I use a dehydrator for all the extra. Okra is the best because it comes back perfect in your gumbo next winter. Peppers too. I dry roma tomatoes and process them into a powder which takes up very little space. I have a Mason jar attachment for my vacuum sealer that keeps everything dry once it's in jars, my okra got a little soggy when I was just putting lids on, so it's necessary. Squash dehydrates. Onions. Basil. Almost everything you grow can be dried. I got a bunch and a half of celery in a half pint jelly jar, so it's great for all that leftover celery you always have. I also ferment a lot of stuff for probiotic snacks.
I do dehydrate quite a bit, but not nearly enough. Everything tends to come in at once and the dehydrator can’t keep up. I need to get a vacuum sealer. I did buy a second dehydrator last year. My friend bought a freeze dryer and she said it’s very difficult to keep everything from rehydrating with our humidity. She has to have everything ready with the vacuum sealer and seal it up immediately when it finishes drying out. How long have you found your dehydrated veggies to stay good in Mason jars?
@@Louisianagardening I only started vacuum sealing them last summer when I found my current okra wasn't dry as I was adding new okra to it. I redried it all and it was still good a few weeks ago when I used some. I just reseal it with the same lid each time, they're fine if you're gentle prying them off, they come off pretty easy and you get that satisfying hiss, so you know it was sealed good. It's 50% chance of rain today, so I was this close to putting all my tomatoes out, but I stopped myself because there's a low in the 40s in the next 2 weeks. High 80s is really messing with me right now. Also I found I had some roselle seeds left over, I got 5 out of six sprouted!
@@Josef_R Probably so. Don't count them out though. I've started seeds before, waited 3 weeks and then sowed more seeds in the same soil. Everything sprouted the following week. The soil temp just wasn't warm enough. I usually soak my roselle seeds before planting because the seed is so thick.
Thanks for the feedback! One tip I’m going to try this year is planting transplants and seeds of some things at the same time. My beans will have to be staggered when they go in the ground, but with squash or zucchini you could plant a transplant and a seed at the same time and get a staggered harvest without having to come back a second time to put seeds in. 😊 When are you planting your spring garden?
I get RAW whole peanuts still in the shell from Fresh Pickins. It’s a local open air produce & grocery. As long as you are buying raw and they aren’t roasted or out of the casing you should be fine.
I use a dehydrator for all the extra. Okra is the best because it comes back perfect in your gumbo next winter. Peppers too. I dry roma tomatoes and process them into a powder which takes up very little space. I have a Mason jar attachment for my vacuum sealer that keeps everything dry once it's in jars, my okra got a little soggy when I was just putting lids on, so it's necessary. Squash dehydrates. Onions. Basil. Almost everything you grow can be dried. I got a bunch and a half of celery in a half pint jelly jar, so it's great for all that leftover celery you always have. I also ferment a lot of stuff for probiotic snacks.
I do dehydrate quite a bit, but not nearly enough. Everything tends to come in at once and the dehydrator can’t keep up. I need to get a vacuum sealer. I did buy a second dehydrator last year. My friend bought a freeze dryer and she said it’s very difficult to keep everything from rehydrating with our humidity. She has to have everything ready with the vacuum sealer and seal it up immediately when it finishes drying out. How long have you found your dehydrated veggies to stay good in Mason jars?
@@Louisianagardening I only started vacuum sealing them last summer when I found my current okra wasn't dry as I was adding new okra to it. I redried it all and it was still good a few weeks ago when I used some. I just reseal it with the same lid each time, they're fine if you're gentle prying them off, they come off pretty easy and you get that satisfying hiss, so you know it was sealed good.
It's 50% chance of rain today, so I was this close to putting all my tomatoes out, but I stopped myself because there's a low in the 40s in the next 2 weeks. High 80s is really messing with me right now. Also I found I had some roselle seeds left over, I got 5 out of six sprouted!
@@Josef_R glad the Roselle sprouted! That’s a great sign!
@@Louisianagardening I think my first batch of seeds were bad, not a single sprout. These are about 80%, like they should be.
@@Josef_R Probably so. Don't count them out though. I've started seeds before, waited 3 weeks and then sowed more seeds in the same soil. Everything sprouted the following week. The soil temp just wasn't warm enough. I usually soak my roselle seeds before planting because the seed is so thick.
I am going to try to succession plant. It's just so exciting and I want everything in!
I had to build it in starting in the winter time because I know myself too well. I really think this will help with pests too
I am the same way! Also giving succession a try this growing season!
Thanks for the feedback! One tip I’m going to try this year is planting transplants and seeds of some things at the same time. My beans will have to be staggered when they go in the ground, but with squash or zucchini you could plant a transplant and a seed at the same time and get a staggered harvest without having to come back a second time to put seeds in. 😊 When are you planting your spring garden?
What variety peanuts & where do you get them
I get RAW whole peanuts still in the shell from Fresh Pickins. It’s a local open air produce & grocery. As long as you are buying raw and they aren’t roasted or out of the casing you should be fine.
😊🧅🧄
A little more efficient every season!