| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 05/23/08 09:13 PM |
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Summer Garden!
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This evening, we had for supper:
Bacon-wrapped quail, cooked on the grill
Roasted beets
salad ( red leaf and green leaf lettuce, sugar snap peas, green and yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, carrots)
Except for the bacon, the carrots, olive oil, salt,and the ranch dressing for the salad, WE RAISED ALL OF THIS HERE!
(PS the beets I cubed, and drizzled olive oil and salt on them, then roasted in the oven at 450 for 45 minutes)
I will take the beet tops and clean them, then cook as greens probably tomorrow (bacon grease, green onions, garlic, and about 1/2 inch of water in the pot. After they are wilted, squeeze an orange over them. Yummy)
On the way: corn (have tassels and baby cobs already), okra, squash and zuchinni, broccoli, carrots, eggplant, beans, pumpkin. Plus we already have chard.
SO much better than last year, when the only thing that grew was the okra and squashes!
Looks like I will be bringing some of the garden stuff to the GTG...
| cajundave |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 05/25/08 03:27 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Nice Job! I can't ever get my corn to grow well. I do well with Tomatoes, egg plants, pepper, blackberries, herbs, and peaches. But my corn always looks minature.
| caddokiller |
| (Tracker) |
| 06/11/08 05:11 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Whens dinner? I can never get my corn to grow either but it looks like im going to have a bumper crop of okra, tomatos, cantalope, watermellon, yellow squash and cucumbers.
| cajundave |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 06/11/08 08:31 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I haven't tried okra in years. I'm going to have to give that one a try. I love it fried.
| MaggieMTx |
| (THF Trophy Hunter) |
| 06/11/08 11:51 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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With the tomato scare going on, its better to just grow it yourself anyways.
| Team Hillbilly |
| (Extreme Tracker) |
| 06/12/08 06:17 AM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Yup that's that's for sure.
Anybody grow a fall garden
?? What the best Veggy's for fall in this heat ??
| PrimitiveHunter |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 06/12/08 02:13 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:
What the best Veggy's for fall in this heat ??
Black Eye peas. Purple Hull Peas. You can plant them in the Spring and then again in the Summer.
| kyotee1 |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/12/08 02:56 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I'm all for a fall garden...
Fall tomatoes,green onions,cabbage,turnips,collards, radishes, beets, carrots, cauliflower, brocolli and bush beans which I put in early September. Got to dust the plants with Sevin regularly or the grasshoppers eat me up!
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/12/08 06:41 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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With the 50+ MPH winds we had last week, 1/4 of the corn got blown over, but fortunately Randall was able to push it back up. I planted 4 strains - W/Y early (that was what was blown over); yellow early, red, and yellow dent. Randall and Tina pulled the stalks of the ones that blew over, and I have a sink full of corn. I am going to plant Silver Queen, which should be ready in September. The other corn I have looks to be ready in about 2 to 3 week intervals.
The beets were wonderful. I found 2 pkts of an heirloom mix, and we ended up with the red 'beet-colored' beets, and a striped red and white beet, and a golden. All very sweet, especially when roasted. The neet thing about the yellow beets is, they don't stain...I found some albino - yes, white - beets on the 'net, and will plant some more yellow and the white ones in August or September, beets only take about 2 to 3 months.
The okra is coming along well, and we harvested zuchinni yesterday. I have already put up over 20 lbs green beans, and the sink is full. The sugar-snap peas are still blooming, we found out that if you wait just a BIT to harvest them, the pod is still edible and you can shuck the peas. I have never had much luck with English (green) peas because they are so heat-sensitive; and these sugar snaps are tolerating the 90+ weather pretty well.
Tomatoes are going like gangbusters, as are the bells, chard, and onions.
I pulled my 22-qt pressure canner out, it looks like we are going to can more stuff than freeze. No worries about the electric going off! I am also coing to go ahead and can the tougher parts of the wild meat, that we were going to grind. The canning will tenderize it...
The pumpkin and cukes are doing well, too...
Lora
| cajundave |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 06/15/08 03:12 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:
Yup that's that's for sure.
Anybody grow a fall garden
What the best Veggy's for fall in this heat ??
