• New Woodbarter Hats Are Available!!! Scroll down on the main page to the Member Activities & Site Support, Then click on Wood Barter SCHWAG and go to the topics on hats by Woodtickgreg to order your hat. There's only a limited quanity, so don't wait to get yours.

What's Growing in the Garden

trc65

Member
Full Member
Messages
7,469
Reaction score
23,396
Location
Cameron, Illinois
First name
Tim
If you buy red potatoes in the store, especially if they come from a northern state, it is likely a majority are Dark Red Norland. There are of course many other red skinned varieties, varies by region, but most new varieties are still judged against 'Norland'.
 

trc65

Member
Full Member
Messages
7,469
Reaction score
23,396
Location
Cameron, Illinois
First name
Tim
Definitely would have preferred it over a few days. With this rain we'd normally have water standing everywhere and creeks overflowing. Ran to town this afternoon and saw no standing water in the fields, and creeks were high, but only about halfway to overflowing. Ground absorbed every bit, and it looks like the corn grew 4".
 

trc65

Member
Full Member
Messages
7,469
Reaction score
23,396
Location
Cameron, Illinois
First name
Tim
A note on soils that we have. Around us are mostly silt loams that can hold an incredible 2 -2.5" of water per foot of depth. That helps explain how we can get some big rains without flooding, at least in rural areas without all that pavement.
 

Wildthings

ASTROS '26 BASEMENT DWELLERS (for now)
Full Member
Messages
9,253
Reaction score
15,156
Location
Gulf Coast of Texas
First name
Barry
A note on soils that we have. Around us are mostly silt loams that can hold an incredible 2 -2.5" of water per foot of depth. That helps explain how we can get some big rains without flooding, at least in rural areas without all that pavement.
And we have gumbo type soils. Swells when wet and during dry spells 1/2" cracks appear. It's not whether you have foundation problems, but when!
 
Last edited:

sprucegum

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,446
Reaction score
10,435
Location
Vermont
First name
Dave
At the end of the strawberry season, after we've made a years worth of jam, make a pot of syrup. This is a quick and easy recipe that may be canned, frozen, or just refrigerated. Best thing about this recipe is it retains some tartness along with the sweet and uses only 1/4 the amount of sugar that is used in jams.

View attachment 289429
My little patch is fully blossomed with a few berries forming, they look much better than last year.
 

trc65

Member
Full Member
Messages
7,469
Reaction score
23,396
Location
Cameron, Illinois
First name
Tim
Picked the first few black raspberries. First harvest from this variety. Good flavor and love the size. This variety is 'Jewel'.

PXL_20260610_195911123.jpg
 
Last edited:

sprucegum

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,446
Reaction score
10,435
Location
Vermont
First name
Dave
Not a lot of food coming from the garden yet, just some lettuce and radishes. The good news is that it's finally starting to look like a garden. It's been a better than average spring with a little rain every few days. Last year was rain every day for 3 weeks then a summer long drought.

IMG_20260611_080447117.jpg
 
Last edited:

sprucegum

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,446
Reaction score
10,435
Location
Vermont
First name
Dave
I ordered turnip seed this morning, I'm not a big turnip fan but thought I would give them a second chance. I ordered a heirloom variety know as the Gilfeather turnip. It was developed by Wardsboro Vermont farmer John Gilfeather and a few years ago the legislature made it the state vegetable. It's apparently a turnip rudabaker cross and sweeter than most. It grows rapidly and is said to have the best flavor after a hard frost or two. My plan is to plant them in mid July after the peas are done, hopefully the tilled in pea roots will provide some nitrogen to feed the turnips.
 

trc65

Member
Full Member
Messages
7,469
Reaction score
23,396
Location
Cameron, Illinois
First name
Tim
We are sitting at 6.75" of rain since my Monday morning with another big one tonight. While I'm pleased with the moisture, the garden has turned into a jungle. Weeds are crazy, and there's not much to do about them till it dries a little.

I've got three flats of pumpkin, squash, melons and gourds that were ready to go in a week ago, but I wanted to wait for a little moisture! Won't be able to till before planting these, will spray weeds, spread fertilizer over the top and mud them in.
 
Top