Summer gardening thread

That sounds amazing Sharon. It would make dial-up internet (a first for me this fall) worth it.

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Originally posted by Sharon:
[b]sandpiper, I'm trying to get organized to start a babble pickling thread/workshop which first came up last winter sometime -- when harvest seemed so far away.

Michelle and writer -- and others (I'd have to look back) -- were interested and because I have lots of experience, I said I'd direct the workshops.

I don't think we got so far as to figure out how we were going to do it, however. But it sounds like fun. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
[/b]

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Last night we ate the first two proper-sized eggplants I've grown.

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OK, I hate you.

My aubergines are blooming nicely. The flowers are incredibly intricate and lovely...but they aren't producing any fruit!

I tried growing tomatillos from seed last year. I managed to plant a couple of wee sprouts out in the garden, but they croaked within a week or so.

I have a stack of zucchinis that look like they ought to be loaded onto a Gotha bomber, if anyone's interested.

The carrots are stubby and tasteless this year.

I'm considering emigrating to Perigord any season now.

[ 24 August 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]

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Originally posted by al-Qa'bong:
[b]

OK, I hate you.

My aubergines are blooming nicely. The flowers are incredibly intricate and lovely...but they aren't producing any fruit!

I tried growing tomatillos from seed last year. I managed to plant a couple of wee sprouts out in the garden, but they croaked within a week or so.

I have a stack of zucchinis that look like they ought to be loaded onto a Gotha bomber, if anyone's interested.

The carrots are stubby and tasteless this year.

I'm considering emigrating to Perigord any season now.

[ 24 August 2008: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ][/b]

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Aw, I hate you too, Al Q! [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img] [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]

I only put in one plant -- my cukes died (3 times I planted cukes!!! And they produced SFA), and I saw eggplants at the greenhouse when I went to replace them, so this was purely experimental. We love eggplant, so I may try a few more next year.

It's been a rough summer for gardening out here. Everything has been off kilter - raspberries, strawberries late, beans and peas slow. Must have been the cold, dry spring.

It's time to start baking zucchini cake and freezing it. I believe you posted the recipe I use, Al Q, a couple of years back, courtesy of Mrs. Bong. Thank her for us, it's become a regular around here.

The lists that you have provided can be described as "plants that need heat" and "plants that don't". I would guess that being coastal your site is not warm. I would concentrate on the cool weather crops.

I have given up on growing things such as potatoes that are really cheap when they are in season, or are not very productive, such as corn, and now I concentrate on things that are never really cheap such as soft fruits, tomatoes and cucumbers.

The market garden is mixed this year. Rainy weather, not a lot of strong sun and heat, until recently.

First year growing celery. Been interesitng. Celery grows very slowly and can be hard to manage in a dry year because it likes regular moisture. Otherwise they go hard and bitter.

Tomatoes are awful. I won't be putting any out by the road because they look like shite and the taste just isn't there. Should still have enough to do some canning. Next year I'm going to experiment with potted organic tomatoes grown in a greenhouse.

Eggplant was really good. Fruit a little scarred, but big. Fun plants to grow, very pretty and freaky. Unfortunately I can't sell the damn things, so they might get cut out of the rotation next year.

Cabbage. Doing well.

Beets. Doing okay. Not the size I like.

Sweet corn (probably three and a half acres). Has done well. A little later starting harvest than I like, but can't help that. Good rain helps corn on this sandy loam. Bugs not a big issue. But the last week of hot and sunny weather is accelerating the maturity process and the plants are dying fast. Something seems to be affecting the late season plantings, too. Stunted growth. Possibly due to my hack weed control program in the later plantings. Corn is selling well.

Peppers are okay. Nothing special. Jalapenos are good, drying some in the greenhouse as I write. Peppers don't sell by the road.

Onions are large but with thick necks. The whites are doing better than the reds. Storage may become an issue with this year's crop.

If I find the time, I'm going to try and pickle beets. I've been on a beet kick lately and I want that taste in the winter.