Things you will not see (or hear) in the USA

[Nasturtium 500]

PM sucks. I had my squash get that here. Did you try the baking soda solution? I've heard that with enough baking soda solution, burning of the refuse in situ, and changing up the beds coupled with fungicide you can actually beat it... but that seems like a lot of work when you can just not grow those things.

If melons work for you you could always switch over to things like armenian cucumbers... but I know my melons had PM too when everything else did.

Most things we grow in the garden are grown in the winter. Tomatoes (Big Boy, Beef Stake, and Ugly) and peppers do great, but then again that is one of the major winter crops grown locally by farmers here. We don't even try to grow much in the summer. Heat into the low to mid 90's every day and daily mid afternoon rain with a LOT of sun until the rain comes.

The squash and cucumbers get a powdery mildew, and I am talking about the winter and spring. I have tried sprays and it helps for a while until it all goes to hell in a couple of days time. Almost everyone I talk with here has a similar problem.

[slim 1,514]

Gardening: a new twist for the RUB forum!

I think most of our wives/fiancees have (or tried to have!) a garden. The only reason it's not here on the RUB forum is becuase we're the ones posting, not them.

[Lena and Igor 5]

Well, I'm a bit sentimental and even though my gardening skills are much to be desired, I will plant many sunflower seeds around the fence line of my corner lot. If timelines are good estimates, the sunflowers should begin to bloom when Lena arrives (hopefully by July or August).

Edited April 5, 2011 by Lena and Igor

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Today is Sergey's birthday so earlier we call to say "happy birthday" and it is dinner time in Moscow so he tells us that his girlfriend, Dasha, has "taken him out for dinner" for his birthday and they were "at the restaraunt" as we were speaking. "Oh how nice" says Alla "Where did she take you?" MCDONALD's!!!!

I said "Oh, Dasha took you out for American food!" He says "Yes and I think it is probably her future to live in America so she should learn to eat this food!"

Voooooooooooooooowhat!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Today is Sergey's birthday so earlier we call to say "happy birthday" and it is dinner time in Moscow so he tells us that his girlfriend, Dasha, has "taken him out for dinner" for his birthday and they were "at the restaraunt" as we were speaking. "Oh how nice" says Alla "Where did she take you?" MCDONALD's!!!!

I said "Oh, Dasha took you out for American food!" He says "Yes and I think it is probably her future to live in America so she should learn to eat this food!"

Voooooooooooooooowhat!!!!!!!!!!!

+1 for the Golden Arches. Big Macs rule !

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

+1 for the Golden Arches. Big Macs rule !

He loves Big Macs also. I struck up the conversation such as "Oh, McDonalds...what are you having?" Big Mac of course! Alla says "garbage, what do you think? There is nothing else there" And what about appetizers? French Fries? And desert? 2 Apple pies for a dollar? (28 rubles?) Alla says "more garbage, all garbage"

Alla says "sergey, today I made fresh borscht" He says "Good. You are in America eating Russian food and I am in Russia eating American food"

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

He loves Big Macs also. I struck up the conversation such as "Oh, McDonalds...what are you having?" Big Mac of course! Alla says "garbage, what do you think? There is nothing else there" And what about appetizers? French Fries? And desert? 2 Apple pies for a dollar? (28 rubles?) Alla says "more garbage, all garbage"

Alla says "sergey, today I made fresh borscht" He says "Good. You are in America eating Russian food and I am in Russia eating American food"

A Belarusian meal consist of pork, potatoes, pork, potatoes, pork, potatoes, ...and some salad and gross mushrooms in even grosser milk and some other ####### in a jar stuck in the dark.

Ya, screw that. Give me pizza, taco's, Big Macs, Chinese food,.. whatever...but something with some taste.

[slim 1,514]

In Russia I had to survive on rotisserie chicken from the carts on the streets, chinese food, and microwave cordon blue. Thank goodness they've discovered cereal or else I would've been a goner.

Sbarro, Pizza Hut and the like just weren't getting it done on the pizza side. I'm still thinking if I ever move over there I could start an "American" restaraunt and make a killing while killing them with heart-stoppers like loaded fries and big burgers.

[ONA 133]

I'm still thinking if I ever move over there I could start an "American" restaraunt and make a killing while killing them with heart-stoppers like loaded fries and big burgers.

That's a good idea actually. There's an "American" restaurant in my city (apart from McDonalds, Subway etc.) - called "Barak O'Mama" actually it's more American-Mexican, cause they not only have all kinds of burgers and fries there, but also nachos, burritos etc. And it's a very popular place.

