Garden out and doing great

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Hubby said have you ever had barbecued coon?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Hubby said have you ever had barbecued coon?

uhmmmm.....no?
Although I have eaten at some pretty bad Mexican and Chinese restaurants before that I was lucky to live through.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

When I was little I remember a great aunt and uncle cooking one. They told mom it was rabbit I think. She like to died when she found out.

They were Kaintuck hill folk. The things auntie knew how to find in the woods, mushrooms, greens, all kinds of stuff. She cooked on a big cookstove up until she was very old and they got a kerosene type stove. Had a real "icebox" and I remember uncle going and buying big blocks of ice for it.

Those were some great memories for sure. He had a big garden out till he couldn't anymore. Fine old people that I loved dearly.

 

[ericrm2005]

Might as well post a pic of my garden i took about a week ago. Only doing this one area by the house this year. Normally will do more down at the farm, but am getting married this fall so im busy with other things.

Anyways, the first bed I put all my early planting stuff in such as onoins, lettuce, spinach, radishes. They were late to go in due to the huge amounts of rain and cool weather we had here. Once they get pulled I will probably use that first space to plant later plantings of beans.

The bed im standing in in the picture is where my cukes and zuchinni will go. I have only about 35 tomato plants this year(celebrity and beefsteak). I also have about 25 green bell peppers planted as well as a few rows of beans. My garden is small this year, only about 10 x 75 feet or so. Since i took the picture we got some good dry days and heat and everyhting really took off.

I too love canning and freezing, however I dont fit the "normal" home canner mold. I am a 24 year old guy(not typically canners). I have to say I am very old fashioned and me and the fiance love eating fresh stuff and canning veggies. We love to carry on the old traditions of the past. Anyways, we will be canning and preserving tons of stuff this year as usual. I love all the pictures and garden talk on this thread and look forward to following everyones garden through the season!

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

That's very pretty and neat. I love to see gardens out and even happier to see young folks doing it.

I have canned 20 half pints of chicken breast the last few days. I did buy it at Sam's and I don't think it smelled like good fresh chicken should. I didn't keep the broth the dog got it along with the scraps, chickens got some too. But it tastes good canned. Those small jars will make a couple of chicken salad sandwiches for DD and I, hubby doesn't care for chicken salad.

Today I canned 7 pints of bread and butter pickles, never made them before, hubby said they smelled good, they have to set 4 to 6 weeks for the flavor to soak in. I also have peppers in salt brine for 18 hours and will make pickled peppers tomorrow for bean soup. Not sure how many pints those will make. I am also going to make relish, I love sweet relish, mom used to make it also. If I have enough cukes I may make more bread and butter pickles.

My back neighbor gave me cukes and patty pan squash. I gave him tomatoes. I took wagons of tomatoes to the people across the road, they cried uncle said no more. I think I will make up some spaghetti sauce.

They won't last to much longer, it was 100 today and that takes a toll on the plants quick. But I'm determined not to lose the wonderful vegetables I have.

I cut the last cabbage and dug the potatoes the other day. I found some soda cartons, plastic, we had and they are ventilated, put bricks between them and stacked in the garage. I'm guessing 50 pounds, not many. We have been eating them. But the mounds were starting to fill with fire ants and I figured they would start eating them. I pulled the onions and I'm using some of them in my canning. They are nice and big.

My squash is done, one zucchini left, a few younger onions, tomato plants, and pepper plants. I think I just need to pull the brussel sprouts not broccoli, some set on but its to hot.

I likely will start freezing corn next weekend. Hubby brought home 3 ears and just buds so it should be ready real soon.

I'm not about to waste the wonderful bounty from the garden, but man are canning supplies, spieces etc expensive. Ouch!

Putting up the pickled peppers this morning, only got 6 pints instead of 8, but that's 6 I didn't have before.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Forgot to say, my MIL had given me some smaller old crocks she had. I cleaned them up, they were perfect for salting the pickles I'm making and letting them soak. That's what they were used for.

I have a huge crock but its to big for my use, it came from my folks. I think mom said it was used for sauer kraut or pickles also. Seems like they just left it in those and didn't can it. Seal? or maybe have a wooden lid?? I don't think they canned those items.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

It got 101 today so my garden will be on its last leg soon. I'm pulling the brussel sprouts they are done, likely my last zucchini plant too. And the tomatoes are stressing, some will be pulled.

I want more relish, only got 3 half pints and 3 pints. I really like that stuff but man it has a lot of sugar in it. Need to keep it as a garnish and not eat the whole jar.:licking:

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

My potatoes aren't going to keep. I guess I will can some of them. I have 4 soda containers of them, maybe 50 pounds. I really don't want to, but it was 101 today. Even if I put them in the laundry room and I may some, I'm not sure they will keep.

I have a table full of tomatoes again, so tomorrow, or tonight, sauce or spaghetti sauce I guess.

 

[Bartcephus]

Finally found my camera... thought it was gone for good. And there it was right out in the open before my very eyes. My dad always told me that growing old is not for the timid. Here are some pics of my garden. Sorry about the quality. I must have not given the camera a chance to focus on some.

 

[Bartcephus]

Here is my team of 36 horses loaded and ready to till the soil.

