2023 Gardening Thread

[SaltwaterSlick]

Scrotum squash is simply double the fun! I’m not going to wear you out with email pics, but just gonna say that my garden this year is a complete reversal from last year. Last year was the worst garden I’ve ever grown, from my mistake with glyphosate, and the aphid infestation. This year , after moving alot of dirt around has been a comeback year. My plants that I started under lights have been the best I’ve ever put in the ground. She picked 2 gallons of peppers today and enough squash to take to her employees. Tomatoes aren’t quite ready yet, but all plants are producing. Tomatillos are loaded. Gonna dig potatoes this weekend. Might dig remaining 600 onions.

Rocky, don't mind posting pics for you at all... Love seeing the garden shots!
What kind of peppers? What varieties of squash?


We planted a bunch of different varieties of squash and zukes this year and most are doing well. They can handle the excess water better than our peppers... I think the most flavorful ones we planted are the round varieties. One is light green (calle que ball), one dark green (called 8-ball) and one is yellow (called 1-ball) and all are prolific producers. They normally get picked when they're about the size of a tennis ball, but those 8-ballers will get big if left to mature... missed cutting one and found it yesterday... that joker was bigger than a softball. Still edible but not a tender as when picked back at the tennis ball size.



Maters are still doing OK, but if this rain doesn't slack off when they get going, they do not handle heavy water well either... plants will live but maters will split.

[rocky]

Rocky, don't mind posting pics for you at all... Love seeing the garden shots!
What kind of peppers? What varieties of squash?


We planted a bunch of different varieties of squash and zukes this year and most are doing well. They can handle the excess water better than our peppers... I think the most flavorful ones we planted are the round varieties. One is light green (calle que ball), one dark green (called 8-ball) and one is yellow (called 1-ball) and all are prolific producers. They normally get picked when they're about the size of a tennis ball, but those 8-ballers will get big if left to mature... missed cutting one and found it yesterday... that joker was bigger than a softball. Still edible but not a tender as when picked back at the tennis ball size.



Maters are still doing OK, but if this rain doesn't slack off when they get going, they do not handle heavy water well either... plants will live but maters will split.

I planted 4 different types of jalapeños. Tams, Giganticas, and two different medium sized, medium heat jalapeños. I planted 3 different squashes. A regular squash called Midas II, a golden zucchini and an Emerald Jade. When I plant squash, I put 2 different seeds together so that one side of a plant is one kind and the other side is different. Looks like one big plant, but produces 2 different kinds of squash. Sometimes they get cross pollination, and a squash might be yellow with green stripes.

[chicken fried]

I have a couple squash I’m picking this weekend as well as some lettuce.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I planted 4 different types of jalapeños. Tams, Giganticas, and two different medium sized, medium heat jalapeños. I planted 3 different squashes. A regular squash called Midas II, a golden zucchini and an Emerald Jade. When I plant squash, I put 2 different seeds together so that one side of a plant is one kind and the other side is different. Looks like one big plant, but produces 2 different kinds of squash. Sometimes they get cross pollination, and a squash might be yellow with green stripes.

That's a cool idea! We planted all our squash in bags (10 gallon size), put 3 seeds in each bag... Think we had 7 or 8 varieties... We have had a little crossing in the round varieties. Had some of the round ones (one is supposed to be light green and the other a dark green like zukes, but got some that were light and dark green striped... They tasted just like the others... I think I'll suggest my bride do some of that mixing next planting to see what we get... Think we're gonna try to get one more round of squash in where the broccoli and cauliflower was.


We only planted the Collossus Jalapeno's because they're variable hot... Pick 'em early and they're really mild. Longer you leave 'em the bigger they get and the hotter they get... Excellent flavor... Giving a go at trying again on Poblano peppers with 2 varieties... That's probably my favorite pepper flavorwise. I think 4 varieties of bells and three or 4 small sweet/cherry style, banana, one called Beaver Dam Hot Peppers (only they're not hot) that is a delicious pepper with just a hint of heat but they get huge like poblano's and have a very nice flavor... another favorite...
Also planted several peppronchini's Not sure what is going to survive though...

[rocky]

That's a cool idea! We planted all our squash in bags (10 gallon size), put 3 seeds in each bag... Think we had 7 or 8 varieties... We have had a little crossing in the round varieties. Had some of the round ones (one is supposed to be light green and the other a dark green like zukes, but got some that were light and dark green striped... They tasted just like the others... I think I'll suggest my bride do some of that mixing next planting to see what we get... Think we're gonna try to get one more round of squash in where the broccoli and cauliflower was.


