Posted on 02/08/2013 1:30:15 PM PST 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!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will be sowing some clover soon to turn under later as soil improvement crop. Indoor peppers are in bloom again, and lemons are a little larger than olives. Garlic is doing well outside.
Have a great weekend. God Bless.
Building a cold frame for the herb/salad garden today, too. Kid came by and we went to pick up lumber and plastic for the cold frame. Daughters are a blessing.
Got to see some of my grandkids, scored a deal on Hatch chili peppers while shopping, and those are roasted now, and awaiting processing.
Early tobacco sets growing well. Tomatoes are a little leggy, so I'm leaving them outside to chill and backing off on the water.
Jalapenos are in a starter flat and should peek out in a week or so.
Hiring a kid this weekend to finish tilling the main garden.
All in all, it's been a blessed week.
/johnny
Pinging the list. My internet service has been acting up today. It keeps going down right in the middle of trying to get this thread and list posted. Finally I have the thread posted, still trying to get the list pinged.
I have five varieties of tomatoes sprouted in peat pots. Lesson one: don’t use the small size, the roots get crimped too soon. Lesson two, better using plastic cups with holes in bottom. Peat pots wick water away from sides too fast.
I’m in Vegas, so I have to start early to beat the heat.
I’ve compiled a whole book on survival food gardening for preppers if anyone is interested.
http://www.futurnamics.com/garden.php
Are you going to freeze them?
I am, however, this year going to espallier my tomato plants instead of growing them in cages. I want to see how they do growing along a wire instead of getting bushy in cages.
Darn things take up too much room in the garden as it is.
/johnny
Wow. Send some of that sun this way.LOL. Just seeing the sun gives me energy to get up and get some work done. Sounds like you had a good week.
Nah, my grandkids are cool enough just the way they are.
Oh... the peppers? I make a pepper puree with a little salt, pepper, and vinegar and use it for a spread or as compliment or ingredient for certain dishes.
I'd put that stuff on ice cream, if no-one was looking.
I'll have hatch chili sauce on my eggs tomorrow morning, that much, I can guarantee.
/johnny
Reason I raised freezing them is that most people peel and seed the peppers before freezing, but if you leave the peels and seeds in place when they are frozen, the peppers have better flavor when you later use them, and it’s actually pretty easy to peel half-thawed peppers.
Today, daughter and I bought a bunch of Solo(tm) cups to move the tomatoes and peppers and tobacco into when the time is right.
I'll spend the evening cutting slits/holes in the sides/bottom.
90 Solo(tm) cups in the bag... take one down... stab it carefully... 89 nine Solo(tm) cups in the bag. ;)
Being a commercial cook type person. I plant exactly ONE type of tomato. Roma. I can make it work for most everything. And it does VERY well here. I'll can some, sun dry some, have some fresh, have them as fried green 'maters, make tomato paste, and dehydrated tomato powder (think tomato bullion).
Roma works for me.
/johnny
The Mennonites around here turn out great tomatoes by the first of April, including romas and other varieties. I use romas when I make Pasta Putanesca. YUM !
I was wondering the same thing about grafted tomatoes. I ordered most of my stuff last fall during the sales, and I save my heirloom seeds, so I don’t have much to order.
I sent in an order for some strawberry plants, goji berry bushes, blueberry bushes last week since they were on sale.
If I had any peppers left, I'd try just freezing some, but alas, I started roasting as soon as I got home with them.
Do you blanch them or anything before freezing them?
/johnny
I was looking at goji berries but they looked kind of puny. Does a goji bush produce large quantities ?
Thanks for the link. I am planning on starting my plants this year in the 3-50z paper cups. I figure I’ll make a tiny hole in the bottom to help with drainage and it will make transplants easy.
Heartbreaking.
They didn't look moldy, they were dry and looked like seeds were supposed to look, but during the germination test, and followup test, both sets only grew mold.
I hate mold. It's why I can't make sourdough bread here.
/johnny
Transplanted my zinnia and marigold seedlings to bigger pots this morning and letting them spend some time outside. I think I'm giving up on my alyssum seedlings; I just let them get to leggy and now they are small, weak and floppy. I'll start over with new seeds and this time put them closer to the light in the little greenhouse--that might help.
I think I mentioned before one of my freesia bulbs in the pot came up last week; she's about 2 inches high now. The other nine are lagging, and I hope to see them soon. :)
My pepper seedlings (Explosive Ember and Bolivian Rainbow) are now starting to leaf. Yay! My wife's tomatoes and other veggies are coming along well; she's even having remarkable success with her Moringa (Miracle Plant) seedlings. We'll have more than we know what to do with! :)
I am not sure. The fruit provides great anti oxidants and is good for the liver. It can be eaten fresh or preserved many different ways, including wines.
A big plus is the tolerance to drought. After last year’s experience, that was a big enhancement.
I oven roast some of my jalapenos and then freeze and I also Freeze a bunch that are fresh picked and whole right from the garden - no blanching involved. Both types are great to use in sauces or any recipe that call for some heat and flavor.
Yep, it’s 68 here. Had a wee little bit of rain a few days ago which really popped up the onion bulbs that were tilled under a couple weeks ago. Of course, they’re everywhere but where they belong but I’m not complaining. The Hatch and other chili pepper seeds never did make but the bells finally came up. Had to restart a couple tomatoes but the others are 6-8” tall. Just to see, most everything is being started inside this year. FYI, to save space, I broke down and bought a way too expensive Burpee 72 starter kit (that was the only thing my podunkville had). Don’t buy it. The pellets don’t expand well so you have to add more starting mix and the self watering cloth doesn’t have enough pulling action to keep the top of the soil wet. The veggies in the recycled cat food containers and newspaper pots are just as happy for zero the cost.
