|
|
Post by nowyo on Jul 28, 2014 10:01:09 GMT -5
Well, I posted some pictures this spring of things blossoming. We've been picking bush cherries the past week. Kind of small and a PITA to deal with but they make a great pie. Have some soaking in Everclear right now. Took this pic a few days ago, we've picked several gallons of these now.  Garlic is coming along. The softnecks are pretty much ready, I'll start pulling them this week. The hardnecks have another week or two to go.  The raspberries have been just starting the past few days. Picked a quart this morning.  Looks like we'll have a mess of plums again this year. They're usually ripe right around Labor Day.  This old Wealthy apple tree is 40 or 50 years old. Guess we'll have some pies this fall.  We planted two semi-dwarf Macintosh apple trees six years ago, last year we had one apple. This year both trees are bearing.  Guess I'd better quit playing on the computer and get to work. Thanks for looking. Russ |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 10:31:52 GMT -5
GGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You passed up hounding for a few berries??? What is wrong with you Russ? Do we need to rush you to the hospital? hahahahahaha Looks like your efforts are paying off though. I noticed that the place was looking pretty damn good the last time I was there.
Some new tires today so maybe hit the back roads tomorrow. You game?
Jim
|
|
panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
|
Post by panamark on Jul 28, 2014 12:39:33 GMT -5
Nice pictures Russ. On the sand/bush cherries, they are a pain because of the low flesh to pit-size ratio. We have found if we put them in a pot and kinda crush them a bit, then cook it at a fairly low temperature, then the pits will cook out and fall to the bottom of the pot. Then we can scoop the great tasting flesh off the top. A lot of work, but they make GREAT jams (or jellies if that is your thing -- Jean LOL ;-)
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jul 28, 2014 18:48:38 GMT -5
Very cool. Must be neat to graze the yard when fruit is ripe. I miss our yard back in Commiefornia where we had many fruit tree varieties. Only peaches here and too many pests to compete for them. By the time the coons, ringtails, fox squirrels giant Mexican ground squirrels, woodpeckers, jays and porcupines finished this year we got nuttin *L*....Mel
|
|
Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,105
|
Post by Thunder69 on Jul 28, 2014 19:42:42 GMT -5
. Then we can scoop the great tasting flesh off the top. A lot of work, but they make GREAT jams (or jellies if that is your thing -- Jean LOL ;-) I had a strange Hannibal Lecter moment there...All good though...JOhn |
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Jul 28, 2014 20:57:52 GMT -5
Nice pictures Russ. On the sand/bush cherries, they are a pain because of the low flesh to pit-size ratio. We have found if we put them in a pot and kinda crush them a bit, then cook it at a fairly low temperature, then the pits will cook out and fall to the bottom of the pot. Then we can scoop the great tasting flesh off the top. A lot of work, but they make GREAT jams (or jellies if that is your thing -- Jean LOL ;-) Yeah, we do that too, or rather Cyndi does, for the jelly stuff. I'm just dumb enough (and like pies enough) that I'll pit enough of the little boogers for a couple of pies. Russ |
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Jul 28, 2014 21:01:35 GMT -5
Very cool. Must be neat to graze the yard when fruit is ripe. I miss our yard back in Commiefornia where we had many fruit tree varieties. Only peaches here and too many pests to compete for them. By the time the coons, ringtails, fox squirrels giant Mexican ground squirrels, woodpeckers, jays and porcupines finished this year we got nuttin *L*....Mel Yeah, I love wandering around out there just eating stuff. We also freeze, can, and dry a bunch of stuff. It's quite a lot of work, but it saves giving the grocery store quite so much of our money. Russ |
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 29, 2014 2:27:31 GMT -5
R.E., grazing in the yard. Nothing better than being able to pick a ripe fig (Calimyrna) off the tree, peel and eat it while standing there. Mmmmm, sweet, sticky, juicy, flavorful, unforgettable... Just make sure it is not fermented, and has no bugs inside it before eating it.
I made some wine one year (newbie), a lot of work, was not impressed. Have yet to make some jelly (or jam!) with it. Pa na mark!
