This 'n That

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Sjoerd, Aug 7, 2019.

  1. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    We have been working like mad people, for it is harvesting time here and so we have been spending long, hot hours at the lottie and long, hot hours in the hot kitchen processing the veg and fruit.

    Where to begin....The plums then. We have had a monster harvest of the Opal plums and put up 18 jars of the stuff.
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    Well, that'll do us...including the give-away's, but the tree is still way full. I estimate that we did not even pick half of the total amount. I thinned the fruits twice and then the tree itself went through the "June drop"...all that plus me going over the fruits every day to look for tell-tale black dots on the young fruits indicating the presence of little worms inside the fruits. --Gad, this has been abnormal.

    Then there were the blues-- our little blueberry patch is putting out very well this year. The first harvest netted more than three kilo's. They went into jam the same evening that we harvested them. The empty shelves in the pantry are beginning to fill up nicely.
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    Take a look at the blues in situ and at home:
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    I had been watching the corn carefully, checking it daily to see if the ears were ready for picking...one day, we arrived at the lottie to discover that one ear was split open from the silks down.-- rats! Literally. I harvested all the ears that were ready-ish and set a trap. The next day there was no further damage and there was a rat in the trap. Some years I loose 85-90% of our ears to the rats or birds. We put up the corn and ate a couple of cobs. That fresh corn is such a treat.

    Of course with all this hot and sunny weather, the toms are really doing well. we had the first BLT's (shown here with the Bride's world-famous potato salad) a week and a half ago...what a wonderful thing that was.
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    We lifted the last of the spuds a few days ago and put them down in the cool shed. These are the Ratte d'Ardeche:
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    The beans have begun producing ....finally. We had to plant and re-plant them five times this year.
    Here you can see the unbuttoned harvest aprons that Dooley provided a number of years ago. We are so thankful for these. Thank you again, Dooly.
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    We processed most of them, but of course we ate some right away.
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    We lifted all the onions also and are letting them "cure" on the old kapucijner rack.
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    With all the work that we have done and are doing--there is still plenty for the Food Bank. We pick up weekly from other gardeners to add to our own excess.
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    Oké then chaps, it's a wrap. I hope that you guys are having a good growing season, whether it be fruit 'n veg or flowering plants.
     

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  2. Odif

    Odif Young Pine

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    Good to hear, you were having bad luck in springtime.
     
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  3. carolyn

    carolyn Strong Ash

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    looks fabulous S. We have had the same problem with out beans. we still haven't picked a basket of them yet. I think we have planted at least 7 times. we have several row just starting to flower but nothing to pick.
    must be a good year for plums too. we have picked about 100 pounds of plums. I have a few more to pick and then the tree will be empty.
     
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  4. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Wow Sjoerd!!!! What a haul!! So much produce! I bet you hardly buy any food in the stores, or at least much less than the average couple. I am impressed.
     
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  5. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    First, let me say how perfect it is when a couple both enjoy growing their own food and agree on giving a share to a food bank.
    I enjoy looking at the proof of your labor. The photos are like walking into your kitchen.
    Any possibility of getting your Bride's potato salad recipe?
    We had a great amount of beans, I believe 4 pickings before taking the plants out. The seeds for second planting didn't sprout. After two trials, I give up. Tomatoes are abundant. The Black Krim is our favorite. Kale still produces enough for sharing. Onions, potatoes, lettuce, garlic are finished with no complaints. We are getting pickling cukes enough for eating. All is a blessing.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2019
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  6. Jewell

    Jewell Incorrigible Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Wonderful harvests to see. August is such a lovely month with the bounty. You will have such a jam packed larder for winter at this rate. Good going to you and your bride.:like:
     
  7. hummerbum

    hummerbum Young Pine

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    Oh my goodness...it may have taken you a minute to catch up with us, but daggggg....you definitely did well for yourselves. Everything looks and I bet, tastes amazing!!! Good job mate:like:
     
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  8. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Thanks ODIF-- I sure did have a bad beginning, but one just keeps on and eventually the things began to develop. I am over the moon.

    Thank you CAROLYN--It seems that we have similar weather.

    CAYU-- It is turning out to be a great harvest after all. We always have more than we need....hence the Food Bank donations. It is true that we do not buy much in the way of veg during the course of a year...but that is the goal of the hobby, of course. We do break-down and buy veggie types that we do not grow ourselves if the notion strikes us.
    Thanks loads for your enthusiastic reaction...It chuffed me to bits. You are so nice.

    Thanks a mil GP--I appreciate hearing that. You have had some pretty serious-sounding harvests yourself. You always seem to have good luck in your garden.
    ***As for the recipe...
    "Just tell her that it is a 'cheat-recipe'. I just happened to have some boiled spuds in the coolerater. Two hard boiled eggs, everything (eggs and spuds) cut into small pieces. Heaping Tblsp of sandwich spread, Tblst of some sort of oil Olive oil for instance), A good 'Shake' of mixed Italian herbs. Pepper, salt and enough mayo to make it a good consistency. That's all." She further added that you can add anything you want, like olives celery...just whatever you have in the house.

    Ahhh...Thanks so much, JEWELL-- I hope that we will get that pantry and freezer full. It looks like we will succeed. Do you have much time to garden this year with all your camping activities?

    HUMMER-- Yeah, it was touch 'n go there for awhile...but the ball is finally rolling. I do so enjoy eating my own fresh veg and fruit. You are also going great with your new garden, aren't you. Congrats go right back atcha.
     
  9. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    Dear Bride of Sjoerd, thank you for the recipe. I use onion and celery. The added ingredients in your PS seems to be the Sandwich spread and Italian herbs. I plan to give it a try. :fingerscrossed:
     
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  10. hummerbum

    hummerbum Young Pine

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    @Growingpains @Sjoerd...I never thought about sandwich spread and italian herbs in my potato salad. Hubby doesn't like sweet "mayo" like Miracle Whip. I on the other hand love it. Think I'll make a bowl this weekend;) Thanks for the recipe.
     
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  11. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    I love Hellman's mayo and find that ALDI has mayo that tastes just as good for less money. I sometimes grate sweet pickle into potato salad.
    I still want to try sandwich spread in a batch.
     
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  12. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Thanks for those tips, ladies.
    The potato salad is always a bit different from the preceding ones. I like trying new things.
     
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  13. Growingpains

    Growingpains Young Pine

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    Apparently Sandwich spread isn't popular at our local Meijer store. I could find only one small jar and it didn't look as I remember, so I made potato salad without. It's quite tasty!
     
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  14. Cayuga Morning

    Cayuga Morning Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    I love this. Who knew that potato salad would be all the rage of gardeners!! (I happen to be a fan as well).
     
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  15. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Ha,ha,ha....yeah CAYU--who'da thought indeed. It is a sort of mundane and common thing to eat, but I really do like the flavour and the Bride keeps changing the presentation and preparation...I lurve a surprise. It is a cliché but I never ate a potato salad I didn't like. ---what would Will Rogers say to this adaptation to his famous quote, I wonder.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2019
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