We only planted the Collossus Jalapeno's because they're variable hot... Pick 'em early and they're really mild. Longer you leave 'em the bigger they get and the hotter they get... Excellent flavor... Giving a go at trying again on Poblano peppers with 2 varieties... That's probably my favorite pepper flavorwise. I think 4 varieties of bells and three or 4 small sweet/cherry style, banana, one called Beaver Dam Hot Peppers (only they're not hot) that is a delicious pepper with just a hint of heat but they get huge like poblano's and have a very nice flavor... another favorite...
Also planted several peppronchini's Not sure what is going to survive though...

I really can’t tell the difference in the taste of different squashes. Zucchini squash does have a slightly tougher skin, which is great for grilling. I love squash anyway it’s cooked. Boiled, fried, grilled, don’t matter to me. I freeze lots of squash, but after about 3 months, I can taste the freezer burn. Most years, I give away alot more than we eat. It’s just an easy vegetable to grow.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Well Rocky, my bride and I ordered one of those Harvest Right freeze dryer. It will be here on Monday! One of the first things we're going to try is to freeze dry squash... supposedly from what I've read and seen on the U-tube, when re-hydrated, it's just like fresh sliced... Plus when eaten like a potato chip, they make a great healthy snack.


As far as flavor, it's just hard to beat a regular old crook or straight neck squash, BUT... since we started growing those little round ones, I believe I like them even better especially the yellow one. Those jokers are so sweet!! The dark green ones (actually a type of zucchini) are a bit more tart, but still good. They make a good medley when all chopped or sliced and cooked together.
Also, if you just freeze them, vacuum seal them and they will last 3-4 years and still taste very fresh...

[BertramBass]

Anybody have a good zucchini bread recipe they could share? I have a couple that tripled in size over night... TIA

[rocky]

Well Rocky, my bride and I ordered one of those Harvest Right freeze dryer. It will be here on Monday! One of the first things we're going to try is to freeze dry squash... supposedly from what I've read and seen on the U-tube, when re-hydrated, it's just like fresh sliced... Plus when eaten like a potato chip, they make a great healthy snack.


As far as flavor, it's just hard to beat a regular old crook or straight neck squash, BUT... since we started growing those little round ones, I believe I like them even better especially the yellow one. Those jokers are so sweet!! The dark green ones (actually a type of zucchini) are a bit more tart, but still good. They make a good medley when all chopped or sliced and cooked together.
Also, if you just freeze them, vacuum seal them and they will last 3-4 years and still taste very fresh...

Picking 12-15 squash a day. Golden zucchini , Emerald Jade zucchini, and MidasII yellow squash. Dug my remaining 600 onions today. Gonna dig potatoes tomorrow, and plant my okra. Always plant my okra behind my onions. Seems to me that it does better.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Rocky's Squash!




Good looking veggies Rocky!
My Okra is starting grow maybe a little bit in this 3 days in a row of sunshine and warm (it's actually pretty dang hot) weather! It might make a crop yet if it will just hold off and not get drowned again!
Be sure and send pics of that pile of taters!!

[SaltwaterSlick]

Rocky, Here's some of the different varieties we planted... There are others, but these are some that we had lying on the table...

Gold Star, 8-ball, que-ball, patty-pan, spineless golden zucchini, a green spineless zuke... Tomorrow will be a big pickin' day... In addition to these we have 1-ball, grenade (both a yellow squash), giant spaghetti squash, and butternut squash, plus one other green zuke that I can't remember the variety...

The Butternut and Spaghetti squash are actually "Winter" squash, but supposedly can be grown in the Spring... Sure seems that is the case... Some of those Spaghetti squash are big as a cantaloupe!! The Butternuts are getting pretty dang big too! Think they'd have been better off growing on he ground instead of in the cages we have them in...

[txtimetravler]

Jealous of all this squash.
I gave up on it several years ago due to the bugs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rocky]

Rocky, Here's some of the different varieties we planted... There are others, but these are some that we had lying on the table...

Gold Star, 8-ball, que-ball, patty-pan, spineless golden zucchini, a green spineless zuke... Tomorrow will be a big pickin' day... In addition to these we have 1-ball, grenade (both a yellow squash), giant spaghetti squash, and butternut squash, plus one other green zuke that I can't remember the variety...

The Butternut and Spaghetti squash are actually "Winter" squash, but supposedly can be grown in the Spring... Sure seems that is the case... Some of those Spaghetti squash are big as a cantaloupe!! The Butternuts are getting pretty dang big too! Think they'd have been better off growing on he ground instead of in the cages we have them in...


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My Dad used to grow butternut squash. He’d bake it in the oven with butter and sugar. I’m too simple. Too many varieties would confuse me as to how to use them all. But I do love squash!

[Muskles]

Anybody have a good zucchini bread recipe they could share? I have a couple that tripled in size over night... TIA

I'm not a sweets eater, so I was highly disappointed with zucchini bread. I thought it was bread, but it's cake.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Lots of good ones on the old interwebs...

[BertramBass]

Lots of good ones on the old interwebs...

Lots of berry cobbler recipes on the web too, best one I've had was from TBH.