Downriver 2023 - Garden Adventures

[Downriver]

So, what else has been going on in the garden? Let see:

Blueberries - they're done. Need to take the bird netting off.

Blackberries - They have been producing berries for the last few weeks. There's still plenty more to pick. Birds don't seem to bother them much, so I didn't net them.


Then, you gotta eat them. Here's a "new" way for us - grilled Blackberry Cobbler lol. Excellent!

 

[Downriver]

...what else?

Cucumbers - I planted three, new-to-me, varieties this year. I'm still looking for that "perfect" cucumber, lol. This year it's (L-R in the pic) Sweet Success, Double Yield, and Chelsea Prize. I just picked the first three Sweet Success yesterday, so I haven't tried them yet. The first Chelsea Prize should be ready in a few days. The Double Yield is the one in the middle of the picture with the longest vines and the multiple flowers everywhere. We've probably picked 10 of these already, and there's several more on the way. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan. It grows well, produces early and tastes pretty good. The problem is, it's a rather light-colored cucumber and starts turning yellow just about the time it's ready to pick. It's keeping qualities are very poor. You almost have to eat them the day you pick them. There's not enough time to accumulate enough to process before they soften.


Tomatoes - the early varieties have just started producing a few. In the next few weeks, I think we'll be swamped.


Okra - planted late. Just starting to grow in earnest. Saw the first flower forming yesterday. Shouldn't be much longer. (I have since weeded this row, lol)

 

[Downriver]

...and what else?

Squash - Summer - I plant these after 7/01, which is usually after the threat of the Squash Vine Borer. I think there are six hills and four varieties. They're just starting to grow pretty quick. Again, it won't be long for these either.


Squash - Winter - The Butternut are starting to run. I think there's a few fruit set already. These will grow until frost.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I'm interested in your quest for the "perfect cucumber". Tell me more.

I'm currently growing Burpless, heirloom variety, which has no repeat, i.e. wind after eating - crispy and sweet and long-lasting - we love these.
Also growing Marketmore F1 - grows long, straight cukes, crispy, fresh and long-lasting but hasn't got that oomph of flavour and because this is a hybrid we get some rather odd coloured fruits from it.
Next up to go out in the garden is a Pepino from Portugal which I've never heard of - curious to taste this one

 

[Downriver]

I'm interested in your quest for the "perfect cucumber". Tell me more.

Well, I guess simply stated, right now I'm looking for an excellent burpless cucumber that also shines when pickled and canned. I like all kinds of cucumbers, but I have a brother whose stomach can't tolerate "regular" cucumbers. So, over the years, I've been on the hunt for that "perfect" burpless cucumber. I'm hoping one, or both, of the burpless ones I'm growing this year will be THE ONE, lol. Back in 2007, Burpee sold a cucumber called "Burpless". That was its name. Back then, I think that was the ONLY burpless cucumber they sold. I guess it was before burpless became a thing. It was an excellent cucumber, and my brother loved it. Now they sell several burpless cucumbers, just not one named Burpless. So, I'm on the hunt, lol.

Now, from a slicer point of view, I have two favorites that I grow regularly. The first is Marketmore 76, which it sounds like you're familiar with. I'm not sure if it's a hybrid, but I guess it could be. It was developed in the 60's from a cucumber called "Marketmore", and released in the early 70's. I think it's been "stabilized" since then. And, I agree with your flavor assessment - rather "mild", not a strong cucumber taste, but still acceptable. I think Its strengths are its productivity and reliability. Nice cucumber, overall.

My other favorite slicer that tops my list is Straight Eight. Excellent flavor, very productive, as well as reliable. Probably the one I compare all others against. This is the one to beat, for me. As a side note, there was a cucumber released some time back called Straight Nine. It was supposed to be all things Straight Eight, only more resistance to disease and whatnot. I found this cuke to be LACKING in all the areas that make Straight Eight so good, at least to me. Therefore, I didn't give a flip about all its disease resistance.

And then there's picklers. Maybe we'll save that one for another day, lol. I'm sure this is much more than you wanted to know, haha.

 

[Downriver]

So, the last few weeks have been kinda busy, picking and processing cucumbers and tomatoes mainly.

Various tomatoes, picked 8/16


...more tomatoes (and a few other things), picked 8/20


...and yet more tomatoes, picked 8/26

 

[Downriver]

Here's a few tomatoes, individually.

Homestead 24 - Produced two different pheno's out of the same packet of commercial seed. Not sure what to make of that. The other thing is it's supposed to produce 8 oz fruit. We only got 1 oz and 4 oz. Two shapes. 1 oz egg/grape shape – firm, avg flavor, no acid – good for salads. 4 oz, round, sweet, no/low acid. Both are pretty good tomatoes.


Rebel Yell - We like this one. Prolific, meaty, flavorful. Does have green shoulders though. We'll grow this one again.

 

[Downriver]

Rutgers 250 - This tomato was recently released by Rutgers. It is supposed to be an improved version of the classic Rutgers tomato – which is what most people think of as the Jersey tomato. Our notes for this year describe it as "round, consistent size - about 7 oz. Meaty. Not particularly sweet or acidic – just a good tomatoey flavor. Skin kinda tough. Pretty fruit." We'll probably grow it again.


Uncle Steve's Italian Plum - Not sure why it's called a plum tomato. It's an 8 oz paste tomato. Supposed to have originated in Italy generations ago. It's very large for a paste. Nice and meaty. Good flavor. Great for making sauce. Might grow this one again.

