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.