Ducks4you for 2022

[meadow]

DD and I agree that you Buy broth in quarts, but USE pints, hence the pints of broth today.

That is brilliant! *takes notes*

 

[baymule]

I cook with broth too. I use my home made chicken broth when I cook rice. I use it in lots of things. I canned pinto beans on broth. It not only adds flavor, but extra nutrients also. Good for for canning broth!

 

[ducks4you]

I tried neem oil. No good. I squished hundreds with my fingers - they smell icky. I finally resorted to chemicals. I'm going to be on top of them better this year.

If somebody finds a working and affordable REAL solution to squash bugs and vine borers they should get a Nobel Peace Prize, for giving we gardeners some peace!

 

[ducks4you]

Tomato history

The Legacy of Campbell Soup’s Tomato Breeding Program - Modern Farmer

How the canned food Campbell's company helped the Garden State become synonymous with luscious red tomatoes.

modernfarmer.com

From Poison to Passion: The Secret History of the Tomato - Modern Farmer

Before tomatoes became America's sweetheart, they were seen as watery, tough and possibly poisonous.

modernfarmer.com

AND possible future~

Scientists Try to Build a Tomato That Grows 24 Hours a Day - Modern Farmer

Currently, tomatoes needs their beauty sleep. But scientists think they may have stumbled on a tomato that can stay up all night long.

modernfarmer.com

 

[ducks4you]

Just welcomed a new member, whose original post went under my radar.
Some new members may believe that this is personal information and are afraid to share this.
PLEASE at LEAST put down your growing zone!!!
If you ask questions, those of us who have been here awhile might as well be answering gardening questions from somebody on Mars, or the Arctic, or a desert island.
Just so you know, if I don't see a growing zone, I will probably not reply to your conversation.

 

[heirloomgal]

3) I started these sweet peppers in a plastic container repurposed, NO drainage holes, outside, moved it around, Never transplanted them, until right before a frost last Fall, then put them on top of a heating mat and under a gro light.
I started them from seed LAST SUMMER. when the sweet pepper seeds I had started ALL failed, and I had this one old package, so...
(BTW, the gro light for the top shelf is pink, so everything looks pink, even the white gro light above the peppers.)
The first group of peppers just got a plastic humidity cover. I might be transplanting the others and using those plastic sleeves I just removed from the herbs.
View attachment 46670View attachment 46671

Those pepper plants look fantastic. Nice deep green, glossy leaves. Do you pinch them?

 

[heirloomgal]

4) Citronella
This was the novelty buy from 2021. It was in a hanging plastic pot, and needed transplanting. It LOVES being next to the south facing basement window. Dunno WHAT I'm going to do with it! I need to study up to see:
(a) if it wants to be a bush
(b) if I can divide it next summer
These are Both growing on the 1/2 of an old, red covered kitchen counter in the basement. It has a sink, with countertop on both sides, and cabinets underneath for storage.
Plant Doesn't ask for much attention, so it lives.View attachment 46681

My stepmum grew these for years, and always overwintered them. Tough as nails. They were always pretty bushy, and she divided them fairly often. Said to repel insects...

 

[heirloomgal]

Squash vine borers over-winter underground, but I don't think you have those west of the Rockies (yet). Squash bugs, unfortunately, over-winter in nearby debris or sheltered locations. They can also over-winter where nearby farms & gardens grew squash or pumpkins, and will fly to your garden from there. Very hard to get rid of. All you can really do (other than sprays) is to cover squash plants during the egg-laying period. Hopefully by the time the vines get female flowers, the bugs are gone, and the plants can be uncovered. If I cover the plants until mid-July here, it will usually protect from squash bugs, squash vine borers, and the first hatch of cucumber beetles.

I may occasionally have to live in a solid block of ice, which is the price I pay, but wowzers I'm glad that we have NONE of those bugs here!

 

[ducks4you]

@heirloomgirl, NO, I didn't pinch them back.
I will probably try pruning them, but they All need transplanting first.
I had Planned today to work on starting bulbs indoors today bc I left them in a plastic pot in the garage. Good news: several are sprouting. Bad news: my afternoon is getting too full.
I Did repot my amaryllis, but it looks a little dry. I have it now on my kitchen counter, so I will cross my fingers.
I had it in a garden bed all summer, after DD couldn't get any blooms last year. IF it is still alive, she will want to show it off in her new office. At the old office EVERYONE stopped to admire it.
I could use a tutorial on dividing my citronella plant, pls.

 

[ducks4you]

So, (say DD's), whatcha gonna make for dinner Wednesday, (since you are Forcing us to drive There bc of your ((stupid, My words)) city counsel meeting)?
Duck pie.
You have heard of Chicken Pot Pie, maybe Turkey Pot Pie. You have LIVED until you have had
DUCK POT PIE!!!
This is all that was left after the 4 of us had feasted, and now...it's gone. Great lunch!