Nights are getting down into the 40s now, and we could have a freeze anytime in October, Usually not til Halloween though... But these tomato plants are still blooming and there are a lot of tiny tomatoes on there ... and some good sized still ripening up, though I think the season's peak has now passed...
And I think I read somewhere that tomato plants will not set fruit if the night temps fall under 50 degrees, so there won't be many more.. if any... So... I'll keep watching the forecast and if we have a freeze on the way.. I'll pick the whole crop.. Most all will ripen on the table... or... if not, maybe make some green tomato relish.. I gave the last of last year's relish to neighbor BJ...
~ So, Shall we try again Next Year.. Or What? ~
~ Tuesday September 29, 2009 ~
~ Mas Chiles Picantes! ~
~ Marachis in July ~ Jalapenos in July ~ And how they look Today ~
I picked over 70 Jalapenos off that bush and maybe half as many Mariachis... I didn't care too much for the Mariachis and if I plant a pepper next year I will try to find a Mexibell plant... Just a little heat and good for stuffing
And we did make salsa yesterday... AND... it IS MUY PICANTE! I mean pretty tasty stuff... but it IS HOT!... Probably will use this stuff for making some good chili later
I chopped up all the Jalapeno amd Mariachi peppers... Several cloves of garlic... A good portion of chopped onions... Three cans of diced tomatoes, Couple teaspoons of sugar (yeah)... Some Cumin, Oregano and Basil and I think that's it... Simmered slow a long time and then cool a bit and into boxes for storage...
Doesn't look like a Huge Amount.. but those boxes hold a Quart each... A Full Half-Gallon (2 liters Sigi) of Hot Sauce for Whenever...
~ Si Si Senor... How Sweet and Hot the Salsa Is! ~
~ Monday September 28, 2009 ~
~ Chiles Picantes! ~
~ Last of the Peppers for This Year! ~
Looks like we're making Salsa Picante today... No more blooms on the plants so I picked all the peppers this morning... All done gardening for this season ecept the Better Boy tomatoes in the bed are still going strong... I picked several more yesterday
Stopped by the Price Chopper for a couple sweet onions and a bulb of garlic... and several cans of petite diced tonatoes.. Use them in the salsa instead of these glorious ripe tomatoes that are so good for everything else... Just had another sandwich with a few slices... A BLT? Well.. this time baloney, lettuce and tomato, with Spin Blend of course...
So, dice up all those peppers in the food processor, a chopped onion or two... several cloves of garlic... Some cumin, oregano, maybe a little basil... salt and pepper... simmer a bit.. then VOILA!.. Salsa Picante for the freezer, getting stocked up now...
~ Si Si Senor... Como Dulce y Picante el Salsa Es! ~
~ Saturday September 26, 2009 ~
~ los tomates son hermosos! ~
Tomatoes again? well I said we should have bumper crop soon... And now they are beginning to ripen up some... Picked six more Friday... See we are getting some nice sized ones now... And I pick them when they get some good color and they ripen in a couple days on the table...
(I suppose you people with Real Gardens wonder why some old guy gets excited with a Half Dozen tomatoes... Well I did have a Large Garden where I raised everything and had plenty to feed the neighborhood... So... after 10 years without and in an apartment.. it is sooooooooo nice to grow a few real Tasty Tomatoes! Yeah!)
~ OK.. Now... What to do All Day on Saturday? ~
~ Friday September 25, 2009 ~
~ Ancient Van Club History ~
Here is some ancient history, around 1978 I would guess... Our Club hosted a Poker Run and Truck-In each year and one year I had invited a Van Club from Canada...
AND... they threw me off the stage into the lake behind!
As I announced their Van Club they rushed the stage and grabbed me... I managed to get my watch off and most of my clothes before they dumped me in...
Here is one of our members 'Crash' (Ken Madsen) fishing me out, me spitting sea weed...
Reginald Sullivan of the former Pluto Van Legion in Kansas City saw this Van Page and sent me these photos...
~ Now... I Have a Whole Weekend Ahead to Use Up ~
~ Saturday September 19, 2009 ~
~ They Fixed My Pipe! ~
How long has this been... I think they did the landscaping about 2001.. I am not sure when I fixed the wall for Boss Bob.. Anyway they finally ran the water to the rear and buried the pipe.. Like I suggested a long time ago... Means nothing to you, But that water down the stairs and freezing under my car in winter hasn't been any real fun...
Now. let's see if this settles that problem forever... Oh.. Nothing is forever .. is it?
~ Today... Just Baked some Cornbread and I am Warming up my Ham and Bean Soup.. AND .. How Good it IS! ~
~ Tuesday September 15, 2009 ~
~ YEAH! More Tomatoes! ~
(NO! these are not ALL the same ones as the last Photo)
Yeah, I said we have a bumper crop coming... Getting a bit ahead of me now... I had a nice big one sliced up yesterday to go with the eggplant I oven roasted, have to get at another one today... I gave BJ about a half dozen so far and Mike, upstairs, three nice ones... Looks like a few more neighbor donations are in order, or make some sauce... But they are so GOOD when fresh...
This pic looks somewhat like the last one I took but some are fresh picked.. . and look how fast the green ones color up on the table... The little green ones were left from the pot.. and a couple other green ones fell off in the side bed... but they will ripen...
Checked the bed yesterday and discovered some kinda worms chewing on the leaves.. I picked a couple turning color and then sprayed them with some stuff I bought after the hornworm invasion last year... But these are different, only about an inch long, dark with lighter stripes... And they were eating holes in the leaves.. not the whole leaf and stem like the voracious hornworms... Anyway maybe the spray will help some... But Sigi won't eat any after being sprayed HUH?
~ OK... There's the Critter... What is It? ~
I couldn't find it online... The closest that looked like it was an army worm but they are larger... Oh Well.. Let Us Spray!
Oh yeah, Sigi said to play 'La Cucaracha' on my keyboard.. Might have to practice and see if I can do that?
~ So... What to DO Today? ~
~ Monday September 14, 2009 ~
~ Remember This Disaster? ~
Yeah, when the Deer, or whatever it was did a buffet dinner on my fledgling tomato plants....
June 4th, 2009 June 5th, 2009 September 12, 2009
So that delayed production a month or two but they are making up time fast now... And...~
~ Who was it that Said... Ever Onward and Upward! ~
~ Sunday September 13, 2009 ~
~ More Tomatoes Coming! ~
Yeah, it's still Tomatoes on My Mind... I told Can they are climbing to the roof, he wanted to know if that was on MY PAGE... Nope.. not yet... I think I have to tie them up again and I wlll get a photo then...
So, that was Saturday, yesterday, went out to tie up a couple vines and poke a few more back through the trellis to get a better hold.. They were falling forward again...
Now that is the way they look today, didn't think I would have to tie them since last time but these just will not quit.. and will not until we get a frost.. what another 6 weeks?
Hey.. Lots More Tomatoes!
~ So.. as Someone Said... Ever Onward and Upward! ~
~ Saturday September 12, 2009 ~
~ Mire Todos los Tomates! ~
Yeah, it isn't what's on My Mind... but what's on my Plate! And these things sure go Great!
I had that big one yesterday morning on toast with Bacon, Lettuce and Mayo.. and soooo GOOD! I just can't see why they can't have some good tasting tomatoes like these at the markets.. I know they pick them green and also breed them to stand up in shipping.. but where does the FLAVOR go?
Even the local ones at the Farmer's Market do not taste as good as these grown at home..... Ah Well...
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