Melons

That's a lot of deer. We don't have herds like that any more. I remember them when I was a child, but the hunting has sure cleaned them up. We have never had mule deer as much as we have this year. We normally have white tails also. But the mulies are a lot bigger than the white tails. I remember my uncle saying they are tough. Don't know why they would be, but he would never shoot one for that reason.

That's right, I was going to pick tomatoes this afternoon too. Better do that 'cause I want to go fishing either tomorrow or Sunday. Better get to it.

I was just saying to Barb that We needed to go fishing, I was thinking of today but we had to go pay our first half of taxes. She also had a Dr. appointment, so that had to take first on the list. It's going to be pretty cool in the morning, So I may go get a load of gravel for making concrete, for Gary's patio. Then it should have warmed up enough that my fingers will work. Some grilled catfish would taste mighty fine, along with that squash I picked today.
But I did get something else done that needed doing. Took the carburetor apart on the other Rider mower and cleaned it out. And now it will stay running on a high RPM. Before I had to pull the choke out, just to keep it running. But what has that to do with gardening Hmmmm.
Oh well we can't garden all the time, now can we??

No, but we sure can go fishing!! LOL

Jeanette

Jeanette. where are going fishing and what are you hoping to catch. There are quite a few lakes around here and the Okanogan river where lots of people fish. In my younger days i fished but don't do that anymore. I would rather spend my time away from the garden watching birds.

I think my strawbale gardening is about over for this season. Only have the green beans left fo gather. Nights are pretty cool.

Donna

Russ!! Thank you for the seeds. They came today and I sure would like to start them. I love starting seeds. Are these all from ones you saved from your tomatoes? How do you clean and dry them? And, now you need to rate them from best to least best.

Second, I was re-reading this thread and saw that Gwen said she found a couple of melons on her plants. Gwen, are those the ones I sent you the seed for? Do you think they will be able to ripen much before winter? How are they doing?

Donna, we just go to the lakes and rivers around here. Here, meaning Pend Orielle County. We get trout and bass. Would like to fish Lake Roosevelt, they get Walleye over there besides trout. Big trout. But, we also get pretty good sized trout. The F&W planted Tiger Trout in several lakes around here and the average is around 15 inches. Some at 17.

So Donna, now that you have had a season of bale gardening, along with the regular soil gardening, do you think you will go to the trouble of getting the bales etc., etc. again? I bet not huh? You had quite a time even finding them.

Jeanette

Jeanette ; If you like yellow toms, that is a good one. It has nice even globes Don't split out at the stem end like the Dutchman did for me.
Then in order of the ones I liked.
1--the giant beef
2--Italian tree
3--mule team
4--Box car willie
5--sweet charlotte--- for salads-- or just to pop in your mouth while in the garden.
I don't remember if I included the big beef or not but that rates right up there with the giant beef.

I was thinking there were 7 different toms. but I forgot what it was I sent right now.
If it was Cherokee purple that is a good tennis ball sized tomato. I liked that one too. But you need to use them faster than you would some of the others. They don't set on the counter long before starting to spoil
They are a little darker than the regular tomato, and slightly greenish on the stem end when they are ripe. same with the sweet Charlotte.

I know what you mean with starting the new seeds. I had a lot of fun with starting them this spring. I did get a wee bit carried away with it too.
Some of the seeds I used a little Oxyclean and water soak. then a good rinse. and dry on a paper towel. One of them I just stired them in there own juice and used a dish rag to squease the juice off which seemed to work too.. The yellow ones really didn't seem very dry to me but they were not getting any drier It may have just been cause they seemed to have a little fuzz on the seeds.
Remind me if there was any different ones that I didn't list above.
Russ

You did send 7 seeds Russ, but one was the Toad Skin Melon. You sent me a good variety. Should have fun with them. Now you and Barb take a little time off to go fishing. I would love to try the catfish but it is really expensive in the markets here.

Are your daughters all there still? I know 2 of them are close by. How is Connie doing now? Is Barb over her cold?

I guess we should be doing this on D-mail since we are off topic again. Oh well. Have a good weekend.

