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Saturday Gardening Thread: It's a Dilly [KT]

squash-and-gourd-tunnel.jpg

Proof that pumpkins are not just about White Privilege

Dilly of a fall we've been having, don't you think? I am a little disorganized this week, having helped my sister-in-law move. Moving is a trial. This post will be sorta random and disorganized, too. But maybe you'll find some content you like. It's Saturday. Time for some casual browsing. At least that is my excuse.

Some members of The Horde are likely planting some things for winter, but many others are wrapping things up. For most of us, it's probably kind of late for home-grown cucumbers for dill pickles, but some of us may still have dill in the garden. One of the perpetual problems in my parents' garden was that dill seed heads never seemed to be ready when the cucumbers were ready for pickling. As you may recall, I am a big proponent of not-quite-ripe dill seed head for pickles.

If you're in the Frozen North, remember that you can grow dill weed microgreens indoors any time. "Dill is a curiously easy crop to grow as a Micro-Green, as long as you don't fuss with it too much."

Incidentally, there is a Florist's Dill.

Florist's Dill

There is a dill cultivar marketed to florists, though it is also good in the garden and kitchen. It is compact, so it should be suitable for containers.

dill.jpg

Florist's Dill 'Mariska'

There are tall dills, short dills, dills bred for seed and dills bred for weed. When the seed catalogs come out, do a little research to get the kind that will work best for you.

Produce News

Target to add vertical farming at some locations. They have taken out their garden center at our nearest Target. Wonder if this is the replacement?

Maybe we should discuss doing something similar at home sometime.

Seasonal Tips

We have been talking some about what to do with green tomatoes. I've tasted some good canned green tomato mincemeat. Here's a recipe with more than the usual amount of butter that you can freeze, too. For pies.

There's also green tomato chow. I think one of our regulars has a recipe for this, too.

And here are some tips for ripening tomatoes indoors. Do you have a favorite method? Green tomato relish recipe included.

Planting bulbs? Grape hyacinths may help you remember where you planted other stuff.

grape hyacinth.jpg


Nice photos and info here.

Gardens of The Horde

A lot of clean-up to do here in our yard and in our sister-in-law's yard. No planting this week.

What's going on in your garden? Working on something for next year?

Have a great week.


Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:38 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 In that first photo it looks like the Pods in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers".

Posted by: HH at October 22, 2016 12:38 PM (DrCtv)

2 We use a lot of dill weed at the house, but real dill is so much better flavored. I remember it used to grow wild in ditches not far from our house. I grew up with a mom and dad who loved old farm stuff like canning and gardening and so on that not so many people do these days. That means they ruined me for most processed or store bought food like ice cream and pickles and root beer.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 22, 2016 12:44 PM (39g3+)

3 Target to add vertical farming at some locations. They have taken out their garden center at our nearest Target. Wonder if this is the replacement?

Until they stop letting perverts in dresses watch little girls go to the bathroom, I don't care if they're giving away free bacon. No Target.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? - Takin' My Time on my Ride at October 22, 2016 12:44 PM (WlGX+)

4 Fall??? We started getting some Fall weather here towards the first of the month, then it went back to Summer and I had to start my A/C back up. Now it has gone early Winter with lows down to 40 and suspect the 30s here shortly next week.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at October 22, 2016 12:46 PM (mpXpK)

5 Fabulous colors on the trees right now.

I'm planting some daffodil bulbs today.

Maria Baritoromo should have her own line of melons.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at October 22, 2016 12:46 PM (n3MnG)

6 Oh, thank you for all this, KT!

Nearly threw out the remaining tomatoes last night, but now will try the mincemeat recipe. Maybe also the gt chow.


Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 12:47 PM (044Fx)

7 I remember it used to grow wild in ditches not far from our house.

Yep, we had tons of wild dill near our house growing up. The house backed up against a long-unused farm field-prime growing conditions for a lot of wild edibles. My Mom was always sending us out with Tupperware containers to bring back whatever was in season: strawberries, raspberries, wild carrots, mustard greens, wild leeks, burdock...all kinds of stuff. It was great. My siblings and I all loved contributing to the family table.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? - Takin' My Time on my Ride at October 22, 2016 12:48 PM (WlGX+)

8 I am going to be gone for a few hours, but I'll check in later.

I know the feeling of being ruined for most processed foods by having acces to fresh stuff, Christopher.

