I finally grew food!

[Opsimath]

Yes, I'm excited about that. (It's the little things in life, right?)

Technically I grew corn, but the raccoons got it. Finally, though, after about six years of largely gardening fails I managed to get something on the table.

Red noodle beans. Very easy, plant the seeds and walk away. Currently picking beans every two to three days. Saute with bacon, onion, garlic, other vegetables - whatever you want to put in the pan. Delicious! Way better than green beans, but then I've never liked green beans.

Also getting Kajari melons. And the green French variety melons - can't remember the name, it's in French - have some on the vines. (Looked it up, Petit Gris de Rennes.)

Alabama blackeye limas just starting to make pods.

Unfortunately the Carolina Cross melons (recordholder is 200 pounds) seem susceptible to blossom end rot, even after spraying, with organic spray of course. Probably won't get any of those. (I wonder how one gets a 200 pound watermelon out of the field and onto the kitchen counter. )

Florida Giant melons (recordholder 90 pounds) are doing well, though. I'm guessing they'll be ready toward the end of the month but I doubt mine will be anywhere near 90 pounds.

Sweet potatoes, orange and purple, were overrun by melon vines. May or may not make any.

But! I am no longer a gardening fail! Looking forward planting a fall garden and hoping it will provide something edible.

And, found someone to help me take the shade producing trees down around the garden spot at the barn at only a fraction of the cost that the professional tree guys wanted. We've got half of them down. Only stopped because the brush pile was getting too big. I was going to take them down myself but decided they were a bit too intimidating. He said they were "formidable trees" and I absolutely should not try to do it myself. We probably won't get it cleared out in time for me to plant a fall garden but should be ready for spring.

Thank you for listening. It may seem insignificant but to me it could mean I've finally defeated my two black thumbs of certain plant death.

Woo hoo! I grew something!

 

[GGJaguar]

Awesome! Keep up the good work!

 

[RBSinTo]

Yes, I'm excited about that. (It's the little things in life, right?)

Technically I grew corn, but the raccoons got it. Finally, though, after about six years of largely gardening fails I managed to get something on the table.

Red noodle beans. Very easy, plant the seeds and walk away. Currently picking beans every two to three days. Saute with bacon, onion, garlic, other vegetables - whatever you want to put in the pan. Delicious! Way better than green beans, but then I've never liked green beans.

Also getting Kajari melons. And the green French variety melons - can't remember the name, it's in French - have some on the vines. Looked it up, Petit Gris de Rennes.)

Alabama blackeye limas just starting to make pods.

Unfortunately the Carolina Cross melons (recordholder is 200 pounds) seem susceptible to blossom end rot, even after spraying, with organic spray of course. Probably won't get any of those. (I wonder how one gets a 200 pound watermelon out of the field and onto the kitchen counter. )

Florida Giant melons (recordholder 90 pounds) are doing well, though. I'm guessing they'll be ready toward the end of the month but I doubt mine will be anywhere near 90 pounds.

Sweet potatoes, orange and purple, were overrun by melon vines. May or may not make any.

But! I am no longer a gardening fail! Looking forward planting a fall garden and hoping it will provide something edible.

And, found someone to help me take the shade producing trees down around the garden spot at the barn at only a fraction of the cost that the professional tree guys wanted. We've got half of them down. Only stopped because the brush pile was getting too big. I was going to take them down myself but decided they were a bit too intimidating. He said they were "formidable trees" and I absolutely should not try to do it myself. We probably won't get it cleared out in time for me to plant a fall garden but should be ready for spring.

Thank you for listening. It may seem insignificant but to me it could mean I've finally defeated my two black thumbs of certain plant death.

Woo hoo! I grew something!

Cynthia,
You should plant some Dandilions. Their leaves are delicious in salads, and they are almost impossible to kill. Even if you have black thumbs.
If you want, I can mail you some seeds.
RBSinTo

 

[Uke]

Yes, I'm excited about that. (It's the little things in life, right?)

Technically I grew corn, but the raccoons got it. Finally, though, after about six years of largely gardening fails I managed to get something on the table.

Red noodle beans. Very easy, plant the seeds and walk away. Currently picking beans every two to three days. Saute with bacon, onion, garlic, other vegetables - whatever you want to put in the pan. Delicious! Way better than green beans, but then I've never liked green beans.

Also getting Kajari melons. And the green French variety melons - can't remember the name, it's in French - have some on the vines. Looked it up, Petit Gris de Rennes.)

