How Does Your Garden Grow??????

[xtsho]

I tossed a Jewel Yam which is actually a sweet potato that had started to rot in my worm bin. Well it sprouted and started growing. I planted it in the ground and it's growing like crazy. I might just get something to harvest. I have some okra growing as well. They have flower buds but it's getting down into the 50's at night so they might just stall out. I'm thinking of covering the ground with clear plastic to keep the soil warmer.

They say you can't grow sweet potatoes here but this Master Gardener says otherwise.

OSU Master Gardener goes sweet on potatoes

Growing sweet potatoes can thrive in Willamette Valley

extension.oregonstate.edu

 

[MICHI-CAN]

Loosing my cukes to something besides this crazy heat and sun. Fungus in a pepper. PM in my peonies bad. A touch trying to get the sunflowers. Mess here at best. More predators than pests though. 1 mater worm in 3 years. No cut worms this year. I suggest nematodes.

@xtsho , how soon can I cut my peonies to the ground without killing them? Need that PM bank removed. Love my flowers. Want them next year. TY

 

[xtsho]

More cukes. I wasn't going to but it looks like I'll end up canning some pickles along with some beans.

 

[xtsho]

Loosing my cukes to something besides this crazy heat and sun. Fungus in a pepper. PM in my peonies bad. A touch trying to get the sunflowers. Mess here at best. More predators than pests though. 1 mater worm in 3 years. No cut worms this year. I suggest nematodes.

@xtsho , how soon can I cut my peonies to the ground without killing them? Need that PM bank removed. Love my flowers. Want them next year. TY

View attachment 4968966

You're supposed to cut them back after the leaves yellow in the fall. The leaves are feeding the the tubers. Cutting them off early can reduce the amount of flowers you get next year. Same thing with most tuber and bulb plants. They don't always look nice after flowering but the foliage feeds the tubers. In your case if you have a nasty PM outbreak you might not have any other choice. You might try hitting the PM with everything you can. You likely won't kill the plants if you cut the foliage now but it could reduce the amount of flowers next year.

 

[MICHI-CAN]

You're supposed to cut them back after the leaves yellow in the fall. The leaves are feeding the the tubers. Cutting them off early can reduce the amount of flowers you get next year. Same thing with most tuber and bulb plants. They don't always look nice after flowering but the foliage feeds the tubers. In your case if you have a nasty PM outbreak you might not have any other choice. You might try hitting the PM with everything you can. You likely won't kill the plants if you cut the foliage now but it could reduce the amount of flowers next year.

I know the solar panels charging the batteries deal. LOL. Why I was wondering how soon before fall die off. Swear the dogs watering caused the issue. I'm using copper. After dark to avoid hitting pollinators. Non edibles and 18" x 8' bed. I'm okay with that. Copper is a scary organic in my book. TY!

 

[BlandMeow]

The hornworms refuse to eat the pot leaves I threw in there.

 

[StonedGardener]

Once again, the whimsical succulent that's been flowering for about 5 weeks and a simple pumpkin flower

 

[DrOgkush]

The hornworms refuse to eat the pot leaves I threw in there.View attachment 4969017

Man. I’ll ship you a box of those ugly things. Lol

 

[StonedGardener]

I know the solar panels charging the batteries deal. LOL. Why I was wondering how soon before fall die off. Swear the dogs watering caused the issue. I'm using copper. After dark to avoid hitting pollinators. Non edibles and 18" x 8' bed. I'm okay with that. Copper is a scary organic in my book. TY!View attachment 4968978

Sweet hangout, don't forget the bud on table.

 

[BlandMeow]

Man. I’ll ship you a box of those ugly things. Lol

I'm good with the two I've got!

 

[MICHI-CAN]

Sweet hangout, don't forget the bud on table.

TY. A few days ago. More plants all over and a couple hummingbirds feeders. Not wandering far for a bit. Enjoy my jungle.

