Weather & Conditions
A possibility of a rainy morning, and we had rain yesterday. Low 72°F and High 85°F. I made an executive decision: since I had picked enough cucumbers to can, and even if the weather turns nice they are still calling for rain later, it is not a good fall tomato planting day.
Morning Errands
I checked my ingredients and the only thing I lacked was fresh garlic cloves. This worked out perfectly because I could also gas up Pretty Blue, my farming truck. I gas up at Sam’s as it opens at 6 am, and then I go to Walmart to do my shopping.
I look forward to talking to my friend, the greeter at Walmart. She recently turned 88 years old. I think she told me she works 40 hours a week, and I believe it — it doesn’t matter the day, I always see her. One day we were talking genealogy and found out that I worked with her daughter‑in‑law. A small world.
Today I told her I was canning dill pickles and asked if she ever did that. She said, “Oh no, I buy them.”
I picked up the fresh peeled garlic, regular canning lids, and a few other items, and I was on my way home.
Canning Day
I started about 7 am and finished around noon. What slows me up is having to do everything twice. I made 13 quarts of pickles, but only 7 can fit in the canner at a time.
I first filled the canner with water, as that has to be boiling when I sterilize the jars. I also get the brine cooking, because it takes a long time to get it to boiling. Next, I wash and trim the cucumbers and put them in a bowl of ice to crisp them up. They don’t have to sit long since they came from the refrigerator and I washed them with cold water.
Then I get bowls of the things that go into the jars, lined up in order so I don’t miss anything: pickle crisp, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and garlic.
One note about the garlic: this was the worst garlic I have ever purchased. The package said “best by August,” and you can only see a few cloves through the window opening, but inside there were rotten ones and some with brown spots. I had to throw quite a few into my compost, and the others I used to make garlic pepper spray as an animal deterrent.
I use my electric tea kettle to bring water to a boil — that’s what I use to fill the lids and rings with, as well as adding water to the water bath if it needs more.
I use two half sheets of paper towels: one to wipe the rim after filling, and the other to wrap around the jar after filling so I can hold it while tightening the lid fingertip‑tight.
Once all the jars are filled and the lids are on, I put them in the water bath and start timing when it comes back to a boil. 15 minutes and they are done. A couple of years ago I posted my dill pickle recipe called “Easy Dill Pickles,” and I will include the link here for anyone who wants to see the full recipe along with the Ball canning link I used.
Tomato Babies & Field Conditioning
While doing Pickle Patch canning day, I also brought the tomato babies out for their sunshine and airing. I place them in the grass where they get morning and some afternoon sun, and then the trees shade them. I like to move and tickle them, as this builds strong stems and helps them handle the wind in the open field at the gardens.
My friend Robert told me this. He used to have big gardens when he lived in Pennsylvania. He also said that when tomatoes are blooming, you should shake them to pollinate them. So at the Patch lately, my June transplants are blooming, and every time I go by I shake them gently.
Rabbit Eating My White Dutch Clover
Something has been eating my white Dutch clover by the last strawberry plant, and based on how neatly it is grazed down, I believe it is the same rabbit I’ve seen in the garden — not rats. Rats tear or dig, but rabbits graze clover like a tiny lawnmower.
One day I came straight head‑on with a rabbit in my garden — it was on the walking path in my Pickle Patch plot. I have a rabbit fence, 2 feet high and pinned down at the bottom all around the 3 gardens. I always leave the gate open when I am there, and maybe it came through the gate. I tried to chase it out, but I think it went and hid in the many places in my garden.
To discourage the rabbit from returning, I will use my garlic pepper spray around the clover patch and the strawberry plant. I am not spraying my crops, as nothing is bothering them — this is only for the clover area where the rabbit is nibbling. I guess that is better than it nibbling my veggies.
Garlic Pepper Spray (Animal Deterrent)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chopped garlic bits
- 1 gallon water
- 2–3 dried hot peppers, broken up OR 1–1½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
After straining:
A few drops of dish soap OR ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions Add the chopped garlic and dried peppers (or red pepper flakes) to the gallon of water. Instead of boiling it, I set the mixture outside like sun tea and let it steep for 48–72 hours. Strain very well so no bits clog your sprayer. Pour the strained liquid into your spray bottle. Add either a few drops of dish soap or ½ teaspoon vegetable oil to help the spray stick. Shake gently to mix. Spray around the clover patch and the strawberry plant where the rabbit is grazing. Reapply after heavy rain.
Executive Decision
Sometimes the weather dictates what I am doing, and with knowing that tomorrow and the next few days will be sunny, I made an executive decision to finally get caught up on my canning. If I waited too much longer my cucumbers would have started spoiling. Also, by waiting, I wouldn’t be putting the new transplant under a stormy stress. We all win today.