What did you do in the garden today?

[Smokerbill]

I am going to copy your set up! I'm out of room on my drying racks and still have a full bed of garlic to harvest.

I was just thinking the same thing! I have a covered deck and it never occured to me to hang my garlic there. Great idea Smokerbill.

It's fun watching it twist and turn in the breeze.
I dried my oregano, tarragon and lemon balm in the same spot. Tarragon seems to take forever to dry out.

I think I'll prune the lower leaves and stems from my tomato plants so none are touching the ground. They're really taking off now.

 

[Smokerbill]

Yes. You can eat it raw in salads or added to soup or saute with other veggies/weeds . I'm dehydrating some today for use in the winter. I will discard the larger stems in the compost after giving some to the chickens.

Thanks! I haven't picked any yet but plan to soon. I'll probably eat the leaves raw in a salad, just a few the first time to make sure my stomach doesn't rebel. The stuff seems to grow fast, even without getting any water.

 

[C Siena]

Thanks! I haven't picked any yet but plan to soon. I'll probably eat the leaves raw in a salad, just a few the first time to make sure my stomach doesn't rebel. The stuff seems to grow fast, even without getting any water.

It's very hardy and drought tolerant, though does better with a decent amount of moisture.
I am going to compare the taste of it harvesting in the afternoon and early morning. I have read that it is more tart (malic acid) in the morning. I'll harvest more tomorrow morning.

Good idea to try a small amount first. I do the same when I try a new mushroom but I lightly saute first.

 

[Smokerbill]

It's very hardy and drought tolerant, though does better with a decent amount of moisture.
I am going to compare the taste of it harvesting in the afternoon and early morning. I have read that it is more tart (malic acid) in the morning. I'll harvest more tomorrow morning.

That's what I read, but it said it had a lemony flavor in the morning. Malic acid... that's what gives dried ants their tart flavor, isn't it? Never ate ants myself, but again, something I read.

I'm going to pick some purlsane in a little bit while it's still cool and give it a taste.

Got the tomatoes pruned up from the ground, Romas and the indeterminates. I'll only prune the Romas again to keep about 6 inches above the ground leaf-free.

I pruned a few lower leaves from my zucchinis, not because they needed it but to let them know what they're in for this year... regular prunings. They're not ready to be tied to the poles yet, but they will be soon. I'm looking forward to seeing how well vertically grown zucchinis do for me this year.

Going to do a thorough picking of the peas this morning. I've already cut off one row of plants because they weren't producing any more (the row that was unsupported by a trellis)

 

[Smokerbill]

The purslane had no tartness. I picked another quart of peas and two of chopped chives for the freezer. Had a pea-chive-purslane salad for breakfast. The purslane is a little on the slimy side with a neutral flavor, but OK with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

I'm going to remove another row of peas that's about done producing. The double row of snow peas is still making new blossoms so it'll stay in place for a while.

 

[Minanora]

Purslane grows as a weed here. I was just looking at some that I need to pull out next to the grass. It's invaded all of my garden beds. I do not eat it, not for any good reason, just principle. It's an invasive species here so I try to pull it before it throws it's 5 billion seeds for me to see sprouting next year. It will mature even if you pull it out of the ground. So I only feed it to my chickens if I can be sure they'll eat it before its flowers develop seeds.

 

[C Siena]

The purslane had no tartness. I picked another quart of peas and two of chopped chives for the freezer. Had a pea-chive-purslane salad for breakfast. The purslane is a little on the slimy side with a neutral flavor, but OK with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

I'm going to remove another row of peas that's about done producing. The double row of snow peas is still making new blossoms so it'll stay in place for a while.

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Did you harvest the purslane in the morning? How long after sunrise?

Maybe I'll do 2 harvests tomorrow, 1st at 7:30a and then at 9:30a and taste. I also want to see if the larger leaves taste different from the smaller ones.

Your salad looks yummy.

 

[Sueby]

I have the same problem with my garlic too, except for elephant garlic (which is actually leek). Not sure what's the cause. I'm thinking cold and raining spring?

It must have to do with the weather. Very cold & rainy start then straight into a big heat wave.

It's fun watching it twist and turn in the breeze.
I dried my oregano, tarragon and lemon balm in the same spot. Tarragon seems to take forever to dry out.

I wish I had a good outdoor place to dry my garlic & onions. Poor DH gets them in his shop. When you walk in the door the smell of garlic punches you in the face.

Purslane grows as a weed here. I was just looking at some that I need to pull out next to the grass. It's invaded all of my garden beds. I do not eat it, not for any good reason, just principle. It's an invasive species here so I try to pull it before it throws it's 5 billion seeds for me to see sprouting next year. It will mature even if you pull it out of the ground. So I only feed it to my chickens if I can be sure they'll eat it before its flowers develop seeds.

It's annoying, it pops up in my beds & planters. Almost as annoying as it's sticky friend spurge.

 

[Smokerbill]

Did you harvest the purslane in the morning? How long after sunrise?

Maybe I'll do 2 harvests tomorrow, 1st at 7:30a and then at 9:30a and taste. I also want to see if the larger leaves taste different from the smaller ones.

Your salad looks yummy.

Actual sunrise here is 5:30am, so 3 hours after the sun came up. I might pick some before sunrise tomorrow. The salad was pretty good, all picked and eaten in less than an hour. Nice and fresh.

I fertilized the chives with the weed tea and gently strung a wire alongside my cucumbers to pull them closer to the trellis so they find it quicker.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Took the poults out while I fertilized the garden. They enjoyed themselvesz

The first winter (spaghetti I think) squash flower was a female. Unfortunately all I could find was a male zucchini flower so we’ll see if it is pollinated in a few days.