tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post2537004124565196904..comments2024-03-28T21:58:41.783-04:00Comments on Home Joys: August Garden UpdateGinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-82164539582141340602013-09-10T10:35:27.818-04:002013-09-10T10:35:27.818-04:00The common recommendation here is to lay them out ...The common recommendation here is to lay them out to dry. But I'm sure that climate differences would change things!<br />GinaGinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-19907848430814527722013-09-10T05:37:06.429-04:002013-09-10T05:37:06.429-04:00Is it common practice to lay your onions out to dr...Is it common practice to lay your onions out to dry? I never lay mine out to dry. I just hang them up in my pantry. Granted, I live in Texas and that would probably ruin the onions. I have only had one onion rot, but I believe it had too much sun this summer being that my pantry is close to the back door window. I have been hanging onions in my pantry for years. Plus I still have a garden going at half production, praying the tomatoes will kick back in once it cools off in Texas.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-26652633898929161382013-08-22T10:12:04.279-04:002013-08-22T10:12:04.279-04:00Wow, your garden is looking nice! Ours had a grea...Wow, your garden is looking nice! Ours had a great start, but has turned out to be disappointing. Due to the rain and cool weather, our tomatoes got completely wiped out by late blight, like yours last year. So disappointing! Peppers, green beans, popcorn, and onions have done well so far. I remind myself that it's all about learning through experience. Marlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552046256755399876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-32886148989521590232013-08-20T13:51:45.425-04:002013-08-20T13:51:45.425-04:00Hello.
I've just found your blog and am enjo...Hello. <br /> I've just found your blog and am enjoying reading through.<br />I love making seedless blackberry jam - I simmer the fruit, then push the lot through a mouli before measuring for sugar and doing the usual. It has more texture than the clear jelly and doesn't waste so much.<br />We've been blight free here in Essex, UK, so far . . .<br /> xJoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116524003944939298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-37094863787725400742013-08-17T12:20:07.391-04:002013-08-17T12:20:07.391-04:00Hi, I love blackberry and apple jam...(i'm in ...Hi, I love blackberry and apple jam...(i'm in the uk so know its a little different from your jelly) but its easy to make, 1 lb apples, peeled cored and sliced, 1 lb blackcurrants, 4 Tablespoons of water, very slowly stew down to get as much pectin out of the fruit naturally as possible. Then when all the fruit is really soft add 2 lb of warmed sugar. when the sugar has dissolved then boil the jam rapidly without stirring. Just test setting after about 5mins and keep testing on a saucer when setting quality arises then bottle into steralised jars seal with wax disks and leave to cool and set. Maybe you already do this but just thought I'd add it incase its something different to try. Should make up to three and half pound jars.<br /><br />still really enjoy reading your blog, thanks<br />shelley p<br />from over the pondAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-4162643608489511662013-08-16T20:15:43.208-04:002013-08-16T20:15:43.208-04:00We try to pick our tomatoes green as we prefer to ...We try to pick our tomatoes green as we prefer to use them in Green Tomato Salsa and Piccalilli; both are delicious. Our tomatoes are very slow this year, also, which is good for us :).<br /><br />I just found your blog and am enjoying it immensely. Thank you for sharing.Glendanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-44762033583827469622013-08-16T19:18:56.856-04:002013-08-16T19:18:56.856-04:00I like to freeze my berries. I spread them single ...I like to freeze my berries. I spread them single layer on a cookie sheet until they are frozen. Then I put them in a container. I like to use them in pancakes. Delicious!Crystal Zeisetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-15885647315282996212013-08-15T13:56:51.359-04:002013-08-15T13:56:51.359-04:00If you want to get away from pectin you can make j...If you want to get away from pectin you can make jam with crab apples<br /> http://www.ichef.com/recipe.cfm/recipe/Homemade%20Crab%20Apple%20Pectin/task/display/itemid/94687/recipeid/94336<br /><br /> or sweet cherries (Bing work great). I use low or no sugar pectin, it is so much easer then the regular pectin type. I suggest you cut back on the seeds by running about half of the berries through a blender and then a fine colander or cheese cloth. I hope this was helpful! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-60425417077517900742013-08-15T12:58:04.489-04:002013-08-15T12:58:04.489-04:00Thank you so much for your help, Gina.
