October in the N&C Midwest!

Sorry for the absence for the last week or so - our area has been having issues with our internet provider. 

October - What's happening in YOUR garden?

Mine is still limping along, as we have still not had a frost.    Our forecast for 2-4 inches of snow for Saturday has now been changed to 70% chance of rain.    Saturday is also forecast for a high of 49F and an overnight low of 35F.  Supposed to be 60's for the rest of next week, so I may just let the toms and basil stay out for another week or so.  Everything else is done, just waiting to put in the garlic, which may not be until November!    

GG

Since it is supposed to be in the mid 80s til Sat; still have lots of stuff going. However, I should not have to have the ac on in Oct!

I'm still getting about 4 pounds of tomatoes every 3 or 4 days.   Herblover we certainly are having unseasonably warm weather here in central Ohio.  Btw, after you came over to help me out with my first canning adventure I've since canned more qts. of tomatoes and qts. of brandied pears and should get to the apple cider butter tomorrow. 

Has anyone else tried dehydrated pears???   Talk about fruit that tastes just like candy, O..M..G.. wonderful yet it was almost too much for my taste buds.

llama momma wrote:Has anyone else tried dehydrated pears???   Talk about fruit that tastes just like candy, O..M..G.. wonderful yet it was almost too much for my taste buds.

A friend of mine borrowed my dehydrator to do some pears.  I am still waiting for a sample.....

GG

Uh-oh...wonder if your neighbor tasted those candy-like pears and lost all control...

October - Here's what's happening in my garden!
Went out a few minutes ago for a few carrots, and brought back this 10 3/4" specimen!
Who says size doesn't matter?
Just sayin...

 

Windsor, now That's a nice carrot!  
  Hang onto that picture.  It'll be fun and inspiring to look at during the winter.

Good lookin' carrot, Windsor! 

GG

Great carrot, Windsor!  
I would fall over in a faint if I pulled out a carrot like that.

CC

does anyone have the snowstorm headed their way?

llama momma wrote:I'm still getting about 4 pounds of tomatoes every 3 or 4 days.   Herblover we certainly are having unseasonably warm weather here in central Ohio.  Btw, after you came over to help me out with my first canning adventure I've since canned more qts. of tomatoes and qts. of brandied pears and should get to the apple cider butter tomorrow. 

Has anyone else tried dehydrated pears???   Talk about fruit that tastes just like candy, O..M..G.. wonderful yet it was almost too much for my taste buds.

You go girl!

That carrot is a long one!

Ive been MIA for the past couple of months.  So busy taking care of two littles, working FT, home remodeling, and gardening!  Im so proud of how well my SFG beds did.  I could not keep up with the tomatoes and cucumbers.  I still have tomatoes producing, but Ive heard frost is coming soon.  I didnt do any fall planting, just too busy.  We decided to get an orchard going and threw our focus to that this past month.  We got quite a few fruit trees & raspberries planted.

I need to clean up my beds and the stinging nettle around them.  I did get some bulbs and flowers planted in some of our non-SFG beds.

We finally got our first frost on the 17th, and every morning since.  Garden is done for the year, except for putting in the garlic, which will be put in sometime in the next few weeks.  Now I just need to get going and clean up the boxes and get the compost in them for next year.  I have enough homemade compost to top up all 7 main boxes - a first for me.  Soon the winter dream catalogs (seeds for next year) will be arriving and I will start planning out next year's garden.  YIPPEE!!!

Internet service is still a bit spotty, but will try to be here more!  

GG

Goosegirl wrote:

llama momma wrote:Has anyone else tried dehydrated pears???   Talk about fruit that tastes just like candy, O..M..G.. wonderful yet it was almost too much for my taste buds.

A friend of mine borrowed my dehydrator to do some pears.  I am still waiting for a sample.....

GG

I never ever thought of this..
I have a pear tree in my yard, in the middle of our deck that just wont quit making delicious pears.
Was making pears when we moved in 45 years ago, still going strong but more pears every year.
Only trimming the tops occasionally,  nothing has ever been fed to it..
You say their good dehydrated?   Now I gotta get me one..


pear tree in middle

Yes Jimmy cee,

Dehydrated pears are so sweet, certainly ranks as sweet as candy in my opinion. If you had Jelly Belly brand of jelly beans I think it's sweeter than the pear flavored jelly bean.

Apples are fantastic if you coat them in sugar and cinnamon then dehydrate.  It's like finger food apple pie without the crust.  Both pear and apples make the house smell wonderful too.

MOMMA
Clue me in on a de-hydrator. I had one a few years ago, gave it to my son and he tossed it.
I'd like to get another, however there are many with real negative reviews
Brand, size, how many trays, wattage, etc ?

llama momma wrote:. 
- - - -
Has anyone else tried dehydrated pears???   Talk about fruit that tastes just like candy, O..M..G.. wonderful yet it was almost too much for my taste buds.

Earlier this month I was dehydrating pears as fast as I could before my neighbour cut down his pear tree (sacriledge IMO).

I have to be careful not to eat too many at a time. lol

jimmy cee wrote:MOMMA
Clue me in on a de-hydrator. I had one a few years ago, gave it to my son and he tossed it.
I'd like to get another, however there are many with real negative reviews
Brand, size, how many trays, wattage, etc ?

