tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post4155554437997798847..comments2023-11-11T10:00:52.832-08:00Comments on Annie's Kitchen Garden: May 31, 2011 - Chive Blossom Vinegar, Too Much Lettuce & What to Do With the RhodiesAnnie*s Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-58431728907942901052011-06-01T07:34:19.865-07:002011-06-01T07:34:19.865-07:00Heskie, luckily I had two of my children who wante...Heskie, luckily I had two of my children who wanted some lettuce. That took care of all of the most recent harvest, so we are back to a reasonable amount for now.<br /><br />********<br />Kelly, I didn't try it after all. Mr. Granny was hungry for ranch, and I needed to eat the last of the jar of pickled beets. The vinegar is on the menu for tonight. I only let the blossoms steep for four days, so I'm not expecting it to be terribly strong.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-42256294486923516572011-06-01T05:03:33.126-07:002011-06-01T05:03:33.126-07:00I use any white wine vinegar for making the chive ...I use any white wine vinegar for making the chive blossom vinegar. The taste is much more pleasant that white vinegar. How was the dressing you made with it? I have only used mine for egg salad, deviled eggs, and the like.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457953816169352495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-57274295447209986912011-06-01T00:26:36.989-07:002011-06-01T00:26:36.989-07:00Those really are huge lettuce leaves! Yo must be d...Those really are huge lettuce leaves! Yo must be doing the same as me then, giving a way lots of salad leaves at the moment - still - it's good to share isn't it.<br />Rhodies do go mad, but they are such a lovely splash of colour aren't they.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-78426272384143055512011-05-31T15:12:30.263-07:002011-05-31T15:12:30.263-07:00Charmcity, I just got rid of another gallon bag of...Charmcity, I just got rid of another gallon bag of it! Oldest daughter was the recipient. Youngest son said they had a huge chicken salad for dinner last night, so I'm glad it isn't going to waste. Most of what I've recently planted is romaine. I found it held up well to the heat last year.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-77463369577344009542011-05-31T14:40:23.705-07:002011-05-31T14:40:23.705-07:00that's iceburg lettuce?! Wow. So beautiful! De...that's iceburg lettuce?! Wow. So beautiful! Definitely I would like to grow lettuce next year, maybe romaine. I'm jealous of your kids!!Charmcitybalconygardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17920355372618728018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-41515070012056714732011-05-31T09:24:12.092-07:002011-05-31T09:24:12.092-07:00Random, I use composted manure on the beds in the ...Random, I use composted manure on the beds in the spring, and the only other fertilizer I use for greens is a good sprinkling of alfalfa pellets that I steal from my rabbit's food. I can buy the pellets for about $7 for a 50 pound bag, and it's an excellent gentle nitrogen source.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-88966266984331985592011-05-31T08:45:56.062-07:002011-05-31T08:45:56.062-07:00Thanks for all the replies. I think Robin is righ...Thanks for all the replies. I think Robin is right in that all I can do now is take off the new growth from the top. I'm going to do a PS blog on the pruning job later today.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-54756094022147779532011-05-31T07:26:49.707-07:002011-05-31T07:26:49.707-07:00My goodness Granny, I think that you would need a ...My goodness Granny, I think that you would need a few more bunnies to take care of all that lettuce!<br /><br />The vinegar looks very pretty! I never use white vinegar when making pickles just cider vinegar.<br /><br />Regarding the rhodies, you could prune the new growth off the top. But, I think that's about it for awhile. If you trim too much off you could kill them. Just keep after them this year and probably next year you will get them to the size you want. That will teach you a lesson for ignoring them for 20 years :)Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12220238404223196571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-52155080407667543822011-05-31T07:24:01.947-07:002011-05-31T07:24:01.947-07:00I hope i'm as lucky with my lettuce once I get...I hope i'm as lucky with my lettuce once I get the seedlings planted. If I were close I'd let you pawn some off on me.. Hope you didn't mess up that Rody , I thought the time to bring down was in the fall or after she has finished blooming.Gingerbreadshouse7https://www.blogger.com/profile/01285484153508538882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-84246943926563540112011-05-31T06:51:07.419-07:002011-05-31T06:51:07.419-07:00Wow I am so jealous of your lettuce harvest! I wi...Wow I am so jealous of your lettuce harvest! I wish our lettuce was growing well this year but with the gloomy overly wet weather we had been having the lettuce has only started to pick up. In pruning the rhododendron you might have to forgo flowers next year depending on how much you end up pruning it but in the long run you might end up with a healthier plant that works best in your space. Check out rhododendron.org/pruning it might help.