Saturday Gardening and Puttering Thread, August 14 Travel Edition

Caught a nice little portrait of a juvenile, male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in my garden this week. He was very delighted with the butterfly bushes. Lizabth

Hi, everybody! Time is getting short for summer vacations. We have some photos from vacations so far this summer. Don't forget to have someone look after the garden while you're gone . . .

Love the hummingbird portrait. Wish I had one in my yard . . .

Last Week

We had some interesting discussions on tomato varieties in the comments. Allrecipes has a nice review on heirloom vs. hybrid tomatoes. And 35 fresh tomato recipes.

We also discussed harvest size for yellow summer squash. Here's a nice recipe. I might saute the squashes separately from the tomato mixture, maybe with some bacon. Sometimes squashes squeak on your teeth when cooked with tomato.

Zephyr squash, above, has some winter squash in its background. It keeps a long time in the fridge. A lot like yellow squash, a little firmer.

I.D.: We had some interesting discussion about caterpillar I.D.s in the comments. I don't think any of the suggested species were suitable for the Food Thread.

For plant and animal identifications, try iNaturalist. It's a free download. It's not always correct but is a great starting place.
Miked

Looks like an interesting site.

Our mystery plant may be one of the native hardy hibiscus species, or a hybrid. Maybe we will get a photo of an open flower. In the meantime, we got this:

Badgerwx here. I sent a few pictures to the garden thread the year before last. Last year I joined the trend of covid yard improvements &
put up a privacy/deer fence. I had to dig up & move around 50 pots of plants & bulbs, so I wasn't able to take any decent plant pictures to send in.
But now I can send a few pictures of my hardy hibiscus plants. The smaller one is called Crown Jewels.

I took a close-up of Blue River II to show the buds, though the white flowers don't show up well against my new fence. I may need to move the plant
again this fall. I might swap it with one of these other hibiscuses
next to my house.

I lost the tag for the larger hibiscus next to the butterfly weed (asclepias). A friend of mine has a bunch of monarch caterpillars on her butterfly
weed, chowing down & forming their chrysalises, but I haven't seen a
single caterpillar on mine. Maybe I need a a bigger patch of butterfly
weed.

Travel

From Neal in Israel, rice flowers are great for bouquets. Plant is attractive in bud:

or in blossom:

His hollyhocks can grow pretty tall:

And are attractive to bees. Nice catch on the one in the photo above. The pollen on the bee below demonstrates how hollyhocks are pollenized:

Travel Photos from the Family and Friends Network:

Sigris, Switzerland

Tessin, Switzerland

Mesa Verde

Where did they garden?

Horsebay, Idaho

Whoops! Bayhorse, Idaho.

Northern Utah Cactus

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at that g mail dot com place

Include the nic by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ,
unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: K.T. at 01:25 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 garden thread! Yea KT!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 12:37 PM (c5G3Z)

2 I'll fetch the others.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 12:37 PM (c5G3Z)

3 Well, this is fine. Just deleted half of my thread!

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 12:38 PM (BVQ+1)

4 Nooded.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 12:38 PM (c5G3Z)

5 We had some interesting discussions on tomato varieties in the comments. Allrecipes has a nice review on heirloom vs. hybrid tomatoes

Bought a YUGE heirloom tomato, the color of tomatillo.

It was delicious! If I closed my eyes I'd have been certain it was a big juicy Jersey red tomato.

Posted by: kallisto at August 14, 2021 12:39 PM (DJFLF)

6 I thought I noticed it getting a bit shorter...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 12:40 PM (c5G3Z)

7 My late father was a big fan of Hollyhocks. Somewhere around here I've got some seeds he gave me decades ago. I should plant them next spring and see if they're still viable.

* assuming I can find them

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 14, 2021 12:41 PM (BFigT)

8 what a great image of hummingbird! What kind of camera did you use?