Then there's also the satisfaction of knowing the dang birds at least didn't get that one! Birds - 4897, Jean - 1.
|
|
Joe
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 274 
|
Post by Joe on Jul 31, 2014 9:51:27 GMT -5
Mmmmmm absolutely wonderful!!! Apple pie, raspberry pie, somemade raspberry jam and fresh garlic... Beautiful garden!!! Making me crave something sweet and fruity this morning!! Thanks and a job well done mate!
|
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Aug 3, 2014 2:20:20 GMT -5
R.E., grazing in the yard. Nothing better than being able to pick a ripe fig (Calimyrna) off the tree, peel and eat it while standing there. Mmmmm, sweet, sticky, juicy, flavorful, unforgettable... Just make sure it is not fermented, and has no bugs inside it before eating it. I made some wine one year (newbie), a lot of work, was not impressed. Have yet to make some jelly (or jam!) with it. Pa na mark! Then there's also the satisfaction of knowing the dang birds at least didn't get that one! Birds - 4897, Jean - 1. Thanks, everybody. I didn't take any pictures but I picked 4 quarts of raspberries today, Cyndi made jam this evening while I emptied the big tumbler. The softneck garlics (Polish white, Susanville, Inchellium Red)are all hanging in the shop curing. Probably pull the Spanish Roja tomorrow or Monday.The Music and Dugansky need another week probably. Behind the garlic in that picture are peas-they're ripening and it looks like this week will be the big time pea picking. They freeze really well if they're handled right. Can"t see them in the pictures but to the left of the garlic are green beans-we'll freeze a big mess of them as well, and I'll probably dry some. Jean-it's funny, I never cared for figs. Growing up in the boondocks in the north we never had such things. Apples I can eat all day. Not the ones from the store, though. Those things are nasty. And the birds-yeah. In some of the pictures you'll notice fencing and netting. The fencing is for the deer, the netting is for the birds. Can't really see it in the pictures but there is an electric fence all around the garden. Here the main thing is finding stuff that wants to grow in our soils/climate. Soils are a little alkaline. 95% frost free date is like June 12, and we've had killing frosts as early as Labor Day. Late spring this year, even the weeds are running behind. Every place has it's own challenges.. Russ |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 3, 2014 6:31:47 GMT -5
Impressive garden. Not a single weed and fruit anywhere, short seasons are often so productive.
A summer crop in Georgia is all about weeding. A winter crop of greens is all about harvest.
Winter crops are so much less work.
By the time deer fences and bird nets are constructed I have asked myself if a pipe greenhouse would have been a better option.
After having a nursery I decided that a greenhouse for produce is not a bad idea. Just to put a net over it to keep the animals away.
And the option of throwing a temporary cover for stretching the season or even better, starting the season early.
Plants in the unheated greenhouse are almost 2 months ahead of plants outside. If in a colder location a greenhouse would be on the list.
Quonset houses out of pipe are easy to raise by using taller pipes to raise the height of the knee walls for taller plants and head room.
However building codes and restrictions can limit such in many areas. And many consider them an eye sore.
Looks like you are doing fine w/out though.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Post by Fossilman on Aug 3, 2014 8:17:54 GMT -5
I miss gardening like I use to do in North Dakota..Have a puny one that gets me buy (here)..So we hit the farms around here to buy fruit and veggies..
Had some fresh peaches yesterday,plus cantaloupe and other goodies...
Great garden you have going there...Thumbs up..
