Mid-Summer
Jul. 16th, 2010 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluesgardenAm now qualifying for really flippin' tired most evenings, this one included. I should be watering part of the garden, but I don't think my legs are going to hold me up for that long (or they will but payback's a... well). The snap beans have started coming ready and today I picked just shy of 2 pounds, which yielded 4 pints once they were canned. The day before yesterday was the first batch of barely 3 pints, 2 of which are in the fridge because it was Adventures in How Not to Pressure Can Green Beans. Apparently you're not supposed to release the steam valve as soon as the cooking time is up, but to let it cool down on it's own. I knew you weren't supposed to try cooling it down with water or anything, but I had the steam valve process backwards and it sucked the liquid out of the jars. Oops. So they're edible just not storable (considering there's basically no liquid in there at all), which defeats the purpose of canning.
Fortunately, todays 4 pints went much better. *g*
Also canned plum compote this afternoon. It was a recipe from So Easy to Preserve that included plums, orange pulp, orange peel, sugar, raisins, and walnuts which will be interesting to taste!
Fall planting has started - the rutabagas, parsnips, cabbage, carrots, and radishes are in. I still need to put in the final row of sweet corn and hope it's not too late. Next up for planting are beets and turnips. Green tomatoes are beginning to appear and there is an absolute proliferation of various melons beginning to size up. The pumpkins are attempting a takeover of the nearby beans and corn. The corn's tall enough not to care and the beans are taking it well despite having the pumpkins coming at them from one side and the melons from the other. The peppers are producing despite their size (nothing ripe yet) but the onions have really suffered this year. I'm still not sure of the exact culprit, but it may have been the spray that drifted over from the neighboring field on the same day that I planted them - presumably it was just bad luck that it happened when they were particularly vulnerable from being transplanted. So it looks like I'll be buying onions this winter. Ah well.
I'm looking at a peach picking trip, probably in the next week as the Redhaven peaches should be ripe and ready at the orchard. I'm thinking freezing (as in peeling, pitting, and slicing, then freezing individually on freezer paper before bagging up) and canning in light syrup. The canned would be for eating as is while the frozen would be for smoothies and what not. I still need to pick up some black raspberries for freezing whole as well - I hope they're still going!!
In other news, D finished the clothesline! At least I can put this crazy summer weather to some good use. Tired, hot, and sticky are pretty much a way of life right now.
Fortunately, todays 4 pints went much better. *g*
Also canned plum compote this afternoon. It was a recipe from So Easy to Preserve that included plums, orange pulp, orange peel, sugar, raisins, and walnuts which will be interesting to taste!
Fall planting has started - the rutabagas, parsnips, cabbage, carrots, and radishes are in. I still need to put in the final row of sweet corn and hope it's not too late. Next up for planting are beets and turnips. Green tomatoes are beginning to appear and there is an absolute proliferation of various melons beginning to size up. The pumpkins are attempting a takeover of the nearby beans and corn. The corn's tall enough not to care and the beans are taking it well despite having the pumpkins coming at them from one side and the melons from the other. The peppers are producing despite their size (nothing ripe yet) but the onions have really suffered this year. I'm still not sure of the exact culprit, but it may have been the spray that drifted over from the neighboring field on the same day that I planted them - presumably it was just bad luck that it happened when they were particularly vulnerable from being transplanted. So it looks like I'll be buying onions this winter. Ah well.
I'm looking at a peach picking trip, probably in the next week as the Redhaven peaches should be ripe and ready at the orchard. I'm thinking freezing (as in peeling, pitting, and slicing, then freezing individually on freezer paper before bagging up) and canning in light syrup. The canned would be for eating as is while the frozen would be for smoothies and what not. I still need to pick up some black raspberries for freezing whole as well - I hope they're still going!!
In other news, D finished the clothesline! At least I can put this crazy summer weather to some good use. Tired, hot, and sticky are pretty much a way of life right now.
