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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 18, 2012 20:35:13 GMT -5
Well I dropped off 3 maters and 2 peppers with Dad yesterday. That leaves a little more room under the grow lights.He had to show me the new garden space which happens to be where the garden was 15 years ago. 15 feet by 20 feet. He's been piling leaves for me down at the pumpkin patch also but it was too wet to till. They have got to dig out the septic line when it dries out also. He was trying to remember where it went and I said "look for the fat trees".
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 18, 2012 21:12:35 GMT -5
Yep, the old "the grass is always greener over the septic" routine.
15 X 20 is a mighty ambitious space for your Dad isn't it? Good for him!
Are your seedlings that big that you can begin fostering them out?
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 18, 2012 23:12:07 GMT -5
Yep, the old "the grass is always greener over the septic" routine. 15 X 20 is a mighty ambitious space for your Dad isn't it? Good for him! Are your seedlings that big that you can begin fostering them out? Plenty big enough to sit on his window sill for the next month. 15 by 20 is the smallest garden in his 81 years. My sisters and I are the first generation on either side not to be raised on farms. We allways had big gardens of up to 1/4 acre or more. 15x20 is about all he can handle with his pacemaker and the Beta blocker blood pressure med. It is also within eye sight of the house unlike the previous garden. That doesn't include the fruit trees and blueberry bushes or my pumpkin patch down in the old pond site. The pumpkin patch only requires that he phone me if it needs something and he can pick or not pick fruit as he wishes. |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 19, 2012 8:21:15 GMT -5
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 20, 2012 20:39:00 GMT -5
There might not be any apples this year. The new trees aren't blooming in time to pollinate the old trees. Should be plenty of blueberries though. The question is if my little 2 foot tall satsuma will make a token fruit or 2 in it's first year.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 20, 2012 22:00:55 GMT -5
Mmmmmm, Blueberries are a Good Thing!
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 20, 2012 23:30:18 GMT -5
Yes I've got to research a way to make sugarfree jam out of them.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 21, 2012 8:26:31 GMT -5
I must have a recipe for that, let me look.  There are several options in the book "Canning and Preserving without Sugar" by Norman M. MacRae R.D. 1988 Ms MacRae suggests the use of Low Methoxyl Pectin. I'm sure there have been posts about this product on iDig? Anyway here's the info. It would be the simplest way to make sugar free jams. The other suggestions included adding honey, apple or pear juices, citrus rind and glycerin. www.pomonapectin.com/ |
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 21, 2012 19:54:49 GMT -5
I actually bought a box of that a month or so ago. I'll probably try that with agave. I saw a recipe using agave and blueberries but it was a freezer jam, not one that was hot water processed. Not terribly helpfull as the freezer space can be at a premium. I'll mull this over some more. Thanks for your reply, it was helpful.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 21, 2012 22:22:43 GMT -5
I prefer freezer jams whenever I have the space. They taste fresher and the texture is "crisper", not mushy. But if you don't gots the freezer space, you don't gots it.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 21, 2012 22:27:28 GMT -5
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 22, 2012 0:11:53 GMT -5
Now that sounds right. I might play with a spice component on a batch or two. Either cardomon or ginger comes to mind.
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 22, 2012 17:43:52 GMT -5
I gave away one of everything to my boss's wife today. Also Dad repotted the plants I gave him into gallon buckets.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 22, 2012 19:14:31 GMT -5
You're such a Generous Guy, Gulfie. |
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 22, 2012 20:18:29 GMT -5
I allways start more than I can plant. I give away seedlings and this year all of the mater seeds were given to me. Not by the same people but I guess the chain went around the world and came back to me.
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Post by txdirtdog on Feb 22, 2012 22:36:25 GMT -5
Very cool Gcg.
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 22, 2012 22:49:58 GMT -5
BTW the Thessaloniki maters were the healthiest looking ones. Not the tallest but the sturdiest and the darkest green.
On eggplants the Indian ones are in the lead over the Iraqi ones.
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Post by txdirtdog on Feb 22, 2012 22:56:32 GMT -5
Interesting. As I recall last year the Thess. was a little wimpy coming out of the seed, but came out pretty strong later. But that's from memory and mine ain't exactly a steel trap.
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Feb 24, 2012 21:50:25 GMT -5
It turns out rareseeds.com is my boss's wifes favorite site.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 24, 2012 22:32:42 GMT -5
Because she knows she's getting plants from one of Baker Creek's longest supporters  |
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Post by garrett on Mar 10, 2012 9:18:03 GMT -5
seeedlings?
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Mar 10, 2012 10:16:14 GMT -5
Gave away more yesterday, planting my own this morning, planting Pop's next week.
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Post by garrett on Mar 10, 2012 10:17:36 GMT -5
rock and roll gulf.how's dad doing?
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Mar 10, 2012 10:22:04 GMT -5
Just fine himself. He's a bit bummed because his baby sister Joyce came down with pancreatic cancer back in November. The removed most of her pancreas, spleen and a bit of her stomach. Then they started chemo, unfortunately she is sensative to it and it started eating up her lungs. She's been in the hospital 3 weeks and they can't ween her off oxygen enough for the home tanks.
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Post by garrett on Mar 10, 2012 10:29:08 GMT -5
sorry to hear that gulf.been a rough year.
i hope she recovers.sighs
you holding up ok?
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Mar 10, 2012 10:36:02 GMT -5
My ear problems are the best that they have been for a couple of years. I've got to go out of town till the 20th, I'll check in on idig but online time will be limited.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 10, 2012 11:25:52 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that your Aunt's health is further failing, Gulfie.  On the other hand, it's good to hear that your ears seem to have shown some improvement! Have a Safe Trip. |
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Post by gulfcoastguy on Mar 10, 2012 13:39:00 GMT -5
Thanks all! Well all the seedlings I have room for have been planted. Unfortunately that leaves several who are homeless. Since they won't live till the 20th on their own I'll set the cups in the backyard. If they can live on rainwater till the 20th I'll look for new forever homes for them.
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