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: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13065 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Cracking is a common problem with tomatoes when they suddenly get a lot of water. There are crack resistant varieties, these tend to have tougher skins. Had you known, you could have picked the full-size green tomatoes and let them ripen in the house - they wouldn't taste as good as vine-ripened fruit, but at least you would have gotten a crop. It doesn't look like there was anything wrong with the seeds - dramatic changes in moisture is a problem few vegetables can handle well. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1126 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Thanks for that tip, Ludi.
So I decided to splurge today and eat more peppers that were stuffed with a 3-cheese and spices mixture:
The picture shows a few of the peppers stuffed with cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, onion, serrano pepper, canadian bacon, and breadcrumbs that were just placed in the SunOven.
Other variations exist for stuffing peppers including using tomato, mushroom, crab, different kinds of cheese, other spices, etc.
Yum! Goes well with beer and popcorn...
Edited for spelling. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Last edited by PeakOiler on Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:00 pm; edited 3 times in total
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1126 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
The second batch of cheese-stuffed peppers was even better after adding some homegrown oregano, basil, and thyme to the cheese mix.
_________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6535 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Ludi wrote:
Cracking is a common problem with tomatoes when they suddenly get a lot of water. There are crack resistant varieties, these tend to have tougher skins. Had you known, you could have picked the full-size green tomatoes and let them ripen in the house - they wouldn't taste as good as vine-ripened fruit, but at least you would have gotten a crop. It doesn't look like there was anything wrong with the seeds - dramatic changes in moisture is a problem few vegetables can handle well.
My biggest problem with cracking of tomatoes has occurred with cherry tomatoes. Some varieties crack badly as soon as they ripen, irrespective of the water situation. (Again, look for the crack-resistant types if you're into cherry tomatoes. Also, the somewhat larger varieties seem more resistant to the problem, I've found.)
In general, I water my tomatoes as little as possible, even in dry weather. This not only reduces the potential for cracking but produces noticeably better flavor. There is a certain baseline of water they must have; finding that level but not exceeding it is the art, I guess.
Heavy rainfalls are the wild card. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
Heineken wrote:
Ludi wrote:
Cracking is a common problem with tomatoes when they suddenly get a lot of water. There are crack resistant varieties, these tend to have tougher skins. Had you known, you could have picked the full-size green tomatoes and let them ripen in the house - they wouldn't taste as good as vine-ripened fruit, but at least you would have gotten a crop. It doesn't look like there was anything wrong with the seeds - dramatic changes in moisture is a problem few vegetables can handle well.
My biggest problem with cracking of tomatoes has occurred with cherry tomatoes. Some varieties crack badly as soon as they ripen, irrespective of the water situation. (Again, look for the crack-resistant types if you're into cherry tomatoes. Also, the somewhat larger varieties seem more resistant to the problem, I've found.)
In general, I water my tomatoes as little as possible, even in dry weather. This not only reduces the potential for cracking but produces noticeably better flavor. There is a certain baseline of water they must have; finding that level but not exceeding it is the art, I guess.
Heavy rainfalls are the wild card.
I have also found that the "cracking" seems to be more of an issue with cherry tomatoes than other varieties.
Regarding watering tomatoes, I watch the leaves. If they appear green and not withering, I lay off on the watering for a couple of days.
Does anyone know if it's normal for pea plants to get kind of powdery-looking when they're finished? This happened to mine and I'd like to know if that's common or if I had some type of mold problem, or something else entirely.
Joined: Apr 17, 2005 Posts: 2750 Location: Vancouver Island
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:24 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
WildRose wrote:
Does anyone know if it's normal for pea plants to get kind of powdery-looking when they're finished? This happened to mine and I'd like to know if that's common or if I had some type of mold problem, or something else entirely.
Mine always get that, I figure it's some type of disease or mold that doesn't really hit until it doesn't matter. It's never affected the crop and the seed that I leave on the vine to dry comes out just fine so long as it actually gets dry. _________________ shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
strider3700 wrote:
WildRose wrote:
Does anyone know if it's normal for pea plants to get kind of powdery-looking when they're finished? This happened to mine and I'd like to know if that's common or if I had some type of mold problem, or something else entirely.
Mine always get that, I figure it's some type of disease or mold that doesn't really hit until it doesn't matter. It's never affected the crop and the seed that I leave on the vine to dry comes out just fine so long as it actually gets dry.
Joined: Sep 16, 2004 Posts: 4857 Location: Southwest WI
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
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! _________________ Clothing should be optional.
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1126 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
RedStateGreen wrote:
Started harvesting my sunflower heads and bringing them in to dry. Lots of yummy seeds here...
Cool.
I'm going to plant more of those next year. I dried some sunflower heads in that solar box dryer I mentioned in the Today I M/B/L... thread. Worked very well. I gave the smaller seeds to the birds. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Sep 16, 2004 Posts: 4857 Location: Southwest WI
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
My neighbor has a sunflower, about 10ft tall, that has a head that has to be nearly 20 inches... Easily 16... Just a monster... I should stop and take a picture. I'm really dumb for not planting any. They are neat native flowers that seem to do well no matter what... _________________ Clothing should be optional.
Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: 6 Location: the green mountains
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:39 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 couldn't agree more. It rained so much my plants got a blight. All I've gotten so far is 3 quarts of tomatos and I feel lucky to have gotten that. I will definately be trying more than one kind and I'll have to plant in a different area too. What are Wisconss 55's? A large tomato or a cherry tomato? I usually plant a table tomato and a roma type for sauce. This year will be expensive in the tomato category. On the other had my broccoli had a banner year and I'm still picking it. Does anyone know what to do about getting seed back from a broccoli plant? I haven't ever tried to get seeds from my own plants but am really interested in it.
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13065 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:50 am Post subject: Re: [Food] Production Gardening, General
To get seed from broccoli as far as I know all you need to do is let some heads continue on to maturity. Do this with several plants so you'll get some genetic variation. Hybrid varieties won't come true from seed, of course. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
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