Jeanette

Jnette Don't worry about the personal stuff, I kind of like it. It adds a family touch to everything. Like we are all an extended family. Deanna

Barb is on the tail end of her cold, and doing much better.
Connie has seen the specialist. But because of where the blockage is,
The won't do anything unless She either does have a stroke or loses sight of one eye. or other severe symptoms.
They don't want to make her worse. I would still like another opinion but yet this specialist did say that since she has been getting along this good there is the possibility that another artery will take over and supply sufficient oxygen to that side of her brain. Naturally she has to avoid all stress. She is having a little trouble doing that., I won't go into that.
The daughter out in Ohio is catching a flight with Airbus, Monday. Connie and I will go meet her. problem is, that gets her to KCMO. A 4.5 hr. drive from here. Oh well that will give me some prime father daughter time. On the way home though I will definatly be out numbered LOL
Barb is going to stay home and try make sure, the cold continues on it's way into oblivion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~`Russ

Thanks Deanna, but on one of the other forums we were chastised for that very thing. Can't win em all I guess. Some do and some don't.

Jeanette

I watch about 17 forums, the tone, and what is considered acceptable, is different for each. I think it depends on the people involved. Generally I find the smaller or more specialised a forum is, the more "chatty" it is, probably because on the small groups you get to know each other better. This is a very nice bunch of people here, I'm sure someone will jump on you with both feet (LOL!) if they think you've gotten out of line! If you run out of stuff to read here you can always check out the Australian Forum - we are a very chatty bunch too!, Bye for now, Kaelkitty.

I have been out of town for a week on my annual bus trip to Reno. Had a great time, and very good weather. Always glad to get home. Luckily the weather was cooler and even one little showery night so plants okay. a neighbor lady came one day to check and see that plants were wet enough. now it is colder, 41 degrees this morning so frost is coming and i must get my tender plants moved inside.

I will probably try more bale gardening next year. Alfalfa bales which i would rather use are going to be even more expensive this fall. Bales work very nicely for string beans, not so much bending and the plants were very healthy. Still have quite a few beans on them.

Donna

Yeah another frost will probably take the rest of the garden. We only had a light frost it got down to 32 F for a few hours it put an to the squash and blackened the upper leaves on the sweet taters. but there are enough leaves left to feed the tubers a little more. I covered the tomatoes though and I have enough still coming on to be worth canning a few more jars of BBQ sauce. Then I promised some green tomatoes to another of our ( mature ) neighbors LOL Jokingly says She is 39 and holding. I guess so but at least the second time LOL. Wonderful person but can not stand erect. but says she don't hurt or any thing, but her children look at her as crippled. and don't want her to raise any more garden, or do any weeding. She is able, just don't look like it.I keep telling her just be sure the kids come around enough that you don't have to do it for them. They even took her car keys, but she fooled them she had a spare. She can see good and handles herself pretty darn good. Oh well We check in on her.
If I have to I'll mow her lawn, but would rather have her son do it since he don't trust her.
Russ

Donna I am glad you had a good time. I was wondering where you were. And glad you mentioned your "tender" plants. It just reminded me to get my houseplants in tonight 'cause it is suppose to be 28 tonight. Just got it done. Thanks.

Russ, I sure do feel for that lady. My SO's mother has a friend who is 95 years old and still driving around Seattle, doing just fine and then his son came up and sold all of his stuff and moved him down to Texas with him. He is so lonesome. Calls my friends mother every day asking her to come down and see him. She is 87, and thinking about a visit to him.

With all the hassles at the airports now I sure am not encouraging her to go.

Jeanette

Jeanette ; It sure does make a person wonder whatever happened to growing old gracefully.
Well we have what looks like another week or two of nice weather. I don't think it will help much though as most of the tomatoes still ripening, get some odd blemishes and spots. as well as splitting and grasshopper damage. But I try to pick early to save as many as I can. I want a little more salsa, and some of older people still appreciate getting them.
My watermelons are not going to mature. The vines have shriveled, and they have not reached full redness, but still taste good enough to eat. there may be a couple that are a little better. Just have to get them in earlier I guess.
I have some plants to take cuttings from. and have some to carry in I am going to try keeping some in the garage with lights and making a temporary greenhouse.
Take care
Russ

My sister, who lives about 5 miles or so from me, and I both picked all of our tomatoes that even looked like they would ripen last night as the weather people were all saying 28 degrees for us last night. Well, should have known better. It was 34. Anyway, I have 2 kettles of sauce going so I guess it will be done.

