OT Who likes to garden?
- Thread starter 4thngoal
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Fryowa
Administrator
I love it. I have a 20 x 36 that has sat empty for the last 4 years while I coach baseball. Two more years and my son will be in junior high so I can get back to it. We’ll play some weekend tournaments (if he still wants to) but by that time I shouldn’t need to coach during the week. I’m looking forward to the time when I can watch a game from the stands once.
But I’ll probably bitch about wanting to coach again once I stop.
Keeping it simple next time though. No Better Boys, just a couple beef steaks for BLTs, a couple Romas for salsa, and some cherry tomatoes. Potatoes, cukes, onions, and beans. Maybe a jalapeño. That’s it.
I've always liked it. As a kid our garden was about the size of a football field. I did one a few years back that between the two was about half that, but only because 1 the gal I was with wanted to and couldn't grow anything and 2 because a friend and his wife didn't have the space and said they would help.
Now days I keep it as simple as possible.
It's calming to me and I have been known to be a little wound tight. Cheap therapy, good food and good for the environment. Can't beat that
Now days I keep it as simple as possible.
It's calming to me and I have been known to be a little wound tight. Cheap therapy, good food and good for the environment. Can't beat that
Fryowa
Administrator
Stay single my friend.
judzeehawk
Well-Known Member
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.
16, holy smokes.
I haven't planted root vegetables in some years now.
Digging potatoes is a ton of work. Last time I did that it was two rows about 80ft long.
So are peas (not the kind you eat the whole thing) and green beans as well.
The vine stuff like cucumbers, squash and stuff is great but can be a bit of work also.
I haven't decided yet I guess.
I haven't planted root vegetables in some years now.
Digging potatoes is a ton of work. Last time I did that it was two rows about 80ft long.
So are peas (not the kind you eat the whole thing) and green beans as well.
The vine stuff like cucumbers, squash and stuff is great but can be a bit of work also.
I haven't decided yet I guess.
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Fryowa
Administrator
I’m 37 and have decided that I’m too much of an “old dog/new trick” person so I don’t date. That and the only ones my age are married already, have psycho ex husbands/wild kids, or they’re just weird. I’m ok with it. My kid is about all I need.
I am also well aware that one day my kid’s going to go off and start his own life, and I’ll probably end up by myself in a nursing home eating mashed carrots and staring out the window. What’d ya do though...
Fryowa
Administrator
I thought I was going to be a hero one year and can a lot of tomatoes so I bought about 20 better boys (about the most useless tomatoes), at least 6-8 Romas, and a bunch of cherry tomatoes. Totally stupid idea. I gave away thousands of tomatoes.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
You'll still have the Hawkeye Forum and close football losses and basketball buzzer beaters and questionable coaching decisions to fret over and get your blood boiling
That's why I like to garden. I see and enjoy the fruits of my labor and it's not as slim of pickings.
Still a garden. I've seen some absolutely amazing flower/plant "gardens". My first job was at a lawn and garden place and there is definitely an art to what to plant and where for a appealing yard. The maintenance might be a little less, but that's working smart, not hard.
judzeehawk
Well-Known Member
I cheat and blanche the tomatoes to get the skins off then put them in freezer bags and freeze away.I don't have any problem finding people who likes tomatoes. I have a salt shaker tied to the property line fence and the neighbors eat them right off the vine. My neighbors grandson gets a big kick out of doing that.
cockyhawkfan
Well-Known Member
I usually try to plant 4 tomato plants and 4 pepper plants every year. I also plant a few different types of lettuce. I love going out and clipping my own lettuce for a salad. So much better than the crap you buy from the store. I also plant several types of herbs around the yard. I have 3 young kids, so I don't have time to go too overboard.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
Fryowa
Administrator
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.
