Vegetable Gardening

[mudmucker]

Well, I know this is a vegetable gardening thread ....is mead a vegetable? Chuckle But I am at least using local produce.

Here are some pictures of my latest batch of mead, 2 yrs old, vintage 2008. I took a wine thief to it this morning and wow, this is a nice batch. I stole a glass this evening because I was that excited about it. And whoo boy, alchohol content is nice . I threw a vanilla bean pod in the carboy and a couple of cloves for some subtle undertones. I'll bottle this soon. There is a local apiary in the next town over and I make all my mead with his honey. It might be high time to get some hives in my own yard. I'm going to try some cyser next as I haven't done one yet. Again, I'll use local apples/cider. There is a farm/orchard a mile from my house where I pick all my peaches and apples.

Root cellar continues. I made doors for it last weekend. I'll post more pictures when I have a little more done.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Very cool, Mudmucker.

Badger- I tried googling the carrot warts but no luck either. Gross!

[OakLeaf]

Badger - looks like nematode damage. I wouldn't worry about it if it isn't extensive. There are biological controls if your plot is really infested.

Mudmucker, how cool is that! Yummy!

I pulled in the last of my lima beans tonight. I covered the pepper plants just because it was less work to do that than to bring the row covers in but I doubt I'll get much more out of them this year.

[badger]

Badger - looks like nematode damage. I wouldn't worry about it if it isn't extensive. There are biological controls if your plot is really infested.

OMG!! I just googled nematode (root knot) damage to carrots - I just ATE a handful of those carrots I was sure to not eat them raw so they were stir fried, but geez, had I read this earlier, I would've just chucked them out. I hope I won't get any parasites living inside me!! (please tell me it won't live inside me!!)

[OakLeaf]

No, no, no, they're completely harmless to humans! Don't throw out your carrots!

Really, unless they're doing major damage to your vegetables, it's nothing to worry about. There are literally billions of little critters that live in the soil, all in balance, some of them friendly to your plants and some unfriendly. When everything's healthy they keep each other in balance.

[smilingcat]

Just checked in this thread and wow Lisa, Spokewench, Tulip, Mudmaker, Badger all have really beautiful garden this year. Maybe next year in Oregon for me. I did manage to save handful of tomatoes, handful of cucmber and few other things.

And this year, rats moved into my neighbors bamboo stand and have been making nightly raids into my garden. So far they've eaten about half a dozen tomatoes...


Never did think of stir frying raddish tops. Is it slightly bitter? hot? Or is it like chard? or beet top? Have to try it next year.

nematode affected root veggie, we slice off the affected area and use the rest in our cooking. Most books tell you to throw it away... Well it's not marketable and will not store very well in a root cellar.

[bikegurl]

My parents have always gardened, and since I still live at home, I help a lot. I have never seen nematode damage, and that looks pretty gross!

I've heard of mead, but never tried any. It sounds interesting! *showing how ignorant I am* - is it similar to wine? I have been interested in getting bees for a while, but never got around to acutally getting any...

Three years ago we moved to the city after living in farming country for 12 years, so that has been a bit of a transition. Last year we were able to use some empty lots on the street behind our house for a garden, and this year we made it bigger.
We were able to eat most of our summer food out of it (like we used to) and also sell a lot. (We want to eventually be supported mainly by the garden)
Today, we planted garlic for next year's harvest. Garlic is my mom's specialty
Hopefully it does well! This is the first year (in the city) that the garlic got planted in the ground. We had it in raised beds the first two years, but the garlic didn't like it
I specialize in growing the peppers: hot, sweet, and frying peppers.
This year was AMAZING! It was also the first year I tried growing them in a hoop house. (it is very similar to a green house)

Enjoy your gardening! (well, actually, enjoy the break, since it is getting near winter..)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OMG!! I just googled nematode (root knot) damage to carrots - I just ATE a handful of those carrots I was sure to not eat them raw so they were stir fried, but geez, had I read this earlier, I would've just chucked them out. I hope I won't get any parasites living inside me!! (please tell me it won't live inside me!!)

Attachment 12171

And this year, rats moved into my neighbors bamboo stand and have been making nightly raids into my garden. So far they've eaten about half a dozen tomatoes...

I get a vole or mouse in my garden once in a while. I set out mousetraps tucked under the leaves so birds don't get in them, and whatever mouse or vole there is gets dispatched within 2 days or so. Peanut butter. I don't have the mousetraps out unless I see there is some rodent nibbling going on.
Try a rat trap placed under protective foliage.

Never did think of stir frying raddish tops. Is it slightly bitter? hot? Or is it like chard? or beet top? Have to try it next year.

No, not bitter or peppery- much like bok choy.

[badger]

No, no, no, they're completely harmless to humans! Don't throw out your carrots!

Really, unless they're doing major damage to your vegetables, it's nothing to worry about. There are literally billions of little critters that live in the soil, all in balance, some of them friendly to your plants and some unfriendly. When everything's healthy they keep each other in balance.

phew!! I couldn't really find anything online about the safety of consuming the affected carrots. I noticed them last year, too, but forgot about it until I pulled them out this year.