[yumyum]

I hate them, and I don't generally hate any animals. They are getting more and more cheeky as it gets colder here.

I keep trying to get the neighbor's cat involved, but they have very sharp claws that keep Sharrif at bay.

Friggers.

[galleygirl]

Abbylovi, on Sep 27 2004, 03:36 PM, said:

I'm crushed. I thought it was due to my pepper advice.

I thought so, too, and was about to post that, then i remembered the tree-removal...

The sun has given me a bumper crop of jalapenos!

[jschyun]

I'm growing carrots, beets, Korean greens, cabbages, and all my fall stuff right now. I'm starting only a few tomato plants next year, an orange paste tomato, another black cherry tomato plant, possibly a new orange beefsteak called "Orange Sunshine" started from seeds given by friend, Brandywine Sudduth Strain, and of course SunSugar orange cherry tomato. I'll be starting them around Jan 3, but I bet I could start them in Feb with decent results in my area (So. Cal).

Whatcha growin in your garden?

[GG Mora]

Snow.

[Rail Paul]

jschyun, on Dec 27 2004, 01:57 PM, said:

I'll be starting them around Jan 3, but I bet I could start them in Feb with decent results in my area (So. Cal).

Whatcha growin in your garden?

A bumper crop of envy, here in northern NJ.

Seventeen degrees and snow this morning. It will be a long while until I start seeds indoors.

[tanabutler]

We just this week are pulling the last of the Early Girls off browning plants. In the ten winters we've inhabited this house, three of them included tomatoes that produced from June until April. (This would be underneath the eaves on the southern side of the house. Radiant heat and protection from frost, plus a spectacularly helpful microclimate, contribute to this freak of nature.)

Our garden this year was the worst yet: Bob's just too busy. This year, I'm going to be strict. We will not purchase anything until the beds are dug, period.

Joan, my favorite tomatoes are Sun Gold (cherry), Black Krim, Early Girl, and Green Zebra. And Oxford Orange, which I discovered at Happy Boy Farms booth at the farmers market here. When we get going, I always have peas, pole beans, corn, zucchini, and lately, Ronde de Nice squash. They have a wonderful taste, with something like vanilla in the flesh. Steamed and drizzled with a little unsalted butter and herbs, and kosher flake salt: summery perfection.

I get the rest of the produce from the farmers, but cannot live without a zillion tomato plants.

[jschyun]

Aw, sorry about bringing this subject too early for those that are snowbound. Can't wait till later in the season when others can enjoy and post about their gardens.

Tana, oh man ronde de Nice squash is my absolute favorite as well! Nice bushy but open plant, easy to pick the little round light green squash and what a lovely creamy flavor as well. I would guess that I pick easily 100 round squash from each plant. Easily, probably far more. Last year, I also grew this interesting yellow straightneck squash called "Zephyr" from Johnny's Seeds which is half yellow and half green, a color trait that is most pronounced later in the season. Check out this weirdo I eat these raw with Korean red pepper paste (don't try this at home).

[tanabutler]

I get Zephyrs from Thomas Farms, Joan. I love them, despite their comical, slightly naughty appearance.

My favorite discovery in my farm travels are baby carrots. Oh, a bunch of baby carrots makes me so happy. I like Ella Bella Farm's the best.

Baby beets and baby carrots: happy am I with those!

[jschyun]

Hey, has anyone seen Martha Stewart's seeds at Kmart this year? You know, with all her troubles and such, I was wondering about this, but haven't had a chance to check it out myself. I must say she had some good varieties, including "Baby Ball" beets and Touchon carrot.

--I meant last year she had some good varieties.

[galleygirl]

Parsley!!!!! Under the melted snow, outside of Boston, I harvested parsley on Jan.1....Enough to toss on a sauté of shrimp, asparagus and artichoke hearts....It appears to be green and growing, albeit close to the ground....

[GG Mora]

Sweet.

I've been chipping fresh thyme out of the snow. Now the snow's gone, I can snip it at whim!

Over the weekend, I used the last of the beets from my garden. I have two heads of garlic left (out of ±80), some potatoes and some carrots. Good thing we planted two full beds of garlic in the fall...that ought to keep us through April or so next year.

[galleygirl]

So, does this mean they'll come back in the spring? that along with the crocuses, I'll be harvesting parsley? this is the first time i've watched a garden winter....

[jschyun]

galleygirl, I think if the parsley does live (quite possible actually), parsley is a biennial which means the 2nd year it grows, it starts setting seed come warm weather. As far as flavor is concerned, it might change but since I've never grown it to 2nd yr, can't say how it will change. I say enjoy it while it lasts, and maybe grow some new plants this year as well?

It has been raining nonstop here.

[galleygirl]

So, if it sets seed, will the new plants take off in the spring? It looks bushier now than it did in the summer. Any others that do this? I've got some Thai basil I left in, as well.....

[jschyun]

Looks like you're going to find out!

That reminds me, I gotta start some of my herbs.

--okay so I'll give you a real answer. Yeah, so if you let your parsley flower this year, then next year (or would that be this fall?) you should get new parsley plants in the vicinity.

Lots of other things will reseed themselves nicely. I had some lime basil start itself in my garden last year. I had grown some the year before. However, it didn't grow in a nice convenient place, but right in the middle of my path. I let it grow anyway and just walked around it. But none of my other basil plants reseeded themselves and that year I had started like 7 varieties, so I guess in my area at least, it's hit or miss.

A couple of years ago, I started a couple german chamomile plants and let them flower (I wanted the flowers for tea), and now one of my paths is a carpet of german chamomile. Kind of a pain to keep neat, but my what a nice apple fragrance. I was warned it could become a weed, but so far, I have it contained.

Perennials (plants that can stay alive for more than 2 seasons) are also fun. Garlic chives (aka Chinese chives) will take over if you let them. I started my stand of garlic chives from one miserable little bulblet that the previous gardener had left behind in my coop garden. Chives also great perennials. Thyme is awesome. Esp lemon thyme, ooh.

Someone stop me.