How about a gardening thread?

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	omtatsat
	You ever heard of using a hose connected to a water tap? No rain here till September

While there is no official rationing or hosepipe ban here, we have nonetheless been asked to 'be sensible and be sensitive' wrt water use in our gardens. So I am watering my veggies and fruit, but not the grass. I figure I use my 'fair share' in keeping my produce going - after all, my garden is my hobby, not my livelihood as it is to the farmer behind me.

So brown grass it is. Trying to do my bit for the planet and still put up a few jars of jam.

There was an article in the 20 Minutes recently discussing how climate change may mean north of the alps we should soon be switching to planting mediterranean crops.

http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/sto...etten-13030595

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	So who else will be expecting a rather large water bill this quarter?

Luckily (as it turns out), I was busy in the UK until the end of May, so didn't plant anything this year. Added to that, we've had scaffolding on the building since the beginning of June with lots of trades people traipsing through the garden.

However, I've started planning what to grow next year, and watermelon is on the list I've never grown them before, but reckon they will do well in the spot where I usually plant the courgettes (direct sun from 7am-4pm).

[curley]

	Quote:	Blueangel
	Luckily (as it turns out), I was busy in the UK until the end of May, so didn't plant anything this year. Added to that, we've had scaffolding on the building since the beginning of June with lots of trades people traipsing through the garden. However, I've started planning what to grow next year, and watermelon is on the list I've never grown them before, but reckon they will do well in the spot where I usually plant the courgettes (direct sun from 7am-4pm).

Don't these melons need a lot of watering to become decent watermelons?

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	curley
	Don't these melons need a lot of watering to become decent watermelons?

They grow very well around Athens from one thorough watering per week.

[Blueangel]

This is what I'm aiming for. This is the karpouzi (watermelon) stand in the next village to the mother-outlaw in northern Athens. €0.19 per kg and average 13kg each.

[curley]

	Quote:	Blueangel
	This is what I'm aiming for. This is the karpouzi (watermelon) stand in the next village to the mother-outlaw in northern Athens. €0.19 per kg and average 13kg each. Attachment 133896

Looks like we're all gonna be asked to help eating ....

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	curley
	Looks like we're all gonna be asked to help eating ....

I'll just put them on the front garden wall with a 'gratis' sign, same as I do with my other excess seedlings and plants. I got rid of 2 dozen courgette plants in one morning that way last year.

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	Blueangel
	I'll just put them on the front garden wall with a 'gratis' sign, same as I do with my other excess seedlings and plants.

Excess watermelon? Ooooh, a trip down Hoosier memory lane:

Watermelon Sorbet
https://www.asweetpeachef.com/watermelon-sorbet/

And don't throw away the rinds...

Pickled Watermelon Rind
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/f...d-pickles-5643

Watermelon Rind Marmalade
http://blog.ideasinfood.com/ideas_in...y-13-2016.html

	Quote:	Blueangel
	I got rid of 2 dozen courgette plants in one morning that way last year.

As I type this the dehydrator is doing it's thing with my leg o' mutton zucchini (courgettes). The mutts are the main consumers of my excess zucchini, but there is only so much even a polyphagic sheltie can eat. So drying zucchini is this year's experiment, hopefully put aside for those dark days of winter when zucchini becomes expensive again.

[curley]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	..... As I type this the dehydrator is doing it's thing with my leg o' mutton zucchini (courgettes). The mutts are the main consumers of my excess zucchini, but there is only so much even a polyphagic sheltie can eat. So drying zucchini is this year's experiment, hopefully put aside for those dark days of winter when zucchini becomes expensive again.

Dried Zucchini? Really? Never hear of that (today is the day of things I've never heard of but good to know there is still a lot of that out there )

And then, what do you do with them? How do you use them? But you might better answer that in the food-thread?

[meloncollie]

	Quote:	curley
	Dried Zucchini? Really? Never hear of that (today is the day of things I've never heard of but good to know there is still a lot of that out there ) And then, what do you do with them? How do you use them? But you might better answer that in the food-thread?

