My tomatoes are real survivors. They had fewer than 6 hours of above 70 degrees temperatures during the entire month of May. Junuary is not looking much better so far. If things don’t improve, I wonder if we will seen any fruit even from my Siberia plants! 
Thanks for the quick reply. That recipe looks great!
Any use for the little beets attached to plants that were thinned out?
1 Like
Probably too much hassle and not enough beet to use in borscht… the beets need to be peeled for that. But maybe if you add one store bought beet?
BTW, this is one of the best recipes for that dish! 
1 Like
I’ll second stir frying the beets with bacon, garlic and a splash of balsamic.
I would just roast the little suckers or wash them well, slice if needed and throw them in with the beet greens. Or do a quick roast.
2 Likes
H and I finally set up the rain barrel I made (and painted). Test drove it by running some water through the eaves trough. May need to trim the rubber tubing but will wait for a rain and see how it goes first.
2 Likes
I sautée beat greens similar to the recipe you posted. The only difference is that I use EVOO—not a fan of bacon. Sometimes I add shallots.
2 Likes
Nicely done!!
I throw mine away, I don’t eat them because of the oxalic acid in beets. I eat beet roots though.
1 Like
What does this mean? Are you at risk for kidney stones?
No, I don’t have any problem. I just read that a long time ago that they interfere with the absorption of calcium when you eat them, so I avoid them, I don’t eat a lot of raw spinach either, I have to cook them first.
1 Like
I feel your pain. My “warm weather” plants – tomatoes, peppers, eggplant – are all hanging in there but don’t look super happy with the weather we’ve had. I think they would love some nice warm sunshine instead of an atmospheric river.
1 Like
Opposite problem here. After a weird spring, including snow in late May, we have a heat wave here this eek (though today it will only get to 93). I’ve been watering daily, which I usually try to avoid.
Yesterday I had my first radish. Today we’ll have the first 2 cherry tomatoes. I need to harvest more lettuce because it’s not going to last long.
1 Like
I’m starting to get more vegetables here. Today we had green beans and zucchini and one Diva cucumber. I have enough picking cucumbers to make a jar of dill pickles today. Lots of fresh herbs in the garden, I need to pick them and give away.
1 Like
Does anyone have advice on the care/feeding of a fig tree. I just bought one (2- quart ficus carica) and am determined to keep it alive and happy. I live in Zone 5 (MA) and know this will be challenging. I just planted the tree in a very large container (with drainage holes). The pot (as the nursery folks recommended) is about twice the size of the tree. Right now, the tree it is on my deck and in an area with full sun. The nursery people said it was the type of fig tree that didn’t need pollination to produce figs. I’ve been reading online, but would love any tips from folks in colder climates who’ve kept fruit trees alive.
I I don’t think figs need pollination, why, there are no flowers.
As I understand it, wasps pollinate fig trees. That being said, a variety known as the common fig ripens without pollination. That’s what I bought. I only know this because that’s what the person at the nursery told me.
Do you have any tips for growing fig trees?
2 Likes
I never saw any flower on my fig trees so how can anything pollinate them, I do see tiny fruitlets. I really don’t have any tips because I’m in a different zone, they are growing like weeds here, I have 6-7 trees, maybe more, but I lost count. I put them in the shade and they still have fruit. I don’t even fertilize even.
Fig trees don’t really have traditional flowers and don’t require pollination. Fig wasps basically pollinate fig trees, but the fruit will set regardless of whether fig wasps show up or not.
Some fig trees produce 2 crops of fruit while others just produce one. They’re deciduous, so will lose all of their leaves in the winter.
Do you know which kind of fig tree you have?
2 Likes
I have a common fig tree (ficus carica). I am just looking for tips from folks who have experience keeping a fig tree in a colder climate (Zone 5). I need all the help I can get. For example, once the temperature dips—when do I bring it inside? Do I put it in an area with full sun once inside? Fertilize it while inside?
The summer promises to be an overachiever in the squash department and so I am seeking squash recipes. I went away for a week, with some blossoms just getting started, and came back to a dozen full size beauties. I have green, yellow and a very cool variegated one that was in a seed packet from True Love seeds called Palestinian Summer Squash Mix.
I’m looking for out-of-the-ordinary recipes - my hubby does the cooking and he has mastered grilling squash and using it sauteed etc, and I can use it to make zuke bread, all of which we’ll do. But if anyone has a super special recipe, I’d love to see it!
tia!
1 Like