Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[jinman]

Are you using a dehydrator on your basil leaves?

No, we don't have a dehydrator. My wife has a cardboard box (shallow) that she lines with paper towels and lays out the basil leaves. After they are 80%-90% dry, they go into a larger box where they are tossed a couple of times per day for about 5 days. I know this sounds involved, but it's not really because you only spend a couple of seconds daily messing with the leaves until they are crispy dry. We should probably get a small dehydrator, but just never have invested in one. I would dry them outside in the sun, but my wife is afraid they would attract bugs, so she does them inside the house. They sure make the kitchen smell nice when they are fresh.

EDIT: FG, your post reminded me that we do really need a dehydrator, so I went to Amazon and ordered one. I can't say we don't have a dehydrator anymore. Would you please quit helping me spend my money?

 

[Lou66]

I dry all of my herbs in a brown sack,, the old grocery store type,, but I have to buy them,, you know the thick ones you get at the liquor store,:laughing:, I rise off the herbs,, paper towel them dry,, throw them in the bag,, seal the top, set outside on the patio,, shake them every now and then,, the paper soaks up the water and the sun dries the bag,, the prefect system unless you forget about them for a while,, Lou

 

[farmgirl19]

EDIT: FG, your post reminded me that we do really need a dehydrator, so I went to Amazon and ordered one. I can't say we don't have a dehydrator anymore. Would you please quit helping me spend my money?

Oh, but that is what we girls do, jinman! :::batting eyelashes:::

Thanks for the info, jinman and Lou!

 

[Lou66]

Tomato I pulled today,:licking:, could use a little more time on the vine,, first large one this year,, I have a few more that I think will be larger,, Here in the neighborhood there is five of us who grow tomatoes and we all try to grow the largest one,, I won the last two years.. I've only live here two years.. I am also the youngest,, at 66.. two of them are master gardeners,, very knowledgeable,, Lou

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[farmgirl19]

Really pretty, Lou! I am picking tomatoes every day now. Eating them for breakfast, lunch and supper! I don't think I'd have any go a pound and a half yet, but some will go a pound or slightly over!

 

[jinman]

That's sure a nice tomato, Lou. What variety is it?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Looks good Lou...have you been having to water a bunch?

 

[blueriver]

I showed all you guys pictures to Cheryl ... Shouldn't have done that ... The garden here is not what we are used to ... Her c-spine surgery and mt RMSF kept our garden spot small and not attended to ... It it what it is and there is another year coming. At least we can admire the rewards of the hard work everyone is doing ... Good job !!

 

[NativeSon]

I dry all of my herbs in a brown sack,, the old grocery store type,, but I have to buy them,, you know the thick ones you get at the liquor store,:laughing:, I rise off the herbs,, paper towel them dry,, throw them in the bag,, seal the top, set outside on the patio,, shake them every now and then,, the paper soaks up the water and the sun dries the bag,, the prefect system unless you forget about them for a while,, Lou

Lou- The only problem here in "Dry" East Texas is you have to go all the way to the County Line to get those thick paper bags, but the trip is well worth it.

Charlie

 

[NativeSon]

I sure prefer fresh basil and cilantro too. However, dried basil leaves become very compact and you can get a whole crop of basil in a small jar after drying. It's a convenient and compact way of storing basil for off-season use when fresh is not available in your garden. With cilantro, you just pick the seeds and put them in a bottle as coriander. Drying the basil is the toughest (slowest) part.

Jim-With the garden starting to produce Fresh is the only way to go. But Fresh anything is the better solution, next would be dried or frozen or canned. My wife & MIL are very traditional and only do most recipes the way they did in the old country, and there is a lot to be said for tradition. My only hope is that I will have enough Basil to keep my MIL supplied. Running out would not be acceptable.

FYI- When using Fresh vs. Dried in a recipe you need to use twice as much Fresh than Dry if the recipe calls for dry. With Garlic always use more that the recipe calls for, as there is no such thing as "Too much Garlic".