Alabama blackeye limas just starting to make pods.

Unfortunately the Carolina Cross melons (recordholder is 200 pounds) seem susceptible to blossom end rot, even after spraying, with organic spray of course. Probably won't get any of those. (I wonder how one gets a 200 pound watermelon out of the field and onto the kitchen counter. )

Florida Giant melons (recordholder 90 pounds) are doing well, though. I'm guessing they'll be ready toward the end of the month but I doubt mine will be anywhere near 90 pounds.

Sweet potatoes, orange and purple, were overrun by melon vines. May or may not make any.

But! I am no longer a gardening fail! Looking forward planting a fall garden and hoping it will provide something edible.

And, found someone to help me take the shade producing trees down around the garden spot at the barn at only a fraction of the cost that the professional tree guys wanted. We've got half of them down. Only stopped because the brush pile was getting too big. I was going to take them down myself but decided they were a bit too intimidating. He said they were "formidable trees" and I absolutely should not try to do it myself. We probably won't get it cleared out in time for me to plant a fall garden but should be ready for spring.

Thank you for listening. It may seem insignificant but to me it could mean I've finally defeated my two black thumbs of certain plant death.

Woo hoo! I grew something!

Red Noodle Beans -- that sounds interesting. A new one for me. By the way, I love green beans however they are prepared (my dog loves them raw).

 

[Christopher Cozad]

... It may seem insignificant but to me it could mean I've finally defeated my two black thumbs of certain plant death.

Woo hoo! I grew something!

Congratulations! I celebrate with you.
You didn't ask, but might I suggest planting some okra? It is so hardy, pest resistant (nematodes can go after the roots, but raised beds help and Marigolds do a good job repelling them) and thrive in the sun. Bumblebees love visiting the lovely flowers, which open in the light and close in the dark. 4 or 5 stalks will keep the casual okra consumer occupied for several months. We prefer to populate an entire garden row with these long slender flowering plants, and have plenty to give to the neighbors.
If you are hesitant due to the "aloe vera" slime reputation of this most often ridiculously overcooked vegetable, firstly, harvest them when they are small (3 inches). Try skewering a few pods (think: shrimp on twin parallel skewers), brush with oil and dash with salt and pepper, toss them on a hot grill only long enough to get grill marks. They retain a little crunch and yield no slime. You can also toss them in a skillet, whole or chopped, with your favorite sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot and melted butter - yum, or Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce - yummier) just long enough to warm them. They make a great side dish, and are super fun to harvest, as the vegetable develops fast, as in 1 - 2 days, and you get to *hunt* for them.

 

[Uke]

Congratulations! I celebrate with you.
You didn't ask, but might I suggest planting some okra? It is so hardy, pest resistant (nematodes can go after the roots, but raised beds help and Marigolds do a good job repelling them) and thrive in the sun. Bumblebees love visiting the lovely flowers, which open in the light and close in the dark. 4 or 5 stalks will keep the casual okra consumer occupied for several months. We prefer to populate an entire garden row with these long slender flowering plants, and have plenty to give to the neighbors.
If you are hesitant due to the "aloe vera" slime reputation of this most often ridiculously overcooked vegetable, firstly, harvest them when they are small (3 inches). Try skewering a few pods (think: shrimp on twin parallel skewers), brush with oil and dash with salt and pepper, toss them on a hot grill only long enough to get grill marks. They retain a little crunch and yield no slime. You can also toss them in a skillet, whole or chopped, with your favorite sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot and melted butter - yum, or Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce - yummier) just long enough to warm them. They make a great side dish, and are super fun to harvest, as the vegetable develops fast, as in 1 - 2 days, and you get to *hunt* for them.

You didn't ask, but might I suggest planting some okra?

Great suggestion!

 

[gjmalcyon]

Unfortunately the Carolina Cross melons (recordholder is 200 pounds) seem susceptible to blossom end rot, even after spraying, with organic spray of course. Probably won't get any of those. (I wonder how one gets a 200 pound watermelon out of the field and onto the kitchen counter. )

Blossom end rot means you need calcium.

When I plant my tomatoes and jalapenos in the spring, a nice fist full of crushed eggshells goes in the hole. You can also use crushed oyster shells or bone meal.

During our recent hot and dry spell, the tree rats (aka squirrels) were using my tomatoes for hydration and I lost every one that was ready for harvest.

