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Post by emmsmommy on Sept 11, 2024 6:04:09 GMT -5
Started working on the area outside of the old garden that has served as a holding area for bricks, stones and garden ornaments waiting to be used. Had it 95% cleared and almost ready to mow when I got the call to pick up kiddo. She made it half a day which I expected, but was exhausted. Three-hour delay today and she has an appointment tomorrow afternoon, so two short days should be easier on her.
I also hauled rejuvenated soil to the new garden to fill the wading pool planter where the irises will go again. Long-range forecast isn't predicting rain, so lots of watering to do today. Paste tomatoes are really starting to ripen and need to decide whether to toss more in the freezer or start cooking them down.
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Post by datgirl on Sept 11, 2024 7:42:34 GMT -5
Pulled the cucumber vines yesterday. After finally getting them to grow in the spring, it was hard pulling them out, but they did provide me with a lot of cucumbers finally. Pulled more weeds and Borage. Only 2 tomato plants left and I think they are coming out today. I started moving some mulch onto the garden paths where it's getting broken down and weeds are starting to pop thru. Will do some more today along with scrubbing birdbaths and more weed pulling. Stopped to take a shower, pick up granddaughter from bus stop and go out for Taco Tuesday with a girlfriend. It was a good day. Oh yeah I forgot. I got stung by a wasp. Right in the knee. So except for that, it was a good day.
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 11, 2024 9:10:13 GMT -5
Only 2 tomato plants left and I think they are coming out today. And here I have all my tomato plants still in the bed- with lots of greenies. I'm in a race with Ma Nature to see what I might get to harvest before frosts arrive- about a month away. However, with the way it's going this year, first frost could be way early. We've already hit a 42º low. Twice. Don't know how good the flavor will be with such late pickings.
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Post by datgirl on Sept 11, 2024 9:23:42 GMT -5
The two plants out there are pretty pathetic. One has a few tomatoes on it and the other one is purely symbolic. Pulling it out means summer is over and I can't let go yet, even though the temps are in the 80's and it's still officially summer until the 22nd.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 11, 2024 13:45:50 GMT -5
Once again…raccoon beat the groundhog to the trap. That’s four of the little buggers…being relocated to new turf, not near people. Improving the gene pool.
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Post by centralilrookie on Sept 11, 2024 21:09:00 GMT -5
Obviously with sweetheart and I traveling I haven’t accomplished anything but driving and soaking in the beauty of the Smokey Mountains. We’ve met a number of really nice people and there’s a big hot rod gathering that was filling up Pigeon Forge as we were leaving. It’s been a great trip so far….,
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 11, 2024 21:58:58 GMT -5
Started with cleaning out the chest freezer in preparation for the bounty I will be freezing over the next month or so.
Harvested 21 pounds of peaches today- mostly windfall and so many had damaged spots- but sliced and packed into four 1 qt bags and into the freezer. More to process from windfall as well as from the tree.
Started roasting the 16 lb of green chiles I picked yesterday. So far six 1 qt bags-very packed- are in the freezer.
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Post by gardendmpls on Sept 11, 2024 23:04:24 GMT -5
need to decide whether to toss more in the freezer or start cooking them down. Often toss in the freezer until I have time to separate skins/seeds and then cook down. Seems to work as well or better after they have been frozen and then thawed.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 11, 2024 23:05:41 GMT -5
The Crimson Clover planted 9/8 had excellent germination, even though it was purchased last year. I went out to water it this morning, and the bed was nicely covered with sprouts.
I finally started cutting back tomato vines that have no chance of giving us ripe tomatoes. Cages and plant collars are still in place for another day.
Dahlias are continuing to set flower buds, so I’ve been trying to stay faithful to debudding/bagging every day.
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Post by emmsmommy on Sept 12, 2024 4:34:45 GMT -5
Since we haven't had rain in so long, our yard basically hasn't been mowed for at least two months. So what isn't trod down by the foot traffic is a few inches higher than normal. I continued working on the are by the old garden and happily have it all mown and better organized. Emptied several pots and thrown lots of stuff away. Most of it will eventually go in the garden shed but there's a bee's nest in one of the boxes of jars and I don't intend to do any organizing in there until it's colder. Raked through the grass to make sure nothing had been left behind and found my hand fork which had been missing. It's so hot and dry that I'm basically harvesting dried beans pods in the morning and evening too and was awesome but yet another new bean last evening with pink splotches.
