Veggies 2 (and other Edibles!)

You could borrow Wallingford but he pratices catch and release - over and over and over again.

Don't fret my friends - I hear the warmer weather is on the way again.

I've ripped out my zucchini - they were done/wilted. My Korean melon is not doing much, so I think I'll can that next year. Last year was the same. I replace it with another cucumber plant. Celeste, I envy your space. Arlene has lots of space too. I've always wanted a garden like my great Uncle had. Unfortunately, although my yard is a nice size, the areas that get enough sun for vegetable growing is very limited.

Well, my order from Gurney's should arrive any day now...
1 14636 LETTUCE LEAF RED SAILS PKT/G
1 14633 LETTUCE LEAF BLACK SEEDED SIMP
1 71559 CAULIFLOWER FARMER'S EXTRA EAR
1 14298 BROCCOLI HYBRID PACKMAN PKT/G

I'm hoping the Broccoli and Cauliflower will be ready for harvest come October.

What can I do with my hops. This has been a great year for fruit.

Anita, Packman Broccoli is what I planted this spring and gave me such big heads. It has always done well for me here.....but it could be the cow manure we use too!

yumm!!!

Does anyone know if there's a problem with putting a lot of grass clippings in the veg. garden and then tilling them in at the end of the season? We have some good sized piles of grass clippings from my DH not being able to mow the meadow area while he was working on painting the house. He has raked them up into big piles and I'm wondering if there is any reason why I can't use them as a mulch to cover and hopefully control) the gallant soldier weeds in my garden?????

Might be too much nitrogen.

I'd add a lot of manure and dried leaves this fall. Your whole garden should benefit over winter.

Thanks, Pirl. The garden is under some pine trees, so the pine needles blow into it during the winter and I usually have an acidic soil issue in the spring.

mgarr, make beer!

First Acorn Squash to turn green....only 49 more to go.

They are SO good!

Never tried one! How do they compare to other Squash?

They're totally different from zukes. Meatier and many more vitamins. Quick to nuke and eat or bake with some butter and a dash of either hot peppers or cinnamon.

Do they taste closer to Butternut, or Yellow Squash, or is it distinctive?

Closer to Butternut and more manageable in serving size.

I too bake mine with butter, cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg and pepper. I also grow the Butternut ....I don't even dare to look and see how many are out there. Last year there were 28, this year tops it. I can tell by the vines coming out onto the lawn with squash and more blossoms. I really need to start picking the flowers so it STOPS. The squash must love this weather is all I can say, or the cow manure has something in it the farmer didn't disclose.

I love acorn squash. I don't think I've ever eaten Butternut.

They're very close in taste.

Summer squash is still blooming. Horrible last year, this year is super. Take 1, 2 or 3 cherry tomatoes. Take as many as you want, tommorow will have another batch.

They are so good right off the vine and warm from the sunshine.

I agree pirl, I often pick and eat a few while working in the garden.

I eat as I pick, too. I just bought an excalibur dehydrator and am going to try my first batch of "sun dried" tomatoes tomorrow to use up the cherry and sun drying tomatoes that are growing in my front yard. Volunteers, no less! (Lucky me - we have a nice portugese population in my neighborhood and growing vegetables and fruit in front yards is highly encouraged!)

Eating as we pick is the best part of growing vegetables and one that isn't even in the same ballpark as store bought food. To snap off asparagus and eat it ten minutes later is so different from eating asparagus trucked for a day to even get to the store. It's the same story with all home grown fruits and vegetables.

Yes pick the cukes, green, yellow beans, tomats list goes on and on. If cherry tomato's were not as small I would can them. OH - that is an idea.

I canned green cherry tomatoes last year - made spiced tomatoes and I'm afraid to even open the jars!

Serious? How spicy?

Got any recipes for squash? I think I may need a few the way the squash is growing, this one is on the lawn.

I wish the watermelon would of done as well, only have 4-5 .

Inside the squash bloom is another world.

Celeste - I love the amount of pollen on the bee!

I have no idea how spicy because I won't even try them! Maybe I need professional help for fear of green tomatoes!

Open the jar and put one (using a fork, not your fingers) in an ordinary jar of pickles. After a week try a pickle. If your hair stands on end and you can't take the heat of the pickle you'll know the tomatoes are just right.

Summer Squash. 1 lb hamburger, 1 medium onion. Cook burger and onion in fry pan, drain fat. Add 1- 6oz can tomato paste and 1 lb shredded sharp cheeze, mix well.

Scoop seeds out of squash and round with topping. Put squash in glass baking dish sprayed with Pam. Cover with tinfoil and make slit in top of tinfoil. Bake 350 for 45 mins. Take off foil and bake another 15 mins or until squash is tender.

It tastes something like a Manwich but is not sloppy. DH likes it.

Actually the "spiced" part is sweet, I think more like spiced cider. I have just got to buck up and try one - then I can throw them all out and reuse the canning jars!

pirl, He seemed so intent and the pollen was flying everywhere as he burrowed deeper.

schickenlady, thank you, it sounds yummy and something new will be great!

DGD pumpkin 'Lumina'

Celeste's famous hand again! Yes, that bee is enjoying himself. The Squash recipe does sound yummy.

Starting a part three. Here it is:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/763882/

This message was edited Aug 25, 2007 8:41 PM

Sorry bout the hand again...DD is always asking "How big?" and she lives in FL. now so i do the hand thingy.

Don't apologize. It's come to be a thread feature! Like Mr. Hand on Mr. Bill.

You mean it's really famous?? LOL

Yes, I've shown friends.