 

[GreenestBasterd]

Lovely looking gardens and some great produce, nice work people!!!

I had a busy year so not much of a winter/spring garden from me but got a few bits in.

Broad beans coming up, Cavalo Nero kale, and spring greens ( I think you guys call them collards?) a few lettuce seedlings and planted about 30 or 40 strawberry runners.

The tomato’s and cucumber seedlings won’t be out for a fair while yet, o’l Jack Frost has had me a few too many times now!

 

[MICHI-CAN]

I believe I may have posted these in another thread. Still I'm getting some enjoyment from them. Bad year or not? We are getting over grown here.

 

[xtsho]

And the canning has begun. 4 quarts of pickles, 4 pints of mixed green and yellow beans, 4 half pints of dill chips for hamburgers and sandwiches.

I used a propane turkey fryer outside to do the water bath for the pickles since my canning pot is too big for the stove. Beans were cold packed and processed in the pressure cooker.

 

[injinji]

I believe I may have posted these in another thread. Still I'm getting some enjoyment from them. Bad year or not? We are getting over grown here.

View attachment 4969451View attachment 4969452View attachment 4969453

When I was active on tractorbynet I started a thread asking for predictions on how long a melon hanging on the garden fence would stay there. It fell after about a week, so the thread didn't really have a chance to take off.

 

[GreenestBasterd]

And the canning has begun. 4 quarts of pickles, 4 pints of mixed green and yellow beans, 4 half pints of dill chips for hamburgers and sandwiches.

I used a propane turkey fryer outside to do the water bath for the pickles since my canning pot is too big for the stove. Beans were cold packed and processed in the pressure cooker.

I’ve never tried to preserve beans like that, are they pickled or just in a brine of sorts?
I’m going a bit mad with climbing and bush beans this year so a good way to store other than dry beans would be handy.
Thanks

 

[xtsho]

I’ve never tried to preserve beans like that, are they pickled or just in a brine of sorts?
I’m going a bit mad with climbing and bush beans this year so a good way to store other than dry beans would be handy.
Thanks

Low acid foods like beans need to be pressure canned. But It's much easier than water canning. All you do is put some salt in the bottom of the jar if you want, it's not required. Then pack raw beans, cover with boiling water, close lid, process in pressure cooker for 20 minutes.

National Center for Home Food Preservation | National Center for Home Food Preservation

The National Center for Home Food Preservation is your source for home food preservation methods.

nchfp.uga.edu

Some people may use the water bath canning method but it is not recommended due to the potential for botulism. You can do pickled beans in a water bath because of the vinegar used. Some people may use citric acid to raise the acidity but that changes the flavor significantly. Besides, pressure canning is less hassle than dealing with a big pot of boiling water, putting jars in, taking them out,...

 

[GreenestBasterd]

Low acid foods like beans need to be pressure canned. But It's much easier than water canning. All you do is put some salt in the bottom of the jar if you want, it's not required. Then pack raw beans, cover with boiling water, close lid, process in pressure cooker for 20 minutes.

National Center for Home Food Preservation | National Center for Home Food Preservation

The National Center for Home Food Preservation is your source for home food preservation methods.

nchfp.uga.edu

Some people may use the water bath canning method but it is not recommended due to the potential for botulism. You can do pickled beans in a water bath because of the vinegar used. Some people may use citric acid to raise the acidity but that changes the flavor significantly. Besides, pressure canning is less hassle than dealing with a big pot of boiling water, putting jars in, taking them out,...

Thank you very much, I will certainly venture down the canning road as it seems nice and straight forward. Brilliant link too.
Cheers

 

[xtsho]

Thank you very much, I will certainly venture down the canning road as it seems nice and straight forward. Brilliant link too.
Cheers

You can also freeze them.

 

[StonedGardener]

More cukes. I wasn't going to but it looks like I'll end up canning some pickles along with some beans.

Looks like a few cukes have a Peyronies affliction.