Not for chocolate, though.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 12:48 PM (qahv/)

9 Claussen used to make great pickled green tomatoes.

Posted by: BignJames at October 22, 2016 12:48 PM (+q52R)

10 HH at October 22, 2016 12:38 PM

Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Heh.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 12:51 PM (qahv/)

11 Right now I'm grabbing any Hickory nuts I can get before the squirrels. I'm deathly allergic to them but I give them to my friends. My mom and aunts use them in place of pine nuts for making pesto.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? - Takin' My Time on my Ride at October 22, 2016 12:52 PM (WlGX+)

12 Love that top photo! We put down some Abruzzi rye for a cover crop. It only took a few days to start coming up which gives me hope for its success. To my surprise, the birds (especially those damn house sparrows) left it alone. The extension service said it can be dug under in the spring to help the soil or just trimmed low and the seedlings planted through it. The latter approach is supposed to help control weed growth. Decisions, decisions.

Posted by: JTB at October 22, 2016 12:54 PM (V+03K)

13 I love dill! I'm now growing winter crops from seeds ....slowly.
I wish that gardening blog you used for how to ripen tomatoes still was blogging. It was a lovely site.
I am going to try that with the very last of my green tomatoes.

Posted by: keena at October 22, 2016 12:56 PM (RiTnx)

14 Fried green tomatoes are great as well.....tastes a little like eggplant, to me.

Posted by: BignJames at October 22, 2016 12:59 PM (+q52R)

15 Since the owls moved away, we've had to resume trapping mice. (Love the new-fangled white ones from Tomcat that look like jaws with teeth all around, and a little 'cup' for the bait)

Plop in one sunflower seed, set trap, place in mouse path, wait about 2 hours ... snap! ... repeat. So easy.


Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 01:00 PM (044Fx)

16 Florist's Dill was my favorite comedienne

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:00 PM (lPUaT)

17 What happened to Y-Not? Haven't seen her around in a while.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at October 22, 2016 01:01 PM (kTF2Z)

18 I'd be afraid that one of those things would fall off and bonk bonk me right on the gourd.


I have a leftover question - I missed last weekend.
Can I force my herbs to bolt? Or do I just wait?
I want seeds to start next year off early. Maybe even try growing indoors over winter - i cantstand having to pay $5 for a tiny sprig of parsley plant at Home Depot, or $3 for already cut basil at the grocery.

Posted by: Chi at October 22, 2016 01:02 PM (Q3ES6)

19 Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 01:00 PM (044Fx)


Bought a few of those for the garage last year....truly, a better mouse trap.

Posted by: BignJames at October 22, 2016 01:02 PM (+q52R)

20 I don't do anything 'special' to ripen green tomatoes-- just keep them dry, mainly.

Put them in a cardboard tray or paper sacks, so they're easy to move when/if necessary.

Keep them in a single layer if possible, it's easier that way to look them over for spoilage and pick out the bad ones asap.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 01:05 PM (044Fx)

21 We had about 6" of rain in a week and my over-tall Jerusalem artichokes fell over.

Pretty much everything is done except pulling in the squash and throwing the apples into the compost and rake up the leaves. And trim everything back.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:06 PM (lPUaT)

22 Patio garden is kaput except for the banana pepper plant - might see one or two more before the first frost. Total YTD yield - about 8 cherry tomatoes, 2 cucumbers, 2 green peppers and a few banana peppers. Zero eggplant.

Here's a question - why aren't Oaks called Acorn Trees?

Posted by: Weasel at October 22, 2016 01:07 PM (Sfs6o)

23 why aren't Oaks called Acorn Trees?

Dunno. Same reason junipers aren't called Gin bushes?

