CntryBoy777 - The Lazy A** Acres Adventures

[Bruce]

2x2s might be fairly stable. I made a 2" diameter rolling pin (slightly tapered, not with handles connected to a rod through it) from a piece of cherry cordwood. It checked JUST a tiny bit on one end. I don't have a lathe so I used a draw knife that had been my grandfather's and a LOT of hand sanding.

What isn't stable (and @CntryBoy777 knows this from a prior discussion) are "rounds" AKA "slices". I cut 2 from a maple log a year ago to make "single piece of wood" cutting boards. The only difference between them was the width of the chain on the saw. Both got some cracking in the "field" but on one they nearly closed up whereas on the other it eventually cracked all the way across. Last summer I was going to make several more of various sizes for my nephew's wedding present. I cut a couple and the next day both were badly cracked and unusable. That is when I started my Google research and found that the prior one that DIDN'T crack was the odd one out. You can keep them from cracking if you have a kiln and a lot of time to dry them but for those who don't, enter Pentacryl.

 

[CntryBoy777]

@Mike CHS I got my Baker Creek catalog the other day, but it doesn't have those General tomato variety in it. If it is in yours can you give me the item # so I can order them? Thanks!

 

[Mike CHS]

I looked and couldn't find it either. Even when I did a search I got the Baker Creek reviews page but that is it. I'll look and see if I have any seeds left from last year and if I do we will have to set up a seed saver effort for them.

 

[NH homesteader]

What's the name of them again?

 

[Mike CHS]

They were Brave General. I'm finding them on a couple of sites but I have to question how valid the sites are so no credit card info going to them. The seeds originally came from Kazakhstan.

 

[NH homesteader]

Checked the other place I ordered seeds, they don't have them either. Figured I would look for you! I'm planting about a million types of tomatoes this year, hope to have some luck! Guess I'd better learn how to can pretty soon...

 

[CntryBoy777]

Early Girls are a good variety and is on the fewer days to harvest list. We usually plant several of those for Early tomatos, you should get several pickings from it there since your season is so short. They have a good flavor and make some good sauce. Joyce usually grows quite a few varieties and the flavors blend really well for canning.

 

[NH homesteader]

My parents grew some of those last year, they did well. Yes we do have issues with tomatoes in particular, with our short season. Frustrating! Since that's the one thing I'm most concerned about growing.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I understand that, for sure. Just be sure to check on your last frost date for your area and the number of days to harvest. Tomatos can handle down to around 40, but it will slow the growth for a bit. Anything below that ya need to cover with a sheet until sun comes up. Just get seeds started indoors about 4-5wks before last frost and you'll be ahead of the curve. You can also use gal milk jugs to cover them at night, just cut the bottom out and leave the little top off, they will act as a greenhouse as long as the wind up there doesn't blow them away.

 

[Bruce]

Yep, it takes extra effort up here in the NE to grow tomatoes. While people in AL and MI are posting pictures of their plump red fruit on the bush, we are still looking at the calendar for the end of May to put them outside. Might get a few of the earlier ones in August. I like SunGold cherry tomatoes. Tasty and earlier than larger tomatoes. They tend to crack which is why they aren't often seen in the store. The Early Girls come in about the same time.

Whoa, just checking in on the maturity date of those and found this on Burpee's site:
Tomato, Fourth Of July Hybrid 49 days??!!!! 4 oz, or 4x the size of a SunGold (says EGs are 6 oz) so not big but hey, could actually have tomatoes before August??? Might have to try those.