Yes, I think earlier on the melons might work also. I still haven't cut the melon that I picked. I was hoping it might ripen a little on the kitchen counter. We'll see.

Say hi to Barb.

Jeanette

It was 42 degrees here this morning. I will try to finish moving my tender plants inside today. The hardest one for my fellow to move was my fig tree. It is in a20" wide and 24" deep pot and pretty awkward and heavy to move. I keep it for the winter in my insulated north room off the garage that I call my bonsai storage room. It has several near ripe figs still on the branches. I hope they will ripen.

We are supposed to get some rain over the weekend, got some while I was gone so haven't had to irrigate very much. Still have beans so must pick them today. Lots of green tomatoes, so will cover the vines when frost is predicted which will probably be this weekend.

Donna

Why do you think it will have frost this weekend Donna? Hard enough to freeze? So far so good. We usually get one after Labor Day and then it is warm until November. Weird.

I have some tropicals that are just about to bloom so I hope it waits a while. It was 36 last night.

Jeanette

Jeanette; Well I picked all the watermelons as the vines gave out.
I was quite surprised to find that even the littlest ones were very close to being ripe.
They were not a variety that I would usually go with. But they are still fairly good. The flesh is not the bright red, instead it is more of a orangish red. They were the refrigerator melon.
The little ones we have just been cutting in half. and each of have a half.

Have you tried your Melon yet??
I think I had better get some mowing done. Kind of hoping that this will be the last time for the season. Of course my yard will be the worst. as I have a big walnut tree, it was loaded this year. You know where all those walnuts are now. ha ha Maybe I should get a big vacuum, suck em up, lol

The reason I think it may frost this weekend is the high predicted is only in mid fifties and that makes me thing the lows will be below 32, hope not but I am taking my garden blankets out to be near the tomatoes. Have quite a few large green tom. and sure hope they at least turn orangish. LOL

Donna

No Russ, I haven't cut into the melon yet. It sure seems green. But, I did pick it because they were predicting frost. And that probably would not have hurt it any.

Have you seen those roller things that pick up nuts between the wires? They are really cool. You should try one of them. I doubt that they would be very expensive.

Donna,

Yes, they are predicting that for us this week also. I picked almost all of my tomatoes and canned them last week. Glad it is over. Fried Green Tomatoes are wonderful. I always thought they tasted like oysters. Isn't that funny? Very good.

100% agreement that fried oysters and fried green tomatoes have a LOT of flavor in common and I adore both of them!!!!!!!!

No jnette I haven't seen a roller like that, so I am at a complete loss as to how it would work.
I will probably just rake them into piles and rake them in to the skid loader bucket.
I love the flavor of black walnuts in most baked things and even ice cream. I'm just a little lazy to sit for hours and crack them. I do a few but not as many as I would like for winter candies and cookies. So I take a bunch down to the back of the lot and let the squirrels have at them.
Funny thing is though, some of the tree rats carry them all the way back up front to the tree they come from and sit there an spill the cracked shells right in my little shade garden. I have a plan for that though, I just need the time to skirt the tree with tin and trim the limbs back so they can't jump from another tree to their favorite spot.
I would get rid of the tree but I like the shade. I have other walnut trees out in back, so I would not be out any nuts for cracking. Just the shade for a few years.

My gosh!! I thought I had found a convert, but then I noticed you are from Olympia so I guess you didn't need to be converted. LOL.

Russ, I can't remember who has those rollers. Sorry. But you know, the squirrels need to eat too. I comb my dog out and let the hair fly so the little animals have something to kine their nests with for the winter.

Well it did get down to 30 degrees here for a short while yesterday morning, but only thing killed was the squash vine. Tomatoes are still okay and the corn and cukes, but soon I know will be too cold for them. Already cutting back on the flavor but i am still eating and enjoying them. Forty seven degrees here this morning and strong south wind, so may rain some today.

