Garden plans???

**L1A1Rocker** · 06-03-2012, 05:40 PM

WOW! Great looking garden Slamfire. IIRC you said it is over your drain field? We can't do that do to the water softener.

**slamfire51** · 06-03-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by L1A1Rocker

WOW! Great looking garden Slamfire. IIRC you said it is over your drain field? We can't do that do to the water softener.

Thanks Rocker.

Yeah, the corn, potatoes, watermelons, and pumpkins are over the field lines. I'm hoping that will help with the lack of moisture when it's very dry.

**Schuetzenman** · 06-03-2012, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by slamfire51

Here's an update on my garden. The last rain of any amount was on the 13th of May. Watering has come into play every other afternoon. Every thing was slow starting but has taken off in the last week or so.

I have tomatoes on the vine, squash also. Watermelons, cucumbers, and potatoes are blooming. 1st planting of corn is about a foot tall, 2nd (left of 1st) is about 3 inches. Onions are doing excellent.

List of veggies.
Tomatoes
Onions
Squash
Green, red, and yellow Bell Peppers
Okra
Bush beans (2 plantings)
White potatoes
Potomac Red Potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Cantaloupe
Pumpkins (2 varieties) Connecticut Field, Sweet Baby.
Peaches and Cream sweet corn
Ornamental Indian corn
Blue corn
Watermelon
Carrots

Pic taken from inside May 13th during a 2 day rain.

Pics taken today.

That's not a garden, that's a freaking farm! Congrats on having so much land to utilize. Will you can or freeze or do both to preserve the surplus?

**slamfire51** · 06-03-2012, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Schuetzenman

That's not a garden, that's a freaking farm! Congrats on having so much land to utilize. Will you can or freeze or do both to preserve the surplus?

LOL.
It's only slightly more than a 1/2 acre garden space.

All the veggies haven't come up yet, so it's really going to look like a farm when all of them come up.

I bought 19 dozen Ball canning jars and a new Food Saver machine with rolls and rolls of bag material.
We're planning on canning a majority, and Food Save what we can. We should be busy most of the Summer and Fall.

**Partisan1983** · 06-03-2012, 08:57 PM

Very good thread you guys. I am slowly learning a lot.

We just got our first plants in the ground today (we had frost the second week of May).

I might take some pics, but you all in sunny states, are putting my yard to shame.

For those of you that need rain, I wish I could give you some of ours.....we've had our local rivers flooding their banks like nothing in over 20 years.

**slamfire51** · 06-03-2012, 09:03 PM

I'll take some of the rain off your hands. Send it!!

This is no joke, every time we get a rain system headed our way, the rain splits just before reaching me. It's like there is a curse. There is another system due tonight and tomorrow. We'll see if the 'curse' is still on.

**slamfire51** · 06-03-2012, 11:05 PM

A good steady rain started about an hour ago.
Looks like it will last all night. Rain will make everything kick ass.

**Schuetzenman** · 06-04-2012, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by slamfire51

LOL.
It's only slightly more than a 1/2 acre garden space.

1/2 acre is bigger than my entire lot, which is 1/3rd total acres.

**slamfire51** · 06-05-2012, 06:58 PM

Thought I'd post some close up pics of plants.

Watermelon plants are blooming.

As are the bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, and Bush beans.

Got a few crook neck squash off the vines this morning. The 1st of many to come.

**Schuetzenman** · 06-05-2012, 07:30 PM

Nice crook necks, are those from this season? Also do you can or just freeze those?

**slamfire51** · 06-05-2012, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Schuetzenman

Nice crook necks, are those from this season? Also do you can or just freeze those?

Yes, and both, can and freeze.

Did you read up on blanching?

**Schuetzenman** · 06-05-2012, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by slamfire51

Yes, and both, can and freeze.

Did you read up on blanching?

Yes briefly. I'm wondering how the ones done sofar without blanching are going to fare.

**slamfire51** · 06-06-2012, 05:21 AM

Originally Posted by Schuetzenman

Yes briefly. I'm wondering how the ones done sofar without blanching are going to fare.

Depending how long they have been in the freezer, you may be able to thaw and then blanch.
This will kill any micro organisms that change the texture, color and flavor. Yes, they are still working even though they are in an ultra cold environment.

It is worth trying since the unblanched veggies already in the freezer will be soggy and less tasteful upon thawing and after they are cooked.

