Monday, September 28, 2009

How i Seed a Tomato

This is how learned to get seeds from a tomato. Im sure there are several ways to do this but this is just the way i have been doing it.

1st.
I have already cut up the tomato. I ran my finger up in each section removing the liquid sections into the bowl. The liquid sections have the seeds. When your done you should have the meat of the tomato left. I then add water. I usually add the same amount of water that there is tomato liquid in the bowl. But i don't think there is a science to the water part. This tomato was called a Kellogg Breakfast. I bought it at a farmers market just for the seeds.

2nd.
The second step i didnt take a picture of. I forgot. But just imagine the above bowl sitting somewhere kinda warmish. I use the top of my refrigerator. Let it sit there for a couple of days. It will start to ferment and stink. You want it to ferment because this is when the seeds will separate from their little gel sacks that they are in. I let this one sit for 5 days.

3rd.
Pour your bowl of fermented tomato seeds into a strainer. Make sure the strainer will not let the seeds slip through its holes.


4th.
I rinse them with cool water for a while.
5th.
I put them on a piece of newspaper to dry back out before i put them in a jar or an envelope.
I have dried them before on a paper towel but because of how paper towels are made it was really hard to get the dried seeds off of it.


My label is in the bowl under the newspaper. Nothing worse then to seed a bunch of different tomatoes and then forgetting which tomato seeds are which. The seeds pretty much look the same.
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Monday, September 21, 2009

Dwarf Citrus Trees

This is my Dwarf Citrus Trees. I have had them for one season now and since arriving they have tripled in size.

They did not produce this year so, I am hoping for next year.
The place we ordered them from said they will be dwarf in there size but will produce full sized fruit. (the also said they will produce in year one)

I have ordered live plants from eburgess and Direct Gardening before. Unfortunately 70% or all live plants that i have purchased from these 2 places have died or arrived dead. Getting a refund or a replacement is a headache so, its just money lost. So these citrus trees are surprising me that they are living. Althought the Meyeri Lemon has struggled since it arrived.


Valencia Orange




Lime




Meyeri Lemon




Tangerine







Sorry about what the blog might look like. This really isnt working the greatest for me. Im not to happy with this editor. The words and pics dont really go where they seem like they should in compose vs preview.


Thursday, September 17, 2009

Red Corn

My "Red Corn" has started to loose a lot of its green in the leaves and stalk so, i am assuming that its time to harvest.
They only produced one ear of corn per stalk. I guess that is normal.
I planted them this year as a test to see how well they might grow in my garden next to the house.
Next year i will use more of them on the ends to act as a wind screen.
Another odd thing is, i feel like they didn't root very deep.

I pulled my first one off last night. I didn't take a picture with it next to anything for a size comparison but its only about 6 inches long.

I haven't tasted it yet so i cant comment on its flavor. I'll have to get back to you on the flavor.
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Friday, September 11, 2009

Bugs in the garden




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Powdery Mildew - The end to Melons, Squash and Cucumbers

We had different varieties of melons, squash and cucumbers growing. The we started noticing this white powder on the leaves. Before we knew it, it was on ALL of the leaves and the stalks. Then what was once a beautiful green was now turning a limp yellow with crust brown edges.

Before:


After:
(although this isnt really after. This is during. After is just a picture of dead brown)




I can not confirm that any of the following statements are fact.
We read that it (the powdery mildew) is from the south. When we had hot days and rain Or when you get your leaves wet, it helps to spread this.

We couldn't find a sure fire way of curing it, stopping it, or preventing it.
Some remedies were to us 1 part baking soda and 9 parts water.
another one was a milk and water mixture.

We did use the baking soda remedy and it did seem to slow it down. Some times it seemed to reverse it but i think we were just seeing what we were hoping for.

In the end it brought all those infect to a short life with a sudden end. :(

If you have any info or insight on this I would love to hear it.





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