What did your garden feed you today? (fruits, buy, Chicago)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by kinkytoes

Yellow squash, basil and oregano(?). I don't know if it is really oregano or marjoram that was mismarked when I bought it.

well it will be fun to use in a recipe, maybe that way you will know.

All I picked was a few more tomatoes, one is huge, and I did get another mystery thing. It is my second, I cut it open and it does appear to be one of the strange types of cukes I planted 3 years ago that just keep appearing. They really are very tasty just look weird. How many of you have seen cukes tha look like a baby mellow of some kind?

Nita

[kinkytoes]

Sadly Nita, I have killed every cucumber plant I've ever tried to grow. I got 3 yellow squash today.

[Valerie C]

Veggies are not even close to producing yet (NH) but to be honest, I planted everything about 2+ weeks later than recommended (last frost date here is 5/31). Basil, dill, parsley is going like gangbusters, I'm giving it away to folks at the office at this point. Chives have gone to seed, so planting lots of that for next year's garden club plant sale, office gifts, etc. Sure wish we'd get some rain so that I don't have to water so often. I'm thinking about getting some straw to help conserve the water...

[Big George]

We got started a little late this year, but are just now starting to get a few young summer squash & zucchinis. Just last night my wife sliced up some ss & z's, seasoned them, and fried them in olive oil. Holy cow, I don't know what she did but it was amazing!

So I topped it off with some ice cream.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by kinkytoes

Sadly Nita, I have killed every cucumber plant I've ever tried to grow. I got 3 yellow squash today.

When we lived in VA we had them everywhere, but it seems I have trouble growing them as well. I did get enough cukes to feed us during summers in NM, here mostly I get the mystery ones I am talking about. They are round, can get really big and tough if not picked when they are young and I sitll am not sure where they came from, I think I planted them, as I have said 3 years ago. I didn't get any that summer, go figure...:think I just checked Burpee because there is where I usually get my seeds: there is one called a lemon cuke, that is what this appears to be but it is not yellow; the other, looking like what we are getting is a something apple cuke, I don't think I would have oredered anything like that. Oh well, at least they are some sort of cuke. I did pick about 30 tomatoes today, some are just little baby grapes.

[Mrs. Skeffington]

Originally Posted by nmnita

well it will be fun to use in a recipe, maybe that way you will know.

All I picked was a few more tomatoes, one is huge, and I did get another mystery thing. It is my second, I cut it open and it does appear to be one of the strange types of cukes I planted 3 years ago that just keep appearing. They really are very tasty just look weird. How many of you have seen cukes tha look like a baby mellow of some kind?

Nita

Could it be what they call a "lemon cucumber"? They are round and yellowish.

[Big George]

Originally Posted by nmnita

When we lived in VA we had them everywhere, but it seems I have trouble growing them as well. I did get enough cukes to feed us during summers in NM, here mostly I get the mystery ones I am talking about. They are round, can get really big and tough if not picked when they are young and I sitll am not sure where they came from, I think I planted them, as I have said 3 years ago. I didn't get any that summer, go figure...:think I just checked Burpee because there is where I usually get my seeds: there is one called a lemon cuke, that is what this appears to be but it is not yellow; the other, looking like what we are getting is a something apple cuke, I don't think I would have oredered anything like that. Oh well, at least they are some sort of cuke. I did pick about 30 tomatoes today, some are just little baby grapes.

Psssttt... I think those are watermelons.

[Mrs. Skeffington]

Originally Posted by kinkytoes

Sadly Nita, I have killed every cucumber plant I've ever tried to grow. I got 3 yellow squash today.

Do you get the "bacteria wilt" in your cucumbers? The leaves wilt, the vines shrivel up, and the plant dies. This is caused by a tiny yellow striped beetle. Whenever I see even one of those little varmints, I sprinke my cuke plants generously with Sevin 5. They can get a mildew disease, too, by watering them with a hose when it is hot. I water very early in the morning, when it is cooler, and use a sprinkling can, watering directly on the roots (I plant them in hills). Cukes also tend to "wear out" on their own, stop producing and die. I plant them in phases throughout the summer (every two weeks) to ensure I keep harvesting well into September. I learned these tips from a farm where I worked two years ago. I always get a huge crop of cucumbers, but they are not good sellers for me - people around here don't seem to like cucumbers for some reason as much as they do squash and other things. I just make a lot of pickles!

[kinkytoes]

Nita, maybe I'll try that one...it sounds unkillable! Mrs Skeffington...I don't know. But I do like squash a lot better. I think you're supposed to "trellis" cucumbers or something, too... I gave up. A friend forced seeds on me this year, but I don't even think they came up. LOL

I sorta "phased" my squash...since I love it so much, I planted some in the new raised beds, and some in two flowerbeds. I planted them at different times...So far only one batch has had bug problems...thank God. I bought seeds heirloom winter squash this year, and I'm too excited to see/taste them in Autumn.

Today I ate a yellow squash "saute" w/ brown rice. I put in the marjoram/oregano and basil.

[tulani]

Originally Posted by kinkytoes

Growing


It was simple.
1. Buy garlic. I bought organic, not sure if it makes a difference.

2. Eat the garlic, saving couple of cloves. The cloves should have the paper on, no peeling. I saved mine in the fridge, but you can store the cloves anywhere they won't rot or start growing too soon.

3. In Autumn, plant the cloves. I planted mine in regular garden soil. Supposedly you need good drainage or something, but my garlic did fine. I can't remember exactly when, but I'm in zone 7, and I think I started in maybe October. I don't think it matters, as they'll overwinter.

This summer, I plucked out two heads! The garlic I left in the ground is blooming!

Onions have beautiful flowers as well. I put a past-its-prime onion in the ground, and now I have a free "allium."

Harvesting

The following year, the garlic will grow "tops." Once the tops brown and flop, you can harvest the garlic. You'll see an entire "head" of garlic grew from the one clove!

To "Dry" mine, I washed one (apparently you're not supposed to...but whatever) and put it on the counter to dry. It is fine. Another one, I did not wash. After it dried, I removed the layer of skin w/ the dirt.

I planted about 7 cloves. So I'm getting 7 heads of garlic, God willing. Organic garlic free of charge. I planted the small cloves, which I would have otherwise composted.


*Caveat...as a budding veggie gardener, I have discovered growing almost anything is super simple the FIRST year. Until the bugs, fungi etc find your "stash" of veggies. If you plant the garlic in subsequent years, you may need to select a different location to avoid pests.

Originally Posted by nmnita

I think I will give it a try. It sounds like fun and nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I'm not only going to give it a try - I am keeping the whole post for reference when I do!

kinky, do you think garlic will grow indoors if kept in a southern window? Our soil isn't the greatest for planting outdoors (without a lot of prep), and I thought it might be easier to plant indoors. I may be able to grow garlic...

I have a brown thumb. However, yesterday I was able to harvest a bunch of scallions that I grow on my kitchen windowsill. Just cut off green parts, leaving white and roots, and put in a glass with an inch or so of water... keep watered and watch 'em grow. I am able to get three good bunches before I throw away the roots (which get slimy by this time) and put fresh ones in. (Always wash the glass before putting in new roots.)
My next door neighbor has a small outdoor box garden and yesterday she brought over three nice sized white radishes.
We ate some last night and I will use the rest tonight in fried rice.