tomato garden-2014

[camochef]

Originally Posted by kath

You planted 25+ rows of spinach?! It's nice to hear that you're still enjoying your garden and kitchen!

Kath

Have been enjoying steamed spinach for quite a few days now, from my August 9th plantings. The 25 rows planted on Sept 3rd and 4th are now ready for picking too!
Have also been enjoying daily pickings of my late planted summer squash from seed Darlene sent. Green beans from her are just about ready to pick too!

I'm enjoying this fall planting!

enjoy!
Camo

[kath]

Originally Posted by camochef

Have been enjoying steamed spinach for quite a few days now, from my August 9th plantings. The 25 rows planted on Sept 3rd and 4th are now ready for picking too!
Have also been enjoying daily pickings of my late planted summer squash from seed Darlene sent. Green beans from her are just about ready to pick too!

I'm enjoying this fall planting!

enjoy!
Camo

Happy to hear you're enjoying your fall garden, Camo, and very impressed that you've been able to keep a summer squash alive until fall- even my late planted zucchini has long been missing from our menu.

Since I just harvest the outer leaves spinach, 6' planted in double rows keeps us and the neighbors happy at this time of year. We rely more on spinach starting in November when the pole beans, tomatoes, pepper, lettuce and sweet corn are no longer options. I overwinter and 8' x 30" bed of spinach and sometimes plant more in the spring when the early fresh options are limited and in case the overwintered spinach bolts earlier than normal.

Happy harvesting- hope the first frost is delayed!

kath

[camochef]

Originally Posted by kath

Happy to hear you're enjoying your fall garden, Camo, and very impressed that you've been able to keep a summer squash alive until fall- even my late planted zucchini has long been missing from our menu.

Since I just harvest the outer leaves spinach, 6' planted in double rows keeps us and the neighbors happy at this time of year. We rely more on spinach starting in November when the pole beans, tomatoes, pepper, lettuce and sweet corn are no longer options. I overwinter and 8' x 30" bed of spinach and sometimes plant more in the spring when the early fresh options are limited and in case the overwintered spinach bolts earlier than normal.

Happy harvesting- hope the first frost is delayed!

kath

Kath,
We only pick the larger leaves so the plants keep producing. My summer squash seeds were planted on Aug 9 and are producing more every day. Only have 4 plants but they are giving me 7-8 squash /day.
Picked my first potful of green beans today also...planted the same day as the squash and the first major fall spinach plantings.
25 rows of spinach are now producing also. Planted on Sept 3 and 4.

We gave up on sweet corn years ago. Too many deer call our place home and simply tear-up our sweet corn patches. They don't bother tomatoes, or squash, beans and spinach. They do however eat all the lower fruit on the apple trees and pear trees. Also enjoy all the acorns on the oak trees.

I've been eating squash creole, various squash/mushroom/tomato and okra dishes daily for lunch. Some with roasted red peppers and assorted spices. I like nuking the squash with spices then nuking the mushrooms with shallots and garlic before adding it all to the canned tomato and Okra, (Margaret Holmes brand).

Enjoy!
Camo

Camo,

I like just about anything carrying the "Margaret Holmes" label. The only product they produce that isn't up to par right out of the can is their red beans and rice. They need to send their chef to Louisiana for a sabbatical with the Cajuns to learn how red beans and rice should taste. I also like the fact that they are a fairly small, family run company located I think in Alabama. Try their seasoned, Italian Cut green beans. My wife and I rarely purchased store bought canned foods until we discovered Margaret Holmes at Walmart. We stock our pantry with just about everything the sell. We have to purchase them in bulk now because the shelves are usually enpty the next we are in the the store. Now we buy eight or ten cans of almost everything we can find and rarely have a meal without one of their canned veggies. Most of the veggies couldn't taste better if they were raised in my garden and cooked in my kitchen. One item they sell that I like, but most people have never heard of is boiled peanuts in the shell. You pour some from the can into a bowl, heat the bowl a little in the microwave. Sit down with the bowl in your lap and begin shelling and eating peanuts while you watch a football game. Those folks in Georgia really knew what they were doing when they turned a poor mans midday snack into a pours mans cavier.

