2023 gardens

DT: According to this, it doesn’t matter if pollen from a pumpkin got to the squash flower or vice versa. The female flower “decides” what it grows into. Did you happen to use seed from last year’s garden? If the plants were cross pollinated last, the seeds from them will grow into a weird hybrid squash or pumpkin.

https://lancaster.unl.edu/pollination-issues#:~:text=That%20means%20they%20can%20be,are%20in%20the%20same%20species.

DT: Funny you mention that, I’ve had real good success with pumpkins for the past few years and just the other day noticed two things growing that look like pumpkins but in the shape of squash. I don’t know what to think, I’ll try and get a picture when I pull them from the garden.

picklerick wrote:

Did you happen to use seed from last year’s garden? If the plants were cross pollinated last, the seeds from them will grow into a weird hybrid squash or pumpkin.

No. The garden we planted this year hasn’t been planted in 20 years. I’ll try and grab a pic this weekend.

Thanks
DT

Overspray from farm fields can travel a good distance and cause all sorts of deformities even in very small concentrations.

Got a little more than halfway through the green beans today doing dilly beans. Ended up with 14qts out of #18 of beans. Put a thai chili in the bottom of half of them. Garlic, dill and peppercorns all around. I’m guessing I’ve still got about #17 of beans left.

I didn’t label a few of my plants and don’t remember what type of peppers these are. Any help?
DT

That’s a jalapeno turning red. Heck it could be a red roasting pepper depending on the size but if it’s 4-5″ long that’s a jalapeno ripening.

Here comes Fall. Where the heck did summer go?

Thanks. I don’t remember buying them. I bought ghost peppers but don’t think they grew.
DT

I added a few pics with measurements. Thought jalapeños were smaller.

Was quite the learning experience this year. Didn’t cage my tomatoes and my Roma plants are so full they fell over. Same with cherry tomatoes. Just one big mess.
DT

Picked a bunch of stuff today. A bunch of sweet corn, cucumbers, Roma and cherry tomatoes, green peppers, cayenne peppers and spaghetti squash. Excited to make my own dried pepper flakes.
DT

Another question while I’m at it. I picked a ton of cherry tomatoes today and about a gallon of Romas. I was going to make sauce with the Romas. Would it be fine to throw the cherry tomatoes in as well for sauce or will the taste be off?
DT

Taste-wise you’d be fine using the cherries, but the moisture content vs solids is way off with cherry tomatoes and getting the sauce to cook down, getting that water out, is a real time burner and you’ll have watery sauce.

my granddaughter and her fiancee gave me a 5 gal pail 3/4 full of cherry tomatoes last year. i made juice out of them. its alot sweeter then i’m used to for tomato juice.

and the seeds………….. before i use a jar i strain the seeds out the best i can!!!!!

Working in the kitchen today.
DT

If you have a Nesco roaster or crock pot put as many cut up tomatoes as you can fit in there and turn it up to 11 and put the lid on. Take a ladle or big spoon and every hour or so skim off all the water on top. It will save a lot of time reducing it down to a sauce and is easier than watching a pot on the stove because it won’t burn to the bottom.

Spoon that juice into jars repeatedly until the sauce is to the consistency you want. I pressure can that tomato water in pints because it’s so good. Otherwise you can just strain the seeds out and drink it cold with a pinch of salt or add it to a Bloody Mary pitcher.

If you have a high speed blender like a Vitamix, Blendtec, or Ninja Foodi you don’t even have to skin or seed the tomatoes. Using my Ninja blender after two passes on the smoothie setting you can’t even tell there were seeds or skins in it.

Thanks for all the help.
DT

Glenn, here is what I use to de-skin and seed my maders. It is surprising how quick, easy and well it works!
Reply To: 2023 gardens

Denny when i click to that it goes to DT thank for the help post????? or i cant find it??????

i’m always on the lookout for more canning gadgets!!!!!

Is it one of these do-dads, Denny? Thought about getting one, but I try to keep the gadgets to a minimum, especially ones that basically do one thing.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-commercial-grade-grinder-tomato-attachment?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CPMax%7CProprietary%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CNVol%7CNMT&&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkaiAr9DcgAMVMRetBh1YHgIpEAQYAiABEgJXzvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have one of those. Works good but makes a mess.

The rain sure makes pullin weeds a whole lot EZ’r.

And just like that we have tomatoes. 2023 fresh tomato season has begun for us!!!!! Celebrating with BLT’s tonight. Ate one like an apple earlier.
NOT looking forward to canning but it has to be done….

Belle’s coming to town this week and we will be hitting the BLT’s also.
We will also be making Pesto as the Basil crop is wonderful this year.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

The rain sure makes pullin weeds a whole lot EZ’r.

yep..it is!!!!!!

thats a heck of an assortment of maters there EPG!!!!!!!

Not that anyone asked but here’s the pesto recipe I’ve been using:

4 cups of lightly packed down basil leaves
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup Parmesan
1/3 cup of walnuts, pecans or pine nuts
3 cloves garlic

Chop basil, nuts and garlic in blender or food processor until the nuts are well combined.

Slowly

drizzle in olive oil. Pulse or stir in Parmesan. Don’t blend in the cheese or it will get stringy from the heat of the blades. 1/4-1/3 is enough for a pound of pasta. Spoon thirds or quarters into freezer bags and smooth them out until flat while burping the air from the bags, seal and toss into freezer for later.

Homemade pesto is fantastic. FW makes it with a very similar recipe but uses pistachios – the kid developed an allergy to pine nuts as an adult after learning to love pesto.

Here is mine.
https://www.lemproducts.com/product/big-bite-juicer/food-strainer

Wholey crap!!! I finally got the freaking link to publish!!!!!!!!!!
3 times I tried it last night and tonight the 3rd time It finally went! What the Ell is happening to this forum?

I’m with Sheldon on posting problems, I’ve never had so much issue as this year.

Thats the one I have as well.