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 01:10 PM (044Fx)

24 Using the lawn sweeper to get the leaves and pine needles in check. At least I get to do my chores outside.

Posted by: delayna at October 22, 2016 01:14 PM (KNFU5)

25 It looks like acorn is from a Germanic word for "mast nut or other fruit" and the acorns themselves became to mean the nut of the oak tree because they were really important because in England the swine were fed on it in the woods. The root Germanic word looks to be Acern or Akern, which appears to be cognate with ACER, or the linnean genus for maple.

Oak appears to be old Germanic "Aiks" which appears to have no Indo-European or Uralic root, and may be from a now extinct language that was swamped during the Indo-European settlement of Northern Europe.

More fun with etymology

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:17 PM (lPUaT)

26 Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:17 PM (lPUaT)
--------------
Thanks, Kindltot. We have a large acorn tree in the front yard and I could hear them dropping onto the roof in the night, and I actually woke up this morning wondering this.

Posted by: Weasel at October 22, 2016 01:23 PM (Sfs6o)

27 Getting ready to cut the yard on the lowest mower setting for the winter. I hate grass.

Posted by: AzDesertRat at October 22, 2016 01:25 PM (5yBoU)

28 Here's a question - why aren't Oaks called Acorn Trees?
Posted by: Weasel
------------
Dammit, I hate when this place makes me think...
Is there another example of this?

Pecan, walnut, hazelnut, coffee, olive, pine, cashew...

Posted by: Chi at October 22, 2016 01:27 PM (Q3ES6)

29 "The worst dills ever made, believe me!"

Posted by: Mortimer's deplorable phone at October 22, 2016 01:28 PM (Hrg+t)

30 " we will make wonderful dills, marvelous dills, dills so good you can't believe.."

Posted by: Mortimer's deplorable phone at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM (Hrg+t)

31 Started sifting compost from 2 years ago (2014's)and tilling it into garden beds. Should have starteda few weeks ago as it takes a bit of work. I sift it through a piece of stucco screen that has 2x4 on sides to stiffen it. I did 1 cart load and have at least 5 more worth.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM (sWbjH)

32 Dill baby dill!

Posted by: Julia Palin at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM (FXW24)

33 Last year we had the two ugly palm trees in front of the house taken out. At length, we put in a bird, bee and butterfly garden with a fountain, roses, bottlebrushes, lavender and other attractive flowering plants.

Now among the cattle pastures and rice fields here there's a little oasis that's proving very popular. In the Spring, birds come to our feeders. In the Summer, it's hummingbirds and bees. Right now, we're inundated with butterflies: monarchs, swallowtails and Gulf Fritillaries.

Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM (J8/9G)

34 What type of oak? I have a deep love of the white oak, the Garryana.

Speaking of which, and this is wildly off topic:

The fact sheet for the Republic of Garyana

'The Republic of Garyana is a gargantuan, efficient nation, ruled by
President Marshal Gary Burns with an iron fist, and renowned for its
parental licensing program, zero percent divorce rate, and punitive
income tax rates. The compassionate, cynical, humorless, devout
population of 11.457 billion Garyanese are ruled without fear or favor
by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to
the populace as "my little playthings."
'

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=garyana

Which one of you psychotic reprobates did this?

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:33 PM (lPUaT)

35 Let's make a dill!

Posted by: Monty Hall at October 22, 2016 01:34 PM (kTF2Z)

36 cashew...

Posted by: Chi at October 22, 2016 01:27 PM (Q3ES6)


Bless you. Wipe your nose.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:35 PM (lPUaT)

37 My dill usually self sows but last year rabbits chmped it down before it seeded. This year Swallow Tail butterfly caterpillars got all but it might have gotten a few seeds in the ground, won't know till spring.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 01:35 PM (sWbjH)

38 Dill! D'oh!

Posted by: Naughty Homer at October 22, 2016 01:36 PM (FXW24)

39 We had qite a bit of plexiglass at work for temporary glass replacement. I might see if I can get a couple to make small greenhouses to cover my chives to have it all winter. Chives might be my favorite herb.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 01:39 PM (sWbjH)

40 *glares at my potted onion*

Bloom, damn you. BLOOM.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at October 22, 2016 01:45 PM (jV8Mq)

41 39 We had qite a bit of plexiglass at work for temporary glass replacement...
-----------
Cold frames for the win!

