Apple Tyme

[primsong]

Heeeere comes harvest....!

I admit to getting a bit weary of picking blueberries, but they're winding down... bringing in some squash and beans, that's easy - pattypan squash are cute. But APPLES. Oy.

After putting off Applesauce Time for two weeks by making pans of apple crisp with the windfalls, I think it can't be put off any more. *rolls up sleeves* Time to get them done before the plums and grapes arrive. At the rate I'm going I may entirely miss the blackberry season too, as it arrived a couple weeks early this year - too...much...froooot!




Still, free food is free food, and this year I even get to give my college kid and her friends a bit of basic canning lessons, for sauce and apple butter.

What does your area sometimes produce just a bit too much of?

Comments

[siradaono.livejournal.com]

I have Asters that usually bloom in mid-to late Sept. and they bloomed in mid-July this year.
I would say that an early Autumn would bring one or two changes to our PacNW. An Indian Summer or an early Winter...the Asters and Woolly Caterpillar's around my place are already in Autumn...it will be interesting to me to see what happens.

yummmm apple crisps....

[shirebound]

You live in a wonderful area for produce. I wish blueberries and blackberries weren't so expensive here.

I think the only fruit we get too much of is dates, which grow on trees all over the place.

[happydalek.livejournal.com]

Wow, your place sounds amazing! My parents tried growing blueberries for the first time, and the first "harvest" was this year. We got like, 20 blueberries. Over a month ago. And that was it! Our teensy apple tree has about 14 teensy apples on it that are just slightly larger than ping pong balls (red delicious), and the cherry tree produced absolutely nothing at all.

But the tomato and pepper harvest is in full swing (BASKETS of them), and we've just harvested our first head of purple cabbage, with four more on the way and looking good.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

If I had a bit more sun I'd really be awash, thankfully the shade means I can't also grow a huge veggie garden because no doubt I'd be wooed into doing just that and then I'd REALLY be overwhelmed at harvest, lol... I've never seen dates in process of growing, I don't think - I'm even a little vague on what they look like then except they come in clusters. Can you just graze on them straight from the tree, then?

[shirebound]

Yes. :)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I've learned a lot about caring for both grapes and trees here, it's been a great property. Totally know what you mean about the blueberries! I have three young blueberry bushes and the first couple rounds they barely produced enough to sprinkle on a bowl of cereal - this year was slightly better, but I also put netting over them for the first time this round, so the birds and squirrels didn't take so many. Theoretically, you're supposed to strip off the blossoms the first couple years so the plant puts more energy into a good root system instead of working on fruiting, but I admit I couldn't quite do it... I did dutifully thin the blossoms at least, but had to have at least SOME berries. ;-) Thank heavens for the three established bushes, they're the ones who produce.

Ooo, tomatoes and peppers! Wish I could trade you some fruit for those, my tomatoes are really slow this time. I've never grown cabbage yet, should try that next year.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Yummmm! We get them as treats at Christmas here, I like how they taste like brown sugar.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I wonder what's in store as well, though I must say the fruit is much heavier than we initially thought it would be, and only a couple weeks off of normal. Hm! My asters aren't blooming at all yet...but then my yard is always a step behind everyone else it seems. I'm hoping for an Indian Summer, they make for amazingly beautiful autumns, but our firewood is ready as well.

[infiniteviking]

Fresh fruit onna tree is so darned pretty.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? The gravenstein apples are especially photogenic with their beautiful green-to-red striping that way - this is a small tree but it always faithfully bears very heavily and always looks wonderful.

[infiniteviking]

Yeah, the striping makes them look so crisp. :D