How Does Your Garden Grow??????

xtsho

Well-Known Member
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.

 

MICHI-CAN

Well-Known Member
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

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xtsho

Well-Known Member
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

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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

Well-Known Member
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!001.jpg
 

GreenestBasterd

Well-Known Member
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!
 

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xtsho

Well-Known Member
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

Well-Known Member

GreenestBasterd

Well-Known Member
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

Well-Known Member
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.


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

Well-Known Member
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.


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
 
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