**slamfire51** · 06-06-2012, 05:32 AM

Freezing

Blanching

Blanching (scalding vegetables in boiling water or steam for a short time) is a must for almost all vegetables to be frozen. It stops enzyme actions which can cause loss of flavor, color and texture.

Blanching cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms, brightens the color and helps retard loss of vitamins. It also wilts or softens vegetables and makes them easier to pack.

Blanching time is crucial and varies with the vegetable and size. Underblanching stimulates the activity of enzymes and is worse than no blanching. Overblanching causes loss of flavor, color, vitamins and minerals. Follow recommended blanching times.

Cooling

As soon as blanching is complete, vegetables should be cooled quickly and thoroughly to stop the cooking process. To cool, plunge the basket of vegetables immediately into a large quantity of cold water, 60ºF or below. Change water frequently or use cold running water or ice water. If ice is used, about one pound of ice for each pound of vegetable is needed. Cooling vegetables should take the same amount of time as blanching.

Drain vegetables thoroughly after cooling. Extra moisture can cause a loss of quality when vegetables are frozen.

Blanching Times*

http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/blanching.html

ETA:
While freezer bags are fine for short term storage, vacuum packed foods will last many times longer in the freezer. I have Trucker's Favorite corn and hamburger meat in FoodSaver bags from 5 yrs ago that tastes as good as the day they were frozen. Air is the main culprit of frozen food.

**5.56NATO** · 06-06-2012, 05:20 PM

A garden plot all Americans should know about:
http://www.uhuh.com/control/garden.htm
http://www.uhuh.com/control/list-gar.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...arden_plot.htm
http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit..._Cable_Splicer

**slamfire51** · 06-06-2012, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by 5.56NATO

A garden plot all Americans should know about:
http://www.uhuh.com/control/garden.htm
http://www.uhuh.com/control/list-gar.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...arden_plot.htm
http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit..._Cable_Splicer

I like my 'Garden Plot' best.

Those above have NASTY produce. They could even kill you.

**Schuetzenman** · 06-06-2012, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by 5.56NATO

A garden plot all Americans should know about:
http://www.uhuh.com/control/garden.htm
http://www.uhuh.com/control/list-gar.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...arden_plot.htm
http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit..._Cable_Splicer

Must we get into this sort of thing in a thread about vegetable gardens?

**L1A1Rocker** · 06-06-2012, 07:48 PM

Please take your crap to your own damn thread and stop stomping on mine.

Originally Posted by 5.56NATO

A garden plot all Americans should know about:
http://www.uhuh.com/control/garden.htm
http://www.uhuh.com/control/list-gar.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...arden_plot.htm
http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit..._Cable_Splicer

**slamfire51** · 06-13-2012, 12:00 PM

After a two day rain, things are really jumping in the veggie garden.

I should have some ripe maters around the 4th of July to go on those grilled burgers. YUM.

The squash is really producing. We've canned 12 quart jars so far.

Picked these this morning.

I have some green bell peppers producing. Small right now, but when ready, they are going to be great in some recipes I have.

I planted some bush beans early. They are now blooming. I planted 6 more rows. Each approx 30 ft. long 2 weeks after the 1st planting. Gonna be good next winter.

Hard to see in the pic, but the potatoes are blooming.

1st watermelon. WOOT!!!!!

Peaches and Cream sweet corn. 1st and 2nd planting. 2nd planting was 2 weeks after the first. Second is left of the large stalks. Really jumping after the rain.

Cucumbers are blooming as well. No visible cumbers yet.

**slamfire51** · 06-19-2012, 09:24 PM

So far, I have canned 24 Qt. jars of squash. There's at least another 12 quarts ready to can.

Cucumbers are coming is fast. I'm planning on pickling most as sweet and a few dill.

Bell peppers are coming in now. I've gotten 7 so far. Going to freeze them.

Corn has not tasseled yet, but it won't be too many more days.

Watermelons are forming nicely and almost doubling in size every couple days.

Okra is just starting to come in. Only picked 5 so far.

Beets are coming up nicely. I hate beets, but the lil lady loves them...YUCK!!!

Cantaloupes are not even close to blooming yet.

Potatoes have bloomed and will soon be ready to dig.

Pumpkins are doing good, but haven't bloomed yet.

Onions are ready to harvest.

Squash and Cucumbers

Bell Peppers and Okra

Beets and Cantaloupes

Watermelons

Tomatoes

Pumpkins