Preserving

Monday, September 19, 2011

Harvest Monday .................9/19/2011

The gardens have really slowed down. I only harvested a few tomatoes, a few nice bell peppers and some herbs at the home garden this week.

Yesterday, I went to the plots to pull the tomato plants, do some general clean up and pick some peppers. To my surprise, I found some viable tomatoes there. I also found that the groundhog had dug a new tunnel in to our plots! He has been eating the Brussels Sprouts, which is no loss to me since they were destroyed by bugs anyway. I was going to pull them, but decided to leave them as a trap crop for the groundhog. Do you think that will work? I'm going to go over there today and fix the area where he tunneled in and go over to my neighbor's plot and fill in the hole on her side. I had mentioned it to her weeks ago...but, nothing has been done. 

All of the popcorn has been harvested and the dry beans are starting to come in. I will wait until I am done shelling those and post them at a later date.

Some beautiful Bells, Rosa Bianca Eggplant and Red Pepperoncini Peppers

Green Tomatoes for some more Italian Farmhouse Pickled Green Tomatoes!

Some of the ripe tomatoes harvested this week.

Total weighed harvest for the week: 10.375 lbs.

Eggplant, Rosa Bianca - 11 oz.
Peppers:
   Bell - 54 oz.
   Pepperoncini - 6 oz.
Tomatoes:
   Green - 48 oz.
   Red - 47 oz.

Stop by Daphne's Dandelions our host of Harvest Monday to see what's going on in Veggie Gardens and Kitchens around the Globe!

22 comments:

  1. Those darn groundhogs are unstopable. They are eating like sumo wrestlers now because I think they only have a few weeks left until hibernation. I really think there will be an early freeze and they know it too.

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  2. Jane, You are too funny....but correct! That darn groundhog ate half of two brussels sprout plants! I didn't have my camera with me or I would have taken a picture. It was also nibbling a bit on my fall broccoli & cauliflower. I put big pots around those. I don't know if I will have any good broccoli and cauliflower this year!

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  3. Mr. Groundhog has found a feast garden in your plots and has signed up for the "all you can eat" special!

    The bell peppers are beautiful - particularly that lovely yellow one.

    Everything looks wonderful as usual Robin!

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  4. You are still getting some beautiful summer veggies!

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  5. Nice harvest. Sorry about the ground hog. I think I would feel better if one would come eat mine then I wouldn't have to look at the beautiful plants I have with sprouts only the size of a pea if I am lucky. They are off the growing list for next year.

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  6. Robin, I hope you catch that groundhog!

    Thanks for the green tomato suggestion. The ones I picked last fall never ended up ripening. I was wondering what to do with this year's.

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  7. stinky pests anyways! You have some beautiful colors in your baskets. I can't wait to see your popcorn. Be sure to tell us the variety when you post! I picked what was left after the squirrels devoured some. I have a baggie full. Stinky squirrels!

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  8. I think that darn groundhog need to take a long vacation..lol At least you still had a nice looking harvest!

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  9. I love how you have the veggies arranged. They look delicious!

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  10. Robin,
    Try an ols sothern favorite. Fried green tomatoes. Coat in a simple batter of flour and water and fry in olive oil until crisp. You can slice and freeze them in a vacuum bag and enjoy them all winter. Place a sheet of waxed paper between each slice. Batter and fry frozen tomatoes before the thaw and they are just like fresh.

    Enjoy
    Frank

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  11. Well shoot! Um, that may sound like a pun, but it's not. :oD

    Still looking good Robin! Haven't been out to my garden today, hard telling what it looks like after a few days away. Part of me doesn't even care!!! I'll just come over to yours instead!

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  12. That first basket is really beautiful!

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  13. Laura, I hope that he is happy with the brussels sprouts for now!

    Erin, I'm surprised & happy that the summer veggies are still coming in!

    Wilderness, Brussels sprouts are off the list for me too next year. I have yet to get a decent harvest from them. They take up a lot of space and are heavy feeders. It's just not worth it.

    Thomas, I just need to keep him out for now! Hopefully the guys will catch him.

    Try the green tomato recipe, I think that you will enjoy it.

    Shawn Ann, My popcorn was a bit small...but, hopefully it will be as good as the popcorn my mother used to grow.

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  14. All those ripe tomatoes. That must have been a nice surprise. Can I say one final word of thanks for coming. We really enjoyed you and "The Italian". New York, here we come!

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  15. Robin-

    I am really excited to see your dried bean harvest. I am growing some for only the second year and I would like to see how you process them and see what varieties you grew.

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  16. Mrs.P, I agree....it's just about that time of year for him to go away for the winter!

    Rohrebot, Thanks a bunch! We think everything from the garden is delicious!

    Hi Frank and thanks for stopping by, That's a great recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    APGal, I would shoot if I could! I hadn't been to the plots for a week and was surprised when I got there for more then one reason!

    Thanks Barbie, I think that all harvest are beautiful...don't you?

    Jody, Those tomatoes were definitely a surprise! You are very welcome and we really enjoyed our visit. NYC will be fun!

    Lexa, I think that I planted 5 varieties of dry beans this year. I hope that the harvest is good. I will definitely post about them.

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  17. Dang! that groundhog, and I am sick about the mole in our hoop house that has tunneled along side each raised bed and into them... my winter experiment is shot at this point as the eggplant lay on their side from being uprooted. I wanted to see how long we could go with the peppers, eggplant and one tomato plant, but guess it will have to wait another year.

    We are still in the 80's and tomatoes still coming on. I have 6 1/2 pounds of 'Violetta lunga' on the counter... grill tonight! and make more eggplant bruschetta. Wonder why I think of you each time I look at those. :) You and the Italian have a great week.

    My brother from the east coast arrives shortly for a nice visit.

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  18. Very nice harvest! Don't fresh vegetables look beautiful?

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  19. Diana, Oh no....that darn mole! It sounds like those eggplant are doing well for you. My eggplant are very small this year with the exception of the Rosa Bianca. I hope that you are enjoying those Violetta Lungas!

    Have a nice visit with your brother.

    VP, Yes, I agree....all fresh home grown veggies are just beautiful!

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  21. What a gorgeous harvest. I like the eggplant, so cute.

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  22. Thanks Mimi, the Rosa Bianca eggplant have been doing really well this year!

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