Ted

[camochef]

Originally Posted by tedln

Camo,

I like just about anything carrying the "Margaret Holmes" label. The only product they produce that isn't up to par right out of the can is their red beans and rice. They need to send their chef to Louisiana for a sabbatical with the Cajuns to learn how red beans and rice should taste. I also like the fact that they are a fairly small, family run company located I think in Alabama. Try their seasoned, Italian Cut green beans. My wife and I rarely purchased store bought canned foods until we discovered Margaret Holmes at Walmart. We stock our pantry with just about everything the sell. We have to purchase them in bulk now because the shelves are usually enpty the next we are in the the store. Now we buy eight or ten cans of almost everything we can find and rarely have a meal without one of their canned veggies. Most of the veggies couldn't taste better if they were raised in my garden and cooked in my kitchen. One item they sell that I like, but most people have never heard of is boiled peanuts in the shell. You pour some from the can into a bowl, heat the bowl a little in the microwave. Sit down with the bowl in your lap and begin shelling and eating peanuts while you watch a football game. Those folks in Georgia really knew what they were doing when they turned a poor mans midday snack into a pours mans cavier.

Ted

Ted,
I'm in total agreement about Margaret Holmes products, although I've never tried their boiled peanuts. T did try their canned peaches for the first time this week, (about half the price of other brands).
My favorite is their Tomatoes and Okra! I've tried other major brands, and none can compare to theirs. Summer squash goes so well with it.
Keep enjoying!
Camo

[crazyoldgooseman]

Thanks for the informative update. I look forward to growing Cowlicks BW for the first time in 2015.

[jmsieglaff]

Camo, I missed this thread until now. Glad I found it, it was a great read. We will both be trying Margaret Curtain for the first time in 2015. Fall spinach is still something I'm struggling with--think I need to water it more and provide shade in august while the plants are tiny. I need to plant around august 10 or so here. Looking forward to your 2015 grow list.

Justin

[guruofgardens]

Camo - always fun to read about your gardening adventures.

You have deer while we've been saddled with grasshoppers the last couple of years. And again we had early frosts. Oh, but to be out in the garden, weeding and harvesting, etc. is so fulfilling. Nothing like it.

[camochef]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Camo, I missed this thread until now. Glad I found it, it was a great read. We will both be trying Margaret Curtain for the first time in 2015. Fall spinach is still something I'm struggling with--think I need to water it more and provide shade in august while the plants are tiny. I need to plant around august 10 or so here. Looking forward to your 2015 grow list.

Justin

Justin,
Fall spinach requires a bit more effort than spinach planted in the spring. it's best to prime your seed before planting.

About a week before planting, soak spinach seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours. Place the wet seeds on a paper towel, and allow to dry at room temperature for a day or two. Shift the seeds to an airtight container, and keep in a cool place for up to a week. (not the refrigerator.) The primed seeds will retain enough moisture to complete the first two stages of germination. After planting, primed spinach seeds germinate in only 5 days, compared to 10 or more days, for seeds straight out of the packet.
Good Luck and enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by guruofgardens

Camo - always fun to read about your gardening adventures.

You have deer while we've been saddled with grasshoppers the last couple of years. And again we had early frosts. Oh, but to be out in the garden, weeding and harvesting, etc. is so fulfilling. Nothing like it.

Jane,
Always trying to make it fun...for everyone!

I'll keep the deer, they don't bother the tomatoes. If I could just eliminate the stinkbugs.
We had early frosts also, and November was much more winter-like than December has been... so far.
Really looking forward to spring this year, much more than the past few years. Could be the new to me varieties of tomatoes to try thanks to Darlene, or the new found appreciation for spinach and squash. Why, I'm even planting Brussels sprouts this coming season. I grew up hating Brussels Sprouts until I tried them roasted just recently.

Have a great season ahead and enjoy!
Stay safe!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by crazyoldgooseman

Thanks for the informative update. I look forward to growing Cowlicks BW for the first time in 2015.

I hope they do well for you, they've been a favorite here for the last 7-8 years.
Enjoy!
Camo

[robbins]

Hi Camo - finally getting time to read the 2014 reviews. Glad to hear the Bear Creeks continue to do well for you. Now I really want to try your GJxBC's - looking forward to hearing more about that! Ten plants for next year - seriously?!