2012 Seeds

[tubenit]

I planted some more Park seeds for cherry tomatoes, but the seeds are a yr old. I had them in a sealed envelope in my garage for an entire yr.

They were Golden Gem and hybrid Sweet Baby Girl cherry tomatoes. I had GREAT crops of those last yr.  EL34 turned me on to the Golden Gems which are like veggie candy.

I planted then a wk ago yesterday .............. nothing sprouting up yet.  In a bio-dome, they should sprout in 8 days.  However, I have mine planted in simple containers outdoors here in Charlotte.

Anyone know the germination time frame when planting outdoores, and when I should see them sprouting up?  I checked Park's Seed info and couldn't find the info I was looking for.

With respect, Tubenit

[bakerlite]

I'd be interested to hear what any if you guys are doing in regards to auto watering your produce, all it takes is one day of getting it wrong and I find especially my herbs bolt. I can't stand seeing them go to seed!

[EL34]

I buy new seed packs every year, but you would think that one year old seeds would be fine.
Some people keep them in the fridge over the winter

My Gems came up in less than a week this year indoors
I have mine inside one of those clear dome type containers, sitting on a heating pad.
The heating pad keeps it very warm and humid inside the dome.

If the seeds are in cold damp soil they may not come up at all

I set them outside in the sun today for the first time cause it's really warm today
This is Cherry Peppers, Juliet Tomatoes and the Golden Gem toms



But then again, I have at least 100 seedlings coming up in my garden soil from tomatoes that fell into the dirt last year
So they seem to be doing fine sprouting outside in the chilly nights also this year.

Here's a cluster of tomatoes coming up from last years fallen toms
I am going to leave a few to see how they do
So far, they are ahead of the ones I started indoors

But then again, you don't know what you will get from second generation hybrid seeds like the GEMs
They could cross with other toms and be totally different from new seeds

[EL34]

I'd be interested to hear what any if you guys are doing in regards to auto watering your produce, all it takes is one day of getting it wrong and I find especially my herbs bolt. I can't stand seeing them go to seed!

Use drip irrigation, it works great and does not waste water

I buy my drip supplies here
http://www.berryhilldrip.com/

Things usually go to seed when it gets hot
Like spinach, arugula, lettuce, celantro and other cool temp loving plants
Where do you live and what is the temp where your panst are?

[tubenit]

How about this !!!!!!    The hybrid Sweet Baby Girls were sprouted up about a 1/2" or more.  There was nothing showing late yesterday afternoon.   Maybe the Golden Gems are right behind.   Sure hope so!

With respect, Tubenit

[EL34]

You are on your way!

I have yearly Garden notes that I look at to remember when to start my seeds

You can start your seeds much earlier than I can
Maybe 15 days earlier than up here in the Mountains

I started a bit earlier tyhis year on the tom seeds cause it's been really warm here

Here's my yearly notes

Use the square Peat pots for germination.
Plant 4 seeds per peat pot and thin down to one plant later.
02/15 - Plant Lettuce - spinach - arugula seeds outdoors
03/01 - Plants onion bulbs outdoors
03/15 - Start Peppers and Eggplant seeds indoors
03/15 - Plant pea seeds outdoors
04/01 - Start Tomato seeds indoors
04/01 - Put up Hummingbird feeders
04/15 - Start Cucumbers seeds indoors
04/21 - Plant squash plants outdoors
05/01 - Plant green bean seeds outdoors
08/15 - Plant Fall Lettuce - spinach - arugula seeds outdoors

[tubenit]

OK, the Golden Gems are coming up today !   

[EL34]

Do you have them under any lights?

They need to get very strong light to keep them from getting to splindly.

Mine are all sitting about 2 inches away from flores. light bulbs

[cbass]

Just planted my tomato and pepper plants yeterday.

Also planted cantaloupe,sugar baby water melon,Spaghetti squash,Hopi corn and tomatillas.Most years I would'nt do this till about april 20th.But its been close to 90 all week.
Our spring was agood 3 weeks early this year.

You guys are just starting tomato seeds?

I uasually start mine in feb.(inside)

The way the weather had been here I could have put them out in febuary.

My spinach and lettuce grew all winter long.Potatoes are knee high

We've already had snap peas and green beans are strating to take off.

[EL34]

Where are you?

Tubenit is a flatlander, he can start much earlier than me.

I am in the mountains.
We are still getting 45 degree nights here.

[cbass]

Southern central Missouri.Damn near  Arkansas

We would typically still  be having some nights under 50

Not this year though.It looks more like the first of May around hear.Feels like june

So when do you put your 'mator's in the ground?

Whats your elevation?

I live in a creek bottom so I might be 600' or so.The mountains(hills)around here only go to about 2000' at the highest.
Not enough to drastically affect weather.

[EL34]

The last few years I have not been able to transplant maters, peppers and squash outdoors until about May 1st

This year looks like it may be possible much sooner

Except for the hail storm yesterday that smashed all my onions to the ground, it has been really mild
Looks like the Broc plants made it through the hail ok with just a few leaves ripped off
The sugar snap peas look good also.
The hail smashed my strawberry plants pretty good and knocked all the flowers off my blueberry bushes.

