What did you order that's new to you in 2014?
kittymoonbeam
10 years ago
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Poorbutroserich Susan Nashville
10 years ago
dublinbay z6 (KS)
10 years agoRelated Discussions
What new crops did you grow in 2013? Will you grow them again?
Comments (41)I've enjoyed this thread. Some of our 2013 hits and misses from first time items were: Hits Mizuna: Comes up quickly from seed, produces abundantly and is a cut and come again veggie. Tokyo Bekana Grew very well here from seed in the spring and fall. We love it raw in salads as an alternative to lettuce. Fingerling potatoes: we grew five varieties and all did well and were DELICIOUS. Did very well at the farmers' market. Zephyr summer squash. These are very delicious and showed good disease resistance and yield. Safari zuchinni. It wasn't a good year for zukes for us, but these kept coming even after the others bit the dust. Red Russian kale. Produced very well. Tasty and tender. Moon and Stars Yellow Fleshed watermelons. We really enjoyed these. Not as sweet as Crimson Sweet, of course, but crispy and delicious. Fails Lemon cucumbers. Produced poorly. They taste fine but not worth the space they take up. Won't plant again. Burgundy okra. The problem with this is that the wildlife couldn't resist it. Deer and groundhogs destroyed it, while hardly bothering the Clemson Spineless. If you can keep the critters away, this would be a good choice. But we won't bother with it again. Creasy Greens (upland cress). This didn't come up at all. Surprising since it grows wild here. We won't bother trying again. Here is a link that might be useful: White Flint Farm...See MoreNew Years Nor'Easter 2014 - How did you fare?
Comments (30)It was 2 degrees here this morning. brrr! Sun is out, haven't been out there yet. Hope these temps are going to be short lived. The furnace has been cranking. Thanks Jane, interesting article. I am a marmalade fan, so IâÂÂll have to look for some of these brands that have ginger in them and try it. DtD, that recipe sounds delicious. We will use a roast for pot roast once in awhile, but never thought of using it as a base for chili. So do you use beans with it or just âÂÂchiliâ spices? Sounds like I could use a large crockpot, too. Bill, I have been looking for new âÂÂsoupâ recipes, so IâÂÂll have to try your version this winter. We had an Italian connection in our family in the past, and my Mother was a huge fan of many Italian dishes and got her sauce recipe from an old world Italian woman. We make lots of sauce and chicken cacciatore, minestrone soup and thereâÂÂs always some of that in our freezer. Making tiny meatballs for chicken soup sounds like a new fun version. And the escarole adds a lot of nutrition. BTW, there is a new book out called Eating on the Wild Side, that reviews current studies of nutrition in food and I was surprised to learn that a can of tomato paste is chockful of nutrition and during the off season when fresh vegetables are not available from the garden, beans are one of the highest nutritional foods you can eat. And blue cornmeal if from a non GMO source, is also better nutritionally than yellow cornmeal, according to the book. So chili made with canned tomatoes and beans with blue cornbread is a very healthy meal. And the book is a very interesting read, if you donâÂÂt find nutrition too dull. It also offers names of varieties of vegetables and fruits that are the highest in nutrition, that you can grow. As for gardening, IâÂÂm not quite in the garden mindset yet. Later in January, IâÂÂm sure that will change, but I am very interested in how all the âÂÂzone pushersâ are faring. As much of a worry as it is to have the temps dip so low, Bill, you are right, this will be a good test of which varieties are really solid zone pushers and I will be fascinated to see whose plants survive come spring. All of them, I hope!...See Morewhat new to you mail order companies did you try this year?
Comments (6)This isn't new either, but last year I ordered allium bulbs from Bluestone Perennials. I was so impressed with the flowers this year that I put in a second order with them just a month ago for more alliums (purple sensation) and bright pink aster plants. Bluestone was sold out of the vivid purple asters I also wanted so I bought those from Burpees. Years ago Burpees was the best place to buy vegetable seeds and their flowers were also high quality, but their reputation is not what it once was, so we shall see how their live plants fare. I was fortunate that a steady rain fell for several days immediately after I planted these acquisitions, followed by sunny days and rainy days off and on since. I also had to transplant some daylilies given to me by a friend, along with a lilac that was unhappy with the poorly drained soil where it was living and a flowering crabapple that would surely have stretched its roots into the waterline newly installed when we drilled our well. So these transplants have also benefitted from the precipitation situation and spared me hauling water to them. If anyone knows of an online place that sells Hot Summer Echinacea and/or Cherry Cheeks Daylilies, I'd be most grateful to hear. I've been drooling over both since people have posted photos of them in this forum, and I have a perfect place for a couple plants of both species....See MoreWhat did you change in 2007 that's working in 2008?
