September 2, 2014

Wow Labor Day has come and gone and I am going to FL in 6 days. So much to do....

Potter Beans

Working on finishing canning things and deciding what to pull out what to leave.. Coming back in a couple weeks so will leave things still growing until then. Except for the Potter's beans. Not sure what I was thinking when I planted those so late.

closeup of little green pepper

They are just now starting to flower and I really only like those when they have gotten way past being ready to pick and can eat the beans (hullies as they call them around here). They look really pretty but I have no intention of canning any of those this year. Think I need to pull them out before I leave so there's not temptation when I return; am done with the pressure cooker for this year!. Also, they are overshadowing one of my green peppers which are finally beginning to look like they might actually have more than the one pepper I've gotten off each plant so far.  

Habenero, will turn orange some day

Serrano

Speaking of peppers, Nelson dutifully planted everything our brother-in-law gave us, which included about 10 hot pepper plants. One of each would provided 10 times more than we need of either of these two beauties. I've dried some and Nelson has eaten some. Anyone need any hot peppers? These are the only two varieties we have; my brother-in-law however, also planted Jalapenos (which is really the hot pepper I wanted) and cayenne and has given me some of those to dry as well.

A few weeks ago, I mistakenly thought that my first planted bush beans were about done. Not sure why but they have decided to flower again and just keep on giving me beans.   If they keep going, I will still have green beans when i get back and can take with me to the family reunion.  I've already canned 30 jars, frozen some and dehydrated some and am not getting the pressure canner out again. Been eating a lot beans.I've getting this many everyday and could pick more, just don't know what to do with them

My squash got powdery mildew and I just ignored until yesterday. I found  a home remedy that is supposed to help .. cut off all the affected leaves is first step and then spray with water, milk, baking soda, and  a dash of dish detergent! Sounds crazy but on the internet everyone commented on how quickly it worked.  Didn't think to take a before picture, but can assure you the squash looks 100% better today. Some of those "keep on producing beans" and some limas are right behind the squash.  The limas are little slow as always filling out but picked a few yesterday and am sure there are more out there I could pick.

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Still have a few tomatoes (but those at Luci's are so much better)  in multiple locations around the property but I keep getting Luci's for eating. Using ours to mix in when I make sauce or juice. In fact yesterday, made salsa, canned a few tomatoes, and made some tomato juice. Also canned the mixed

pickles that have fermenting for several weeks.  It was a busy day. 

 My last crop of lettuce is slowly growing and hoping will be usable when John and Barb are here in a three weeks. Found one baby yellow beet hidden under my tomatoes; I had pulled and cooked all the others. I also still have some baby carrots.

Pulled out all but two of the tomatoes on the orchard garden as they were all done. Still need to put all those sticks (aka tomato stakes) away.

Last but not least, the grapes are turning. Only one vine is really ready to pick though I have picked a few grapes from the other vines too.  I've made two batches of jelly and still have many more grapes on the vines. May just juice them and then worry about jelly later, not sure how much time I can spend with them before Sunday and am running out of jars!


Guess that's all for now!