What are you canning now?

[jomoncon]

I have a small patch of purple hull peas, 2 raised beds each 4x8. Last year, I froze all of them. This year, I want to can them. Is there a way of holding the peas until I have enough for a full canner? I'd probably have to hold them 3-4 days. I've thought of shelling and then either freeze or just put them in the fridge.

 

[sunflower4you]

I have a small patch of purple hull peas, 2 raised beds each 4x8. Last year, I froze all of them. This year, I want to can them. Is there a way of holding the peas until I have enough for a full canner? I'd probably have to hold them 3-4 days. I've thought of shelling and then either freeze or just put them in the fridge.

I keep asparagus and cucumbers in the refrigerator while I am trying to build up enough to cook or make a batch of pickles. I think 3-4 days is a short enough time that your peas would be stay good in the fridge while you wait to pick enough to can.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

@jomoncon I am just a bit jealous that you have purple hull peas

The growing season here is too short for any of the really good stuff.

 

[rancher hicks]

@jomoncon I am just a bit jealous that you have purple hull peas

The growing season here is too short for any of the really good stuff.

Are you sure? You could start them in pots and then tuck them in the ground when the weather allows. I do this with a few things.

or use mini green houses like i do for my tomatoes and squash.



I take milk jugs and staple "shims" to two side and push them down in over the plants. THEN when the plants outgrow the jug, I take it off and push a large #19 can over/around the plant and then put the milk jug/mini green house over the can for another few weeks of protection.

You can probably get the cans at a restaurant or school. The metal help warm the soil too.

When I finally take the "greenhouse" off I just leave the can and use that for watering. I just take my hose and go around filling the cans and each plant gets a half to three quarters gallon of water. Saves time and saves water.

My okra that year got over three feet tall.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

@rancher hicks That looks awesome. However it is more work than I can do. I no longer even plant a garden. I just go down the road to Magicland and get my produce. I even mentioned to them that I sure would like it if they would plant some collards. They didn't know what that was

 

[jomoncon]

I take milk jugs and staple "shims" to two side and push them down in over the plants. THEN when the plants outgrow the jug, I take it off and push a large #19 can over/around the plant and then put the milk jug/mini green house over the can for another few weeks of protection.  

You can probably get the cans at a restaurant or school.  The metal help warm the soil too.  

Even though I live in a long summer zone, we've learned to get certain veggies into the ground as early as possible to avoid all the bugs & the terrible heat. I can certainly use your hints for tomatoes, cucumbers & peppers planted in the ground in late February.

 

[jomoncon]

Getting off of gardening * back to canning. Today I did 8 jars of ghost-pepper jelly for those customers who are crazy about heat. Don't know how it tastes since I'm not going to try it. Also did 12 jars of sugar-free strawberry jam.

 

[ducksanddoxies]

What's

Getting off of gardening * back to canning. Today I did 8 jars of ghost-pepper jelly for those customers who are crazy about heat. Don't know how it tastes since I'm not going to try it. Also did 12 jars of sugar-free strawberry jam.

What's ghosts pepper? I did fig jam and jalepeno fig jelly. I didn't like the way the jalepeno fig turned out. I was shooting for something along the lines of a raspberry chipotle. Yeah. Not even close.

 

[jomoncon]

What's
What's ghosts pepper? I did fig jam and jalepeno fig jelly. I didn't like the way the jalepeno fig turned out. I was shooting for something along the lines of a raspberry chipotle. Yeah. Not even close.

Ghost pepper, aka bhut jolokia, was the world's hottest pepper a few years ago. It's been overtaken by several others since then. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_Bhut_Jolokia I have some customers who simply want HOT!!

I like to use habanero peppers when making a fruit/pepper jelly/jam. Habaneros are hot, but with a fruity flavor that seems to compliment many fruits. DH says jalapenos always taste "grassy" to him. Although I do use jalapenos in the "Kentucky Bar Fight" jam recipe that calls for blueberries, blackberries, bourbon & jalapenos. I've used habaneros with plums, pomegranates, and peach.

And figs are so delicious all by themselves that I only make a straight fig jam/preserves. I've been tempted to try the fig/strawberry jello recipe, but don't want to waste my figs if it comes out bad!

 

[ducksanddoxies]

I agree. Figs are delicious enough by themselves. I love the sweet and spicy combo and was just trying out what I had. FAIL. I don't even know of I could get rasberries around here. And I bet they'd be $$$ if I could.

Our local walmart has poblanos and serranos, so those might be better choices. Do you think I could take a raspberry chipotle recipe and just sub the figs for rasberries? I'm really new to all this.