Need ways to help garden multiply!

**DonnainME** · 06-16-2008, 09:08 PM

HELP. This is our 2nd year with a large garden. We planted corn, peas, potatoes, carrots, bell pepper, and broccoli. It looks like all is doing good except the corn. Anyway, I need ideas on how to save our crop after the growing season.

I know I can freeze some but what else can I do? I need to learn to can also - what of those items can I can?

Thanks in advance for any help.

**mom2matty** · 06-16-2008, 10:55 PM

I'm interested in this as well! I don't know how to can or preserve stuff and really would love to learn! We do so well with our garden but I lose so much even giving stuff to friends and neighbors!!

**anna021** · 06-16-2008, 11:20 PM

I use to can everything, but now I've turned to freezing everything, most items I cut up and lay on cookie sheets, let them freeze, then put them and plastic freezer bags. I do this with peppers, green beans,and corn, tomatoes I cook to a puree and freeze,(big savings here), pumpkin I cook, take pulp from pumpkin, drain well and place in bags. Basil I freeze in ice cube trays, rosemarie I dry, drying celery this year as I only used it for soup really and refuse to pay 3.00 a bunch this winter. The only thing I will can, and this is only if I can get them cheap this year are roasted red peppers, I use them a lot and here in NY they can go to 4.99 a pound in winter. I'm trying to put up things that we like but go so pricey in the winter, Think its going to be a rough winter.

**suki** · 06-17-2008, 09:30 AM

You can can the corn, peas, carrots and potatoes. The corn, broccoli, peppers and peas will freeze well. Potatoes can be dehydrated but need to be soaked in something from keep from turning black. I'm sure carrots can be dehydrated also, but I've not tried them.

Anyone trying to preserve stuff for the first time needs to get a copy of the Ball Blue Book. It has a lot of information you will need.

**MTS04** · 06-18-2008, 02:22 AM

I second the ball blue book.

Good luck in preserving your garden.

**DonnainME** · 06-18-2008, 06:52 AM

OK. I will look for the "ball blue book" at the library.

To freeze corn - do you just cut it off the cob or do you freeze cob and all - or could you do both?

How long could potatoes be stored before they start growing eyes? We have a dirt cellar and I have no problem taking buckets down there with dirt in it and leaving potatoes or even carrots there. Would that work??

**knotme** · 06-18-2008, 08:44 AM

You can freeze corn both on the cob and cut off. I usually cut off as it takes less freezer space. My DH built me 2 potato bins in my basement.. this is so the potatoes do not sit on the concrete floor and air can circulate around them make sure your potatoes are dry before you place in the cellar. By dry, I mean no moist or wet soil on them. I usually just store them and when they sprout, just break off the sprouts. The potatoes are still good even if they sprout. As they get older, they will get wrinkley and will get harder to peel, but again, they are still good to eat. In the spring I then cut those that are really sprouted into seed with at least 2 eyes in them. We used the same seed and didn't have to buy seed (Or potatoes) for about 5 years. then your soil will be used to the seed so you will then have to buy new seed (or my mum and dad would trade seed with friends of theirs) Getting new seed will ensure a better crop. And then you can go again for another 3 or 4 years with the same seed. I am giving my garden a rest this year from potatoes and will do new seed next year in the garden.

(the buying of potatoes is killing my budget. I went over 5 years without buying potatoes from the store, and we are big potato eaters here)

I hope this helps you, and if you need more info, just ask.