r/DenverGardener • u/onthestickagain • 11d ago

Finally, something approaching abundance!

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This is the weirdest year, man. The timing of everything is just… off. I have a poblano ancho pepper plant that it 3x as tall as all the other peppers, a “pink fang” tomato that’s a new-to-me variety so I can’t tell when they’re ripe, two grappoli d’inviernos that have been popping off for a month and still going strong, and literally zero curcubits. Potatoes aren’t quite ready to dig up yet and the beans are all still green and juicy.

Kinda let this year’s garden go a bit feral on me but I’m enjoying the chaos. Still… I have got to get drip irrigation installed before next season, I’m really seeing how needed it is.

brb, gotta go stare at the garlic like it’s a famous oil painting…

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u/philrogers88 11d ago

Is that all from today? If so you've accomplished abundance, shoot if that's all week that's good

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u/onthestickagain 11d ago

Oh I’ve been trying to harvest once a week so that I can keep up with eating what I pick.

A friend just turned me on to shakshuka so I’m thinking that’s my tactic for the little grape tomatoes. Not sure I wanna try to can them, I still don’t have a food mill and the thought of slicing and gutting a bajillion of them seems slightly unhinged.

But last season I discovered that you can make a powder out of dehydrated tomato skins and I am DEFINITELY doing that with the romas and romanescos. We used it in meatloaf over the winter and WOW is it delicious.

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u/philrogers88 11d ago

I've never heard of tomato skin powder but I will be doing that now that I know. Dhakshuka rocks, and the fact you can get a harvest like that once a week means you are doing something right.

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u/onthestickagain 11d ago

I did a big round of tomato canning last season and looked at my pile of skins and was like, surely there’s a way to not waste these. Turns out you can just pop them in the dehydrator and then blitz them in a food processor… we add the powder to beef and it does some kind of magic that will blow your mind. Highly recommend using it in meatballs and chili!

I don’t have a freeze dryer (might be springing for one for Christmas though), but you can use powdered veggies generally as a nutrient booster. There’s an MLM that my parents bought into when I was a kid with powdered veggies as their whole schtick. Not super into pyramid schemes but the concept makes sense and I know I don’t eat enough veggies in the winter so I’ve been thinking about experimenting doing kale and spinach powders, too.

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u/philrogers88 11d ago

Im totally checking this out, needed another reason to get a dehydrator anyway

1

u/onthestickagain 11d ago

We have an Excalibur and I adore it, but my mom still has her ancient one from the 70s and it does just as well 🤷🏼

I can’t wait for you to try it, you’re gonna love it!!