Saturday Gardening Thread: Fall has fallen! [KT]

Is that cat a pointer?

According to Vermont Fish & Wildlife, August 3 was opening day of zucchini season. Anybody know how long the season lasts there? Guess it doesn't matter much if frost hits. From the Old Farmer's Almananc, average first and last frost dates across the country. You can look up local charts for more specific garden information. Today, we have content on garden bounty and on cutting flowers you can plant in the fall or spring - for fall/winter bloom in mild climates or spring bloom in cold-winter climates. Inspired by Illiniwek's wild-ish flower border. I think I can handle some of those flowers on a little smaller scale.

Zucchini and Tomato Recipes

Lawrence Larson sent in a couple of the recipes he mentioned last week for using his abundance of zucchini and tomatoes.

We wear out the zucchini and tomato casserole all summer long so we use different cheeses.

Bet this one is great with the fresh dill option:

Zucchini and Tomato Casserole

4 medium zucchini, cubed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill weed or 1.5 teaspoons dried dill
ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon margarine, melted
2 large tomatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
3/4 cup grated Romano cheese (feel free to substitute to your tastes)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.

2. Place zucchini in a pot fitted with a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam 5 minutes, or until tender but firm. Transfer to the casserole dish. Mix the dill, pepper, and margarine, and stir into the casserole dish, evenly coating zucchini. Layer tomato slices over zucchini, and sprinkle with basil and Romano cheese.

3. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and golden brown.

The Blueberry Zucchini bread never makes it out of our house alive because it's absolutely wonderful with coffee.

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 eggs lightly beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups white sugar
2 cups shredded zucchini

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 pint fresh blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Lightly grease 5 mini loaf pans
3. Beat together eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar
4. Fold in zucchini

5. Beat in flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon
6. Gently fold in blueberries
7. Fill mini loaf containers half full - place on cookie tray
8. Bake 50 minutes
9. Cool 20 minutes in pan and then transfer to wire rack

Thanks, Lawrence. The recipes sound wonderful. Wish I had some bigger tomatoes or some zucchini in the garden right now. Oh, well. Memories:

Don't forget to check for late comments on the Garden Thread

Speaking of bounty from gardens, here's a sample of the information you may have missed if you didn't check back on last week's thread on Saturday night and Sunday:

Pat* asked about spots on her Early Girl tomatoes that turn grey underneath. She provided some instructions for lining the bottom of a raised bed with hardware cloth to keep burrowing critters out and recommended "get tough" measures for parsley and chives. She also gave her typical comprehensive garden report.

Gordon responded with a nice recipe for Pobalo peppers baked with chicken, cheese and cream cheese. Mmmmm.

JQ gave us a garden report including details on various tomatoes and an update on her hop plants.

Shanks for the memory gave a jealousy-inducing garden summary, with details on veggies and his plans for a hillside filled with daffodils (and other yellow flowers). Then there was the food from the garden and nearby farms:

This evening I made black bean pork belly with a side dish of eggplant that I simmered in a garlicky sauce.
We cracked the first jar of homemade kimchi made with garlic scapes and Mu, a crisp white Korean daikon radish. I'm a fermenting fiend this year...I bought a set of inexpensive fermenting valve cap thingies that fit on mason jars. Makes a huge difference in quality/texture and no exploding lids or weeping jars.
Ha! i just ate a peach that was a dead ringer for the photo...stopped at a farm and got two punnets of the last of the year's peaches. They are either Fayette or Flamecrest...the lean-to stand wasn't staffed (they still use the honor system hereabouts on the backroads).
Belgian waffles and sliced peaches for brekkie tomorrow.

There's a recipe for the black bean pork belly dish at the link above. Scroll down to his comment.

Has anybody taken a photo of an eggplant you grew?

In the Labor Day Weekend Thread we saw the early stages of Illiniwek's flower border, grown from seed on newly-prepared ground. Ambitious. Some of us could grow some of the same flowers on a less-ambitious scale in our own yards. Two of the first that came up in his border are also noted as good cut flowers for fall. They are Cornflower (Bachelor Buttons) and Sulfur Coreopsis. Fast growers. Cornflower prefers cool weather. It comes in shades of blue, pink, rose and white.

Sulfur Coreopsis can take more heat, but starts to look weedy late in summer from spring sowing, so it can be re-planted for fall blossoms. It comes in yellow (as suggested by the name), gold, orange and orange-red shades. Wild sulfur coreopsis is up to 7 feet tall. The one in the photo is a tall garden type called 'Towering Orange' for cutting. There are many dwarf strains.

Bachelor Buttons got that name for lasting a long time in a buttonhole. Sulfur coreopsis should be picked soon after it opens and placed in deep, cool water before arranging in bouquets.

If you would like to grow a few flowers for cutting this fall or next spring, start preparing a little patch of soil, water and do some weed control, because more recommendations are coming. Those in the South might want to get a garden pot ready.

Finally, Hank Curmudgeon sent in the following inspiration for Morons who may need a little extra firepower for that important Fall Yard Cleanup.

