Where Did The Sun And Warm Weather Go?

Words of wisdom: Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day.
Harry S Truman

Son-n-law and grandson took time out of their other activities and tilled my garden plot several days ago. Since then we have had 2 or maybe 3 light rains making the garden to wet to plant this years corn crop.

After a few of rain less days, temperatures in the lower 70’s and a bit of wind by yesterday afternoon tiny garden soil was dry enough to plant, but, guess what… my weatherman said we have a cold front moving in and morning temperatures are going to be in the low 30’s, about 34 degrees … grin or maybe lower.
So, corn planting has been pushed into next week when daytime temperatures are forecast to be in the low 80’s.

I’m still lagging behind in filling my 2 new porch containers with soil and planting a small crop of lettuce, beets, turnips(for greens) and radishes. I don’t know where son-n-law got these containers, but they are about 12 inches wide, 4 feet long and about 9 inches deep. They contain a number of drainage holes making an idea porch container for shallow rooted crops.

Not good. It’s middle of the afternoon and a cold North wind has been pounding me all day. Sooo, I will resort to the last thing on my to-do list. Sweep and mop floors.. YUK.

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Gardening With Your Purple Crayola And Big Chief Note Pad

Plan out your spring/summer garden. Yes I do know that it is always better organized on paper than in your garden.

In my humble opinion a garden is not complete without:
* Sweet corn. Even small gardens can grow a few ears of sweet corn, There are many new vanities that are smaller plants and take up little space in your garden. Note: Each corn stalk will produce two ears of corn.
Hint: For the best pollination, plant corn in several short rows not one long row. Plant 4-5 seeds in each row for a total of 10-15 corn stalks. Plant a second and third planting at 7-10 day intervals to extend your corn harvest season.

* Cucumbers. A salad is not complete without a few slices of cucumber. Cucumbers are well adapted to growing on a trellis to save garden space.
If a trellis is not an option look for varieties that are bush types. They are a bit less productive, but, they require little garden space to produce a nice sized crop.
Cucumbers range in size from the tiny gherkin types to three foot long varieties.
Hint: In my opinion, smaller is better. Harvest daily or every other day.

* Peppers. Hot or sweet or both. Peppers require little garden space. Plant two or more for the best pollination. Pepper can be harvested at any size. Harvesting young small pods will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Young small hot pepper pods are very mild when compared to a mature pepper pod.
Hint: Peppers benefit from light shade during the intense afternoon sun and heat.

* Tomatoes. I have a posting that you may find useful on growing tomato’s. Those postings have to much information to re-post here.
Tomato’s – Grow Your Own – It’s Easy
Tomatoe’s 101
Sphinx Moths – aka – Tomato Worm

* Herbs. Grow what you like to eat. Herbs are easy to grow but should be planted in separate beds/containers based on their water requirements. Some herbs like the soil to be near bone dry before you water, others like the soil constantly damp(not wet).
If covenant plant your herbs in pots/containers/raised beds near your kitchen door. You are much more likely to harvest and use fresh herbs if they are always near by.

Herbs that I can not do without:
* Basil: likes sun and tolerates light shade and to live in rich damp soil.

* Chives: like full sun, but grow best in soils that are high in organic matter. Plants that are harvested frequently benefit from supplemental NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer during the season. All parts are eatable, roots, foliage and flowers.

* Oregano: likes full sun and good drainage is required. Harvesting can begin before the plants are ready to flower. Remove the stem tips leaving 4-6 pairs of leaves on the plant in order for it to produce side shoots for additional harvesting.
Hint: Do Not Allowing the plant to flower will stop growth completely.

* Sage: likes a dry soil and will do well in poor soils. Harvest through the season.
Hint: Remove all flowers stems to keep your plant healthy and productive.

* Thyme: likes sun in soil that is well amended with organic matter and well drained. Thyme can be harvested through the season but is best cut just before the plant starts to flower.
Hint: Remove all flowers stems to keep your plant healthy and productive.

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Cornmeal Mush? Porridge? Or Is That Polenta?

According to google search, it seems that cooked(boiled) cornmeal can and is sometimes called, Mush, Porridge or Polenta and seems to all be cooked and served much the same way.

