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WR's 2017 Spring Garden

w_r_ranch

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We've had a lot of rain again this spring, which is making planting somewhat challenging... On April 17th, I tilled & formed the row for the cantaloupe, then fertilized, planted the seeds & mulched these rows.... then it rained another 2.54". These seeds sprouted on April 21st.

The last of the seeds to be planted were the watermelon, which was finally accomplished on April 20th, after tilling & forming this row. I then fertilized, planted & mulched them.

Did I mention all the rain we've had??? Well because if it, he onions are looking like they did last year, so I'm going to pull them early before they start going bad. I'd hate to miss which is normally the best 6 weeks for growth but it is what it is... Today I harvested them & laid them out on the picnic tables in the party barn to start curing. I'll clean them up in about a week & then put them in the stacked curing trays to finish. There are a number of large ones, although they are not 'lunkers' (2 lbs +) by any means...

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w_r_ranch

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Almost done mulching, one more day I think... Potatoes are almost ready for harvest as well, as the tops are dying back.
I spent today cleaning the onions that were sufficiently dry enough for processing. After sorting through them, we diced, vacuum paced & froze about 30 lbs for later use. Tomorrow, we will probably start dehydrating them too.

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w_r_ranch

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Thanks whistech. The last couple of springs have been pretty wet & once the neck starts going soft, all you can do is harvest them... Heck, it raining again right now.
 

w_r_ranch

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This morning I harvested the potatoes... they were somewhat disappointing as we had only about half the yield that we normally have (only 5 trays this year). I reformed the row & re-mulched it. Everything else in the garden seems to be doing well.

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Potatoes1_050917.jpg

 

w_r_ranch

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Harvested 13 jalapenos for stuffing to go along with tonight's supper. They're 5" long & beautiful!!!


The first batch of eggplant are ready for harvest as well, unfortunately we are expecting a lot of rain over the next 4 days so I guess I'll be frying them in the house so Mrs. Ranch can start making Eggplant Parmesan...

Continued weaving the squash vines up the bull panel trellis. While checking the tomatoes, I found 4 ripe Romas so I grabbed them, some tomatillos, serrano peppers & cilantro to make a batch of Salsa Molcajete. Life is good when the harvest starts!!!

 
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ksk

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Ended up with six pints B&B. Very little if any rain.Storm passed to my east.
 

w_r_ranch

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Harvested 21 eggplant & made the homemade seasoned breadcrumbs. I'm going to get them fried up here shortly so Mrs. Ranch can start making Eggplant Parmesan.

Eggplant_Harvest_052717.jpg


 

w_r_ranch

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Not at all. I fertilize their bed in late November (when I cut them back to the ground) & again in early February. Other than that, all you have to do is water them. You also have to harvest them 1 or 2 times a day as they grow pretty fast.

I highly recommend a dedicated bed, they don't like to be disturbed.
 

RLwhaler

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Not at all. I fertilize their bed in late November (when I cut them back to the ground) & again in early February. Other than that, all you have to do is water them. You also have to harvest them 1 or 2 times a day as they grow pretty fast.

I highly recommend a dedicated bed, they don't like to be disturbed.


Got out my " Garden Note Book " ..Noted. (Early Feb)
 

w_r_ranch

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Harvested the first of the green beans (I finished just as the rains hit). We'll process them tomorrow for vacuum packing. We have a good crop of them this year!!!

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Dehydrated another batch of ripple-cut potatoes.

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w_r_ranch

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Picked 13 more jalapenos (for tonight's supper) & some of the fresh soybeans (for edamame). While I was at it, I also harvested a few cucumbers & a few tomatoes to give to friends.




 

whistech

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Mr. Ranch, I'm really interested in how you process the soybeans and how you eat them. I hope you post a step by step for those of us who have never tried them.
 
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