Comment by Joan Denoo on August 25, 2012 at 1:43pm

I.S. I like your idea of growing squash vines on a fence and letting some grow on the ground to harvest, or putting them in hammocks. Yes, that is a time consuming job, but it is an outside job and anything that keeps me in the garden keeps me happy. 

No, I have not tried using young Hubbard squash like zucchini. Sounds like a great idea. How do you fix it?

Comment by Idaho Spud on August 25, 2012 at 3:07pm

Joan, I'm not a good cook, and my feet, knees, and hips don't like standing so I usually cook the young Hubbards, as well as summer squash the easy, quick way, just in a fry-pan.  I have been know to fry them with a flour and/or corn-meal coating, which makes them taste better.  Haven't tried making soup with them, but I've tasted some yummy squash soup in a restaurant, so maybe someday I'll try that.

"Hammock" is the word I was looking for.  Thanks Joan.  

Do your blueberries taste better than those from the store?  I'm sure they do.  I don't buy "fresh" ones.  No flavor.  Once in a while I buy frozen, but they're almost flavorless.  I've tried growing my own, but they die quickly in my alkaline soil, even with lots of acidifying amendments.

Gotta love those worms!

Comment by Idaho Spud on August 25, 2012 at 3:14pm

When the Hubbards are mature, I cook them like my Mother did.  Cut into large pieces, put a piece of Bacon on top of each piece, and bake them in the oven.

Comment by Joan Denoo on August 25, 2012 at 6:04pm

I.S. About twenty years ago, I selected a part of my garden, the west and south border, that I devote to acidic plants. I used lots of glacial sand, steer manure, sulfur, and a product from Gardens Alive to acidify my soil. I did a little home testing of soil so I had the right Ph,  4 to 5, and planted blueberries, witch hazel, Mountain Ash, Blue Spruce and a volunteer Ponderosa Pine came from a compost pile of pine cones. They all thrive beautifully. I wish I had put in more blueberries. I shall have to pull something out so I can have more of those delightful berries. 

Oh Yes! eating blueberries off the bush is like nectar of the gods. Even farmers' market berries aren't as good as home grown, fresh off the stem. 

In my north and east garden alkaline soil, Ph higher than 7, I grow boxwood, Euonymus, lilacs, Hellebores, clematis.

By-the-way, if you live with conifers, make a compost of their cones where you would like to have them grow, that was my intent. The squirrels and birds love my piles of cones and I have lovely scatterings of volunteer conifers. I pull out what I don't want, and put a little fence around the ones I want to keep. One is now well over 20 feet high and happy as a clam in salt water.  

Comment by Joan Denoo on August 25, 2012 at 6:06pm

I.S. You mother's recipe sounds perfect. I'll give it a try. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes? 

Comment by Sentient Biped on August 25, 2012 at 9:56pm

Some great gardens here.  Thinking about next year already - more blueberries and a place for squash is definintely in the picture.

Comment by Joan Denoo on August 25, 2012 at 11:30pm

Sentient Biped, with two acres, you have space for great plans. I look forward to watching your progress. 

Comment by Sentient Biped on August 26, 2012 at 12:19pm

Joan, didn't see your questions below - so - 

Lawn will progressively shrink.  For the time being, we will also have an area of unmowed lawn with wildflowers.  That will hold the soil and will me ultralow maintenance and give beneficial insects a place to thrive.  There is also an area of lawn that covers the septic system.  That has to be lawn - can't garden over that.  I have an area at home about 15 feet by 15 feet for the doggies to poop and pee.  That gets watered (part of the time) so that the effluent doesn't collect, and to encourage beneficial bacteria to break it down for food for the tree in the middle.  I also have remnants of grass for pathways.  That's most of it.  I am also not a fan of expanses of lawn, but grass does cover areas that would otherwise be barren.

Hollywood plum would probably grow from seed.  It takes roughly 5 to 10 years to get plums from seed, I have read.  It most likely would not be "true", but if the seedling had red leaves it's possibly similar to the parent.

I just keep the garlic in the basement.  Fortunately for me it keeps for months that way.

Rosemary does survive here year round.  I love it too.  I try to find excuses to cook with it.  It's great in a marinade with oil and vinegar, pepper, garlic, some salt, for grilling vegetables.

Comment by Joan Denoo on August 26, 2012 at 1:53pm

unmowed lawn with wildflowers presents a pleasant alternative; part of Manito Gardens feature this plan and I love walking through it in spring and early summer. A Poop-and-Pee Place sounds like a good idea; no surprises while in the garden. 

I contacted Raintree Nursery about Hollywood plums and they indicate Spokane may be too cold, depending. And "depending" makes a difference. I live on a down slope in a natural low meadow and it gets the first frost in autumn and last frost in spring. Neighbors just one block north and south of me do not get those late/early frosts. A friend of mine, a commercial organic farmer, who lives on a ridge can grow things that her neighbors in gullies on either side, at lower elevations cannot. Cold air sinks into low spaces and settles. The advantage, for me, is earlier leaf color change; the disadvantage is frosted blossoms on fruit trees. I had to give up on peaches. 

Comment by Idaho Spud on August 26, 2012 at 2:48pm

Joan, I don't know the best temperature and time for the squash.  Your guess sounds good.  Maybe a little higher temp.  My present oven doesn't regulate the temperature, it just keeps climbing when on.  Fast climb when set to high, & slow climb when set to low, so I just keep monitoring it, & poking the squash until they feel soft.  One of these days I'm going to put in a natural gas range that I have stored in the garage.  That will be cheaper to operate than this electric one also.

Thanks for the information about acidifying part of your garden.  I'm going to do it.  I found some sulfur in a 30 pound bag at my local nursery that is reasonably priced, and I have about 60 pounds of steer manure on hand, and a good compost pile.  My soil could use some sand also.

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