Posted on 09/04/2021 7:05:12 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
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It was another hot and dry week here in Central Missouri. Rain moved in last night and we are getting a badly-needed drenching today. From the looks of the radar, a lot of people are getting it. This thing stretches from Indianapolis all the way into western Oklahoma.
Might get in the garden to pull weeds tomorrow, but there won’t be any tilling and planting for a few days.
I expect that I’ve got a few gallons of pole beans out there that need to be picked, but me being made out of sugar and all, well I’d straight-up melt if I went outside now.
Last year I had a lot of low acid yellow cherry tomatoes. I experimented and canned 3 half pints. Left tomatoes whole, pierced each one 2 or 3 times with a toothpick, and added salt to the water. Canned 10-15 minutes and they came out perfect. Still had a half jar in the fridge when I started picking the new ones. Probably won’t do it again, been giving away the yellow ones.
My rock garden attempt:
Petunias and iceberg roses recovering:
Happy Gardening to all! Fall will be here soon and I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks for the recommendation.
i have asparagus and garlic to mulch.
“In Southern Oregon, we got our first sub-freezing morning 9/3.”
Is that normal for you?
I’ve been tracking this “first fall freeze” date for many years. It’s quite reliably between 9/1 and 9/10 each year with 9/3 being the most common. This morning was 35 with no further freezes in the predictions for the next week.
Greetings from southern New Hampshire. I am home again!
Now working on the last raised beds before the hoop house construction begins. Well, construction began today. We have the heavy duty landscape fabric to lay down, and I have the 4 by 4 PT for the 4’ long corner and midsection posts. The design will initially have 2’ tall side walls, with 18’ cattle panels for the roof structure and greenhouse plastic.
I have two used storm doors, courtesy of my sister (I replaced them with new doors!), for the front and back ends.
Of course, the Man Upstairs had to provide me with an addition challenge in the form of a downed tree, laying across the boundary to the neighbor’s back yard. My project for today.
Household Six has declared war on squash bugs and aphids. It is getting ugly out there! Pumpkins are forming. Luffas are also maturing. Ground Cherries are dropping their little “lanterns” on the ground. I see a ground cherry pie in the future. Peppers are really looking good! Starting to harvest celery, and tomatoes…tomatoes…tomatoes. She has three trays dehydrating in the wall ovens!
We have learned a lot this year.
30 pounds +/- of cukes: 3 batches of pickles; one each of B&Bs, sweet chips; and sweet-hot dill chips.
The beans have been shelled & dried: ~1.5 quarts each of blacks & whites.
Still have a pint or two of beets to pickle & process.
Later this coming week, the carrots & rutabagas come out.
I finally got a bit of okra, so made a pot of jambalaya that I had the rest of the rest of the fixings on hand for, just waiting.
The third night, we split a large zuke, and stuffed it with the rest of the batch: 2 cups of uncooked rice makes a LOT of jambalaya for 2 people! We’ll finish it off tonight: the spices get better the longer they have to blend & develop.
I can stewed tomatoes quite often following the Ball Blue book. They have tomatoes, onions, peppers, and celery - and the book calls for pressure canning.
Our trees are dropping yellow leaves all over the place. Early winter coming, I think.
Looks like we are cold and snowy in our area. We had rain last night and early AM - about 4 inches.
I’ve noticed leaves turning color here in NH.
Not a lot, but still disheartening.
We are getting ready for winter. We have a full oil tank, full propane tank, at least a cord of wood with more on its way.
I’ll make sure we have plenty of canned meat and the freezer is full.
If you like Butternut squash, and have the land, then it is a good crop for cool climates,. Usually you can just plant it and let is grow, very little needs to be done aside from occasional watering and directing some vines. Pick it late, even after a very mild frost, cutting it above the stem, and store it a cool, dry space like a back unheated hall, I have had them last 6 months (Oct. - June) and still be good, praise God. Peel, cut off the very top and at the neck, scoop out the seeds, quarter and boil and mash (if preferred) like potatoes, adding a little brown sugar is desired. Yummy and nutritious, thank God.
I like it, but cannot eat it.
Mr. mm does not like it.
I should find out if the kids like it.
:)
Love the invite. Have a good day!
Sorry, I forgot about the health issue.
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