 

[Bartcephus]

Harvesting a lot of squash. Okra just comming up. Leaf lettuce is going strong. Picked two cabbage heads last night. Peppers are producing and harvested a couple. Bell peppers are filling out. Tomatoes have plenty of blooms. Potatoes getting tall. Broccolli has been steady producer. Harvested all of the cauliflower. Onions are full of weeds but still going strong. (All that from the home garden.) The garden at the deer lease has squash going good. Bugs are starting to infest it though. Tomatoes are blooming. Peppers are producing. Only three pea plants germinated and are about a foot tall. Corn was dismal in germination. Onions about all harvested. Potatoes going good. Radishes never germinated. Watermellon is doing well. Hoping for a harvest about July 10th on them. (Six mounds) Weed crop is excellent. :laughing: in both gardens. Only one cucumber plant is still alive. Something is pulling them out of the soil.

 

[jinman]

Only one cucumber plant is still alive. Something is pulling them out of the soil.

Cucumbers and squash plants have big "sails" for leaves that make them easily broken off by wind when they are young and tender. We always lose a few after a day or two of gusty 30-40 mph winds.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Sounds like you are really starting to get the produce coming on, isn't it wonderful? Wish I had it year around.


Hubby went up and picked 14 dozen ears of sweet corn. I am just finishing up processing for freezing 11 dozen, he shared others with friends and kept some for dinner.

He figures 60 dozen total off the patch we shall see.

That made 30 pint and a half containers and 1 quart container. Some more good eating for the winter.

I plan to do some more relish soon as I get the kitchen clean and I'm rested a bit. That will be the last of it. I traded tomatoes with my neighbor for cucumbers. I got 3 pints and 3 half pints, it takes a lot to make it.

The corn should be the last of the vegetables. I would love to find a bushel of peaches and one of apples, but will I?

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

We gave the shucks and cobs to the neighbors horses behind. They are getting hardly anything green. They are eating cobs and all. The chickens got a few also, nothing here goes to waste.

 

[jinman]

It's great to hear you are getting a lot of corn. I'm glad my 'coon faces didn't jinx you. There's nothing better than picking an ear of corn and eating it raw right in the field. Nothing is so sweet as fresh-picked sweet corn.:licking: I also love fresh picked sweet peas raw. They are terrific in salads. Heck, asparagus is another thing I love raw. I snap off a spear and crunch it right there on the spot. All of those are terrific when steamed/cooked, but they are delicious also when raw.:thumbsup:

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

We are all so full of corn tonight, had it for lunch and dinner, like hubby said couldn't hardly get it any fresher. We had sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob and sandwiches. Taste pretty durn good to us and I was tired. OH MY GOD, its good.

And we have some happy neighbors and friends I'm pretty sure tonight. We will give them lots more but I wanted to really get going on it with the first fresh batches.


I just took 11 pints of relish out of the canner, I have 5 or 6 jars in there already so that's enough. Done with that. Done with all the canning unless I find some fruit to fix.

I'm tired, sleeping in in the morning and not canning or freezing anything tomorrow, I'm pooped.

 

[keegs]

Got my first bunch of radishes yesterday. I'm going to browse for some spinach and lettuce in a bit too to take for lunch. Everything but the peas are coming alone nicely. I have the peas running up the fence and it looks like the deer have been nibbling on them. I've been away for a week or so and the soil here seems pretty dry. Didn't stop the weeds from setting in though.

 

[ericrm2005]

Finally found my camera... thought it was gone for good. And there it was right out in the open before my very eyes. My dad always told me that growing old is not for the timid. Here are some pics of my garden. Sorry about the quality. I must have not given the camera a chance to focus on some.

that garden looks great. i love seeing pictures of what everyone is growing

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

I have enough canned for a year I suppose, or will soon with more corn being put up. Looks like hubby is 90% sure of going to Borneo and work for 15 months. That will be the contract period, could be more or less you never know. So I'm up to my ears in food!:laughing::licking: I guess my grocery bill should really go down, we shall see.

The main contract with his company and the subsidiary he will work for is done, he has to go down and review it. He still doesn't know what his rotation home will be nor the markup. He found out today, its a camp situation, some per diem, not very good food. It's also on the equator.

They said he will fly into Singapore, change planes then into East Kalimantan, change planes, then on to the campsite. It's sounding pretty definite, I think he goes down tomorrow to review the contract. Then he has to pass a physical, has one for every new project. He is 65 but in good health so far as we know.

Looks like DD and I will be hitting the road soon if he goes. I have to finish out my corn processing, knock off the chickens, and I'm pretty much done.
My tenant takes care of my dog while I'm gone, we take the cat. She is going on 16 and does not take to strangers, never did. I took her last year, she travels well. Only issue is I have to keep the AC on all the time and so the generator running when we are out and about, but ok.

My back neighbor will take care of the remaining 4 chickens for the eggs, they should start laying in a month or so. Or I may just dress them out also.

But we will take lots of food with us, chickens, corn, canned goods, so will eat well, that's for sure. I will eat the food up to 2 years old, its still good after that, just colors and flavors may be off some.

So gardening about done for this year.

 

[Bartcephus]

Carolyn, you are way ahead of me... :thumbsup:

Jinman, how's it going in your neck o' the woods? We were blessed with almost 0.2" of rain yesterday evening. Temps droped from 99.9 to 72.4 in about an hour. Temp was 67 this morning when I was driving to work. Already back up to 95 by 11:45 this morning though. We need more rain....

I wouldn't call my gardens great by any means this year. This is the first year I put one in at the house and it has been tough. Soil full of trash and clay. Broke two tines on my new tiller the first day I used it. Replacements were quickly ordered and installed. The soil at the dear lease garden has been worked for years. It is also much more fertile soil and things just seem to grow easier up there. But, splitting the work between two gardens is tough.

Next year, I expect the home garden to be easier to work. I will have the chance to prepare the bed durring the winter. Adding compost etc. Should also have an effect on the weeds.

Regards,

Bartcephus