I went for a drive yesterday, (too cold to work outside !!!!!!!!) Drove over to Twisp and Winthrop, just because i never got there at all so far this year. stopped a Farmers market in Twisp and bought a nice bag of Cameo apples and a small container of gold Pluots, my favorite stone fruit. Most of the aspen have turned gold, Loup Loup pass is 4000 feet Some of the Larch are gold and some Oregon Grape are red. First nice rain we had was Friday night, so more would be appreciated.

Donna

That rain just skips right over you guys doesn't it Donna? My daughter in Seattle said it is raining there and it has been raining the last 2 days here and predicted for the next week. That is ok tho, because as long as it is raining it isn't going to freeze.

Problem is that when it is raining I am not out getting the rest of my work done before winter. I sit here and think of all the things I need to do.

Jeanette

Yes Jeanette, the rain does skip right over this area most of the time. But we did at last get some rain, after Friday, it rained lightly all day Sunday. The ground is so dry the water just goes right in but still yesterday was dry after digging 7 or8 inches down. Had my fellow dig out an IlexSouthern Gent that had been completely, this summer, overgrown by a Marconi type aster. Took me quite a while after he dug it out to get the aster roots separated from the Ilex roots, but it is back in the ground now.

Donna

What in the world is that Donna??? Sounds interesting.

Russ, we haven't heard from you for a few days now. How are things going with you all?

I am hoping to get anything in and dried out like dahlia tubers, brugs, a few things like a climbing rose I haven't figured out what to do with etc. It has rained for the last several days and predicting more for another 4 or 5. If it quits before I get done I might lose them. The cloud cover is all that is holding the freezing temps at bay.

Jeanette

Jeanette how tall are your brugs. and how do you care for it overwinter.
I have one left it is around 4'. It didn't do very well. It had a few leaves on top, until the wind whipped them off. then it sent out another branch from the side. It still has leaves, but I was wondering how much water does it need over winter. Last year I watered it and it kept leaves all winter. With all the other plants I try to take care of, it is almost a pain to try taking care of one that I'm not sure of how to.
Well I finished that concrete project for Gary. I should have bought bengay by the gallon. It's going to take a while for my back to quit hurting. lol
We are having nice weather through the weekend. At least that what the weatherman says. I think I will dig up another hill of sweet taters, this weekend just to see if they are any better yet.
I too have some bulbs and tubers to dig and dry. I think I have lost count of the Eyes. I lost all my cannas and dahlias, an I'm not sure what happened. May have to start over on them.

Then I need to get a row tilled up to put in more garlic. It may be a little late but if it does freeze very soon I can cover it with a weed barrier cloth and put some of my grass clippings on it for mulch. then uncover it early spring. Should work right?

Was out with my lawn sweeper for a while, It didn't do too bad on picking up walnuts. I made 7 piles of them down in the back yard. I think it would do better if the sweeper had wire bristles instead of plastic. I am gathering all the parts I will need for an attachment to hook up a vacuum to the rider mower. That job will be a little simpler then.
It will also help me save grass clippings. for the garden mulch.
Neighbors may have thought I was a little wacky running around in circles in the same area with the rider mower so long. At least I got about 90% of the walnuts up.
Now if I could harnes this litle one's energy, I might not need any extra equipment, huh?

What a wonderful picture Russ. Another friend on Dave's sent me a picture of her daughter and grandson out in the flowers. I told her that these pictures, enlarged and framed make so much nicer pictures than portraits. I hope you do that with this one. It is wonderful.

As for the brugs, I put them in my plant room at about 35 to 45 degrees and water them a couple of times a month. I strip the leaves before I do this and wipe them down with a dormant oil. Some I lose, and some make it. I am giving them one more year and if they don't bloom earlier, out they go.

Jeanette

Yes Russ very nice picture, and too bad that so much energy has to be wasted LOL

I have about 10 brugs left now. Had 50 to 60 three years ago, but in this zone as Russ says, it is difficult to find enough room to store them over winter, so each year I grow fewer. Most were planted in the ground and I have been taking cuttings but so far that hasn't been too successful. I have one new to me this spring, that I bought from Logees, It is in a fairly large pot, 16" and is in full bloom at about 25" in height in the gh now, because of frost. It is getting late in the season but I will take some more cuttings today.

