Growing tomatoes

The last few years, I've tried growing tomatoes in the greenhouse, but it never works out, the plants get gargantuan, take over the whole greenhouse and rarely produce any fruit.

This year, I took a chance and planted 12 plants out in the garden, chancing the high wind that is normal for us.  I planted mostly Roma (or paste) and a couple yellow pear, big boy and cherry tomatoes.   I had started seeds, but I have never had good luck and this year was no exception.  I ended up buying plants at our local nursery.  I thought that our high wind was going to be the end of them, but the plants grew compactly and the buds were numerous.  I received a lot of help from the honey-bees!!

Since the plants were so small, I neglected to stake them up....something I regret, since now the vines are loaded down with fruit, it almost takes 2 people to harvest, one to hold up the vines, the other to pick the tomato!

 I have plans to make sauce, paste and salsa with all the 'maters!

Strawberries: Making sorbet

I planted 250 more everbearing strawberry plants this spring, so I came up with a bunch of different uses for them.  One of my favorites (after margaritas) is sorbet.  It's very easy and a whole lot less expensive than those teeny cartons at the grocery store.  I found a great recipe at King Arthur Flour.

 First pick those yummy berries.

Wash and rinse, shaking out the excess water.

If you own a food mill (and I highly recommend getting one) you don't have to hull or spend time running them through a sieve to get the seeds out, just grind them up in your food mill after you've dried them and they'll be almost completely seedless.  If you don't own a mill GET ONE!!  But seriously, you'll have to hull the berries and blend them up in your processor or blender, then push the juice through a sieve to remove the seeds.  Pain in the neck, when a mill is SO much easier (and you'll  find a ton of uses for it later).  You'll need 3 cups juice, save the extra for syrup (add equal amounts sugar, let macerate overnight) for pancakes, yogurt, ice cream, margaritas....the list goes on endlessly!

Yummy juice!!

Baby approves.

In a saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water, bring to a boil for 5 minutes.  Cool, add to strawberries, 1/4 cup corn syrup, and 1/4 cup lemon juice,  mixing well.  Let sit in the fridge for a few hours to chill, then use in your ice cream maker as you would ice cream.

 In about 25 minutes you'll have yummy sorbet, but I put it in the freezer for a few hours to firm up.

Enjoy!!

 Homestead Barn Hop!

Greenhouse, how I love thee

Before planting

Six weeks later.

I use the Square Foot Gardening method.  You use 4 4'x6" boards, to make a 16 square foot box, then attach some lathing strips over the top to make 16 sections within each box.  Mel, the creator of SFG, came up with a mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and a variety of compost.  It works great and each spring I only have to add more compost, not hard to find on the ranch!  The theory is that you can plant something different inside each section without disturbing other sections.  I do this, but sometimes finding myself questioning what I planted when I find my labels have been washed off....darn fake sharpie!  I have a drip system and also some sprinklers. 

I didn't pick all my carrots last year and now they are getting ready to produce seeds, so I will be saving them to replant next year. 

I start my seeds in the house, these seeds will eventually go into the garden when it warms up enough.  I try to buy only heritage seeds so I can harvest and save the seeds for next year.  Hybrid seeds usually won't grow after you harvest them. 

 Onions, year 2.  They were pretty tiny last fall, so I let them go.

 Potatoes

Spinach

I started growing one box full of everbearing strawberries.  This is an experiment for me, as I have about 300 plants growing in the garden, too.  I want to see how long I can harvest berries.  In the garden last year, I was picking berries into November!

Green beans

Peas climbing the cattle panel.

I love my Greenhouse.  I've had it for a few years now, but still haven't taken full advantage of it's usefulness.  This winter I waded through the snow to see what was going on in there.  Turns out the feral barn cats figured out how nice and warm it was and made it home.  (Which led to finding some 'surprises' when I was getting ready to plant this spring.....ewwwww!!)   I was even more surprised to find out that my cilantro had re-seeded and was growing great.  My peas also somehow spread out and seeded themselves, so I have peas in random sections.  I started pulling weeds only to find my thyme finally grew, luckily I was able to replant them after pulling them out!

 I'm participating in the Homestead Barn Hop.  If you like my posts, then you're sure to find others that are similar!

Growing new stuff from old stuff!

I started growing celery from the bottom of a store-bought bunch.  I never knew you could do this, but it's doing great.  I transplanted it in one of the boxes after letting it sit in a bowl of water for a few days.

I also am planting a pineapple from the top of a store-bought pineapple.  

I pulled the leaves off the bottom, let it air dry for a few days then placed it in a mason jar filled with water.  It took about 3 weeks until new roots started growing.

In about 14 months, I should have a new pineapple ready to harvest!