Grrrr.....

 

[RBSinTo]

Blossom end rot means you need calcium.

When I plant my tomatoes and jalapenos in the spring, a nice fist full of crushed eggshells goes in the hole. You can also use crushed oyster shells or bone meal.

During our recent hot and dry spell, the tree rats (aka squirrels) were using my tomatoes for hydration and I lost every one that was ready for harvest.

Grrrr.....

gjmalcyon,
Small Claymore mines throughout the Tomato patch will solve your Squirrel problem.
RBSinTo

 

[chazmo]

This thread is sadly missing pictures, Cynthia!

Congrats, BTW. And that's hardly a "little thing." Never grown anything but tomatoes in my entire life.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Blossom end rot means you need calcium.

When I plant my tomatoes and jalapenos in the spring, a nice fist full of crushed eggshells goes in the hole. You can also use crushed oyster shells or bone meal.

Excellent advice!

During our recent hot and dry spell, the tree rats (aka squirrels) were using my tomatoes for hydration and I lost every one that was ready for harvest.

Grrrr.....

Suggestion: add a birdbath (or two) to your area (and keep it refreshed with clean water). In addition to helping out the birds, it will mitigate birds *and* squirrels from seeking a drink from your luscious fruits.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

gjmalcyon,
Small Claymore mines throughout the Tomato patch will solve your Squirrel problem.
RBSinTo

Funny. I can remember times when, had such tools been available, I likely would have invested...

 

[gjmalcyon]

gjmalcyon,
Small Claymore mines throughout the Tomato patch will solve your Squirrel problem.
RBSinTo

I want to go full sniper on them - I have a window overlooking my raised bed that mostly out of view of the neighbors, but the last thing I need is the SWAT team showing up and tossing flash bangs into my house.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Excellent advice!

Suggestion: add a birdbath (or two) to your area (and keep it refreshed with clean water). In addition to helping out the birds, it will mitigate birds *and* squirrels from seeking a drink from your luscious fruits.

I'll try that, but my frame of mind at the moment cries for painful and sadistic forms of death.

 

[adorshki]

gjmalcyon,
Small Claymore mines throughout the Tomato patch will solve your Squirrel problem.
RBSinTo

And Heinz will buy up the tomato pulp.

 

[adorshki]

I want to go full sniper on them - I have a window overlooking my raised bed that mostly out of view of the neighbors, but the last thing I need is the SWAT team showing up and tossing flash bangs into my house.

My go-to for crows who want to be roosters:

 

[FNG]

Congratulations! I celebrate with you.
You didn't ask, but might I suggest planting some okra? It is so hardy, pest resistant (nematodes can go after the roots, but raised beds help and Marigolds do a good job repelling them) and thrive in the sun. Bumblebees love visiting the lovely flowers, which open in the light and close in the dark. 4 or 5 stalks will keep the casual okra consumer occupied for several months. We prefer to populate an entire garden row with these long slender flowering plants, and have plenty to give to the neighbors.
If you are hesitant due to the "aloe vera" slime reputation of this most often ridiculously overcooked vegetable, firstly, harvest them when they are small (3 inches). Try skewering a few pods (think: shrimp on twin parallel skewers), brush with oil and dash with salt and pepper, toss them on a hot grill only long enough to get grill marks. They retain a little crunch and yield no slime. You can also toss them in a skillet, whole or chopped, with your favorite sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot and melted butter - yum, or Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce - yummier) just long enough to warm them. They make a great side dish, and are super fun to harvest, as the vegetable develops fast, as in 1 - 2 days, and you get to *hunt* for them.

I probably eat a big jar of pickled okra a week. And pickled beets. The local produce market sells them, supposedly from an Amish group in PA.

My mom made the best fried okra.

 

[gjmalcyon]

And Heinz will buy up the tomato pulp.

That just triggered a scent memory: We used to have a lot of commercial tomato growers in the area, growing for Campbell's Soup. I'd be on my motorcycle on some back road in the middle of our South Jersey farms, and the unmistakable smell of tomatoes would permeate the air. Then you'd run across the tomato slick caused by all the tomatoes falling off the truck on the way to the plant. That stuff was slippery.

 

[FNG]

 

[gjmalcyon]

My go-to for crows who want to be roosters:

Considered a firearm by the state of NJ, requiring a permit.

 

[FNG]

Considered a firearm by the state of NJ, requiring a permit.