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Garden Gate: Fall Garden Chores |
YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 06:49:29 AM
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Last week I cut back my lemon grass to 1" it was looking pretty raggedy because of the heat. It has now grown back 9". Soon I will have plenty to use fresh and dry for the winter.
Need to move my grandmother's purple irises from backyard to front yard.
Plant MJF garlic.
Put two lantana hanging baskets in the ground. Over the last couple of years I have bought two lantana hanging baskets to hang on Shepard's hook on east side of house. In the fall I put them in the ground. In a couple of years lantanas will fill the bed.
General weeding and tiding up to get ready to put gardens to bed for the winter. I like the months when my gardens sleep and I wile away the cold evenings dreaming and planning for the coming year.
That's what I will be doing. What's on your Fall Garden Chores List?
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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Marilyn Hartman Sullivan
True Blue Farmgirl
1138 Posts
Marilyn
Oxford
PA
USA
1138 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 08:47:48 AM
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What do you use the lemon grass for?
Farmgirl #6318 "Where there's a will -- there's probably a family fight." |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 09:08:44 AM
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I use it in Asian rice dishes. I have a recipe for Thai pickles and lemon grass is used in them. The pickles turned out really good. I also add it to veggies when I want a hint of lemon. Have used it in fermenting veggies. It can be used to tie herbs together when sprigs are used in any dish. I cook mostly with fresh lemon grass and leave it in big enough pieces that it's easy to fish out.
I have dried lemon rinds for lemon pepper. To up the lemon flavor I will add whole dried lemon grass to the jar. Should make for a pretty jar. I will dry a few blades to use in the winter but I prefer fresh.
Not only is it tasty it makes a beautiful grass either in the ground or in a container. Mine is in a container. Here in Texas it does not winter over so I plant a new one every year. The local fruit/veg stand carries 4" plants in the spring.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 10:11:55 AM
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Our garden is about done, now that September is coming to an end. Now, it's watch for overnight freezing temps while the tomatoes ripen. Picked the last of my "Royal Burgundy" beans. A few peppers to keep an eye on, as well as tomatoes. My tomatoes did NOT do as well as usual this summer and it's disappointing. Will leave the potatoes and leeks in the ground for a little while longer. Probably dig the parsnips eventually as there aren't many. There are a lot of carrots and we usually leave them in the ground and dig as we need them. MAYBE, a little fall spinach, kale and chard . . maybe! Our irrigation water will be shut off the 15th of October so there will be no watering after that. CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665. 2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
Edited by - ceejay48 on Sep 22 2016 10:12:54 AM |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 10:27:53 AM
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CeeJay I didn't grow tomatoes but my three sisters did. One in the northeast Dallas area and two near me. Tomato yields were down this summer and the ones that did make didn't have a good flavor. Everyone was talking about it being a bad year for tomatoes.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2016 : 11:01:32 AM
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I love chocolate mint. I dry it for chocolate mint sugar - great in coffee and in or on cookies.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2016 : 07:46:41 AM
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Mine has been tilled for about 3 weeks just did not have enough to worry about. I had 20 tomato plants did not pick 1 tomato very small and no taste.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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Marilyn Hartman Sullivan
True Blue Farmgirl
1138 Posts
Marilyn
Oxford
PA
USA
1138 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2016 : 07:59:06 AM
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We generally have good luck with tomatoes here. This year they ripened late and the cherry tomato variety (Sungold) that usually does amazingly was just so-so. The best tomatoes we have had all season have been growing from some volunteers! We had a comfort compost bed in the garden last year, where we threw kitchen scraps and any produce that we didn't pick in time -- all that stuff. Then last fall we put on a layer of soil and it got tilled in this spring. Partway through the season, we noticed there were some VERY vigorous tomato plants starting to scrawl all over the garden - through the squashes and around the beans -- tumbling and cascading all over everything! This was a vine that couldn't be stopped and it has produced absolute clusters of bright red smallish tomatoes that are as sweet as can be. I think it is the parent plant of some random tomato that ended up in the compost last year -- unhybridized and back to its natural beginnings. Whatever it is -- it has produced the BEST fruit we've had all summer and it's still going strong. Just goes to show -- sometimes it's best to leave Mom Nature up to her own devices!
Farmgirl #6318 "Where there's a will -- there's probably a family fight." |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2016 : 08:02:18 AM
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Boy, Marilyn, those tomatoes sound wonderful . . . and interesting how they grew! I love the Sungold (yellow) cherry tomatoes as well as a really yummy red cherry. Last year they did wonderful, this year not so much. Pretty disappointing! What we've gotten are really tasty however! CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665. 2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
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MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
7032 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
7032 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2016 : 11:41:54 AM
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I agree CJ. We don't live too far away and the weather has been way weird. My garden didn't do as good as I was hoping for. My tomatoes have already finished and didn't grow like they should have. My bush beans are done and my lettuce has been done for awhile. I have a few more peppers growing and a couple carrots and onions left to pick. I don't have very many garden chores left.
Krista |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2016 : 2:27:30 PM
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Sounds like no matter where we live this year was not a good year in our gardens.
