Mountain Garden, July 31

SmokinHusker said:

I love the garden!!!! I have one cherry tomato starting to turn red but there are many more and loads of blossoms. Container planting for me this year since I only could start small!!! 

You have a very green thumb my friend!!! 

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Thanks, Alesia. I wish I had a green thumb. Maybe I'd get some cucumbers for pickles.

If you are container planting, have you tried a small tomato called Tumbler? I grow it on my deck in a container so I can pick them for a treat. They produce early, with lots of tomatoes and are very compact. I strongly recommend them.

Disco

DaveOmak said:

great garlic isn't bought in the supermarket?

Boy, you got that right.....  ever since I moved here and started growing hardneck varieties, the flavors are awesome.....  kinda like the difference in apples......   sweets, crisps, keepers, pie makers, sauce makers, bakers, slicers, and the newest variety I have tasted is JAZZ.....  my neighbor brought me over a few of them to try....... They are the best apple I have eaten....  In the apple journal, or what ever the place was, it was the only fresh eating apple rated a 10 on a scale of 1-10.....   And they are correct on that rating...  In the stores, they are really pricey.....  but, buy one and eat it.....   You will find yourself in a new experience eating an apple......   Same goes for hardneck garlic....  If  you think California early and late is good garlic, try some of the hardneck varieties....   Of course you have to be a garlic lover to make a good comparison, or maybe you WILL become a garlic lover when you try other varieties......    

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Dave, I think we must agree on a lot of food issues. Here in BC, the big apple growing area is the Okanagan. People travel there to get their apples. In the southeast of BC is a city called Creston where it is colder and they grow different varieties of apples. You have to go to local growers to get them and they are so much better. Crisper, with real bite. Sweet with balance.

As for garlic, the local growers were practically put out of business by cheap imports from China. Those imports are chilled on the way over. They are soft, mildly flavoured and sprout early. When I give a friend a bulb of my locally grown garlic, they are amazed at the texture, how easy it is to chop and work with and the distinct flavour. I still haven't convinced most of them that different varieties have different characteristics. However, one friend is coming over this year for a garlic tasting.

First, I am going to saute the 5 varieties I grow and store bought garlic in safflower oil for them to taste each cooked. Then we will try the 6 different garlic types raw. 

He is anxious to start growing garlic and I will set him up with my varieties but hope he tries some different ones on his own.

Fortunately, the local garlic industry is rebounding in BC. In September, I am going to the Hills Garlic Festival in New Denver, BC. There will be several different growers there and I am hoping to get some new varieties but I don't think I will ever match your selection!

Thanks for your posts and for supporting growing good food locally!

Disco