Posted by: kallisto at August 14, 2021 12:41 PM (DJFLF)

9 Good afternoon! I was out-of-state last week, which means I'm paying for it this week in extra chores. As usual, I love this thread, thanks KT. Wish my zucchini looked as good as that chart; one measly baby right now and it's summer's end.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at August 14, 2021 12:44 PM (/+bwe)

10
The hummingbird has flecks of blood on it. Clearly a predator.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at August 14, 2021 12:44 PM (2iDSr)

11 Thanks as always for a wonderful gardening thread, KT.

Not a gardening question but an outdoor one. Our house has an outdoor kitchen with a stone top. Not sure what the material is, but best guess is it's limestone coping stone.

The stone is badly stained by the weather. Powerwashing didn't help. Any moron recommendations for how to clean it?

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at August 14, 2021 12:44 PM (fTtFy)

12 Anyone ever heard of trumpet zucchini? They look cool. Zucchetta tromboncino. Tolerates squash vine borer.

I think we just had a lightning strike on the next road over. We had one in out front yard a few days ago (Publius' cousin is retired NWS and he sent us the map of the strike). So we walked out there, expecting to see a large burned spot. Found one burned weed, that's it.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 12:47 PM (Mzdiz)

13 OT: Haiti hit by massive 7.2 quake. Shallow (10km depth). Prayers to the people of Haiti.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 14, 2021 12:48 PM (ynpvh)

14 13 OT: Haiti hit by massive 7.2 quake. Shallow (10km depth). Prayers to the people of Haiti.

haiters gonna haiti

Posted by: Anachronda, gallivanting about the intermountain west at August 14, 2021 12:49 PM (O/Kpe)

15 Good afternoon Greenthumbs
Cleaned out garden on dead, weeds or unproductive plants.
Getting tomatoes but not much more than needed. Pepper's are starting but green. Thankfully squash ( 1 plant got pulled) are slowing down.
Wife made "pickles" out of squash, tried a early one but not since they had time to cure.

Posted by: Skip at August 14, 2021 12:50 PM (znIQ9)

16 I prefer these single hollyhocks to the double ones. I had some black hollyhocks that were very attractive. Blood red when the sunlight shines through them.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 12:51 PM (Mzdiz)

17 I miss the hummingbirds and goldfinches, I don't know why they haven't come by. Can only imagine it is the blistering heat. But they have to be feeding *somewhere*, I guess where there's more shade?

I had a talk with the resident Catbird. I believe his aggressiveness chased the goldies away. I directed him to invite the goldies back to my feeder. (In a nice way, of course.)

Posted by: kallisto at August 14, 2021 12:53 PM (DJFLF)

18 I planted a bunch of Morning Glories last year, and they were nice, but I didn't plant any this year. Surprisingly to me, some have come back up and are just beautiful. I don't know if they're self-seeded or are especially robust individuals that made it through the winter.

Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 12:53 PM (ZsR3z)

19 I put my flower garden through the Darwinian torture chamber this year. I stopped watering them after June. They've done OK, mostly Shasta daisies and various cone flowers.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 12:54 PM (Mzdiz)

20 I planted a bunch of Morning Glories last year, and they were nice, but I didn't plant any this year. Surprisingly to me, some have come back up and are just beautiful. I don't know if they're self-seeded or are especially robust individuals that made it through the winter.
Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 12:53 PM (ZsR3z)

Around here (San Diego) Morning Glories are hard to get rid of once they start. Fences on alleys are covered with them Unfortunately white flies love them.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 14, 2021 12:56 PM (AiZBA)

21 20 I planted a bunch of Morning Glories last year, and they were nice, but I didn't plant any this year. Surprisingly to me, some have come back up and are just beautiful. I don't know if they're self-seeded or are especially robust individuals that made it through the winter.
Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 12:53 PM (ZsR3z)
Around here (San Diego) Morning Glories are hard to get rid of once they start. Fences on alleys are covered with them Unfortunately white flies love them.
Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 14, 2021 12:56 PM (AiZBA)

I'm surprised you are allowed to grow them. I was told that the seeds had halucinogenic properties, and that in the 60's kids were abusing them.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 14, 2021 01:00 PM (ynpvh)

22 Had my 1st BLT of the year this week with homegrown tomato.

It was as amazing as I remembered.