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14668241377667731288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-76251227222344009912011-05-31T06:48:22.977-07:002011-05-31T06:48:22.977-07:00Chive vinegar looks so nice! I've never taste...Chive vinegar looks so nice! I've never tasted it. Lettuce is so very large! Mine never grow so big, how do you fertilize them? I never do.RandomGardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00634760100341475864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-31112982997095864932011-05-31T06:37:23.257-07:002011-05-31T06:37:23.257-07:00oh, I love the last photo where it looks like a sm...oh, I love the last photo where it looks like a small minature tree. It will fill in and you did a great job! My husband use to follow me around and worry I would prune too much. Now he follows me to see if I will leave any grass since I'm always tearing up lawn to grow more food or put in another bed for flowers!roberta:-)Robbie Palmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09175918106265081650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-76507704264345403052011-05-31T06:31:24.833-07:002011-05-31T06:31:24.833-07:00Chive blossom vinegar looks great. Oh these Rhodie...Chive blossom vinegar looks great. Oh these Rhodies...we pruned them 1/3 of their size and it came back all fine this year. I felt they are quite strong and don't mind cuts anywhere :)Saradahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851821835556255668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-15749119468887115372011-05-31T06:18:46.363-07:002011-05-31T06:18:46.363-07:00I am with you on the difference between white vine...I am with you on the difference between white vinegar and cider vinegar. However I do use white vinegar on my horseradish as I like to keep it white as long as possible.wildernesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03527833260038141710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-43883432308064844822011-05-31T05:45:10.344-07:002011-05-31T05:45:10.344-07:00Even overgrown those rhodies are beautiful!Even overgrown those rhodies are beautiful!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09069117326093443006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-65156936508335239422011-05-31T05:44:39.653-07:002011-05-31T05:44:39.653-07:00It looks like what you need is a different rhodode...It looks like what you need is a different rhododendron variety. They really don't take to pruning all that well. I wished I'd had a shorter one below my window at my last house. We had a split so those window were half a story up and still the rhodies were too high.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-75076799357097872082011-05-31T05:25:48.451-07:002011-05-31T05:25:48.451-07:00Although I love the flowers, I really like seeing ...Although I love the flowers, I really like seeing the beautiful form of the trunk, too. We have a huge pussy willow that I pruned way up so we could mow under it. I discovered the most gorgeous trunk/ branch structure underneathe. That's what I thought of when I saw your "finished" product. Very pretty.langelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-57511202726563384932011-05-31T04:31:40.556-07:002011-05-31T04:31:40.556-07:00LOL, I'm getting ready to make a huge pile of ...LOL, I'm getting ready to make a huge pile of Crepe Myrtle tree prunings from storm damage, I dread dealing with them! The vinegar turned out pretty!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-35860339667322002942011-05-31T00:07:26.807-07:002011-05-31T00:07:26.807-07:00I have NEVER understood pruning. The books I'v...I have NEVER understood pruning. The books I've read don't help-but they do have some good videos on youtube. Maybe you should try cutting it into some fancy topiary shape like a dog or a turtle-LOL!<br />You're braver than most-hack away!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122524042294993949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-47379728133147671242011-05-30T22:31:18.216-07:002011-05-30T22:31:18.216-07:00I bet you could probably cut it back to within abo...I bet you could probably cut it back to within about 1 or 2 feet from the ground, and it should respond well. It will be quite a while before it blocks the window again. Basically take off all the branches that are still flowering. Cut just above a whorl of leaves.Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16323262555906240701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-36691118526111354242011-05-30T22:26:45.309-07:002011-05-30T22:26:45.309-07:00My lettuce is about the only thing growing and it&...My lettuce is about the only thing growing and it's going gangbusters. I may feed it to the chicks soon. I wish everything would grow so well.<br /><br />Those look just like my rhodies. Wanna prune mine? I have no clue.Sinfonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973076975622726383noreply@blogger.com