Gardening and canning.

Wow today is the pinnacle of un-productivity, got absolutely nothing accomplished and from the looks of people I encountered it looks like the whole towns day was the same way.  But as promised a list of things that I need to can this year. 

This is my garden, five tomato plants, two canning, three salsa and sandwich. And eighteen little cucumber sprouts, they worry me being so small still a month old and only 4-5 inches tall,

This is my sad but growing Early Girl tomato plant with its two baby tomatoes, the other one is just as sad and only has one. They need cages soon; the stakes aren't working that well anymore. The Rutgers and the WI 55s are still little though just starting to flower.

Next year I 'm looking into heritage varieties,  not to sure about the tomatoes yet but a variety of cucumber, the Snow's Fancy Pickling was developed just down the road from where I live so it seems fitting, so that will probably be going in next spring.  With any luck in an expanded garden.

But these are my two plants so they are the corner stone of my preserving this year and the apples we will get from the local orchard.  I'll be putting up lots of tomato sauce if the plants are agreeable.  I use so much and would love to cut it out of my store purchases at least half of the year.  And pickles, something my partner and our niece’s love, me not so much but if it makes them happy, I'll slave over a hot stockpot for them.  The apples are my favorite part of the list, lots of applesauce, quite a few apple butters both 4oz & 8oz, more than a few apple jelly both 4oz & 8oz, and a couple apple pie fillings I think. 

Then quite soon I need to find a good cherry recipe because the local market has them cheap by the pound and they look great, and I looove cherry jelly, preserves, pie and everything else you could think of.  Lemon curd will be essential too, I want to gift some out so I'll need both 4oz & 8oz.  These are the must haves if I do nothing else this year, not that I'll be content to settle for this but it makes me feel better to know that my bare minimum is.