Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting a
lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before, but
there's a first time for everything I reckon.

On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting a
> lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before, but
> there's a first time for everything I reckon.

We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting
>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>
> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .

I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
tomatoes before canning them?

I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last year.
I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of tomato
and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house before the
hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds for
the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should start them off
pretty soon.

On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting
>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before,
>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>
>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>
> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
> Margharetta pizza the other day.Â* Do you normally blanch and peel
> tomatoes before canning them?
>
> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last year.
> Â*I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of tomato
> and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house before the
> hill drops off.Â* I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds for
> the occasion!Â* I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should start them off
> pretty soon.
>
It's not too late to start from seed outdoors. By the time you actually
harvest the tomatoes, the direct seeded into the ground ones aren't far
behind the transplanted ones. The south side of a house before a
dropoff is the perfect place for a tomato bed.

--
--Bryan
For your safety and protection, this sig. has been thoroughly
tested on laboratory animals.

Michael Trew wrote:
> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting a
> lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before, but
> there's a first time for everything I reckon.

yes. make sure the tomatoes you grow are acidic enough
so that you don't have to worry about that and then you
can boiling water bath them to seal.

there is much information on-line about safe canning
practices.


songbird

On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 8:02:38 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
> > On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
> >> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
> >>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting
> >>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
> >>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
> >>
> >> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
> >> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
> >> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
> >> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
> >> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
> >> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
> >> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
> >
> > I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
> > Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
> > tomatoes before canning them?
> >
> > I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last year.
> > I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of tomato
> > and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house before the
> > hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds for
> > the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should start them off
> > pretty soon.
> >
> It's not too late to start from seed outdoors. By the time you actually
> harvest the tomatoes, the direct seeded into the ground ones aren't far
> behind the transplanted ones. T

It depends on your conditions. Here in Michigan, the soil is rarely
warm enough for transplants much before Memorial Day. Direct-seed
tomatoes would never make it in time before the first frost.

> The south side of a house before a
> dropoff is the perfect place for a tomato bed.

Heh. I might have trouble digging a planting hole in my asphalt driveway. :-)

Cindy Hamilton

On 3/14/2021 7:47 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 8:02:38 AM UTC-4, wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting
>>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
>>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>>
>>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
>>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
>>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>>>
>>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>>> Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
>>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>>
>>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last year.
>>> I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of tomato
>>> and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house before the
>>> hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds for
>>> the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should start them off
>>> pretty soon.
>>>
>> It's not too late to start from seed outdoors. By the time you actually
>> harvest the tomatoes, the direct seeded into the ground ones aren't far
>> behind the transplanted ones. T
>
> It depends on your conditions. Here in Michigan, the soil is rarely
> warm enough for transplants much before Memorial Day. Direct-seed
> tomatoes would never make it in time before the first frost.
>
At home, I use a terrarium turned upside down to make a little
greenhouse. I'm doing that today. Up at the community garden
I use plastic sheeting, as there my terrarium would likely get
stolen.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
--Bryan

--
--Bryan
For your safety and protection, this sig. has been thoroughly
tested on laboratory animals.

On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting
>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before,
>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>
>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>
> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
> Margharetta pizza the other day.Â* Do you normally blanch and peel
> tomatoes before canning them?


The ones we put in jars , yes , they are blanched and peeled . The
frozen are just washed and frozen with no further processing .


>
> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last year.
> Â*I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of tomato
> and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house before the
> hill drops off.Â* I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds for
> the occasion!Â* I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should start them off
> pretty soon.

If those seeds are from commercial tomatoes , expect to be surprised
.. They will most likely NOT breed true . Get a good heirloom variety
such as Rutgers or Marglobe if you want to save seed for next year .
Roma is a good variety for use in sauces and paste . If you aren't going
to save seed pretty much any hybrid variety will do .

