Cosmo spring garden 2023

[Dahlia]

I am really excited for market today! I had fun filling these baskets at home just to make sure I had enough veggies to fill them up. It was so hot when we harvested these. But I'm glad they are inside and ready for market!

Wow! You have grown some beautiful produce! 😍

 

[Branching Out]

I will also have 30 jars of salsa canned by the end of day today!
Oh and Cherokee purple tomatoes because they are gorgeous!

May I ask how long you process your salsa, and also whether it is done in a water bath canner? We LOVE salsa, but I have been leery of tomato canning. My reluctance is mostly due to the long processing time that is required for food safety reasons.

 

[Dahlia]

May I ask how long you process your salsa, and also whether it is done in a water bath canner? We LOVE salsa, but I have been leery of tomato canning. My reluctance is mostly due to the long processing time that is required for food safety reasons.

Speaking of canning, has anyone ever bottled bull kelp pickles? I know it's quite popular in AK. I'm going to try that next time I find some bull kelp that's really clean and fresh.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

May I ask how long you process your salsa, and also whether it is done in a water bath canner? We LOVE salsa, but I have been leery of tomato canning. My reluctance is mostly due to the long processing time that is required for food safety reasons.

It is water bath canned and quart size jars are processed for 15mins.

 

[flowerbug]

May I ask how long you process your salsa, and also whether it is done in a water bath canner? We LOVE salsa, but I have been leery of tomato canning. My reluctance is mostly due to the long processing time that is required for food safety reasons.

the food safety reasons for specific times on recipes usually take into consideration how acidic they are but without seeing the specific recipe i can't say much about how i'd feel about using it.

for us the primary ingredient in salsa is tomatoes which can vary in acidity so it does help to know your specific tomato variety and how acidic it might be when ripe. another approach commonly taken in salsas is to add some vinegar, lemon juice or lime juice to bump up the acidity to keep it more on the safe side but also i think it helps make it more shelf stable too. other acidifiers exist but i've not used them since i'm pretty happy with lemon juice, or etc. already mentioned.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

Could it be? Am I dreaming? Do I have all the salsa I will need for a year? Yes, yes I do!
I also have lots extra to share and possibly sell this batch is mild for those with more sensitive taste buds. Actually I might make a small batch using some ghost peppers. Do I dare?

Now I can focus on pasta sauce! And if tomatoes still producing, I will make BBQ sauce and ketchup.

 

[flowerbug]

salsa can be used in so many ways i don't think there's a chance i'd consider too much even possible... in chili, in soups, as dips, in spaghetti sauce, etc. Mom has zero tolerance for heat so no hot peppers in anything she might sample. i wouldn't even try some with a ghost pepper in it, that's too hot for me.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

My san tomato plants are dying quickly . I always plant extras so I still get the harvest I need. I would like to have tomatoes until frost tho but that won't happen. Maybe in the greenhouse? Next year will show!

The potato plot was tilled and I sowed buckwheat. It's growing pretty well. We are Forecasted to have rain today and tomorrow so I am hoping it will take off and cover the soil before weeds pop up.

The rows where we harvested onions from have southern peas growing. Sadly bean beetles found them so only time will tell if I'll get a harvest. The plants look amazing tho!

I really minimized the amount of winter squash I planted this year. I still have bags and bags of pumpkin puree in the freezers so I focused on spaghetti squash this year. They really showed off!
You can also see the other squashes that are mainly all from saved seeds so they look like a combo of butternut and long Island cheese. Still good eating!

My blackberry patch is a true jungle. I hack it back each winter and it apparently loves the abuse because it comes back stronger! It's a survivor! My plan this winter is to grow them in rows like I have my raspberries to make harvesting easier. I'm just not sure if I want the patch of blackberry close to or away from the house?


First time since having Rhode Island red chickens for 7 years,one hen went broody and hatched out 3 adorable chicks. We have a rhode Island roo and one silver laced Wyandotte so the two black chicks are hers. She was sitting on a dozen eggs and being a first time mom she lost patience and decided to abandoned the eggs. We are still so excited to have them. They are so sweet and my kids named them Eenie, Minnie, and Miney. Sadly no MO 😂 .

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

I processed all these tomatoes and turned them in to 56 quart jars of salsa! I made enough salsa this year that I won't need to make any next year! This salsa also has home grown onions, garlic, sweet and spicy peppers.
I still have a box of paste tomatoes but those will be cored and put in the freezer until after I come back from my trip.
Today it rained and everything is nicely watered.
It's the time of summer where I know I need to start thinking about fall crops but honestly I am just so tired that I might grow everything in the greenhouse and give the garden a rest.
I plan to sow winter rye everywhere this year. It will give my goats something to eat over winter and will cover the soil.

 

[Dahlia]

I processed all these tomatoes and turned them in to 56 quart jars of salsa! I made enough salsa this year that I won't need to make any next year! This salsa also has home grown onions, garlic, sweet and spicy peppers.
I still have a box of paste tomatoes but those will be cored and put in the freezer until after I come back from my trip.
Today it rained and everything is nicely watered.
It's the time of summer where I know I need to start thinking about fall crops but honestly I am just so tired that I might grow everything in the greenhouse and give the garden a rest.
I plan to sow winter rye everywhere this year. It will give my goats something to eat over winter and will cover the soil.

Good job! You accomplished a lot!