By Amelia Tucker
With the season drawing to a close, you should know which plants grew the best this year.
Why not save those seeds and get a jump start on next year’s gardening?
It is easy to do and you will be saving the seeds from the plants that grew best in your particular area, ensuring a better harvest every time.
Here is what you do:
By Tomato Queen
I’ll admit that eying the stacks of gleaming tomato jars in my cabinet has brought almost as much satisfaction over the long, bleak months of winter as eating them in a delicious sauce or stew.
Canning (really, jarring) preserves the texture and flavors of tomatoes like nothing else, and is an affordable way to eat organic and/or heirloom tomatoes year-round.
But make no mistake: canning definitely takes time and equipment.
Those who haven’t canned find it daunting, but have no fear; following a few basic essentials—sterility, acidity, heat—will ensure safe and delicious tomatoes for 1-2 years.
By Tomato Queen
[This is part 2 of two-part article series. View part 1]
Local garden exchanges are a great opportunity to find random treasures that are someone else’s nuisance, as well as to find homes for plants that need thinning out and taking over.
But what about being able to plan for next year’s garden?
When you’re enjoying your harvest, keep a mind toward preserving this year’s favorite seeds for yourself and also to exchange with others.
Seed exchanges are what you call win-win—you can request seeds you want, send out your favorites, and also find an appreciative gardener who can make good use of the seeds from plants you didn’t enjoy that much.
By Tomato Queen
[This is part 1 of 2 two part series.]
It’s harvest time, and those of you enjoying fresh tomatoes (either from your own gardens or those from diligent farmers) might soon find yourselves with a few extra of your favorite variety threatening to go bad.
Why not save the seeds for next year?
Preserving tomato seeds isn’t rocket science, but it’s messier than you’d think. There are a few considerations when it comes to preparing and preserving your seeds planning for what to do with them.
By Michelle Fabio
A little while ago, we talked about freezing raw tomatoes, and here are some more preservation ideas to make the most of your tomato crop:
Freezing tomato juice.
After washing and trimming the stem ends from the tomatoes, cut into quarters or eighths. Simmer on the stove for about 5-10 minutes, then take off the heat and let sit for about an hour.
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