The Farm..Cooking, Gardening & Much More - Page 26

nancyruhl · July 20, 2016

It was supposed to be 104 degrees over the weekend, but they have downgraded the forecast to mid 90's. (°F

barefootgardener · July 25, 2016

Yes, a heat wave for us here in MI is anything over 88 degrees, and, we have had many days over that so far this summer. More like mid nineties and up this past month alone.. My garden is suffering..

gorbelly · September 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefootgardener

Black Futsu winter squash harvest..

Ginny

Sorry to resurrect this topic so much later, Ginny, but I'm having trouble finding information from people who have actually grown black futsu.

How many squash did you get per plant?

I grew a couple vines of supposed black futsu, but my seed was almost certainly crossed. The pumpkins looked nothing like the pictures I've seen, including yours. Mine were much smoother, with only a very slightly lumpy surface and very regular, pumpkin-like ribs, not the deep crevices and warts shown in your photos and other photos. They were fairly dark green and did get that powdery finish and then turn buff, though.

I also got barely 2 fruits on one vine (I think the second will ripen before frost) and one and a half (one will definitely not mature in time) on the other.

I got them from Baker Creek, my first experience with seed from them that wasn't true to type. It can happen even to diligent seed companies, but it's especially disappointing when it happens with a crop that has such a long time investment before results are seen.

Trying to decide whether I want to change seed source and try again.

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Hi Gorbelly, sorry for the late response. I do not have as much time to post lately as I would like, but, I did try to respond last week and my reply disappeared for some reason.

For the Black Futsu, I planted three vines per "hill" and got between four to six fruits per vine to start. Some fruit aborted naturally and some fruit were pecked by birds or chickens.. But, I did end up with at least two to three per vine.. I sourced my seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds last year and they were true to type and had excellent germination.. I have gotten some packs from BC years ago and they were true to seed and germinated well back then. I have ordered from BC for many years and have always been pleased with the seeds and service..However, over the last few years or so, a number of varieties were not true to form and I had germination issues.. So, maybe you did not have the true to type variety.. I absolutely loved the flavor of the Black Futsu and the squash turned out to be a favorite of mine. I did not grow any winter squash this year and certainly missed them..

Ginny

gorbelly · October 25, 2016

Thanks so much, Ginny. That was very helpful. I'm pretty sure my seed was crossed. It did not end up looking like black futsu, and the vines were weak and puny looking even though other squash vines in the same area were doing great. I'll definitely try this variety again, either next year or the year after, with seed from a different source. I think BC knows there's a problem because there are no reviews of the black futsu at all from this year and they won't publish my review warning of possible crossed seed.

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Tomato Harvest 2016

T

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorbelly

Thanks so much, Ginny. That was very helpful. I'm pretty sure my seed was crossed. It did not end up looking like black futsu, and the vines were weak and puny looking even though other squash vines in the same area were doing great. I'll definitely try this variety again, either next year or the year after, with seed from a different source. I think BC knows there's a problem because there are no reviews of the black futsu at all from this year and they won't publish my review warning of possible crossed seed.

Your welcome, and glad I could help..I hope you find a reliable source for next season..

Ginny

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Due to drought, heat and a bit of neglect on my part, these two lovely tomatoes were on the small size, but, were delicious regardless. AMH was more productive (The birds took their fair share of bites on all my tomatoes, unfortunately) but, Pappy Kerns had a fabulous concentrated flavor and packed a real tomato punch. Loved it.. One of my favorite tomatoes this year.. Will give both another place in the garden next season, and that say's a lot since I am downsizing drastically..I appreciate and thank the wonderful T'villers who shared the seed with me..

Ginny

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Caramel Apple Upside Down Bundt Cake.. The apples I used were the last ones to be picked 0ff of our heirloom apple trees..

Worth1 · October 25, 2016

Is there supposed to be a picture in the last post I cant see a thing?

Worth

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

The Arkansas Green Cotton boil is about to burst..

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Is there supposed to be a picture in the last post I cant see a thing?

Worth

Worth, it is a bundt cake. I can see the picture.

Worth1 · October 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefootgardener

Worth, it is a bundt cake. I can see the picture.

I can see your cotton pictuer but not the cake it is totally blank no mystery link or anything.

barefootgardener · October 25, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I can see your cotton pictuer but not the cake it is totally blank no mystery link or anything.

Strange.. I can see it on my computer. Are you able to view the other pictures I posted above it? The two tomato pictures?

Worth1 · October 25, 2016

I dont know what to think I looked back at all of the other pictures and they are there.

October 25, 2016	#379
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Hi Gorbelly, sorry for the late response. I do not have as much time to post lately as I would like, but, I did try to respond last week and my reply disappeared for some reason. For the Black Futsu, I planted three vines per "hill" and got between four to six fruits per vine to start. Some fruit aborted naturally and some fruit were pecked by birds or chickens.. But, I did end up with at least two to three per vine.. I sourced my seeds from Pinetree Garden Seeds last year and they were true to type and had excellent germination.. I have gotten some packs from BC years ago and they were true to seed and germinated well back then. I have ordered from BC for many years and have always been pleased with the seeds and service..However, over the last few years or so, a number of varieties were not true to form and I had germination issues.. So, maybe you did not have the true to type variety.. I absolutely loved the flavor of the Black Futsu and the squash turned out to be a favorite of mine. I did not grow any winter squash this year and certainly missed them.. Ginny Last edited by barefootgardener; October 25, 2016 at 12:51 PM.

October 25, 2016	#383
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Due to drought, heat and a bit of neglect on my part, these two lovely tomatoes were on the small size, but, were delicious regardless. AMH was more productive (The birds took their fair share of bites on all my tomatoes, unfortunately) but, Pappy Kerns had a fabulous concentrated flavor and packed a real tomato punch. Loved it.. One of my favorite tomatoes this year.. Will give both another place in the garden next season, and that say's a lot since I am downsizing drastically..I appreciate and thank the wonderful T'villers who shared the seed with me.. Ginny Last edited by barefootgardener; October 25, 2016 at 03:01 PM.

July 20, 2016	#376
nancyruhl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,051	It was supposed to be 104 degrees over the weekend, but they have downgraded the forecast to mid 90's. (°F

July 25, 2016	#377
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Yes, a heat wave for us here in MI is anything over 88 degrees, and, we have had many days over that so far this summer. More like mid nineties and up this past month alone.. My garden is suffering..

October 25, 2016	#380
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Thanks so much, Ginny. That was very helpful. I'm pretty sure my seed was crossed. It did not end up looking like black futsu, and the vines were weak and puny looking even though other squash vines in the same area were doing great. I'll definitely try this variety again, either next year or the year after, with seed from a different source. I think BC knows there's a problem because there are no reviews of the black futsu at all from this year and they won't publish my review warning of possible crossed seed.

October 25, 2016	#381
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Tomato Harvest 2016 T

October 25, 2016	#384
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	Caramel Apple Upside Down Bundt Cake.. The apples I used were the last ones to be picked 0ff of our heirloom apple trees..

October 25, 2016	#385
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Is there supposed to be a picture in the last post I cant see a thing? Worth

October 25, 2016	#386
barefootgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan Zone 4b Posts: 1,291	The Arkansas Green Cotton boil is about to burst..

October 25, 2016	#390
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I dont know what to think I looked back at all of the other pictures and they are there.