Gardens of The Horde

Yes, Shanks for the Memory, I am gearing up for winter gardening. Passing out some seeds to other people tonight, too. I'll probably do broccoli from plants, lettuce and arugula (not for me). Maybe some other veggies, too. And some flowers.

Anything going on in your garden?

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

ktinthegarden
at g mail dot com

Include your nic unless you want to be a lurker.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:42 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Pet thread? Oops, premature again.

Posted by: Dr. Doolittle Herriot at September 23, 2017 12:49 PM (XCWds)

2 Good afternoon greentumbs
Slowly getting ripe Anaheim peppers, but so far I think only from 1 of 4 plants. Was wondering if its sun or amount of green foliage that has to do with it. Was pinching off some leaves around peppers.
Tomatoes are mostly done but stil getting a few mostly from volunteer plants.
And might have another bunch of green/wax beans today but they are starting to get brown looking leaves.

Posted by: Skip at September 23, 2017 12:49 PM (ghofu)

3 Those zucchini are good trophies, but ain't good for eatin'. Too big.

Posted by: Average Guy at September 23, 2017 12:50 PM (LMcFk)

4 3rd 2nd of the day
Love the lawn tank

Posted by: Skip at September 23, 2017 12:51 PM (ghofu)

5 I'm getting a lot of Tribute strawberries but I have to pick them when pink rather than red else all sorts of bugs start eating them. And our friend the pollinators? The darn bees are just hanging out in large numbers sucking up pure sweet strawberry juice in the berries other bygs have started eating.

Posted by: Cumberland Astro at September 23, 2017 12:56 PM (cEKqm)

6 Love that Siamese cat.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 23, 2017 12:57 PM (mpXpK)

7 Cumberland Astro at September 23, 2017 12:56 PM

Do the bugs attack during the day or night? Do you know what they are.

Frustrating.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 12:59 PM (BVQ+1)

8
Is the rifle needed to force people to take the zucchini?

Posted by: Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 01:00 PM (EgwCt)

9 Skip, I hope a pepper expert chimes in.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:00 PM (BVQ+1)

10 8

Is the rifle needed to force people to take the zucchini?

Posted by: Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 01:00 PM (EgwCt)

You mean the shotgun?

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 23, 2017 01:01 PM (mpXpK)

11 I tilled up a long strip next to my flower border, (where I had the melons, and half the tomatoes) ... and was thinking of throwing something down there. We have had 90+ temps for a few days ... finally 3/4" rain. I'll have to review all the suggestions here a little later. I still have the pump set up from the pond, so could get them up fast.

timely suggestions KT, thx

the long row still looks pretty good, several monarchs appearing lately.

Posted by: illiniwek at September 23, 2017 01:01 PM (yKAUL)

12 Where my hoes at?

Posted by: Insomniac at September 23, 2017 01:01 PM (NWiLs)

13 Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 01:00 PM

Heh.

Not if they know how to cook and have some good recipes. Though some of those are bigger than I would leave them on the plant.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:01 PM (BVQ+1)

14 Those zucchini are good trophies, but ain't good for eatin'. Too big.

Posted by: Average Guy at September 23, 2017 12:50 PM (LMcFk)

It's an okay size for zucchini bread though.

My zucchini did nothing this year. Big flowers, no fruit. I suspect a little bunny was eating the fruit every morning.

Posted by: Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 01:03 PM (EgwCt)

15 Happy Saturday everyone. We're eating the last of the tomatoes ripening on the window sill this weekend. Some of the Simpson Elite leaf lettuce self sowed and we are getting a second crop, which is a complete surprise. We're planting some more of it in the now empty Earth Boxes with hopes for a decent crop.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 01:03 PM (V+03K)

16 illiniwek at September 23, 2017 01:01 PM

Love that you still have Monarchs. If you can water your tilled soil and spray glyphosate on weeds that come up, you will be ahead of the game.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:04 PM (BVQ+1)

17 JTB at September 23, 2017 01:03 PM

Good luck with the second-crop lettuce. Some of the romaine types are extra-hardy, so you might want to throw in a few seeds.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:06 PM (BVQ+1)

18 Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 01:03 PM

Time to start eating some zucchini flowers, I guess. If you have excess male flowers, especially. Wonder if you could make a bunny barrier?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:08 PM (BVQ+1)

19 It's a little-known fact that Siamese cats are excellent zucchini hunters.

Posted by: Aunt Luna at September 23, 2017 01:12 PM (Zd2ZF)

20 It sure doesn't feel like Autumn.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 23, 2017 01:12 PM (IqV8l)

21 Never thought about putting blueberries in zucchini bread before. Sounds like a fine combination.

Incidentally, a bare hint of cinnamon brings out the flavor of cooked blueberries, along with lemon. For those who have bushes.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:14 PM (BVQ+1)

22 Seems like only yesterday, but well, First of The Season.
A holiday tradition, for almost any holiday.

http://tinyurl.com/jf222x3

Posted by: Stringer Davis at September 23, 2017 01:15 PM (H5rtT)

23 Between zucchini or okra, I don't know which is worse.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at September 23, 2017 01:16 PM (5VlCp)

24 Aunt Luna at September 23, 2017 01:12 PM

I wonder if it helps if they are Seal Points or Chocolate Points?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:17 PM (BVQ+1)

25 Dr. Doolittle Herriot

Air Force pilot?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 23, 2017 01:18 PM (hyuyC)

26 Thread is falling! Rouse the Weyrs!

Crack dust, black dust!

