Gardening, flowers and veggies: 2013

[Lady tehMa]

Probably, I'm saving up for an insane weekend (aren't they all?) Looking at all the ornamentals that need hacking back, trimming or cleaning up, much less the garden to prep for winter and garlic to plant (mom in law hit the Merritt Festival and brought me back Russian Red!) and I feel intimidated . . . losing light is NOT helping.

[Queen K]

Your weekends are the most insane of them all.

Get the garlic in! Two inches down, and when the leaves fall, cover the garlic by three to four inches. NOW!!!! It's getting a bit late.

Oh, butterlies galore, "you know where".

[Lady tehMa]

I didn't actually get around to cleaning it up . . . did pick some more cherry tomatoes, and another cucumber.

[flamingfingers]

We messed around with a recipe for tomato sauce today and I think we got it nailed it down:

[Lady tehMa]

It looks great, mind posting? I'm looking for a good sauce recipe . . .

[Queen K]

Me too.

I harvested three more cukes today. Tomatoes and fresh cilantro and dill is growing again. This unnatural cold snap is seriously making me ill at the thought of putting the gardens away early.

[JLives]

My butternut squash has small fruits but they aren't growing. They've been midgets for 2 weeks. What's up with that?

[flamingfingers]

Lady and Queenie - sorry I haven't looked at this thread since I posted... The tomato sauce receipe we used needs to be pressure canned, so if you have one of those beasts, I would be more than happy to share!

Today we did up 21 pints of HOT Salsa which I also pressure canned at 15 lb for 10 minutes (we are at altitude here) but probably could have used less pressure as the pH was measured at 3.9.

There are only 19 jars for our canning cupboard tho' - 1 jar failed to seal and for the first time ever I had a jar break in my pressure canner!

[Queen K]

Thanks FF.

Yesterday I started bringing in the tomato plants and the green ones. Making green tomato cake with them this time and freezing them.

We are still getting lots of flowers and bees humming around, so it's a tough decision to make to pull them out. Sunflowers are full of blossoms too.

Got to let the Oct. sun finish off the rest of the peppers, then we bring them in.

[Bpeep]

I cant believe my medussas are still growing, we've had some freezing nights.
These medussas are from last year's peppers.
Looks like they came true, Im glad I save lotsa seeds from them last year.
They're hard to find, and costly, last year they were 5 bux for 14 seeds, and I couldnt get any this year.
I have lots of them now, I saved last years. I was just reluctant to commit, I didnt know if they'd come true.
I'll start some in the spring for you guys, Lady T and Queenie.

[Lady tehMa]

awesome, thx Bman!

FF, I have a pressure cooker but it only takes pints (looking into a large one).

I still have a full cooler of green tomatoes on the deck, will have to get my butt in gear and make more green tomato items. Cake I think, oneH2Obabe offered up some great recipes last year.

I have sweet millions planed up against the house, southern exposure but under the eves. I'm still getting tomatoes off of it! Not as sweet as full summer, but still tasty.

[Queen K]

Yes, the green tomato coffee cake was a great way to use them up.

We are getting smaller cherry sized tomatoes and lots of swiss chard too.

Today is a busy day with a pull between house and garden. Yikes, which one?

[Bpeep]

Groan... its almost next year, yet so long to go.
Gittin antsy here. Gonna put in another 50 trees here in the spring.
Gonna start my pond lillys in a tub in another 4 or 5 weeks.
Come on, spring!


Lol- everybodys going- what is she on, winter just started a week ago...

[JLives]

I'm hoping to move in the Spring once renos are done. I'll be starting from scratch but leaving someone with a nice setup. I'll plant what I can in pots so I can take it with me.

[Queen K]

WHAT reno and move?

Can I have a crack at some of your plants?