Table Top Gardens

Corey - I understood everything you wrote - thank you :(

In my garden raised beds, I use a lot of coir - the finer kind. I can also purchase a coarser coir and am wondering if this fits your "big fibers" scenerio?

I'm also experimenting with mowing over the smaller twigs that fall from our trees to add to the soil in TT gardens.

I wish I didn't even have to consider TT gardens, but the running bamboo is still being a problem. We've dug part of a trench to keep it confined, but it's a "slow go"

>> In my garden raised beds, I use a lot of coir - the finer kind. I can also purchase a coarser coir and am wondering if this fits your "big fibers" scenerio?

Yes! I like coir for that reason, but this year I've come to like screened pine bark mulch even better, especially when i can get "big bark fibers" instead of "Pine Bark Fines".

I guess as the size of a tabletop bed increases, it acts more like "the ground" and less like "a pot". For "in ground soil", for some reason even small stuff improves the driangee. Or maybe that's just my local experience, because ANYTHING improves the drainage of pure clay!

In pots or small contianers, I prefer the bigger coir fibers over coir powder, in order to get more air spaces and less compression. I bought one brick of coir that turned out to be all powder, and didn't like that at all (for pots or seedling trays). I also dislike regular commercial peat-based seedling mixes, becuase they are so easy to drown by over-watering.

I should probably say that I tend to overwater, and that's one reason I obsess on drainage and drowned roots in the bottoms of pots.

Corey

Off-topic Suggestion for Honeybee... if you can hire someone with a DitchWitch, have them dig a narrow trench about a foot deep, and put a vertical piece of aluminum flashing (comes in a roll at big box stores) running the length of the narrow trench. It will stop bamboo runners.

Honeybee, I've used coir off and on over the years and tend to equate it with peat, even the coarser coir. It readily holds moisture and tends to compact like peat so I've had to amend it heavily with perlite and such.

Al's Mix of pine bark/tad bit of peat/perlite is great for many containers. The ratio of each would be contingent on your plants needs (e.g., cacti vs veggie crops vs perennials). I have no doubt it would be good for table top beds as well. And of course don't forget to lime your mix.

Rick, I go with the coarser pine bark for many of my nursery pots (perennials) and it does great.

Cricket, nice project you have going! I think you're gonna love it! Thanks for posting.

Shoe

Shoe,

I agree that "coarser is better" with pine bark sold "mulch".

However, "orchid bark" tends to be coarser than I like ... I have some chunks almost as big as golf balls!

Corey

Run the orchid bark through a chipper/shredder?

I'm loving the pine bark fines (coarser) cause it's so clean to work with. I'm about to order another yard or two to build my raised bed (s), since it looks like I might have a fence up soon, and can move forward with building at least one bed.

Big as golfballs!? Lordy mercy me, I'd consider that a yard ornament. *grin

I'm lucky, I get my fine pines, pine bark, etc at a large nursery/landscape supplier and take my trailer. It lets me see what I want to get and make more choices than bringing a bag of something home and wondering about its contents.

Linda, hope you get your bed built, soon be planting time your way, won't it?

Shoe

Thank You Shoe.


I am growing a white patty pan squash in one of the table tops and It is suppose to be bush but it seems to be running. I have never grown the patty pan squash before now. ARe there varieties that run? This one has grown out of the box, and has reached the deck banisters already. Grown out about 2 1/2 feet long now. I don't think it's a bush ..I know it is a patty squash cause I now have little famale buds. They're so cute!

Pretty! One of my favorite squashes! The white patty pan is, in my opinion, one of the best.

And yes, it can still be considered a "bush" even though it'll grow 2-3ft. The main stalk/stem is what keeps growing, unlike other squash that has vines that take off like runners.

You're gonna love it! I like to make "bowls" out of them (see pic). 'Tis great to "eat the bowl and all!".

Shoe

>> Big as golfballs!? Lordy mercy me, I'd consider that a yard ornament. *grin

LOL! Yeah, I wonder what kind of pot they would even fit in!


>> I'm loving the pine bark fines (coarser) cause it's so clean to work with.
Me, too. They worked really well even for seed starting, the first year I tried them, except for petunias.

>> Run the orchid bark through a chipper/shredder?

In priciple, yes, but I would have to rent one, and I only have a few quarts of the fancy orchid bark. And my lawn mower would make it too dirty.

I've been pricing Waring blenders and food processors at Goodwill, but the only one I considered a bargain didn't work at all. I have some big bags of pretty good mulch and lots of hardware cloth for screening it.

Maybe I'll crush up the orchid bark balls with a hammer for next years seedling mix. Or a cheese grater!

Corey

Shoe= that is an interesting picture....neat idea using the squash as a dish......but please tell me what is in the squash bowl.

I have a few female buds on the squash getting ready to bloom. Impatiently watching. I want to help her out when she opens.

Here's my recipe, Cricket. I've given this out to customers for years now and they love it. It's very versatile as to what you want to include in the squash. (And in the pic above that is a side order of steamed Swiss chard alongside.)

