N&C Midwest: September 2016

**Scorpio Rising** 9/1/2016, 1:50 pm

Here it is, September, rolling into a holiday weekend! I plan to get some fall things planted, but not sure that I am having much success direct seeding...too dry. Might try to start seeds and make a quick transplanting, except for the radishes!

What is everyone else doing?

countrynaturals 9/1/2016, 3:36 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Here it is, September, rolling into a holiday weekend! I plan to get some fall things planted, but not sure that I am having much success direct seeding...too dry. Might try to start seeds and make a quick transplanting, except for the radishes!

What is everyone else doing?

I had to learn that lesson the hard way. There's just no way to keep seeds moist in a garden in our area. I now start everything inside except root crops. geek

**Scorpio Rising** 9/2/2016, 9:07 am

Good intentions....not good enough!

countrynaturals 9/2/2016, 11:30 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:Good intentions....not good enough!

Nope. A brain is also required. I just realized I double-booked the area where KY Wonder beans were supposed to go. While they were sprouting in the seed tray, I forgot and planted snap peas in that area. AARRGGHH!!!!! affraid

landarch 9/2/2016, 12:34 pm

I have seeded about eight 4x4 boxes of fall carrots and beets...but germination has been inconsistent...recent rains have helped.

I have several flats of bibb, buttercrunch, and igloo lettuce ready to either plant or pot-up...frustrated because I can't find my Agribon fabric pieces in case I need to cover later in the year. I also have green and Chinese cabbage seedlings ready to go. Asian greens grow quickly so I will be direct seeding toy choy and tatsoi in a few weeks.

I'll probably start removing tomato plants over the weekend and do a little clean-up.

Finally starting to see some female flowers on my trombone squash...only had 2 squash develop all summer because of mostly all male flowers...had been keeping an eye on one over the last week but then had our first grader pick it way, way too early...ugh.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/2/2016, 9:49 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:Good intentions....not good enough!
Nope. A brain is also required. I just realized I double-booked the area where KY Wonder beans were supposed to go. While they were sprouting in the seed tray, I forgot and planted snap peas in that area. AARRGGHH!!!!!

That is highly likely to occur this fall here...I have been a slacker with my little sticks to tell me where I can go! I get it! N&C Midwest: September 2016 1280598131

**Scorpio Rising** 9/2/2016, 10:02 pm

L

landarch wrote:I have seeded about eight 4x4 boxes of fall carrots and beets...but germination has been inconsistent...recent rains have helped.

I have several flats of bibb, buttercrunch, and igloo lettuce ready to either plant or pot-up...frustrated because I can't find my Agribon fabric pieces in case I need to cover later in the year. I also have green and Chinese cabbage seedlings ready to go. Asian greens grow quickly so I will be direct seeding toy choy and tatsoi in a few weeks.

I'll probably start removing tomato plants over the weekend and do a little clean-up.

Finally starting to see some female flowers on my trombone squash...only had 2 squash develop all summer because of mostly all male flowers...had been keeping an eye on one over the last week but then had our first grader pick it way, way too early...ugh.

Lordy! That is a ton of food! Do you can, Landarch? I have carrots and beets from July that I still need to deal with still. I have removed 2 tomato plants that overwhelmed their supports. Bummer. Oxheart is huge, and delish! The other was a green when ripe, German Green. Not very sweet and tomatoey.....I am a hard grader. Still have one in.

First graders, eager beavers! I get it! Lol

**Scorpio Rising** 9/3/2016, 8:09 pm

Wow! What a great day! I watered, harvested, and planted radishes in the beds. also, replanted spinach in flats, as well as lettuces.

Just a gorgeous day here! cheers

**Scorpio Rising** 9/4/2016, 9:21 am

Sunday Sunday! Another great day on tap here in the Midwest! No garden chores today, going to Indian Lake to my brothers place for some water activities and family time.

I did get a bit of redemption for the Blacktail Mountain yesterday, among the dwindling vines I spied a 2nd melon on the ground between the containers! So 2 plants, 2 melons from that variety. The Minnesota Midget is a champ! 4 ripe and eaten so far, 3 more out there that I could find! And Sakatas Sweet, just a prolific and delicious plant, but it is seriously petering out. I pulled 4 off yesterday, and there are at least that many still on but green.

Peppers doing great. Big change from last year when I got 2. Peppers. Pole beans tapering off as well. Yukon Gold is yellowing a bit.

Put Matchless, Black Seeded Simpson, Marvel of 4 Seasons and Ruby Crunch seeds in flats yesterday.

countrynaturals 9/4/2016, 11:35 am

Ooo, Scorpio, sounds wonderful. I can't wait for my MN Midgets to sprout. My goal is to be eating one from the greenhouse on New Year's Day. Mark your calendar. geek

**Scorpio Rising** 9/4/2016, 10:59 pm

I Those melons are ridiculous! Taste great, and d
Super sweet.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/5/2016, 9:54 am

countrynaturals wrote:Ooo, Scorpio, sounds wonderful. I can't wait for my MN Midgets to sprout. My goal is to be eating one from the greenhouse on New Year's Day. Mark your calendar.

