Gardens 2019

[user 7704]

So my husband comes home at 3:30 p.m (he did bring food). I'm in the garden where I have been for hours off and on. In between cleaning the chicken house, vacuuming the pool etc.

I walk in with my hair plastered to my head and sweat dripping off my nose. He actually looked at me and said " oh my, I am so dehydrated. I had to SIT in the sun for 2 hours at the golf tournament ".

I just looked at him and he said "yeah I know you've had it worse. You always do". I just shook my head.

 

[Psalm7]

Need recipes for thoes white disc looking squash . I planted some and they are growing fast .

 

[user 7704]

Not from me. We are yellow and zucchini type people.

Need recipes for thoes white disc looking squash . I planted some and they are growing fast .

 

[Brent S]

Not from me. We are yellow and zucchini type people.

I have some yellow squash that must be fifteen pounds now! I’ve been busy and neglected the garden recently. I will probably harvest the seeds but don’t eat the large yellow ones. I like zucchini the most but didn’t plant any this year for some unknown reason. The tomatoes are just now producing the first ripe tomatoes of the year. Picked a load of figs yesterday for preserves. It was a banner year for them, there must be a thousand figs on the four trees. most of the apple trees are covered with so much fruit they are sagging almost to the ground. Think about three more weeks till they are ripe. It’s a good year for Mellon’s too, have lots of cantaloupes, honey dews and watermelons. Those are the successes. Didn’t get a single plum from eight trees this time around. Peas sucked too. Every year is different so my advice is plant lots of different things and at least that way you will have something to eat.

 

[user 7704]

At the end of the season, I always let a squash and a zucchini stay on the vine until vine is dead. Then I harvest the seeds. If you don't leave it until its almost rotten, the seeds won't be viable for planting.

I'm sure you already know that.

 

[Brent S]

At the end of the season, I always let a squash and a zucchini stay on the vine until vine is dead. Then I harvest the seeds. If you don't leave it until its almost rotten, the seeds won't be viable for planting.

I'm sure you already know that.

I’ve always thought it was best to get seeds from larger fruits but that was all. I’m pretty well stocked on seeds for the rest of my life, but using seeds from my own garden is somehow satisfying. Learning to propagate your plants is an important part of gardening and homesteading. So far I’ve done well with Mellon’s, Oakland, tomatoes, radishes, cukes, and some others.

 

[user 7704]

I’ve always thought it was best to get seeds from larger fruits but that was all. I’m pretty well stocked on seeds for the rest of my life, but using seeds from my own garden is somehow satisfying. Learning to propagate your plants is an important part of gardening and homesteading. So far I’ve done well with Mellon’s, Oakland, tomatoes, radishes, cukes, and some others.

Me too. I save beans, okra, squash, zucchini, tomatoes and flowers. I think the hardest are tomatoes because you have to ferment them. I always try to save lettuce, radishes, spinach etc. too.

 

[Psalm7]

I save seeds and buy seeds each year . I only save squash seeds if I only planted one kind of squash . They cross pollinate with zucchini , some gourds and pumpkins .
I like Dixie hybrids and summer crook neck for yellow squash We planted both this year then I made a second small squash patch about 100 feet away with gray zucchini , thoes white squash and a real dark winter squash .

 

[Dani]

Need recipes for thoes white disc looking squash . I planted some and they are growing fast .

Granny and I love the white patty squash. I use it like I would use yellow squash in casserole recipes or just sautee them in bacon grease with onions and garlic with whatever seasoning you like. I will can them up for frying later.

 

[Dani]

I do find that if the pattys grow more "ballish" verses the flatter disk the skin can get tough and will need to be peeled

 

[user 7704]

Granny and I love the white patty squash. I use it like I would use yellow squash in casserole recipes or just sautee them in bacon grease with onions and garlic with whatever seasoning you like. I will can them up for frying later.