Posted by: Fox2! at September 23, 2017 01:18 PM (brIR5)

27 Am I early this week? What a shocker!

Here in Idaho's Treasure Valley, Fall has indeed fallen. I'd already added a quilt to my bed, and my heater now runs every morning. I use the Weather Underground website's most local station to figure out what the temperature is by me - and last night was 31 F. I did check the garden, and we did not have frost - thank goodness.

I'm pretty much writing off my fall crops, though. The radishes might make it, and I *might* get baby carrots, but the lettuce, peas, and spinach will probably not make it. I'm still hoping the grass seed from our second planting will come up - the first planting looks great.

We had a damp week, with several days of drizzle and light rain. Monday afternoon, we even had a thunderclap so strong, it rattled the beer bottles on our kitchen table!

We canned up 10 half-pint jars of red raspberry jelly last Sunday, and 7 half-pint jars of tomato sauce this morning. I've been cutting up and freezing cantaloupes as they come ripe.

I'm working on cutting down the green bean plants, as room appears in the trash. This week, the trash was largely taken up with trimmings from the wild rose bushes that are part of our windbreak, on the back edge of our property. We removed the landscape cloth we'd laid down when we started the row, and will now let them fill in between themselves, and spread back toward the canal. Husband will mow down any sprouts that get out of bounds.

Our windbreak also has lilacs - we know 4 of those didn't make it. And of the baby blue spruces, at least 2 are dead. We'll make an order now, so we can replace those in the spring. The chokecherries are doing fine, so *eventually*, I'll be asking after recipes.

I also tackled digging out the parsley in the blueberry bed. There's just one blueberry bush that hasn't been rescued - it also has a thyme plant under it. I plan to dig both the parsley and thyme, and save the thyme sprigs for drying. And next year, NO parsley in that bed! I might even get tough and remove some of the chives from the second blueberry bed - I already have enough dried chives to last several years...

I wonder how long my tomatoes and red raspberries will keep ripening if it stays chilly? It's supposed to get warmer this week, so I'll see.

The leaves haven't really started falling yet - just a few off the linden - but I have all that exercise to look forward to. Time to pull out the wool socks and the fleece jacket.

Posted by: Pat* at September 23, 2017 01:18 PM (3etCS)

28 Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 23, 2017 01:12 PM

Where are you? Our weather suddenly changed last week. Much cooler at night, especially.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:18 PM (BVQ+1)

29 I just came here to see if Sonoboi hates gardening thread. Sure enough, he does.

Posted by: Puddin Head at September 23, 2017 01:19 PM (vV/gB)

30 OT, but I wonder how many Raiders will take a knee in DC during the anthem. I'm hoping its a lot.

Posted by: Puddin Head at September 23, 2017 01:21 PM (vV/gB)

31 Hairyback Guy at September 23, 2017 01:16 PM

I like okra cooked certain ways. Don't think I would like okra bread.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:21 PM (BVQ+1)

32 I just came here to see if Sonoboi hates gardening thread. Sure enough, he does.
Posted by: Puddin Head at September 23, 2017 01:19 PM (vV/gB)

How dare you assume Sonobi's gender! H8ter!

Posted by: Aunt Luna at September 23, 2017 01:22 PM (Zd2ZF)

33 Pat* at September 23, 2017 01:18 PM

Wow. You ARE here early.

Busy as usual. What happened to your lilacs?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:24 PM (BVQ+1)

34 Hey all... never been to a gardening thread before... doing laundry, so I'm a slave to the wash cycles. What , exactly, would you say you DO here????

Posted by: kraken at September 23, 2017 01:24 PM (zSVEm)

35 32 I just came here to see if Sonoboi hates gardening thread. Sure enough, he does.
Posted by: Puddin Head at September 23, 2017 01:19 PM (vV/gB)

How dare you assume Sonobi's gender! H8ter!
------------------
The gender is spelled out all cis like: Son o Boi. I think he's French.

Posted by: Puddin Head at September 23, 2017 01:24 PM (vV/gB)

36 kraken at September 23, 2017 01:24 PM

We discuss zucchini. In season.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:26 PM (BVQ+1)

37 20
It sure doesn't feel like Autumn.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 23, 2017 01:12 PM (IqV8l)

We started getting Autumn weather here in SC in Mid-August. This current warm spell is what the old timers at home used to call Indian Summer. It will be brief but then lookout. Usually when you have a very warm Indian Summer the bottom falls out after it is over. And the OFA is predicting a cold Winter for most of the US.

So don't count on growing any zucchinis in Dec

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 23, 2017 01:29 PM (mpXpK)

38 36

kraken at September 23, 2017 01:24 PM

We discuss zucchini. In season.
Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:26 PM (BVQ+1)

Ah....

