December Harvest

[robby]

We haven't had freezing temperatures yet in the San Joaquin Valley, and today, I picked lemons and about 6 quarts of Roma tomatoes.
I always pick tomatoes at the pink stage, and let them finish ripening indoors. Birds seem to almost always get my bright red tomatoes. I have 4 cats on patrol in the garden to help and they do catch pesky birds, rats and gophers.

Did you know that tomatoes and peppers are perennial plants in warmer climes? I'm sure that here we'll eventually get a freeze, but I'll let them grow until then.

The lemons are Meyer lemons, which are technically sour oranges. I'm going to juice and can this first batch.

Comments

[via_ostiense]

Meyers are great! I used some to make a vinaigrette this week. What are you going to do with your canned juice?

[robby]

I make about 30 quarts of lemon marmalade from whole lemons, and then juice whatever lemons are left. When you pressure can the juice it seems to stay fresh.

In the summer, I'll drink water with a dash of lemon juice. I also add lemon juice to increase acidity when I can tomatoes.