Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[sharron]

You can use one of your flower planters to grow a few things next year. I picked a 5 1/2 lb. head of cabbage yesterday along with 3 huge bell peppers and at least a half dozen nice big ripe slicing tomatoes. I also had enough gooseberries to bake a pie.

 

[sharron]

I just re-potted my kumquat and banana tree in stagreen tree and shrub soil I added some perlite and azomite and mycorrhizae .
I found a large fat worm in my kumquat pot. Yeah!
View attachment 1472615

how nice

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had a friend in FL tell me her donkeys were better watch dogs than her dogs...those donkeys would alert them to intruders (2-legged or 4 legged).

They do alert and start braying for anything unusual. I do have to watch my dogs so they don't go in by them. They will stomp them. Donkeys are efficient killers of canines. I once watched them chase a stray cat out of their pasture, poor kitty.

 

[bruceha2000]

I also had enough gooseberries to bake a pie.

Oddly our gooseberry bush hasn't put out anything this year. Had the first crop last year, seemed reasonable for a 1 year old plant. The currant bushes in the same space are doing OK, especially the black currant.

 

[R2elk]

Oddly our gooseberry bush hasn't put out anything this year. Had the first crop last year, seemed reasonable for a 1 year old plant. The currant bushes in the same space are doing OK, especially the black currant.

I had one plant that started producing prolifically three years ago. This year I ended up with 4 different bushes that were loaded. I was too busy protecting the cherry trees from the robins and didn't get around to covering the best gooseberry bush before the turkeys found it. But with all 4 bushes loaded, I still got enough gooseberries for one pie.

The currants are loaded but they are not ripening enough at a time to get enough to do anything with. I really like to take a blueberry muffin recipe and replace the blueberries with the currants. I cover the currants with water in a small saucepan and bring it up to a boil. After cooling, drain the currants and add to the batter instead of blueberries. I also add a 1/4 cup of honey to the recipe.

 

[bruceha2000]

Last year DD1 made gooseberry/raspberry/blackberry jam. It was pretty good so she did it again. But I had to buy the black and raspberries. Not doing that again, too expensive.
Got the currant plants for scones but I'd try the currant pancake idea. Def need some sweetener, currants aren't real sweet.

 

[R2elk]

Last year DD1 made gooseberry/raspberry/blackberry jam. It was pretty good so she did it again. But I had to buy the black and raspberries. Not doing that again, too expensive.
Got the currant plants for scones but I'd try the currant pancake idea. Def need some sweetener, currants aren't real sweet.

The absolute best jam I have had is a mixture of peaches and prune type plums.

 

[JanetMarie]

Has anyone processed gooseberries with the spines on the berry? We have a lot in our woods, and thinking I may make some jam.

I would put through a sieve to remove the spines.

 

[R2elk]

Has anyone processed gooseberries with the spines on the berry? We have a lot in our woods, and thinking I may make some jam.

I would put through a sieve to remove the spines.

What do you mean by spines? I brush off the blossom end and pinch off the stems when I make a gooseberry pie.

 

[sharron]

where is everyone, out working in the garden? thats where i'm headed as soon as i finish my coffee, feed my chickens first then maybe pick more beans, cucumbers tomato's, and rape greens