Welcome to Mistik Acres.

We hope you are able to form a connection with us, and the products we grow and produce on the land we live and work with.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Information on growing tomatoes.

I came across really good information this past week regarding growing tomatoes, or specifically, solutions to diseases of tomatoes.  The first link is focusing on blossom end rot and how the experts solve this issue. http://www.douggreensgarden.com/black-rotting-bottoms-on-tomatoes.html
The second link below is a downloadable chart on symptoms of tomato plant issues and the possible causes.
It is a very good reference for next year's growing season.
http://www.douggreensgarden.com/tomato-problems.html

We have enjoyed a relaxing past week.  We visited and enjoyed fantastic food all Thanksgiving weekend.  We continued to tidy up gardens, made tomato sauce, salsa and roasted tomatoes.  Made a batch of horseradish, to sell at this Saturday's market.  We do not expect it to last too long, so best to come down early or e-mail us and we will set some aside for you.  We took a drive up to LaRonge for a change of scenery and to pick up a supply of fish, netted in the cold waters of  Northern Saskatchewan.  The colours of fall were on display, and we stopped in at the Robertson's Trading Post in LaRonge, to see all the wonderful items made by the local people, which include, moose hide moccasins, mukluks, jackets and beautiful paintings of local artists.  It is a store that has everything including grocery items, clothing, beaver and otter pelts.  We purchased a bag of locally grown wild rice.  If you are ever in the area, make sure you stop in and take a look around.

Below is a few pictures of our horseradish making process.

First the root is peeled, washed and cut into about 2" chunks and then fed into the food processor below.  We are then left with a fine grating of the root, which is mixed with vinegar, to stabilize the volatile compounds, which provides the heat, and a little bit of salt.  Once the vinegar and salt is added it is packed into sterile jars.  It will keep for up to two months in the fridge and up to a year in the freezer.


The grating of the root requires a heavy duty processor, as the root is very tough and fibrous.  As you can see the process needs to be done in a space that has ventilation, due to the fumes given off by the grated root.  The best place to do this is outside.


No comments:

Post a Comment