For some reason, my eggplants do real well in the fall. I usually can't give them away. I get my best peppers then also.
| Crazyhorse |
| (THF Celebrity) |
| 06/15/08 05:04 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Our egg plants are not doing well at all right now, we may plant again a little later and see how they do, but we would be interested in doing some bartering or swapping for egg plant if you raise extra.
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/15/08 07:30 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Corn is doing real well, tho. I just finished canning 14 pints of whole-kernel corn, and have enough to do the same, already cut up in the fridge. Randall just brought in several ears of the red corn that we planted.
I guess we will have some corn on the cob at the get-to-gether!
| exoticbob |
| (Tracker) |
| 06/17/08 08:29 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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sounds awesome - can't wait to start my own garden now that i have a yard that can support it.
| LadyTaxi |
| (Outdoorsman) |
| 06/17/08 09:08 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Our garden is doing well. Already harvesting; green & wax beans, cucumbers, onions, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, okra and squash.
on the way: corn, pumpkins, watermelons, cantalope, sunflower seeds, luffas
Coming up this fall: sugar peas, multi-types of lettuce, turnip greens, and mustard greens
I love gardening! Nothing like growing your own food....so you know what's been done to it!!!
| cajundave |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 06/17/08 11:16 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:
Our egg plants are not doing well at all right now, we may plant again a little later and see how they do, but we would be interested in doing some bartering or swapping for egg plant if you raise extra.
This is the first year I haven't planted eggplants. Sorry. Next year I will again and we can talk. I've been moving some things around in the yard where my usual planting places are and just don't have the room this season.
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/18/08 02:13 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:
luffas
I'd be interested in trading or buying a couple of luffas
| Sethfish |
| (THF Trophy Hunter) |
| 06/19/08 08:01 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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they found all my gardens last year and I just haven't gotten over the loss to start again.
| LadyTaxi |
| (Outdoorsman) |
| 06/19/08 08:57 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Sure thing! Do you want them raw or dried?
Send me a PM so i can remember we talked about it please.
| I'mstillaguy |
| (Light Foot) |
| 06/22/08 09:41 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:
Nice Job! I can't ever get my corn to grow well. I do well with Tomatoes, egg plants, pepper, blackberries, herbs, and peaches. But my corn always looks minature .
too much info man.
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/23/08 06:43 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Dried, please. You don't even need to remove the seeds.
I pour homemade soap into them and slice about an inch thick to make exfoliating soaps.
I will send you a PM.
THANKS!!!
Lora
| MaggieMTx |
| (THF Trophy Hunter) |
| 06/25/08 10:45 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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OHH that sounds great Lora.
How hard is it to grow luffa's. Besides trying to sell Avon, I was also looking into something that NO ONE else has around here. Think us 3 ladies need to have a powwow on that one lol. Any info & website links GREATLY appreciated.
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/26/08 10:10 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Luffas are just a squash...I know you have to keep them away from other summer squashes like zuchinis, crooknecks, and pattypans, and maybe also winter ones like punkins and acorns, as they will cross polinate everything (kinda like mallard ducks).
When they are fully ripe, you remove them and let them dry, cut off the ends and shake out the seeds, and rub off the outer skin.
Here is a really good site...
http://www.luffa.info/luffaharvest.htm
As to the soap.
You can go easy or more difficult, I tend to be lazy. Next time you are at the dollar store (or a garage sale) and you see glycerine soaps, real cheap, buy them, take them home, grate them, (just like cheese) and place in a saucepan with about a half cup of water. On low heat, melt the soap till it is runny.
Wrap a dry, clean luffa in several layers of thick plastic wrap, leaving the top open. Then wrap the plastic tightly with duct tape. stand the luffa upright in a jar or vase (or whatever fits the sponge and keeps it upright).
CAREFULLY pour the melted soap slowly into the sponge. All the way to the top. Let cool completely, usually overnight.
Once it is cool, unwrap it, and slice crosswise (a serrated knife works best) about an inch thick.
PRESTO! instant soapy exfoliating sponges! wonderful for feet and knees.
Also, when the luffa is completely dry, you can grate one (or cut into small pcs) and mix it into the melted soap. Then line muffin tins with plastic wrap, and fill the tins. You can put heavy cotton rope into them if you want, for soap on a rope.