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at August 14, 2021 01:00 PM (Z/jzm)

23 what a great image of hummingbird! What kind of camera did you use?
Posted by: kallisto

Thanks! The hummers are really busy right now, and so much fun to photograph.

For this shot I used my Canon 5Ds (50mp) and the Tamron 150-600 g2 lens. It's a wonderful combo.

The pic above a tiny crop from the original photo. 50 mp makes that possible.

It's an old camera, and Canon no longer makes it, but I'd grab a second up in a second if I could find another.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:00 PM (L3Rsz)

24 I'm surprised you are allowed to grow them. I was told that the seeds had halucinogenic properties, and that in the 60's kids were abusing them.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 14, 2021 01:00 PM (ynpvh)

been there, done that. Nuthin'

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 14, 2021 01:01 PM (AiZBA)

25 I don't know if they're self-seeded or are especially robust individuals that made it through the winter.

Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 12:53 PM (ZsR3z)

My guess is self-seeded. Each flower ends up producing 4-6 seeds. We're inundated with them from previous years. Come August they can swarm anything else.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:01 PM (Mzdiz)

26 I had a talk with the resident Catbird. I believe his aggressiveness chased the goldies away. I directed him to invite the goldies back to my feeder. (In a nice way, of course.)
Posted by: kallisto

Love those Catbirds. And they are loving my mulberry tree right now, as are the Cedar Waxwings. Of course, having a mulberry tree means having lots of volunteers all over the property. Hubby is always battling them.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:02 PM (L3Rsz)

27 24 I'm surprised you are allowed to grow them. I was told that the seeds had halucinogenic properties, and that in the 60's kids were abusing them.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 14, 2021 01:00 PM (ynpvh)

been there, done that. Nuthin'

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at August 14, 2021 01:01 PM (AiZBA)
Seeds contain a compound called LSA, similar to LSD.

https://doubleblindmag.com/what-is-lsa-drug/

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 14, 2021 01:03 PM (ynpvh)

28 Not sure what the material is, but best guess is it's limestone coping stone.

The stone is badly stained by the weather. Powerwashing didn't help. Any moron recommendations for how to clean it?
Posted by: Art

If it is limestone don't try any acids!
I'd try some oil on the underside and see how it reacts/looks (mineral oil, vegetable, olive, whatever).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:03 PM (c5G3Z)

29 Once in awhile a hummingbird comes up to me as if to say, "Wazzup? You aren't even trying." I point to the butterfly bush out front.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:04 PM (Mzdiz)

30 Come August they can swarm anything else.

Yeah, that's pretty much what's happened. Still, NoVa seems kind of far north for them.

Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 01:04 PM (ZsR3z)

31 Once in awhile a hummingbird comes up to me as if to say, "Wazzup? You aren't even trying." I point to the butterfly bush out front.
Posted by: Miley

Ha! This is the first year I've put in butterfly bushes, and if I don't have the sugar water out there for the hummingbirds, that's right where they head.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:07 PM (L3Rsz)

32 Yeah, that's pretty much what's happened. Still, NoVa seems kind of far north for them.

Posted by: pep at August 14, 2021 01:04 PM (ZsR3z)

Not at all! The same thing happened in Massachusetts back in the 80s.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:08 PM (Mzdiz)

33 Thanks, AZ deplorable. Oil had never occurred to me.

In my online search I got several supposedly expert sites that suggested acid-based cleaners. I knew that was wrong.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at August 14, 2021 01:08 PM (fTtFy)

34 Ha! This is the first year I've put in butterfly bushes, and if I don't have the sugar water out there for the hummingbirds, that's right where they head.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:07 PM (L3Rsz)

