What’s going on in your garden (2025)?

[karadekoolaid]

so plan B for the watermelon.

I've just remembered I've got a recipe for watermelon rind chutney, if you're interested.9lbs of watermelon should have a good amount of rind on it.

 

[badjak]

Got this and gave half to Mom. Weighed in at 18 lbs. before I cut it. Won't fit in the fridge no matter how I cut it so plan B for the watermelon.View attachment 131926

Inject it with vodka

 

[Barriehie]

Not sure I understand "solarize". You clear the patch then just leave it under the sun?

Don't even have to clear it. You cover it with plastic and the sunlight gets converted to infrared, heat energy wavelength, going through the material. End up getting hot enough, around 150°F, to kill off the weeds, larvae, pupae, and any other nasties in the soil. It doesn't wipe out the microbiome so after it's been solarized you fertilize and till and you're ready to plant, minus most of the nasties. It's an HVAC thing...

University of MN has a read here.

 

[Barriehie]

I've just remembered I've got a recipe for watermelon rind chutney, if you're interested.9lbs of watermelon should have a good amount of rind on it.

Yes! I'm not out of jars yet.

 

[Barriehie]

Inject it with vodka

Nah, that's better left alone, the vodka.

 

[Barriehie]

karadekoolaid Here's my trip with carving garden plots out of pasture...

bhiejr's blog

 

[JAS_OH1]

Got this and gave half to Mom. Weighed in at 18 lbs. before I cut it. Won't fit in the fridge no matter how I cut it so plan B for the watermelon.View attachment 131926

A chef friend of mine in Florida used to make watermelon ice cubes in ice cube trays and homemade lemonade, using the watermelon ice cubes for the lemonade. Absolutely delicious.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Inject it with vodka

We used to do that when I was in my late teens. Great for beach picnics!

 

[JAS_OH1]

My youngest daughter grew some peppers and tomatoes this year and brought me some this afternoon. Her first home gardening endeavor!

 

[Barriehie]

I think I should make some roasted red chili dip, with tomatoes...

 

[badjak]

I think I should make some roasted red chili dip, with tomatoes...View attachment 132036

Make sambal....

 

[Barriehie]

Make sambal....

Ah, you've mentioned that before when I had all the green ones and I've still got the bookmark in my browser! I'll get some shallots this time and do it right with a bunch of my homegrown garlic to boot.

 

[karadekoolaid]

I agree with badjak - make sambal. It lasts for ages and it's divine and there are many variants. Sambal terasi, kacang,oelek, bajak, ulek. Made lots of them about 15 years ago, but I don't know the difference really.
One thing I can say is - they're all divinely delicious and spicy.

 

[Barriehie]

...It lasts for ages...

I'll do that today with -all- the chili's and peppers I have on hand then I'm all caught up with trying to store all this, or eat it all before it spoils!

 

[badjak]

I agree with badjak - make sambal. It lasts for ages and it's divine and there are many variants. Sambal terasi, kacang,oelek, bajak, ulek. Made lots of them about 15 years ago, but I don't know the difference really.
One thing I can say is - they're all divinely delicious and spicy.

Terasi/trassi - with fermermented shrimp paste, but you can use "normal" shrimp paste
Kacang/katjang - with peanuts
Ulek/oelek - raw, plain chili's and salt, although I have seen recipes with vinegar.
Even though it's raw, it lasts very long and is the base of most other sambals
Bajak/badjak - fried, very nice, don't know all ingredients off hand
Also sambal tomat, sambal peteh, sambal brandal, sambal tjabe rawit
Nice site is by a lady who is using an old Indonesian cookbook (in Dutch) as a base. Site is in Dutch and English +400 Indonesische Recepten