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A wickedly funny author describes the wicked plants in her new book.
Not too long ago, I planted several tomato plants. My plants have been bountiful, and I’ve been eating tomatoes harvested from my garden in a variety of ways. Today, I wanted to “get rid of” a large harvest easily, so I decided to make a sauce. If you’re overwhelmed by the tomatoes you’re reaping in your yard, you might want to try this recipe. I’m pleased to say that the fresh herbs in this recipe also came from my garden.
Step 1 - Set oven to 350 degrees. Wash, then cut the tops off of your tomatoes. Place on a baking sheet covered with foil. Slather each tomato with olive oil. Use your hands to be sure the entire tomato gets a light coating. Salt and pepper each tomato. Bake for 60 minutes.
After your tomatoes have roasted in the oven, you'll see that their skins are wrinkled and soft. Let the tomatoes cool until you're able to handle them. You don't want to burn your hands.
Now that the tomatoes are cool enough for you to handle, gently remove the skin. It's easier than you think. Hold your tomato over a bowl so that juice escaping during the skinning process is captured. After the skin is removed you can leave the tomato whole or cut/tear it into a few pieces.
My efforts yielded 3 cups/24 oz. of roasted tomatoes. Now, I'm ready to make sauce. You'll have to adjust the recipe if you have more or less than 3 cups/24 oz.
Put the tomato sauce into a sauce pan. Add 1/4 c. of brown sugar and 1/4 c. of red wine to the sauce. Saute 1 large shallot, a few fresh oregano leaves, and some fresh thyme (about 1 tbls) in some olive oil (about 1 tbls). Once the shallot is opaque, add this mixture to the sauce. I also added a frozen cube of homemade pesto sauce. You can learn about freezing pesto here - http://www.instructables.com/id/Pesto-Freezing-Method/.
Simmer all together until you're ready to serve it. I'm serving mine with homemade meatloaf and roasted root vegetables.
I used to have difficulty getting anything to grow from seeds. Now, I’m a master.
Recycle containers as seed pots.
Here are my secrets:
- Use recycled plastic containers for your potting soil. My favorite containers are those that once held yogurt. They are the perfect size and it’s easy to transplant from these to larger pots. Stop the soil at about one and half inches from the lip of the container. This allows space for your seedlings.
- Plant 5-8 seeds in each container. Don’t plant them too deep; cover them lightly with soil. Water, but don’t drown your seeds. Next, cover the containers with plastic wrap. If you have rubber bands handy, you can slip a rubber band around the plastic wrap to hold it secure. If you don’t have rubber bands, wrap as tightly as you can. Once you have your plastic wrap in place, write with permanent marker on the wrap the name of the plant you’re trying to grow. When you are ready to remove the wrap, you can write the name on a Popsicle stick and insert it into the container. Keep all of your containers in a tray of some sort. This will keep your growing area tidy. Place the tray in a sunny spot (mine sits in a kitchen window). After 24 hours, you’ll notice that you created mini terrariums (self-contained atmospheres). Water gathers on the inside of the plastic wrap and keeps the container environment moist. Some seeds will sprout in as little as two days, others will need a bit more time.
Transplant seedlings to pots outdoors to season.
- After seedlings are evident and pushing against the plastic, remove the plastic. Don’t forget your Popsicle stick. Allow your seedlings to mature. Once you think the small plants are hearty enough for the outdoors, transplant them to larger pots. This step is necessary to “season” your plants.
Transplant seasoned plants to the ground.
You’ll know when the plants are ready to move to the ground. If you’ve ever purchased plants from a nursery, you know the approximate size of a starter plant.
- Once your plant is in the ground, be sure to water it and watch it carefully over the next few weeks. New plants need extra attention.
Small seeds make big plants. Amazing!
- Before you know it, you’ll have hearty and healthy plants. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing something in your garden that you started from seed. Nature is amazing. Every time I consider a big plant, once a seed the size of a pinhead, I’m awestruck!
Good luck out there. Let me know of your success if you have a moment.