SueThank you so much for your help, Gina.<br /><br />SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-38233921822370897872013-08-15T11:03:11.594-04:002013-08-15T11:03:11.594-04:00Sorry about the blight. I know that is no fun! Mos...Sorry about the blight. I know that is no fun! Most of my tomato plants are San Marzano but the others plants I'm not sure of since my mother-in-law started several different varieties and gave some to me.<br />GinaGinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-38433407047481151232013-08-15T10:42:34.474-04:002013-08-15T10:42:34.474-04:00I love your garden updates. I am having a bad pro...I love your garden updates. I am having a bad problem with tomato blight. Would you please tell me which tomato variety you are growing? Thank you! SueAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-70884925888322243372013-08-15T10:10:56.111-04:002013-08-15T10:10:56.111-04:00Gina: First, I want to say congratulations on your...Gina: First, I want to say congratulations on your pregnancy... I follow your blog but must have missed that announcement! God bless you and baby Five 8~D <br />About the onions, I was getting on comments to tell you about how wonderful it is to have dehydrated onions on hand but saw someone else had! Then, to tell you how convenient to have frozen -- but that you have to freezer-bag-seal or freeze in mason jars -- otherwise, your freezer does take on onion oders.<br />Amazing to see the big difference in this nation's gardening/putting-by schedule... Here in the land down under, ha, we are pretty much dormant in the 100+ weather of July/August. By end of June, all my tomatoes are canned, my bell peppers diced/frozen, potatoes dryed or canned, etc.<br />I'm not sure I could take waiting until the middle of August to have a juicy ripe tomato dribbling down my forearm!<br />Thanks for the great garden pics... In the future, be careful about being on your feet canning the live-long day!<br />Lori<br />TexasLori in Texasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-3308255514969220592013-08-15T08:28:54.298-04:002013-08-15T08:28:54.298-04:00That looks so wonderful. What a great harvest and ...That looks so wonderful. What a great harvest and so much canned food. I wish I knew how to can. Have to learn ; )<br />Have a great day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-28365326724725466052013-08-15T00:07:35.529-04:002013-08-15T00:07:35.529-04:00I don't have much of a garden at the moment, b...I don't have much of a garden at the moment, but if I had as many green tomatoes as you do, I'd definitely be making green tomato pickles! Yum.<br />I'm amazed by all that you do, and I love reading this blog :)Emmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-67915103842330724162013-08-14T19:58:56.539-04:002013-08-14T19:58:56.539-04:00Thanks for another great idea! Do you have any tro...Thanks for another great idea! Do you have any trouble with them stinking up your freezer?<br />GinaGinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-22333651238027065572013-08-14T19:44:13.520-04:002013-08-14T19:44:13.520-04:00I froze all my onions that we planted. I diced the...I froze all my onions that we planted. I diced them up and spread them on a pan to freeze and them put them in bags.Lori https://www.blogger.com/profile/17992650277662333949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-19345981340005500042013-08-14T19:20:25.135-04:002013-08-14T19:20:25.135-04:00I have dehydrated onions other years and love the ...I have dehydrated onions other years and love the convenience of onion powder. I just haven't got it done this year but thanks for the reminder! <br />Gina Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-15861108991385670052013-08-14T19:18:46.172-04:002013-08-14T19:18:46.172-04:00Canning caramelized onions? I never thought of it!...Canning caramelized onions? I never thought of it! LOVE the idea! Thanks!<br />GinaGinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05420137490490341730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-18192008809022278442013-08-14T18:58:28.989-04:002013-08-14T18:58:28.989-04:00My garden is doing much better this year than last...My garden is doing much better this year than last year. I grew a few things I haven't before with success.(garlic,corn) I pick wild blackberry every year and make jelly(I don't like seeds)and syrup with them. To help preserve your onions have you tried canning caramelized onions. The recipe is here: http://canninggranny.blogspot.com/2011/05/canning-caramelized-onions.htmlShannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16022753079574368104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-61205030353717242432013-08-14T18:24:15.002-04:002013-08-14T18:24:15.002-04:00Do you have a dehydrator? You can dry your onions...Do you have a dehydrator? You can dry your onions and use all winter. You can also grind them for onion powder if you use it in your cooking. Just be sure to dry them outside or the whole house will smell like onion lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4916485057164205644.post-65159758356861284772013-08-14T18:16:11.935-04:002013-08-14T18:16:11.935-04:00Our tomatoes did well this year I was blessed with...Our tomatoes did well this year I was blessed with enough to give a lot away to family and friends. We had problems with our onions rotting too once we pulled them, they looked so nice and big and we laid them out to dry and they were soon rotting. I just thought we didn't know how to keep onions. Blessings to you as you provide canned/frozen food for your family.Wanda Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321370681074532772noreply@blogger.com