Leftover mush can be fried golden brown in a tiny bit of bacon(fat) grease and covered with chili, meat stew or sometimes pinto beans.

Adding sliced jalapeno pepper or adding ‘some’ creamed corn while cooking the mush gives it a different dimension.

1 cup cornmeal
4 cups water OR 2 cups water and 2 cups milk
Bring water to a boil stir in cornmeal. A whisk works better than a spoon.
Move pan to a warm burner, continue stirring until thick and smooth.
Cover pan. Stir well every 10 minutes.
Cook for 40 – 45 minutes. Longer if mush is watery.
Serve hot.

Put leftover mush in a pie pan. When cool cut into chunks.
Fry and serve with beans, stew, soup, greens or chili.

All went well except I think my burner was a bit hot or I need a tiny bit more water.
At 30 minutes it was getting dry and sticking to my enamel coated pot.
I added a few tablespoons of milk and a pat of butter, stirred well and cooked another 15 minutes.

My version did have 1 jalapeno pepper added and was served with bacon and fried eggs.

Overall it was easy to make. Long low temperature cooking time. Leftover mush will be pan fried and served with a spiced Gumbo rice mix and red beans.

Country life is a good life.

Happy Fall gardening

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Freezing Homegrown Tomato’s Is Easy

Freezing Raw Tomatoes (with or without their skins).

Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked dishes such as soups, sauces and stews. Tomatoes become mushy when they’re thawed for use.

To quickly freeze raw tomatoes without blanching them first.Tomatoes may be frozen whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed.
Tomatoes should be seasoned just before serving not ate the time they are prepared for freezing. Freezing may strengthen or weaken seasonings flavors such as garlic, onion, and herbs.

Washing tomatoes, wet each tomato with water, rub its surface, rinse it with running water, and dry it with a paper towel. After washing, cut away the stem scar and surrounding area and discard it before slicing or chopping the tomato.

Washing tomatoes in a sink filled with water is not recommended since contaminated water can be absorbed through the fruit’s stem scar. The use of soap or detergent is not recommended for washing fruits and vegetables because they can absorb detergent residues.

Dry them well by blotting with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Freezing whole tomatoes with peels on: Wash and clean tomatoes as described above.
Cut away the stem scar. Place the tomatoes on cookie sheets and freeze.
Note Tomatos may be placed directly in bags and frozen. Limit the number of tomato’s in each bag to the number anticipated for 1 meal or dish.

Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Once frozen, transfer the tomatoes from the cookie sheets into freezer bags or other containers. Seal tightly.
Using frozen tomatoes, remove them from the freezer a few at a time or all at once. To peel, just run a frozen tomato under warm/hot tap water in the kitchen sink. Its skin will slip off easily.

Freezing peeled tomatoes: If you prefer to freeze peeled tomatoes, you can wash the tomatoes and then dip them in boiling water for about 1 minute or until the skins split. Peel and then freeze as described above.

Source Freezing Raw Tomatoes (with or without their skins)

