What did you do in the garden today?

[Appalachickens]

I ordered some blackcurrants, aronia, thornless blackberries, red and yellow rasperries and 1 blueberry. I doubt blueberry will survive here but I am going to try. they'll arrive next week.

I should cut a lot of grass but it is wet. miss sunshine although we get some.

I made Aronia jelly last year. It’s called chokeberry around here. Really good stuff. Blueberries and blackberries are native here so we have loads of them.

 

[chickengr]

I made Aronia jelly last year. It’s called chokeberry around here. Really good stuff. Blueberries and blackberries are native here so we have loads of them.

recipe for aronia jelly?

btw, I understand why it is called chokeberry, lol.

 

[Minanora]

I'm not going to try second guessing nature this year. Last year's temperature histories for April, May and June 2024 show days in April and May with lows near or below freezing, no good for peppers or tomatoes. Also, the soil will be too cool for the plants to grow. That's why I'm not putting them in the garden until June this year.

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I do this thing where I don't plant warm weather crops until my lilac shrub begins to bloom. Seems to work fairly well as a planting calendar.

I also check the soil temperature trends with Greencast. I don't plant if the soil temp is under 62°, and the average nighttime temp is at or above 50°

Watching those three things have saved me a lot of heartache and growing time. Keeping my starts from getting stressed and stunting growth.

 

[TJAnonymous]

recipe for aronia jelly?

btw, I understand why it is called chokeberry, lol.

I cold press my aronia juice because heat will destroy the antioxidants in it. Then I freeze it into ice cubes and add them to my lemonade, drinks, etc... I've never made jelly with it simply because I have tons of grapes and blackberries for jelly... I still have a gallon ziploc bag full of frozen aronia berries from last season that I still need to process....so they freeze well too!

 

[Appalachickens]

recipe for aronia jelly?

btw, I understand why it is called chokeberry, lol.

I had just googled a recipe and for the life of me, don't remember which it was. I don't think I used pectin, and it didn't set well, so next time I'll try a different recipe.

We have both chokeberries and chokecherries (also called bitter berry, because they are astringent like aronia).

 

[Appalachickens]

I cold press my aronia juice because heat will destroy the antioxidants in it. Then I freeze it into ice cubes and add them to my lemonade, drinks, etc... I've never made jelly with it simply because I have tons of grapes and blackberries for jelly... I still have a gallon ziploc bag full of frozen aronia berries from last season that I still need to process....so they freeze well too!

I used chokeberries I'd frozen when I made the jam. I like the idea of cold-pressing it.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I had just googled a recipe and for the life of me, don't remember which it was. I don't think I used pectin, and it didn't set well, so next time I'll try a different recipe.

We have both chokeberries and chokecherries (also called bitter berry, because they are astringent like aronia).

I tried to make aronia syrup for ice cream and cheesecake using just sugar and pectin. It didn't work either...

 

[MotherofOrpies]

I made Aronia jelly last year. It’s called chokeberry around here. Really good stuff. Blueberries and blackberries are native here so we have loads of them.

I always thought Aronia was a different plant than chokecherry’s?!

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Cut some firewood with a chainsaw ( sadly, not my own) it is very light, runs on gas and cuts better than the big ones ( I also got a big one, it is so heavy I can just lift it) it doesn’t vibrate, I am in love ( just not with the price )

And planted some tomatoes, bell peppers, chilies and egg plants, a friend sent me some, it took 4 days, DHL isn’t what it used to be usually, it only took a day within Germany, but they have to economize too

In a few days, temperatures will drop below zero, hubby will be „happy“ a lot of plants will come in the house, he always says why not just have ONE plant, you can buy tomatoes and bell peppers in the store

 

[Sally PB]

Cut some firewood with a chainsaw ( sadly, not my own) it is very light, runs on gas and cuts better than the big ones ( I also got a big one, it is so heavy I can just lift it) it doesn’t vibrate, I am in love ( just not with the price

Is that a Stihl chainsaw? We bought one soon after we moved out here, which was nearly 31 years ago. Last fall, hubby decided he wanted to get a new one. We got another Stihl. Hubby says it has a lot more power. Yes, expensive, but if this one lasts 31 years, it will likely outlast us.

We cut a lot of wood. That's our main source of heat.