Posted by: Chi at October 22, 2016 01:45 PM (59r+t)

42 My wife has taken green tomatoes and wrapped them in newspapers and put them in a bow.
Have a few green tomatoes as well as peppers on plants, really cool today and don't know if it will warm up again even a little.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 01:46 PM (sWbjH)

43 Good day everyone. I am jazzed at those heavy gourds hanging in the first photo. What a lovely & practical way to cover an arbor. I have tried grapes on my arbor with no success so I am going to try that gourd thing next year, since like grapes it's reward is shade, beauty, and crop. Thx for the idea!

Posted by: Bebe Dahl at October 22, 2016 01:46 PM (yNyJy)

44 After my melons rotted out on wet soil again, I was thinking of suspending them while they were on the vine in the mesh onion bags I have been saving for the last couple of years.

Maybe setting up a trellis or something would be good.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:50 PM (lPUaT)

45 Hanging gardens! Cool.

Posted by: Nebuchadnezzer at October 22, 2016 01:50 PM (dtWKK)

46 Cold frames ...

I am thinking about doing those poly-hoop things next year. Anyone with experience with them? I see them on a lot of farms, but never a house garden.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 22, 2016 02:01 PM (LWu6U)

47 Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:33 PM (lPUaT)
-----------
I think the one in the front is a pin oak.

Posted by: Weasel at October 22, 2016 02:03 PM (Sfs6o)

48 Those hanging squash are really cool. I had some climbing up an oak tree and I pulled it down. The guy that works here told me it was fine but I don't want anything stressing the trees in this drought.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:04 PM (Q5Ymk)

49 I have an order of bulbs coming next week I'm not sure where I'll put them. I need help planting because we have to put gopher wire down.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:05 PM (Q5Ymk)

50 Here's a pic of the greenhouse we made.

http://tinypic.com/r/2ahflvd/9

I hope to have a lot of artichokes soon.

http://tinypic.com/r/aeo5c5/9

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:07 PM (Q5Ymk)

51 Still no hard frost here in N IL. Must have had a couple of very light ones this week by the looks of on tomato.
Covered the VegTrug so we will see how long we continue to get gr beans and mesculun. Brought 2 potted tomatoes in, will see how long they last indoors with not enough sunlight.

Posted by: Farmer at October 22, 2016 02:08 PM (3hlFs)

52 We won't be able to move into our new house for a few weeks, but since the weather suddenly turned gorgeous, I did a little puttering yesterday. There were ripe pecans and limes on the ground, so I foraged those for snacks and margarita makings.

The previous owner planted some young trees I don't like, so I may cut them up for BBQ wood; one is a red maple, which is an Eastern species, not good for S TX.

I'm also worried about the oleanders and cycads because of our dogs. The cycads are in the side yard where the dogs won't be, but the oleanders are in the main yard.

Both plants are very common here and I think most people have no problems with them and their pets, but the guys on the garden/pet radio show say that you should get rid of those plants if you have dogs. One thing I read was that if you have a female cycad, you should at least regularly remove the center part before it makes seeds.

The oleanders are small, so they'd be easy to remove. I think we'll do that just to be sure. Thoughts?

Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:09 PM (ozZau)

53 Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:09 PM (ozZau)


Getting rid of the Oleanders is probably a good idea. From what I read growing up, the leaves are extremely poisonous, so something you wouldn't want a dog to chew on.

Posted by: HH at October 22, 2016 02:15 PM (DrCtv)

54 Caligirl -my sister said I could use plastic over my previous years clod frame since the glass I was using broke. But I would worry it won't stand up to any heavy snow.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 02:15 PM (sWbjH)

55 Hey, where's that guy that always says "bonk, bonk on the head"?

Posted by: the hanging pumpkins and squash at October 22, 2016 02:17 PM (X/Cr2)

56 Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 22, 2016 02:01 PM (LWu6U)
We grow cane berries in them. I just put a small one up by my orchard. I let you know how warm it stays.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:19 PM (Q5Ymk)

57 Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 02:15 PM (sWbjH)
I'm not sure how throng the plastic is. We don't get snow.
They can handle high winds but they tie them down.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:21 PM (Q5Ymk)

58 Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:09 PM (ozZau)
I'd would pull them. There are oleanders around here and most people don't have any problem. Two ranches west pulled up their oleanders because they lost two horses to the oleander.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:24 PM (Q5Ymk)

59 >> Here's a question - why aren't Oaks called Acorn Trees?