Posted by: kraken at September 23, 2017 01:30 PM (zSVEm)

39 This thread reminded me that I used to make a zucchini and chocolate cake that was delicious. Unfortunately I cannot find the recipe, it's been years since I've had enough room to grow zucchini so it's been years since I've made that cake.

I'm sure all the major recipe sites all have versions of it, the key is to shred the zucchini so that it disappears in the final cake. Unlike carrots, zucchini shredded finely will basically melt away, leaving a moist and chocolately cake.

Posted by: Boots at September 23, 2017 01:32 PM (EBwPV)

40 kraken at September 23, 2017 01:30 PM

Want some zucchini bread?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:33 PM (BVQ+1)

41 "Is that cat a pointer?"

Yes it is. It's a Seal point Siamese!

Posted by: Mattt(Tx) at September 23, 2017 01:38 PM (lWvCP)

42 Boots at September 23, 2017 01:32 PM

I've had zucchini chocolate cake before. Liked it. May have had zucchini chocolate brownies, too.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:39 PM (BVQ+1)

43 There are several medium sized cats like servals or caracals that can be domesticated. I wonder if their jaws are large enough to be useful as retrievers.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 23, 2017 01:45 PM (/qEW2)

44 Our little crepe myrtle was about the size of a pencil when we planted it a few years ago. This year it topped 5 feet tall. (Mrs. JTB realized that when she noticed it was her height.) About three weeks ago we thought it was done for the season, then it seemed to get a second wind. It was in full color until a couple of nights ago when it began to fade. But that was a lovely surprise in the backyard.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 01:46 PM (V+03K)

45 Wife didn't keep track of Pepper variety. The fruit looks like a medium sized tomato. Medium hotness. Just right for me.

Posted by: Ronster at September 23, 2017 01:47 PM (fC+mL)

46 Finally, Hank Curmudgeon sent in the following inspiration for Morons who may need a little extra firepower for that important Fall Yard Cleanup.

I like that lawnmower tank. Is this Hank's handiwork? Very impressive.

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 01:48 PM (PCVXU)

47 I hunt zucchini with my calico and a blow gun using darts tipped with a tiny amount of curare. Her natural camouflage allows her to lead me to my prey and the curare keeps her from eating it after the hunt.

Posted by: nraendowment at September 23, 2017 01:49 PM (MnDAb)

48 I wonder which is more dangerous: the guard cat, the shotgun or throwing some of the bigger zucchini at someone? The largest ones might qualify as the 'blunt instrument' they always talk about on cop shows.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 01:50 PM (V+03K)

49 I also like the man & his cat hunting zucchinis & displaying their trophies. I can't quite read thru the Sonobi, but it doesn't seem to be a horde member...just a stock pic.

Like it anyway. Take my smiles anywhere I can get 'em. But man, what do you do with all those green things? I mean, they seem a bit big for salads.

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 01:52 PM (PCVXU)

50 17 ... KT, Thanks for suggesting the romaine lettuce and that it is so hardy. We love the stuff. A trip to Southern States for a packet of seeds is called for.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 01:54 PM (V+03K)

51 " But man, what do you do with all those green things? I mean, they seem a bit big for salads."

Organic, locally sourced, free range PCB Free version of a ~~fleshlight~~ flashlight.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 01:56 PM (EyPfd)

52 May lil "Rocket Man" send a shower of zucchini your way....veggies version of KUDZU..cookscumbersome crop that needs chocolate to be semi-edible........some lezzies may disagree !!!!

Posted by: saf at September 23, 2017 01:58 PM (cS/ge)

53 Meh. Vegan pussy.

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Kendal-Jones_roosevelt.jpg

Posted by: Theodore Roosevelt at September 23, 2017 01:58 PM (/qEW2)

54 nraendowment at September 23, 2017 01:49 PM

You are talented if you can get a calico to hunt with you. Normally calicos are not real cooperative.

Kudos.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 01:59 PM (BVQ+1)

55 The gender is spelled out all cis like: Son o Boi. I think he's French.

Omg...Boi actually is something gender realated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boi_(slang)
Boi (plural: bois) is a term used within LGBT and butch and femme communities to refer to a person's sexual or gender identities. Boi also is slang for boy.

So, does this mean it is Son of Boy? B/c I sure as heck do not want to get caught up in all the other stuff.

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 01:59 PM (PCVXU)

56 We're having Indian Summer here too - high 80s to low 90s all this past week. Monday night the seasonable weather is forecast to roll back in.
We haven't got a garden in this place yet, back in the spring we were too busy working on the house to get anything set up. We have been busily canning and freezing produce right along though, mostly from the local Amish.
Last week we canned pickled beets and tomato puree, there's another 25 pounds of big yellow 'maters in the kitchen right now that I'm gonna run through the juicer. Also a bushel of apples that will become either applesauce or cider in the next couple of days, depending on available time and energy. Just chopped up and froze a dozen big bell peppers.
Tomorrow Mrs Eez will be picking and juicing Concord grapes at a friends place nearby, hoping to freeze up 30 pints or so. I'm hoping for more so I can make some grape jelly.

