Nice to have some blooms in the bleak of winter.
Random Pictures Thread
- Thread starter ripjack13
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Call that old fashion STEM projects.
Are those amaryllis? My Mom sent us two of them. The big bulbs are waxed around the outside, the top left clear. The instructions say no water, just place in a well lit window or something. We've had them for a couple weeks are the sprouts are now 7 - 8 inches high and buds are forming. I guess later after the first flowers are done, you can plant them in a pot, but the bulbs will populate and completely fill the pot so you have to thin them out.
They are amaryllis. Menards $7.00 specials. These are in a coconut coir soil that comes with the bulb. I do water these, just enough to keep the soil slightly damp. These get about 1/2 cup water once a week. When buds start expanding, I give them a little more water. Keeping them damp will help the blossoms last longer when they open.
If you want to try growing them for next year, plant them in a pot and give them as much sunlight as possible. Fertilize about once a month and put them in full sun outside for the summer. Come fall, I think you pull the bulbs and let them dry completely. Store around 50° for 8-12 weeks, then pot them up, water and start all over.
I don't have a protected enough place to grow them outside (too much wind) so just throw them away and buy new each year. You can divide offshoots in the fall, but it will take several years for the small bulb off shoots to get large enough to flower.
If you want to try growing them for next year, plant them in a pot and give them as much sunlight as possible. Fertilize about once a month and put them in full sun outside for the summer. Come fall, I think you pull the bulbs and let them dry completely. Store around 50° for 8-12 weeks, then pot them up, water and start all over.
I don't have a protected enough place to grow them outside (too much wind) so just throw them away and buy new each year. You can divide offshoots in the fall, but it will take several years for the small bulb off shoots to get large enough to flower.
She musta got them from Trader Joes. The only place around here I see those wax coated ones for sale. Don't know how well the waxed ones will grow on. Probably will be ok if you can get the wax off. I have had a couple rebloom without planting - but not all. If you plant, be sure not to cut back the foliage until it browns out. As the bulb has likely been "forced", it has to build up reserves to bloom again - so might take a year of just growing foliage. To force it again to bloom when you want, not when they want - you have to pre-chill for a few weeks at 50 deg if I remember correctly. They naturally bloom in early spring. They are not cold hardy - but is said to survive outside in say lower zone 7 - sometimes a 6 (depending on which map you look at and about the same as Juneau, Homer, and Kodiak Alaska BTW). That would be here - and possibly your area - but never have I seen it attempted. But, I might have to one day. I do some strange things, and have had elephant ears survive over our winter - even thought they are said to be tropical. This year, my grand experiments will likely fail. We got down to -6 (wind chill like -25 or lower) in my yard recently.
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I have a hard time with the cold part. I put the blocks in a baking pan on a layer of ice, and rotate every hour.
This time of year is great for us to cold smoke. I'm starting a large Canadian bacon that will be dry cured and then 12 hours of cold smoke over 2 days (6 hours smoke, rest over night x2) before hot smoke to 150°. High temps in the 30's are great for this.
Good time to make sausage too.
Just picked up a sausage stuffer today. First up is a dry cured salami. Then, need to start cleaning the freezer and use some venison up. Planning on summer sausage and bratwurst with that.
Sounds tasty!!!
Done did my deer summer sausage and jerky. Thinking about another batch jerky. Never seems to last very long!! Gonna do some cheese this combo ng week up in Oklahoma where I have plenty of time!
I'll post lots of pictures when I have something to show. Waiting for some bacterial culture and dry age casings for the salami.
Missed your calling, Chef Tim! Pretty swirls! Chuck
Well done - so no need to ship cheesecake along with the salami, summer sausage, and bratwurst penalty you surely have packed up for me by now.
Very impressive Tim. Wish you lived closer.
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Workin on stuff this week....
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Im seeing that sign all over town lately, is yours coming to phoenix too?