I'm at 2300 feet but the mountains right behind me go up to about 4000+ feet

[cbass]

Well I new better than to palnt my crops.

It hasn't been below 50 since febuaruy.

We're supposed to have lows near 40 all week. May be even a night or two in the upper 30's

[tubenit]

Tubenit is a flatlander

WHAT??!!!!  

It's MUCH hill-ier here in Charlotte that it was in Dallas.   I no longer think of myself as a flatlander.  

I've traded 30+ mph Texas head winds for small hills when cycling.

Gonna drop in the 30's tonight.  I put my tomatoe plants in my storage room.  

All the seeds are coming up.  I must have had almost 100% germination of the Park Seeds.  Very cool!!

With respect, Tubenit

[EL34]

 

[cbass]

38 degrees last night.Coldest its been since Feb.

I hope the soil holds in some warmth since it was close to 90 all last week.

I tried to cover everything with some straw.

They changed the forcast to be a little warmer.For the next few days

[EL34]

It's colder there than here for sure

We are having high 40's nights

[cbass]

32 this morning There is light frost on the cars and rootops.The ground was warm enough to not frost.Coldest its been here in almosy 2 months.

Veggies seem to be doin fine though.

This should be the last frost we'll see.

[EL34]

30 here this morning... brrr

[tubenit]

Fortunately, I still had everything in pots and was able to put them in a storage room to protect from frost.

I've got like 15 "seed" tomatoe plants that are about an inch tall and then another cherry tomatoe plant that is about 20" tall and already has blossoms on it.

I think we hit 34 degrees in Charlotte?  It was 37 at 7am.

Tubenit

[sluckey]

Hey guys, once again I'm overloaded with squash and snap beans. Plenty to eat fresh! Squash are going in the freezer and we typically can (jar) the beans. But we're looking for a way to preserve the 'fresh' taste of the beans and are considering putting those in the freezer too. Anyone have a tried and true method for freezing beans that keeps the fresh taste and texture? Maybe even just stuff in bags unwashed and unblanched??? Please share your ideas.

THX... Steve

[EL34]

I stash my Green beans in the freezer every year
It's great to eat them all winter.

The only way I have found that works well is to blanche them and then vacuum seal them

3 minutes in boiling water then quickly into very cold ice water
I freeze big blocks of ice in tupperware containers ahead of time

Get them cooled down very quickly
Out of the cold water and then drain them in a collander
Into the vacuum bag and sealed
I split each bag into about 8 ounce servings

They are still crunchy and bright green when you open the bag

Note that the blanch time varies with how dense a veggie is
Sugar snap peas only take 1 minute in boiling water
Green beans take 3 minutes but you can experiment with 30 seconds less

[sluckey]

Thanks Doug. That pretty much confirms what I'm reading on the net. Good to hear from someone I know and trust. Gonna give it a try.

[EL34]

It's a ton of work but worth it when you are eating them in the middle of winter

[tubenit]

Already got my first ripe cherry tomatoes!   Hooray!

Tubenit

[EL34]

Wow, it's a ways till the maters are ready here

I did eat the first sugar snap peas last night and they were great

[PRR]

> got my first ripe cherry tomatoes!

We put the tomato outside last Tuesday. (Pre-started from garden center.)

While we have not had frost in over 3 weeks, we did come close 2 weeks back.

Frost then rain delayed a concrete-pour we hoped to get in last fall until last week.

Hummingbirds arrived on Mother's Day, right on schedule.

[Willabe]

Hummingbirds arrived on Mother's Day, right on schedule.

Ain't that funny how they know when to come and go?

We have them up here 50 miles or so NW of Chgo. that visit us but, I think the ones that visit us are mostly green and are on the larger side of Hummingbirds?

BUT they are amazing!


                   Brad      

{edit: un-mangled quote -- PRR}

[EL34]

The males always show up first and leave first in september

The males arrived here on the April 11th
The Females showed up here about April 25th

[cbass]

Picked some maters and pepers yesterday got a bunch more comin on

[EL34]

Wow, those are nice

I have been eating sugar snap peas and a few sweet banana peppers
Everything else is a couple weeks away from first picks

[tubenit]

Haven't gotten any Golden Gem cherry tomatoes yet. I do have small unripe ones though on the plant.

Gotten some other cherry tomatoes though that are very tomatoe-y in taste but not sweet.

My wife came up with a GREAT recipe for green beans.  Sort of a stove top stir fry with Soy Sauce, Chinese hot mustard and almond slivers. The beans are still very crisp after cooking.  I love it!  Really delicious.

Went to the Farmer's Market and did get some great veggies including acorn squash that was fantastic.

With respect, Tubenit

[cbass]

Sounds good we have a ton of beans.We are gonna have stir-fry for supper.Have to try that recipe  tonite.

[PRR]

> Picked some maters

We have 'mater flowers!!

