I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Joined: Sep 16, 2004 Posts: 4847 Location: Southwest WI
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Wisconsin 55 is a larger slicing type tomato. Excellent flavor, good color, and fruits really well. I planted them last 2 years and they were my favorite. They didn't crack like some of my heirlooms and the flavor was right on for what a homegrown should taste like. Not huge like a beefsteak, but still big.
I think next year its all i'll plant. I'm sick of trying to find "newer" and better types. Sometimes the old reliables are often the best.
Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 1424 Location: Oklahoma City, USA
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
frankthetank wrote:
This is the worse tomato season EVER. First i planted Opalka... HUGE MISTAKE... For one thing they've always had branches wilt and then turn brown and die...before the tomatoes can turn red. Not sure if it was bad seed, or just poor growing conditions (Cold spring, wet and now super horribly dry)... Looks like i'll be going back to growing Wisconsin 55's among other types. I don't have enough to eat!
I planted 20 tomato plants at least. I got two tomatoes from two volunteer plants which died after producing their tomato. The others didn't get more than about 8 inches tall.
Then the kids who mow for us mowed all of them except (!) for three I had planted by the compost bins, the last three of my seedlings. Those three are growing like crazy now that the heat and drought are over! Lots of flowers and everything.
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
PeakOiler wrote:
The harvest peaked on June 9th.
I think that is about when I was able to get the starts into the ground, maybe a little later. May and June were very cold and wet. The end of August has had 3 days in a row with low temp at 40 and now it's only slightly more (upper 40's).
My Sweet 100's are producing some cherry tomatoes, the Sweet Clusters have produced about 3-4 3 inch tomatoes, and I've had exactly one from the Arkansas Traveler (but it was so yummy!). The Dantes Carrot seed (which turned out to be yellow pear tomato seed) has produced 3 tomatoes. That's the extent of the harvest from my garden. There is a fair amount of green tomatoes so I should still be able to get some unless we get a killing frost too early.
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:43 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
I have lots of tomatoes. I planted Early Girl, Beefsteak, a Roma variety, Lemon (Yellow) tomatoes and some cherry tomatoes. All plants have produced very nicely. We've enjoyed tomatoes ripened on the vine for the last few weeks now, very tasty. The only thing is, killing frost is probably just a few weeks away now (central Alberta) and with all the fruit still on the vine I'll have to watch the weather very carefully. I'd like to allow as many tomatoes as possible to vine ripen, but of course I'll take whatever's left off the plants when I have to.
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1125 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:51 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Yikes! What have I started?
I brought in the pineapple plants yesterday:
I've read that an adult pineapple plant can get about six ft in diameter (leaf tip to leaf tip). I will quickly run out of space in the house! I may move the furniture out of the living room for them if necessary!
_________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Last edited by PeakOiler on Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:48 am; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:33 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Thanks for the response to my tomato problems. I really should have planted a large variety. So disappointing.... first time ever starting from seeds... sigh.
Any recommendations for next year? Do I want enough to cover all situations? For example, a drought resistant variety and I guess wet?
I didn't think of picking the green full size ones at all. I always thought vine ripened was best, and things would work themselves out.
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1125 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
softhands wrote:
Thanks for the response to my tomato problems. I really should have planted a large variety. So disappointing.... first time ever starting from seeds... sigh.
Any recommendations for next year? Do I want enough to cover all situations? For example, a drought resistant variety and I guess wet?
Yes, yes, and yes. Always plant varieties and learn what works best for your location. Then go with that. Learn from mistakes and keep experimenting, even with seeds that might not have had good results before. There are many variables to consider ( e.g. weather and improved soil conditions) for good yields for any plant and/or seeds in any given year. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1125 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Todays harvest included more basil, bell peppers, banana and seranno peppers, and green beans. About 20 green bean plants have come back and there's about 9 weeks of growing time left for them. Got another lime yesterday, and almost a pound of bell peppers, the most bps in one day so far.
_________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Those peppers look great, Peakoiler. I have one bell pepper growing on one of the two plants I put in this year. It's the only pepper we got, and it's about 2 inches all around now. Killing frost will be here in just a few weeks, I'm sure, but I want to see if this pepper will grow to full size. Next year, I'm going to put them in containers instead of in the ground.
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1125 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:19 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
WildRose wrote:
Those peppers look great, Peakoiler. I have one bell pepper growing on one of the two plants I put in this year. It's the only pepper we got, and it's about 2 inches all around now. Killing frost will be here in just a few weeks, I'm sure, but I want to see if this pepper will grow to full size. Next year, I'm going to put them in containers instead of in the ground.
Any pepper tips, all you gardeners?
Thanks Wildrose.
Transplant your pepper plants into pots for the winter and bring them inside before that first frost. Put them near a sunny window. This year was the third season for one of my bell pepper plants. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Oct 24, 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Pacific Northwest
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:42 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
I am definitely going to try wintering over some pepper plants in containers. Since we have such mild summers here - I need all the advantage I can get to grow peppers and other heat lovers. _________________ Check out Our Modern "Victory Garden" - http://www.freewebs.com/kitsapfreedomgardener/
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
PeakOiler wrote:
WildRose wrote:
Those peppers look great, Peakoiler. I have one bell pepper growing on one of the two plants I put in this year. It's the only pepper we got, and it's about 2 inches all around now. Killing frost will be here in just a few weeks, I'm sure, but I want to see if this pepper will grow to full size. Next year, I'm going to put them in containers instead of in the ground.
Any pepper tips, all you gardeners?
Thanks Wildrose.
Transplant your pepper plants into pots for the winter and bring them inside before that first frost. Put them near a sunny window. This year was the third season for one of my bell pepper plants.
Great idea! Third season, eh? I'll have to try and make some room indoors.
Joined: Apr 17, 2005 Posts: 2750 Location: Vancouver Island
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
I'd advice a greenhouse of some sort. Next summer I'll hopefully be trying my peppers in a small greenhouse because it's just not warm enough here to really get peppers. My first 4 peppers have been trying to ripen for over a month now and still aren't ready. Same with my tomatoes. _________________ shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts
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