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Started by Cassia, May 07, 2022, 11:20:26 AM

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Cassia

Most keen gardeners know that many plants conduct chemical warfare (allelopathy) against their potential neighbors. The plant kingdom is just as fascinating as (us) animals. Did you know that the slimy substance surrounding tomato seeds is a germination retardant? After all, a warm moist place like the inside of a tomato would be perfect for germination. And the mother plant doesn't want that, LOL.

Mike Cl

Quote from: Cassia on October 02, 2022, 09:23:25 PMMost keen gardeners know that many plants conduct chemical warfare (allelopathy) against their potential neighbors. The plant kingdom is just as fascinating as (us) animals. Did you know that the slimy substance surrounding tomato seeds is a germination retardant? After all, a warm moist place like the inside of a tomato would be perfect for germination. And the mother plant doesn't want that, LOL.
I quite agree--plants are much more interesting than I had thought.  I was blown away when I learned that the trees giraffe's feed on send chemical signals to neighboring trees which then exude a chemical that giraffe's don't like.  And that mushrooms (are they really plants????) send signals along their huge underground networks that keep the forest healther.  Apparently the plant kingdom is much more 'intelligent' and feeling than we had imagined. 
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Unbeliever

Quote from: Mike Cl on October 03, 2022, 10:05:55 AMAnd that mushrooms (are they really plants????)
I think mushrooms are fungi, which is a separate kingdom from that of plants.
God Not Found
"There is a sucker born-again every minute." - C. Spellman

the_antithesis

They are fungi which is why they get invited to all the best parties.

the_antithesis


Cassia

Walking in the garden with my nephew. There was this extra big Marconi pepper I had been eyeing, waiting for it to turn full red. Next thing I hear is "CHOMP, mmmm, want a bite?" LOL. The peppers, they got beat-up in the hurricane, but that stress triggered them to set fruit early.

I got some carrots, onions, beets, and lettuce seed started this week. I see some tomatoes and an avocado tree sprouted from our compost pile. I love those little surprises. Fresh rosemary, thyme, basils, oregano, and dill all bringing joy to 'la cucina'. 


Cassia

We had a "warm salad" for lunch. It is kinda cool today, like 60 Deg. Picked some sweet peppers, fresh dill, Malabar spinach and purple basil from the garden. Sautéed some onions with the pepper and spinach in garlic infused olive oil and then poured it over romaine and sprinkled a bit of balsamic vinegar. A few chopped walnuts and wow, glad I made a big bowl of it. One benefit of hurricanes (LOL) is it seems to have blown the insects away. I see very little insect pressure so far and I don't use any insecticides.

One of the best benefits of gardening is being able to grow and eat things that simply are not otherwise available. Malabar spinach grows like weeds down here:


Cassia

You tasted better than you looked, you Italian sweet Marconi.

Mike Cl

The current weather/climate in my area is crazy.  I have two myers lemon trees that don't quite know what to do.  One tree has buds that usually happen in the spring, but no lemons.  The other has both, buds and lemons.  The large (30 ft) regular lemon has both buds and probably 100 lemons on it.  The Iris is sprouting.  A couple of roses just put out a new batch of buds with a couple of flowers.  It's like the plants are confused--they don't know if it's winter or spring.  It just occurred to me that maybe the current growing zone is in the process of changing for good--have to look into it.  If that is the case, then a large part of CA will be impacted and not for the good.
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

Cassia

Quote from: Mike Cl on December 08, 2022, 12:35:33 PMThe current weather/climate in my area is crazy.  I have two myers lemon trees that don't quite know what to do.  One tree has buds that usually happen in the spring, but no lemons.  The other has both, buds and lemons.  The large (30 ft) regular lemon has both buds and probably 100 lemons on it.  The Iris is sprouting.  A couple of roses just put out a new batch of buds with a couple of flowers.  It's like the plants are confused--they don't know if it's winter or spring.  It just occurred to me that maybe the current growing zone is in the process of changing for good--have to look into it.  If that is the case, then a large part of CA will be impacted and not for the good.
Yep, our spring/early summer plants like tomatoes and peppers that usually suffer by now are thriving and giving us a 2nd round, but the winter garden looks like a bust so far. Carrots and radish and lettuce look sad. In fact, I decided to just start over and replant in January. The birds are confused too. A bunch of species got here early after an unusual dip in the mercury but now they are gone. All our citrus has the killer disease now, so we just harvested the last orange we will ever get unless they find a solution for Florida. All the grooves are shutting down.

Cassia

With a big freeze hitting us down south, I ran out into the garden to salvage anything I could. I give you the world's smallest pumpkin🎃. It was hidden in a patch of brown grass. We are gonna cook it nevertheless. We dragged some tomatoes and peppers that were in pots into the barn. Not sure they will make it, but if they do it will be a nice head start for next year.


Cassia

It is about equal to the peak of Fall (up-North) this far south right now. The leaves have fallen with nights in the 50s/60s and days in the low 70s. Look how that swamp bay tree has engulfed that concrete tiki. I should paint that ting all colourful mon.









Cassia

Harvesting from garden is a daily thing right now. To kick up a salad, I scissor-off from a bed of young greens (started from "basic salad mix" seeds ordered from https://www.trueleafmarket.com/, love that site) and they grow right back! The cherry tomatoes are a little pop of tartness (pop-tarts?).

Cassia

Every day I go out its a surprise to see what the gardens have for us. One of the local etsy seed-sellers threw in a free pack of mystery tomato seeds. Well, they turned out to be a delicious golden/yellow variety and a tart green type as well. And they just keep supplying. The little red currants are our native Everglades variety. The mother of all tomatoes, pretty much. Ratty-looking tangle dripping with red jewels. Every day we have at least a ripe dozen, so we work them into all sorts of dishes. I expect to sample some new-to-us "black cherry" tomatoes next month. There are thousands of types of tomatoes so that keeps it interesting. They seem to really like our home-brewed kitchen compost. Making compost keeps the racoons out of the trash bins as well.

Today we are cooking up a batch of red cow peas. They are so tasty when garden fresh and they are 'nitrogen fixers' that prepare the bed for Fall plantings. Unfortunately, traditional salad greens are done, too hot now, but I will once again try Seminole pumpkins this summer, hoping the deer don't get them again, LOL.





Gawdzilla Sama

Cassia, have you tried Seyval Blanc?
We 'new atheists' have a reputation for being militant, but make no mistake  we didn't start this war. If you want to place blame put it on the the religious zealots who have been poisoning the minds of the  young for a long long time."
PZ Myers