Comments (6)What great ideas and progress - I love this topic! It is amazing how a small change can be so profound. I also have found for me that the more organized I become - the more I'm inspired to keep my house even more organized (without becoming too perfectionistic of course which will always be a challenge). Start small: I started with my closets, cabinets, fridge and pantry. Each of these projects I could get done within a few hours and I committed to doing them right (labeling, buying appropriate supplies etc). This motivated me to 1) keep up the change and 2) realize my results would make a big difference. Pantry: The Pantry deserves its own mention. I got tired of spices falling out or being hard to find. So I put each spice in alphabetical order with a label in front of the pertinent shelf. This way - I can quickly find a spice and since they are clearly labeled DH puts them back as well in the right place. My pantry now functions rather than being shelves with things I can't find. I also made each shelf within the pantry serve a function (baking, cans, noodles etc) Dresser Drawers: My dresser was almost unusable. I used Linda Koopersmith's book and borrowed her ideas for folding clothes "vertically" I was able to several more shirts that didn't need hung up in the drawer and it looks so nice I let it stay that way. Visualized: Seems silly but I took the 'junk' out of each room, room by room. I then made the room look like I wanted it to once done. I did not stuff the junk behind closed doors - I sat it right aside the room (ie lining the hall so I HAD to either toss, store or donate) This approach helped me work quickly so I wouldn't get distracted. Trash can: I bought a 2 dollar trash can (a small one like you'd see in an office) and put it right behind a decorative chest I have in our "foyer" (it's really just an entry way). I then formed a new habit that I immediately sorted the papers from the mail as I came in the house. Anything I planned to recycle IMMEDIATELY went to the trash can. The chest hides the front of the trash can and then once a week I empty the trash can into my box for paper recyling. Recycling containers: Everday my kitchen counters would clutter with recyclables until in a few days I'd take them out to the bin. Or cardboard would sit to the right of the trash can. I bought these containers below and they work WONDERFULLY. If I have guests I can hide them outside (or even just leave them). All the recyclables are corralled this way and either go out for the weekly pickup (or paper and cardboard I drive to the site once a week). http://www.dwr.com/search.cfm?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&N=0&Ntt=recycling (DWR) Hot spot cleaning: Modeled after Flylady I identified my hot spots and hit them every night. I also informed my DH and DS of the same. It shocked me but they actually help pick up now too (guess its that whole modeling of behavior) The beds are made immediately in the morning before work - DS is 3 and makes his own...loves doing it as he feels like a 'big boy' and he learns a great habit. For me if I 'see' things that look organized I keep up. Dining room table: We have an eat-in kitchen with a large dining room table. Our table often became the source for sorting and piles. Not trash but papers, or things in bags (non food but things we bought and hadn't put away) etc. I set the table and keep it this way. When we finish dinner the dishes immediately go away (dishes were an issue before) and new plates go back on the table. By keeping the table set it looks nice and I don't use it to store clutter. Put away Immediately: I made a new rule that I immediately put things away. I was never super messy - but always had little piles I had to care for...especially if we'd come back from traveling (items still in luggage, cars, etc). So if someone swung by I'd stuff the pile somewhere to deal with it later (which of course always got put off). I changed that... If I buy something now, it gets put away. If I use something I put it back. It took me about 2 weeks to really 'learn' this habit but it makes a HUGE difference. An idea box: Ok I'm a dork and can admit this. But when you get a good system going - you tend to want to do more and more. To keep myself focus if I see or think of an idea I want to change (for instance I want to catalog our DVDs and organize them) I write the idea on an index card and store it in a recipe box in my desk. Assuming I actually am caught up on work, family stuff and my house is clean I'll pick out an idea and then implement it. It makes me feel accomplished and its like a dorky reward after I've done what I need too... Laundry: Laundry used to be a major problem. I consolidate the laundry baskets every other day. When they are full I do laundry (usually every other day) and I stay on top of it. Ok I wrote a book and not sure that those ideas will be that helpful but I hope they are. Thanks for all the inspiration! Laurie...See More
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10 years ago
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
10 years agoamberroses
10 years agopat_bamaz7
10 years ago
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
10 years ago
Lynn-in-TX-Z8b- Austin Area/Hill Country
10 years ago
Kippy
10 years agobrenda_l_w
10 years ago
Brittie - La Porte, TX 9a
10 years agomelissa_thefarm
10 years ago
joshtx
10 years agoshopshops
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10 years agoshopshops
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10 years agogrowing_rene2
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