Kitchen gardeners

[marmalady]

Anyone grow their own?

Here's a great site to order seed:Cook's Garden (http://www.cooksgarden.com)

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[~Patrick~]

I cant see buying a pack of 50 seeds when all I want is two plants. I have a favorite Amishman I go to to buy seedlings. And his flowers are $3-$5 dollors a flat. We can walk out of there with a $20 bill and have aroung a hundred plants if you get the small ones. This year I am putting a herb garden in somewhere???? And adding to my jungle around the pond.

T-10 complete
10/08/01

[marmalady]

Pat - I knew I'd snag ya! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif I know what you mean about getting a whole packet for just a few. I've kept extra seeds in a ziplock in the freezer over the winter, and they've done just fine, so I figure I"ve gotten my money's worth.

Plus, this company has got some outstanding varieties - check out their herbs, especiallly basil!

I'll probably be doing a container garden this year, haven't had time to stake out a permanent spot in the back yard. So far, just a 'salad garden' - tomatoes, cukes, and mixed salad greens. I'll have to learn the southern bugs all over again - just as I was getting to know the Jersey ones!

Pat - can you stick some herbs around the pond? I bet things like thyme and basil would love it around the extra humidity.

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[~Patrick~]

Have you tried the "bush" cukes? I planted them one year and it was great because of less vines. Not a large harvest like the vines but then again I am the only one eating them. mmmmm lettuce, tomatoe and cuke salad with a spoon of mayo and some chives. Is it spring yet?

T-10 complete
10/08/01

[marmalady]

Yep, I have, and like 'em for the same reasons you do! Burpee's, I think, also has bush yellow squash and zucchini. I love the 'japanese' cukes - the long, skinny ones with hardly any seeds; they're so crispy!

Spring here in the South is taking it's time, too - the 'old folks' are saying they've not seen a winter like this in Charleston. But the daffodils are starting to bloom!

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[Nancie]

Originally posted by Marmalady:

Yep, I have, and like 'em for the same reasons you do! Burpee's, I think, also has bush yellow squash and zucchini. I love the 'japanese' cukes - the long, skinny ones with hardly any seeds; they're so crispy!

Spring here in the South is taking it's time, too - the 'old folks' are saying they've not seen a winter like this in Charleston. But the daffodils are starting to bloom!

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

daffodils.......sigh...

i had a large veggie and herb garden before i moved......for some reason i haven't grown anything in my new place.
i love garlic chives (chinese leeks) better than regular chives, and herbs are easy to grow even if you have room for just a pot on the windowsill.
i want spring! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

[marco25]

A quick word about garlic chives. I potted some over two years ago when we lived in North Carolina. The plant survived one of the worst ice storms in the history of that state--it was encased in ice! Then we moved down here, and I neglected it for over a year. I was cleaning up and organizing my potting bench when I noticed the garlic chives on a bottom shelf in the shade--blooming away happily! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I pulled it out, cleaned it up, watered it and have it in the sun. (Watch, it'll be dead by morning! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif) I took great pleasure in using some in tonight's meal.

[~Patrick~]

I have been planning this years garden and thought about this. One year I planted jalepenos between my sweet greens and had an awsome mildly hot green peppers! I guess they can cross polinate???

T-10 complete
10/08/01

[marmalady]

Hmmm - nice theory, Pat - but - They're 'breeding' jalapenos milder to appease the taste of the general public; more than likely you either got a batch of the milder seeds, or it could have been the growing season. Chilies need long, long hot summers - think about where most of 'em originated, in hot climates. The only luck I had with hot chilies in Central Jersey was one summer a while ago that did end up being very long and very hot - and I got an awesome crop that year!

ON the other hand, 'companion planting' the peppers with your greens is a great space-saving idea, as when the greens are about gone, your peppers will have sprung up and have the room they need!

BTW, did you know if you have a bumper crop of chilies, you can just pick 'em, put 'em in ziplocks and freeze. I kept a batch for a year with no loss in quality - or heat!

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[~Patrick~]

I washed them and put them in ziplock bags in the freezer, whole. My green peppers I slice and freeze.
What can't you put green peppers and onions in?

T-10 complete
10/08/01

[marmalady]

Patrick - hate to brag, but - oh well, here goes - I GOT BLOSSOMS ON MY 'MATERS!!!

The strawberries are in here already - I'm having to get used to the growing season down here! There's an old plantation that's still a working farm; they grow peaches, greens, strawberries and tomatoes. Just got some strawberries the other day, and they were delicious!

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[marco25]

Marm - hate to brag http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif - I GOT GREEN 'MATERS ALL OVER THE PLACE! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I LOVE strawberries, but we can buy them fresh all over the place down here. What a fun time of year to grow things and eat!

[marmalady]

Okay, okay - I know when I've been trumped! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[marco25]

I'm so excited. I just finished picking my first batch of tomatoes. Tatiana and I just finished off a handful of cherry tomatoes. They were almost as sweet as grapes. I also got one pretty beefeater tomato.

My onions are coming along nicely, but my jalepeno plant is not producing.

How's everyone else's gardens coming along? Being in the deep south, I know my veggies are coming in a little earlier than most of the rest of you.

[marmalady]

It's been so dry here, everything's just sort of sitting, even with watering twice a day. The little green 'maters are turning into big green 'maters, tho, so I guess some progress is being made!

Martha, I think hot chilis all need a long time to develop and get going. Don't lose patience, keep doing the magic dance over them, sing to them every day, and I'm sure you'll get a bumper crop!

Is the cayenne pepper the chili most used in Louisiana?

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

[marco25]

Thanks, Marm. I'll keep dancing. We appear to have hit a rainy season ... we've got flood watches and storms every day. At least it's keeping things relatively cool but muggy, but my flowers and veggies are getting plenty of water.

Dried, ground cayenne is a very popular seasoning here. In almost everything. As far as fresh peppers, probably sweet green/bell peppers. They are a member of the "Cajun Trinity" of cooking: onions, bell pepper and celery sauteed in oil or butter--foundation of just about every dish here. Plus we like to eat them in salads or just as a healthy snack.

BTW, the tomatoes are coming in! Yum. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif