What's Growing In Your Garden? Horticultural Science

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

SEE TO IT
AS I HAVE CREATED THESE SUNFLOWERS FOR YOU!!!!
(godly voice)
Besides you might make a quid out of it.

A quid got is a quid saved I always say. The afformentioned freak conjoined-twin-head sunflower is fully pollinated and gone to seed. If I cut it too soon, the seed may not be viable, but if I wait too long the head may mold (we just started having rains & I have lost sunflower harvest to rain before! )

In general I have been too busy gardening to talk about it. The radishes have petered out. The cucumbers continue although they are now smaller and curved compared to the early large & straight ones from the same vines. The Roma tomatoes have started and soon I'll have more than I can eat. I harvested an Acorn squash today; I may have jumped the gun but it's rainy fall weather & I really wanted to cook something warm & flavorful. The watermelons are bunk; I have only 3 melons from 11 plants and the largest is not quite 6" in diameter. The Sunflowers promise a bountiful harvest if the heads don't mold.
This concludes another irregularly scheduled horticultural report.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Turtle

If I cut it too soon, the seed may not be viable, but if I wait too long the head may mold (we just started having rains & I have lost sunflower harvest to rain before!:eek

Can you put an umbrella over it?
Seriously, you may be able to rig up something. Stranger things have happened at the cutting edge of horticulture!!

You can probably pick them when not 100% ripe and they will ripen in a dry, warm spot indoors. Cut the head with a lot of stem this may help.

[Racoon]

Cool beans on the aformentioned Sunflower.. I'll definitely have to take a looksy..

My agrarian ways started out with much gusto during the spring, but other interests sidetracked me; resulting in a good, but not stellar growing season..

The snow peas contracted some sort of "rusty blight", and were nixed. I may have to add some lime into the soil.

Eggplants look good, but yeild is low. Peppers are fine, but small. Theres a big size difference I've found when growing organically.

Container herbs went par for the course. Parsley is doing great, and I'm finding little starters around the yard and in other containers. Basil and Lemon Verbena are always a treat to smell.

I wish I could post some pics, but no camera.. perhaps I can coax Turtle for a visit, or borrow someones..

The weather has declined as of late, colder mornings and more precipitation. Expecting another couple of weeks is all.

thats Racoon's garden report..........
Happy Gardening everybody.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Racoon

Cool beans on the aformentioned Sunflower.. I'll definitely have to take a looksy...
I wish I could post some pics, but no camera.. perhaps I can coax Turtle for a visit, or borrow someones..

The weather has declined as of late, colder mornings and more precipitation. Expecting another couple of weeks is all.

thats Racoon's garden report..........
Happy Gardening everybody.

Thanks for the report Rac. We turned the heat on too for the first time last night. Here's a pic of Friend Freak-Head Sunflower after harvest, and I may have an occasion to drift your way so I'll keep in touch & bring camera if I do.
Happy Gardening indeed everyone.

[Racoon]

I need a new digital camera, but I'm afraid by the time I get one, the growing/harvesting will be over... I'm lucky to get a pic or two, before it the camera fizzles out. the pixel quality is low, but you get the idea...

In this Corner, here is a snapshot I managed for you guys:
Peppermint, Parsley, Basil (3 dif. varieies) Spearamint, Feverfew, Horehound, a Tomato, and the ground is covered by Strawberry runners

the little fence is to keep canine out, but he can keep a good eye on them in his dilapidated doggy-house there bushelled in Lemonbalm

In the background by the fence are Raspberries and in front are a couple varieties of peppers, but not very clearly seen...

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Racoon

I need a new digital camera, but I'm afraid by the time I get one, the growing/harvesting will be over... I'm lucky to get a pic or two, before it the camera fizzles out. the pixel quality is low, but you get the idea...

Nicely grown Racoon San. Harvest time in my garden today and no time to bother the camera. I cut all the sunflowers and have them drying on paper bags now; some crafty birds already gobbled a few seeds and the rains are a comin'. A sunflower side-note; one of the seeds from the conjoined-twin head sunflower is itself a conjoined-twin seed!
I have dozens upon dozens of Roma tomatoes and I have taken up the task to dry them all in the oven. I slice them thick, lightly salt them, and put them on cooling racks set in shallow baking pans, then bake at 180°F for 10 to 12 hours. Great in soups or stews.
A few cukes left and whatever more tomatoes the weather allows and the garden goes fallow. I may plant some garlic as fall is the time for that if you expect to have multiple bulbs at harvest.
This concludes another irregularly scheduled horticultural report from the turtle's garden.

[Racoon]

I'll be paying a visit eventually sooner than later Turtle-san..
Your prepped tomatoes sound nummy..

I gathered many of the container herbs and plants that are on the deck for a little group photo..

I put my Seattle Seahawks tailgait grill in front.. 'Cuz theres a Big game on tonight!!

[Racoon]

Most of the plants are going to winter sleep or are compost.

So the focus turns towards the indoor garden.
plus I'm having fun learning how to use a camera, so here are some indoor houseplants in the north facing bedroom window, at night.

the plant on the left is a variagated ficus. The plant second from right is a Hedgehog Aloe. I just thought it was the cutest thing. And I don't know what the others are? Only that they needed to get out of the store and onto a good windowsill with moderate sunlight.

[Michaelangelica]

Growing new season basil but a bit disappointed. It tastes like Clove Oil. Like something the dentist puts on your teeth; Not nice.
I have made some cuttings of Thai Basil I bought from the supermarket- hope this is better.

It rained last night.

My gardenias are getting upset by the grey water and I look like loosing a few old plants. Very depressed about this

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Growing new season basil but a bit disappointed. It tastes like Clove Oil. Like something the dentist puts on your teeth; Not nice.
I have made some cuttings of Thai Basil I bought from the supermarket- hope this is better.

It rained last night.

My gardenias are getting upset by the grey water and I look like loosing a few old plants. Very depressed about this

Try Cinnamon Basil.. Its smells so darn good.
I haven't used it in anything, but just the aroma of cinnamon basil is enough to make me weak in the knees.