The Oak was valued for it's wood, and the British used the new world oaks for ship building. I am guessing the wood for shipbuilding was way important that the annual acorn fights.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 22, 2016 02:25 PM (LWu6U)

60 This is appalling. Whoever walks through that pathway risks getting CTE. That's when your brain gets squashed too many times.

Posted by: Dr. Bennet Omalu at October 22, 2016 02:32 PM (dtWKK)

61 Oleanders are very pretty but very poisonous.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 22, 2016 02:33 PM (89T5c)

62 All this talk about oaks I'll post a pic of one of my favorite trees on my property. It's an old white oak. (Valley oak).

http://tinypic.com/r/2hej4vp/9

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:37 PM (Q5Ymk)

63 I am officially 100% awake and 30% drunk.
Been drinking coffee since 8 AM - it turned Irish around noon.
I haven't made coffe since last... March? April? On my second pot now.

Posted by: Chi at October 22, 2016 02:37 PM (59r+t)

64 stace... found a good article on Cycads:

http://www.junglemusic.net/ cycadadvice
/cycads-landscape.htm

Perhaps you'd actually *want* those seeds, if you're lucky enough to get any...
---

And then, Oleander:

http://www.botanical-journeys -plant-
guides.com/oleander-plant.html

Personally, I'd pull the oleanders due to their toxicity but probably keep the cycads.

You're the boss, however.... congrats on your new home!

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 02:40 PM (044Fx)

65 What I do is have cinder blocks in a 6 'x 8 ' 3 blocks high and have 2 aluminum commercial door frames to span the top.

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 02:41 PM (sWbjH)

66 Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:37 PM (Q5Ymk)
-------------
Very nice!

Posted by: Weasel at October 22, 2016 02:44 PM (Sfs6o)

67 Thanks, I think y'all are right about the oleanders.

They're planted along the back fence. Along the street side of that fence they planted several cenizas, another beautiful drought tolerant plant. The cenizas should be on the inside of the fence and the oleanders on the street side. Oh well. I'm sure after we sell it our current house's new owners will be scratching their heads over things i've planted.

Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:45 PM (ozZau)

68 The extent of my gardening activity of late has been limited to my daughter's science project....

Posted by: JEM at October 22, 2016 02:50 PM (7WQ6X)

69 Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:45 PM (ozZau)
Maybe the previous owners didn't have pets. I wouldn't chance it.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:50 PM (Q5Ymk)

70 Anyone link this yet?

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/its-decorative-gourd-season-motherfuckers

Posted by: blaster at October 22, 2016 02:53 PM (ACqhm)

71 I'm looking at making some sort of back yard oven, either a backyard beehive oven, or something more advanced with an actual oven and stove area.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 02:55 PM (lPUaT)

72 Pet Nood

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 02:56 PM (sWbjH)

73 Good gourd.

Posted by: eleven at October 22, 2016 02:57 PM (qUNWi)

74 CaliGirl

What a beautiful tree.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 22, 2016 02:58 PM (LWu6U)

75 Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 02:55 PM (lPUaT)
All of my friends are doing outdoor kitchens with a pizza oven. That sounds really cool.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:58 PM (Q5Ymk)

76
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:50 PM (Q5Ymk)

Yep. They did have some kind of small dog, judging by the crate we saw, but it must have been a mostly indoors doggie, since there's no sign of dog trails or digging or other things our big dumb dogs do. Our dogs would probably get bored and start chewing on everything.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 02:40 PM (044Fx)

Thanks! and those are great articles. I think we will keep the cycads, or at most remove the one female.

Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 02:58 PM (ozZau)

77 Gorgeous tree, CaliGirl. How beautiful your whole property must be!

Posted by: stace...TEXIT at October 22, 2016 03:03 PM (ozZau)

78 All of my friends are doing outdoor kitchens with a pizza oven. That sounds really cool.
Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 02:58 PM (Q5Ymk)


Cob is problematic in the Northwest. Like adobe and balehouses.

There is some really interesting stuff on youtube for Brazilian "Forno Fogao a Lenha"
Now that has some clever designs that are built.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 22, 2016 03:05 PM (lPUaT)

79 Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 02:41 PM (sWbjH)
I know nothing about building anything. The joke is I'm the supervisor.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 03:06 PM (Q5Ymk)

80 Love your oak tree, CaliGirl! Lovely picture.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 03:18 PM (044Fx)

81 Had to chuckle about outdoor ovens-- summertime here, the *entire outdoors* is an oven.

But yes, there's something about cooking outdoors.... it's so.... satisfying. (That's not the best word for it but close enough.)

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 03:21 PM (044Fx)

82 Lucky for me I say my human gift is knowing how things should go together

Posted by: Skip at October 22, 2016 03:25 PM (sWbjH)

83 That gourd tunnel photo is a stunner, indeed. Since we're going to move some of our squashes out of the raised beds and into the ground, I'll have to run that by my husband as an idea. Might also make it easier to find and squish the squash bugs, too - but, on the other hand, would the vines be more sensitive to almost-frost nights in the fall?

So, what's up in Idaho's Banana Belt? I'm surprised that the irrigation water isn't turned off yet! Our homeowners association's irrigation guy lives next door, so he'll certainly warn us when it's going to go off. Certainly it has to be turned off, and everyone's irrigation lines blown out, before the ground starts freezing.

I've already got my 7 ripe sugar pumpkins brought in. The other 4 are still on the (dead) vine, but since they continue to go from green to orange, I'm leaving them there. I decided to cut the one ripest-looking butternut squash - I feel really dubious about the ripeness of all the others...

I finally harvested the potatoes we grew in bags - fortunately, no disease problems. I got about 6.5 pounds of Yukon Gold and 4.5 pounds of Purple Majesty. Next year, any potatoes we decide to grow, will go in bags.

I haven't harvested the fall carrots yet, but I'm keeping an eye on them.

I happened to look under my asparagus forest, and found lots of ladybugs in various stages of their life cycle (I consulted my garden store about a weird bug on my beans, which turned out to be a larva). The larvae and pupae are ugly! From what I read, the adults do overwinter, so I will leave the asparagus alone for now, and not cut it - not sure when I'll need to cut down the old stalks in the spring.

We did a burn pile out in the paddock, in a place my husband plans to dig up for next year's crops, which got rid of some old corn stalks and a lot of cut brush. Hopefully the heat killed the weed seeds in the sand below it. Does anyone know, does this make the soil more alkaline? If so, we can add some peat moss along with other soil amendments when it's dug up.

Last year, we put half and half rose hips and apples in the steam juicer, and got **the most incredible** syrup and jelly from that! It was so intensely flavored, I think we could get away with 1 part hips, 2 parts apples, or even 1 to 3. The hugest pain is taking all the hips (when they're shriveled and soft like raisins or fruit leather), cutting off the head and tail, and scraping out the seeds. We've been watching a nice patch of wild roses in our neighborhood's walking path, but the hips haven't softened yet. Well, we still have plenty of apples - just juiced some last night, but these probably-Jonathans are not at all generous with their juice.

I guess the main activities for right now are: processing apples - stuffing the trash full of dead vines every week - and soon, raking tons of leaves. (We actually created a leaf-raking game that's very loosely based on Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert. Where, oh where, could we have gotten the inspiration for a game like this? We *only* have 20-ish mature trees on our property.) Oh, and we're almost out of home-brew beer, so making a new batch is on the list.
***
Someone asked about a "polyhoop thing" - I'm not sure what that is. We did build a tent to put on our raised beds in spring. The beds are 4 by 8 feet. On the inside of the beds, on the 8 foot side, are pieces of 3/4 inch PVC pipe, set vertically and matching the height of the bed, held in place on the wooden sides of the bed with small metal straps. What gets inserted into those pipes, is a long piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe, long enough that it will not break when you make an arch out of it, and stick its ends into the pipes on both sides of the bed (think, covered wagon). There are 4 arcs per bed.

