Homesteaders

[rancher hicks]

Has anyone grown kidney or black beans? Dad just topped the pear tree and has some that were 20 feet long, figured that might work for trellises for beans and peas. I haven't made a trellis before but the pictures don't look that hard, and pear is a little flexible I think. Might see if Grandpa will let me do a row of 1/3 kidney, 1/3 black and 1/3 peas between the tomatoes and squash. Can I plant them close like that or will they cross pollinate?

I have bought seeds to plant and shell. From what I've read it's best to plant them at least 20' apart. I've planted pole beans in the past and have learned not to use poles that are too high or I can't harvest them.

Though now that I think of it I could leave the ones I can't reach for seed saving, right? If they're eating beans that is.

Many folks write about the Three sisters method of planting but I don't have the space for that.

One catalog has the Buttercup squash in the bush type and those are the ones I will most likely plant. I never knew it came in the bush variety. The first year I planted squash I planted Buttercup and it spread all over the yard out of the garden. I sat on the ground hand pollinating it. DW and I liked the taste best.

I did plant ButterNUT one year and the chickens couldn't peck through the rind/skin. We didn't like the flavor though. Now that I think of it I might plant butternut to save for winter feeding of the chickens.

I also planted Green Hubbard but the squirrels got at it and you don't get too many per vine so it doesn't work for us.

We do like the acorn variety.

Getting lots of catalogs lets me find varieties that work for my gardening style.

Who here has "trellised" cucumbers? What kind did you plant? Did you have to train them up the trellis or did they go up it by itself? I'll need to find two varieties.

Anyone make a squash soup? We bought a "box soup" at the store but neither of us liked it.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I have bought seeds to plant and shell. From what I've read it's best to plant them at least 20' apart.  I've planted pole beans in the past and have learned not to use poles that are too high or I can't harvest them.   

Though now that I think of it I could leave the ones I can't reach for seed saving, right?  If they're eating beans that is.  

Many folks write about the Three sisters method of planting but I don't have the space for that.  

One catalog has the Buttercup squash in the bush type and those are the ones I will most likely plant.  I never knew it came in the bush variety.  The first year I planted squash I planted Buttercup and it spread all over the yard out of the garden. I sat on the ground hand pollinating it.  DW and I liked the taste best.

I did plant ButterNUT one year and the chickens couldn't peck through the rind/skin. We didn't like the flavor though. Now that I think of it I might plant butternut to save for winter feeding of the chickens. 

I also planted Green Hubbard but the squirrels got at it and you don't get too many per vine so it doesn't work for us.  

We do like the acorn variety.   

Getting lots of catalogs lets me find varieties that work for my gardening style.  

Who here has "trellised" cucumbers?  What kind did you plant?  Did you have to train them up the trellis or did they go up it by itself?  I'll need to find two varieties. 

Anyone make a squash soup?  We bought a "box soup" at the store but neither of us liked it. 

yes you can trellis any cucumber variety. Yes you have to train it , but it is so worth the effort. It alleviates the ground rot that sometimes happens with ground cove cucumbers. You can trellis any type of viny plant, even

. I love growing my plants up not out. It saves room for another plant.

 

[rancher hicks]

Does anyone grow Huckleberry/ S. melanocerasum. The variety sold by Baker Creek?

 

[rancher hicks]

Who grows and stores Carrots? What variety or varieties and what advice can you give me on growing them?

I checked the store bag but Green Giant doesn't give the variety.

 

[Raech]

Who grows and stores Carrots?  What variety or varieties and what advice can you give me on growing them? 

I checked the store bag but Green Giant doesn't give the variety.  

Rancher, I really love them short and sweet, I buy them at Walmart. I can plant in a shallower bed and not have to dig them up, I just grab the leaves and pull.

 

[Beekissed]

I trellis all tomatoes, cukes, peas and beans and, if I had more trellis I'd do my pumpkins, watermelons and cantaloupes that way as well. As it is, they try to climb the garden fence wherever they can. I usually just let the bigger melons and pumpkins grow within the corn to save space. Cukes will trellis themselves and you don't really have to weave them through the trellis, but you might want to train them in a certain direction or they will move into the next plant's trellis space instead of continuing upward.