The thing about using flowers instead is that you don't need to change it every few days. The thought of giving hummingbirds tongue fungus terrifies me.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:09 PM (Mzdiz)

35 Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 12:47 PM

They are related to butternut squashes. They have solid stems, which is why they are resistant to borers. They have a different flavor than regular zucchinis. If you grow them big enough, you can use them for winter squash, but the flavor will be inferior to intentional winter squash varieties. Suitable under spaghetti sauce.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:12 PM (BVQ+1)

36
In my online search I got several supposedly expert sites that suggested acid-based cleaners. I knew that was wrong.
Posted by: Art Rondelet

Oh, they are correct an acid will *clean* it... but it will also dissolve some of the limestone (which why it is *clean* when the acid is done).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:14 PM (c5G3Z)

37 The thing about using flowers instead is that you don't need to change it every few days. The thought of giving hummingbirds tongue fungus terrifies me.
Posted by: Miley

Yep...gotta keep those feeders clean, that's for sure. Nasty job in the summer, as so many little bugs love that sugar-water, and drown themselves in it. Yuck.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:14 PM (L3Rsz)

38 Oh, and the oil will not *clean* it at all; but, it will darken it and blend the colors.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:15 PM (c5G3Z)

39 Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 12:51 PM

There are a few gorgeous bicolor double hollyhock varieties, but I generally prefer the single ones, too. I agree with you about the sun shining through the dark ones . . . .

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:17 PM (BVQ+1)

40 Yep...gotta keep those feeders clean, that's for sure. Nasty job in the summer, as so many little bugs love that sugar-water, and drown themselves in it. Yuck.
Posted by: lizabth

We have Flickers that land on the feeders (both bottle and dish types) and suck them dry. Very disappointing as we had 6 out at the last place. We are starting to plant Red Fairy Dusters to attract the hummers instead of using the feeders.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:18 PM (c5G3Z)

41 Badgerwx,

Butterfly Weed is very attractive to butterflies for nectar, but it is among the least attractive of the milkweeds to mama Monarchs for laying eggs. Not poisonous enough, I guess. And they are picky about where they lay eggs to begin with.

You might think about leaving the butterfly weed to attract masses of butterflies, and planting one (non-hardy) tropical milkweed in a pot or something for egg laying.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:22 PM (BVQ+1)

42 We are starting to plant Red Fairy Dusters to attract the hummers instead of using the feeders.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

Wow...I can see why the hummingbirds would be attracted to that plant.

I have some Downey Woodpeckers who love the humming bird feeders.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:22 PM (L3Rsz)

43 If you grow them big enough, you can use them for winter squash, but the flavor will be inferior to intentional winter squash varieties. Suitable under spaghetti sauce.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:12 PM (BVQ+1)

Thanks! I may try them next summer. I've got room for long runners. Gina (the Italian grandma on Youtube) uses them for zucchini parm.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:22 PM (Mzdiz)

44 Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:02 PM (L3Rsz)

Mulberry wood is good used in a smoker. One of my favorites. The young leaves are also edible and can be used in teas or eaten as part of a salad.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at August 14, 2021 01:23 PM (1lKRm)

45 Grew those Italian round zucchini one year. Cool to grow but they sure didn't keep long.

Posted by: dartist at August 14, 2021 01:23 PM (+ya+t)

46 Hummingbirds in our area love agastache. It's kind of wispy, so doesn't look very lush, but I love the smell of some of the varieties. Some smell like root beer.

Posted by: Emmie at August 14, 2021 01:24 PM (a20qm)

47 Yep...gotta keep those feeders clean, that's for sure. Nasty job in the summer, as so many little bugs love that sugar-water, and drown themselves in it. Yuck.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:14 PM (L3Rsz)

Ours are full of fire ants

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:25 PM (Mzdiz)

48
Wow...I can see why the hummingbirds would be attracted to that plant.

Posted by: lizabth

Yes indeed, the plant does well in the soils here and is very drought tolerant. When you give it a bit of water you get a quite a few blossoms. When you give it a lot of water you get really lush plants with okay showings.
We just planted 6 and expect them to reseed themselves (we have a large area we'd love them to take over).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:25 PM (c5G3Z)

49 Mulberry wood is good used in a smoker. One of my favorites. The young leaves are also edible and can be used in teas or eaten as part of a salad.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

Oh yes....we use it in our woodstove, and it is an excellent heating wood, as well.