Jeanette, why do you strip the leaves off, is it to be sure of not bringing in any bugs. Does the oil keep aphis off. Later on in the winter that is usually my worst problem.

Donna

Good grief Donna how do you store that many brugs? Do you take cuttings from yours and not keep the root going? Do you bubble yours? How do you get them blooming so early? Mine are all budded but I have not had one bloom yet.

I strip the leaves off to keep the spider mites down, not as much of a mess, and because a couple of other people do, one in zone 8 and one in zone 5, and have success with it. I have not used the Volek oil yet, but if I remember correctly, it is suppose to even keep the eggs from hatching.

I will check the Volek and let you know. Where do you keep them over the winter? How soon do you start them in the spring? You are going to have to give me some pointers come next spring.

I guess first I need you to answer the questions above about how to keep them. Roots vs cuttings, or both. Each year I have tried something different and each year I swear I am going to toss them.

Which is the one you got from Logees?

You must heat your greenhouse? How do you heat it? LOL, pardon me for all the questions. I am almost at might wits end with these darned things.

Jeanette

As much as I love brugs, I gave up on trying to winter them over. It took so long for them to produce flowers the next year that it wasn't worth it. Taking advice from Ciscoe Morris - Seattle's Hyperguru - I just treat myself to ones in full bloom - and kiss them goodbye at the end of the season. He has guided my life in the same way regarding tulips and poinsettia ......by recommending they be treated as annuals. I admire those who have the special touch, along with climate and/or greenhouses, to make things different. I also admire folks who climb Mt. Everest.

I'll answer as many of your questions as I can but I am sure not an expert on Brugs.

I take cuttings mostly because they don't take as much room, and my storage space is very limited. My gh is small,10 x 14 and I heat it with an electric heater. I just came back into the h ouse from gh, where it is only 45 degrees. I tried to get the heater to start, it didn't so will have try to figure out what the problem. is. To hopefull y get your cuttings to bloom soonest next summer the cuttings need to be taken from ab ove the Y of main stalk of a brug, to my knowledge most brugs only bloom above the Y. I take a cutting 10 or so inches, take off bottom leaves, stick in to rooting pwd. then into rooting medium. I used sand and perlite mix but now am going to mix in some Sweet Peet (which sadly is not available west of Mississippi, good friend Marilynbeth sent me some to try, and I have a little left) Just perlite and sand mix dries out fast.

The one I got from Logees is Cassies Curls, so called for the long curled tendrels on the blooms. It is 24" tall and wide and right now has 12 open blooms, but not terribly fragrant which some varieties are. But it is really pretty. I will try to take a picture later when the sun is shining. In the gh my Halide light makes everything yellow so not good for photos.

I had decided last winter that I wouldn't try to keep the brugs over winter, just takes too much room. So if I don't have good luck with the cuttings rooting I will do like Wannadance does and just buy a couple new ones. Logees has a pretty good selection now. I lost my Charles Grimaldi last winter and I really liked it so will probably get another of those next spring/

I do have 6 or 7 Hibiscus in my plant room here in the house, they need warmer temp. than I provide in the gh. The larger older ones have buds but no buds showing on the smaller but larger flowered varieties.

If I can help you further just ask.

Donna

So Donna, when do you take the cuttings and plant them? Soon? And then do you keep lights on them all winter? And heat? So then they have a head start going into spring. What temp do you keep your gh on? Is that where you keep your brug starts? Is that where you have your halide?

I could kick myself. I went to a sale of a woman who was a horticulturist and she was selling a halide on a 6 foot track with motor for $100. At the time I didn't have a use for it so I offered her $50, thinking that one would come along some time. But she thought she could get the $100 from gardener friends so she didn't come down and I didn't go up. Well, now here is my use.

Wanna, don't know your name, I hear what you are saying, but aren't you in zone 8? My daughter in Seattle found that it doesn't take much to keep them from freezing. She even left one in the ground to see how it did. It did come up again, but not until late June so she decided that wasn't the way to do it. She is going to leave them in her unheated greenhouse this winter. She is zone 8.

Also, one of the fellows who has gorgeous brugs is in either Eugene or Salem. His are outstanding. He is one that strips the leaves off. He also is zone 8.

