Transferring Seed-Grown Echinacea "Cherokee Spirit" to Container. 16 Sept 2023.

 This is one of the Echinacea "Cherokee Spirit" that I grew from seeds late last winter.  It's interesting, the plants grown from seeds that I did not stratify, are blooming earlier than the ones I did stratify.

I liked the color of this one the best so far, so I dug it up and transferred to a container with potting soil.  Before planting, I washed off most of the garden soil.

It was a little stressed.  I knew I was taking a taking a chance, possibly killing the plant.  The daytime temperature high has been in the mid to high eighties, although nights drop into the sixties.  But so far, just minimal wilting and that perks up in the evening.  I'm keeping the plant in the cool shade on the north side of the house, so far.  I also pruned off the oldest flower.

Tropical Shirt Quilt. 16 Sept 2023.

 I changed my idea about the layout for this quilt, and changed a couple of fabrics.  Now, this is the layout.

The top row is a bit off, which I will correct when sewing together.  Also, with this layout, I need to piece together blocks from two fabrics, in order to have enough.   I think they are busy enough, it won't show.  

This quilt is eight shirts for the top, and will be one more for the binding.   The blocks are all 5" by 10".

My original idea was a brick pattern, similar to this -

I think the new arrangement looks much better.  The blocks are the same, except no 5 inch square pieces for the ends.  With the new arrangement, the blocks will lose 1/2 inch due to paired 1/4 inch seam allowances on the other end, I think.  That's a decrease of two inches in total length and width, I think, which is OK.

Saving Tomato Seeds. 16 Sept 2023.

 I saved seeds for Rona VF and Dwarf Eagle Smiley.

First, I chose the nicest looking tomatoes.

Halved them.

Scooped out pulp with seeds.

Transferred to a jar, covered with labeled coffee filter.

These will ferment for a few days, then I'll rinse off the seeds and let them dry on the coffee filter.

Freezing Roma Tomatoes. 16 Sept 2023.

 I blanched and skinned a batch of Romas, then quartered them.  Each package is two cups.

I made eight bags.  I think this will be the plan for the final crop, too.

The Supremos seem to hold their shape better, while the Roma VF seem to release more juice.  Mixed together works out nicely.

Freezing Cherry Tomatoes. 16 Sept 2023.

 There have been lots of cherry tomatoes.  The most productive have been Reisentraube (red heirloom) and Golden Eagle Smiley (open pollinated dwarf, from Dwarf Tomato Project).

We like using cherry tomatoes to make the roasted feta cheese noodle sauce, which should work fine with frozen cherry tomatoes.

I froze up a batch of Reisentraube.  These are a bit bigger than other cherry tomatoes, but great flavor.

 Once frozen, they are like marbles and can be packaged into a gallon freezer bag.

I did the same with the Golden Eagle Smiley.

This is what the noodles looked like with a separate batch of Reisentraube tomatoes.  Before roasting...

After, with noodles added.