I can squash too. The Nazi canning police say we are going to kill everyone in our family because squash is non acidic. I do add a dash of vinegar to add acid though.

My yellow squash is just coming in and I have quite a lot. Going to make a casserole today. My son loves them.

 

[Dani]

I can squash too. The Nazi canning police say we are going to kill everyone in our family because squash is non acidic. I do add a dash of vinegar to add acid though.

My yellow squash is just coming in and I have quite a lot. Going to make a casserole today. My son loves them.

I find that canning to fry later actually helps hold on the flour coating better than if frying fresh squash. When doing it that way I use apple cider vinegar, water and a little salt to boil my squash for 8 minutes in the mixture then seal in a jar, no further processing. When you open the jar, you smell the vinegar but do not really taste it. I will do just about any squash this way and they do not come out mushy, probably because I remove the seeds. I have also done eggplant, but have yet to try a jar out so can't really give what it is like. Hun, we are just canning rebels. . . . . I get so tired of these 'expert's who keep saying you can not do this or that. .or the . . Don't let the young or old or someone who has a compromised immune system eat your canning. . . Granny gets severe diarrhea when eatting fresh beans, but yet can eat the ones I can up.

 

[Dani]

Sorry about the multiple repeat post. . . Must have had an Arcticdude moment with slow connection. .

 

[user 7704]

I find that canning to fry later actually helps hold on the flour coating better than if frying fresh squash. When doing it that way I use apple cider vinegar, water and a little salt to boil my squash for 8 minutes in the mixture then seal in a jar, no further processing. When you open the jar, you smell the vinegar but do not really taste it. I will do just about any squash this way and they do not come out mushy, probably because I remove the seeds. I have also done eggplant, but have yet to try a jar out so can't really give what it is like. Hun, we are just canning rebels. . . . . I get so tired of these 'expert's who keep saying you can not do this or that. .or the . . Don't let the young or old or someone who has a compromised immune system eat your canning. . . Granny gets severe diarrhea when eatting fresh beans, but yet can eat the ones I can up.

They really are annoying. When I was on FB I belonged to canning groups. I found I liked Rebel Canners best. They have an open mind.

 

[user 7704]

Do any of you guys have a pole saw? If so, is it gas, electric or battery?

Suggestions please. I just need to trim limbs and stuff. Thinking maybe an 8" blade.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Do any of you guys have a pole saw? If so, is it gas, electric or battery?

Suggestions please. I just need to trim limbs and stuff. Thinking maybe an 8" blade.

I have one. It's a Stihl with a 2 stroke gas motor. I think it has a 10" bar (blade). love it.

 

[DrHenley]

I have a Kobalt brand cordless pole saw. I mainly use it for trimming back limbs in the food plots at deer camp, but it comes in handy around the house at times too. I'll grab it instead of the Poulan if I only have small stuff to cut, even if it's on the ground, because it's soooooo much more convenient. I have two batteries, but rarely have to change batteries. Where it really shines is if I have a big limb down and need to get at the smaller limbs. I can stand back and not have to wade into the branches.

Works really well, even though it has a stubby little 8" blade. My BIL has a gas powered pole saw and he likes mine a lot better than his own.

 

[Proud Prepper]

Do any of you guys have a pole saw? If so, is it gas, electric or battery?

Suggestions please. I just need to trim limbs and stuff. Thinking maybe an 8" blade.

None of the above
I have a manual 10" pole saw.

 

[user 7704]

Thanks for the info. My neighbor said I probably couldn't handle a pole over 8'. I weight 120lbs and have skinny arms.

Guessing the gas model would be heavier. The one the lady from the Corps was using was a Stihl with an 8" blade (I think). She is a little larger than I

 

[user 7704]

None of the above
I have a manual 10" pole saw.

How hard is it to use?

 

[DrHenley]

How hard is it to use?

I have one of those too. It has more reach than the cordless, but it's a LOT of work to use.