--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On 3/14/2021 9:11 AM, Snag wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting
>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before,
>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>
>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>>
>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>> Margharetta pizza the other day.Â* Do you normally blanch and peel
>> tomatoes before canning them?
>
>
> Â* The ones we put in jars , yes , they are blanched and peeled . The
> frozen are just washed and frozen with no further processing .
>
>
>>
>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>> year. Â*Â*I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row
>> of tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>> before the hill drops off.Â* I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato
>> seeds for the occasion!Â* I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should
>> start them off pretty soon.
>
> Â* If those seeds are from commercial tomatoes , expect to be surprised
> . They will most likely NOT breed true . Get a good heirloom variety
> such as Rutgers or Marglobe if you want to save seed for next year .
> Roma is a good variety for use in sauces and paste . If you aren't going
> to save seed pretty much any hybrid variety will do .
>
The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
....
> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'

that doesn't mean they will return as that same type of
tomato if he plants those seeds.

if they were a hybrid tomato he could have quite a bit
of difference from what was grown the previous season.

if they were a heirloom tomato or some other variety
that was not a hybrid he'd have a better chance of
getting the same type of tomato back, but not a guarantee
since open pollenated plants can be fertilized from any
other pollen sources in that area.


songbird

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:40:32 -0400, songbird >
wrote:

>jmcquown wrote:
>...
>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>
> that doesn't mean they will return as that same type of
>tomato if he plants those seeds.
>
> if they were a hybrid tomato he could have quite a bit
>of difference from what was grown the previous season.
>
> if they were a heirloom tomato or some other variety
>that was not a hybrid he'd have a better chance of
>getting the same type of tomato back, but not a guarantee
>since open pollenated plants can be fertilized from any
>other pollen sources in that area.
>
>
> songbird


I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.

I try to make every year offer up some surprises.

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:40:32 -0400, songbird >
wrote:

>jmcquown wrote:
>...
>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>
> that doesn't mean they will return as that same type of
>tomato if he plants those seeds.

They rarely do. We plant a lot of tomatoes but tomato seeds are cheap
enough. We start them in peat pots in the basement. We don't do any
canning, they get eaten in salads, turned into sauce that's frozen,
and a lot are given away. At the end of the growing season we pickle
green tomatoes, that's as close to canning tomatoes as we get. We
grow a lot of Kirby Cukes and those are also eaten in salads and are
pickled. Tomatoes and cukes become salsa cruda every day.

> if they were a hybrid tomato he could have quite a bit
>of difference from what was grown the previous season.
>
> if they were a heirloom tomato or some other variety
>that was not a hybrid he'd have a better chance of
>getting the same type of tomato back, but not a guarantee
>since open pollenated plants can be fertilized from any
>other pollen sources in that area.
>
>
> songbird

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:25:02 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'

A little whoosh moment

--
The real Bruce posts with Eternal September

Boron Elgar wrote:
....
> I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
> distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
> add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
> growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
> nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
>
> I try to make every year offer up some surprises.

i do that with beans more than anything else.

we give a lot away each year both fresh and canned. cucumbers
we went overboard two years ago and gave away about 1200lbs of
them. last year not quite so many but still more than we really
should have put in. i think this year we'll downsize to two
plants and that will be enough. we don't even really eat them
here often so it is all grown for relatives and friends who want
them.

we don't have a lot of storage space here so it is rare that
we have any canned items on hand that is older than a year or
two.

will be interesting to see how this canning season works out
as last year was a challenge as canning supplies were hard to
find.


songbird

On 3/14/2021 9:18 AM, Boron Elgar wrote:
> On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:40:32 -0400, songbird >
> wrote:
>
>> jmcquown wrote:
>> ...
>>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>>
>> that doesn't mean they will return as that same type of
>> tomato if he plants those seeds.
>>
>> if they were a hybrid tomato he could have quite a bit
>> of difference from what was grown the previous season.
>>
>> if they were a heirloom tomato or some other variety
>> that was not a hybrid he'd have a better chance of
>> getting the same type of tomato back, but not a guarantee
>> since open pollenated plants can be fertilized from any
>> other pollen sources in that area.
>>
>>
>> songbird
>
>
> I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
> distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
> add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
> growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
> nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
>
> I try to make every year offer up some surprises.
>

