Garden 2010

[kerosene]

Originally Posted by Jaydaan

Any of your watermelons that do not ripen, can be used to pickle! Pickled watermelon is really yummy.

You know, I was wondering about that. My grandma use to pickle watermelon. I am not a pickle person at all...but my son and husband love them, so they might like pickled watermelon.

[Jaydaan]

Pickled Watermelon Rinds

Makes 7 pints

* 1 large watermelon (about 25 pounds)
* 2 tablespoons salt
* 3 cups sugar
* 2 cups cider vinegar
* 1 piece fresh ginger, 1/2 inch long, peeled
* 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
* 2 small cinnamon sticks
* 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Cut watermelon in half; remove flesh and seeds. Using a metal spoon, scrape rind to remove all traces of pink. Cut rind crosswise in 1-inch-wide strips. Using a vegetable peeler or a small sharp knife, peel the green skin from the rind. Cut away any bruises or bad spots. Cut rind into 2-inch lengths.
2. In a large nonreactive bowl, combine salt and 1 gallon cold water. Add rind; let soak in brine overnight. Rinse rind 2 or 3 times in fresh cold water, and drain well.
3. Combine sugar and vinegar in a large nonreactive pot, and heat until sugar is dissolved. Fold an 8-by-16-inch piece of cheesecloth in half to make a square; rinse, and squeeze dry. Place ginger, spices, and lemon on the cheesecloth. Tie cloth closed with one end of a 12-inch piece of kitchen twine. Tie a loop in the other end, and slip it over the handle of a wooden spoon. Suspend spice bag in the vinegar syrup by placing the spoon across the top of the pot. Add rind to the pot, and return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 30 minutes, and let sit overnight. Discard spice bag.
4. Wash seven 1-pint canning jars, lids, and screw bands with hot, soapy water, and rinse well. Place jars upright on a wire rack in the bottom of a large pot. Fill pot with hot water until jars are submerged by 1 to 2 inches, and bring to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes. Turn off heat, leaving jars in water. Sterilize lids according to manufacturer's instructions.
5. Using stainless-steel tongs, remove jars from water, and place on a layer of clean towels. With a slotted spoon, transfer rind to jars, leaving 3/4 inch of space beneath the rim. Return syrup to a boil. Pour hot syrup over rind, covering it by 1/4 inch and leaving 1/2 inch of space beneath the rim. Slide a clean plastic chopstick or wooden skewer along inside of each jar to release any air bubbles. Wipe mouth of jar with a clean, damp cloth. Place hot lid on jar; turn screw band firmly without forcing.
6. Place a wire rack in the bottom of a large pot, and fill partway with hot water. Using a jar lifter, place jars upright on rack. Add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches, and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Remove jars from water bath; let stand on clean dish towels for 24 hours. Check cool jars for the slight indentation in the lids that indicates a vacuum seal. Jars that do not seal properly or that leak during processing should be stored in the refrigerator and pickles consumed within a week. Allow sealed pickles to mellow in a cool, dry place for 2 to 3 weeks. Store opened jars in the refrigerator.

[busterb]

This year has sucked. Planted late for weather. Then a few weeks drought. Then the Deer. They eat the tops of maters & eggplants. Knocked over some plants. Plus a few worms. With the too late rain, I should have had maters till frost. Stand by! Flickr changed things since I last linked.

knocked over by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

Tops eatin by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

mater worm by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

[squirell nutkin]

The rat bastard woodchuck won't go into the trap. I am in the market for a .22

[classicman]

[Lamplighter]

Where to post this ...

Garden 2010 ?
Ye Olde Videoe Clippe Threade ?
Treasure Hunt 12 - Texture
good music on youtube ?
The pure joy of entertaining yourself and friends ?
Post your pet ?



For a first attempt at what he was trying to do, I feel he did quite a good job...

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by busterb

This year has sucked. Planted late for weather. Then a few weeks drought. Then the Deer. They eat the tops of maters & eggplants. Knocked over some plants. Plus a few worms. With the too late rain, I should have had maters till frost. Stand by! Flickr changed things since I last linked.

knocked over by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

Tops eatin by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

mater worm by Sparkidiot, on Flickr

Sorry for your loss. That is one ugly worm!

Do those things eat roses too?

I planted a double knockout rose, which is doing better than the properties own plants. They have been suffering from something eating the leaves. They/it eats until there are only stalks left. I have recovered the few roses in front of my windows but not without plenty of systemic and topical treatments. I read that it is a worm that lives in the dirt and crawls up the stalk.

How did you kill them?