My fiance looooves Russian cuisine though. Probably even more than I do.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I seem to remember the six McDonalds in Minsk were the only American fast food that was allowed. The franchisor was a Greek company, and Uncle Sasha decided that foreign fast food was a bad idea. There was a Mcds at the center (that my partners called the American Embassy ), and the power kept "failing" there, causing the food to spoil. The other stores in that building were always fine, with no outages. A Russian company did come up with what they called Belarussian fast food - something like a Picadilly's here.

The Mcdonalds in Odessa Ukraine seems very popular with kids and people who panhandle foreigners. Right above the McDs on Deribasovkaya is a Ukrainian fast food joint called Puzata Xata (Big/Full Belly House I think). Better food, but the same chain anywhere in Kiev is much better. We can't figure that out.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I seem to remember the six McDonalds in Minsk were the only American fast food that was allowed. The franchisor was a Greek company, and Uncle Sasha decided that foreign fast food was a bad idea. There was a Mcds at the center (that my partners called the American Embassy ), and the power kept "failing" there, causing the food to spoil. The other stores in that building were always fine, with no outages. A Russian company did come up with what they called Belarussian fast food - something like a Picadilly's here.

The Mcdonalds in Odessa Ukraine seems very popular with kids and people who panhandle foreigners. Right above the McDs on Deribasovkaya is a Ukrainian fast food joint called Puzata Xata (Big/Full Belly House I think). Better food, but the same chain anywhere in Kiev is much better. We can't figure that out.

Those McDonalds are still there...and the downtown one is always packed. Near the Hotel Planeta in Nemega district there is a sad attempt on an old west looking type restaurant called "The Saloon". Worst ribs you will ever have, ####### service, but the waitresses are totally hot and there's two casino's right around the corner, a night club across the bridge (West World @ Hotel Belarus), and three strip joints all within walking distance.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Why_Me

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

A Belarusian meal consist of pork, potatoes, pork, potatoes, pork, potatoes, ...and some salad and gross mushrooms in even grosser milk and some other ####### in a jar stuck in the dark.

Ya, screw that. Give me pizza, taco's, Big Macs, Chinese food,.. whatever...but something with some taste.

No onions with the potatoes? Ukraine is SO much better!

Just kidding, I always loved the food and very rarely went to McDonalds, but I am strange and did not drink alcohol either

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

That's a good idea actually. There's an "American" restaurant in my city (apart from McDonalds, Subway etc.) - called "Barak O'Mama" actually it's more American-Mexican, cause they not only have all kinds of burgers and fries there, but also nachos, burritos etc. And it's a very popular place.

My fiance looooves Russian cuisine though. Probably even more than I do.

Subway is Sergey's "other" favorite restaraunt. We have one of each within walking distance of our house here, so he is happy with the location. He worked at McDonalds last summer, which Alla was none too thrilled about (and Pasha works at the snack bar of a drive in theatre) so they are surrounded by junk food! But she is happy they work.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In Russia I had to survive on rotisserie chicken from the carts on the streets, chinese food, and microwave cordon blue. Thank goodness they've discovered cereal or else I would've been a goner.

Sbarro, Pizza Hut and the like just weren't getting it done on the pizza side. I'm still thinking if I ever move over there I could start an "American" restaraunt and make a killing while killing them with heart-stoppers like loaded fries and big burgers.

There is a favorite Quebecois "food" called "poutine" (poo-teen)which is popular here also...AKA "Coronary on a plate" It is huge pile of french fries with cheese curds and gravy over the top of it.

[Krikit 1,163]

Nourse Farms sells gooseberries; I bought three plants from them so I could freeze the berries and send them to my Mom who niw lives in Mesa, AZ. She loves gooseberry pie. I highly recommend Nourse; I've been buying from them for over 10 years now.

Oh wow. Thank you for this info. I'm going to order one. They're impossible to find here.

Well, I'm a bit sentimental and even though my gardening skills are much to be desired, I will plant many sunflower seeds around the fence line of my corner lot. If timelines are good estimates, the sunflowers should begin to bloom when Lena arrives (hopefully by July or August).

I started a variety of sunflowers indoors from seed, and have now moved the survivors outdoors. I finally picked a spot for my one remaining mammoth..... and then snapped him in two during the transplant. I was heartbroken. lol. As soon as I can recall where I put the remaining seeds I'm going to stick them in the ground.