Our ultimate objective is to grow as much of our food as we
reasonably can . I mean , we're not going to grow wheat for our own
flour , but many of our vegetables can be grown at home and preserved
for later use . A good example is that batch of spaghetti sauce that's
wafting it's delicious aroma throughout our house - it has some of our
frozen tomatoes in it .
--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On 3/14/2021 8:02 AM, BryanGSimmons wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting
>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>
>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked wild
>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold under
>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>>
>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>> Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>
>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>> year. I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of
>> tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>> before the hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato
>> seeds for the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should
>> start them off pretty soon.
> >
> It's not too late to start from seed outdoors. By the time you actually
> harvest the tomatoes, the direct seeded into the ground ones aren't far
> behind the transplanted ones. The south side of a house before a
> dropoff is the perfect place for a tomato bed.
>

The low was 24 today in Eastern Ohio; I don't think I can plant outside
yet. I figured I'd start them in egg cartons, but they do take off
quickly. That same area is conveniently right next to the garden hose
as well.

On 3/14/2021 9:25 AM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 9:11 AM, Snag wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about planting
>>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
>>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>>
>>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked
>>>> wild
>>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold
>>>> under
>>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>>>
>>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>>> Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
>>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>
>>
>> The ones we put in jars , yes , they are blanched and peeled . The
>> frozen are just washed and frozen with no further processing .
>>
>>
>>>
>>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>>> year. I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row
>>> of tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>>> before the hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and
>>> tomato seeds for the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably
>>> should start them off pretty soon.
>>
>> If those seeds are from commercial tomatoes , expect to be surprised
>> . They will most likely NOT breed true . Get a good heirloom variety
>> such as Rutgers or Marglobe if you want to save seed for next year .
>> Roma is a good variety for use in sauces and paste . If you aren't
>> going to save seed pretty much any hybrid variety will do .
>>
> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>
> Jill

Some of the seeds were saved from the container tomatoes last year. I
did same some commercial roma seeds as well, as I have never tried to do
anything with those. I didn't grow any bell peppers this year; those
seeds were also saved from store bought peppers. Should I dump the
store bought pepper salvaged seeds as well? I'm cheap, but not THAT
cheap... haha

On 3/14/2021 8:25 PM, Snag wrote:

>
> Â* Our ultimate objective is to grow as much of our food as we
> reasonably can . I mean , we're not going to grow wheat for our own
> flour , but many of our vegetables can be grown at home and preserved
> for later use . A good example is that batch of spaghetti sauce that's
> wafting it's delicious aroma throughout our house - it has some of our
> frozen tomatoes in it .

Isn't it lumpy with those frozen tomatoes? Hard to bite?

On 3/14/2021 8:39 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 8:02 AM, BryanGSimmons wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting
>>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before,
>>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>>
>>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked
>>>> wild
>>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold
>>>> under
>>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti sauce .
>>>
>>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>>> Margharetta pizza the other day.Â* Do you normally blanch and peel
>>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>>
>>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>>> year.Â* I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row of
>>> tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>>> before the hill drops off.Â* I saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato
>>> seeds for the occasion!Â* I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably should
>>> start them off pretty soon.
>> Â*>
>> It's not too late to start from seed outdoors. By the time you actually
>> harvest the tomatoes, the direct seeded into the ground ones aren't far
>> behind the transplanted ones. The south side of a house before a
>> dropoff is the perfect place for a tomato bed.
>>
>
> The low was 24 today in Eastern Ohio; I don't think I can plant outside
> yet.Â* I figured I'd start them in egg cartons, but they do take off
> quickly.Â* That same area is conveniently right next to the garden hose
> as well.

