What did you do in the garden today?

[politicalcenter]

I planted some English peas and filled the beds with dirt from container plants. We have been harvesting squash and cucumbers. I also planted some corn out of a feed corn bag to see what it will do. I also planted some Indian corn. If the corn gets frosted I will feed it to my goats.

 

[politicalcenter]

Hmm, wow. Nice. I might see what goats are going for here.

If you don't own goats yet be careful. They are addictive. I still need a good boar billy. The boar goats cost a little more but they are worth it.

 

[dan26552]

If you don't own goats yet be careful. They are addictive. I still need a good boar billy. The boar goats cost a little more but they are worth it.

Oh I know.
I've pretty much had goats my whole life, I love them. I have three currently, two does and a buck, I'm pretty sure he's a Kiko/boar but I don't remember. My uncle got him two years ago from some friends and they told him what he was but I can't remeber exactly any way we got him from my uncle this spring. Out of the 3 kids he's thrown in he's 2 1/2 years only one was a boy. I'm pretty sure one of our does is due either the end of this month or sometime next.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Anybody else getting really awful tasting squash this year?! I'm on my fourth home grown squash and I think it was by far the worst! Several varieties and they all taste bad! We did have a drought this year so I'm wondering if that accounts for anything. Ugh! it's that time of year for all things pumpkin and I can't make anything....

 

[Beekissed]

Anybody else getting really awful tasting squash this year?! I'm on my fourth home grown squash and I think it was by far the worst! Several varieties and they all taste bad! We did have a drought this year so I'm wondering if that accounts for anything. Ugh! it's that time of year for all things pumpkin and I can't make anything....

Our yellow squash were fine...I've not tasted the butternut, cushaw or pumpkin yet. The watermelon were all tasteless things...not worth the growing.

 

[politicalcenter]

Anybody else getting really awful tasting squash this year?!  I'm on my fourth home grown squash and I think it was by far the worst!  Several varieties and they all taste bad!  We did have a drought this year so I'm wondering if that accounts for anything.  Ugh! it's that time of year for all things pumpkin and I can't make anything....

We planted a packet of straight neck squash back in August and it tastes pretty good. I planted it is a mix of horse manure and sawdust. I did have to water it a couple of times.

 

[lazy gardener]

Anybody else getting really awful tasting squash this year?! I'm on my fourth home grown squash and I think it was by far the worst! Several varieties and they all taste bad! We did have a drought this year so I'm wondering if that accounts for anything. Ugh! it's that time of year for all things pumpkin and I can't make anything....

Was it bitter? Sometimes a particular variety, especially if it's "one in the works" can throw a "bitter" gene. But for you to have all of your varieties taste bad, I'd say you have a soil problem. Were they bitter, or lacking in taste/flavor? IF the latter, it may be that you picked them too early, or did not allow them to season before eating them. Winter squash is best if not picked until dead ripe. You can tell that b/c the tendril closest to the fruit will be dry and brown. Then, you should let them sit in the sun for a while to toughen their skins, and develop their sugars. Some squash do not develop best flavor until way into the winter months. Squash are heavy feeders. If you didn't give them adequate fertility, that would affect the flavor.

 

[GardenNut]

Finally built my coldframe! Planted lettuce and kale in it!

 

[Beekissed]

I'm glad to see someone else getting theirs in at this late date like me....I'm just getting mine worked on today and am hoping that the lettuce and such gets big enough before true cold weather hits.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Was it bitter? Sometimes a particular variety, especially if it's "one in the works" can throw a "bitter" gene. But for you to have all of your varieties taste bad, I'd say you have a soil problem. Were they bitter, or lacking in taste/flavor? IF the latter, it may be that you picked them too early, or did not allow them to season before eating them. Winter squash is best if not picked until dead ripe. You can tell that b/c the tendril closest to the fruit will be dry and brown. Then, you should let them sit in the sun for a while to toughen their skins, and develop their sugars. Some squash do not develop best flavor until way into the winter months. Squash are heavy feeders. If you didn't give them adequate fertility, that would affect the flavor.

One was bitter, the rest just flavor-less. I did wonder about picking too soon and it's been practically impossible to "cure" them, we just had a frost last night so it was now or never with the harvest. The soil gets amended each winter with shavings/manure/hay and has a sand base. I do have a few more varieties to go, so we'll see. Thank you for your post!