Garden 2017

[Pa_bon]

Have enjoyed these posts in the past and thought I'd share mine.

Downsized since last year. Just can't keep up with a 1/2 acre anymore. Lost 1/2 of my workforce. Sons grow up to do their own thing. Kept 9 rows approx. 150' long. Have 2 rows of Irish potatoes (about ready to dig), 2 rows of snap beans, 4 rows of sweet corn, have squash, zucchini, eggplant, jalapenos, 24 bell peppers, a couple of yellow bell peppers for the wife, 12 banana peppers, 24 Roma tomatoes, a couple of Dixie Red tomatoes, 6 pack of Black Krims tomatoes (best fresh tomato I've ever eaten), a couple of black cherry tomatoes, and red cherry tomatoes.

When potatoes and snap beans are done I'll be planting a couple rows each of okra and either black eyes or purple hulls, whichever the wife wants.

Then in Sept. prep for the fall garden begins.

[sugarcreek]

Holy crap. And I thought my little 200 sq ft urban garden was a lot of work.

[Pa_bon]

SC it never stops. That's why I cut down. Love doing it but it's tons of work keeping grass out. If I had the time I have 12 acres that could be planted. Been working 7 days a week for a little over 7 years now (have a welding sideline that I love) and I find myself at times in the garden with a hoe and a headlight. I hate grass in my garden.

Have 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Planted a LOT of sweet corn and GAVE annual supplys to 9 families all cooked and freezer ready. Processing sweet corn on that scale is a time consuming job that has a relatively short window to be done in.

Gotta love it.

[sugarcreek]

My current biggest problem is my damn dog (golden retriever) for some reason has started digging up my radishes. It never stops I tell you! I could use a good welder out my way. Do you make house calls?

[Pa_bon]

Don't reach quite that far out. I'm in S. Louisiana.

[punkin]

We used to blanch corn before freezing but have found it cooks up just as good if frozen in the husk. Saves a lot of work too.

We like it cooked after it's been frozen better than fresh, seems sweeter and more tender.

[Pa_bon]

I'll bet it does save a ton of work. We shuck, brush, cot off cob then cook. We do a partial cook really. It's not cooked completely. Put up about 60 quarts each year. Have to cook to have enough freezer space along with all the other garden stuff and deer, pigs, squirrel, ducks, rabbit, etc. etc. Have three full sized freezers as it is.

Never really looked at doing it any other way. It's the way we were taught. Been doing it that way since we were knee high to fleas.

Thought it had to be at least blanched to kill some enzyme or other that would harm it over time. Hell if I know. Good to know it will work another way for future reference.

[dutchmancreek]

We used to blanch corn before freezing but have found it cooks up just as good if frozen in the husk. Saves a lot of work too.

We like it cooked after it's been frozen better than fresh, seems sweeter and more tender.

That's how we always did it....blanching, then sealing and freezing in food saver vacuum bags, in meal size portions. Just as good as fresh.

[Rebel_Yell]

Nice looking garden.

I have used an air compressor for silking corn since I was in high school. Just drain the water regular and keep a good set of filters on..
Have you gave any thought to laying plastic row cover and using drip tape?

[Pa_bon]

Rebel, yes I have and would do it except for the high iron content in our well water around here. Clogs them up. I have used plastic on some things like strawberries and onions but that stuff is a bitch to pick up

[The Baker]

Hi, Pa,
Seventy years ago Grandpa had a garden like yours. Dug it all by hand. Kept the family in vegies; and meat from the farm, killed a sheep say once a week. Went out in the early dusk with the shotgun and got rabbits for the pot. Milk and butter from the house cows, eggs and meat from the fowls and turkeys and ducks.
Thursday was sale day (sheep and cows and pigs) in town, he drove the gig seven miles with boxes of vegies on the floor. Sold them for his pipe tobacco money and no doubt groceries for Grandma.
There was very little they needed that did not come from the farm, what they grew and the vegie money.
Didn't need money for alcohol, they did not drink.
Times are different now.
Geoff

[Bushman]

Deer got to my corn last year so raised the fence height, time will tell!

[Pa_bon]

Dug Irish potatoes yesterday. Ended up with 10 1/2 crates from at most 30# of seed. Potatoes are beautiful and I'm tickled.

[Pa_bon]

Rebel, tried the air compressor thing. That is the way to go. My compressor WILL be upgraded before next harvest to accommodate 4-5 people. Thanks for the tip.

[Rebel_Yell]

Works a treat. Glad to help.