I'd advise you not to use egg cartons unless you want to water up to
3 times daily . They dry out very quickly . 6 ounce foam coffee cups are
a much better option .
--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On 3/14/2021 9:30 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 8:25 PM, Snag wrote:
>
>>
>> Â*Â* Our ultimate objective is to grow as much of our food as we
>> reasonably can . I mean , we're not going to grow wheat for our own
>> flour , but many of our vegetables can be grown at home and preserved
>> for later use . A good example is that batch of spaghetti sauce that's
>> wafting it's delicious aroma throughout our house - it has some of our
>> frozen tomatoes in it .
>
> Isn't it lumpy with those frozen tomatoes?Â* Hard to bite?

After simmering for like 5 hours the lumps have all mysteriously
disappeared ...
--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On 3/14/2021 8:41 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 9:25 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 9:11 AM, Snag wrote:
>>> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars?Â* I'm thinking about planting
>>>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some.Â* I never have before,
>>>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>>>
>>>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked
>>>>> wild
>>>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze loose
>>>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold
>>>>> under
>>>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using some
>>>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti
>>>>> sauce .
>>>>
>>>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>>>> Margharetta pizza the other day.Â* Do you normally blanch and peel
>>>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>>
>>>
>>> Â* The ones we put in jars , yes , they are blanched and peeled . The
>>> frozen are just washed and frozen with no further processing .
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>>>> year.Â*Â* I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row
>>>> of tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>>>> before the hill drops off.Â* I saved quite a few bell pepper and
>>>> tomato seeds for the occasion!Â* I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably
>>>> should start them off pretty soon.
>>>
>>> Â* If those seeds are from commercial tomatoes , expect to be surprised
>>> . They will most likely NOT breed true . Get a good heirloom variety
>>> such as Rutgers or Marglobe if you want to save seed for next year .
>>> Roma is a good variety for use in sauces and paste . If you aren't
>>> going to save seed pretty much any hybrid variety will do .
>>>
>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>>
>> Jill
>
> Some of the seeds were saved from the container tomatoes last year.Â* I
> did same some commercial roma seeds as well, as I have never tried to do
> anything with those.Â* I didn't grow any bell peppers this year; those
> seeds were also saved from store bought peppers.Â* Should I dump the
> store bought pepper salvaged seeds as well?Â* I'm cheap, but not THAT
> cheap... haha

The pepper seeds and the seeds from the roma tomatoes should be
alright . I have 3rd or 4th gen roma seeds growing in my kitchen window
right now .
--
Snag
In 1775, the British demanded we give them our guns.
We shot them

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 19:25:39 -0500, Snag > wrote:

>On 3/14/2021 9:18 AM, Boron Elgar wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:40:32 -0400, songbird >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> ...
>>>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>>>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>>>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>>>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>>>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>>>
>>> that doesn't mean they will return as that same type of
>>> tomato if he plants those seeds.
>>>
>>> if they were a hybrid tomato he could have quite a bit
>>> of difference from what was grown the previous season.
>>>
>>> if they were a heirloom tomato or some other variety
>>> that was not a hybrid he'd have a better chance of
>>> getting the same type of tomato back, but not a guarantee
>>> since open pollenated plants can be fertilized from any
>>> other pollen sources in that area.
>>>
>>>
>>> songbird
>>
>>
>> I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
>> distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
>> add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
>> growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
>> nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
>>
>> I try to make every year offer up some surprises.
>>
>
> Our ultimate objective is to grow as much of our food as we
>reasonably can . I mean , we're not going to grow wheat for our own
>flour , but many of our vegetables can be grown at home and preserved
>for later use . A good example is that batch of spaghetti sauce that's
>wafting it's delicious aroma throughout our house - it has some of our
>frozen tomatoes in it .

Sounds great.

