Preserving the Garden

[MOpGrad2013]

We did it! We planted a garden that is actually giving us a bounty (even with the extreme heat).

The tomatoes are actually a surprise to me. We have definitely picked enough to get back the price of our initial plants purchase ($1.89 per pound). I tried my hand at "canning" (it's jarring) diced tomatoes. I didn't have any lemon juice on hand so I used vinegar. Does anyone know if that substitute is enough acidity? (I used 2 Tb vinegar in place of the 1Tb lemon juice) I only did 5 pint jars so I won't have any problem quickly using them up if there's a concern. And the jars sealed with no problem.

Squash...Ok, so I know this is a veggie that gives and gives. I asked for 2 plants, but DH brought me 8! I have an enormous amount of blooms so I know this will get out of hand soon. So far I have blanched and then flash froze slices. About to make bread. Figure we can package and freeze that. Other ideas for yummies? We usually buy 2 bags of frozen squash a week so we eat a lot of it. And with the boys leaving to college in a few weeks, I am positive I will be mailing the breads and muffins.

Banana peppers. DD loves the pickled ones so I will do some jars of those. Any other recipe ideas for them? I grew up with bell, jalapeno, and anaheim. Again DH went a bit crazy with the flats vs plants.

Did anyone else have good luck with their garden this year? DD thinks we should set up a year round garden in the garage, but I nixed the idea due to the drug gardens in the area. Can you just imagine that bust? "Captain, we found tomatoes!!"

 

[hlg22]

We did it! We planted a garden that is actually giving us a bounty (even with the extreme heat).

The tomatoes are actually a surprise to me. We have definitely picked enough to get back the price of our initial plants purchase ($1.89 per pound). I tried my hand at "canning" (it's jarring) diced tomatoes. I didn't have any lemon juice on hand so I used vinegar. Does anyone know if that substitute is enough acidity? (I used 2 Tb vinegar in place of the 1Tb lemon juice) I only did 5 pint jars so I won't have any problem quickly using them up if there's a concern. And the jars sealed with no problem.

Squash...Ok, so I know this is a veggie that gives and gives. I asked for 2 plants, but DH brought me 8! I have an enormous amount of blooms so I know this will get out of hand soon. So far I have blanched and then flash froze slices. About to make bread. Figure we can package and freeze that. Other ideas for yummies? We usually buy 2 bags of frozen squash a week so we eat a lot of it. And with the boys leaving to college in a few weeks, I am positive I will be mailing the breads and muffins.

Banana peppers. DD loves the pickled ones so I will do some jars of those. Any other recipe ideas for them? I grew up with bell, jalapeno, and anaheim. Again DH went a bit crazy with the flats vs plants.

Did anyone else have good luck with their garden this year? DD thinks we should set up a year round garden in the garage, but I nixed the idea due to the drug gardens in the area. Can you just imagine that bust? "Captain, we found tomatoes!!"

Mine is doing quite well too! I'm a little bit behind you, it sounds like - I've had copious amounts of greens, lettuces, etc. through the spring, and the peas just finished a few weeks ago. Now my tomatoes are just starting to ripen - I'm going to have more of the yellow grape tomatoes than I can eat, and the heirlooms and romas are looking good too. The eggplant and pepper plants got a really slow start, but have taken off. My squash were doing great until about two weeks ago...when squash borers got into all the plants. I dug them out and wrapped in tinfoil but the plants just aren't thriving any more and I think I'm going to rip them out and replace. It hasn't helped that it's been unusually wet here, and I've had a couple of small zucchini just rot off the vine.

I have not tried canning yet but have read a great deal about it - everything I have read has said NOT to vary the recipes at all because the correct acid ratio, etc. is so crucial. That's one of the reasons that I decided to buy a freezer for the basement and preserve by freezing instead, which reminds me - the basil is getting out of control, so I need to make and freeze pesto this weekend!

 

[taymaesmom]

This is the first year we have put in a garden and are super surprised at what is actually growing! We put way too many different things in too small of a space so its crowded put producing.

I've learned alot this year, like I want to put in 3 times the green beans as my kids love them, and to make sure and put potatoes in its own area. I have so many ideas for next year, I want to build 3 more raised boxes!

 

[lauradis]

we do tomato sauce freeze in bags so much easier but then canning and me dont get alone lol

 

[worm761]

I am so jealous of your guys gardens! I have sand for a yard so we grow a few veggies in pots. Not many though. I have ONE tomato. It is all sad by itself. Around three jalapenos. My mint is doing amazing as is my basil and green onions. The cilantro died a quick and painless death. The green beans never eve bothered to sprout.

 

[Colleen27]

I've had enough consecutive good luck seasons in my garden that I'm starting to feel like I know what I'm doing.

Tomatoes are the only thing I can - salsa, chili sauce, marinara, and stewed/diced. I've never varied the recipes so I can't help you there.

Everything else I freeze. I have an upright freezer in the basement so I load it up with corn, peppers, squash, etc. out of my garden and from the farmer's market so that I don't end up paying off-season prices for produce all winter.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

I found a website that had recipes that used the vinegar or lemon juice. The writer was speaking about both varying the flavor of the tomatoes so try some of both or just go with citric acid.

I took the caution...Placed the jars in the freezer. Used one last night in some chili. Since the jars were marked with suitable for freezing, I figure I'm good.

And! Surprise! I had a magazine that had ways to use squash...pancakes, mixed with potato for hashbrowns, and as a substitute for half the oil in cake mix. I think that was the only useful page in the entire magazine.

Thank you for all the input! And for those who are feeling sad, I've been in your shoes. I've watched the plants shrivel and die.