I didn't know that about the leaves..how interesting!

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:27 PM (L3Rsz)

50 I also like to plant for the hummingbirds. So far I've found that they like the butterfly bush, salvia greggi (like black & blue salvia), and weigela (a shrub). The older kinds of weigela only bloom in spring, but I planted a couple of sonic bloom weigelas & they rebloom somewhat in summer. The ivory sonic bloom is the best rebloomer & I've seen the hummers visit it in the early mornings.

This summer the trick has been to keep the plants watered enough to keep blooming.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:27 PM (cL7E+)

51 Ours are full of fire ants
Posted by: Miley

Oh dear!

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:28 PM (L3Rsz)

52 This summer the trick has been to keep the plants watered enough to keep blooming.
Posted by: badgerwx

Isn't that the truth...we've been so dry in NW IL.

We do have some old weigelas, and do see the hummers there in the spring, and also on our apple trees. They LOVE the catmint we have.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:30 PM (L3Rsz)

53 Bought some 'Firecracker' Penstemon seeds at the Phx Desert Botanical Gardens. They'll reseed and attract hummers too.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 01:31 PM (c5G3Z)

54 "Oh, and the oil will not *clean* it at all; but, it will darken it and blend the colors."

Ha ha! I just tried oil on the stone and that's what I noticed! It DOES make it look better. Always an option.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at August 14, 2021 01:31 PM (fTtFy)

55 From Boise area: Temps spiked to 100 again. Air quality poor due to smoke.

Busy washing, blanching, freezing green beans. 4.5# mediums, 1.5# small ones frozen so far.

Dug fingerling potatoes we stuck in 2 holes in the paddock - got 1# 3oz. (Still haven't weighed fingerlings from 3 potato bags.) Dug under a random potato plant in corner of raised bed - got 4 decent sized potatoes, never found bottom of plant, so left plant in place!

Pulled the onions I started from seed in toilet paper tubes (based loosely on S.Lynn's instructions) - mostly about size of golf ball or smaller. But onions left longer have tended to rot at the neck, so pulling them now is being conservative.

Strawberry runners jumping out of raised beds, getting tangled in netting - I'm working on trimming those so we can remove nets.

Next week, Western Idaho Fair starts! Must prepare entries, fill out forms, cart them over on Tuesday. Will *totally* let you know if I win any ribbons!

Posted by: Pat* at August 14, 2021 01:31 PM (2pX/F)

56 Big thin down here are "Creole" tomatoes. They are just red tomatoes grown in Louisiana. Guess we just have better dirt or something.

Posted by: Javems at August 14, 2021 01:32 PM (8SSHh)

57 Next week, Western Idaho Fair starts! Must prepare entries, fill out forms, cart them over on Tuesday. Will *totally* let you know if I win any ribbons!
Posted by: Pat*

Good luck! Fairs are so much fun.

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:33 PM (L3Rsz)

58 They'll reseed and attract hummers too.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron

That penstemon is a beauty!

Posted by: lizabth at August 14, 2021 01:34 PM (L3Rsz)

59 KT,

I'll look into the different types of milkweed. I tried some kind milkweed (I think it was purple) around 10 years ago, but it didn't come back the next spring. I'm not sure if it didn't get enough water the first year or it was attacked by too many aphids. I was hoping butterfly weed would work since that survives better in my garden.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:35 PM (cL7E+)

60 badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:35 PM

You have to be careful, because some of the milkweeds are invasive. You might be able to grow tropical milkweed as an annual or one of the northern kinds in a pot.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:38 PM (BVQ+1)

61 I really prefer summer squash dishes if they have some yellow squash in them. When steamed with onion and butter, I like the squash quite soft.