On Sun, 14 Mar 2021 19:53:34 -0400, songbird >
wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:
>...
>> I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
>> distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
>> add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
>> growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
>> nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
>>
>> I try to make every year offer up some surprises.
>
> i do that with beans more than anything else.
>
> we give a lot away each year both fresh and canned. cucumbers
>we went overboard two years ago and gave away about 1200lbs of
>them. last year not quite so many but still more than we really
>should have put in. i think this year we'll downsize to two
>plants and that will be enough. we don't even really eat them
>here often so it is all grown for relatives and friends who want
>them.
>
> we don't have a lot of storage space here so it is rare that
>we have any canned items on hand that is older than a year or
>two.

That is always a Good Thing, anyway.
>
> will be interesting to see how this canning season works out
>as last year was a challenge as canning supplies were hard to
>find.

The stores here seem well stocked right now, but it isn't as if there
is a run going on them during the winter. Typically, the reduce the
price in early winter, but that did not happen this season.

On 3/14/2021 10:48 PM, Snag wrote:
> On 3/14/2021 8:41 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 3/14/2021 9:25 AM, jmcquown wrote:
>>> On 3/14/2021 9:11 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>> On 3/14/2021 12:33 AM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>> On 3/14/2021 12:10 AM, Snag wrote:
>>>>>> On 3/13/2021 10:45 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>>>> Does anyone still can food in ball jars? I'm thinking about
>>>>>>> planting
>>>>>>> a lot of tomatoes this year and canning some. I never have before,
>>>>>>> but there's a first time for everything I reckon.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We still have some tomatoes from last year down in the cellar - and I
>>>>>> have 24 tomato plants started for this year . Got jelly and jams and
>>>>>> pickles and peaches down there too ! Most from home grown or picked
>>>>>> wild
>>>>>> on our land . Tomatoes freeze well too , just rinse off , freeze
>>>>>> loose
>>>>>> on a cookie sheet then bag in gallon ziplocks . To use , just hold
>>>>>> under
>>>>>> hot water for a few seconds and slip the skin off . I'll be using
>>>>>> some
>>>>>> of our preserved tomatoes tomorrow for a big batch of spaghetti
>>>>>> sauce .
>>>>>
>>>>> I made a tiny batch of homemade tomato sauce for Italian style
>>>>> Margharetta pizza the other day. Do you normally blanch and peel
>>>>> tomatoes before canning them?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The ones we put in jars , yes , they are blanched and peeled . The
>>>> frozen are just washed and frozen with no further processing .
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't have a lot of land, and did a few container tomatoes last
>>>>> year. I have a pick and a small rototiller, and I might make a row
>>>>> of tomato and bell pepper plants along the southern side of my house
>>>>> before the hill drops off. I saved quite a few bell pepper and
>>>>> tomato seeds for the occasion! I'm in eastern Ohio, but I probably
>>>>> should start them off pretty soon.
>>>>
>>>> If those seeds are from commercial tomatoes , expect to be surprised
>>>> . They will most likely NOT breed true . Get a good heirloom variety
>>>> such as Rutgers or Marglobe if you want to save seed for next year .
>>>> Roma is a good variety for use in sauces and paste . If you aren't
>>>> going to save seed pretty much any hybrid variety will do .
>>>>
>>> The OP did say he "saved quite a few bell pepper and tomato seeds". I
>>> suspect he's starting off with seeds from what he grew in containers
>>> last year... at least, that is how I interpreted it when he mentioned
>>> containers. Whatever they were, they were good enough for him to save
>>> the seeds and want to grow them again. Just sayin'
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> Some of the seeds were saved from the container tomatoes last year. I
>> did same some commercial roma seeds as well, as I have never tried to
>> do anything with those. I didn't grow any bell peppers this year;
>> those seeds were also saved from store bought peppers. Should I dump
>> the store bought pepper salvaged seeds as well? I'm cheap, but not
>> THAT cheap... haha
>
> The pepper seeds and the seeds from the roma tomatoes should be alright
> . I have 3rd or 4th gen roma seeds growing in my kitchen window right now .

