Tonight, it is Sheila's turn to answer the gardening questions. She speaks on preserving, raised beds, and so much more! Even how she "puts up with Greg".

Ask a Gardening Expert

Q & A

What tips can you share for someone just getting started with canning and preserving their harvest?

Find a mentor with experienceUse fresh produce in good conditionHave all the proper equipment/ingredients before you startSet aside the time, once you start you have to finishFollow directions/recipe ingredients exactly

What are things you can every single year?

SoupTomatoes (stweed, Italian, Juice, Cherry)Green BeansPickles

Can you recommend some books on canning that would have information on what to look for in a pressure canner and recipes?

Sheila uses the "Ball, Blue Book - guide to preserving". It has a lot of information on the different types of pressure canners, as well as recipes.

How is irrigation systems set up in raised beds?

Currently, Sheila is using a water hose, watering can, and sometimes a sprinkler due to the fact that her 20 year+ old raised beds and the wood is "giving way". There is no system set up right now but Greg plans on redesigning the raised beds and getting the system put down.

So, you use cover crops in your raised beds?

"Not intentionally but I do plant mustard in the Fall, and in the summer I will rotate sunflowers in most of the beds.", Sheila says. It's really easy to do. I never keep my raised beds empty.

Hello, Mrs. Hoss. What are your favorite recipes for making pickled okra and whole pickles? Thank you.

"I do 3 types of pickled okra, sweet, spicy, and dill. My "go-to" book for these recipes is the Pickled Pantry. Hoss prefers the spicy okra. If you will email [email protected], and request the recipes, we will be happy to send them to you. As far as pickle recipes, I always use my grandmother's recipes for sweet pickles, fermented dill, and bread and butter.", Sheila says.

What is the best way to get into canning? Books first or jump right in?

Definitely go by a recipe from a trusted source. I love the Ball Book. Begin with something simple that requires just a water bath, such as tomatoes.

Should I add compost every year to my raised beds? I have mostly flowers. Some are perennials. Most are annuals; I had some red snapper tomatoes. Can I plant tomatoes there next year? I've heard it's not a good idea.

I add compost twice a year to my raised beds. Before my summer crop and before my fall crops. Yes, tomatoes can be planted behind the flowers.

What do you personally water bath can?

Any type of tomatoes and bread and butter pickles. I use my pressure canner for vegetables, meats, poultry, and soups/stews because of the low acidity.

Do you have any recipes for preserving homegrown ginger? (Not candied ginger)

I do not but if any of our listeners do, please send them in so we can share them.

Besides fermenting, what other ways can you preserve cabbage? Is it possible to freeze it in shreds?

I have a recipe in the Blue Book for Freezer Slaw, it includes shredded cabbage, peppers, onions, and carrots. You can email us at [email protected] for the recipe. We will send it out to you.

How do you amend your raised beds?

I use the compost and complete organic fertilizer twice a year.