After that, we got a lot of clear plastic sheeting, and draped it so that it started at the ground on one long side, went over the arc, and reached to the ground on the other side. (We also left a foot or two at each end, ON the ground, so we could weight it down with cement blocks - we get some serious wind in the spring.) On the ends that were not on the ground, we measured and "hemmed" it (tripe-thickness box hem) with staples, because we needed to put grommets into it. (You'll need a grommet kit.) Each grommet-hole got a ball-bungee, which is what held it onto the frame.

We also built end-caps, which took exceedingly careful measuring and shaping. It was a riot to "hem" the top edge of its parabolic shape, too... You can remove the end-caps on hot days to keep the interior from getting too hot on a sunny day, and replace them at night. Since our beds are built in pairs, with the short ends touching, we built 2 covers and 2 end caps, and they overlap at the center of the beds. I heard people complain "oh we're only just now getting tomatoes" when I'd had ripe ones much sooner, so this tent certainly helped our tomatoes. It did NOT help our green bush beans, which seemed to be more sensitive to soil temperature, rather than air temperature.
***
Looking forward to the postal match results! I'd be willing to put down a $20 against almost every shooter at my range, given the same rules, that I'd beat them. Not sure how well I did against the rest of The Horde!, but I don't think my scores are anything to be ashamed of, either.

Posted by: Pat* at October 22, 2016 03:28 PM (qC1ju)

84 Posted by: Pat* at October 22, 2016 03:28 PM (qC1ju)
The poly hoops are what we grow cane berries in. I call them tunnels also. I'll go take a photo for you.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 03:31 PM (Q5Ymk)

85 Should be "triple-thickness box hem". Any seamstress/tailor will know how to hem a straight edge. The curved one was the big challenge.

Posted by: Pat* at October 22, 2016 03:33 PM (qC1ju)

86 This is a hoop

http://tinypic.com/r/2rwvqc1/9

These are our blackberries, they are about done for the year.

http://tinypic.com/r/10p52rq/9

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 03:43 PM (Q5Ymk)

87 I want that squash and gourd tunnel. I had no idea there were such things. I love autumn and if I had a tunnel like that I would spend inordinate amounts of time in it every day because it would make me happy.

Posted by: bluebell at October 22, 2016 04:43 PM (uHcnA)

88 We visited a winery in Sonoma with lovely gardens and they had a gourd setup like that. It was so cool. They also had a huge outdoor pizza oven picnic area. The California wine country is a lovely place to visit.

Posted by: keena at October 22, 2016 05:12 PM (RiTnx)

89 Wow, CaliGirl, that thing is huge! Definitely WAY bigger than my tent-like bed cover. My red raspberries just have to live "naked", out in the elements, without protection. And there are definitely way less of them - though we will dig up some out-of-bounds roots and start a small new bed next spring.

Posted by: Pat* at October 22, 2016 06:10 PM (qC1ju)

90 First section of replacement lawn is straggling in. We shall see how it handles winter.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at October 22, 2016 06:18 PM (FtrY1)

91 Posted by: Pat* at October 22, 2016 06:10 PM (qC1ju)
Whatever works for you. We are growers/shippers of row crops so it's not like those are weekend projects for my husband to do.
It sounds like you have a nice setup, very handy and have a green thumb.
I'd love to see some pictures.
We don't grow raspberries but they are grown in the tunnels as well. When the cane berries go dormant they take the plastic off the tunnels for something. I'd have to ask.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 06:26 PM (Q5Ymk)

92 WhatWhatWhat? - Takin' My Time on my Ride at October 22, 2016 12:48 PM

"My Mom was always sending us out with Tupperware containers to bring
back whatever was in season: strawberries, raspberries, wild carrots,
mustard greens, wild leeks, burdock...all kinds of stuff. It was great."

I love that. I have wondered about burdock. Popular in Japan as I recall. And your Mom didn't worry about you accidentally bringing back something poisonous that looked like carrots!

