Edibles - '08

We've touched on edibles in some threads but I would like a more 'permanent' one. Please post anything regarding the edibles you have this year. Please include status reports, problems, successes, surprises and, of course, photos! How are your veggies doing? Trying anything new this year?

I'll start with a question. Anyone ever use FruitShield to protect fruit from birds?? It is supposed to be non-toxic, bio-degradable, yada yada. It uses an ingredient made from the 'bitter, smelly part of concord grapes' and is simply a taste aversion method. I am considering it for some berries.

Looks like I will have many paw paws this year! Peaches too. Have to keep the deer away from the fruit too. Invisible Fence has worked well in the past. How does everyone else protect their edibles from the critters, disease, neighbors?

What in the world is a paw paw?

It's what you're seeing in the photo!

I'm trying the Trombicino (sp) zucchini this year for the first time. I also actually planted pumpkins (as opposed to letting the birds plant for me like last year) and I planted watermelon for the first time. I planted Paw-Paw seedings last year and just found out it will be 5-7 years before they fruit! :(

I wanted to do melons for the first time this year but I was so late this year that there were none left. My paw paws were in the 2 1/2 ft range when I planted them (two) and it took two or three years to get fruit.

Here is the taller paw paw now. The smaller one has way more fruit.

http://www.parkslandscapes.com/Fruit-Trees/c3/p47695/Hippophae-TitanTM-%28female%29---Gallon/product_info.html

Anyone growing sea buckthorn?

Looks interesting Gloria. Do you have it? Have you eaten them?

No. Thinking about getting some.

I have rogue melons,pumpkins and squashes from compost.They are growing in the darndest places.

I think I have compost potatoes again this year. Maybe there will be compost winter squash again too! But the tomatoes! I have tomatoes growing everywhere! Hundreds of tomatoes! I pull them out by the handfuls. This year I vow to put the reject tomatoes in the compost and not just toss them out of site!

What a hoot.
I didn't mean to lessen the efforts of those who are intentionally growing eddibles.

Growing new:
Spinich, corn, brocolli, caulliflower, zuchinni, blue hubbard, and pickling cukes. I expanded the garden by like 15 feet but the tomato's went from 91 plants down to 54. Then the same ole' roma, beef steak, big boys, cherry, cukes, summer squash straight neck, green bell, jalapeno's, green beans and radish. I did not get in peas or carrots as the timing did not pan out.

Something attacked the brocolli. It got 6 plants and now the spots are vacant. The summer squash to me looks yellow. Dh said it looks fine. Here is the view.
edited: Oh and I did it all myself and it is only my football.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2008 5:46 PM

Very impressive, Sherrie! Healthy summer eating for you guys.

Very impressive Sherrie

Whew! That's a lot of work!

I have Arctic Kiwi fruiting for the first time this year. I bought the males a few years ago for the foliage, then thought I might as well add the females for the fruit. We'll see how they are later when they are ready.

That should be nice. Love the 'regular' kiwis.

I love kiwi too... can't wait to hear how they are

my list is ... I made 7 of the self watering planters for tomatoes & cuccs ... finally after having them for 3 years I hung up my topsy turvy tomato planters... growing pumpkins, watermelon, and sunflowers... a bunch of herbs and after visiting that herb farm I now consider a scented geranium now an edible .... the juice they made with it was wonderful

So now scented juice.

scented flavored juice

I wish you more success with the topsy-turvy planters than I had, Allison. They do need regular watering, though with all your pots, I doubt that will be a problem!

thank you... I remember you saying yours didn't go well... but I had the extra plants & soil... might as well

and you are right ... the watering shouldn't be a problem unless they call a drought and against your better judgment I put the watersorb in the bags

Do you have rain barrels?

I forgot I'm trying potatoes in a container. Another first. As the plants grow, you add more soil. I'll be doing that tomorrow.

we are doing the rain barrels this year.... around the house it's kind of hard to find a flat spot.... so many slopes.. we might have to strap it down somehow.... couldn't possibly go on the driveway side of the house... if it fell over it might end up two blocks down once it stopped (kind of like me with the snow blower for the first time)

;)

Onewish1, hope you got a great b-day wish today.

Great image of you and the snow blower. I had a similar experience with ours in Vt and with a floor sander. I have not tried running the big rototiller we rent in the spring.

I will take some pictures of our veggie bed tomorrow. It is on a slope too. I still need to plant a few things. Very slow, but except for those few hot days, it has been coolish here. Patti

This message was edited Jun 18, 2008 11:00 PM

That is funny, Allison.

it was not at the time.... i was trying to be nice and help out with the snow.... he was still at work at his old job and getting home after sitting in traffic for over an hour.... so i figured it would be easier for him to get his car up the driveway without the snow there... well... i wasn't thinking to go side to side... took a few steps down... that mother just pulled me down the driveway .... no one told me the brakes don't work at all when on a slippery slope.... slid completely down into the road and thank god no cars were coming.... then i was done with that crazy thing and pulled out the old shovel....

the shot of the house was last October when we were getting the roof done... the dumpster almost went into my garage door when they dropped it off.... it came off the roll off alright... and only a few inches away from the door... notice the bricks and stones under the wheels just to hold it there

Yes, I'm sure it was scary at the time. That's a pretty good (or bad) slope.

Victor: Have you detailed anywhere how to do a rainbarrel.

I have a 55f soap container that I acquired to make a rain barrel. The top does not come off. The soap is out, the barrel is empty. Now how to get the rain in it!

There was an article a while back. Can't remember who wrote it.

Conserving Water in the garden with Rain Barrels Glynis Ward January 13, 2008
Roll out the barrel, the rain barrel that is! Paul Rodman March 19, 2008
Rain Gardens-Got Bog? Catherine Smith January 30, 2008


Here are the rain barrel articles.

Sharon has an article on paw paws today.

She is in Alaska.

OMG! One of the articles today is on Paw-Paws!

Edited to say - we cross-posted1

This message was edited Jun 19, 2008 8:51 AM

Yes, Sharon used one of my pics from when I first planted the trees. Gloria - three things needed. A hole somewhere to let the water in (screened is better), a faucet attachment and and overflow.

I know how to do the faucet. Its the other two that have me scratching my head. Ill have to read the articles!

I think there are some links in Sustainable Alternatives also.

A jigsaw should work for cutting the top - a decent size square so you can direct the water in. I use the flexible downspouts. A hole saw to cut a hole on the side near the top where you will connect some tubing - 1 - 1/2 inch, for the overflow.

Arctic kiwis and paw paw! Am I ever outclassed! Maybe I should call my squash courgettes. In fact that is what the package says. "Courgettes". But I can't spell or pronouce courgette so I'm forced to use the lowly term "squash". Here are some from this morning:

nice picture,love the deep shadows

Very chic, David!