Plans are in the works to get a garden in next year in the early spring.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/7 at September 23, 2017 01:59 PM (Z8R9P)

57 Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 01:52 PM

The photo is from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife folks. They are famous for their zucchini habitat in Vermont.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:01 PM (BVQ+1)

58 Sure -- 17 zucchinis and the cat is all badass next to the guy with a gun. But put 1 cucumber behind him ...

Posted by: FireHorse at September 23, 2017 02:03 PM (zkGZ8)

59 I read the gardening thread and always end up thinking the same thing...I am soooo lazy. Why don't I do all this stuff? Then I remember I have terrible allergies & feel a little bit better. Rationalization is an important life skill.

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:04 PM (PCVXU)

60 sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/7 at September 23, 2017 01:59 PM

You sure have a lot of produce for somebody who doesn't have a garden yet.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:04 PM (BVQ+1)

61 Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:04 PM

You can still do sprouts or microgreens indoors. Heh.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:06 PM (BVQ+1)

62 "The photo is from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife folks. They are famous for their zucchini habitat in Vermont. "

Did you follow the link to the other harvest?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 02:07 PM (EyPfd)

63 FireHorse at September 23, 2017 02:03 PM

Never thought about that. No photos of cucumber-hunting cats . . .

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:08 PM (BVQ+1)

64 Buying it in bulk, mostly from the local Amish .

Posted by: sock_rat_eez, we are being gaslighted 24/7 at September 23, 2017 02:09 PM (Z8R9P)

65 Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 02:07 PM

Ah, that fresh mountain air is magical.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:10 PM (BVQ+1)

66 KT at September 23, 2017 01:59 PM

Yeah, but the rules are off with deer - she drags them off for herself before I get there.

Posted by: nraendowment at September 23, 2017 02:10 PM (MnDAb)

67 Could make for some good corny sci-fi B flick. Mountain Man and his sidekick Covfefe Cat save the planet from an invasion of radioactive mutant zucchini worms.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 23, 2017 02:11 PM (/qEW2)

68 We are getting the first real hints of autumn in northern Virginia. Nights in the upper 50s and low 60s. Daytime temps have been in the midish 80s which is 10 degrees above average. But the cool nights and early mornings have been glorious.

The OFA has our area (Piedmont) to be slightly cooler than normal but not necessarily snowier. Hope that is true; cold doesn't bother me, snow and ice do.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 02:11 PM (V+03K)

69 Incidentally, bachelor buttons are related to thistles. Like artichokes.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:12 PM (BVQ+1)

70 "Love that you still have Monarchs. If you can water
your tilled soil and spray glyphosate on weeds that come up, you will be
ahead of the game. Posted by: KT

thanks, yeah ... rain was several days ago, no weeds popping yet. I'm watering it now. Is there any annual that would still bloom this fall, then graciously die off over winter? I noticed your link said to plant in early August ... my drainage ditch project is flush with turnip and hairy vetch, but I'm doubting I can get any blooms from seed still this fall. Probably encouraging the weeds then killing them with glyphosate is the best course, as you said.

The pond edge is again blooming with all those yellow flowers ... deer eat the cattails, not those flowers. still getting plenty of tomatoes, though not quite as pretty.

Posted by: illiniwek at September 23, 2017 02:13 PM (yKAUL)

71 The NFL protesting will be THE story very soon.

I predict lots of kneeling, fists in the air and hollering.

So far, Jerry Jones is the only owner who has stopped it, at least for now. We'll see if any Cowboys have the stones to go against his order.

TEXAS.

Posted by: Meremortal at September 23, 2017 02:15 PM (3myMJ)

72 61 Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:04 PM

You can still do sprouts or microgreens indoors. Heh.
Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:06 PM (BVQ+1)

Do not be raining on my rationalization parade! It has floats, candy apples, horses, pumpkin costumed cats, and dogs in goggles & little booties like the dog who saved 52 peeps.
But nothing green...b/c that makes me sneeze...usually...sometimes...whatever.

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:15 PM (PCVXU)

73 Sorry for going off topic, I'm getting a little exercised.

Posted by: Meremortal at September 23, 2017 02:16 PM (3myMJ)

74 We, in SW MI, had fall weather in late Aug. early Sept. and the tomatoes started shutting down and the remaining green ones were staying green. Now we have/will have a week long blast of 90s with high humidity and the ripening is continuing. Late next week I'll cut down the plants and clean up the containers for next year.

Posted by: geoffb at September 23, 2017 02:18 PM (zOpu5)

75 I'd like to try out that mower tank on the pesky rabbits and raccoons I've had in the back yard this year. Does it come with a laser cannon?

Posted by: Pleistocene Megafauna at September 23, 2017 02:18 PM (GdgAM)

76 Steve and Cold Bear at September 23, 2017 02:11 PM

That's pretty much Don Johnson in "A Boy and His Dog."

Posted by: nraendowment at September 23, 2017 02:19 PM (MnDAb)

77 Vermont Bean Seed used to list time to bloom for its seeds, Illiniwek. Maybe they still do.

For sowing wildflowers, it is recommended that you not turn the earth again after the final weed kill.