Charlie

 

[pacerron]

Jim-With the garden starting to produce Fresh is the only way to go. But Fresh anything is the better solution, next would be dried or frozen or canned. My wife & MIL are very traditional and only do most recipes the way they did in the old country, and there is a lot to be said for tradition. My only hope is that I will have enough Basil to keep my MIL supplied. Running out would not be acceptable.

FYI- When using Fresh vs. Dried in a recipe you need to use twice as much Fresh than Dry if the recipe calls for dry. With Garlic always use more that the recipe calls for, as there is no such thing as "Too much Garlic".

Charlie

Charlie,
We have good luck growing Basil, Oregeno, and other herbs inside during the winter. All you need is a sunny window and a pot.
Can you spot the Basil in the attached Picture of our flower room?
Ron

 

[NativeSon]

Ron.

I'm going to try that my wife would love Basil and Oregano all winter.

Charlie

 

[Western]

In Houston ..again.. Heat index only 105*. :thumbdown:

Traffic this morning wasn't to bad, only about 10 accidents, 2 police chases and handful of shootings, Kind of slow for Houston:laughing:

 

[farmgirl19]

pacerron; I have been trying to make a garden room out of my "mud room". I have the windows, but the room is cooler than the rest of the house, in the winter. May have to give the indoor herbs a try this winter! Thanks for the idea!

 

[farmgirl19]

In Houston ..again.. Heat index only 105*. :thumbdown:

Traffic this morning wasn't to bad, only about 10 accidents, 2 police chases and handful of shootings, Kind of slow for Houston:laughing:

Ya know, Western, with as much time as you seem to spend in Houston, folks are going to start to think you like it there! :laughing:

 

[jinman]

Can you spot the Basil in the attached Picture of our flower room?
Ron

I need one of those indoor basil plants between me and my grandson. That way if he passes gas, I grab a leaf and hold it under my nose until the the green cloud dissipates.:laughing:

Seriously, I'd bet when the sun shines in on that plant, it gives a nice aroma to the whole room. To me, basil is a bit like a mint smell, only milder. My mother used to grow mint and I'd chew the leaves for a fresh taste in my mouth.

 

[Bwana64]

In Houston ..again.. Heat index only 105*.

Traffic this morning wasn't to bad, only about 10 accidents, 2 police chases and handful of shootings, Kind of slow for Houston

What's your point? It's like that all the time. I drive through it every day. Don't you have a bazooka mounted on your hood?

 

[Western]

Ya know, Western, with as much time as you seem to spend in Houston, folks are going to start to think you like it there! :laughing:

I like it when I leave !! takes a couple of showers when I get home to "wash it off"

In Houston ..again.. Heat index only 105*.

Traffic this morning wasn't to bad, only about 10 accidents, 2 police chases and handful of shootings, Kind of slow for Houston

What's your point? It's like that all the time. I drive through it every day. Don't you have a bazooka mounted on your hood?

All I have right now is a 28' 10k trailer and 1 ton truck with about 2400k of paint in the back!!, how I haven't slid into one of the MANY lane jumpers is a mystery! I can see where having a box of grenades handy would be of benefit though!

 

[Lou66]

Been canning the last couple of days,, Hot sauce,, lots of work the well I do it.. boil the jars outside on the cooker,, cook the sauce in the house,, lot of walking,:duh:,
Thanks everyone of the nice comments on my large mator,, which is in one of the jar now.. by the way it was a better boy,,
I thinking I may have a two pounder in few days.. but will get my rear kicked this year by my 81 years of neighbor,, he growing Delicious,, I started to but didn't,:duh:, I going to be eaten some humble pie by the end of the season,:licking::laughing:, Lou

 

[bindian]

All I have right now is a 28' 10k trailer and 1 ton truck with about 2400k of paint in the back!!, how I haven't slid into one of the MANY lane jumpers is a mystery! I can see where having a box of grenades handy would be of benefit though!

Houston traffic makes you love driving a huge vehicle. I used to drive a VW Fox wagon and then a Jeep Cherokee. Not any more..........give me my dually for commuting. It's really fun with an empty trailer. Just drift a little to the lane stripes.............and everyone moves a lane over from you. Or bob you head a little and weave a little and eveyone backs off 200 feet, thinking you are falling asleep!
hugs, Brandi