|
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 3, 2014 8:50:48 GMT -5
Jean-it's funny, I never cared for figs. Growing up in the boondocks in the north we never had such things. Apples I can eat all day. Not the ones from the store, though. Those things are nasty. And the birds-yeah. In some of the pictures you'll notice fencing and netting. The fencing is for the deer, the netting is for the birds. Can't really see it in the pictures but there is an electric fence all around the garden. Russ Russ, I was the same way! You can't miss what you've never had. I never knew what I was missing until I got a sucker from the fig tree in my in-law's back yard, brought it home and planted it. The rest is history. Figs (at least these figs) will not ripen once picked from the tree. So they can't be shipped while still firm and hard, like an avocado. Would also be a harvesting nightmare, with frequent pickings as each fig ripens in its own sweet time over a long growing season. It would not be worth eating a store bought fig of this type, if they are even sold there. Maybe from a farmer's market? I've seen other types of figs available commercially, but have never tried them. Homegrown is the only way. I don't have deer to contend with here, but they'd probably like them. Skunks, possums, maybe raccoons all love them, but they only eat the ones that fall. The worst are the birds - sparrows, finches, orioles, starlings, and even the crows (or ravens, whatever). Once a fig has been pecked, it attracts ants, bees and the big green fig beetle. But I still get enough to make it worth my while. |
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Aug 5, 2014 23:34:34 GMT -5
Impressive garden. Not a single weed and fruit anywhere, short seasons are often so productive. A summer crop in Georgia is all about weeding. A winter crop of greens is all about harvest. Winter crops are so much less work. By the time deer fences and bird nets are constructed I have asked myself if a pipe greenhouse would have been a better option. After having a nursery I decided that a greenhouse for produce is not a bad idea. Just to put a net over it to keep the animals away. And the option of throwing a temporary cover for stretching the season or even better, starting the season early. Plants in the unheated greenhouse are almost 2 months ahead of plants outside. If in a colder location a greenhouse would be on the list. Quonset houses out of pipe are easy to raise by using taller pipes to raise the height of the knee walls for taller plants and head room. However building codes and restrictions can limit such in many areas. And many consider them an eye sore. Looks like you are doing fine w/out though. Thanks, James. We've hashed around the idea of a greenhouse and we may put one up yet, at least if I decide to I won't have to worry about building codes. What I did do, however, is build a jig for bending 10 foot lengths of 1/2 inch conduit into a hoop. Stick each end in the ground, space them about 4 feet apart, cover with plastic. Mini-hoophouse. Can gain a few weeks on each end of the season using them. Think I got the idea from Mother Earth News 30 years ago or something like that. They work pretty good as long as we don't get a heavy snow or prolonged cold spell. The garden is pretty much protected from the wind, pretty good shelterbelt on three sides, those pictures with the garlic were looking due south, we seldom get wind from the south. Weeds-they are the bane of my existence. Seems as though I spend half my summer pulling, hoeing, or spraying. As long as we keep up with them it's manageable, but if we let the weeds get ahead of us we never get caught up. I'm sure it has to be worse down there where it actually rains. Our frost dates can vary greatly. We're usually good after Mothers Day. Last year we were picking greens, peppers, tomatoes, right into October. Five years ago it snowed here on June 9. It is what it is. Russ |
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Aug 5, 2014 23:49:39 GMT -5
Rockpickerforever said:
It would not be worth eating a store bought fig of this type, if they are even sold there. Maybe from a farmer's market? I've seen other types of figs available commercially, but have never tried them. Homegrown is the only way.
Therein lies the rub. Some of these fruits and stuff are great to eat, but they don't store or ship well. The plant breeders have done a wonderful job of coming up with varieties that can be picked half-ripened, shipped across the country and they look great on the store shelves. Trouble is, they taste like warmed over dog turds. I know I was spoiled growing up where and how I did, but we had fresh stuff and did a whole lot of canning and freezing. Never have gotten used to the taste of store bought fruits and veggies. We share some of our bounty with the critters and I don't mind that. The problem is they'll eat it all if you give them half a chance. This morning there was a doe deer with twin fawns under the old apple tree.
Russ
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 6, 2014 6:26:40 GMT -5
Try a greenhouse on a small scale. Organize it well. Weed block on floor. Well drained. Easy to put on/remove cover. Can do a lot in a small space.
Starting plants is one of the biggest advantages. Especially if you are particular about varieties. Hoop houses are easy and cheap.
You may like it and want to expand.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 7:25:14 GMT -5
Grand daughter and I will vouch for the raspberries. First time my grand daughter (12) had eaten raspberries with cream and sugar. She was in berry heaven with a smile from ear to ear. Thanks again Russ and Cyndi.
Jim
|
|