I sorta did a fall garden chore today but it was more of a test. For some time now I have been wondering if garlic planted in outside containers would winter over and sprout in the spring. Today I had a chance to try it. I made potato & leek soup that called for garlic. The whole bulb was nothing but teensy cloves. I peeled enough for the soup but as I was about to throw it away - didn't want to mess with it again I decided to plant it in my containers of rosemary and chives. Come spring I'll know if garlic will winter over in containers. I sure hope so it would be nice to have garlic growing at the back door.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Oct 02 2016 : 06:22:51 AM
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Planted garlic this morning.
Bed ready to move six irises. Will have to decide what to do with the others if sisters don't want them.
May ready beds to transplant two lantanas from hanging baskets. Since rain is out of the forecast I have the rest of the week to work on lantanas.
Do you know your first frost date? It's time to get plants/bulbs in the ground so they are settled in by threat of frost. My first frost date is Nov 13 - seems a little early this year - hope that doesn't mean a harsh winter.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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Daizy
True Blue Farmgirl
992 Posts
Daizy
Talladega
Alabama
USA
992 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2016 : 04:45:09 AM
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Hay there,
Mz Sara, are you looking for sisters to take your iris or your garlic. I believe I still have some Cajun garlic in a bed out by the turn-around but I forgot to check on it this summer. My iris didn't bloom much this year because the chickens scratched in the beds year before last. While raking leaves last fall I found quite a few tubers and replanted them but the blooms where few.....maybe they will survive the winter this year and come back next summer. I am not able to free range my chickens anymore due to coyotes and eagles and hawks......the flowers will be better off for it tho.
Hugs and prayers, Daizy #1093 Poor House Farmgirl Chapter {A virtual chapter open to everyone.} A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? www.poorhouseparadise.blogspot.com |
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3950 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3950 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2016 : 06:18:29 AM
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My garden has slugs. I first noticed them on the pole beans chewing on leaves and mature beans. I then found one on a chewed on tomato. Just today I saw one in the hollow of a green onion I had picked a couple days ago. Time to get me a beer and trap the suckers.
Marie, Sister #5142 Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2016 : 06:40:52 AM
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Daizy I sent you an e-mail.
Marie slugs are icky. I hate dealing with them. My chickens wouldn't even eat them.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Oct 03 2016 : 06:42:59 AM
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somehow I posted twice |
Edited by - YellowRose on Oct 03 2016 06:43:44 AM |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2016 : 09:34:13 AM
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Well, we had freeze and ice night before last and another frost last night. I have been covering my tomatoes but the tippy top leaves still got zapped a bit. Leeks, carrots and kale are okay. I had picked all my peppers . . . good thing as they plants are "toast". Will keep going with what remains of tomatoes as long as possible, but it's soon to be over! And our irrigation water will be shut off on Oct. 15th CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665. 2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2016 : 10:56:40 AM
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CeeJay, y'all get freeze & frost a lot earlier than we do.
I dug rest of the irises and will send them to Daizy hopefully early part of next week.
Still working on planting lantanas.
This isn't really a fall garden chore but I need to fill the holes Annie has dug all over the backyard. Hope she outgrows her need to dig.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3102 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3102 Posts |
Posted - Oct 05 2016 : 6:09:03 PM
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Sara, I have purple iris in my flower bed from my grandma too! She loved irises. I can't say they're my favorite flower, but I always think of her when I see them so they're special :) My garden didn't do well either, but I planted some herbs in some pots and they did well. I too have lemongrass (and lemon balm & lemon verbanae). I dry mine and use it for tea. It's good on it's own or mixed with spearmint (which I've also got in a pot). Where do you get chocolate mint? I have peppermint, spearmint, pineapple mint, and orange mint in a pot but I've never seen chocolate mint. It sounds wonderful!!! I cut all my parsley and dried it today. I plan to do all the mints and lemons tomorrow and if all goes well the oregano Friday. Then I believe I'm done. Sad to think about, but it is October.
~Heather Farmgirl Sister #4701 September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month http://nndairy.blogspot.com/
"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2016 : 05:33:45 AM
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Heather like CeeJay I got mine at local fruit/veg stand that carries plants. I have also seen it offered by on-line nurseries.
Some mints will cross so I keep my mints as far away from each other as I can. Sometimes it's just several feet.
CeeJay I have added my lemon grass to pickles either to can or ferment. I make little bundles out of the green part of leeks to put fresh rosemary in for soups, roasting, etc. If the leek green isn't long enough to make ties I use lemon grass.
If left in 4 to 6" pieces and tied in bundles lemon grass is easy to fish out of any dish you may want a delicate lemon flavor. I also use it to add more lemon flavor like lemon chicken.
My lemon grass is now almost a foot high so there will be plenty to harvest for drying before frost.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14 FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13640 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13640 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2016 : 12:28:13 PM
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I don't have lemon grass . . . hmmmm, will have to look into that. Have TONS of lemon basil. Just dried and ground some, probably will pick more and put straight into the freezer.
Just brought in some chocolate mint to dry . . . will grind it up too. And, probably put some fresh into the freezer as well.
Still have to do some oregano as well. Today I discovered that my newest oregano plant, which is planted along the deck by the house has had all of its branches broken off, about 2 inches from the ground and not a leaf of oregano to be found. Hubby thinks maybe a squirrel and we have an overpopulation of them . . > AAARRRRGGGGGHHHH! Fortunately I have lots of oregano in another location which I plant to pick and dry. CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665. 2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
Edited by - ceejay48 on Oct 06 2016 12:28:53 PM |
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Garden Gate: Fall Garden Chores |
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