Recent content by BigDaveK

Peppers can be tricky. Heat levels can be all over the place. Dedicated jalapeno wine recipes call for 16ish peppers per gallon so pick a number below that. 8ish? I've never made jalapeno wine but I have made 8 others with different peppers, from sweet to superhot, and they make a wonderful...

Welcome to WMT!

I don't know if they pull energy from the main tree or not. They should form their own roots over time. I've dug up quite a few lilac suckers over the years. Thinning? I would consider it with definitive proof it will help. I'll have to do more research. I have since found 3 patches of wild...

You're so lucky! Odd that they're not spreading. Maybe it's the variety? I have small trees and seedlings as far as 20 feet from my original plantings. I don't mind them spreading and they have plenty of room. I just wish I'd get more paw paws!

I planted 3 paw paws about about 10 years ago. They spread from the roots ("paw paw patch") so now I have more than 60 of various sizes. Late frosts last 4-5 years and I never had a single fruit....until this year! Not a big crop, maybe 2 dozen. Long way to go - harvest will be in September...

Rose Hip Wine #2!! I had to try again since I had so many rose hips. There's no sugar coating here - Rose Hip #1 fermented with the seeds is awful, extremely astringent and bitter. Maybe it will be good some day, maybe, for now I'm ignoring it. Rose Hip #2 had to be made without the seeds and...

You've got a little more than a decade on me so I remember. Give me old American made anything anytime!

Not for dinner just yet. But I noticed something - dry aged meat, like carboys, multiplies.

Lucky you! Last year was my first wild grape harvest...and wine! I strongly suggest you try to identify the leaves online since there are quite a few copycats. The Canada moonseed, for one, is actually poisonous. I found some of that on the property as well.

Wasn't familiar with winter honeysuckle, had to google. Good luck!

David, I feel so lucky that I happened to see the fruit and take a picture. There were more than 2 dozen purple fruit on that little bush. Yesterday morning most were gone! Not on the ground. Protected area so mice, snakes, or birds. Covered with bird netting. Still some green ones so we'll see...

Air mattress, quick fix. Then there's DIY - you need another project, right?😆

I'm in the same boat - planted 7 from Stark Bros last year. This year 3 have fruit. Looking at pictures I thought the fruit was a LOT bigger. 😄 And I didn't expect them to change color so soon.

Officially started another food related hobby - a dry aged hot capicola. Should be ready in about 2 months. Fortunately I have that patience thing down pat.😄 A Calabrian pepper pork tenderloin will be added in a couple days after it finishes curing. The plan is to add fermented meat like salami...

Another possibility - the ones I harvested at the front door get at the very most 3 hours of direct sun. I remember tasting from a tree growing in full sun and didn't care for the flavor.