annecros

Oh, peppers and basil are no problem at all. I keep them in the ground, and the silly basil needs pruning with shears! I have soil that is already loaded with lime, though. This whole part of the state is just a thin layer of dirt on top of coral rock. That blossom end rot is due to a calcium deficiency in the soil. click here for more information The soil has to be ammended well before planting, because there is no quick fix. You are liming your beds, which help, but I would consider growing tomatoes in a container where you can really control whats going on. And using a blanced slow release fertilizer (Osmocote type) with micronutrients. Relentless rain - yeah we sound like two farmers! I am whining and complaining about the water restrictions they just put us under. Send it south and east!

Thought I would check in with you guys. Three weeks in, you should be able to actually get by with using what you have. How's it going?

Now see, now I'm jealous. I can't grow any stone fruit here, and apples and pears are right out the window! I can't even have tulips Anything that needs a cold dormancy will not happen. You may be able to trick something with a time in the fridge, but they just never perform. This is the time of year that I want to be around the dogwood and azalea that I grew up with. My Mom in Georgia says the dogwood are full of fat buds and ready to bust. Oh well, I'll eat a banana and comfort myself!

I live in the Jacksonville area too. Shrimpers generally tend to net close to the surface. Golden crabs are found only in very deep waters. I'd ask where these "Golden Crabs" are coming from. Robyn ← Actually, shrimpers have the overhead pullies and gears that would make it appropriate to pull these traps. And are already stamped to do the work. Come to think of it, after looking at a shrimp boat or two, I would be surprised if they didn't drop a couple of cages here and there. Then check to see if anything took the bait. ← I'd give great odds that there's not a shrimp boat here that has a license to put down traps for golden crab. Every place that sells these things is supposed to have a posted license to sell. I'd be very surprised if any shrimp joint near the zoo has such a license. Robyn ← Why don't you swing by and check them out, if it is not too inconvenient? Then let us know what you discover. Personally, I would feel very uncomfortable with any retailer who would flagrantly disobey the law in such a manner. I mean, a sign on the street and all.

Herbs are not so big for me personally. Eh, I can buy and don't have to cultivate. What I, want, most of all, is the garden taste. The just picked, perfectly ripe perfection, have a pot boiling before you go into the patch, kind of nirvana. But, that's just me. Anything canned or in the freezer is just gravy.

Sorry, too slow for me even! I wish I had ventured into this area a few years ago!

I live in the Jacksonville area too. Shrimpers generally tend to net close to the surface. Golden crabs are found only in very deep waters. I'd ask where these "Golden Crabs" are coming from. Robyn ← Actually, shrimpers have the overhead pullies and gears that would make it appropriate to pull these traps. And are already stamped to do the work. Come to think of it, after looking at a shrimp boat or two, I would be surprised if they didn't drop a couple of cages here and there. Then check to see if anything took the bait.

My problems, in Palm Beach County, were hurricanes. Frances uprooted, and threw over a six foot privacy fence, my Honeybelle tree. Fortunately, that was the worst of the damage. And we rapidly got used to replacing privacy fences biannually. We just relocated in October, and I am slowly getting this place smacked into shape agriculture wise. Takes a lot of compost, sweat and planning. It is amazing the differences in the microclimate between here and a 30 minute drive north. I think I will have better luck with avacado and lime where I am now. But I am a huge sucker for citrus and am scoping a likely spot for a ruby red. I am sorry your husband can't enjoy. I am partial myself!

God bless. Spring will return. I have fruit set on every one of my tomatoes, the peas and beans are up, the cucumbers are trying to invade the lot next door. Nine freaking summer squashes. Bunching onions hairy. I know I sound like I am bragging, but I must, becuase the fungus among us down here will soon take it's ugly toll.

Oh cool Kayakado! So they are available around and about Florida. I suspected as much. If you don't mind, could you let us know what the name of the place is in your area? Price and a report would just be asking too much... Seriously, I suspect that there might be other's in your area who would like to take a walk on the wild side.

I agree....Moms do something to foods, I can cook exactly the same recipe and it NEVER tastes like Moms...Could never understand it ← It's the love. Even when I miss, my son behaves as if it is the best thing he has ever put in his mouth.

That makes me smile. We used to call them "Redneck Tomatoes" in that setup. An additional advantage to the setup is that it will help with rootknot nematodes if they are a problem there. You see it done that why quite a bit in the South because the nemotodes love sandy soil.

