on WI PBS while I was making dinner. I really liked it. It’s fairly new; only in it’s second season. Very hard-working creative people growing and cooking with local foods. The episode I watched was about a chef who uses an ENTIRE STEER (in his restaurant; not all at once, LOL!) that a local farmer grows out for him. After our ‘Chuck’ goes to the spa next March, I am going to be up to my butt in every cut of beef, so it was very interesting to me.

“Join Emmy-winning host and producer Catherine Neville in this celebration of makers, farmers and chefs who are redefining the flavor of American cuisine.”

Taste Makers: https://www.watchtastemakers.com/

[Qiviut]

What time is dinner?? LOL! My favorite fruit pies are cherry & peach.

While making cucumber salad, cukes (and scallions) fresh out of the garden, I got that self-satisfied feeling: veggie I grew, harvested within the hour, and I know how it was grown (no chemicals, etc).

I would not mind some ‘freebie’ borage - would save me a trip to the only place that has it next spring!

[Liz]

Your home grown tomatoes are good anytime.

[Qiviut]

Another success for the “squirrel bomb” bait! I suspect, because of where it was caught, it’s the garden raider. 😁