STARTING OUR SPRING VEGGIE GARDENS PART 6

Check for tomato fruit worm - think it' ll be your culprit...

WONDERFUL NEWS, STEPH!

I know exactly how you feel about your tomato bounty! TWENTY Tomatoes is a record for some, me included!

Just a tip about the BER, I forgot to put Dolomite lime in my raised bed before I planted this season, and it was critical because I ALWAYS get BER. Well, everything was already planted, so I just made some dinner plate size wells directly over each root ball (I knew exactly where each one was, having just set the plants). Then, I sprinkled Dolomite Lime into the depressions (there were seven), and I watered in until they were filled and looked like milky water.

Each one drained straight down over the root balls. For the first time ever, I had NO BER! Maybe just a fluke...

But, I'm about to do a second application like this, since they are still going strong, and I did notice one new tomato has a bit of a spot on the bottom.

Congratulations, again!

Linda

Mine are all taking their time ,, mulling along ,, sometime here though .. (sigh)
In the meantime I will 'hog it up" and visually "pig out" on all of yours here...
It is rather strange to me that whether or I grow ten or twenty(or more) plants I only seem to get a couple of plants I am satisfied with ,
for now , I am only watching bloom variations and deciding as for keeping seeds from later. and what kind of diversity from the heirlooms there is for me to work with ,,
Always lots of leaf and bloom differences to watch and learn from , the produce and good vegies is the hope ,,
I love some crunchy leaf lettuce , fresh beans , and I really enjoy a good old fashioned fresh Tomato!!!

Linda,

Another way to make your sauce is to oven roast. Get a couple of really big, deep, pans and coarsely chop (halve or quarter) your tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and spices into the pans. Set your oven for about 350-degrees, then stir every 1-2 hours as the skins brown. In 5-6 hours you will have reduced the volume by 50% or so. After that, I run through the food mill for my Kitchen-Aid mixer. I used to use a Foley hand-mill to separate the seeds and tough portions of the skin... never again. The Kitchen-aid mill gets more from the pulp and is much easier to use. I can roast and process about 40 pounds of tomatoes in under 8 hours-- most of that time is spent doing other things, while smelling the delicious aroma of roasting tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, and spice! The amount is limited by 1) the tomatoes you have, 2) the size of your roasting pans, 3) the size of your oven.

David

Thanks, David!

Another fantastic season in my vegetable garden.
Cherokee Purple in the middle of the pictures, weeee
Cucumbers are growing really fast right now. A few okra and "one"bean ... giggle
All my pepper plants have green fruits ... I keep watching for them to turn color ... they are so slow to change !

I will pick eggplants maybe tomorrow:

Casper
Ping Tung
Prosperosa
Bonica

Cucumbers: Corinto is the star of my garden every year

Fantastic year for tomatoes !!
My larger one are starting to ripen.

Long beans and zucchini (under cover)
Okra
Watermelon plant (why does it grow so slow - first year growing)

Once again, a stellar harvest, drthor!

To date, I've harvested 23 lbs. of tomatoes! Just last evening, I brought in 5.4 lbs. from 12 tomatoes.

I was looking at the tomato bed from afar, and noticed a very marked growth pattern:
►The NOID, which is the shortest of the seven plants, is cranking out the biggest tomatoes.
►The three Mule Teams are the tallest and holding their own with production, too.
►In the middle are the Mortgage Lifter , the Virginia Sweet, and the Beauty Beefsteak. The Mortgage Lifter hasn't kicked in just yet, either. Not sure what's going on there.

►I've had real skimpy production from the VaSw, but the few fruits are tasty.

►The Beauty Beefsteak fruits are just plain beautiful to look at. Perfectly shaped and a deep red color. A "still life" model...

►I have some BER setting in on the newest fruits coming out on the Mortgage Lifter(?). Too tangled to say for sure which fruits are which.

►Will apply more Dolomite this weekend, as well as cut back the whole bed by about 1/4 to 1/3. It needs serious cleaning up. There are vines all over the ground, and spilling out onto the grass. Lawn Mower girl will have trouble, otherwise....

Hugs!

Great news, guys! They look wonderful! I transplanted scarlet runner beans to the arbor, along with a couple of cucumbers, but still could get a freeze, so am holding a few of those plants back, just in case. Got most of the 100 strawberry plants in bales and in the ground and they're doing very well.

Okra and eggplant in the open greenhouse are hanging in there, as well as a squash plant and a bunch of onions.

Garlic is doing great in last year's barley straw bales around the greenhouse, and beans and squash are coming up in more of those bales (a bunch of strawberries are loving those bales this year).

Aside from one plant that developed one leaf, still no sign that my sweet potatoes survived the freeze, but still watering them.

Beets in that bed are coming up.

The German Butterball and Rio Grande Potatoes are coming up out of the straw in which I planted them.

There are hints of corn coming up in the wheat bales beside the arbor, as well as some squash, I think.