I am planting carrots this year, but in previous years we've not been able to due to the hard pack clay soils here...I have hope this year that the BTE method will allow me to get a carrot crop finally. This year I'll be planting Nantes, Atomic Reds, and some variety of purple carrots...will report on if that has been a success.

The only squash we really like here~yellow straight neck~grows so plentiful and clear up into the fall that we don't give space for any other types of squash.

The longest storing pumpkin I have found to grow is the Rouge Vif D'Etampes...they are easy to grow, are quite beautiful and store a long time.

 

[rancher hicks]

I trellis all tomatoes, cukes, peas and beans and, if I had more trellis I'd do my pumpkins, watermelons and cantaloupes that way as well. As it is, they try to climb the garden fence wherever they can. I usually just let the bigger melons and pumpkins grow within the corn to save space. Cukes will trellis themselves and you don't really have to weave them through the trellis, but you might want to train them in a certain direction or they will move into the next plant's trellis space instead of continuing upward.

I am planting carrots this year, but in previous years we've not been able to due to the hard pack clay soils here...I have hope this year that the BTE method will allow me to get a carrot crop finally. This year I'll be planting Nantes, Atomic Reds, and some variety of purple carrots...will report on if that has been a success.

The only squash we really like here~yellow straight neck~grows so plentiful and clear up into the fall that we don't give space for any other types of squash.

The longest storing pumpkin I have found to grow is the Rouge Vif D'Etampes...they are easy to grow, are quite beautiful and store a long time.

.I am getting ready to place an order to Baker Creek for .

Bush Buttercup squash, Galeux, and Butternut (for the chickens) and your Rouge. Butternut has a very hard skin so it should store well.

Broccoli, Alaska peas, Scarlet Ohara morning glory and Huckleberry.

Are those your Rouges? I chose them because they can be used for pies and soups.

Anyone have a Squash soup recipe they like? I'd seen one for a Squash/garlic soup but can't find the recipe.

FYI it pays seed companies to put recipes in their catalogs as I'm more incline to order from those. I just printed a "Basic Leek and Potato Schales".

That reminds me I have to order Leeks. Anyone have a Leek they like to grow?

My plan is to make two 8' by 2' beds with amended soil just for root crops. How many carrot plants will give me 60#'s?

I also plan to try some Celery. Anyone grow celery?

What's your favorite kale to grow?

 

[Molpet]

I bought Lancelot Leeks from dixondalefarms.com last year, they sent 2x what I ordered and they were great.

I grow celery from seed and start them the beginning of March. They need a lot of water or go pithy.

I planted Burpee Dwarf Blue curled vates 3 yrs ago. They grew 3' tall and some are still alive.
When they tried to bolt I cut the buds off like broccoli. They are supposed to die after they bolt but a few of mine are still going.

 

[rancher hicks]

I bought Lancelot Leeks from dixondalefarms.com last year, they sent 2x what I ordered and they were great.

I grow celery from seed and start them the beginning of March. They need a lot of water or go pithy.

I planted Burpee Dwarf Blue curled vates 3 yrs ago. They grew 3' tall and some are still alive.
When they tried to bolt I cut the buds off like broccoli. They are supposed to die after they bolt but a few of mine are still going.

Thanks, I just found my Dixondale catalog. I'd misplaced it. Do you freeze your leeks? My thought was to cut them up and freeze them. The same with the celery.

Do you remember what kind of Celery you grew? I have a spot that stays moist during the summer and that's where I'll plant it. I'll try two kind of celery. I've started my journal.

I do intend to hit Burpees for the Italian Ice tomatoes. They're not found in the stores. I'll also try two kinds of kale. How did your kale freeze or did you just cover it with something and harvest during the winter?

I'll also be planting Swiss chard. Anyone got any hints or varieties you like?

 

[Molpet]

I just left the leeks in the garden

I froze some kale the first year. Blached first kept longer in the freezer... but my kale was still good in the garden until -5 ... -15 if covered by a cold frame.

The celery I grew and liked was Victoria
The celery I did not like, it was thin and very strong, was Safir. It over wintered though at -15 f , figures the one I didn't like LOL
I put celery through the food processor a, cook in broth and freeze.

I like High Mowing rainbow mix chard