<
The potatoes and corn continue to thrive but the Cukes and Pumpkins are slow to get going
Posted on 06/20/2014 12:30:26 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.
My ‘maters are coming in. I have clusters of Black Krim that are just starting to ripen. We harvested several as they were beginning to turn color today. Maybe you need shadecloth over your garden to temper that mid-day sun.
Heard on local radio that a mountain lion had been spotted here in Camden County. Kitty, kitty, stay away from my cat !
Here's what you can do with them:
Put some chili's in a cruet and top off with white wine vinegar. Let it set for ~ 6 months. It's makes a real tasty salad topper.
Grind the red chili's into a powder and use in place of black pepper.
Grind the fresh green chili pepper's and add to a salsa for some zest.
Here is another one from Guy Clark that I really like.
“The Cape”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6bZ37nexSY
“Spread your arms and hold your breath and always Trust Your Cape” - Beautiful song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6bZ37nexSY
Let me start by saying it is great to be back on the internet. Two weeks ago my computer died. Now I’m using a netbook and playing catch up. The weather has been heating up, getting ready for summer. Pansies are still blooming but will soon die out. Lilies ready to bloom in the next day or two. I can hardly wait for that sweet, heavenly fragrance. The mini-roses have bloomed several times already. There is more direct sunlight because several trees have been taken down. Everything growing as they normally do and it is good to be back on line.
A nice way to use your romas, cut in half and scoop out any pulp. Salt and sprinkle on some granulated garlic, chopped fresh basil and dried oregano. Sprinkle on or spray olive oil. Roast on a cookie sheet about 200 degrees until they look halfway dried out. Great cut up on pasta, or with some goat cheese dropped in the center. I have sliced these lengthwise and used my food saver to seal small bags of them and used them all winter long. Great on pizza too.
I like his song “Homegrown Tomatoes”
Been a fairly busy week in the garden, despite thunderstorms dropping over an inch of rain. At least we haven’t had to do any watering.Temperatures still haven’t stabilized for the season.
Friends gave me a set of Native American heirlooms, so I planted 4 hills of Mandan sweet corn, along with Hidatsa red beans, Hidatsa shield beans, and Arikara yellow beans. They had no idea the age of the seeds, but they were each well sealed, then all sealed in a ziplock bag, with a pamphlet about each of them. I didn’t think to do a germination test before planting; but did set one up 3 days ago: 1 of each bean, and 2 of the corn seeds, (That seed came still on the cob.) and all of them have germinated, so I guess they’ll grow. They bought them while working at a flea market.
Another plot got compost & fertilizer tilled in, then planted with rows of Painted Hill corn; Espada bush beans; and bush white crowder peas. The crowder peas were given to me by Justadumbblonde, and this is the first year I’ve been able to try them; hope they’re still viable.
Some mesclun mix & some Napa cabbage seed also got tucked into some small blank spots.
I managed to transplant our pole tomato seedlings: Siberian red, Speckled Roman paste, and San Marzano paste. The bush Romas are already in, so I just have left the Bush Glaciers, and both yellow & red pear tomato seedlings to go in.
The sweet bush cherries got bird netting draped & pegged down; the ‘bush’ is now over 5’ high, and loaded.
The winter rye is 5-5 1/2’ tall, and has about another month to mature. Heads look good, but are still shedding some pollen. The winter wheat is much less tall, but the heads are farther along, despite the rye being planted first.
Lots of time-outs this past week also didn’t help: Saturday was Flag Day ceremony at the State Veterans Home; Sunday was first, service the garden tractor; then get curried and combed for Fathers Day dinner, a movie, and, finally, a late dessert at DQ. Tuesday was the annual cats to the vet day, plus shopping & a visit to my sick VW in the shop.
Today, I tilled between the potato rows so they can be hilled again; did some adjustments on the tiller, then spread fertilizer & tilled a corn plot. Laid out, but didn’t plant yet, for 10 20’ rows spaced 30 inches of Golden Cross Bantam; the seed was saved from last year. Left a 24” path on each side of the plot, with 4’ of beds on each side for the sweet potatoes & the cukes & tomatoes. Golden Cross Bantam corn seed saved from last year’s harvest; should get over 250 plants.
We got our first 3 ripe strawberries, and a bunch of cilantro that is currently drying. Also been getting salads from our 3 volunteer leaf lettuce plants.
With the season running nearly a month late, I sure hope it makes up for it on the other end, or we won’t get much of anything.
Meanwhile, Mrs. A.R. has been busy on weed control, and drying herbs & catnip, as well as the cilantro. The catnip goes into small jars, and is donated to the local cat shelter; they give them to new owners when they adopt. We also fill a large container for our guys, and a couple of others for the shelter cats themselves.
<
The potatoes and corn continue to thrive but the Cukes and Pumpkins are slow to get going
I’d love your recipe for the tomato sauce when you get a chance to post it, and the technique for making the tomato powder!
Do you measure out the lime juice for each jar? How much per jar? Thanks for the tip!
Add the crushed tomatoes, and stew for 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Adjust acidity with lemon juice and/or sugar to make the flavor pop. It doesn't take much lemon juice and/or sugar, but every batch of tomatoes is different.
I puree mine, strain it through a china cap (you can use a regular strainer) and can it in a water bath, following regular canning instructions. It can be canned as is, without straining, your preference.
/johnny
/johnny
Ye gads...43 degrees in soviet Red Hampshire this morning...and people told me I was planting my peas too late. Cool summer...very cool.
Tea spoon of lime or lemon juice per pint jar. I prefer the lime because it is milder.
First day of Summer (6:41 am EDT) today!
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.