I'm calling it a success!

[coffeenutdesigns]

Despite coming from a long line of farmers, my veggie gardens have been less than spectacular. I had one year of an awesome tomato crop, but that is the extent of my success. BUT, today I got my first little zucchini and it actually tastes good and no vermin ate it first!!! Yeah, I'm totally a gardener now. I'm cool like that. <br /><br /> __________ Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:33 am __________ <br /><br /> I even have another one almost ready that is a little bigger still! I'm adding the little one to our salad tonite.

Oh, and it's as totally organic as I can possibly make it. Organic fertilizer made from chicken poop, tilled in rabbit poop, organic seeds, and well water. No pesticides or herbicides used.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Despite coming from a long line of farmers, my veggie gardens have been less than spectacular.

All that is about to change now, with the help of the miraculous bunny-berries! :wizard: You will be the envy of your entire farmer-family!

BUT, today I got my first little zucchini and it actually tastes good and no vermin ate it first!!!

Yeehaw!!! Nothing beats vegis fresh from the garden!

Not to dampen your enthusiasm, (well, maybe a little. :twisted: ) okeeye: , but zucchini are really easy to grow. I have yet to have anything attack the zukes themselves. Even gophers leave the plants alone. The only things we have problems with are aphids on the flowers and undersides of the leaves, and occasionally powdery mildew when the plants are nearing the end of their lives anyway.

That said, one year we just couldn't grow it to save our lives! It was awful- usually we are swimming in the stuff- and have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner- but that year, NOTHING! :evil: Talk about failure to thrive- the plants were pathetic. It was embarrassing. Thankfully, it was a bad year here for everybody, so we were in good company... but still!

One other year I didn't plant any because we were overrun with "volunteer" squash plants. They popped up everywhere, and I have noticed that the volunteer plants of all varieties always seem to be very hardy and resistant to pests, so was overjoyed.

Imagine my chagrin when they all turned out to be ornamental squash from our Thanksgiving table decor that I made the mistake of composting. It took years before I finally stopped having the dang things pop up! :angry:

I even have another one almost ready that is a little bigger still!

You'll be surprised by how quickly they grow- I bet it will be a lot bigger this evening when you pick it. Watch out for the monster zukes- :nightmare: I don't know how they manage to hide, but suddenly there will be an enormous one lurking in the leaves! We usually scoop out all of the seeds and then make a big stuffed zucchini boat out of those, but they also store pretty well for winter use.

I hope the rest of your garden thrives this year, too! :good-luck:

 

[Miss M]

Yeah, I'm totally a gardener now. I'm cool like that.

:mbounce:

We usually scoop out all of the seeds and then make a big stuffed zucchini boat out of those

Oooooooor.... you can slice them thinly lengthwise and use them as lasagna noodles! Zucchini contains a lot of water, so you might want to adjust for that by using a really thick sauce, or by removing water from the zucchini by lightly salting it and letting it drain in a colander for 10 - 15 minutes. You can even bake it after that for 10 minutes or so to remove more water, if you want.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Oooooooor.... you can slice them thinly lengthwise and use them as lasagna noodles!

You, Miss M, are a genius! :ugeek: :bow:

Now I'm tempted to let one get big on purpose. Foolish, I know, since even with supreme vigilance they somehow manage to go nuclear on us anyway...

 

[JessicaR]

Yeah, I'm totally a gardener now. I'm cool like that.

:mbounce:

We usually scoop out all of the seeds and then make a big stuffed zucchini boat out of those

Oooooooor.... you can slice them thinly lengthwise and use them as lasagna noodles! Zucchini contains a lot of water, so you might want to adjust for that by using a really thick sauce, or by removing water from the zucchini by lightly salting it and letting it drain in a colander for 10 - 15 minutes. You can even bake it after that for 10 minutes or so to remove more water, if you want.

Or zucchini bread!

 

[Marinea]

Prepare to become addicted, CND!

Last night's dinner here included a mess of fresh green beans and cold cucumber slices in vinegar. I love this time of year!

*excuses herself to go encourage her tomatoes to get ripe faster*

 

[Miss M]

Oooooooor.... you can slice them thinly lengthwise and use them as lasagna noodles!

You, Miss M, are a genius! :ugeek: :bow:

Now I'm tempted to let one get big on purpose. Foolish, I know, since even with supreme vigilance they somehow manage to go nuclear on us anyway...

Really! :lol: I have some yellow clubs sitting in my kitchen now. :roll: No zuccs yet... they had mosaic virus, and I had to pull them up quickly to keep it from spreading. Some of my yellows caught it anyway, so I've planted new yellow and zucchini (cocozelle) squash elsewhere. I won't buy squash plants as a shortcut next year. At least they're still producing well, for now. I'll pull them up when I start getting blooms on the new plants, so it doesn't spread to those.

Of course, if they get too big, you have to scoop out the seeds... but I have done lasagna with them anyhow. Boat is probably best for those.

Or zucchini bread!

YES!!!

 

[Marinea]

MSD, I have not tried this, but my mom swears by it: www.buyveggetti.com

 

[Random Rabbit]

We always let a bunch get to " Lethal Weapon " size... then grate it and freeze it in measured packages for zucchini bread . We will do about 40 bags... enough to make bread for a year...

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Not to dampen your enthusiasm, (well, maybe a little. :twisted: ) okeeye: , but zucchini are really easy to grow. I have yet to have anything attack the zukes themselves. Even gophers leave the plants alone. The only things we have problems with are aphids on the flowers and undersides of the leaves, and occasionally powdery mildew when the plants are nearing the end of their lives anyway.

[/quote]

See, they may be easy for YOU or anyone else on God's green earth, but I am seriously lacking in gardening skills and have yet to successfully grow much of anything. I swear, if it's not a late freeze, it's a drought, or the blistering sun or rodents, or goats that manage to get out or a dog that suddenly forgets the garden is off limits and digs in the cool dirt....always something. I have already gotten 2 nice sized ones and have more growing. I may even have a couple of yellow squash growing and getting some blooms on tomato plants. I may become a veggie gardener yet! <br /><br /> __________ Wed Jul 02, 2014 3:15 pm __________ <br /><br />

MSD, I have not tried this, but my mom swears by it: http://www.buyveggetti.com

I want one of these! Haven't seen one before.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I swear, if it's not a late freeze, it's a drought, or the blistering sun or rodents, or goats that manage to get out or a dog that suddenly forgets the garden is off limits and digs in the cool dirt....always something.

Nyah-hah!!! You are simply a victim of circumstance! No fault of yours at all, at all!

Take heart... I always had a "black thumb" with houseplants. It wasn't until I started gardening outdoors that I ever had any luck at all.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Nyah-hah!!! You are simply a victim of circumstance! No fault of yours at all, at all!

That does "sound" better, doesn't it, lol.