What did you do in the garden today?

[Sooner Magnolia]

Last night I canned.....CAKE!

Backstory: Last year during Covid lockdowns, I came across a recipe for canned cake in a small older article on a spice company's website about one of their long time customers, and it had nothing to do with Covid or germs, just the fact she used a particular spice blend of theirs for this recipe that she had been making for years. The article made me laugh bc now I knew what I was going to give my neighbors for Christmas - Sterile homemade cake untouched - after baking- by human hands! My neighbors all enjoyed the Covid-appropriate homemade baked goods, and the doctor neighbor laughed.

I made it again, bc it is good to have fresh, unfrosted cake at hand, ready to go. One jar is 2 servings, so easy to pop it out, cut in half, and store the rest back in the jar. If I want it sweeter, a bit of honey or maple syrup or caramel sauce is a nice touch.

So here is my canned cake. I clean/sterilize the jars. Make batter, add 1C per pint jar, bake, and when out of oven cap and seal, let cool. It helps to use the silicone baking mats to prevent the jars from sliding around on the baking sheet.

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Sounds interesting. Recipe please?

 

[Elyrian1]

I'll second the call for a recipe! I need this in my life.

 

[Mutchi]

@Mutchi

New Kuroda Carrot from Baker Creek Seeds is a short growth, short season variety, but even then, you're zone 5b if you're in Hamilton proper. So your growing season runs from May31/June1st to Sept1st-15th very roughly. I'd say get anything you want to grow in the ground now, and longer season stuff hold off until next year.

As for next year! Have you thought about a greenhouse? Might be able to extend your growing season with one. I'm going to edit this post on my phone in a minute here, and include a picture of the entire veggie list I accumulated. You can browse it at your leisure.

So these are the stuff I can grow now?

 

[Elyrian1]

So these are the stuff I can grow now?

These are all going to be right around 90 days or less, some are short enough season you can grow them this year (just google for confirmation if baker creeks info page doesn't say for sure), but some you'd be better off waiting until next year.

We ended up moving to Texas instead and I've been asking myself "Self, why did you keep that list for Montana that took you over a week to put together?" I guess the answer was that somebody else might need it, haha! Of course, Baker creek isn't the only seed source out there, I just enjoy growing heirloom varieties wherever possible. If you go for hybridized versions you might find even shorter season stuff available to you.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

@Mutchi, I would see if you have a local extension office that can advise you and might even share seeds, cuttings, or small starts with you. We have a local horticulturist who is very helpful and teaches classes there, puts out a newsletter online, etc. Plus there is a demonstration garden that our local master gardeners (not me) maintain at the county fairgrounds site. Our horticulturist visited my class and told kids about lots of jobs in horticulture that they could consider. She did an internship at Epcot, but is much more into helping locals grow their own food.

 

[Mutchi]

These are all going to be right around 90 days or less, some are short enough season you can grow them this year (just google for confirmation if baker creeks info page doesn't say for sure), but some you'd be better off waiting until next year.

We ended up moving to Texas instead and I've been asking myself "Self, why did you keep that list for Montana that took you over a week to put together?" I guess the answer was that somebody else might need it, haha! Of course, Baker creek isn't the only seed source out there, I just enjoy growing heirloom varieties wherever possible. If you go for hybridized versions you might find even shorter season stuff available to you.

Ok! I was thinking of doing just carrots, potatoes, and those ones that the the vegetable are underground. Since they can survive in the freezing weather. And by freezing I mean 32 degrees ferinhight.

 

[Mutchi]

@Mutchi, I would see if you have a local extension office that can advise you and might even share seeds, cuttings, or small starts with you. We have a local horticulturist who is very helpful and teaches classes there, puts out a newsletter online, etc. Plus there is a demonstration garden that our local master gardeners (not me) maintain at the county fairgrounds site. Our horticulturist visited my class and told kids about lots of jobs in horticulture that they could consider. She did an internship at Epcot, but is much more into helping locals grow their own food.

I don't think we have one of those extention offices. But I do live across the street from a green house!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. This might be day one of our heat wave. The temps are forecasted to be as high as 88F but that can easily change a few degrees. Got the grass mowed yesterday. This morning I did a side dressing of fertilizer on several of the garden beds then gave everything a good drink of water. I'll tend to the front yard later. Although it's only 77F right now, like yesterday, the humidity is sky high. I have one yellow squash that is trying to unwrap it's flower. I check it a couple of ties a day since I have some male flowers that are blooming. My Roma and San Marzano tomato plants are looking good and healthy right now. Last Autumn I mixed oyster shell in the dirt to give it a calcium boost. That appears to have been a good idea. The bush beans I planted with the cucumbers are doing well and blooming, so hopefully will get some green beans soon. The corn, bean and winter squash are doing well. Since that bed gets some afternoon shade it should do well during the heat wave. Once the bean plants get a bit bigger I will likely put some straw down to keep the root a bit cooler. Not much planned in the garden during this heat wave, just essential stuff. I love the canned cake @Acre4Me. Can any cake recipe be used? This would be a great stocking stuffer or home canned food basket. Have a great day all and stay cool.

 

[Acre4Me]

Last Autumn I mixed oyster shell in the dirt to give it a calcium boost.

We've added some oyster shell, but you can also add gypsum, which is likely cheaper. But, we were adding gypsum to the whole bed - if only adding to the planting holes, then oyster shell a good option since many of us have it on hand for the chickens.

Can any cake recipe be used?

I would assume so, and I plan to try a chocolate cake recipe, or maybe even a pound cake. I do like this recipe though, so haven't ventured past it.

 

[Acre4Me]

@Sooner Magnolia , @Elyrian1, @Wee Farmer Sarah and anyone else interested, here is the recipe:

Nut Cake (Canned)

Recipe is for SIX (6) Pint Jars. Double the recipe for 12 jars.

3 1/2 C all P Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp salt
1 tsp mixed cake spice (can use "Apple Pie Spice", "Pumpkin Pie Spice" or any kind of Cinnamon based spice mix of your choice)

2 Cups Brown Sugar
1 Cup Butter, softened

4 Eggs
2/3 C Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 C Chopped Walnuts

6 - One Pint Canning jars with lids, cleaned and dried.

___ * ____* ____* _____*

Pre-Heat oven to 325 F. Grease inside of the jars (put a bag over your hand - minimizes mess!)

Mix Dry ingredients (first 5 ingredients), set aside

Cream Butter and Sugar till fluffy

Add Eggs, Mix well
Add in Vanilla and Milk, mix well

Gradually Add Dry ingredients and mix well.

Fold in the walnuts

Put 1 C batter into each jar. Wipe rims of any excess grease or cake batter.

Bake for 50 min, or until toothpick/cake tester comes out clean.

Remove from oven, and place on lids and rings, tighten rings finger tight.

If any cake has risen above the rim, just put on the lid anyway, no need to cut off the excess.