Meanwhile I'm living on artificially-ripened woody things from the market. This last 'mater I bought almost needs the power miter saw.

[cbass]

Lol to the miter saw comment.
We have an awesome local farmers market and another market that gets fresh produce from Georgia and southern Arkansas.So we can get good maters pretty early.They aren't cheap though.I just don't eat them when they aren't in season.

We've been dicing up peppers and freezing them to store.Anyone know of a better way to keep them?My wife makes breaded Creamcheese Poppers out of the Jalapenos we don't use for salsa.They keep real well in the freezer.

[EL34]

I have forze Habanero's and Jalapeno'
I just pick them and seal them in a vacuum bag

I have some Habanero's that are at least 3 years old in the freeze and they still look god
I unthawed a small bag a while back
The peppers get a little soft after they warm up, but the flavor is still there.

[cbass]

I gotta get me one of them vacuum sealers.

[EL34]

Rget work great, but make sure you find a site that has a bunch of actual user reviews

Some of them get really bad reviews

[tubenit]

Getting some of my Golden Gem tomatoes and the plants are covered with them.  Really delicious. I think it's alot of fun growing stuff from seeds.  With the severe heat though, I am having to water the plants daily.

Doug, thanks for turning me on to the Golden Gems. Really enjoy them.

With respect, Tubenit

[EL34]

I am just now getting the first few Gems

We are having rain this week so I have not had to water, but the last few weeks before that I was having to use maybe 25-50 gallons of water a day which sucks.

[cbass]

We just canned 8 quarts of salsa.and have a butt load more maters coming on.

Got a couple of watermelons ready

 can't wait for the tomtillas so I can make some verde.

[EL34]

oh man, that sounds good
I'll have salsa from my Juliets Toms soon I hope

[Ritchie200]

Well, I ate my last fresh strawberries on my cereal this morning!  These poor plants....  They bloomed and froze twice with the mild winter.  Then they had to endure the 100+ of the last two weeks and they were STILL ripening up.  It's nice to cut through one and have it red through and through - not like the gas ripened white meat tasteless things you find in the stores...  This is certainly the latest I have ever picked strawberries!

Did not plant anything in the ground this year and made the mistake of going to my fav nursery about a month ago.  Ended up buying a couple of pathetic mater plants for .50 each.  One is called Patio and I just threw it in a container.  This thing has been exploding with fruit for the last three weeks.  Medium sized, good meat, and VERY tasty.  The bush is about 18" and not getting any bigger.  The other I threw out in the yard next to my strawberries and it is bearing - I forgot the name.  If they are good, I will post!  

I have Cuc's coming out of my ears!!!  Does anyone have a good pickling recipe that does not involve gallons of vinegar being changed out and thrown away?  Sweet recipe would be good too.

Happy growing!
Jim

[EL34]

My strawbs have put out two crops
A month or so ago they put out a crop and they were ok
Smallish and not that sweet

Two weeks ago they started crop #2 and the strawbs are huge and awesome.
I did not realize I was going to get two crops
I was kind of bummed after the weak spring crop

No pickling advice here, but I have been wanting to do some myself.
I usually try and copy some commercial pickle that I like.

Some are too salty for me like the Clausen brand

I tried this German brand at the store that was between a sweet and dill pickle and it is awesome.
Will try and figure out what they use in their recipe

[cbass]

I like cucumbers but I have never had a homemade pickle I like as much as store bought ones.

[EL34]

Ok, I gotta ask
What the heck do you do with 120 pounds of Chile peppers?

One small bag of 10 Habaneros last me a year. 

[PRR]

We ate our own tomatoes today!

Two small cherry tomatoes. The bigger model has flowers but has not set fruit.

> With the severe heat though, I am having to water the plants daily

Dry up here, which led to an interesting fire. Fires. Dozens of small fires all along the highway. Turned out someone had a steel container of sawdust/chips, too tall to go under the bridge, so they torched part of it off. The sparks went in the sawdust, smoldered, then blew out along the highway for several miles. Dry enough that while most were little tuft-fires, a few got over an acre.

[EL34]

That is a weird fire story.
The weirdest fires I have ever seen (or not seen) were the underground peat fires up in MI

All you would see would be the ground smoldering

[EL34]

yes, the Bhut-Jolokia or ghost pepper
Rated #1 at over 1 million scoville units

Habanero is about 250 million
I have eaten a Habanero fresh from the garden and it was yummy, but it was damn hot
Habanero's have a really nice flavor

Watch this guy eat a Bhut and regret it

Eating The Hottest Pepper in the World, The Bhut Jolokia (Naga Ghost Chili)

[cbass]

Thats hillarious.Iam going to grow some of those and see if I can find someone dumb enough to eat one.I guess I would feel bad if they died though.

Ended up canning about 30 quarts of salsa  and 10 qts of marinara sauce before I couldn't stand looking at maters anymore.I've still got a crap ton of maters.I've been tellin everyone to just come pick em.Got bout 30 or so qts of beans too.Need to plant some more.
Will start fall crops soon.It was a good year despite the drought and heat