Re: The First Zucchini; first tomato

Know what you mean about water bills. We have a well, so ours turns up on the electric bill--which is not as great an increase with usage, but doubly worrisome in times of drought.
We've harvested a few jalapenos so far and one "Corno di Toro", which we picked green for a salad. You wouldn't believe how sweet it is even when it's green. Can't imagine what it'll be like when it turns red. You should try this one, Pam. It's touted as the largest non-bell sweet pepper. Its was introduced by Seeds of Change a few years ago and is really a keeper. This year we have only one plant, but I want to be sure to plant a companion this fall. 


On Jun 8, 2007, at 4:49 PM, Pam Evans wrote:
Harvested my first pepper today. Only have two plants in pots up front now since I converted their bed over to xeriscape out back. However, I do much 
prefer 80 dollar water bills to 250 dollar water bills.

On 6/8/07, james singer <islandjim1@verizon.net> wrote:


Bonnie, Cyndi--Yes, two seasons, but we start the second one [October
planting] with new plants. Most tomatoes--with the exception of the
wild tomato--just peter out when it gets hot at night. The wild one
will produce heavily into mid summer before it dies off. We've tried to 
hold regular tomato plants, both slicing and paste types, over, but it
doesn't work very well; they seem to lose vigor, have severe die-back
in the heat, and never quite recover. We've even tried pruning them
back... but the results were the same.

Have to admit, I've never tried it with cherry tomatoes, because we've
never grown them, but this year we have some in a hanging basket, so I
think I'll prune and monitor.

Peppers are different; they'll produce like crazy for 3-4 years with
only modest attention during their summer siesta. Our Turkish pepper is into it's second year and is way more productive than it was last year. 
I started drying and grinding the little devils this year, and so far
have about 8 ounces of powder that will peel your head like an onion,
but makes great chili powder when diluted with sufficient paprika and
other spices [cumano, oregano, thyme, etc].


On Jun 8, 2007, at 1:18 PM, Bonnie Holmes wrote:


Do you not get two seasons of tomatoes?



[Original Message]
From: james singer <islandjim1@verizon.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Date: 6/8/2007 1:11:41 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] The First Zucchini; first tomato

Interesting, Bonnie, and... amusing. I just harvested my last tomato
of
the season.


On Jun 8, 2007, at 10:06 AM, Bonnie Holmes wrote:


I have just harvested the first of my soft-neck garlic...large and
nice
flavor.  Also, have my first tomato of the season.
Speaking of National Geographic, you might want to see "A Passion for 
Order", June 2007 issue on Linnaeus.



[Original Message]
From: Zemuly Sanders <zemuly@comcast.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Date: 6/7/2007 9:10:14 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] The First Zucchini

That was very interesting, Daryl.  Thanks to your observations in
your

posts
I've been particularly aware of bees and other small pollinators in 
my

yard.
So far there seem to be right many of them. I learned from the May 
issue

of
National Geographic that the European honeybees were brought here by 
the
English colonists so they could have mead. The bees' ability to be 
nondiscriminating in their pollination has enabled us to have many
fruits
and vegetables that would otherwise be unavailable.
zem
zone 7
West TN
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daryl" <pulis@mindspring.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] The First Zucchini



I used to have so many honeybees that I couldn't walk across the
lawn
barefoot when the clover was blooming, and the dogs were often
stung.

The

hum in my apple trees, or in the holly outside my window was
audible

from

several feet away. I'd listen to it as I worked with the windows
open.

The tracheal and varroa mites took their toll on honeybees here
over

the

years, but the other pollinators increased. This year, we had
plenty
of
Carpenter Bees, but not many Bumbles or Masons, and I have seen
only
2
honeybees -one honeybee in April and one last week. Whatever the
cause

of

CCD (besides big ag trying to push hives to the limit), there's

something

else going on with the other pollinators here, too.  I'm hoping
it's
a
fluke of the weather, but - no apples, no holly berries here, and
that

was

before the big freeze.
By the way, this website has some good no-nonsense stuff about the 
bees,

for those who are interested.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mvanishingbees.htm

d



----- Original Message -----
From: "james singer" <islandjim1@verizon.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] The First Zucchini



About bees.

I have a friend who is a bee researcher at LSU. He says he's
involved

in

investigating CCD. He says the reports of 60-70 percent swarm
disappearance are media nonsense and not supported by the facts.
He

says

"normal" swarm disappearance is 20-40 percent, and he suspects
most
of
that is caused by beekeepers moving their hives a lot. He says
moving
hives, while profitable for beekeepers, is very stressful for
bees.
He
also adds that the Einstein quote about bee disappearance leading 
to

the

end of the food chain was probably not said by Einstein and, at
any

rate,

shows enormous ignorance about the "messy" science of biology.
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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.1 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Sunset Zone 25
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]
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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.1 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Sunset Zone 25
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

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--
Pam Evans
Kemp TX
zone 8A

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Island Jim
Southwest Florida
27.1 N, 82.4 W
Hardiness Zone 10
Heat Zone 10
Sunset Zone 25
Minimum 30 F [-1 C]
Maximum 100 F [38 C]

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