If you want a plain non-glycerine soap, grate Ivory (or other pure castille soap) and melt as above. You can buy soap tints, essential oils for scenting, and molds at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, or lots of places online.
You can go the hard way and make your own soap, there are lots of books on the subject, and many sites, just google 'soapmaking'
But why? When the white Ivory is so cheap, and you can get glycerine soaps so inexpensively. And you can add stuff from the kitchen: dried mint leaves and quick oats is a good combo - also dried orange peel and (clean) rock salt. Believe it or not, that last one is a very comforting one.
| cajundave |
| (Veteran Tracker) |
| 06/26/08 10:32 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Quote:Quote:
Nice Job! I can't ever get my corn to grow well. I do well with Tomatoes, egg plants, pepper, blackberries, herbs, and peaches. But my corn always looks minature .
too much info man.
No more free beer for you!
| MaggieMTx |
| (THF Trophy Hunter) |
| 06/27/08 10:24 AM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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GREAT ideas Lora, I have plenty of candle making stuff so switching to soap isnt a big deal.
| helomechmrs |
| (Woodsman) |
| 06/27/08 12:21 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I normally use Dove soap. Any idea if it can be melted down and used with the luffas?
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/27/08 01:20 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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All I can say is, try it and see. Non- castille soaps (ivory is a castille soap) have additives which can cause them to get 'gloppy' when you melt them. I would grate it very finely, and melt it over VERY low heat.
If Dove doesn't work, try a milk-based soap.
Your library may have a book or two on making "Hand-Milled" soaps.
All you can do is try - if it melts smoothly, it will work in the loofa.
| helomechmrs |
| (Woodsman) |
| 06/27/08 01:29 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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It's a little late in the year for me to plant luffa this year. But I do believe I'll start preparing a site for next year--setting up fence and preparing the soil. I really think I'll enjoy experimenting with some of the ideas you've mentioned.
Thanks for the info!
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/27/08 10:06 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I also found out, while researching, that the small ones - less than 4" long - are very tasty, in stir fries and so forth...
I will have to find out if my sheep will leave them alone, as they love the other squashes. If not, then I will have to convince my wonderful, caring, sweet husband (anybody ill yet?
) to make a sturdy trellis, away from the stock...
| helomechmrs |
| (Woodsman) |
| 06/28/08 06:51 AM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I have a feeling your sheep are going to be thankful for all of the wonderful luffas!
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/29/08 03:24 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Thats what I am afraid of. Randall wants a brush arbor, which we will be covering with grapevines. I have noticed that not many animals like grapevines - even deer won't really eat them - but it will take at least a couple of seasons to grow a good cover.
So I was thinking of planting the loofa's along with the grapes, and leaving the vines on the arbor, as sort of an extra for the grapes to grow on. Randall may have to build a fence or something to keep the stock out and away from the arbor, till the grapevines are well and truely established.
| helomech |
| (Extreme Tracker) |
| 06/29/08 03:26 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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More honey do's for poor Randall. Probably for me too.
| helomechmrs |
| (Woodsman) |
| 06/29/08 10:02 PM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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I've never really thought about animals not eating grape vines, but it makes sense. They love the grapes, and eat them faster than I can pick them, but the vines are never disturbed. There is a type of garden barrier that I plan to look into. I read about it ages ago, so don't remember a lot about it, but remember enough to know that I need to check into it some more. It's some type of sound barrier that animals will not cross, but people cannot hear. It sounded a lot easier than fences, and more effective too. Something like that might be just the thing for you. The rabbits really got into my garden this year, so I plan to get some more info on this soon. I'll let you know what I find out.
| campcook |
| (Pro Tracker) |
| 06/30/08 10:22 AM |
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Re: Summer Garden!
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Well I've found that a .22 does pretty good with controlling the bunnies - and just adds to the harvest. Dont have much problem with deer in our area.
We don't do much other than weed and water. Not certified organic, but pretty close. So what if some of the produce doesn't look perfect, it tastes good.
We rotate crops, and we have LOTS of ladybugs and so forth.
I guess I am just a lazy gardener. But I already am getting almost too much to process now...