What did you do in the garden today?

[Smokerbill]

And like I said earlier, it's been raining some today here, but I went ahead and fired up the garden hose and gave it even more water.

 

[igorsMistress]

Good afternoon gardeners. Nothing for me outside today except we ran errands and took the dogs to the park. That was enough, it was over 100* before noon. I saw a saguaro in a neighbors yard that has fallen over, so sad. It was at least six feet tall, but hadn’t flowered yet and no branches so no idea how old it was. They don’t flower until they’re about 35 and start to branch between 50 and 70 years.

 

[WthrLady]

Pruning Cucumbers....

I'd need a guide and a machete.

 

[Smokerbill]

Good afternoon gardeners. Nothing for me outside today except we ran errands and took the dogs to the park. That was enough, it was over 100* before noon. I saw a saguaro in a neighbors yard that has fallen over, so sad. It was at least six feet tall, but hadn’t flowered yet and no branches so no idea how old it was. They don’t flower until they’re about 35 and start to branch between 50 and 70 years.

That's sad. I love saguaro cacti. I remember the first time I saw some of them when I started snowbirding to Arizona 10 years ago. I got of my truck and walked over to look at them closely. It was like a spiritual experience, mixed with images from the cartoons of my childhood.

There are quite a few in the LTVA next to Quartzsite when you get closer to the mountains, but none of them look very healthy. Many do have lots of "arms", so they must be pretty old. There's some kind of hawk nest in the crook of a branch on one I saw. That was cool.

Edited to add:
I just remembered that the hawk nest was located in the "Magic Circle" area of the LTVA. That's an official clothing optional area...

 

[Smokerbill]

How do I know when I should harvest an artichoke? I have one growing and never grew them before.

 

[Sally PB]

I pulled a basil plant today. I have 4 trays full of leaves in the dehydrator. That was the biggest plant, and I have 3 more, so I think we'll have enough basil for the year.

 

[karenerwin]

How do I know when I should harvest an artichoke? I have one growing and never grew them before.

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That was my question to last year when I grew some. I finally figured out that you want to pick it before the petals start to open. I waited too long because I was waiting for mine to get bigger. Edited to add: they never did get bigger. They just started to open up and flower. The ones I grew were a lot smaller than what you see in the grocery store

 

[ShrekDawg]

I finally staked my eggplant up. It had been falling down, like on the ground, for a while. It’s finally up now lol and picked another handful of tomatoes and a ripe beefsteak. Made a delicious BLT with it LOL

 

[karenerwin]

I’m working on the apples I picked the other day. So far I have 5 pints of apple chunks ( basically quarters because the apples were so small) and 4 half pints of apple pie jam. Getting ready to start working on another batch of apple pie jam.

 

[Smokerbill]

I finally staked my eggplant up. It had been falling down, like on the ground, for a while. It’s finally up now lol and picked another handful of tomatoes and a ripe beefsteak. Made a delicious BLT with it LOL

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I can see that sandwich with a thick slice of fried eggplant... That would be really good!