I currently make a sort of stew of fresh cooked veggies to add to the mutt's regular dog food - zucchini, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, celery root, pastiniak, etc. Whatever I have left over. Lightly steamed veg adds bulk but few calories. I got the idea to dry the zucchini when I saw that Meiko offers a dried veg mix at an eye wateringly expensive price, so I thought 'excess zucchini, time to fire up the dehydrator'.

To use I'll rehydrate and mix in as usual. Whether the mutts will approve is an open question.

[DantesDame]

This is the sunflower that I grew from a seed from last year's sunflower. It is doing pretty good in this heat!



For reference, I am 182cm

[pilatus1]

Watermelon lime slushie:

Chop up and cube a whole watermelon. Put it all in a Tupperware, and into the freezer.(separate portions with parchment paper or put in sandwich bags to make things easier)

Put the frozen chunks in a blender with some liquid * ,and blend with lime juice and agave syrup to taste.

*I prefer cachaca, though you could just use water. Also delicious with no booze.

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	So drying zucchini is this year's experiment, hopefully put aside for those dark days of winter when zucchini becomes expensive again.

If they're anywhere near as good as your dried strawberries (mmm...) they'll be a success.

	Quote:	pilatus1
	Put the frozen chunks in a blender with some liquid * ,and blend with lime juice and agave syrup to taste.

Oooo. Thanks for that idea.
I drank too many watermelon and lime mojitos on Crete last year.

[meloncollie]

I unfortunately didn't get to dry many strawberries this year. There were usually only a handful ripe at a time, so most were eaten before I could resist temptation process them.

But (doG willin' and the creek don't rise) I might have enough pears to dry.

Honestly, the dehydrator was the best 40 Chuffs I've spent in a long while. In addition to zucchini for dog food it's an easy-peasy way to preserve cherry tomatoes, all manner of fruits, and of course chilis.

Tip for fans of spicy/sweet: Dry a few chilis with your fruit slices. The chilis sort of infuse the fruit, you end up with a bit of a kick to the sweet. Pears are especially good for this.

[DantesDame]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	Honestly, the dehydrator was the best 40 Chuffs I've spent in a long while. In addition to zucchini for dog food it's an easy-peasy way to preserve cherry tomatoes, all manner of fruits, and of course chilis.

Any suggestions on what to do with cucumbers? I have about four large ones in the fridge right now, with more on the way. My current solution is to bring them into work

[pilatus1]

	Quote:	DantesDame
	Any suggestions on what to do with cucumbers? I have about four large ones in the fridge right now, with more on the way. My current solution is to bring them into work

pickle 'em!

You can do it in the fridge, without needing to go through the canning process:

https://www.diynatural.com/how-to-pickle-cucumbers/

That way it's possible to just add more cukes as you harvest them.

oh man now I'm craving a cold crispy pickle.

[meloncollie]

I seem to lack the pickle gene, mine have not improved since I posted this thread back in 2014. But there are some great suggestions from the EF pickling experts:

https://www.englishforum.ch/food-dri...ng-recipe.html

I only have one rather sad cucumber vine, so a glut has never been an issue here. When I get a cucumber I like to make spicy cucumber peanut salad. Or tzatziki.

One day I might scew my courage to the sticking place and try pickles again.

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	DantesDame
	Any suggestions on what to do with cucumbers?

Tzatziki mmm....

That would be my first choice, followed by cucumber relish http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/...r-relish-11147 and sliced cucumber frozen into ice cubes for cocktails.

[curley]

	Quote:	pilatus1
	.... oh man now I'm craving a cold crispy pickle.

You just made me eat on.

You know what they say about this particular craving ...

[DantesDame]

	Quote:	meloncollie
	I seem to lack the pickle gene,...

I lack it also, but in a different way: I hate pickled anything I'll just keep sharing them with the neighbors. Its a good way to get brownie points