The funny thing is, the first year I tried them, I had them under florescent lights in my bedroom. Believe it or not, I had one bloom in December.

Donna, I have one that is suppose to be a Charles Grimaldi. If I knew for sure, I would send you a cutting. Altho, I don't know if I could get a 10 inch cutting above the Y. I do have several Ys but only one with buds. That is how slow they are over here.

Jeanette, Your brugs then outside haven't frozen yet. MIne haven't either but it is getting close and they are just sitting there. Actually I started taking cuttings about a month ago, getting late now tho as I don't feel they will root as easily when they aren't growing rapidly.

I do keep them at west end of gh where it is darkest and also where the halide light is (too bad you didn't feel you had the need for a halide, as that was a really good price) My cuttings are all in 2" tall type plastic containers. I was using just sand and perlite, but they seemed to dry out too fast,, so yesterday I redid them all using a sand & perlite and Sweet Peet, also added a nother 1 or 2 cuttings to each container. They, the cuttings, are all in a heated enclosed clear dome type thingy, that I can't remember where I got . thought it was Parks but don't see it in the latest catalog. The clear top things get dark in 3 or 4 years and are only usualble that long. I replaced one this summer, have 3 now. The base is about12 x 16 " or thereabout.

I try to keep my gh about 50 degrees. Any plants that need higher temps I keep in the house. But yesterday when I turned the heater on it wouldn't start. I only have one easily available 220 plug in so I called 2 electricians and left messages but no answer. Must all have gone hunting!!! The heater is at least 25years old so has done well. It is a 1500 or 4500 amp heater. I have only used the 1500.

As soon as the cuttings have rooted, which of course not all do form roots, I pot them up in at least 4" pots with good potting soil , and put in good light. Usually have to repot before warm enough to put outside next spring.

Donna

Jeanette & Donna;
I heard there was snow in northern MN. Did that miss you? Or are you wearing boots now.?
We have another frost warning, But I don't think we will get hit yet.
I still have tomatoes to pick and I'm still digging sweet taters. I can't do too much right now, I'm kind of down in the back. Been going to the bone cruncher, one time it seems to help, then next time it don't.
Think I will try twist Gary's arm have him pick the rest of the tomatoes. That should give him enough for more salsa. Then I can get the rest of the SPs out. I have one hill that I'm sure has some good sized tubers. All the rest are planted later and may have little ones. I also have the ornamentals to do. But I will wait for a real frost, to give them more time. Besides I like the way they look yet.
Barb walked past the garden this evening, brought in some broccoli.
I mixed that in with sweet potatoes, an onion and a banana pepper and an apple. and heated them up in a pan of water, with just a tad of brown sugar. By the time the water was about gone the taders were soft. And also fixed pork cutlets with lemon pepper. I will definitely fix that veggie mix again, even though apples aren't veggies. LOL Of course neither is an onion.
Take care, an I wish you well.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`Russ

Hi Russ,

We did get snow in the mountains, we can see it, but no, the weather is pretty good for this time of year. No frost yet. I have tomatoes that look good from a distance, but the rain we get at night has split them all.

I guess if you had to get something wrong with your back, this is the best time of year to do it. One more month would have been better. You rest up. Let Gary get the rest of the produce in. Including the SPs.

That veggie recipe sounds pretty good. Definitly one for the recipe books.

Take care Russ, say Hi to Barb,

Jeanette

That veggie, plus apples, dish sounds very good. As Jeanette said, take care of your back first. My garden area looks pretty good now. Charles, my garden guy, cut down the last of the corn yesterday after I picked the few good ears. The he spread the last of my ready compost on the area. Russ do take care of your back.

Haven't had a really killing frost here but the cool weather has slowed the tomato ripening process. Only one out there with color. I will wrap a few in paper and store in my one insulated room at north side of garage, and hope they may ripen enough to taste a little better than grocery store tomatoes.

Donna

Russ, I keep forgetting to tell you, I waited too long on that melon and I have never had one do this before, it fermented!!! LOL Yes, it almost tasted like a liquor. Isn't it funny it didn't spoil? Why would it ferment?? I brought it in the house a couple of weeks ago so it has been warm.

Let me know what you think. Jeanette