Source Freezing Tomatoes – National Center for Home Food Preservation

Approximate Yields for Canned or Frozen Fruits & Vegetables

Raw Products	Measure & Weight	Approximate Quart Jars or Containers Needed	Approximate Pounds Needed for 1 Quart Jar or Container
Fruits
Apples	1 bushel (48 pounds)	16 to 20	2½ to 3
Apples (for sauce)	1 bushel (48 pounds)	15 to 18	2½ to 3½
Apricots	1 lug (24 pounds)	9 to 12	2 to 2½
Berries (except strawberries & cranberries)	24-quart crate (36 pounds)	12 to 18	1½ to 3 (1- to 2-quart boxes)
Cantaloupes	1 crate (60 pounds)		1 large melon
Cherries (with stems)	1 bushel (56 pounds)	22 to 32 (unpitted)	2 to 2½
	1 lug (box) (15 pounds)	6 to 7 (unpitted)	2 to 2½
Cranberries	1 bushel (100 pounds)	100	1
	1 box (25 pounds)	25	1
Figs	1 box (6 pounds)	2 to 3	2 to 2½
Grapes	1 bushel (48 pounds)	10 to 12	4
Grapes, Western	1 lug (28 pounds)	7 to 8	4
Grapes, Eastern	12 – quart basket (18 pounds)	3 to 4	4
	4 – quart basket (6 pounds)	1	4
Grapefruit Florida, Texas & California	1 bag or ½ box (40 pounds)	5 to 8	4 to 6 fruits
	1 box (65 pounds)	8 to 13	4 to 6 fruits
Nectarines	Flat (18 pounds)	6 to 9	2 to 3
Peaches	1 bushel (50 pounds)	19 to 25	2 to 2½
Pears	1 bushel (50 pounds)	20 to 25	2 to 2½
	1 box (46 pounds)	19 to 23	2 to 2½
	1 crate (22 pounds)	8 to 11	2 to 2½
Pineapple (with top)	1 crate (70 pounds)	20 to 28	2½  (2 average)
Plums	1 crate (70 puunds)	28 to 35	2 to 2½
	1 bushel (56 pounds)	24 to 30	2 to 2½
Rhubarb	15 pounds	7 to 11	2
Strawberries	24-quart crate (36 pounds)	12 to 16	6 to 8 cups
	1 crate (60 pounds)	17 to 23	2½ to 3½
	1 lug (32 pounds)	9 to 12	2½ to 3½
Tomatoes (for juice)	1 bushel (53 pounds)	12 to 16	3 to 3½
	1 crate (60 pounds)	17 to 20	3 to 3½
	1 lug (32 pounds)	8 to 10	3 to 3½
Vegetables
Asparagus	1 bushel (24 pounds)	8 to 12	2 to 3
	1 crate (30 pounds)	10 to 15	2 to 3
Beans, lima (in pods)	1 bushel (30 pounds)	5 to 8	4 to 5
Beans, green or wax	1 bushel (30 pounds)	15 to 20	1½ to 2
Beets (without tops)	1 bushel (52 pounds)	17 to 20	2½ to 3
Broccoli	1 crate (25 pounds)	10 to 12	2 to 3
Brussels Sprouts	4 quarts	1 to 1½	2
Cabbage	1 bag or 1 crate (50 pounds)	16 to 20>	2½ to 3
Cabbage, Western	1 crate (80 pounds)	26 to 32	2½ to 3
Carrots (without tops)	1 bushel (50 pounds)	16 to 20	2½ to 3
Cauliflower	1½-bushel crate (37 pounds)	12 to 18	2 medium heads
Corn, Sweet (in husks)	1 bushel (35 pounds)	8 to 9 (as kernels)	4 to 5
Cucumbers	1 bushel (48 pounds)	24 to 30	1½ to 2
Eggplant	1 bushel (33 pounds)>	15 to 18	2 average
Greens	1 bushel (18 pounds)	8 to 9	2 to 3
Okra	1 bushel (30 pounds)	19 to 21	1½
Peas, Field	1 bushel (25 pounds)	6 to 7	3½ to 4
Peas, Green (in pods)	1 bushel (30 pounds)	6 to 8	4 to 5
Peppers	1 bushel (25 pounds)	17 to 21	1¹⁄3
Potatoes, Irish	1 bushel (60 pounds)	18 to 22	2½ to 3
Pumpkin			1½ to 3
Spinach	1 bushel (20 pounds)	4 to 9	2 to 6
Squash (Summer)	1 bushel (40 pounds)	16 to 20	2 to 3
Squash (Winter)			3
Sweet Potatoes (cured)	1 bushel (50 pounds)	16 to 25	2 to 3

Country life is a good life.

Happy Fall gardening

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Getting Old Is Not For Sissy’s

It dried out enough that I could get a 8 yard dump truck into the area where I wanted my fill dirt (really it’s called chat) dumped. Chat is the fine screenings left over from crushing large rock into smaller rock that is used mostly to top our country roads.

After the heavy rains a few weeks ago I must do a lot of repair around my house foundation as well as fill washouts around walks and around my chicken house.

At one time I could have completed this project in two days, but, sadly I have discovered that at my age a 2 day project may drag on for 2 weeks! YUK.

Early Saturday morning we got a 1 1/2 rain but also had some 70 mph winds with the rain. My second planting of corn was laid to the ground. Fingers crossed, sometimes healthy plants can re-right them self’s and still produce a crop.