My dehydrator has six rectangular trays 18" x 13" with a temperature range of
85F/29c to 145F/62C
No idea of the wattage. Just noticed it is made in Canada so probably locally made here. I don't know if they are still in business, but I am very happy with it and have dehydrated hundreds of pounds of fruit and veggies, a lately made dehydrated treats for my dog using beef hearts, kidneys and livers. He just loves them.

jimmy cee
 
I suppose what I own is considered a vintage 15-20 yr old, white, round dehydrator, 13 inch diameter with 5 trays and a fruit roll up tray, no longer made by, get this -
Mr. Coffee, lol. I am almost certain back then it was less than 40 dollars purchased new.  
 
If you have Kmart and Kohl's nearby, I think similar models are now about 50 to 60
dollars(?) at those stores.  Still you could pay half that on Ebay.  You cannot regulate the temperature on these modestly priced models, and for me it's totally fine. It has performed to my every expectation. When mine does bite the dust I will certainly purchase another inexpensive model.
 
Those fancy excaliber brands are a couple of hundred dollars, personally too pricey for me. I can't see the need spend all that money to dry some fruit. 

llama momma wrote:jimmy cee
 
I suppose what I own is considered a vintage 15-20 yr old, white, round dehydrator, 13 inch diameter with 5 trays and a fruit roll up tray, no longer made by, get this -
Mr. Coffee, lol. I am almost certain back then it was less than 40 dollars purchased new.  
 
If you have Kmart and Kohl's nearby, I think similar models are now about 50 to 60
dollars(?) at those stores.  Still you could pay half that on Ebay.  You cannot regulate the temperature on these modestly priced models, and for me it's totally fine. It has performed to my every expectation. When mine does bite the dust I will certainly purchase another inexpensive model.
 
Those fancy excaliber brands are a couple of hundred dollars, personally too pricey for me. I can't see the need spend all that money to dry some fruit. 

Jimmy Cee - I have to agree with LLM on this one!  I have a NESCO that I bought about 10 years ago which sounds like LLM's description except mine is about 16" diameter.  Paid $39.99 for it, and they can still be found for approx. the same price.  It came with instructions and a seasoning packet for jerky as well.  Can buy extra trays to stack it higher, sauce trays that are solid and have a lip to hold the liquid until it starts to dry.  Shopko, Fleet Farm, Walmart, etc.  I have done sauces, fruits, veggies, cooked meats for hiking food, rice, pasta, and it has never failed me.  A friend who got me hooked on backpacking says I am the one that taught him that just about ANYTHING can be dehydrated!.  It also gets passed around to friends when they need to dehydrate stuff as well (like the pears I have yet to sample  ).  It has taken abuse and overwork and since it has no real moving parts except the heat/fan that sets down the middle of the trays, it keeps on going.  Fairly cheap, lightweight, and oh, so durable.  If I can't kill it, no one can!

GG

I have a similar one GG but it is a Ronco one speed with 5 trays. Picked it up at a yardsale 10+ years ago for $5. hasn't failed me yet.

Central Ohio was issued a freeze warning, upper 20's from 2-10 a.m. Friday morning.  Better get outside stat to see what can be salvaged.

Mid-30's here right now, and a few days in the 7-day forecast that the lows stay slightly above freezing.  Highs from mid-30's to mid-50's.  Possibility of snow by Monday night.  Got to get out and clean up the boxes this weekend!

GG

Jimmy, your deck looks heavenly!  It looks like such a cozy place to have breakfast and coffee. 

Do we top off our boxes with compost now or in the spring, or does it matter?  My compost bin isnt doing so great at the top, but might have some good compost at the bottom.  I literally did nothing with my compost except pile stuff in there.  

Cleaning up my boxes now.  Brought in a few green tomatoes for fried green tomatoes.  Then brought in the rest of the remaining peppers, green onions, and romas.  My squash had little bitty babies on it, haha.  Im just covering my beds with the surrounding fallen leaves and straw around the fruit bushes we're planting.  Ive got pears, plums, peaches, and a 3 in 1 apple tree planted.  Also, now have green and red grape vines, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries planted! 

Home depot had half off fruit trees, so I grabbed the last they had.  Straders also has 50% off fruit trees so grabbed the 3 in 1 apple there and will grab a pollinator pear today before work.  Lowes had 75% off blueberries, blackberries, and grapes.  The store near Georgesville was sold out, but got some from the Lowes in Xenia.

Okay, Ill stop blabbering for now and finish cleaning up the yard.

Finally harvested everything that remained last Friday.  I have a quart canning jar box 2/3 full of wrapped green tomatoes, a overstuffed gallon ziploc bag full of chard, plus had a little bit of lettuce, a few radishes, and 24 lovely carrots.  Still need to cut the parsley and rosemary a final time.  I planted 2 squares or 'German Hardneck' garlic which needs to be mulched. 

Over the winter I am using my original SFG box as a compost pile; the bottom is falling out and a new one will be put together for spring planting.  Lots of tallying of the harvest and planning to do which I enjoy.  As much as I look forward to getting my hands dirty in the spring I also relish the break that winter provides.