Gardening 2022

[Mij]

Two things about mantises:
1. They are most likely Chinese mantids that don't belong here
2. They will happily eat your pollinators

Raccoons got some of our sweet corn. Bean plants climbing up the cornstalks.
Harvesting beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, basil, zucchini, squash, and a turnip from last year. Potatoes not dong so well, and neither is the okra (yay!).

Been trying to grow okra for ~12 yrs. had 1 mediocre yr. Don’t have a clue why.

 

[snapping turtle]

My garden has become overgrown.

I know what I am going to do this weekend. Time to fire up some machines and take it back from nature

 

[Virch]

My garden has become overgrown.

I know what I am going to do this weekend. Time to fire up some machines and take it back from nature

I'm in the exact same boat.

 

[LEaSH]

First year for my redhaven peaches. Seriously have me concerned about how they're loaded down.

I'm going to carefully brace some of the branches today, but they could be getting near ripe anyhow.

Anyone here have any experience with peaches this year in central Indiana?

 

[Jaybird1980]

First year for my redhaven peaches. Seriously have me concerned about how they're loaded down.

I'm going to carefully brace some of the branches today, but they could be getting near ripe anyhow.

Anyone here have any experience with peaches this year in central Indiana?

I'm not central, but my peaches did good this year. They have already been harvested though. We did loose one branch with the last storm while we still had peaches on the tree.

 

[LEaSH]

I'm not central, but my peaches did good this year. They have already been harvested though. We did loose one branch with the last storm while we still had peaches on the tree.

Thanks.

I don't think mine are sized up as much as I was hoping. Color looks good. I can slice one open today.

I did the squeeze test last week, they were pretty firm.

I'm totally inexperienced with these two peach trees that I planted.

 

[Jaybird1980]

Thanks.

I don't think mine are sized up as much as I was hoping. Color looks good. I can slice one open today.

I did the squeeze test last week, they were pretty firm.

I'm totally inexperienced with these two peach trees that I planted.

Next year try knocking off some of the blossums. It will be less fruit, but the fruit will be bigger. Do it about 3 weeks after they bloom

We can the firmer ones and eat and make jam out of the softer ones. The more ripe ones are just so juicy and sweet

 

[hooky]

First year for my redhaven peaches. Seriously have me concerned about how they're loaded down.

I'm going to carefully brace some of the branches today, but they could be getting near ripe anyhow.

Anyone here have any experience with peaches this year in central Indiana?

Our peaches were great this year. Finally done with them, maybe a few stragglers left on the tree. We froze 2.5 gallons and ate a few quarts more. Best year so far, although this is the first year of the last 6 that didn't get a freeze while it was blossoming.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Busy last couple of days

 

[Mij]

Next year try knocking off some of the blossums. It will be less fruit, but the fruit will be bigger. Do it about 3 weeks after they bloom

We can the firmer ones and eat and make jam out of the softer ones. The more ripe ones are just so juicy and sweet

^^^^^

This


We take the power washer and spray the limbs to knock off about half the blooms, a garden hose with a spray noz. might work. You can drive a t-post and use bale string to tie off. If you prop on something wind will damage the large limb and when it falls off the limb will break off at the trunk. That will endanger the tree itself. You can also pick some weight off the most forward part of the limb and discard just to save more good fruit, a judgment call. Good Luck

 

[spencer rifle]

Made so far this week:
Quarts of tomato sauce
Pints of salsa
Pints of blackberry jam
Freezer packs of beans, blueberries, blackberries, shredded zucchini, sweet corn, brussels sprouts
And more on the way of all these except the corn and blueberries

Looks like canning some of last year's deer is in my future to free up freezer space.

 

[Mij]

Don’t know if it will do any good, but I’m asking for green fried tomatoes this weekend (again) wife doesn’t like’em but I love’em. I’m thinking about making some to put up in freezer packs. Just flower, freeze on cookie sheet, put in zip bags.

 

[snapping turtle]

Don’t know if it will do any good, but I’m asking for green fried tomatoes this weekend (again) wife doesn’t like’em but I love’em. I’m thinking about making some to put up in freezer packs. Just flower, freeze on cookie sheet, put in zip bags.

If you can use a vacuum sealer I found them to last longer than freezer bags. Just got to either get the count down to a meal or a count down to two meals per bag.

Since I grow indeterminate tomatoes from first fruit green to first freeze I have them available so I only do a couple small bags a year.

 

[Mij]

If you can use a vacuum sealer I found them to last longer than freezer bags. Just got to either get the count down to a meal or a count down to two meals per bag.

Since I grow indeterminate tomatoes from first fruit green to first freeze I have them available so I only do a couple small bags a year.

Wife put the kybosch on a vacuum deal, (cost of bags). She is sold on freezer tubs. Chili, spaghettI sauce, and the like. I do freeze some of my yearly salmon. But most is canned. We do can a lot, but even with two freezers space is at a premium.

I’m a bit miffed rite now, I’ve got a beef set to go in shortly and I’m worried I may not have enough room for it. I may have to sell some when I don’t want to.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

Wife put the kybosch on a vacuum deal, (cost of bags). She is sold on freezer tubs. Chili, spaghettI sauce, and the like. I do freeze some of my yearly salmon. But most is canned. We do can a lot, but even with two freezers space is at a premium.

I’m a bit miffed rite now, I’ve got a beef set to go in shortly and I’m worried I may not have enough room for it. I may have to sell some when I don’t want to.

I have great success with freezing stews and soups. It's great for a quick, convenient dinner.
That premium space (2 freezers as well) changes quickly depending on whitetail tags filled.

I got away from vacuum sealing everything. I'll do a few so I have quality at the latter end of the years' consumption.

 

[KokomoDave]

I noticed a couple people say til first freeze. Am I the only weirdo that 'tents' their garden with visqueen and hoops over the garden to extend the season a bit or start earlier?

 

[hoosierdaddy1976]

We are overrun with grape/cherry tomatoes. I can't stand the nasty things. Got 15 dozen ears of corn from a local farmer to put up this weekend. Not enough Roma tomatoes picked yet to make sauce but should be soon. Zucchini, yellow squash, and various peppers are producing well.

 

[hooky]

We are overrun with grape/cherry tomatoes. I can't stand the nasty things. Got 15 dozen ears of corn from a local farmer to put up this weekend. Not enough Roma tomatoes picked yet to make sauce but should be soon. Zucchini, yellow squash, and various peppers are producing well.

I will eat my weight in tomatoes. This time of year I'm eating them on the hour. We keep a bowl on the counter and eat them like it's our job. With the kids gone, it's now a full time job, but I enjoy the work.

 

[snapping turtle]

Had some tomato’s split when we got the rain dump.
Peppers are great and wala wala onions the size of large softballs.

 

[phylodog]

I claim zero credit but the peppers are doing pretty well this year.