Sad smile, well, okra and pumpkins were planted, ‘again’ Friday. By this time next week I will know how much seed did not, get washed out of my garden with Saturday mornings rain/wind storm.

It’s almost 10am and temps will soon be bumping 90 degrees. SO, I’m off to wheelbarrow a few loads of chat before it gets to hot for an old guy.

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Corn-o-rama ?

Early planted corn ‘about 30 stalks’, is in full tassel stage and it looks like I may get as many as 60 ears of corn to harvest by the end of this week.

I have never planted this variety ‘Peaches & Cream’ sold by Ferry-Morse seed company. Seed package said ears will be 7 1/2 inches long. Well truth is I’m not convinced that my crop will ever be more than 6 or so inches long. My stunted corn crop problem was not caused by a lack of moisture or fertilized.

I will not plant this variety next year. First and second planting had at best only about 75 percent germination rate. The stalks are small and under size for their age. The ears are also small. Well filled out but small all the same.

Second planting of corn, same variety and supplier, had a poor germination out of about 35 seeds planted I have about 15 stalks that will enter tassel stage near the 30 of this month. Even with this poor stand, I may, with luck, harvest near 30 ears of corn.

These two plantings will give me and family a lot of smallish ears of fresh corn and a good number of ears to freeze for this winters table.

On the sunny side, I discovered a sunflower only about 2 feet tall but if has a flower at least 8 inches in diameter and an unusually light, bright yellow flower. Grin … no idea where it came from.

O-yes, my porch container planted tomato has started blooming. Loads of grape size tomato’s, mmmm, that’s yet to be seen.

Happy Days – My Garden Weeds Are Getting Sick

In Southwest Oklahoma it mostly stopped raining May of 2008. I think our long running dry spell has been sent into the history books. So far this month my tiny garden has received more than 15 inches(380mm) of rain. Another storm pasted over head last evening dumping 3/4 of an inch in less than 30 minutes.

The garden seed people are loving the thunder storm. Every time I plant squash and cucumbers it comes a hard rain and washes my seed out of the ground. I’m getting a lot of experience in planting / replanting garden seed.

If I can get a full day of sunshine I will re-re-replant squash and cucumbers. Maybe it will dry out enough before the forecast weekend thunder storms arrive to replant my okra patch as well.
It may even get dry enough that I can hoe a few of my unwanted plants like johnson grass!

Grin … one good side benefit of all this May rain is it is killing many of the weeds that have taken up home in my garden plot. It seems that careless weeds(pig weed), bind weed(wild morning glory) and henbit do not like their roots setting in water or really wet soil. However, ragweed doesn’t seem to be effected by the wet soils.

Grape vine update, All three vines have leafed out and are sending out runners. At this rate I will need to get my trellis up this summer to start training my vines.

Corn is setting ears, but, the rain keeps washing away my fertilizer applications faster than I can apply the fertilized. FYI – I’m using a NPK, 13-13-13 shotgun blast approach. Clay soil is generally low in nitrogen. That’s the reason for the 13 percent nitrogen content approach to amending garden fertility.

Tomato’s are not looking well. Roots have been setting in wet soil and they are beginning to really suffer.
Onions still in the ground have started to rot and I have decided to plant more pumpkins in the area now taken up by my failing onion crop.

As a side note. I have noticed the my hens and pullets have started growing web feet.

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Ruff Night Out

After Saturdays storms the sun is shinning, winds are dead clam and my rain gauge showed 0.75(19mm)inches of rain from last nights storms.

Storms started building out in west Texas about 3pm and by 5pm were intensifying and crossing the red river into southwest Oklahoma.

A strong line of storms moved across SW OK. spawning many EF0 – EF3 tornado’s. We lucked out no one was killed however there was a lot of homes, barns and farm equipment damaged.

If my weather guys knows what they are talking about. We will have 3 days of sun and will dry out a bit before more storms arrive Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Grin … still to wet to plant corn, squash, cucumbers and okra. That’s a good thing. I have a long growing season, so I can still wait until late June to plant and still make a good crop.
I hope this is the signal that our 5 year drought has come to an end.

Before you plant garden seed or transplant your seedlings. Consider segregating your garden plants by water and fertilized needs. For those of you that grow in raised beds this is an easy project.