I started cleaning out the new herb bed but threw out my knee (again) and had some pavers fall on my leg so am giving the job to hubby. Next week, maybe he can get to that and I can get back out to measure off the garden again.
The daffodils are starting to bloom and the caladiums are sending up blades here but they’re getting cleaned out for herbs.
I've got less than a quart left from last year's harvest. I'm getting a little anxious about that.
But my dear NM Hatch peppers... those I roast and puree. They are very mild, but so very, very good. I'm looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. Mmmmmm.
/johnny
That is sad news. I keep my heirloom seeds segregated. Each year I put the seeds from the year before in little plastic medicine bottles, and put them all in a coffee can.
One is vaacum packed in the freezer, and One in the refrigerator. So far it has worked. I have seeds from 2009 to 2012. Only if the 2012 fails will I go back to the freezer stash.
We can at least do sourdough bread here, but we also keep it in the refrigerator.
I freeze halved and seeded raw jalapenos on cookies sheets. Then bag them for the freezer to use later for poppers.
I buy 2oz condiment cups with lids from AceMart restaurant supply to store my seeds in, since they are untouched by human hands until you open the package. And of course, because I'm familiar with them from the business. Think the little salsa cups with lids that you get at mexican restaurants.
I think I just had a bad year with the jalapenos this year/last year. I'll need to raise some that are immune to the black mold poison.
/johnny
Black mold sounds ominous. I am glad Missouri conditions allow us to prepare sourdough. We go through spurts of Hermann fads as each generation “discovers” and experiments with it for a bit.LOL.
I am not familiar with Moringa. Can you tell me more about it?
fanfan, I saw your pics on another thread of your wintersown containers. Can you tell me more about that experience. Is this the first year you have tried wintersowing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera
Moringa is easy to grow in warmer climes and leaves and seeds are edible and very nutritious
Thanks for the link. It seems to be a very versatile plant. It will be interesting to hear your experiences with it.
Yea! I get to look at seed packets for the next 8 weeks or so!
Jung’s sent the seeds I ordered; the plants & sets will come later.
Oh, yeah, got back less than an hour ago from taking the tiller to the deler...50+ miles each way...mainly to have my new set of tines installed, and the reverse disc replaced, in addition to a general servicing.
There are small shops much closer, but the last time I took a chainsaw to one, they didn’t replace a rotten fuel line; it sucked air, and destroyed the cylinder. Time before, another one decided to unexpectedly close for a 6-8 week summer vacation, with no way to pick up the saw.
OTOH, Tim does it right, reasonably, and timely; and is very accommodating.
It’s been a day of ups and down today. I’m not sure whether to celebrate or cry.
One of my medical tests finally came back with something. I’ve had some serious health issues on and off for the last 6 years, and just about every test comes back clean, so it’s been frustrating. They found fibroids, which are a type of tumor. I see the doctor Moday to figure out what to do about it.
5 minutes later I got an email with a very nice job offer, I start Monday. This is after being unemployed for a little over a year.
Monday is going to be a busy day. I’m just a little freaked out.
You have been very energetic and productive! Early produce is our plan this year. Try to get as much as possible by the end of June and 1st week in July.
/johnny
Congrats on the job. Now, sit down with some calming teas. In between each soothing sip, close your eyes, breathe in through your nose and exhale slowly.
Concentrate soley on your breathing or imagine a very soothing scene and see your self as very calm and relaxed. I have practiced this breathing technique, and can bring my pulse rate down by about 10 points in 3 breaths.
With respect to fibroids. Been there and done that. If you have not had a D & C, then that is probably the next step. This will also provide a tissue sample to test for malignancy. Most fibroids are not malignant.
JRF, thanks for pinging Marcella.
Marcella, I don’t know how useful the thread is, but it certainly gives me a break from the gloom and doom of the economic and political events, and I enjoy it.
We would welcome your container gardening reports too. Let me know if you would like to be added to the ping list.
Fixed it. ;)
/johnny
/johnny
Needs to be warm. How about a Hot Toddy?
I keep forgetting to ping Marco to these threads, and there’s a lot here to learn from. Marco is a serious student when she sets out to do something. I know she’s got some seeds, because I sent ‘em to her. She’s far enough south that she needs to be actively working the gardening thing now.
/johnny
*********************************************************
Marco,
Let me know if you would like to be added to the weekly garden ping list.
Finding a good person to do repairs is a necessity for us - be it cars or other stuff. We like to use it for ever.
LOL! Don’t think I have any Jack, but maybe I should see what would go good in a hot chocolate . . .
I'm actually doing some experimentation on a flavoring syrup made with coffee, chocolate, and tequila. It will be used in/with a bread pudding.
Of course, all the fun is cooked out of the tequila by the time the sauce is finished, but the flavors are very, very close to 'good, dammit'.
/johnny
Congratulations on the job . . . and God be with you on the health issues. Have enjoyed your posts on the gardening thread . . . stay positive!
Anyone have a better alternative than using peat pots for starting plants in a ‘greenhouse’(plastic lean-to)?
Not more expensive, a little more work is OK though.
Try a hot soldering iron on those Solo cups JR...
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.