Gardening Thread- Show me your gardens!

Tropical storm Bill rolled in today.

I had to go harvest these in the middle of the storm.

I have the cucumbers growing on a trellis and the wind was rocking the cucumbers back and forth to the point the plant was starting to break. Sadly a lot of the flowers were getting blown off.

 

Nice, hope bill isn't to bad down there. Guess we will be getting the remnants later in the week. Do need a little rain, news said we are 2" below normal right now.

 

I hope not, I will check on any damage tomorrow.

 

That's strange. Bill's not usually the one doing the blowing...




Nice looking cukes, though, even if you did have to harvest them a little early.

 

Looks amazing but "it's a trap"

 

They're big enough, I just like harvesting them when I see their growth slow down. Kinda curious how big they can get.

 

They can get pretty damn big if you just let them grow. But the seeds get big and harden up too, so they get pretty difficult to eat. I usually let one per year grow until the vine dies, and use it as my seed source for the next season.

 

I like that idea. I have never used a previous year's cucumbers for seeds.

How do I do this?

Let it grow until the vine dies, but what if it yellows out? Will it rot? When do i pull the seeds out?

 

You might have a different timeframe down there, but I usually let the cuke sit on the vine for 5-6 weeks after it turns yellow, or when the vine dies, whichever happens first (usually the vine gets frosted and dies first around here, but that usually happens around the 5 week mark so it's not a big deal).
Slice the cuke lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and the 'jelly' around them. Toss the rest in the compost (or give it to the chickens; that's what I do) because it's usually sour and not very good. Put the seeds and jelly in a mason jar and let them sit at room temp for a few days (usually 4-5), stirring daily. The 'jelly' will turn more liquid-y and start to mold, but that's normal. The good seeds will sink to the bottom and the bad ones will float on top. Scoop out the junk and strain the good seeds out in a pasta strainer. Give them a good rinse and spread them on a paper towel to dry completely, then put them in a ziplock/mason jar and stick them someplace cool and dark until spring.

I've read that it's recommended that you save a fruit from at least two plants to avoid 'inbreeding' but I've also read that it's not a problem with cukes. I've just done one fruit for the last few years and I haven't noticed any trouble yet, but do two if you're worried about it.

 

Also, when keeping seeds for the next year, you have to make sure its a true seed for that variety. Meaning, it's has to be an heirloom variety or an open pollinating, not some hybrid or HMO type seed. Otherwise you might not get the same plant or variety of plant the following year.

 

Right, this is true.
I always forget that not everybody grows heirloom varieties

 

Yes, some people would be amazed of the difference in taste among other things what a TRUE tomato taste like. I have tomato seeds I plant every yr that came from my grand parents garden from the 30's. Have no clue what type of tomato it is but holy cow, its big beautiful and taste like no other. Usually keep one plants harvest and take those seeds. Nothing better.

 

Thanks for the info guys!

I like the fact this is a mature thread compared to the others.

Although some random BS is fun also.

 

Heirloom variety tomatoes are the bomb. Usually the yields are a little lower than the hybrids, but they've got SOOOO much more flavor.

The foul-smelling rabble that stir up trouble in the other threads are scared of getting their hands dirty, so they stay out of the garden

 

haha!

 

anybody want any cucumber instant grow?

*sigh* ill be checking the garden after work today for any bill damage.

 

I agree, believe it or not after working all day, mowing or stocking my veggy wagon back up is a good stress reliever. I have a "donations accepted" wagon I put at the end of my driveway. Tomatoes are obviously the best mover.

 

I need to do that.

Next year I am producing more veggies and would like to see what "sells".

 

That's what we do with eggs. Veggies are all either consumed fresh or they get preserved for eating during the winter. But the birds produce so many eggs that we can't keep up.

 

I live out in the country like some others on here do. I get repeat customers and some have actually asked me to grow certain plants for them. Sometimes I do if I've seen them come often. But the biggest reward is the youngsters that I let pick there own tomato or zucchini, they get so excited. Ive even traded vegetables for fresh milk that was the bomb, I'll do that every week if I can.