Corn, leaf crops like lettuce, chard and many of the Chinese type cabbages are heavy feeders of nitrogen and benefit from a constantly damp, not wet, soil. Something like NPK 10-5-5.

Fruiting plants like tomato’s, squash, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts like a damp, not wet soil. Use a NPK fertilized like 5-10-5.

Herbs many of which originated in southern Europe do best if grown in less than fertile soil. Many like to be well(deep) watered and then allow the soil to become very dry before watering again. In many areas supplemental water will not be needed.

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Sweet Corn – An All American Table Delight

Corn was discovered by the Europeans growing in the New World ‘the Americas’.

Sweet corn requires a very fertile soil and is a heavy water usage crop that requires full sun exposure to do well.
Corn germinates between 65 and 85 degrees and will most often fail at soil temperatures below 55 degrees. Germination time is 5 to 7 days. Supersweet hybrids may take as long as 10 days to germinate.

Plant sweet corn in blocks of at least 4 rows of a single hybrid (as opposed to fewer, longer rows) for good pollination and well filled ears.
Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart. Thin seedlings so plants are spaced 10 to 12 inches apart. An increased seeding rate ensures you get a good stand if soils are cold a little dry or you are using seed that has not been treated with fungicide. (Untreated seed has natural color. Treated seed is most often dyed red.)

Hint Corn is a heavy feeder particularly of nitrogen and may require several sidedressings of a general purpose fertilizer, something like NPK 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 for best yields. Look for signs of nutrient deficiency. Purple tinged leaves are a sign of phosphorus deficiency. Pale green leaves are a sign of nitrogen deficiency.

Insect Pest Corn borer. Destroy cornstalks in fall to kill overwintering larvae of the Corn Borer.
Corn earworms. Plant early to avoid corn earworm invasion.

Those sweet corn experts tell me that Sweet corn hybrids come in different levels of sweetness.

Normal (su) – These hybrids are flavorful, stress tolerant, and vigorous growers. But they aren’t as sweet as other hybrids and their sugar starts turning to starch quickly after picking.

Sugar enhanced (se, se+, EH, Everlasting Heritage) Fall between normal and supersweet hybrids in terms of vigor, stress tolerance, flavor, sweetness, and how quickly their sugar changes to starch.

Supersweet (sh2, shrunken) These hybrids contain two to three times more sugar than normal hybrids, and the sugar in their kernels changes to starch very slowly after harvest. But they aren’t as vigorous as normal hybrids, are more easily stressed by cold and other problems, and often lack the corn flavor or normal hybrids. Hint They must be isolated from Normal and Sugar enhanced varieties pollinating within 10 to 14 days by at least 25 feet, or the kernels will be tough and starchy.

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Sweet Corn And Black Eyed Peas

Sweet Corn on the cob with a big dab of ‘real’ butter, Black Eyed Peas cooked with a slice or 2 of course chopped bacon and corn bread. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

My first planting of sweet corn is about 3 or 4 inches tall. I got a poor germination rate from my first planting. It looks like I have about 25 or maybe 30 plants. Grin … that will be between 40 and 60 ears of corn. The problem is they will mostly all be ready for harvesting the same day. Look out deep freezer, here comes the corn.

Delaying sweet corn harvest by 1 or 2 days will effect the quality. The longer it sets unharvested, the more the sugars are lost and the corn will start becoming tough and starchy.
The same rule apples to cooking and eating sweet corn. Sweet corn to be at it’s best must be consumed the day of harvest or in a worst case the day after harvesting.

Today I made my second corn planting. I will make a third planting about the first day of May. Hopefully this will space out my corn harvest for at least 1 or maybe 1 1/2 months time.
With luck I will have 100 to 150 ears I can bag and put in my freezer. Having home grown corn on the cob at Thanksgiving is a real treat.

Black Eyed peas were planted today as well. I had enough seed to plant 6 rows about 10 feet long.
I like planting several short rows side by side. The plants seem to pollinate better and produce a heavier crop that way.

I planted cucumber seed in two of my large unused patio pots. This is a test run to see how well they produce compared to garden planted cucumbers.

I have a almost completed patio pot drip watering system on my front porch. I must finish that project to make caring for container grown vegetable plants easier and hopefully prevent dry stressing my plants during the dry hot days of summer.

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