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Post by 12540dumont on Jul 2, 2011 16:14:32 GMT -5
Since Malva is one of our major weeds, I decided to plant Kenaf. I planted two varieties that are not daylight sensitive. I don't know if we'll get seed as we are pretty far north. Anyone out there growing this?
This is my new living summer fence. I hope to cut it above the second node and run chickens on it while still harvesting a crop. It should make lovely shade for the chickens. I got some great brooder greens from Sand Hill that I'm sprinkling next to them.
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Post by wildseed57 on Jul 2, 2011 20:32:20 GMT -5
I grew two varieties that did quite well for me and set seeds, I also had a visit from the Sherif as some one saw the 14 foot plants and thought that it was pot. Luckily the sheriff knew the difference and I didn't have any more problems except for various people commenting about the pot field. I did start them fairly early in February, so that they would have a good start. They have a very deep tap root that is good for penetrating into hard pack soils.
In the Mideast countries the plant is used several ways, one being food for their goats, cows, horses and so on, also the plant is used to make insulation and paper products. The seed pods have a fine fuzz that is like fiber glass when it comes to irritation. When the plant are in flower they are nice to look at also the young shoots and flower buds are edible.
George W.
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Post by 12540dumont on Jul 3, 2011 9:47:45 GMT -5
George, I was worried about the sheriff here, he's not all that bright, so I made sure that I got the kind with cotton leaves. Since I spin, I thought I'd make the bast fibers into yarn.
I was reading how they chop the stalks and make animal bedding for thoroughbred horses. Well, I guess those race horse chickens of mine will love the stuff. Thanks for the warning about the seed pods. I get a rash from the hairs on tomatoes!
Hey, my vignas are going like crazy. Did you get a chance to plant yours?
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Post by wildseed57 on Jul 3, 2011 14:30:36 GMT -5
Hi, the cotton leaf varieties will draw least attention, the ones I grew you could see from a mile off and stood out like a sore thumb with big hand size palmated leaves. Your chickens should love the stuff. The fibers are a bit short compared to cotton, but they should make a tough yarn like Hemp or Burlap only a bit softer especially if you add cotton, or wool to it depending on what you want.
I'm waiting for the heat to finish off my peas which won't be long, then I should have room for the beans, thanks so much for them. Hows it going with you?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jul 3, 2011 17:50:01 GMT -5
The heat has killed the peas, spinach, and lettuce. Roses bloomed and crisped in one day. This squash pretty much says it all. It's HOT. Another 100 degree day of a 5 day heat wave. It's not a record, but it's close. Beans, corn, tomatoes, all coming on. Pulled out the favas, irrigated and will plant one more corn tomorrow. That's the trouble with seeds, they all want to planted! If I get that corn in, I have 2 whole weeks where I can just spend irrigating and picking before I have to start the seeds of the fall garden. My mung beans are up, just barely. So am I. After a long morning I had to give it up and flee to seed catalogs, a fan, and lots of water. Whew. I may struggle to the midnight kitchen to have a go at canning plum jam if it drops down to 80 degrees. Otherwise, I'm thinking of pints of pitted plums in the freezer and waiting for say...January to even think about turning on the stove. Hope your garden is grand. Holly Attachments:
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Post by ottawagardener on Jul 4, 2011 8:28:02 GMT -5
Yikes, that's some beleagered squash. Hope you can keep cool! I just harvested the garlic so am planning on transforming that bed into the fall garden but at the moment, it's not terribly conducive to germination.
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Post by wildseed57 on Jul 4, 2011 12:35:07 GMT -5
My sister called me from our main garden, the cukes are starting to produce I hope to get out there by next Saterday if not sooner, I will be pulling some of the Peas that have dried up.
We got two inches of rain last night and again this morning so I'n not worried about the main garden so my sister won't have to get out and water. Their saying that over the week we will have fewer rain storms and even hotter Temps, when its 97F. and a heat index of 105F you dream of cooler days. I do have some hot weather green going and the lettuce is still holding its own but some of it is getting a little bitter and the other amount is going to seed.
I think next year I will try growing Rosella again the last time I got a late state and by the time it was blooming the Frost killed it, so I will have to buy more seeds. Some of it had double flowers on them which was real pretty, I had hopes that it would cross with my Okra but it didn't. My grand daughter got upset with me this year as I just grew a small amount of Okra, but as she does very little garden work, I just plant what I need and not for all the rest, so said the little red Hen.
George W.
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