Will do! I will be waiting for seed catalogs....lol

**Scorpio Rising** 9/5/2016, 11:05 am

Gonna be hot here today and the next few days, so will need to water the radish seeds out in the boxes. Other than that, Happy Labor Day, USA workers! Hope you can enjoy the day either off work or making time and a half!

landarch 9/7/2016, 10:36 pm

I pickle beets and eat a lot fresh (roasted or steamed).

In addition, my neighbor from India hooked me up with a really good carrot recipe. 1) sweat down some diced onion and cumin seed in a TBS of vegetable oil, 2) add diced carrots and cook down, 3) add garlic, 4) add cilantro...relatively fast and tasty. I do big batches and eat as left overs during the week.

the kiddos munch on these veggies as well.

90 degree temps are making it difficult to keep seed beds and seedlings hydrated...waiting to set out more lettuce seedlings...supposed to get decent rain over the next few days...and I see a low of 55 in the forecast.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/7/2016, 10:44 pm

Love it.

I have a gallon Baggie of beats, gorgeous, no idea what to do wi them. Tops and roots trimmed.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/8/2016, 7:12 pm

I am hoping that brief sprinkle is enough for the radish seeds in the box! And the re-planted spinach! No action on the lettuces yet, but not long in the baby starter....

Will try the carrot recipe this week, as I have a bunch! What do you do with the beets? Do they need to be peeled? I topped and bottomed them. I think they can be roasted on the grill too in a foil pack.

**llama momma** 9/9/2016, 8:52 am

S.R.
Beets can be boiled, or roasted in the oven in addition to the barbecue foil pack you mentioned, can also be frozen till you decide to use it later on. Google to see lots of ideas. Russian soup borcht(spelling?) perhaps? Personally, I roast or boil. My husband would not eat beets till he had them roasted from the garden and thought it tasted terrific. I find we like the beets to be smaller as the larger ones become tough and woody. It could be the variety I grew. Enjoy!

CapeCoddess 9/9/2016, 4:47 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Love it.

I have a gallon Baggie of beats, gorgeous, no idea what to do wi them. Tops and roots trimmed.

I would love to see photos of your bounty! Carrots and beets would make a beautiful avatar photo!

**Scorpio Rising** 9/9/2016, 8:12 pm

LM, thanks for the ideas! I think I will roast them. That way I can do them all at once, and eat as I want!

CC, I will do that! Great idea! I have a bunch of stuff on my kitchen counter, paste maters, Patty pans, maybe I will get it together and get an Avatar! Wink

**Scorpio Rising** 9/11/2016, 10:09 am

Picked some things yesterday, see avatar! Was surprised to find 2 more watermelons and 4 more Minnesota midgets out there on the vine! Blacktail mountain might be a do again! Cold front moved in over night, nice temperatures this morning, windows open.

Radishes are up, still waiting on leaves to germinate. Will start corn salad and mache today. Have never grown these, supposed to be very cold tolerant. Eliot Coleman from Four Season Harvest is all about them. They are small. Did not get a cold frame built yet.

Already thinking Spring....strawberries....really want them in a bed close to the house.

landarch 9/12/2016, 12:45 pm

I tend to boil/steam beets...cut the greens back leaving about an inch attached to the beets, then pick off any tap root or root hairs. When cooked the skin peels off easy peasy.

If the beet top or bottom is cut before boiling, nutrients and color can leak-out...probably not a problem if roasting.

I have 10-12 squares of beets I need to thin in the next day or so...some look like their dampening off (cool wet weather)...healthy tops with a withered stem right at soil level.

I did manage to plant 10-12 more squares of lettuce yesterday...Igloo, Bibb, and Buttercrunch...a little late with my Boston Bibb.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/12/2016, 10:16 pm

Nice, I did have some weeny beets last year because I didn't know how to trim and store them. I am gonna throw these in a foil pouch on the charcoal, and store/eat. I do really like them!

One interesting revelation that I have come to especially this summer which has been hot and dry. I do not use stuff from my garden well that needs to be cooked. Like pole beans. Love 'em, but only cooked em twice. Threw a lot of them out. My house is just not suited for heating up hard in summer. Squash, they store better...at least Patty pans. My go to.

I do cook the squash and beans on my side burner off my propane grill. And other stuff. Corn. Anything actually. Pasta. But need to think about that. Just a truth.

Peppers, maters, melons, cukes, peas, radishes, turnips, ground cherries, all good.

Learning . study

**sanderson** 9/14/2016, 1:52 am

SR, I don't cook during the summer. What I do is blanch (or quick oven roast to stop further breakdown) and freeze veggies that need further cooking. I finish cooking in the winter when we eat meat and hot veggies.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/14/2016, 10:28 pm

Funny, but I really never realized this until end of season last year. Wow.

**Scorpio Rising** 9/15/2016, 6:26 pm

Walked in to the house from work to the delicious aroma of the marvelous Crock Pot Marinara!!!! Yum! I had kinda forgot that I put it on this morning! LOL....cooking down now lid off for a while.

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