October 2013 Newsletter

Things to do this month: 

Stock-up on facial tissues and medicines. Update your immunizations.

Replace batteries in smoke detectors and test them.

Finish harvesting and clean out garden beds.  Empty composter into garden beds and mix in.

Drain hoses and store for the winter.  Turn off and drain all sprinklers.

Clean out gutters.  Check for any water damage. Make repairs as needed.

What to do with Green Tomatoes when frost is in the forecast:

The first option is to cover the tomato plants in the evening and uncover in the morning.  Watch the weather forecast daily, it can change quickly.

If you get tired of covering and uncovering your tomatoes or it is late enough in the season that it will stay too cold for them to ripen, you can pick them while still green.

Pick green tomatoes and place in boxes with alternating layers of newspaper.  Tomatoes, newspaper, tomatoes, newspaper…  Store boxes in the basement.  Check the tomatoes about every-other day.  As they are almost ripe, remove and place in the kitchen to finish ripening.  Then use in sauces or can or freeze. There are several recipes in the Ball Blue Book that use green tomatoes.  They will have a slightly different texture ripening this way but they will ripen.  This is a slow method, yes, but at least they will not go to waste.  I have a couple family members who grew up in Idaho and they did this and I finally had to start doing this.  It really works.  If you have lots of tomato plants you could be canning well into November. 

Product Highlight of the month:   Fruit Picking Basket/Harvester

If you have fruit trees, this little tool will be very handy.  Use it to reach fruit that is out of reach, even with a ladder.  No more leaving tons of fruit at the top of the tree for the birds.  Attach the basket to a pole or broom stick.  The “fingers” at the top are bent and will grab limbs with fruit.  Give the basket a tug and the fruit will fall into the basket.  It will hold several apples at a time.  It comes with a foam cushion in the bottom. These are sold on-line through several different retailers.