I think we decided your yellow pond-side flowers are Helenium. Thought about introducing some named ones to bump up the color?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:20 PM (BVQ+1)

78 geoffb at September 23, 2017 02:18 PM

Reprieve. Hope you get some good 'maters.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:22 PM (BVQ+1)

79 The only reason VT has a "zucchini season" is to alert the more rural of us that it's time to keep the car doors locked, lest you find dozens of zucchini in your back seat. Pickup drivers are especially hard hit.

Posted by: Captain Ned at September 23, 2017 02:25 PM (8LLKm)

80 VIA, yes I've been there for the spaghetti harvest.

(Btw, I have a eggplant that produces eggs.)

Also, been meaning to hit up the Taco harvest in Canada...thougj it may be cancelled due to cultural appropriation.

(I lifted these from comments on video, b/c too fun to pass up & didn't know if anyone else was gonna view clip. It said spaghetti was unusual for Brits in the 50s & that's when the BBC did the video w/their standard dry wit & flair.)

Posted by: Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:27 PM (PCVXU)

81 We don't, but if you have apple trees and more fruit than you can use fresh, here's an idea. Mrs. JTB makes a simple topping of peeled, coarsely chopped apples saut�ed with Splenda, vanilla extract, a little lemon juice and cinnamon. We use apples from the local farmers market. The mixture freezes just fine. You can do the same thing with autumn pears as well.

I use it on oatmeal, pancakes, ice cream, in yogurt, etc.

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 02:30 PM (V+03K)

82 Seeded the newly tilled front yard with grass last week. Now to see if anything grows besides weed.
Grass and weed does not refer to Washington States new primary crop.
Eat dirt, wheat!

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at September 23, 2017 02:31 PM (e1mEI)

83 Pandora's Box aka gumdrop gorilla at September 23, 2017 02:27 PM

Especially fun if you've been to that region of Switzerland.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:37 PM (BVQ+1)

84 GA all. THX for the gardening thread OB, nicely done. The tank mower is the bomb!;-)
SE MI here. Brutal winters. After years of taking my strawberry pot indoors for the winter last Fall I experimented with wintering my potted strawberries outside for the first time due to lack of space indoors. First I lined the outer of the pot with wrap insulation & then placing the pot in an even larger pot for extra insulation. This insulation I removed in the Spring. To my surprise the strawberries not only survive the winter but this summer many many runners. Planning on giving the runners just fallen leaves to insulate them this season & hoping to have me a full fledge strawberry patch next Spring. Yippee!

Posted by: BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 02:38 PM (yNyJy)

85 I grew and am still growing Poblanos, Costa Rica, and Big Boss Man peppers. They do NOT like all day sun. They LOVE Miracle Grow in their water. IMHO, leave the leaves alone.

Posted by: JAS at September 23, 2017 02:38 PM (UnDQI)

86 So far this month in the mid east coast is been very summer like, maybe 85 today. Wonder how much longer it will last.

Posted by: Skip at September 23, 2017 02:40 PM (ghofu)

87 Hey Vic, I have two calendars. One says "Autumn Begins" and the other says "Fall Begins" for yesterday.

You can't really trust meteorologists anyway.

Posted by: JAS at September 23, 2017 02:41 PM (UnDQI)

88 On the zucchini and tomato casserole recipe above: Probably a good idea not to skip the step where you pre-cook the zucchini. If you start raw zucchini with tomatoes, it often squeaks against your teeth when it is "done".

We sometimes make a less-elegant stove-top version of that casserole in a skillet. Sometimes add a little bacon or ham. Maybe some onion. Don't think I've tried it with Romano cheese. Sounds good.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:43 PM (BVQ+1)

89 Can't wait to try those recipes. Thanks, Lawrence Larson, for sending them in and thanks, KT, for publishing them!

KT--re: last week + my 'Jubilee' tomatoes-- They are actually a Yellow Pear, I guess. The tag said 'Jubilee' and had a pic of what mine actually look like, bought at HomeDespot. (Misspelling intentional, lol.)

Bing search reveals Jubilee is an heirloom yellow salad-type, which is *not* what my plants have yielded. Hmm. Might hafta try this one.

Cooler temps last week and thru weekend (mid 60s -- mid 40s), then a little lift before autumn then slams us in earnest. Loving the current phase and wish it lasted longer.

Posted by: JQ at September 23, 2017 02:45 PM (yD/Pf)

90 I would make zucchini coconut flour cake or cookies (any flavoring adding will work - chocolate, vanilla, etc.,) or zucchini noodles with those oversized zucchinis. Low carb, low calorie. Have ya seen the price of zucchini noodles in the grocery store lately? Hiway robbery.

Posted by: BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 02:45 PM (yNyJy)

91 BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 02:38 PM

Truly impressive!

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:45 PM (BVQ+1)

92 THX KT. And I'm going to try that stove top version of yours in the casserole because it's sounds hassle free. Thx for the tip of precooking the zucchini too!

Posted by: BebeDahl@yahoo.com at September 23, 2017 02:51 PM (yNyJy)

93 87
Hey Vic, I have two calendars. One says "Autumn Begins" and the other says "Fall Begins" for yesterday.