This morning will basically be watering and harvesting beans, peppers and tomatoes. Most of the peppers I harvest will be Corbaci for kiddo's aide as she loves them and my plants are absolutely loaded. I'm picking kiddo up after lunch for a dental appointment and hoping to make it back home in time to make the quilt guild meeting this evening.
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Post by Mumsey on Sept 12, 2024 16:02:53 GMT -5
Went to the big city today. Getting ready for sis to spend the weekend. The end of my trip I stopped at JoAnn's, of course had to drive all the way to the other side of the metropolis. I was highly disappointed, JoAnn's is now even farther down on my "like" list, more at the top of "don't like" list. The have totally moved all quilting "Keepsake" fabrics. Looks like way less than they had before, there's very little 100% cotton left in the store. The place is taken over by flannel and fleece. I won't be going back any time soon.
Sis and I are going to an Amish community only 45 miles from me, better than the one we originally planned to go to. This one is more like the original Amish, some have gotten pretty lenient and worldly. They have awesome greenhouses at reasonable prices, some general stores, etc. Mostly gravel roads too, so slow going. Lots of horse/buggies about.
Just made up a new to me recipe, Edamame-Tomato Bruschetta. Have another one to try too, Silky Chickpea Soup with Cumin. These are from a cookbook I got at the junk shop called Simply 5, 5 main ingredients or less. Looks like it's from WW Publishing, Weight Watchers??? Tons of meat-free options and 125 recipes.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 12, 2024 19:16:34 GMT -5
Today I planted some more of those brassica seedlings, that I had started about 3 weeks ago - a couple of the napa variety "Merlot" were replacements, as two of the first ones were in bad shape, and I figured they weren't going to make it. I also planted 6 bok choys, and 3 wu choy and 3 late choy sum. Later, I planted some seeds in the raised bed for the the wu choy, and choy sum, as well as some radishes, stem mustard (used for Szechwan preserved vegetable - bolted too fast in spring), and some green onions (for spring). I also cut the length of Agribon, to cover the hoops with, as soon as I started seeing sprouts, plus I have some kohlrabi seedlings, to put in before covering everything.
Soon, I have to figure out where I will plant my garlic and shallots this season. Also, I am going to do some experiments with half of some of the varieties, and do some vernalization, or chilling in the fridge for 4 weeks, before planting. I'll find out if the chilled ones do any better.
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 12, 2024 21:04:33 GMT -5
I've always put my cloves in the fridge right after they have cured. Ends up being way more than 4 weeks. I've never done it without chilling so don't have a comparison. Will be interested in seeing what your differences might be. pepperhead212,
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Post by pepperhead212 on Sept 12, 2024 22:17:44 GMT -5
I wouldn't have room in my fridge for that garlic! .
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Post by emmsmommy on Sept 13, 2024 4:17:00 GMT -5
Yesterday I picked enough noodle beans for omelets and stir-fries for at least a week and so many Trionfo Violetto beans that I'll be blanching and freezing later today. Decided to pull more Corbaci peppers as the plants are sagging from the weight and realized my estimate of 25-30 peppers per plant was off as there has to be at least 45 peppers per plant and they're still blooming! Mainly grabbed those closest to the ground and had a bag for kiddo's aide and mom in no time. Ran into the aide's teenage step-daughter in Walmart last night and she told me they were so good. Also enough with spots or blemishes to do me for a week. Picked a few peppers from one of the trial varieties that mom loves so much that we're keeping seed from it to try again. Hopped in the shower and went to pick kiddo up for her dentist appointment, which lasted a whole five minutes and we were off to McDonald's for her rare treat of fries. Had enough time to drop mom off and take kiddo home before heading to the guild meeting. Made a Walmart stop afterwards to pick up more elastic bandage for kiddo's foot and found hose menders, diatomaceous earth, neem oil and fabric strips on clearance. Also picked up a few supplies for school bake sale next weekend.
This morning hubby and I are going to a garage sale we usually frequent, but it will be a bit sad. It's at our friend's mother's house and will probably be the last one as the mother will soon be entering a nursing home. I'll be on the search of canning jars and will probably end up with a few of her house plants. Back home I'll likely continue with mowing under the chestnut trees as having the grass relatively short makes picking up the impeding onslaught of burrs and leaves much easier.
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