The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Most of them are not ready to pick quite yet. DH accidentally broke one off the stem when he was getting the compost and I found two more that seemed about ready, stems were starting to dry out, but they could be a bit early. I'm going to see how those three look inside. There are quite a few more out there in various stages.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They sweeten up as they cure. After we pick them before the first frost, they get more time to cure in the sun before we even attempt to eat them, I generally need to wait until November before they are the best.

Generally you wait until you can't puncture the skin with your fingernail. Otherwise they won't be delicious. My mother was picking here too soon 2 years ago and was wondering why they weren't good. They are a winter storage squash, and should be treated like pumpkins.

I find butternut squash extremely tasty, so they are one of my specialty. I grow no other variety or type of squash, except for pumpkin hybrids.

I don't know southern gardening though, so it's possible it's a bit different down there.

See, I like my butternut squash.

 

[kitkat5505]

They sweeten up as they cure. After we pick them before the first frost, they get more time to cure in the sun before we even attempt to eat them, I generally need to wait until November before they are the best.

Generally you wait until you can't puncture the skin with your fingernail. Otherwise they won't be delicious. My mother was picking here too soon 2 years ago and was wondering why they weren't good. They are a winter storage squash, and should be treated like pumpkins.

I find butternut squash extremely tasty, so they are one of my specialty. I grow no other variety or type of squash, except for pumpkin hybrids.

I don't know southern gardening though, so it's possible it's a bit different down there.

See, I like my butternut squash.

Thanks for the advice. I never know the right time to pick my squash, just if it looks done lol. I picked a nice big zucchini a few days ago that probably could have waited a bit longer.

My garden today:

My tomato plants are almost as tall as me and still growing like crazy. And the squash plants have doubled in size this past week.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for the advice. I never know the right time to pick my squash, just if it looks done lol. I picked a nice big zucchini a few days ago that probably could have waited a bit longer.

My garden today:
View attachment 1089725
My tomato plants are almost as tall as me and still growing like crazy. And the squash plants have doubled in size this past week.

It's so tidy. Nice looking kitty too.

 

[getaclue]

Cynthia, I think the peas you are calling crowders, are actually called white acre peas. They are delicious. I've been looking for them for years. They became unpopular, because they're not real big, and the young, tender, green ones are hard to shell.

 

[speckledhen]

Cynthia, I think the peas you are calling crowders, are actually called white acre peas. They are delicious. I've been looking for them for years. They became unpopular, because they're not real big, and the young, tender, green ones are hard to shell.

I've never heard of white acre peas. I just know they don't look at all like the crowders I know. They came from the farm, then my dad planted them at his suburban home and gave us these so many years ago, the jar of peas has probably moved with us.

These are what I know as crowders, though I realize there are many varieties of field peas.

 

[speckledhen]

Was taking pictures around the place today for some reason, no idea why, just because. The peach tree is doing much better since we moved it out close to the pasture. Not a great blueberry crop this year. The Gala apple tree has only two apples on it, but it is probably dying anyway, trunk is eaten up near the base by insects. ***the squash Tom knocked off was definitely too green. The plants are dying back, though I'll wait as long as I can before picking any more butternut squash.

 

[speckledhen]

Oops, forgot the baby pics. The babies are running all over that 5x8 pen with her, and even without her! Energetic little tykes for having hatched just yesterday.

The rounder male, son of Hector, has a larger head and is already forgoing eating in favor of the other two he's living with, calling them to tidbits and alarming for danger. Will be a good free-range rooster like his sire. The other male is very calm and quiet and rather pullet-like still. No crowing from that one, but oh, mini-Hector is a crowing fool in the morning.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What a wonderful slice of heaven your place looks to be. I see no lawn requiring mowing? That's all we do all summer is mow the lawn. It would be nice not to have to.

The chicks are adorable, and the older ones are looking good.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh and I have never heard of field peas except for feeding cows, must be regional?