We were getting down in the low 30's then it would bounce up to the mid 40's for a couple of days. Chaotic fall around here. I think that the quail are hurting this year as well.
Name: Arlene Marshall Twin Lakes, IA & Orange, CA Zone 4B
Better temps than us. High about 25 today and it gets in the 'teens at night. But luckily, snowfall has been minimal so far. Last year we really got dumped on.
Yum Yum Divas ~ ~ "Most recipes are not invention . . . but evolutions"
I prefer the snow lately over the "teens" right now. I lost most of my belizean heat, bhut jolakia's, Jamaican chocolates (peppers) unfortunately since I could not dig them all up in time. (hurt myself and digging was not happening at that time.) The ones I dug up in time are still going good in the house.
I'm new around here, but I'm an avid salsa gardener (as well as other veggies). I think I ate garden-fresh salsa every day last summer, and I plan to start canning it this year so that I can enjoy it over winter as well.
Just starting my pepper seeds indoors now. Last frost is 3/23, though we're having the coldest winter in many years, so I expect it to be later.
Growing jalapeño, red bell, and cayenne for sure. I also have some yellow bell seeds, but had 0% germination on them last year, so my hopes are low this year too. Trying some new tomatoes that I got on sale for 25-50 cents a pack: Roman candle, greenhouse red, pink oxheart, striped Roman, and mountain gold. I'll start sprouting them in a couple weeks.
Anyway, just thought I should introduce myself here before jumping in to the other discussions.
I would like to can some salsa this year also. I always have big plans in the spring but when it is time to actually do something with the tomatoes and peppers it is hot and I am tired from all the work it takes to keep the tomatoes and peppers going so I usually just enjoy everything fresh and about mid Dec. I start wishing that I had preserved more tomatoes and peppers. I do freeze, pickle and dry my peppers and I also froze some tomatoes but not near enough.
Yes, I froze, pickled and dried a lot of peppers last year. Just made some hot sauce from a few of the dried cayennes, and it's delicious! I didn't use a recipe per se, just a bunch of peppers boiled in vinegar with a bit of salt, sugar, and garlic until they were soft, then blended and put in the fridge in an old pasta sauce jar. I want to try it again with fresh or smoked peppers come summer, and actually can it so it's not taking up fridge space. Unfortunately, I didn't have a big enough tomato harvest to put any up.
For salsa, I use tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, onions and cilantro in whatever proportion the garden is producing that week, and then a bit of sea salt and lime juice. If I'm using really juicy tomatoes, I salt them and strain in a colander before I mix them in (then omit the salt at the end), and I get an added bonus of tomato juice to freeze for soup. Sorry, I'm a pretty experimental cook, so my recipes are more like loose guidelines.
Have you lived in Maui? I'd love to go someday. Spent a summer on Oahu a couple years ago, but wasn't able to travel to any of the other islands.
I am going to try to make that hot sauce. When ever anyone asks me how I make something I have to really think about it because like you I just kind of cook with what ever I have around at the time so my stuff never taste the same twice.
I haven't lived in Maui but I would love to! I try to go every year but sometimes it is two years before I can get back there I have a trip planned for next Oct., a week on Kauai and a week on Maui. I have not been to any of the other islands so thought that I should at least give them a try. You spent a whole summer on Oahu? How fun was that? I need to go to that island too.
It was fun, though it wasn't a pleasure trip. I was there for a class, and only got three days off in the whole six weeks! I did manage to time my flights so I had an extra day at the beginning and the end, for a grand total of five days to do all the sight-seeing and outdoorsy stuff... not nearly enough. But even working long days is pleasant in that kind of climate: I'd sneak away to gather lychees and mangoes off the trees on my lunch break.
Kauai is beautiful! I haven't been on it, but I've been on a ship going right along the coast. Some of the most amazing scenery in the world! I have a few friends who've hiked there and brought back incredible photos.
Hi my name is Donna and I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba with my DH and DD and 2 cats, 1 dog and a cockatiel. I work full-time and luv to garden and do crafts. My DH and I luv salsa but I haven't made any in the last couple of years due to health issues. Since I'm feeling alot better I'm hoping I can this year.
Has anyone grown the tommacio tomatoes? I would luv to get some seeds. Do you know where I can find any?
Hi Donna, welcome! Sorry to hear you haven't been well but I am glad that you are feeling better now.
Here are a couple of links to some information on that tomato. From what I can gather it is a hybrid, it may only be available as plants, I couldn't find a seed source. My guess is they can make more money selling the plants. It was bred in Israel.
Looks like we all will be waiting. I don't think that they are available around here but I could be wrong. I will be asking at my local nurseries. We still have several months before tomatoes are available around here. You could email the company (Raker and Sons) to see if they will be available at a retail store near you. In that second link above it said that they couldn't be shipped from the US to Canada and I wonder why that is?
Anyone here grown cilantro? In 2009 they grew fine. Last year I had none. Do the seeds deteriorate that quickly? I got some new seeds now. when is the best time to sow them?
Spring and Fall are the best times to grow Cilatnro. It goes to seed quickly if the soil gets too hot so plant some every few week to have a continuous supply. I also snipe off the flowers when it starts to go to seed and that helps some. I plant mine where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. I love Cilantro! .
Name: Arlene Marshall Twin Lakes, IA & Orange, CA Zone 4B
That's the way it grows here too. It doesn't last the whole summer.
We buy it in the store, snip the bottoms like you do flowers and put in a glass with a bit of water; cover with a plastic bag. It stays fresh quite a while.
Yum Yum Divas ~ ~ "Most recipes are not invention . . . but evolutions"
Hi Patti. Pharmerphil here from Minnesota, we specialize in heirlooms, and raise HOT peppers, we sell peppers fresh, dried, powders, rubs,,and Yes..SALSA
Nice to meet You!!
I have a trip planned for next Oct., a week on Kauai and a week on Maui. I have not been to any of the other islands so thought that I should at least give them a try. You spent a whole summer on Oahu? How fun was that? I need to go to that island too.
Donna