My poor grapefruit trees didn't bear for three years. We've moved away from that place, and don't have a tree here, so I am hoping for cheap fruit this Fall. Click for short article The industry really, really needs a good year, and I need some fresh grapefruit.

Our first date, and my kids were with their aunt. I made baked pork chops with pinapple and mushroom, he brought the wine. We ended up on the couch, and he skipped a funeral the next day. The rest is history. We were both goners.

Comforting. Will have to see for myself next time I visit Palm Beach county.

So we can have strawberry shortcake in August! We have found that Driscoll's is a pretty reliable product. Berries (not only strawberries - but other berries - like blueberries) are coming not only from California - but from south America in the winter. Some (which we bought at Costco's) have been really excellent. I eat fruit and cereal at least 5-6 times a week - and I used to get pretty sick of bananas in the winter. Robyn ← Oh, Driscoll's is a very fine company. I have had the pleasure to meet individuals who have worked for Driscoll's in the past. Although they are California based, they purchase extensively in Florida, and more than just strawberries. I guess I should be more specific. Why would a supermarket chain bring strawberries from California into Florida, or New Jersey for that matter, when the Florida berries are in season? Surely robyn, you are not telling me that you would hunt out a Driscoll's label, when Plant City is in season?

Oh, of course she did. You may want to give homemade mayo a try. I personally dislike mayo (makes me a pariah at times) and go homemade or Miracle Whip ( I use because hubby eats MW with a spoon) when required to eat a mayonnaise type substance. It is difficult to prepare something well when you personally dislike it the food or it is not to your taste.

Mad Knife Skilz there Shalmalnese! Right tool for the task?

My goodness! I knew of the opening, but had not been there nor read a review.

How was it prepared at home? If you really want to rekindle memories, do it that way. The bean salad is a great idea, but did you guys ever eat macaroni salad?

Neither. It "processes" food. But you can slap a regular lid on after processing and "simmer" for a while.

Corn, creamed or cob but creamed is universally liked and very southern, seems appropriate for this meal. A very simple cucumber salad would work quite nicely, just cucumber and onion, salt and pepper, marinated for a couple of hours in either balsamic vinegar or white vinegar with a little sugar. Tomatoes could be added as well, and tomato seems to be lacking in your plan. They don't have to be the big fat slicers as long as you are getting the tomato taste and acid contrast in somewhere. If you go with the rice, and with the seafood rice would be appropriate, a tomato "gravy" of some sort could be concocted, or you could just serve the softshells and sauce over rice. The roumalade would be nice over rice, as well. I prefer the simpler form of fried okra (dredged in white cornmeal and pan fried - not deep fried which is the proper way to prepare the triple breaded type of okra) but those preferences usually come from childhood. Macaroni and cheese could work with this as well. A sort of "smothered" summer squash comes to mind, if you can get good yellow squash. Easy and holds well. Have you considered cornbread? Easily done and can give almost any meal a southern feel. Homemade ice cream has become our birthday meal dessert in recent years, and part of southern tradition, even if it is just plain (very good) vanilla. ETA: Good on you. I cooked my own birthday dinner (as well as everyone else's for the last gazillion years) last time! Hopefully by the time I turn 60 one of my kids will be in a position to return the favor!

I've noticed that seafood seems to follow the same sort of fuzzy line between "boiling" and "steaming" sometimes. Sometimes, the seafood is actually steamed, but the event is called a boil. Then there is an Oyster Roast, where the oysters are put over hot coals, but then are in fact covered with wet burlap and effectively steamed. What I think of as a traditional Maryland Crab Boil is actually steaming. Clam "Bakes" also involve steaming sometimes.

Thanks, The Sage isn't far from me at all, and I have recently had a bagel jones going. Will have to go by. By June, our berries are just a memory and it's mostly what people think of when they think Summer produce around here. I should have my own peas and butterbeans by then.

They are super good. Look for corn soon. I'm just seeing the early spring corn come in and it is still expensive, but I bought a dozen ears and creamed it the other day, and it was super sweet. I don't understand why they insist on bringing California strawberries to the east coast. There are a couple of chains down here in Florida that insist on doing just that. Talk about taking coals to Newcastle! Those same strawberries are wonderful in California, I'm sure, but by the time they are picked green and trucked across the country, they taste like nothing.