You can't really trust meteorologists anyway.

Posted by: JAS at September 23, 2017 02:41 PM (UnDQI)

Met Fall is Sep 1. Astronomical Autumn equinox was yesterday. But unless you live in space it really has no use. But like I said, we were getting Fall weather here in mid-August, about two weeks early. But despite the "Indian Summer" temps we have been having during the past few days, the average daily high for Sep this year is still running 8 degrees less than last year. The entire Summer has been much cooler than normal here.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 23, 2017 02:51 PM (mpXpK)

94 JQ at September 23, 2017 02:45 PM

It is weird that they would have a photo of Yellow Pear and call it Jubilee. In our hot climate, hybrids do better than Jubilee.

There are also some little yellow tomatoes that are cute like Yellow Pear but taste better.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:52 PM (BVQ+1)

95 BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 02:45 PM

I had no idea that you could buy zucchini noodles. Are they all zucchini?

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 02:56 PM (BVQ+1)

96 Yes KT, the grocery stores here offer both zucchini or yellow squash noodles. Trick is to precook them because they weep a lot of water, after which, then add whatever sauce. I had no idea about the precook tip when adding tomatoes, because I always precooked the noodles & drained then first because of their water content. Same goes for do low carb pastries with zucchini or squash.. Gotta let those squash family members weep first, they are so very melodramatic -)

Posted by: BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 03:05 PM (yNyJy)

97 "I had no idea that you could buy zucchini noodles. Are they all zucchini?"

Wegmans carries a julienned zucchini sometimes labeled as noodles.

Simply a zucchini which has been viral shredded into log strings of zucchini.

http://tinyurl.com/ycopo5yk

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 03:05 PM (EyPfd)

98 That's it VIA, thx for the link.

Posted by: BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 03:10 PM (yNyJy)

99 KT, As always, thanks for the gardening thread. There is always something new to learn, to make us think and to get ways to use what we grow (or buy).

Posted by: JTB at September 23, 2017 03:10 PM (V+03K)

100 "That's it VIA, thx for the link."

Glad to help.

I simply chose that link out of dozens out there.

There are many different brands, at many different price points. So don't just go with what I sent.

You may need to do some research if you are interested.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 03:13 PM (EyPfd)

101 Well, if the *real* Jubilee doesn't like the heat, no sense in my growing it.

Yellow Pear isn't a bad tomato, just kinda average. The plants are quite attractive, esp. when loaded with fruit, so that's a plus. Would grow them again, for sure.

I'm waiting to see if any more toms ripen on the vines... would simply pack it in for this year, if not for the promise of another week of warm temps coming up.

Oh, and the poblano peppers have a final small crop. I think they've enjoyed their afternoon shade this summer. Production wasn't gangbusters, but I think more due to potted confinement (and extreme heat causing blossom drop) than lack of light.

Posted by: JQ at September 23, 2017 03:15 PM (yD/Pf)

102 Well I make my own now VIA, because of its rising prices. But I was having difficulty describing what the noodles are to KT. Then you come along with that multi-syllable, fancy, franch word "julienne" that truly explains it all;-) Thx!

Posted by: BebeDahl at September 23, 2017 03:19 PM (yNyJy)

103 "Then you come along with that multi-syllable, fancy, franch word "julienne" that truly explains it all;-) Thx!"

Oh, that.

My head is full of more useless shit and trivia than one would believe

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at September 23, 2017 03:21 PM (EyPfd)

104 pet thread up

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 23, 2017 03:21 PM (mpXpK)

105
My 'Bush Steak Hybrid' tomatoes finally began ripening last week. 10 ounce tomatoes, big enough to cover an entire slice of toast.

But they took over 120 days, not the 65 as advertised. AGW strikes again. Cold spring, early summer cool. Only three 90 degree days.

Next year, I diversify. In diversity is strength, or so the leftist tell us.

I actually thought I had some cherry tomatoes growing, but they were big guys, too.

~~Live and learn~~. Live, anyway.

Posted by: Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 03:23 PM (EgwCt)

106 "I think we decided your yellow pond-side flowers are Helenium. Thought about introducing some named ones to bump up the color? "Posted by: KT

good idea, I'd love to have something other than yellow, and these are very dominant, coming up even after I mowed many down. In time I'd like to get something else going that will bloom long time during the summer. I have quite a few orange day lilies coming along ... those 5 red stick (4 others on this side) ... the aspen white bark idea would be nice but the one I had that survived got eaten down by deer again.

I happen to have an old rock quarry on the property, and at some point may use some big white rocks/boulders to give more visual interest. As it is my surroundings become a sea of green for most of the summer. I have a few red bud scattered around in the woods, need to promote more of those. All in due time I guess. Another border wall of flowers that are perennial would be good, not disturbing soil after letting weeds come up next time.

right now the pond is low (mild drought) so I have two feet of bare dirt all around, but would have to plant something that would thrive in water.

always appreciate your ideas. cheers

Posted by: illiniwek at September 23, 2017 03:34 PM (yKAUL)

107 Red bud sounds good. Might try some blossom color variation in those, too.

For pondside, how about some white Swamp Milkweed? Ice Ballet I think it is.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 03:41 PM (BVQ+1)

108 Slippery Slope Salesman at September 23, 2017 03:23 PM

Amazing how heat affects growth of tomatoes. Hope they are worth the wait.

