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Weekly Garden Thread - July 15-21, 2023 [Too Many Zucchini Edition]
July 15, 2023 | Diana in WI/Greeneyes in Memoriam

Posted on 07/15/2023 5:28:55 AM PDT by 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.

If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.

This thread is a non-political respite. 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. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to our New & Improved Ping List.

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 to Gardeners are welcomed any time!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: food; garden; gardening; zucchini
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To: Augie

BLTs are a great comfort food. If you want an excellent twist, add fried green tomato slices. Still keep the regular ones on. So wonderful.


21 posted on 07/15/2023 7:16:05 AM PDT by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

For a while I’d throw a squib firecracker to scare her off, but now she just looks up for a moment, then continues munching. I have to physically run after her to get her off the property. Sheesh.


22 posted on 07/15/2023 7:27:24 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I didn't grow zucchinis or hot peppers this year (too difficult to give away) - I suspect I'll have plenty of zucchinis shortly from my neighbors.

Meanwhile, we are heating up in So Cal - temps of 90-100 expected in the foreseeable future. Glad I planted a lot of cactus and succulents.

We do have a few other plants that like the heat, and are drought tolerant such as bougainvillea:

"Orange King" with an ever-blooming "Crown of Thorns" in the background:

A6-E88-ECD-5278-4-A63-BDD9-1773-D1-D3-D7-F9-1-105-c

This pineapple lily is just getting started:

373-E39-C8-D781-4-B4-C-B984-E0-FB5-E9-AAF1-D-1-105-c

Lots of Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies in the yard on the milkweed:

274-A55-A7-CCDF-49-D1-A587-9-B20-ACEF76-C9-1-201-a

And my helpers who have had enough of the heat:

06-D7-B377-941-D-4-EA1-B065-2-CFD4-A6-D0023-1-201-a

23 posted on 07/15/2023 7:38:45 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (What did Socialists use before Candles?..... Electricity)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Thanks for ping. How about recipe for yellow squash? Much donated, few takers. Meanwhile from the chronicle of the city garden, frequent rain continues her in MA, thus hardly any need to water. Spaying with Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide (about 3-5 tsp fungicide per gallon) weekly and the yearly blight has been quite limited, thank God.


24 posted on 07/15/2023 7:46:01 AM PDT by daniel1212 (As a damned+destitute sinner turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves souls on His acct + b baptized 2 obey)
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To: Augie

“The first BLTs of the summer will take away some of the sting.”

Hopefully! What a mess for you to clean up. Ugh! We’ve yet to have a bad Summer Storm - had our first Thunderstorm last night - and I hardly knew how to react, LOL!

We’ve gotten about 2” since Wednesday, so my veggies and fruit trees are well on their way to catching up.

I’ve got my own mess in the greenhouse to deal with - the two puppies I’m raising have now made that their ‘Summer Quarters’ and have dismantled my last clean bale of straw and made a nest for each. The very least they could do would be to provide me with some fresh eggs, LOL!


25 posted on 07/15/2023 7:59:44 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: daniel1212

Use the yellow wherever it calls for green. I have one green and two yellow plants this season. the other green got dug up early by a raccoon and never recovered, poor thing, LOL!

They need some clean up and a shot of fertilizer, but they should still be producing for a few more weeks.


26 posted on 07/15/2023 8:03:43 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I have one zucchini plant this year, no yield yet. I haven’t grown them for years but I do like to make zucchini bread. I did grow for the first time patty pan squash. Never tasted any either. Had the first two sliced a little thick and sauteed with a bit of butter and olive oil, salt and pepper, a couple of sliced mushroom and a few asparagus spears and broccoli florets. Just yummy. The patty pan is much firmer than either zucchini or yellow summer squash. Daughters mother in law in eastern Europe makes pickles out of whole patty pans, might try that if we get a lot.


27 posted on 07/15/2023 9:35:22 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Thanks for the zucchini recipes.

My two faves are Zucchini Lasagne as a main course......
and Stuffed Zucchini as a side to an Italian menu.


28 posted on 07/15/2023 10:00:33 AM PDT by Liz (Vox Populi, Vox Dei (voice of the people is the voice of God))
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To: All

Stuffed Zucchini

INGREDIENTS ▢4 medium zucchini ▢1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning ▢salt and pepper to taste ▢2 teaspoons olive oil ▢1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed ▢1/2 cup onion finely diced ▢1 teaspoon minced garlic ▢2 cups marinara sauce ▢3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese ▢1 tablespoon chopped parsley ▢cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large rectangular baking with with cooking spray. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then trim off the stem ends. Use a spoon to carefully scoop the flesh out of the zucchinis. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper over the zucchini shells. Arrange the zucchini in the baking dish. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula. Add the onion and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until onion is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Season the sausage and vegetable mixture with salt and pepper. Pour the marinara sauce into the pan and bring to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes. Spoon the meat mixture evenly into the zucchini shells, then top with the shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and cheese is melted and golden brown. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI VARIATIONS
This is an Italian style stuffed zucchini, but there are so many other great ways to fill your squash!

