Gardening

[Uncle Dave]

Thanks for that link Uncle Dave.

You're welcome brother. In your previous post it looks to me like your a salsa fan. If so do you preserve any and how do you preserve it? BTW, I finally figured out how to make guacamole without having to run out back gagging.

[Blue Heaven]

You're welcome brother. In your previous post it looks to me like your a salsa fan. If so do you preserve any and how do you preserve it? BTW, I finally figured out how to make guacamole without having to run out back gagging.

We can salsa every year. We use romas for our salsa. The wife is the canning expert around here. She will peel and cook down the maters with a salsa spice pack. Fills the jars. Puts on lids and rings then into the pressure cooker. One year our maters didn't ripen so we just made some salsa verde. I love that better than the traditional.

IMO, the secret ingredient to quac is cumin. It is so easy to make. Couple avacados. Some garlic cloves. Red onion. A small roma or 2. Cilantro. Cumin. Lime juice.

[Uncle Dave]

We can salsa every year. We use romas for our salsa. The wife is the canning expert around here. She will peel and cook down the maters with a salsa spice pack. Fills the jars. Puts on lids and rings then into the pressure cooker. One year our maters didn't ripen so we just made some salsa verde. I love that better than the traditional.

IMO, the secret ingredient to quac is cumin. It is so easy to make. Couple avacados. Some garlic cloves. Red onion. A small roma or 2. Cilantro. Cumin. Lime juice.

Awesome. I'm canning me some salsa this year...red and green.

[Old School]

Uncle Dave, what you do in your garden sounds terrific. I also think it's terrific that you share your knowledge so much.

We are giving it a shot this spring, after very mixed results in prior years. We have a raised bed (wood) and will enclose it with plastic fencing to keep rabbits and other critters out. It started several years ago with fill dirt that was probably poor quality but it's had a lot of compost put in it over the years and the soil now is full of earthworms and fairly dark. I till the soil each year. In past years I used a gas-powered tiller to really turn and churn it to a depth past 2 feet. This year I used rakes and a shovel. The area gets a lot of sun, and is watered regularly. Sometimes I use a little Miracle Gro. We'll try zucchini, squash, beets, okra, green peppers, soybeans, and hopefully some tomatoes. In past years the green peppers, squash and zucchini produce for a while but then most years they just stop. I don't know if it has to do with pollination or soil or what. The okra grows like crazy but that's been our only success story.

I'll gladly accept, appreciate and used any advice anyone has on watering, what to do with the soil, vegetables that are easy to grow, or any other aspect of this. Our results have been very inconsistent and anything that would point us in the right direction would be helpful.

[Uncle Dave]

Uncle Dave, what you do in your garden sounds terrific. I also think it's terrific that you share your knowledge so much.

We are giving it a shot this spring, after very mixed results in prior years. We have a raised bed (wood) and will enclose it with plastic fencing to keep rabbits and other critters out. It started several years ago with fill dirt that was probably poor quality but it's had a lot of compost put in it over the years and the soil now is full of earthworms and fairly dark. I till the soil each year. In past years I used a gas-powered tiller to really turn and churn it to a depth past 2 feet. This year I used rakes and a shovel. The area gets a lot of sun, and is watered regularly. Sometimes I use a little Miracle Gro. We'll try zucchini, squash, beets, okra, green peppers, soybeans, and hopefully some tomatoes. In past years the green peppers, squash and zucchini produce for a while but then most years they just stop. I don't know if it has to do with pollination or soil or what. The okra grows like crazy but that's been our only success story.

I'll gladly accept, appreciate and used any advice anyone has on watering, what to do with the soil, vegetables that are easy to grow, or any other aspect of this. Our results have been very inconsistent and anything that would point us in the right direction would be helpful.

Sometimes folks use really potent fertilizer(Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium)...NPK. Each one serves a general purpose. N is good for plant growth and foliage. P is good for flowering and fruiting. K is a really good source of micro nutrients and is excellent for overall plant health. Too much N will cause the plant to grow like gangbusters, but produce few fruits. I would recommend a fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 5-10-5. Add some at planting, then when you see plants producing buds, fertilize again. Follow up in a month or so. Lots of plants are HEAVY feeders. The rule of thumb for watering is, plants need 1" of rain per week. I use a cheap rain gauge. Young seedlings need to have light sprinklings to keep the surface moist. Water often and gently, but not too much. Sets like tomatoes need a little more and a deeper watering. DON'T SPRAY WATER ON ANY FOLIAGE!!!!!. It can actually burn plant tissue if it's too hot and sunny. It will definitely spread mold spores all over your plant. Use a watering wand and keep the water at the base of the plant. Add organic matter....leaves, grass clippings, straw, etc. Use it as a mulch. Feed your soil.

