Is it normal for some primocanes of my black raspberries (wild) to die off in extreme heat periods. The leaves turn brown and then the vines. I was hoping that these canes would produce next year. I've been watering every other day or third day during this two week period of high 90s. Too late? I have them heavily mulched and they are clean of weed and the floricanes have been removed. Put a lot of work into them this year. If it is the heat, would black netting suspended (2'-3') above help shield them from the sun?
What's Growing in the Garden
- Thread starter trc65
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I've had some die off too. Haven't looked too closely, but could be some disease, maybe insects (cane borers?), if you've been watering, probably not too dry. Sometimes heat stress will exacerbate other problems and cause some die off. Wouldn't worry too much, just get rid of dead canes to prevent the possibility of whatever it is spreading.
I dug a few potatoes before breakfast this morning. I love digging them but hate picking them up so I do it a little at a time. It looks like good weather for a few days so I will dig a few
every morning and pick them up after lunch so they have a chance to dry. When I was younger I planted 300 pounds of seed one year, my cousin and I dug them by hand one weekend and picked them all up. I had nearly 4000 pounds. I sold most of them to a little roadside burger place, they were famous for the best French fries around. I gave them a few to try and they liked them.
every morning and pick them up after lunch so they have a chance to dry. When I was younger I planted 300 pounds of seed one year, my cousin and I dug them by hand one weekend and picked them all up. I had nearly 4000 pounds. I sold most of them to a little roadside burger place, they were famous for the best French fries around. I gave them a few to try and they liked them.
Great harvest! Why do you hate picking them up?
Makes my back hurt
You are resourceful, so why don't you make yourself a small pitchfork with narrow spaced tines if there aren't available commercially. That might eliminate the back issue. .............. NubsMakes my back hurt
I'm guessing that would bruise the skins too bad. Hopefully mine will be like that next year.
Who knew Vermont competed with Idaho for the best potatoes around!
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Most potato producing areas compete with Idaho on quality (variety dependant), but no state competes with Idaho on marketing $$$$$.
By the way, the "Idaho potato" is just the plain old 'Russet Burbank' that is produced in many regions throughout the US. Once it's in a bag at the store, or on your plate at a restaurant there are zero differences between one grown in Wisconsin, Idaho, Washington or Maine -assuming the same quality parameters.
A hundred or so years ago potatoes were a huge crop in Vermont and a good share of them were used to make starch Fortunately starched collars went out of style. There used to be a handful of good sized potato growers around here, I can only think of one now a they have cut back on potatoes and are growing other vegetables.
I've mentioned I'm considering a different variety of okra next year. Most of my Clemson spineless okra is too tuff to cut. I pick it every other day and even the pods 5" long are tough. Weather conditions, lack of water, variety?
I love Clemson but 5” pods in my climate are always too tough except for my daughter's pigs. For me, 4” is probably max and 3-3 1/2 is about perfect. We just came out of about 4 weeks of drought with only a couple of sprinkles and it really slowed the okra down. 25’ of okra and I keep several families glutted with it.
I'm down to a 10' row. I water frequently and pick every 2-3 days. Some still get away from me; too long. So I pick a little larger than that. Guess I'll start picking smaller. Been eating (fried) it everyday since I have enough pickled from last year. Other ways to cook it? I did not want to freeze any but I do need some for the occasional gumbo I make in the Winter. I forget do you blanch it first?
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I think okra is one you don't need to blanch. Wash, dry, cut to size and flash freeze it in a single layer on a cookie sheet first. Then bag and freeze.
I've never grown or tasted okra but after reading the posts here and researching a little I might have to give it a try. If nothing else it will be a conversation starter. From what I have read it sounds like a half dozen plants is enough for a test crop for 2 people.