Mexican: Make a filling with 1 lb ground beef, 16 ounces tomato sauce, 4 ounces diced green chiles, 3/4 cup black beans and 1/2 cup corn, then top with cheddar cheese and bake.

Asian: Make the filling for my chicken lettuce wraps, spoon it into the zucchini, then bake. Vegetarian: Make a filling with sauteed onion, 2 cups cooked grains such as rice or quinoa, 1 diced red bell pepper, salt, pepper, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, and fresh herbs.

Zucchini is packed with nutrients such as folate, Vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, Vitamin C and and Vitamin K. Zucchini is low calorie, low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. Zucchini also protects against inflammation, aids in digestion, improves thyroid function and is beneficial for your eyes.

29 posted on 07/15/2023 10:09:41 AM PDT by Liz (Vox Populi, Vox Dei (voice of the people is the voice of God))
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

BTTT!!!


30 posted on 07/15/2023 10:12:05 AM PDT by musicman (The future is just a collection of successive nows.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My zucchini plant is churning out zucchinis sufficient for my own use and enough to give to neighbors. One of the cucumber plants seems to have some kind of disease resulting in yellow webbing all over the leaves. One variety is worse than the other one. So I don’t know how long I’ll continue to get cucumbers. The eggplant plants have finally taken off, maybe I’ll get some eggplants soon. Looks like a bit of a wait for the cantaloupe plants, although they’ve grown a lot in the past week or so.


31 posted on 07/15/2023 9:13:19 PM PDT by EinNYC
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To: Liz

I used to make that years ago thanks for the reminder. It was yummy. Also for anyone with zucchini that gets huge, chickens love them. Just slice lengthwise.


32 posted on 07/16/2023 1:58:56 AM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; All

Special day today - my two great-nephews are being baptized in the same service - large family gathering after church - family gatherings are my very favorite thing these days.

Watching the hummers come to the feeder in the gray light of dawn (fresh nectar in it for them). The song ‘Morning Has Broken’ came to mind. We had thunderstorms last night ....

Sweet the rain’s new fall
sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness
where God’s feet pass.


33 posted on 07/16/2023 3:34:29 AM PDT by Qiviut (I'm not out of control, I'm just not in their control. $hot $hills: Sod Off)
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To: MomwithHope

You can also make a zucchini relish w/ the large ones.

Just processor pulse into bits and add fave seasonings.

Nice sandwich topping.


34 posted on 07/16/2023 4:41:35 AM PDT by Liz (Vox Populi, Vox Dei (voice of the people is the voice of God))
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To: Qiviut

I love that poem/song/hymn. :)


35 posted on 07/16/2023 5:51:33 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Qiviut; Liz; All

I have 8 medium sized zukes, and one MONSTER (how does that happen?) on the counter right now.

The smaller ones are going to be made into ‘Zoodles’ with my Zoodle-maker tool, some grated for future Zucchini Pancakes and some cut into bite-size pieces for a Zucchini and Stuffing Hot Dish. I INDULGE us just once each season. Not the least bit carb/calorie friendly, but SO, SO GOOD!

(I prefer ‘pieces’ versus ‘slices’ of Zucchini in this, so I normally nuke them with some water for a few minutes so they’re as well baked as everything else in the casserole.)

https://www.thespruceeats.com/zucchini-and-stuffing-casserole-3062402


36 posted on 07/16/2023 5:58:17 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Recipe’s a keeper....yum.

Thanks.


37 posted on 07/16/2023 6:40:48 AM PDT by Liz (Vox Populi, Vox Dei (voice of the people is the voice of God))
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To: Liz

I did that before and came up with a great recipe which of course I did not write down. I had a tomato plant with many green ones, it was in a big pot and fell over. Many green tomatoes I wanted to not waste. So I made a relish with zucchini, green tomatoes, shredded carrot, red pepper, onion and seasonings. Best thing on a hot dog ever. I think I have one jar left.


38 posted on 07/16/2023 3:18:11 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: daniel1212

Ahhhhh I love a tomato jungle.


39 posted on 07/16/2023 3:20:51 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Forever grateful to all our patriots, past, present and future. )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Use the yellow wherever it calls for green. I have one green and two yellow plants this season.

What does this mean?

40 posted on 07/16/2023 3:35:22 PM PDT by daniel1212 (As a damned+destitute sinner turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves souls on His acct + b baptized 2 obey)
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