 

[Proud Prepper]

How hard is it to use?

Mine is easy, I can cut through 1"-3" in no time. Under an inch you can cut with the scissor blade pulled by a rope. It's on a long telescopic pole. It's not hard for me, but it may be for some.

 

[user 7704]

Mine is easy, I can cut through 1"-3" in no time. Under an inch you can cut with the scissor blade pulled by a rope. It's on a long telescopic pole. It's not hard for me, but it may be for some.

Thanks. It seems it would be lighter to handle.

My neighbor bought a Tornado brand. ($100) It's made in China, but so far the battery has really out performed expectations. He cut lots of limbs on a single charge and he can cut up to 5". Extends up to 15' but he said that would be too wobbly for me. He thinks my limit woyld be 10'.

Just my thought, but the gas is best, but will add weight for me that I don't need. I would like to have and AC/DC type so I can switch back and forth If the battery gives out. Don't even know if they make those.

My work would me away from the house so electric would not be used often. I do have lots of extension cords though.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Thanks. It seems it would be lighter to handle.

My neighbor bought a Tornado brand. ($100) It's made in China, but so far the battery has really out performed expectations. He cut lots of limbs on a single charge and he can cut up to 5". Extends up to 15' but he said that would be too wobbly for me. He thinks my limit woyld be 10'.

Just my thought, but the gas is best, but will add weight for me that I don't need. I would like to have and AC/DC type so I can switch back and forth If the battery gives out. Don't even know if they make those.

My work would me away from the house so electric would not be used often. I do have lots of extension cords though.

There's almost no weight if you use the strap that goes over your neck and shoulder. The strap holds all the weight. If you have more than a few limbs to cut I'd recommend going with the gas model. Regardless of which type of pole saw you buy get a few files so you can keep the chain sharp.
My saw has an 8' pole. That's been long enough to cut everything that I've needed to cut so far.

 

[user 7704]

There's almost no weight if you use the strap that goes over your neck and shoulder. The strap holds all the weight. If you have more than a few limbs to cut I'd recommend going with the gas model. Regardless of which type of pole saw you buy get a few files so you can keep the chain sharp.
My saw has an 8' pole. That's been long enough to cut everything that I've needed to cut so far.

Thanks for the info. I was asking the 3 separate people from the Corps that came yesterday. (Yes, it took 3 different people to assess) . They just said " we use what they give us". Which was a Stihl. I'm sure they are good, but I don't want to spend $500.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Thanks for the info. I was asking the 3 separate people from the Corps that came yesterday. (Yes, it took 3 different people to assess) . They just said " we use what they give us". Which was a Stihl. I'm sure they are good, but I don't want to spend $500.

My sti

Thanks for the info. I was asking the 3 separate people from the Corps that came yesterday. (Yes, it took 3 different people to assess) . They just said " we use what they give us". Which was a Stihl. I'm sure they are good, but I don't want to spend $500.

My Stihl cost $350. The $500 model has a telescoping pole, so it has a longer reach, a larger motor and is heavier.

 

[user 7704]

My sti

My Stihl cost $350. The $500 model has a telescoping pole, so it has a longer reach, a larger motor and is heavier.

Thanks

 

[Mountain trapper]

We've been getting lots of strawberries and some cherries now. Some of the grape vines are loaded with small grapes, the raspberry and blackberry's are getting close to ripening. The blueberry plants aren't doing too well this year. I may just mow them down and put in more blackberry plants. Most of the apple trees are loaded with fruit but the plums and most cherry trees don't have any fruit.

 

[user 7704]

My blackberries are getring ripe, but something is beating me to them. I've had about 10 berries.

 

[Mountain trapper]

My blackberries are getring ripe, but something is beating me to them. I've had about 10 berries.

Rodents maybe? Every couple days I take my .22 out to the garden and shoot chippers, mice and gophers. I also have traps and poison around the garden to try and control the rodent population. I think they're winning the war.