




Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:30 pm
Fri Sep 01, 2017 7:04 am
Fri Sep 01, 2017 2:07 pm
applestar wrote:Looks so yummy! My little watermelons and melons are going to be sad comparison, but I enjoy yours vicariously.
What are you doing with all the scraps? Are you putting them out in the garden paths then tilling them in like you mentioned before? With all the sugars and organic matter, those will add tons of fertility to the soil. Potassium too for sure. I wonder what else?
Are you using the watermelon rind at all? Pickled or sautéed, soups/stews ... or I've even read about juicing them for antioxidant called citruline.
...I've been putting my small(er) contributions to the vermicomposter (worms love melons and squash) and the enclosed compost bin...
Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:41 pm
Sun Sep 03, 2017 3:30 pm
applestar wrote:Are you freezing any to eat later? When my kids were little, I bought a melon baller tool and dipped the melon balls in simple syrup then froze them individually on cookie sheet, then freezer bagged them. My kids loved to eat them as snack. I also made "adult" versions soaked in something... I can't remember what.
The frozen melons are also good for making smoothies.
Sun Sep 03, 2017 4:35 pm
Sun Sep 03, 2017 7:38 pm
Tue Sep 05, 2017 10:58 pm
Wed Sep 06, 2017 2:44 pm
Wed Sep 06, 2017 6:01 pm
Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:28 pm
Taiji wrote:Looks like a great well thought out layout. I suppose I would do well to pay more attention to layout. My method is mostly, let's see, put that here last year, this year I'll put it over there...
Those are some prime melons. About how many would you say you get from one plant?
Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:41 pm
Thu Sep 07, 2017 10:48 pm
Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:55 pm
Wed Sep 13, 2017 8:35 pm
Thu Sep 14, 2017 3:00 am
Thu Sep 14, 2017 7:55 am
Thu Sep 14, 2017 1:06 pm
applestar wrote:Nice! Since you willingly eat your vegetables, I guess you won't need to do this, but I make chocolate muffins and sneak in shredded zucchini, green beans, etc.....Baked goods are also good with a bit of lavender flowers in them, though they are obvious. My DD's will comment that I put lavender in there "again" but *still* enjoy them. I think of them like treasured bites. But too much can be too intense so be careful if you try.
Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:13 pm
Sat Sep 23, 2017 8:22 pm
Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:28 pm
Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:32 pm
Sat Sep 23, 2017 11:16 pm
Thu Sep 28, 2017 10:50 pm
Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:14 pm
Tue Oct 03, 2017 7:25 pm
Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:12 pm
Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:29 pm
Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:05 pm
Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:39 am
Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:54 pm
Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:07 pm
Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:29 am
Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:40 am
Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:05 am
Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:02 am
ElizabethB wrote:My fall garden was planted very late. Mid September instead of early August.
All of my tomatoes are in full bloom. 3 of the 8 plants have young fruit - from marble size to golf ball size. Cauliflower an broccoli are growing like crazy. I picked 2 cucumbers today with more on the way. Tomorrow I will harvest mustard green leaves. Kale in 2 or 3 days. Spinach in a week.
I did not have a good germination rate on lettuce - time to plant more.
I had low production expectations so I am happy with anything I harvest.
Sun Oct 15, 2017 3:45 am
Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:22 pm
pepperhead212 wrote:So, have you eaten all of those already?
Sun Oct 15, 2017 4:44 pm
Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:01 pm
ElizabethB wrote:Gary - isn't it wonderful having such a long growing season?
New tomatoes on 2 more plants. 6 out of 8 with fruit.
I have been talking to the tomato plants - words of encouragement.
I have never considered, nor did I intend to plant cucumbers in the fall. Silly me.
George came home from Lowe's with cucumber plants. Between the store and home he lost the tag. I have no idea what variety they are. George said they were Chinese or Japanese long cucumbers. IDK. They grow like crazy. I picked the first 2 and have been watching the young ones. I kid you not - they grow 1/2" to 3/4" a day! Crazy.
George was in Houston at the beginning of the week for business then went to his fishing camp on Toledo Bend. He can't wait for dinner tonight. His mouth is watering for garden fresh cucumbers and mustard greens.
Since the greens are young and tender I make Simple Southern Wilted Greens.
1 lb. mustard greens
1 Strip Applewood smoked bacon cut into 1" pieces
1 large hard boiled egg - chopped
1 TBSP. butter
Sea salt and Fresh ground pepper to taste
Boil, peel and chop the egg
Rinse the greens in cold water and drain in a colander
Cook bacon pieces until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp.
Remove the bacon and set aside.
Add greens to the bacon drippings
Toss until greens begin to wilt
Remove greens to a bowl and add butter
Toss to coat
Add bacon pieces and egg
Toss
Salt and pepper to taste.
Options:
Add 1 clove minced garlic or 1 Tsp. roasted garlic to the bacon drippings before adding the greens.
Cook until just fragrant then add greens
Add 1/4 cup sliced green onions - whites and greens - to the pot when you add the mustard greens.
With 1 lb. of greens we each get a serving.