Early Retirement Extreme Forums

Amazing pic, cmonkey!

Our garden is a giant fail this summer. No cherries or cucumbers at all, peaches are scabbed, and the heat fried my greens. Even my crab apple didn't bloom or fruit, and we have no flowers on the hydrangeas. We were able to pick some cherry tomatoes this week, but the bigger ones are still green. I'll pick my first zucchini this week.

I don't feel too bad because the farmers market has slim pickings, too. I think the cool spring followed by the hot summer was hard on everything. Good thing the apocalypse didn't happen this year or we'd be screwed.

jennypenny wrote:Amazing pic, cmonkey!

+1 Did you take it yourself while the bird was on you?

We went out for a 5:00 AM walk this morning, and after our recent rains noted amaranth growing in the public right of way, where it will shortly be trampled… We decided to “rescue” a bag full of the seedlings and put them around our lot.

Do you eat it as greens? I've never tried it.

early red norland potatoes, gold Yukon potatoes, green bell pepper, lemon cucumber (center), walla walla onion, purplette onion, juliette tomato, & some forgotton variety of carrot that's not yet mature

Dragline wrote:

jennypenny wrote:Amazing pic, cmonkey!

+1 Did you take it yourself while the bird was on you?

Thanks jennypenny!

DW took both photos. One is on her hand and the other was on my hand. She took a bunch of photos and video but those two were the best.

Second major picking of blueberries yielded another 2 gallons (16 pints) for the freezer, so we've now frozen the same amount as last year and we're not yet done with the season.

Pepper plants in the greenhouse have had a growth spurt and doubled in height during the past two weeks. Still aren't producing much.

Peas are producing more than ever. They really like our climate.

Squash have set fruit. Whew, didn't think they'd do so before fall reaches us.

The tomato avalanche has begun... now picking 4+ tomatoes every day, so we're slightly behind in our eating. There was a mild disaster when the tallest tomato plant folded over after the support failed, but only recent green fruit were affected. Cucumbers had a pause, but are back in production. Peppers continue, slowly, but I still doubt I'll reach break-even with those plants. I spied one watermelon that's tennis ball size, so good odds of having at least one to eat before the season is over.

Outside the greenhouse: peas & broccoli still going strong, the few stalks of corn are growing taller, and there's plenty of potatoes & onions. 3 quarts of blueberries picked yesterday and we'll probably have 2-3 more pickings of ever-diminishing numbers.

DW picked and processed 30 LBS of tomatoes today. Ketchup tomorrow.

We also picked two 9 LB melons from our melon patch. Chicken poo works harder than I ever could!

Our Reliant Grape that we planted two years ago also has about 2 gallons of grapes on it. Both the melon and grapes are exceptionally delicious. I can't wait until I can actually spend some time out there again. I think I've spent a total of less than 5 hours working out there all season.

cmonkey wrote:DW picked and processed 30 LBS of tomatoes today.

Slightly envious. My wife won't can, doesn't like cooked tomatoes, and I'm not willing to do that hot work alone, so we only plant enough tomatoes to eat fresh (with potential for small surplus). The surplus, what I don't give away, will likely be frozen or dehydrated.

What else goes into the ketchup recipe you use? Hmm, 30 lbs isn't 1 lb per week for the year, so I suspect another processing day for y'all?

We have at least another 100 LBs out there. One thing we both agree on this year - we are planting way to many tomato plants! 2 years ago we planted 75 plants. This year is about 30. Normally we work at it together but I was busy with building.

Onion, sweet pepper, cayenne, celery salt, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice, garlic, sugar, brown sugar and salt.

It takes a few hours to make but its really good and has the same consistency as store bought.

Made risotto d'ete, or summer risotto, from carrots and beans from my garden! This year's winners have been zucchini, beans (bush and pole), blueberries, strawberries, kale, lettuce, swiss chard, french sorrel, green onions, cucumbers (marketmore), raspberries, tomatoes (stupice, chocolate cherry), and herbs. The losers have been heirloom tomatoes (covering the bushes, but still green) and melons (probably not sunny/hot enough). The jury is still out on the Lakota and sweet-meat winter squash, which are growing and gaining in size.

Going by the weather, you wouldn't know the seasons are shifting... however the peas are on their final blooms, the onion stalks are falling over, and the potatoes vines have all withered. Still 1.5-2 months until frost threat arrives. Time to plant for the winter garden!

George the original one wrote:Going by the weather, you wouldn't know the seasons are shifting... however the peas are on their final blooms, the onion stalks are falling over, and the potatoes vines have all withered. Still 1.5-2 months until frost threat arrives. Time to plant for the winter garden!

George, that reminds me, I need to plant my peas for the fall. We are in the Willamette Valley, and are currently getting several days of 100 F+ temperature, so the challenge of keeping seeds moist enough to germinate is real! Enjoy your cooler (I hope) weather!

The heat! The heat!

I pulled up a dozen onions to dry in the Thursday-Friday sun... oops, instead of drying, they cooked! Compost pile wins this round.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/h ... per-world/
"It's kinda like eating molten lava."

Anyone down for growing 1.5 million Scoville unit peppers? I imagine it's like the Fight Club "This is a chemical burn" scene, but in your mouth.

Vegetable Garden Porn

Strawberries grown in hanging baskets


Transylvanian garlic (not so pretty but very tasty!)


Early Girl tomato salad with basil


Sugar snap peas from the spring


Roma Grape tomatoes


Mini red bell peppers (strawberry included for size comparison)

SEXY!!!

I'm jealous llorona!

Even in this dismal gardening season, the German Johnson tomatoes are again producing an incredible yield. That's three years running in different conditions. They are really tasty, and heirlooms, too. My only complaint is that they don't last long once picked, so you'd better have plans for them when you pick them.

@7WB5: Don't the strawberries make you go weak in the knees?

@JP: Those are beautiful tomatoes! Are they good for sauce?