I also like some tomato and bacon added to sauteed yellow squash and zucchini with onion.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:40 PM (BVQ+1)

62 Pat* at August 14, 2021 01:31 PM

Jealous of you and your green beans.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:44 PM (BVQ+1)

63 I generally find that yellow zucchini tastes a lot more like green zucchini than it does like yellow crookneck or straightneck squashes.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:45 PM (BVQ+1)

64 KT,

I'll keep the pot in mind. I have practice growing mint in a sunken pot in my herb garden. I save my nursery pots so I can find one the right size for a clump of milkweed.

This year I'm also trying rosemary in a sunken pot. I've tried growing Arp rosemary in a raised bed but it never lasted more than 2 years. It's hardy enough for the mid-atlantic zone winters, but I've heard that they don't like wintering in wet clay soil. I've got one in a pot filled with loamy top soil, compost & perlite. I hope that will help it survive even if this winter is rainy or snowy.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:47 PM (cL7E+)

65 Miley,

On the "trombone zucchinis", there is also an edible gourd that can be grown on a trellis with it. Has white flowers that open at night. I have imagined walking under an overhead trellis with trombones and baseball bats hanging down from it. The gourds are interesting and have seeds that are sweet when small.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:50 PM (BVQ+1)

66 Drat, I was trying to say I'm in the mid-atlantic Zone *7*.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:50 PM (cL7E+)

67 badgerwx at August 14, 2021 01:47 PM

Planting rosemary in a sunken pot could subject it to drowning if you are not careful.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:51 PM (BVQ+1)

68 love that hummingbird photo! We have a lot of Turk's Cap in our yard, which hummingbirds just love. Turk's Cap is a Texas native, same family as the mallows and hibiscus, and it blooms prolifically all summer long. Best part is that being a native plant, it likes hot temperatures and bright sun. This is a Neil Sperry page about it, if you haven't seen it:

https://neilsperry.com/2018/09/plant-week-turks-cap/

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 14, 2021 01:51 PM (WmVfO)

69 I also like some tomato and bacon added to sauteed yellow squash and zucchini with onion.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:40 PM (BVQ+1)

Bacon fat instead of butter! I've never tried adding tomatoes. I make zucchini casserole with equal parts of onion/pepper, tomatoes and cut up squash/zucchini. A few cloves of garlic. Shredded cheddar and bread crumbs flavored with Italian seasoning and romano.

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 01:59 PM (Mzdiz)

70 Have Lemon Cucumbers ever been talked about here?

For sitting around and munching there is nothing better than Lemon Cucumbers. I wish I had some sliced up right now drenched in Star Garlic Wine Vinegar with a small amount of pepper. My parents always grew Lemon Cucumbers in the garden to snack on.

Posted by: JROD at August 14, 2021 01:59 PM (0jZnq)

71 On the "trombone zucchinis", there is also an edible gourd that can be grown on a trellis with it. Has white flowers that open at night. I have imagined walking under an overhead trellis with trombones and baseball bats hanging down from it. The gourds are interesting and have seeds that are sweet when small.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 01:50 PM (BVQ+1)

Sounds awesome!

Posted by: Miley, the Duchess, #SuperStraight #maskless (Mzdiz) at August 14, 2021 02:00 PM (Mzdiz)

72 Pretty plant Tom.
I've seen those in gardens; but, never knew what they were called.
Looks like it's good in areas with a bit more rain than we get (monsoon excepted!).