I made a small Hugelkultur bed for strawberries and flowers in my little Aspen glade on the north side of the house, and they're not wilted away, yet, lol. Planted Cosmos and Blackeyed Susans, plus a couple of cantaloupe on that bed. I have more flower seeds to add to it - would like to get more perennials in there, we'll see. The hare bells are growing fast, and still enjoying the massive lilac blooms this year. Ah...Spring (winds have been very bad this year, though). Tomatoes have endured against a sheepwire trellis in the GH outside.

My big Hass Avocado that froze and came back to life when moved into the house, has now decided to shed all its leaves, but it's putting out new shoots. Don't know WHAT's going on with that finicky tree. I'm planning to move it outside into a partial shade and see if it does better. It probably needs more light. The other smaller avocados are doing great in the inside GH, but they get more light by the window. There's always a troublemaker, lol.

Great report, Solace!

I'm trying to decide if I have enough time to plant okra seeds. I have yet to get a decent crop of okra. I think watering has been my issue.

The bell peppers I kept inside forever that had LOADS of blooms on them inside were planted out about 8 weeks ago and have yet to fruit. What's up with that? They're still growing, just not making as many blooms as they did inside. And the few blooms it made fell off, but no fruit yet.

Any comments/tips would be appreciated.

Linda,

No reason not to plant okra. It doesn't mind being hot, just keep it watered. I will have pictures later of the okra I planted last Saturday.

DTR

Thanks, D!

Someone recently made a comment about direct sowing vs. starting seeds indoors, and I gave "saving my sprouts from the dreaded pill bugs" as one of my reasons for starting even the easiest of seeds indoors.

Last week, I sprinkled carrot seeds in two SmartPots. Within days I had neat little rows of seedlings peeping. And, within days of that, because I didn't remember to sprinkle the Sluggo Plus for the pill bugs, I have exactly ONE sprout left....

'Nuff said....

"My big Hass Avocado that froze and came back to life when moved into the house, has now decided to shed all its leaves, but it's putting out new shoots. Don't know WHAT's going on with that finicky tree. I'm planning to move it outside into a partial shade and see if it does better. It probably needs more light."

I wouldn't fret it. It's not uncommon for plants to shed leaves and grow new ones if their environmental conditions change.

Peppers are waiting for more heat. When do avocadoes Normally shed leaves? Could have thought spring arrived...

Linda- the peppers are adjusting to being outside and are probably growing roots. Once they get the roots they need they will bloom again. That's why it's advised to remove all flowers and fruit before planting. It's in the 90s here so plenty hot for peppers but it takes awhile and the temps have only been consistent for a few weeks. I direct sow but when I had problems with pill bugs it wasn't possible without an insecticide.

Thanks, ya'll!

Also, you still have time for Okra IMHO. You have more time then I do, I still need to sow mine, so you better have enough time.lol.

Just wondering why you are sowing carrot seeds now? Enquiry minds want to know.

I have squash coming out of my ears. Once again Im wondering why I planted it when I don't really like it. I picked some really young maybe I can eat them raw. I know they are good for me so I need to eat them but in a day they get huge. Haven't had a harvest like this since I lived in CA. Beans, tomatoes and peppers are setting too.

Try slicing them 1/4 inch thick and sauteing them in a tiny amount of butter. The sliced rounds are great with breakfast.

Linda,

Here's the promised picture of the black-eye peas and the okra. Both were planted almost a week ago, on Saturday. I have to do some thinning!

Lisa,

A way that I really like yellow squash is to season with salt & pepper, lightly flour, then saute in butter with onions. Add some sliced or coarsely chopped garlic for more flavor.

David

Thanks, again, guys!

1Lisac,
Squash Casserole is the bomb! Saute some diced bell pepper, onions, garlic and celery in a pan. Chop up the squash and add to the sauted veggies. Add more seasonings (S&P, some cayenne powder, Season All Brand Seasoning, etc.). Add some seasoned bread crumbs to the mixture, and, use some broth to loosen up the mixture a bit. Then, turn into a casserole dish, and run through the oven until it sets (not to dried out, though). Sprinkle more bread crumbs on top, drizzle some butter on top, and run it under the boiler until the top browns.

You can also add chopped seasoning ham and/or chopped shrimp to the mixture before you bake it.

Enjoy!

Uh, add a splash of tabasco sauce at some point....

Linda

My onions and garlic storing in my laundry/growing plant room.
More vegetables today.
The yellow pepper is CORNO DI TORO GIALLO and it is amazing. really thick skin and very sweet.
It took forever to change color ... but now I know to wait.

Linda, David, Drthor, I bow to your awesome harvests/growing!

Got my first eggplant today, and a second planting of tomato seedlings are going in tomorrow morning. Made fridge pickles this morning out of my green tomatoes that I snapped up before the worms did. :)

This message was edited Jun 7, 2013 2:27 PM

Thanks, NOLA, but my harvests are very modest. I'm only growing tomatoes right now, and some eggplants and bell peppers. Might start the okra and some squash this weekend. And sprinkle more carrot seeds to replace what the pill bugs destroyed....

