What are you canning now?

[rancher hicks]

Planted peas today. I'm going to plant everything and anything I can.

 

[farm_mom]

As you can see in the picture they've scratched up the newspaper mulch. Anytime I dig up and area they come through and work it some more. If I need an area cleared I dig it a bit with the pick or hoe and then they come and dig around some more.

I have to protect every thing with a circle of poultry wire or it gets dug out. Somethings have to get established.

Now tell me. How can I be insured big fat stalks of rhubarb? Also at the farmers market someone had some labeled heritage. What kind is that? I've only found two kinds. Canada Red and Victoria.

LOL Yes, digging can definitely be a problem with the birds. As to the varieties, here is a nice list. http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/varieties I don't know of any variety called "heritage" I imagine the person selling them was trying to say they were an old "heritage" or "heirloom" variety. The thing about the stalk size really depends on the variety. Some varieties produce much nicer stalks than others. But generally, rhubarb likes space, and rotted manure. I use straw as bedding for my birds and goats, and I let that age and then just put it around the plants. Other than that, I find rhubarb is very hardy and pretty much a no fuss plant. Here's more info on growing it as well: http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/growing . You will see at the end of that article, it recommends dividing older rhubarb to help avoid spindly stalks.

 

[sonew123]

Planted peas today.  I'm going to plant everything and anything I can. 

My peas are 2 feet tall! LOL I thoguht I was late getting my plants in! lol Sorry couldnt help it. The deer ate the tops off of all my peas a few weeks ago and I left them and place netting around them...They have grown back wonderfully and can't wait!

 

[cravenchx]

we have eaten the heck out of the sugar snaps, now it's gotten hot and they are full blown peas. UUUMMMM!

 

[rancher hicks]

My peas are 2 feet tall! LOL I thoguht I was late getting my plants in! lol Sorry couldnt help it. The deer ate the tops off of all my peas a few weeks ago and I left them and place netting around them...They have grown back wonderfully and can't wait!

WELL if must know I wasn't going to plant them in the spot I did but I killed my tomato starts by moving them outside.

Believe slugs have been eating my lettuce and swiss chard shoots. I will spread DE over the beds when it stops raining.

 

[sonew123]

Ugh!!! Sorry ;( we killed pretty much our whole garden last year with the late frost;( i feel yah!

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I bought some new seeds for Swiss Chard and lettuce.

Oh and got some new coupons for free sugar if you buy two boxes of Certo.

Can anyone tell me about the "No Sugar needed" stuff? I could google it but that would be no fun.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Bought some more rhubarb to freeze. Mine is not yet big enough. What can anyone tell me about growing it. I have 4 plantings. Covered with milk crates to keep the chickens away. It seems to be okay for now. People must be buying it cuz it's more expensive this year than last.

Growing it is pretty simple - water and amend the soil. I've had mine 2 years now. No idea what kind as they were a transplant from DH's grandma's yard. When they bloom in the spring, cut the flower stalks off. It won't give you good stalks if you let it flower. I had to cut a bunch out that went hollow. The leaves are toxic, so don't feed them to your chickens. I don't let my stalks get too big, I pull them when they are on the younger side. Do not cut the stalks out, wiggle and pull and they will come out. I have a gallon and a half in the freezer and more that are about ready to pick.

 

[rancher hicks]

Growing it is pretty simple - water and amend the soil. I've had mine 2 years now. No idea what kind as they were a transplant from DH's grandma's yard. When they bloom in the spring, cut the flower stalks off. It won't give you good stalks if you let it flower. I had to cut a bunch out that went hollow. The leaves are toxic, so don't feed them to your chickens. I don't let my stalks get too big, I pull them when they are on the younger side. Do not cut the stalks out, wiggle and pull and they will come out. I have a gallon and a half in the freezer and more that are about ready to pick.

I don't think folks realize how many ways rhubarb can be used. I have more than just strawberry rhubarb jam recipes, so I have a lot of uses. Two new ones are Iced Rhubarb tea and Rhuby - Lavender Lemonade. Too I think folks are just to lazy to take the time to make some of these recipes.

Of course with this cold rainy weather there is no demand for Iced tea.

Thanks for the info.

Rancher

 

[JesseK]

I don't think folks realize how many ways rhubarb can be used. I have more than just strawberry rhubarb jam recipes, so I have a lot of uses. Two new ones are Iced Rhubarb tea and Rhuby - Lavender Lemonade. Too I think folks are just to lazy to take the time to make some of these recipes.

Of course with this cold rainy weather there is no demand for Iced tea.

Thanks for the info.

Rancher

Well I'm going to need a recipe for that iced rhubarb tea