Posted on 09/14/2019 5:22:59 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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Brilliant idea on the potatoes! Loved that!
I planted Red Norland and Kennebeck this season. I’ve dug a few hills so far, but they keep so well in my raised bed that I just dig them as I need them through the fall.
We should both be coming into some beautiful weather for the next few weeks. I get re-energized when the temps start to fall. :)
P.S. Yes, I have been busy! With Beau away at Bear Camp for weeks at a time, I tackle a lot of projects that don’t make a difference to him, but they do to me!
I’ve got a decent amount of apples coming on, too; pie & Apple Sauce, ahead!
I’ve been doing a lot of canning, too. Still more of that to do, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! :)
We seem to be at about the same place in the process. :)
Her husband fixed up an irrigation system on a timer. That saved a lot of work and worry since they go on long summer trips.
They're pretty depressed that the tomatoes are done. Too funny...
Thanks for the link - these do look good. I used to used super big pots to get the surface area big enough but these look so much easier. I looked through the specs but did not see how exactly does the self watering system work??
My daughter's hubby rigged up a hose with 4 outlets set into each of the 4 tubes and put it all on a timer....every two days for 2 minutes. Amazing.
The other nice thing is that you don't have to fertilize....dry fertilizer in a center trench. Works sooooo good.
My daughter should rent out her hubby. LOL
Did anyone here have trouble getting their tomatoes to blossom and bear fruit this season? My few plants were healthy but unproductive, and I’ve heard others have had a similar problem. I’ve even heard it could be something to do with the sun’s current state — few sunspots, low light in the UV portion of the spectrum, etc.
Tomatoes have just about given up for 2019.
We made a dozen jars of tomato bisque, 10 jars of pasta sauce and froze some chopped pieces for chili this winter. The vines realy performed !
We’re still harvesting various peppers. Paprika powder is sufficient to last into 2025. Ditto Reza powder. I don’t know what we’ll do with it all.
That is clever! I think I’ll be looking at a couple of those come spring.
What a great idea----processing freeze-dried pineapple tidbits to a powder to infuse white chocolate truffle filling.
PINEAPPLE TRUFFLES Use 66% cocoa chocolate for the outer chocolate layer.
ING 1/2 oz freeze dried pineapple 2 oz white chocolate melting wafers oz h/cream 4 oz dark chocolate Pineapple-shaped Silicone Ice Cube/Candy Mold
METHOD Micro white chocolate and cream 20 - 25 seconds; stir until smooth. Add pineapple powder to ganache; mix/combine. Refrigerate 2 hours.Melt 1/2 dark chocolate in bain over simmering water. When almost completely melted, offheat, stir until completely melted and smooth. Add about a scant 1/2 tsp to each pineapple candy mold. Use the measuring spoon to push the melted chocolate around to cover all surfaces, nooks and crannies with a thin layer of chocolate. Let set 5 min in freezer.
Pipe the pineapple ganache mixture into the frozen chocolate shells in the mold, leaving enough space at the top for another layer of dark chocolate. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of melted dark chocolate over the ganache to cover it. Tap the mold on the counter to even out the new layer of chocolate. Let set in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes. Take the candy mold out of the freezer and remove the truffles. Melt the rest of the dark chocolate in a heat proof bowl over a simmering pot of water and repeat the process to form the rest of the truffles.
Tomatoes won’t set fruit if night time temperatures are too cool. What Zone are you in?
My BIL lives in San Diego, where it is sunny and 72 nearly every day of the year, but cool night time temps in the 50’s prevent him from growing tomatoes. His peppers do fine, though, especially hot ones.
Thanks for mentioning Tomato Bisque, Eric!
Tomato Bisque
Tomato Bisque is super silky smooth version of the classic tomato soup we all love with a finishing touch of heavy cream in less than an hour and no babysitting the pot!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 12 servings
Calories 87 cal
Author Sabrina Snyder
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
2 stalks celery diced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 cloves garlic minced
4 cups chicken broth
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat and cook the onion, celery, salt, pepper, cayenne and basil for about 5-6 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
Add in the garlic and stir an additional 45 seconds before adding in the broth, tomatoes and sugar.
Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes before blending until perfectly smooth with an immersion blender.
Add in the heavy cream, mix well and serve using more heavy cream and parsley as garnishes.
https://dinnerthendessert.com/tomato-bisque/#wprm-recipe-container-36331
Hi there. I would look more at your soil condition. If it was in the ground and not doing well - no new shoots - your soil might be too heavy, maybe clay. Sunnier is good. If your soil is good I would plant this fall. Just my opinion. Lots of great gardeners here.
I’m in Zone 8 or 8b. Our nighttime temps won’t be anywhere near 50 for several months.
Thank you MomwithHope. The lilac is in a big barrel with potting soil, which I keep adding to as needed. So it is not in native soil. Have you ever heard of a lilac that doesn’t give out shoots? Maybe because it’s in a container, so that’s why I thought of putting it in the ground. I have a lot of lilacs, and have propagated a few very successfully. This particular one has sentimental value for me, so I’m trying to preserve and invigorate it.
I should have asked what state you are in. I would think that anywhere a lilac would not want to be in a pot. For it to send out shoots it needs lots of room for new roots. It may be like many bushy shrubs, that what’s in the ground as far as root systems mirrors what’s up top.
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