Might try the tunnel trick. A coupe of years I grew long neck dipper gourds over a tunnel. Kept them straight!
What's Growing in the Garden
- Thread starter trc65
- Start date
Not sure about ripeness to eat butternuts, but we always use the fingernail test to make sure it’s mature enough to keep well. If you press the skin of the squash with a fingernail and it break through they are not usually mature enough to keep well.
Are you talking like Tim's bean trellis?
I just picked one early to see. I have so many and I'd afraid the beetles would get to them before they fully ripened.
Oh Oh, I think I waited a little too long. Did I say my squash vines are out of control
? These Zuchetta were buried under the vines. Went out in the mud today and picked 7 or 8. If memory serves me, they should be harvested when half this size in order to be more tender. I normally store my squash in a refrigerator but I may have to leave in the basement. Or cut the bulbs off and the necks into straight pieces and then cram into the frig.
And no guessing here. They're ready to pick. No purple, but the peas are well defined and the ends are starting to turn black. Had rain last night so I'll wait for a couple of Sun days to dry the pods out and then pick.
? These Zuchetta were buried under the vines. Went out in the mud today and picked 7 or 8. If memory serves me, they should be harvested when half this size in order to be more tender. I normally store my squash in a refrigerator but I may have to leave in the basement. Or cut the bulbs off and the necks into straight pieces and then cram into the frig.
And no guessing here. They're ready to pick. No purple, but the peas are well defined and the ends are starting to turn black. Had rain last night so I'll wait for a couple of Sun days to dry the pods out and then pick.
Oh Oh, I think I waited a little too long. Did I say my squash vines are out of control? These Zuchetta were buried under the vines. Went out in the mud today and picked 7 or 8. If memory serves me, they should be harvested when half this size in order to be more tender. I normally store my squash in a refrigerator but I may have to leave in the basement. Or cut the bulbs off and the necks into straight pieces and then cram into the frig.
View attachment 245642
And no guessing here. They're ready to pick. No purple, but the peas are well defined and the ends are starting to turn black. Had rain last night so I'll wait for a couple of Sun days to dry the pods out and then pick.
View attachment 245643
? These Zuchetta were buried under the vines. Went out in the mud today and picked 7 or 8. If memory serves me, they should be harvested when half this size in order to be more tender. I normally store my squash in a refrigerator but I may have to leave in the basement. Or cut the bulbs off and the necks into straight pieces and then cram into the frig.View attachment 245642
And no guessing here. They're ready to pick. No purple, but the peas are well defined and the ends are starting to turn black. Had rain last night so I'll wait for a couple of Sun days to dry the pods out and then pick.
View attachment 245643
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- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,469
Picked tomatoes today to can some juice. Most of them got thrown away as they had split so bad from all the rain we had. Enough to can 3.5 qts.
We grow tomatoes on our deck (only way to keep the deer off them) but we struggle with blossom rot. Hard to maintain consistent watering. The flavor is great, but we just have to slice off the brown bottom of the tomato. If you're juicing, can't you still juice the split ones? There's nothing wrong with them and they'll still taste good.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,471
It's not the splits, it's the bugs and decay. I'd been away for three days, so many weren't exactly fresh. I've got 15 plants, so will have plenty to can as the season progresses.
Speaking of splitting from excess water, seeing a lot of the Honey crisp apples developing splits too.
Speaking of splitting from excess water, seeing a lot of the Honey crisp apples developing splits too.
There are several products which are foliar sprays of calcium that work well to eliminate the blossom end rot. Especially if it’s only a few plants on a deck.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,473
While grabbing a couple tomatoes for supper, noticed a few Lima beans that were about ready to be picked. Happy with these "Willow leaf Lima beans" so far. Little longer season than normal bush Lima beans, but happy that they are " baby" sized. Don't really like the large, quarter sized beans.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,474
Tomato sauce day. Five gallon bucket full to cook down.
Most are the variety 'Mariana' which is a determinate plant.
Also have a few of a new variety 'Redorta' which is indeterminate, but also a much later maturity.
Much bigger fruit, but not quite as high solids as Mariana. Good flavor though, so we'll see as the season progresses.
Most are the variety 'Mariana' which is a determinate plant.
Also have a few of a new variety 'Redorta' which is indeterminate, but also a much later maturity.
Much bigger fruit, but not quite as high solids as Mariana. Good flavor though, so we'll see as the season progresses.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,475
Sweet corn today. About 11 dozen ears from my second planting.
Picked 4 or 5 more Zuchetta squash today. Still have plenty from the previous pick in the fridge. Anyone ever freeze squash? I think this is a relative to Zucchini. Don't quote me.
Several of you mentioned electric fences for critters. Would a 2 mile be adequate for a 50' x 70' garden? Ever electrify a 1' high strip of chicken wire? Take more power?
www.ruralking.com
Several of you mentioned electric fences for critters. Would a 2 mile be adequate for a 50' x 70' garden? Ever electrify a 1' high strip of chicken wire? Take more power?
2 Mile Plug-In Electric Fence Charger - CW2
Product Features: The country way - 2 mile plug-in electric fence charger is for use with any permanent or semi-permanent fence Energizes 2 miles or 2 acres of fence under optimal conditions 110v plug in fence charger .05 output joule Comes with h
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #1,478
The 2 mile should be fine for your needs, I think that is what mine is rated as and I use it for a lot more area than you are thinking about.
Never tried to electrify chicken wire, should work if you can get insulators to work and can get it stretched tight. Logic tells me you would need more capacity to charge it, but don't know how much.
Instead of chicken wire how about using two wires, one around 6 inches and another around 12 inches. That's what I use to keep coons out of my sweet corn. I'm guessing you want it for rabbits? If so would think the two low wires would work.
I use T-posts for the corners with "rebar" electric fence posts in between. Unless your area is perfectly flat, you'll need extra fence posts to help a low wire follow the contours.
Another thought, I use aluminum wire. Not quite as sturdy as galvanized steel wire, but lighter weight and it's easier to splice. Still using wire I bought about 10 years ago. It is starting to corrode and break in places, but don't plan on replacing it for a few more years.
Never tried to electrify chicken wire, should work if you can get insulators to work and can get it stretched tight. Logic tells me you would need more capacity to charge it, but don't know how much.
Instead of chicken wire how about using two wires, one around 6 inches and another around 12 inches. That's what I use to keep coons out of my sweet corn. I'm guessing you want it for rabbits? If so would think the two low wires would work.
I use T-posts for the corners with "rebar" electric fence posts in between. Unless your area is perfectly flat, you'll need extra fence posts to help a low wire follow the contours.
Another thought, I use aluminum wire. Not quite as sturdy as galvanized steel wire, but lighter weight and it's easier to splice. Still using wire I bought about 10 years ago. It is starting to corrode and break in places, but don't plan on replacing it for a few more years.
Check out electric net fence for goats. The information should transfer pretty accurately to the same footage of poultry fence since you are keeping it short.
The 2 mile should be pretty close. You could slide a piece of plastic pipe over a small fence post and insulate the top and bottom row
The 2 mile should be pretty close. You could slide a piece of plastic pipe over a small fence post and insulate the top and bottom row
Electric Fence - Premier1Supplies
Field-tested electric fence to contain sheep, goats, poultry, cattle and horses, including barrier fences to keep out deer, bear, predators and garden pests.