If you're going to forage, it's also great to have wild (or naturalized) strawberries and raspberries around.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 08:04 PM (qahv/)

93 Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:00 PM

Florist's Dill was a kick, wasn't she?

Heh.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 08:08 PM (qahv/)

94 Chi at October 22, 2016 01:02 PM

You can't force your herbs to bolt but you can encourage them to bolt. Stress them some. Withhold water, harvest leaves, etc.

If it doesn't work, you have a prime opportunity to grow exactly the kind of basil or parsley you want from a seed catalog. Like Giant Italian Parsley, say.

There are an amazing number of tempting basil varieties.

Keep the seeds cool and dry and they should last more than one year. Parley seeds may not last as long a s basil seeds.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 08:14 PM (qahv/)

95 Thank you KT. As always lots of great information. I appreciate your work and wealth of knowledge.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 22, 2016 09:11 PM (Q5Ymk)

96 Kodos the Executioner at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM

Your bird, bee and butterfly garden sound far better than the palm trees. Having had some experience with palms, that project must have taken considerable work and/or expense.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:17 PM (qahv/)

97 Thanks for your great contributions today, CaliGirl. Spent some time in Lemoore today. Thought about your husband's connection to the city.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:23 PM (qahv/)

98 Skip at October 22, 2016 01:32 PM

And the work you are doing now is possible only because of work you did in 2014. Work, work, work.

Looking forward to some good reports from your garden next year.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:25 PM (qahv/)

99 Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:33 PM

So now we know what the national tree of Garyana is!

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:31 PM (qahv/)

100 Skip at October 22, 2016 01:39 PM

Your chives might go dormant even if they are covered. But for a shorter time period. You might think about growing some chives or onions indoors as micro-greens just in case.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:36 PM (qahv/)

101 Bebe Dahl at October 22, 2016 01:46 PM

You might like to include some tromboncino squash and cucuzzi gourds on your trellis for summer harvest, too. Most gourds are not edible when they get to the fall ornamental stage. See last week's post for edible winter squashes that are also ornamental.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:41 PM (qahv/)

102 Kindltot at October 22, 2016 01:50 PM

It can work. I used squares of cloth pinned sort of like a diaper for small melons on a trellis one year.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:43 PM (qahv/)

103 Forgot to plant garlic at end of September, wonder how they'd do if I planted them tomorrow? ... will find out!

Usually buy a couple of heads at grocery store, split into cloves and plant 2-3 inches deep and about 4-5 inches apart, cover with mulch and then leave alone until following summer...

Posted by: JQ Flyover at October 22, 2016 11:44 PM (044Fx)

104 Farmer at October 22, 2016 02:08 PM

Sound like some sort of record for those beans.

Posted by: KT at October 22, 2016 11:50 PM (qahv/)

105 Pat* at October 22, 2016 03:28 PM

Trellising squash plants does help with squash bugs. You can lay some 1 x 4s on the ground for them to hide under. Then flip and squish.

Taste rose hips before mixing with apples for juice. Some species and cultivars taste better than others. There are a few that were bred for edible use. Like in Russia.

When temperatures get warmer, or for crops where insect control is important, you could replace the poly covers on your tents with floating row cover so you don't have to open the cover during the day.

To heat up soil, use clear plastic. Two layers separated by an air space works best, and can also be used to solarize soil in summer to kill weeds and pests where the weather gets hot.

Be careful about I.D. of ladybug larvae. There is more than one species. But they resemble the larvae of Mexican Bean Beetles, which are bad bugs. Wouldn't be surprised if you saw some in Idaho.


Posted by: KT at October 23, 2016 12:16 AM (qahv/)

106 Q Flyover at October 22, 2016 11:44 PM

Good luck with the garlic!

Posted by: KT at October 23, 2016 12:20 AM (qahv/)

107 Pat*

There is also special colored plastic for heating up soil, red for tomatoes, green for melons and other crops. The red plastic is supposed to increase yields of tomatoes. Don't know about results with the green plastic.

Posted by: KT at October 23, 2016 12:23 AM (qahv/)

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