But, I AM having the best tomato harvest I ever had, with 23.5 lbs brought in to date!

Um, I need that pickle recipe! I didn't know you could pickle green tomatoes!!! I've got bunches of greenies that could become pickles.

Thanks in advance for the recipe!

Linda

This is from a restaurant I cooked at for ages. You can use okra, green beans, green tomato, watermelon rind, just about anything savory.

Smokra

1 cup white (or rice) vinegar
1 tbs each sugar & salt
1 tbs smoked paprika
1 tbs cayenne
1/2 tsp mustard
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
1 or 2 garlic cloves

I basically put it in a jar and shake it, then adjust seasonings, then drop in whatever veggies I've got. People sell this at farmers markets for about $14 a jar. I made it for garnish bloody marys at the restaurant, so you want it in that flavor profile: sour, spicy, salty, in that order.

Keeps for a week or so in the fridge, unless you feel like properly canning it. ;)

Sounds good. I would have to cut down on the cayenne, though. Are you using a quart jar or larger?

Mater

@beebonnet - I use a quart jar, because I want to use these within 2 weeks. I also have subbed out with all kinds of combos: dill & coriander seeds for a milder pickle, rice vinegar, lime, onions, and more salt for a more S. Asian flavor...I recommend trying them in small jars for the summer for what you like, then canning a bunch of your favorites late-season.

Also, tomato jam: red tomato, ginger, pepper, cloves, salt, sugar.... It's fabulous on toast, lamb, duck...

All I need is for the veggies to actually come IN, then I can recommend more recipes!

Preserved lemons are also good.

Nola---You are making my head spin with all of these suggestions. I have no doubt that your recipe is delicious and I would love to try them first hand. I will be watching for more, but please make it easier for this old gal. Thanks

I cleaned part of my onion harvest today. I still have more to clean, but this was all my back could take today! The best use of pantyhose ever!!

Beebonnet, my apologies! I'm too much a restaurant gal for my own good. Here's the simple version.

Basic fridge pickles: vegetable, vinegar, sugar, salt. Get your veggies bite size, put in a jar, mix the above three until it covers the veg.

Add whatever herbs you like. Dill for mild, paprika for warm and smokey, peppers/onions/garlic for spicy.

Fridge pickles last about a week or two. Green tomatoes, small okra pods (thumb-size), cucumbers, and watermelon rinds seem to do best for me.

I also make my own sweet potato hot sauce with this technique, but that gets bit more involved.


This message was edited Jun 9, 2013 9:13 PM

Jeez that's a lot of onions...what's with the panty hose?

Lisa, some people store onions and/or garlic in pantyhose, tying a knot in between each one and hanging them up. Then when they want one, they cut off a knot.

Since I don't own any pantyhose. I bought some reusable mesh produce bags that have a drawstring opening and hang those. I just open up a bag and grab a head of garlic. When the bag is empty, in the washing machine it goes to clean up for next year.

MY WEEKEND UPDATE:
I dragged myself out of bed at the crack of dawn (well, it was daylight...) yesterday, and forced myself to go plant everything still growing in containers, out into my one and a half empty raised beds.

I set 10 eggplants, 10 Swiss Chard plants, and the marigolds that keep blooming in their original trays....sheesh....the beds had been prepped at least 3 months ago, and have been sitting, waiting. I tilled in some Triple 13 and some Ammonium Sulfate, just on gp, since the beds drain so fast. Probably didn't have much left in them, anyways, so, hopefully, the plants will take off fast.

Watered in well, and around 12:30 p.m. God sent a downpour with some extra nitrogen (guess I needed more nitro, huh?)

Still have a flat of assorted peppers to go into the other half of the 2nd RB. Have about 15 BPs in there already, planted about 2 months ago. But, they don't look like they're doing well. Kinda pale yellow, they keep dropping blooms, and no fruit set, yet. Don't know what their ailment is, but they should have good color by now. Which is why I've hesitated planting in the remaining half of the bed...

My tomato jungle is getting outrageous! After the rains, a whole layer of vines just sort of sheared away and laid right down on the grass. Opened up a whole new view (and access) to the tomatoes growing toward the middle. Gotta handle this quick, cause the birds now have better access to the once-hidden tomatoes....

Shoot!....er...."thank you, God, for that rain....amen."

This message was edited Jun 10, 2013 11:27 AM

My latest harvest. Cucumbers are in full production and they taste so good.
The larger tomato is Marianna's Peace. It tastes amazing.
The only problem is that one plant produced only ONE tomato so far ... it has a few blooms though ... so I will keep watching.

Half of my tomato plants are already on the top of the cages, so I have started to turn the cane horizontally and I will keep training them in that direction.

No pesticides, spray or other bad stuff have been used in my garden ...

Dallas area's gardeners watch out !
I spotted the first two leaffotted bugs around my cucumbers .. and squish squish
No signs of damage on the tomatoes yet

"Leaf Footed..."