What did you do in the garden today?

[Minanora]

Here's a question about butternut squash, or winter squash in general.

The ones I grew, and the ones a friend gave me had great flavor. He lives about 10 miles away as the crow flies. I garden organically, but I don't know if he does.

We were running low, so I bought 6 from a farm market. Wow, what a difference. Bland, not much flavor overall. These were not grown organically.

All were cooked in an Instant Pot.

I'm going to assume it's the soil...? The ones from the farmer's market were nicely shaped and big, just kind of tasteless.

Since we've found this way to cook them, we've been eating them every Sunday. I will definitely plant more this year.

It could also be the way they stored them, when they harvested them and the growing methods. Maybe try roasting the market ones. Add them to spaghetti sauce.

 

[jerryse]

In honor of Groundhog Day I had ground hog for breakfast = pork sausage.

 

[jerryse]

Not quite ready for the garden yet, but I'm starting some seeds. Put some apple seeds in a coffee filter and cup carrier before putting them in a plastic bag. I saw some posts way back when, that says they act like little greenhouses. Of course, for whatever reason I decided to put them outside in the sun and totally forgot to bring them back in. Probably not ideal in 30 degree weather. Luckily they are seeds only, so maybe they will still sprout.

Apple seeds need cool stratification to sprout. A natural winter. However the ones you buy are stored since harvest in cool conditions. I still keep moist in a ziplock in the refrigerator. Some are sprouting even in the refrigerator. I pot up the sprouts. I wish they would wait.

 

[dirkandlorie]

Yeah, I love my old washer, I've fixed it before, different part. The only reason I didn't just fix it again is that I've literally had this new washer for almost 4 years, in it's box. DH bought it when we replaced the dishwasher. Costco deal. It was basically free. I promised that if the washer broke again, I'd try the new one before I fixed the old one.

This new one is a top load Maytag. But it has an impeller instead of an agitator. It uses less water and you have to meticulously place your laundry into the thing for it to clean well. I'm not a huge fan of the design but it's cleaning clothes pretty well so far. I need to feed it a load of muddy camping gear to really test it.

I bought my new maytag washer in 2021, I've yet to get a load of laundry that I didn't have to rewash something. Even accidentally left a receipt in the pocket when I washed, and it came out bone dry and readable! I'm saving my money to buy an old fashioned speed queen washer, no computer anything on it, no water saving, just mechanical. I want something that works! And while I'm on my rant, let me say my new Maytag stove takes a half hour to preheat! What kind of garbage are they making these days?

 

[Knobby]

In honor of Groundhog Day I had ground hog for breakfast = pork sausage.

Well, since deer season ended, I was hoping to be able to get a shot at Punxsutawny Phil before he could see his shadow this morning, but got up late. The 6 additional weeks of winter is all my fault...

 

[StarOnFire59]

Here's a question about butternut squash, or winter squash in general.

The ones I grew, and the ones a friend gave me had great flavor. He lives about 10 miles away as the crow flies. I garden organically, but I don't know if he does.

We were running low, so I bought 6 from a farm market. Wow, what a difference. Bland, not much flavor overall. These were not grown organically.

All were cooked in an Instant Pot.

I'm going to assume it's the soil...? The ones from the farmer's market were nicely shaped and big, just kind of tasteless.

Since we've found this way to cook them, we've been eating them every Sunday. I will definitely plant more this year.

I personally found that the bigger they were, the less flavor. We had 7 of them this last summer; none real big, but quite tasty, as long as the skin turned tan color.
I found the same with zucchini. Too big became too watery inside & less flavor. 2024, some got too big. 2025, they weren't as big & had better flavor.