Patty Pan Squash (Scallop Squash)

Use the squash(s) that most resemble a bowl. (You can cook quite a few of these at a time. It’s up to the size of your steamer pot and skillet.)

Cut the very top off. Scoop out the innards of the bottom part with a spoon creating your bowl.
Put the top and the hollowed out “bowl” in a steamer basket and start cooking. While it’s cooking…

Saute some fresh onions and several cloves of smashed garlic in a bit of olive oil. When onions are translucent add squash innards. Cook until tender, stirring to blend the oil and flavors, but NOT overcooked (overcooking turns them mushy and turning into nothingness)! Add salt and pepper to your liking.

The onions/garlic/innards should be done about the same time as the “bowls and tops”.

Remove the bowls, gently, and place on plate or serving platter. Fill with the sauteed goodies and a dab of butter (if you like butter). Also, if you like, you can top with grated cheese. Put the tops on to hold in the heat and help the cheese melt.

This dish makes a great presentation and is delicious! Eat hearty, bowl and all!

Hope you get a great harvest!

Shoe

darius -

Me neither, but several years ago I moved to a place with NO bamboo, so it's no longer a problem.

That sounds great Shoe. I will definitely try it that way. We love squash casserole with the onions, cracker crumbs, egg, chedder cheese, salt , pepper..........so your dish sounds similar. I sometimes add a little eggplant to my squash casserole.

bounce bounce bounce

I love squash casserole, too. I just haven't made one in years. Maybe you have an easy one to share, eh? Please?

Ah a few sips from the jar and no recipe needed lol.

Shoe hard to believe with all the fixings I manage to grow I never did anything with summer squash but fry it untill Maria was here and she made a veg dish that was just awesome.

Thanks for that recipe, Shoe. I got a large patty pan squash in my CSA this week, and didn't know what to do with it. I've only cooked baby patty pan before. Your recipe sounds perfect, and can't wait to try it.

Perfect timing, eh, Moms? Hope you enjoy it.

Ernie, I have no doubt Maria can cook up a storm. I bet she's a great cook. Hope ya'll get to meet up this year again.

Shoe (making my morning rounds with a .22, watching for a whistle pig who keeps eating my corn!)

A whisle pig? never heard of it. An actual pig?


My squash casserole is simple and easy.
I normally use yellow squash diced up with an onion diced up and both are pre-boiled together til the squash is
slightly tender. Then I strain it. Sorry, I have never measured anything. I just throw it together
I put the squash and onions in a casserole dish and add crushed crackers , a beaten egg, some shredded chedder cheese, salt and pepper. Mix it all together and bake on 375 til it is golden brown then add shredded chedder cheese on top and let that melt......wha-la. done. I guess one of these days I should measure everything out just so I can call it a recipe. My mama use to make it and she never measured either.

Sounds good to me. And nope, I don't need measurements for many things, especially casseroles. Thanks!

Whistle pig. Ground hog. Woodchuck. All the same critter carrying different names. (I've been known to call them several names in a row! *grin)

Shoe

Y'all got me wanting squash casserole.. I always sautee my onion and diced squash instead of boiling.. It will give you a great added layer of flavor.. And if you aren't afraid of fat, just a bit of bacon or fried fat back grease in the sautee..Then I add a small can of evaporated milk along with the cheese.. Any will do.. I like cheddar and some velveeta type mixed together for creaminess.. Top with fresh bread crumbs, and bake til golden brown.. Really just has to bubble good and brown as there is no egg to get done.

Larkie

I planted my 4x4 TTgarden with carrots.
Before I sowed the seed, I added Cotton Seed Meal, Bone Meal, and Charcoal and Wood Ashes.
The 4x4 bed now has at least 256 carrot seeds. (actually more and will be thinned out later)
Using the Square Foot Gardening measurements which is 16 carrots per square foot.

The carrot seeds have already germinated in the other TTgardens. I have been thinning them out.
I did not use organic nutrients in the other TT gardens with carrots. It will be interesting to see the difference.
The newest carrot garden with organic nutrients will only get goat manure top dressing as a fertilizer.

She bloomed. :) and the bees are busy.
(I know= I have wood laying everywhere in the background===been lowering the deck and reconstructing it)

Here's my recipe for Stuffed Merliton (Chayote Squash)

http://davesgarden.com/tools/tags/tag.php?tag=recipes%3Agymgirl%27s+stuffed+merlitons+%28chayote+squash%29

I wish I had room to grow mirliton. We love it. It's good pickled too.

I seem to remember growing Chayote when I lived in South Florida. I think it just took off up a tree! It's been such a long time, that I don't remember the details. Isn't it a tropical vine? I hadn't thought about growing it here.

Although I don't miss South Florida, I DO miss all the wonderful tropical fruits I grew there. (sigh) Can't have everythig :(

They grow great in south La. Have not tried them up here.