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 14, 2021 02:01 PM (c5G3Z)

73 Been grilling the yellow squash, dip in olive oil and chopped up basil.

Posted by: Skip at August 14, 2021 02:02 PM (znIQ9)

74 I'll keep an eye on my rosemary pot once I start getting more rain this fall. I picked a large pot with lots of drainage holes in the bottom. So I'm hoping the top part of the pot is big enough to hold most of the plant roots as it grows - and drain well enough to keep the roots from rotting.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 02:03 PM (cL7E+)

75 I got up at 4 this morning and decided at six to go and start canning jam. It was a terrible year for my Gravensteins, I have off years every other year but this year we had about five gallons worth of apples in all.
I picked up windfalls and cored and shredded them and made apple jam (4 cup shredded apple, five cups sugar, lemon juice and pectin) and made seven half pints. I then shredded up windfall pears and made pear jam too.
Last weekend I canned a few jars of peaches and made peach and blackberry jam. I am waiting on the pears and plums to start in earnest so I can start canning fruit instead of jam.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 14, 2021 02:08 PM (BbDPD)

76 Tom Servo,

That Turk's Cap is a cool-looking plant. Texas A&M says Malvaviscus drummondii is hardy to Zone 7 - so I'll have to see if any nurseries around here ever sell it. I have a hard time finding red perennials for the hummingbirds.

Posted by: badgerwx at August 14, 2021 02:09 PM (cL7E+)

77 It is also cucumber season and my wife has been making cucumber kimchi. She made it to give away "so it isn't as hot this time"

Posted by: Kindltot at August 14, 2021 02:14 PM (BbDPD)

78 Used to trade basil and zucchini from my garden for zucchini stew with an Italian bartender. Don't know what she did but I could never match it.

Posted by: dartist at August 14, 2021 02:28 PM (+ya+t)

79
That's BAYHORSE, IDAHO....not Horsebay.

Posted by: BZ in Idaho at August 14, 2021 02:33 PM (AgV7m)

80 BZ in Idaho at August 14, 2021 02:33 PM

Careless tourists!

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 02:37 PM (BVQ+1)

81 There's something happenin' here

What it is ain't exactly clear

Posted by: JQ, a hick in the sticks at August 14, 2021 02:47 PM (dB4Iz)

82 I have found that heirloom tomato varieties are kind of like Goldilocks. If everything is just right, they are magnificent. I specifically like the Momotaro, pink Berkeley tie-dye and hillbilly. However, this year was not Goldilocks here. It has been way too cold throughout the winter and spring and early summer in SoCal and we got a total of 3 inches of water all year so anything they get is irrigation. This is where the hybrid varieties excel.

The big beef and better boy has been amazing. My standard San Marzanos I get at Home Depot, However, were amazing. Three plants went crazy and last weekend I canned 7quarts of tomato sauce. Looks like there's another load coming in for this week too.

So there's always a bright side. I find I have to mix it up. I can't just do heirlooms but I have to plant some just because how wonderful they are if they come through

Posted by: keena at August 14, 2021 03:28 PM (RiTnx)

83 Cliff dwellers tended to put their gardens near the water at the bottom of the canyon. They also practiced dry land farming up above the canyons on the plains.

Posted by: ChupaMe at August 14, 2021 03:30 PM (CoLT9)

84 We finally got our Romas ripening last week, I was recovering from back surgery so a lot went in late, and it's a small garden for me. Guess we will be making sauce as J can no longer eat tomatoes.
For potatoes I used one sprouted Russet we had, got six plants. there are 2 ready to harvest, rest still growing. Most in the Vegtrup (raised bed on legs) and one in a pot, which is huge.

Posted by: Farmer at August 14, 2021 06:22 PM (55Qr6)

85 keena at August 14, 2021 03:28 PM

Glad your standard hybrids came through. They are bred to be versatile.

Hillbilly is an heirloom. Momotaro is, I believe, a Japanese commercial hybrid with a distinctive flavor, often sold with heirlooms. Pink Berkeley Tie Dye is a recent open-pollinated variety, but not exactly an "heirloom". Sorry it didn't do well. It's supposed to do better in cool weather than some others.

Posted by: KT at August 14, 2021 07:53 PM (BVQ+1)

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