Saving money and growing veggies....

Subject: Saving money and growing veggies.... Wed 01 Aug 2007, 7:18 pm

I put this post under home and money,,,because I am trying to grow tomatoes at HOME and to save MONEY! LOL

I put out 6 tomato plants this year,,cant really remember when I planted them.This is our first summer being the homeowners here.If these do well,,Id like to put out more next year,,then when DH and I buy land,,I want a big garden,,to can and stock us up for winter!
Well,,thats the plan,,

I went out to check tomatoes and they are loaded with green tomatoes! Loaded,,and they have been loaded for atleast 2 weeks,,,of green ones!They are even looking like some insects are on a few, when will they turn red!
I am so ready for a slice of home grown tomatoe my mouth is watering! Hungry

What are some tricks to use in a garden,,,I am a city girl trying to be as country as possible!! sunny

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2055

Here in NE Pennsylvania the tomatoes are JUST starting to turn...we had grape tomatoes in our salad tonight. I have put up 55 quarts of beans 11 quarts of squash, strawberry jam, bread and butter pickels so far...we also have carrots coming and are done of course with peas, lettuce and spinach Smile

Tomorrow we will do more beans and dill pickles on saturday!

I am happy to hear you planted tomatoes!

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Wed 01 Aug 2007, 11:16 pm

I put down squash tomatoes and green beans ...
we have alot of peppers this year I am doing cabbage tomorrow .
I made strawberry and blueberry jam this year ... I have 6 cases of pickles ..

carrots that is one thing we can not get to grow here ..

tomorrow I am making pepper sauce tomorrow this is my first time ...

Donna the first tomatoes are the best ...

I have some tomatoes drying too.
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Thu 02 Aug 2007, 8:12 am

There are no real "tricks". It's really up to Mother Nature. Tomatoes ripen because of humidity. The more sun/heat/humidity there is the faster they will turn red. If evenings are on the cooler side, it will slow the ripening progress. Some people have used the red plastic to put under the tomatoes. This supposedly heats up the soil faster, but I've never used it.

If you don't want to wait for Mother Nature to do her job, you can artificially speed the process by putting the green tomatoes in a brown paper bag with a banana. The banana has a chemcial in it that will speed the ripening. Or wrap the tomatoes individually in newspaper. Put these in a cool, dark place and check everyday to make sure they don't rot.

There's, also, some good recipes for fried green tomatoes, jams, jellies, etc.

Have fun growing your veggies. I love it.

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Mon 06 Aug 2007, 6:53 pm

Well,,we have red toomatooooes!!!LOL

I pulled a few that are still green to ripen in the sun on the table on the back porch.They are so big,,like 3 that have grown together! They were weighing down the plants!

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2055

All of our big tomatoes are rotten before they turn red!!!! We have NEVER EVER had this happen before! Our grape tomatoes are fine....ARGGG

Donna...happy to hear that you are having tomatoes! It's fun, huh! I'm glad you grew them, it feels good to eat food that you grew!

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Tue 07 Aug 2007, 6:09 am

Kim, it sounds like rot on the vine disease. Usually if you add lime to the soil it will fix the problem...or pick them before they turn red and rippen them in the window.
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Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Tue 14 Aug 2007, 6:29 pm

I made my first batch of fresh tomatoe salsa from my own garden tomatoes! Kinda nice knowing you grew almost all the ingredients for it! Makes it taste so much better!

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2055

I know what you mean Donna...the other night our entire dinner was from the garden minus the salad dressing Smile

I'm happy for you!!

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Wed 15 Aug 2007, 8:24 am

My parents have about 40 tomato plants in their yard. They even planted some in my yard. Shocked

My parents are now in the process of freezing some and in a short time, the canning and making of stewed tomato frenzy will begin. They use the stewed tomatoes in their home made soup.

Subject: Re: Saving money and growing veggies.... Wed 15 Aug 2007, 9:51 am

we are blessed with tomatoes ... we have so many we put down alot of tomates .. I made a case of salsa , I made spaghetti sauce ..
I put down some squash ...
I put down veggie soup
I froze strawberries and blueberry . and we put down 2 cases of peaches this year..

I love this time fo the year

and I could not have dont it with out the Ball Blue book .. it truly is a girls best friend ..
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)