Michigan

[swampducks]

I transplanted 9 tomatoes into the new garden today. Threw in a bit of my own compost and watered them well. DH set up a fence inside to trellis my cucumbers on. I'd go plant some more stuff but I spent an hour on the phone with Net10 to get them to reactivate my phone for the 3 rd time in as many weeks, and I am tired. They keep changing my zip code to one in Arkansas and it's driving me nuts. Especially when they tell me I have to tell them to do that. BUT I'M NOT, SOMEONE ELSE IS!!!

So tomorrow I'll plant the cukes, etc out there.

I should move my irises, too, the ducks have done a number on them.

 

[swampducks]

All my cukes and zukes and pumpkins are planted. I had started them inside just over a week ago. They got kind of leggy, I may plant some seeds directly in those hills where only 1 seed sprouted.

And I picked my first snow peas today! Just a handful. I set up a sprinkler, too because it's not raining and that garden is very dry. Hopefully, I'll have a few more before I cook them with my venison back strap if not tomorrow, then on Saturday. Now if I could just wave a wand and get my tomatoes to take off.

 

[Dascountry]

:tools Just came in from the garden with some lettuce and spinach. Told DH he gets some fresh spinach tomorrow. He doesn't care for the leaf lettuce but I love it. The cukes I started inside didn't do well so I planted some direct and they are up now. No third leaf yet. Pumpkins, three kinds: Jack, Sugar and Casper. Only two hills of the Casper. I hope I get some white pumpkins so I'll have more seeds for next year. They are suppose to be good for pies too. I freeze my pumpkin after blending it with all the fixings for pie including the eggs. All except for the canned milk. Pull a ziplock bag out of the freezer, thaw and prestow ready for pie Been doing that for years. We're suppose to get some rain tomorrow night so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The gardens need a another good soaker.

Anyone know of a good organic way to get the ants our of the veggie garden? We have mostly sand and the ants are terrible I've been putting used coffee grounds in it. Heard that awhile back, doesn't seem to be doing anything though

 

[Jared77]

I agree we need rain. Thats the downside of working 24hr shifts is not being there to really water when we need it. I'm working Sunday and I keep hearing its going to be 90 degrees.

My gherkins are coming along nicely that I directly sowed. Some have a 3rd and even a 4th leaf. I had to replant 3 of the 8 hills last week but I'm seeing some signs that they are coming through. First time trying them this year. So far so good. My pole beans are just at the point Im training them to the teepees. I've got to hill my volunteer potatoes, they are starting to get tall. I'm going to have to replace some green peppers I've got 8 in the middle of a row that just up and suddenly crashed on me. They wilted like they were dry. I don't know if its something I did, but they didn't show any other signs other than a lack of water. But the rest of the row that has green, yellow, red, and orange bells in it look fine and my hot peppers next to them are doing fine as well also. I just don't get it.

Anyway everything else looks good. My Jet Setters are getting big and blooming, so are my Black Krims (those look the best out there they are HUGE) as well as my Lemon Boysare all looking strong. My Early Girls and Romas are doing fine though smaller than my other varieties. I planted them when they were smaller so I'm not surprised they are behind a bit. But given the time to maturity on them it should all work out fine. I need to weed around my pickling cukes and get some mulch down to let them creep over.

Wednesday we went strawberry picking at a local U pick. Myself, my wife and our 4 y.o. daughter picked over 45lbs of strawberries in a few hours. So been busy making jam and freezing batches of whole strawberries for shortcake and even made a batch of strawberry ice cream. It has GREAT flavor but the texture is a little off. Its not quite as silky as I'd like it. I used whole milk and I may drop down to 2% or even 1% to see if I can get it silkier, unless someone else has a suggestion. It just said milk so I assumed whole for the extra fat. But with the Heavy whipping cream and whole milk that may have done it. Oh well gives me another reason to make more

Geez what am I doing here with all this stuff I just listed that I need to get done?

Time to get busy be safe!

 

[swampducks]

Have you tried adding a well beaten egg or more to your ice cream? I know some recipes use them and some don't. Haven't made ice cream in years. I've got a Donvier 1 quart mixer somewhere. If I can find it maybe I'll stick the chiller part in the freezer this summer.

We got about 1/2 an inch of rain last night. Perked my leggy pumpkins right up. Planted a couple more seeds of that yellow midget watermelon (name escapes me) since only 1 of those that I planted indoors survived.

Damn duckling ate the rest of one of my tomatoes in a deck pot so I replaced it today and threatened the duck with being dinner. I do not think it cared. Kept them penned up today because DH and I will be taking the canoe out to fish! Haven't done that in years. Maybe we'll catch dinner!

I bought some local strawberries pre-picked the other day but may head out with a neighbor soon and pick our own. I still have canned jam from the last time. Forget it's in the basement. Really should get a couple jars up here, bet it would taste good on vanilla ice cream.

 

[swampducks]

fair weather chicken!

Don't know if I said that or not, so better late than never?

Do stop in again. :happy_flower

 

[fair weather chicken]

thank you, swampducks!

 

[Dascountry]

Wow you all are talking strawberries. Mine are no where near ready. Just got their blossoms not to long ago. I'm sure the rain last night really has helped them along though. We got quite a bit, well needed too. My spinach is starting to seed already. Just a couple but still......

Welcome from me also fair weather chicken

 

[Jared77]

Hey Fair Weather Chicken welcome aboard.

The place we went to for strawberries was in Gregory. Degroots farm, they've been around 20+ years apparently. Well run operation we'll be going back there no question about it. The ice cream recipe did call for whipped eggs so I beat them and they were well fluffed. I wonder if I shouldn't have let my daughter just dump the sugar in like she did, and instead keep beating and gently spooned in the sugar? Maybe next time Ill use heavy cream instead of milk like the recipe called for. It was a Ben and Jerry's recipe too. Flavors spot on, but the texture is just a little crunchy instead of silky. I froze it in a ziplock container thats supposed to be freezer safe so I figured I was good to go. Maybe not? I don't know.

My green bells perked back up. Stupid things keep wilting and coming back at a moments notice. They make me crazy. They didn't look root bound when I planted them I'm surprised they haven't expanded and become a little more stable. Never going to get any bell peppers this way. They just suck up water like its nobody's business. I've never had this much issue with them before. They are California Wonders for what its worth. I didn't think they'd be like that but hey I've been wrong before just ask my wife!!!

 

[swampducks]

I've tried growing bell peppers in the past. One year I got a smallish pepper. But otherwise they just won't grow for me. Instead I grow the sweet pickle, which are tiny and long but taste like bell peppers and gypsy, but I couldn't find any seeds for that one this year! It's a pale, pale green and about 1-2 inches wide and 4-5 inches long. I really like that one. I should google and see if I can find another company to order it from next year.