One of my father's friends had some tomato seeds from his father, that
were reserved for 40-50+ years. I wish I had some of those!

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> On 3/14/2021 8:25 PM, Snag wrote:
>
> >
> > Â* Our ultimate objective is to grow as much of our food as we
> > reasonably can . I mean , we're not going to grow wheat for our own
> > flour , but many of our vegetables can be grown at home and
> > preserved for later use . A good example is that batch of
> > spaghetti sauce that's wafting it's delicious aroma throughout our
> > house - it has some of our frozen tomatoes in it .
>
> Isn't it lumpy with those frozen tomatoes? Hard to bite?

LOL!

On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 11:39:35 PM UTC-4, songbird wrote:
> Boron Elgar wrote:
> ...
> > I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
> > distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
> > add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
> > growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
> > nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
> >
> > I try to make every year offer up some surprises.
> i do that with beans more than anything else.
>
> we give a lot away each year both fresh and canned. cucumbers
> we went overboard two years ago and gave away about 1200lbs of
> them. last year not quite so many but still more than we really
> should have put in. i think this year we'll downsize to two
> plants and that will be enough. we don't even really eat them
> here often so it is all grown for relatives and friends who want
> them.
>
> we don't have a lot of storage space here so it is rare that
> we have any canned items on hand that is older than a year or
> two.
>
> will be interesting to see how this canning season works out
> as last year was a challenge as canning supplies were hard to
> find.
>
>
> songbird
1200 pounds? That is WOW.

Thomas wrote:
....cucumber glut...
> 1200 pounds? That is WOW.

we really didn't need to plant 17 cucumber plants that year.
last year we put in 4 plants and even that was too many. this
year perhaps two will do.


songbird

On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 11:39:35 PM UTC-4, songbird wrote:
> Boron Elgar wrote:
> ...
> > I have, over the years, either created or reverted to some pretty
> > distinct tomatoes. I save seeds from the tastiest and most durable. I
> > add in some additionals every year, and I realize you do a lot of your
> > growing for canning, but I think of it all as summer's gifts for
> > nibbling and the opportunity to give garden bounty away to friends.
> >
> > I try to make every year offer up some surprises.
> i do that with beans more than anything else.
>
> we give a lot away each year both fresh and canned. cucumbers
> we went overboard two years ago and gave away about 1200lbs of
> them. last year not quite so many but still more than we really
> should have put in. i think this year we'll downsize to two
> plants and that will be enough. we don't even really eat them
> here often so it is all grown for relatives and friends who want
> them.
>
> we don't have a lot of storage space here so it is rare that
> we have any canned items on hand that is older than a year or
> two.

People are scared of conspiracy theories that stores will empty.

On Sat, 20 Mar 2021 songbird wrote:
>Thomas wrote:
>...cucumber glut...
>> 1200 pounds? That is WOW.
>
> we really didn't need to plant 17 cucumber plants that year.
>last year we put in 4 plants and even that was too many. this
>year perhaps two will do.
>
> songbird

Each year we put in a dozen Kirby cuke plants, but we pick them small,
3-4 inches, so we don't get more than we can use, and keeping them
well picked they keep producing until the first frost. We like eating
them raw in salads but many are turned into sour garlic dills by
fermentation. It's near impossible to find fresh picked at market...
very few markets sell pickling cukes and typically they are old and
limp, and also left to reach 5"+ and then they become very seedy.

Sheldon Martin wrote:
> On Sat, 20 Mar 2021 songbird wrote:
>> Thomas wrote:
>> ...cucumber glut...
>>> 1200 pounds? That is WOW.
>>
>> we really didn't need to plant 17 cucumber plants that year.
>> last year we put in 4 plants and even that was too many. this
>> year perhaps two will do.
>>
>> songbird
>
> Each year we put in a dozen Kirby cuke plants, but we pick them small,
> 3-4 inches,

Fess up Popeye. We know yoose let some grow huge for cathy.