Related post: Build your own compost bin.
The first ripe cherry tomato in my garden.
Yesterday, I picked the first ripe cherry tomato of the season. Today, I’ll pick the other shown here on the vine. I love gardening. It’s really rewarding gathering vegetables from one’s yard, rather than from the produce section at the grocery store.
Soon, I’ll be harvesting Big Boy tomatoes. I can’t wait! I like sliced tomato with just salt and pepper. MmMm good!
Coming Soon: Juicy Big Boy Tomatoes
I have peppers, rhubarb, and various herbs growing. I’m most excited about the things I started from seed this year. I’ve never been too successful with planting seeds. I usually buy small plants to populate the garden, but this year I have grown from seed: morning glories, basil, cilantro, columbine, and some sort of flower that arose from a seed pod I gathered on a walk.
All of the cats kept me company while I was outside. In this photo, Archie and Stoopy show their appreciation for each other.
No garden is complete without a cat or two.
While I was taking their picture, I noticed the world between the rocks on which they sit. There I saw a whole other universe. Fascinating.
Here lies another universe.
The very tiny shells are amazing. I imagine these are the shed exteriors of the creatures nibbling at the leaves of my peppers. Scoundrels. They obviously don’t know who they are up against. They need to inform themselves by reading this post. Also, I thought peppers were immune to insects. What’s up with that? Clearly, I’ve been misinformed.
Well enough of this blogging…I want to go enjoy the rest of this very lovely day outside. I may take a swim.
Composting builds strong plants and lets you recycle food waste!
Early this spring I decided to build my own compost bins for the benefit of my expanding garden. It’s so easy that anyone can do it. You can get the materials at any home improvement store.
Materials to build 1 compost bin:
- (1) 30-gallon plastic garbage can with lid
- (1) 18″ x 18″ concrete square
- (1) disposable aluminum drip tray – you can find these in the section of the store where they supply grilling accessories
- (4) bricks
Tools required:
- Power drill (use a fairly large drill bit)
Begin your construction by drilling holes throughout the trash can. I’m one who likes pattern, so the holes I drilled are all nicely lined up. You feel free to go at it like a maniac. Not everyone has compulsive tendencies like me. 
Don’t forget to drill holes in the lid and in the bottom of the can. If you’re wondering about how many how holes to drill – the more the better. Compost needs the air to circulate around it.
The tray will catch compost tea which you can feed to your plants.
After you’ve completed drilling, set up the area where you’ll house your bin. I leveled some ground and set my concrete square in place. I then placed four bricks around the aluminum drip pan. After you water your compost, which you’ll want to do regularly (not too soggy though), the pan will catch compost tea which you can feed your plants. Don’t forget that after you water, you’ll need to roll your bin. I just push mine around the yard a few times.
Once you have your bin and tray set-up, you’re ready to add compost.
What can you add to your bin? Lots of stuff! There is a great list of things you can compost here.
By composting, instead of using chemical fertilizers, you’ll ensure that your home eco-system stays healthy, and you’ll be making the planet a greener and safer place.
I am an Echinacea
Quiz results tell me: “You are a health conscious person, both your health and the health of others. You know all about the health benefits and dangers of the world around you.”
Beer is a great organic slug zapper.
When I found slugs on my peppers, which I thought were immune to such creatures, I had to do something. I had heard that beer was a great slug trap. Guess what? It is. This picture is proof. Word gets around fast about free beer, and before you know it, there’s not enough room in the dish for partiers. Choose this organic solution over poison. Set a few dishes of beer in your garden, let them fill up with critters, dump, and start again. In a few days, your slug problem will be history.
My parents have over an acre of lush yard. I’m fascinated by the elephant ears in their garden (click on the thumbnails to view the images larger). My mother knowing my appreciation for this large-leafed plant recently gave me a couple of bulbs, which are much like coconuts in size, shape, and texture.
Related to gardening/gardens – I found instructions for dressing up a pair of $6 garden clogs. Take a gander at these cute shoes. You’ll want to dress up a pair!
