I think we're pretty much done now. I'm still cutting little broccoli florets and they're still tasty; we just had some again on Sunday with our dinner. But since it's getting so chilly at night, I may go up and pick the rest of the tomatoes, including the green ones, this weekend, if the weather is OK. There are no new flowers on the tomatoes or the peppers, although we do still have peppers growing. And then I'll tear the corn stalks and the plants out. Cucumber plants are dying and the squash plants are the same way. The green beans are still producing, but the beans don't taste very good at this point; seem a little woody or fibrous now.
I have to dig out our canna and elephant ears tubers. My sister had given them to us, but we didn't get them in the ground until late, so while they grew and grew, we didn't get flowers this year. I think they'll be fine, but I have to get them in their storage boxes in the basement for the winter. And we'll try to get them planted earlier next spring.
I think I had mentioned that my sister and I did a dozen pints of grape jelly. From their own grapes! We were very excited by that.....being able to use her own grapes. They have three different kinds; two of them were mislabeled when they bought them. They were supposed to be seedless, but it turns out that they do have seeds. I told her not to worry, that's what a food mill was for. And the jelly was really good! We had some issues with gelling, but overcame them and got everything done. My BIL gave us each a hug; he loves his grape jelly.
So in our basement pantry now, we have Bread and Butter Pickles, Lime Pickles, Old Farmhouse Chutney (divine stuff!), Zucchini Salsa, regular Salsa (thanks, Lizzie!), Honey-Glazed Red Onions, some Grape Jelly, and Chili Sauce (Chili Sauce compliments of my sister). Not bad at all for a first-time canner!
I'd still like to do up some peaches, but I just haven't found the time to do so yet. And it might be too late now, not sure how long peaches last. (I have to call a grower and see what's going on.) And my mother asked me to make her some Chow Chow, too. She'd also like me to make some Freezer Cabbage; it's like pickled cabbage, but you can freeze it for longer storage. I told her, "Mom, one thing at a time!"
Talked to one of my GFs and we're going to pick apples in Connecticut in late October. So we'll have applesauce to do, too. I'm still going to freeze that though.
It's been a really fun summer with the garden, even with all the rain we received. We've enjoyed it and will definitely do it again next year.
(BTW, pumpkin prices here increased by about 75% because many of the farmers lost them in the flooding. I'd have to do just a few pumpkins, just to have the puree in the freezer for fall baking, but I may have to settle for canned pumpkin this year.)
How are you gardens? Still producing? Almost done?
I have to dig out our canna and elephant ears tubers. My sister had given them to us, but we didn't get them in the ground until late, so while they grew and grew, we didn't get flowers this year. I think they'll be fine, but I have to get them in their storage boxes in the basement for the winter. And we'll try to get them planted earlier next spring.
I think I had mentioned that my sister and I did a dozen pints of grape jelly. From their own grapes! We were very excited by that.....being able to use her own grapes. They have three different kinds; two of them were mislabeled when they bought them. They were supposed to be seedless, but it turns out that they do have seeds. I told her not to worry, that's what a food mill was for. And the jelly was really good! We had some issues with gelling, but overcame them and got everything done. My BIL gave us each a hug; he loves his grape jelly.
So in our basement pantry now, we have Bread and Butter Pickles, Lime Pickles, Old Farmhouse Chutney (divine stuff!), Zucchini Salsa, regular Salsa (thanks, Lizzie!), Honey-Glazed Red Onions, some Grape Jelly, and Chili Sauce (Chili Sauce compliments of my sister). Not bad at all for a first-time canner!
I'd still like to do up some peaches, but I just haven't found the time to do so yet. And it might be too late now, not sure how long peaches last. (I have to call a grower and see what's going on.) And my mother asked me to make her some Chow Chow, too. She'd also like me to make some Freezer Cabbage; it's like pickled cabbage, but you can freeze it for longer storage. I told her, "Mom, one thing at a time!"
Talked to one of my GFs and we're going to pick apples in Connecticut in late October. So we'll have applesauce to do, too. I'm still going to freeze that though.
It's been a really fun summer with the garden, even with all the rain we received. We've enjoyed it and will definitely do it again next year.
(BTW, pumpkin prices here increased by about 75% because many of the farmers lost them in the flooding. I'd have to do just a few pumpkins, just to have the puree in the freezer for fall baking, but I may have to settle for canned pumpkin this year.)
How are you gardens? Still producing? Almost done?
