OT Who likes to garden?

I might try strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in the coming Fall/Winter cycle. They seem to do well here. Plums and peaches are for the experts. Veggies, lettuces, etc., can be temperamental depending on timing of planting.
I've never stayed put longer than about 4-5 years, but I love the idea of Berry bushes and Strawberries.

When I first started gardening everyone said to get better boys because they grow easy and yield a lot. Which is true.

But...they’re mostly water and too small to use on burgers or sandwiches, and they’re mostly pulp when you try to chop them.

Any time I’m going to chop or dice tomatoes, or make a sauce I go to romas, and for slicing use a beef steak. Nothing better on a BLT.

Better boys are good for juice and that’s about it.

Yup Roma are my favorite, but don't have much juice. Beef Steak are better suited for canning. Imho. But I don't really can them anyway.
As for blanching, the key is to cool them down fast. Same with corn, cut if off the cob, blanch, cool down really fast, put in bags with just a tiny pinch of sugar. Lots of work, but you won't regret it during those Nov Dec big meals.
 


cannabis-garden.jpg
I don't advocate it and have never indulged, even in my college years, but that is too funny for this thread.
 




I just plant tomatoes. This year about 16 plants and I do it mostly for a hobby. I give away a lot and freeze a lot of them.[/QUOTE

I like to garden and take care of our 1 acre lawn. I usually plant tomatoes, peppers, and garden onions. Love to cut them up when they are hot from the Sunshine slather on some high level extra virgin olive oil, one of many vinegars, and spices for a great garden salad. Also stewing all three veggies in a pot and having it as a sauce on pastas etc
 






I try to grow 3-5 jalapenos, because I love poppers. Game day food!!
Green peppers go with anything but you can stuff them.
Poblano's, I love a good chile relleno!!!
I did make marinara one year, but did it with other kinds besides Roma's. Don't try it!!! By the time you get the consistency, you use a ton of tomatoes for a couple jars of marinara.
 
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I live in California and everyone is a grower these days since they legalized pot. I think you can grow 8 plants or something on your own. So, it's amazing how popular gardening is these days.
 














We plant about every two years or so. We get a crap ton of rian "all at once" in Central Florida, then it might be dry for a while, then, bam, another crap ton.

Hence, I tend to stick with herbs, maybe a pepper plant or two, and something "novel". Tomatoes get pummeled here if not handled proper-like. Peppers can suffer under deluge-type rains, as well. Herbs? They tend to tough it out. And there is nothing better than fresh rosemary!

Even when we don't plant, I have long since excluded typical grocery stores, mega-marts, etc., for our produce. I buy from a local market who knows his sources. Since our citrus trees bit the dust after the 2004 hurricane season, I pretty much just buy it now. I do miss the "gifts" we were able to use each Christmas to supplement whatever we gave to family members!

I might try strawberries, blueberries and blackberries in the coming Fall/Winter cycle. They seem to do well here. Plums and peaches are for the experts. Veggies, lettuces, etc., can be temperamental depending on timing of planting.

I've dabbled in pepper plants a bit (Tampa FL) and have had a little luck with habaneros but pests were a bit of a problem.. I can't get red chilies to grow worth a shite here, though. I'm pretty inexperienced I have to admit, so don't have much of a green thumb.

I'd like to try more stuff but we rent and don't have the yard for much. Pretty much restricted to a few potted plants.

In Tampa, daily torrents of summertime rain is pretty much a given.

Got any tips for pepper plants?
 






I've dabbled in pepper plants a bit (Tampa FL) and have had a little luck with habaneros but pests were a bit of a problem.. I can't get red chilies to grow worth a shite here, though. I'm pretty inexperienced I have to admit, so don't have much of a green thumb.

I'd like to try more stuff but we rent and don't have the yard for much. Pretty much restricted to a few potted plants.

In Tampa, daily torrents of summertime rain is pretty much a given.

Got any tips for pepper plants?

I have been told for peppers that lots of rocks in pot, or around plant if in ground, helps dilute the water effect. Peppers and rosemary also seem to do well on east side of house under roof/wave, which helps to mitigate the torrential rains.

We are in Orlando area, but my brother lives in Tampa. Are you active in Tampa I Club? That is a great group for game watches and other Hawkeye-related stuff.
 




I have been told for peppers that lots of rocks in pot, or around plant if in ground, helps dilute the water effect. Peppers and rosemary also seem to do well on east side of house under roof/wave, which helps to mitigate the torrential rains.

We are in Orlando area, but my brother lives in Tampa. Are you active in Tampa I Club? That is a great group for game watches and other Hawkeye-related stuff.

I'll have to try that with the rocks and see how it goes. Peppers need plenty of sun which of course means they get tons of water in the summer.. Thanks for the tips.

I honestly wasn't aware of the I Club here - something to keep in mind.
 




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