Sweetcorn Progress Note. 8.1.2021

These are the variety "Ambrosia". I planted the seeds 5.23.21. They are starting to silk and tassle. The first ones that I planted, Sunglow and Trinity, are not quite ripe. I harvested two ears of Sunglow today, The kernels were small, but they were sweet and the flavor was very nice. Give them another week or two to fatten up.

Blackberries. 8.1.2021

These are the variety "Triple Crown". This is the only variety so far that works for me, produces reliably and well, is thornless, and the berries are delicious. Today I picked about 10 cups, enough for a big batch of blackberry jam.

Fig Harvest and Fig Jam. 7.30.2021

Both Lattarula and Desert King are bearing now. The fruits are quite similar. The fig with the dripping nectar is "Lattarula" or the Italian Honey Fig.

Since it's a lot of figs all at once, I made some jam. I followed the Sure-Jell forvlow sugar recipe. I think it gels a little too firm, but it's very tasty. I could see lowering the sugar level some more, but the recipe on the package insert says not to. I do love this jam. It's also quite pretty.

Still Jammin'. Shiro Plum Jam. 7.30.2021

I made four batches of Shiro plum jam. The plums can become too soft and juicy as they ripen, but also very sweet and flavorful. The tree is so prolific, and almost never has an off year. They make a great, delicious jam. I made two batches using pectin for low sugar recipes, and two batches using Pomona pectin, with no sugar added. That last was for Ning, who likes the very, very tart result. It's like those lemon candies. The low sugar version is still plenty sweet, and I like that very much.

The jar on the left, which is more golden, was made with the low sugar pectin (Sure-Jell). The one on the right is more yellow, using the Pomona and no added sugar. I guess the difference is either the sugar, or the Sure-Gell is apple pectin while the Pomona is citrus pectin. The Pomona was also a bit more creamy in texture, while the Sure-Jell is more jelly-like. I noticed that inthe past when I was making freezer jams. The pectins I am using. It depends on the Recipe. I'd like to use less of the one-package per batch types, because they cost too much. However,the recipes are often specific forvthe product and claim they can't be interchanged. I don't know.

Rufus is Still the Best Dog on the Planet Earth. 7.30.2021

More Alpatieva 905A Tomatoes. 7.30.2021

There are still lots of small to medium size fruits ripening on the Alpatieva 905A dwarf + determinate tomato plants. It's too bad the leaves are becoming yellow / brown and crinkly, which I'm guessing is fusarium wilt. I moved them far away from the other tomato plants to socially distance them from each other.

I don't think I will save seeds from these. However, they are quite early and nice enough. One option would be to rais them with a paper mulch so there is no splashing from the soil. The plants that I have mulched with brown paper, from the beginning, all seem OK so far.

Today's Harvest. 7.30.2021

The tomatoes are Alpateiva 905A, cherry types Sugar Rush and a home saved volunteer yellow cherry, and salad type Unicorn. Thw cukes and zukes are various types.

Canning Sweet Pickle Relish. 7.30.2021

These were cucumbers that I grew this year from seeds I saved last year. Im not sure of the variety - could be Bush Pickle, Patio, or Alibi Hybrid of a hybrid of those. Regardless, they did well and I will save seeds for next year. I grew them to make pickles, and did. Now with some mixed sizes and no need for more pickles, I made some Sweet Pickle Relish, and canned it. The recipe was from Better Homes And Gardens Home Canning Guide. The recipe made about 25% more than it said. Im not sure why.

Dwarf Tomato Alpatieva 905A. 7.26.2021

Well, this one is bad news and good news. The bad news is, the plants are quickly succumbing to the wilt fungi, unlike my other tomatoes currently. A few weeks ago, I gave these a paper mulch, probably too late. The good news is they are the first slicers to bear in my garden this year. I think I'll move the container to a location more distant from the other tomatoes, and see if remaining fruits ripen there. Alpatieva 905A is early, but the extreme fungal susceptibility puts it on my no-grow list for the future. I wont bother to save the seeds.

Alpatieva 905A is listed as ripe in 65 days from planting outside. I started the seeds March 31, planted outside May 1. That's more like about 80 days but it is still my first slicing tomato. Flavor was OK, home grown tomato flavor but not super outstanding.

The Best Dog on the Planet Earth. 7.25.2021

Rufus, hanging out and keeping me company.