 

[Downriver]

...more

Monkey Ass - I did NOT name this tomato, lol. This is a pink heart tomato. Large - average 16 oz. Meaty, tomatoey, sweet, low-acid. Great flavor. Good slicer or sauce tomato. Green shoulders. Wispy foliage plant. Good producer. This is a very good tomato. Unfortunately, they seem to be rot prone prior to ripeness. Pick early and let ripen on the counter.




Brandywine (pink) - Per seed vendor - "Large fruit with superb flavor. A great potato-leafed variety from 1885. Beautiful pink fruit up to 1½ lbs each." Pretty much agree with all of that, lol.

 

[Downriver]

Summer squash is starting to produce. Grey Zucchini and Summer Gold Zucchini.

 

[Downriver]

Winter Squash - Waltham Butternut - Virginia Select. This is a very good winter squash. Keeps for up to a year, and still tastes great. Also makes a great "pumpkin" pie.

 

[Downriver]

Double Yield Cucumber - This is the cucumber that starts turning yellow before they're even mature. But, it does produce a lot of cukes. If you catch them early, you can process them. I made a batch of dill pickles with them. I think you can see the jars in the background of a few of the tomato pictures.

 

[Downriver]

...also made some Spicy Bread & Butter pickles. These are goooood!



As a side note, if you're going to can something, make sure you remove the burner cover under the pot BEFORE you turn it on, especially if there's TWO covers stacked together! Oops.

 

[Downriver]

Sooo, what's been going on in the garden the last two or three weeks?

Well, the tomatoes are done. Picked the final round, which are going into a Paper Lantern hot sauce.



The okra has started to flower and produce pods. Should be able to harvest quite a bit before frost.



Heavy Hitter, Africanx


There are still a few things besides peppers growing - Summer and Winter Squash, Lima beans, okra - but all of them are winding down. Now the focus is shifting toward peppers!

 

[Downriver]

...and in October the focus indeed shifted to peppers, but that's another thread.

Everything is pretty much winding down in the garden, but we did pick a few things during October.

First up, Waltham Butternut Squash - Virginia Select: Vines continued to spread and set fruit.


At first threat of frost, we decided to harvest them. This year's haul was not as large as previous years, but still more than enough. The seven on the left were isolated, and will produce a lot of seeds. I'll probably be offering them later on, once the garden is done-done.

 

[Downriver]

...and beans. Most of the beans we grow are to produce seeds for variety preservation. We also grow a few to eat as well, lol.

Christmas Speckled Lima - Vines grew like crazy, but the Summer heat slowed down pod set. In September pod production commenced, and we were able to harvest about a pound of seed.


Rich Purple - This one was attacked by unknown critters, wiping out about half of the plants. What was left still managed to produce about 12oz of seed.


In addition to the two above, we also harvested seeds from French Gold, which we planted to eat, and a self-sown cowpea called Whipporwill. Both were very tasty!

 

[Downriver]

As with peppers, everything in the garden is long gone-dead.

Butternuts, peppers and tomatoes / and beans


After the leaves fell, we raked them into a LONG row, then commenced to "eat" them with the Flowtron! It's nothing more than a string trimmer in a cylinder, but it does a really good job at shredding them up.

Row of leaves (most of them already "processed") / the Flowtron!


We dumped them into the Gator as we went, then took them down to the compost area and dumped them. One of these days I'll mix them into the current compost in the wire ring.


As usual, I haven't done any meaningful Fall cleanup in the garden, and history tells me it won't be done until Spring.

So, like the Pepper Glog, I'm closing this Garden Glog. Might do one in '24, might not. Time will tell.

Like I said elsewhere, Happy New Year to all you Pepper AND Vegetable-eatin maniacs!

 

[ahayastani]

A great 2024 for you too, @Downriver !

 

[Downriver]

Oops. I forgot this year's seed offer, lol!

As in years past, as a way to thank all who followed along in this Glog, I've decided to do a simple seed giveaway to those who qualify*. I collect seeds from most everything I grow. If there's something in this Glog that interests you, just send me a PM. If I've got extra seeds, they're yours. No postage required. First come, first served. Keep in mind, most of these seeds will be open pollinated / non-isolated. Crosses are always possible, but historically are not very common in my garden. See below to see if you qualify.

Hopefully we can do this again next season!

Thanks for reading!

*Ways to qualify for free seed offer
1) If you posted a comment in this Glog PRIOR to this one. Thanks for your support!
OR
2) If you are currently a THP Extreme Member. Doesn't matter when you became one. Consider this offer a perk (from me) for supporting the Forum.
OR
3) As of this post, you must have been a member on The Hot Pepper for at least 3 months and have at least 50 posts to the forums. If you have not been on THP for 3 months or more and with at least 50 posts, then have a member with 6 months or more experience vouch for you.

Note: I will be making this offer in my Pepper Glog as well. Give it a look!

 

[NJChilehead]

...and in October the focus indeed shifted to peppers, but that's another thread.

Everything is pretty much winding down in the garden, but we did pick a few things during October.

First up, Waltham Butternut Squash - Virginia Select: Vines continued to spread and set fruit.


At first threat of frost, we decided to harvest them. This year's haul was not as large as previous years, but still more than enough. The seven on the left were isolated, and will produce a lot of seeds. I'll probably be offering them later on, once the garden is done-done.

@Downriver I was interested in trying butternut squash for the first time next year. What kind of yield do you typically get from a single plant?