Posted by: KT at September 23, 2017 03:43 PM (BVQ+1)

109 OK, that zucchini hunter picture is pretty funny! It could go with the pet thread too.

Posted by: Chris M at September 23, 2017 03:49 PM (6RZos)

110 Good news is no Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars on my dill. 1 dill has dryed up and is all gone, another is almost there but 3rd and biggest could get some dill seed harvest out of it. I pick the seed heads off put in a narrow paper bag ( get them from liquor store for a single wine bottle) and wait till they all dry and fall to bottom. Then just sort out chaff from seeds.

Posted by: Skip at September 23, 2017 04:10 PM (ghofu)

111 This is for Pat in Idaho Treasure Valley from last weeks thread, what I always do with an excess of Poblano Peppers is char them, peel them, and then chop and freeze them. Then when you are making mashed potatoes, you throw in one of those frozen roasted poblanos and make a little bit of heaven on earth. Poblano mashed potatoes, nothing finer, and don't skip on the butter, cream or sour cream. Now for those Jalapeno's. If you have a lot I always make Auntie Lu's hot pepper relish. It is a version of a Giardiniera, obviously from my Auntie Lucille. Take the Jalapenos and chop them in a food processor, if you take out the seeds it will be less hot, your choice. Chop some celery finely, capers the same, the ratio is a lot of peppers to 10 percent celery and capers, Salt and put in a sieve and get most of the water out of the peppers, leave to drain for 24 hours. Put in a jar with Corn oil, if you use olive oil it will solidify but it is still pretty good. This will keep in the refrigerator for a long time. I use it in jambalaya, tuna salad, and on spaghetti with meat sauce. But I bet there a a lot more uses. I have had this in my refrigerator as a staple for over 30 years.

Posted by: weekreekfarmgirl at September 23, 2017 09:48 PM (cKP12)

112 I forgot to say cover all the pepper mixture with the corn oil, if the peppers aren't covered they will mold so that is important. But covered in oil they will keep for a very long time.

Posted by: weekreekfarmgirl at September 23, 2017 10:14 PM (cKP12)

113 That picture is my Uncle Richard!! LOL He made it to Ace of Spades!!

Posted by: Troy Rasmussen at September 23, 2017 10:56 PM (NMLeU)

114 Hey there, KT! (What region is it you live in?)

The lilacs just got winterkilled by our Snowpocalypse winter last year. When we got them, they were maybe 4 inches tall, so it's actually pretty amazing that so many of them survived - I think we bought 25?, so that would mean 21 survived. Something like that. It's a long row on the north side of our property, toward the rear. (The wild roses and the lilacs meet at the northwest corner of our property, which is a rear corner. Our house faces east.)

Who mentioned yellow pear tomatoes? We grew one (deliberately) 2 years ago - that was right after we bought this house. We thought the fruit was a little bitter and gave up on growing them. Last year, we found a few tomato sprouts in a bed, took pity, planted them at the edge of the corn bed.

Never again!!! The one on the end was a yellow pear - the fruits were more bitter than last year - the plant got HUGE and sprawled across so wide an area we literally could *not* get at the middle to pick it - it left rotting fruits everywhere. It took multiple trash loads to get rid of the vine and the rotted fruits. THEN husband rented a tiller to till up the corn bed this spring - and the tomato sprouts..... just kept- on- coming. I am STILL pulling them out. No more mercy to tomato sprouts!

When I first chopped husband's poblanos for a casserole, I didn't wear gloves. Mistake! My left hand tingled like a chemical burn for hours - because, well, that's what it was. I now wear gloves - pain is a great teacher. I ought to do the same for the jalapenos too - when we've made cream cheese filled, bacon wrapped jalapenos, I haven't noticed any burning sensation on my hand, but I can barely eat the things, despite careful seeding and deveining. Might be that those will get chopped up for casseroles, where they can be a flavor ingredient rather than the main flavor.

Posted by: Pat* at September 24, 2017 12:33 AM (3etCS)

115 weekreekfarmgirl at September 23, 2017 10:14 PM

Thanks for the great pepper tips!

Pat* might want to check which cultivar she got. Some poblanos are a lot hotter than others.

Posted by: KT at September 24, 2017 10:22 AM (BVQ+1)

116 Pat*, winterkilling a lilac must mean that you really did have a snowpocalypse!

Here in the San Joaquin Valley, most lilacs don't get enough winter chill to bloom well. Persian lilacs do well here, though.

I have always thought of yellow pear tomatoes as more bland than bitter, but growing conditions could make a difference. Some people absolutely love them. They do make a big plant. And they are awfully cute.

Posted by: KT at September 24, 2017 10:27 AM (BVQ+1)

117 Troy Rasmussen at September 23, 2017 10:56 PM

Do you know the name of the famous pointer cat?

Posted by: KT at September 24, 2017 10:29 AM (BVQ+1)

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