[Uncle Dave]

Yep. Usually wait till around Mother's Day to plant. We usually just grow squash, green peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

This works really, really well, not just for peppers but other plants too.....

[Lighthouse]

Sometimes folks use really potent fertilizer(Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium)...NPK. Each one serves a general purpose. N is good for plant growth and foliage. P is good for flowering and fruiting. K is a really good source of micro nutrients and is excellent for overall plant health. Too much N will cause the plant to grow like gangbusters, but produce few fruits. I would recommend a fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 5-10-5. Add some at planting, then when you see plants producing buds, fertilize again. Follow up in a month or so. Lots of plants are HEAVY feeders. The rule of thumb for watering is, plants need 1" of rain per week. I use a cheap rain gauge. Young seedlings need to have light sprinklings to keep the surface moist. Water often and gently, but not too much. Sets like tomatoes need a little more and a deeper watering. DON'T SPRAY WATER ON ANY FOLIAGE!!!!!. It can actually burn plant tissue if it's too hot. It will definitely spread mold spores all over your plant. Use a watering wand and keep the water at the base of the plant. Add organic matter....leaves, grass clippings, straw, etc. Use it as a mulch. Feed your soil.

I totally agree with this advice on fertilizer. To much nitrogen isn't good for veggies. I put in a very very small amount of Epsom salts. It provides Magnesium and helps plants absorb nutrients. It works well on flowers, but haven't used it on veggies.

[Blue Heaven]

This works really, really well, not just for peppers but other plants too.....

Thank you sir!

[Uncle Dave]

Uncle Dave, what you do in your garden sounds terrific. I also think it's terrific that you share your knowledge so much.

We are giving it a shot this spring, after very mixed results in prior years. We have a raised bed (wood) and will enclose it with plastic fencing to keep rabbits and other critters out. It started several years ago with fill dirt that was probably poor quality but it's had a lot of compost put in it over the years and the soil now is full of earthworms and fairly dark. I till the soil each year. In past years I used a gas-powered tiller to really turn and churn it to a depth past 2 feet. This year I used rakes and a shovel. The area gets a lot of sun, and is watered regularly. Sometimes I use a little Miracle Gro. We'll try zucchini, squash, beets, okra, green peppers, soybeans, and hopefully some tomatoes. In past years the green peppers, squash and zucchini produce for a while but then most years they just stop. I don't know if it has to do with pollination or soil or what. The okra grows like crazy but that's been our only success story.

I'll gladly accept, appreciate and used any advice anyone has on watering, what to do with the soil, vegetables that are easy to grow, or any other aspect of this. Our results have been very inconsistent and anything that would point us in the right direction would be helpful.

Should have added this earlier....

[Uncle Dave]

Here's Ole Uncle Dave in action......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pUQgsDgOc4

[Matt Dillon]

Here's Ole Uncle Dave in action......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pUQgsDgOc4

Cool! WCN has a celebrity.

[Lighthouse]

Great idea Uncle Dave.

[Uncle Dave]

Cool! WCN has a celebrity.

LOL!! I should start a "Go Fund Me" site and get while the gettn's good.

My boss(Jeff. Co. Extension Agent for Horticulture) and I are both extremely excited about the upcoming second video!! We feel it will be a real eye opener to folks who like to garden and produce inexpensive, ultra high quality food...even in the winter. Depending on her schedule, it should be filmed, edited, and posted in 7-10 days. Stay tuned everybody.

[Matt Dillon]

[SIZE=16px]LOL!! I should start a "Go Fund Me" site and get while the gettn's good.

There you go.

[Matt Dillon]

LOL!! I should start a "Go Fund Me" site and get while the gettn's good.

My boss(Jeff. Co. Extension Agent for Horticulture) and I are both extremely excited about the upcoming second video!! We feel it will be a real eye opener to folks who like to garden and produce inexpensive, ultra high quality food...even in the winter. Depending on her schedule, it should be filmed, edited, and posted in 7-10 days. Stay tuned everybody.

Be sure and let us know when it's available, for viewing, Uncle Dave.