I learn something every time I come to your blog. Thank you for having such knowledgeable content and for having so much variety...there is something here for everyone no matter what their stage of homesteading looks like.
I’m in the same zone as you—do you have a calendar posted somewhere of when you plant/harvest things and what varieties you use? Basically I’m just trying to be you 😆 Also, how is the homestead hunting going?
Our last frosts are usually the first week of June, so I start my tomatoes/peppers/eggplants/etc on Earth Day in April. Beyond that, it's a smattering based on what the weather looks like. Peas go in sometime between March and May, all depending on the snow load and the year.
Other than a specific time to get the really frost sensitive long season stuff in, it's all chaos over here =)
I really don't know anything about flood irrigation. The main thing they use the "flooding" for is to harvest the cranberries because they float off the plants. And the only reason they do that is because it's such a large scale that harvesting by hand would cost more money. Cranberries really don't need flooding to thrive, just fine acidic soil like blueberries.
Ooo...I've seen a number of cranberry jam recipes, but most are cranberry and strawberry, possibly with other berries or cherries. Adding pineapple sounds great!
I eat cranberries sparingly, for personal health reasons. But I like them all kinds of ways. I like the dried ones a lot. Not sure how we're having them this Thanksgiving, but we will have them.
Someone else suggested cranberry pumpkin muffins, which sound amazing. I always make cranberry orange muffins, but I think I'm going to try them in pumpkin muffins this year.
I agree with Rachel. Such helpful content! I found a recipe for cranberry relish that uses ginger and fresh pineapple along with pecans and orange zest (and cranberries, of course). It has become THE one most asked for by family.
I recall my wife making one like that one time. She's a ginger nut, so if it has ginger in the title, she gets interested. We liked it. I should ask her to make it again.
Shane, if she loves ginger, I bet she'll like my persimmon jam with a bit of ginger in it. The ginger really brings it all together, and that's the way I usually make it.
Thank you- I wonder why I do not see any cranberries grown in backyards here in Oregon, (lots from the industry here though) just too many other options for berries and fruits in yards. I would love to grow some though. Lots of crabapples here, smaller types, cherry size. Now I wish I had a small press to crush them, they are so firm! The apples were not great this year but pears and crabapples did good....
Crabapples are indeed hard, and they don't have all that much juice. Even in a press, you wouldn't get much. They do make a darn good crabapple jelly though!
Oh, I didnt mean a press, just to break them open to make them easier to ferment. I had to cut about 400 crabs all in half by hand but worth it. They make a real powerful sourness that is just terrific, nice to ferment with something sweeter like regular apples or pears, so maybe I will make a pear-crab mix next. Yesterdays wind knocked down some of the BIG pears at the top of some local trees, Bartletts. Sooo good. 10 pounds in 20 pairs!! Maybe I will go visit Ashland Oregon to see the cranberry fields sometime...hope it was a good year for them....and you...best
I learn something every time I come to your blog. Thank you for having such knowledgeable content and for having so much variety...there is something here for everyone no matter what their stage of homesteading looks like.
Thank you Rachel!
I’m in the same zone as you—do you have a calendar posted somewhere of when you plant/harvest things and what varieties you use? Basically I’m just trying to be you 😆 Also, how is the homestead hunting going?
Ha! I wish I were that organized.
Our last frosts are usually the first week of June, so I start my tomatoes/peppers/eggplants/etc on Earth Day in April. Beyond that, it's a smattering based on what the weather looks like. Peas go in sometime between March and May, all depending on the snow load and the year.
Other than a specific time to get the really frost sensitive long season stuff in, it's all chaos over here =)
Thank you! I’ll be adding cranberries to my seasonal growing, and future canning! This is excellent content!
Thank you!
I have access to land with flood irrigation, zone 7b. It sounds like this might be a good environment for cranberry growing?
I really don't know anything about flood irrigation. The main thing they use the "flooding" for is to harvest the cranberries because they float off the plants. And the only reason they do that is because it's such a large scale that harvesting by hand would cost more money. Cranberries really don't need flooding to thrive, just fine acidic soil like blueberries.
I am planning to make winter jam this morning. It has apples, cranberries and pineapple.
Do you have recipe for cranberry salsa?
Ooo...I've seen a number of cranberry jam recipes, but most are cranberry and strawberry, possibly with other berries or cherries. Adding pineapple sounds great!
Cranberry salsa is on my list this year, and I swear I had a recipe bookmarked in one of my books...but now I can't find it. I did find this one though: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_salsa/spicy_cranberry_salsa.html
I love them and love them in jams or dried in my trail mix.
They are so good dried in trail mix!
I love making my homemade cranberry sauce. It's something everyone asks me to make. I think I'll try my hand at Cranberry wine too!!!!
Nice!
I eat cranberries sparingly, for personal health reasons. But I like them all kinds of ways. I like the dried ones a lot. Not sure how we're having them this Thanksgiving, but we will have them.
Someone else suggested cranberry pumpkin muffins, which sound amazing. I always make cranberry orange muffins, but I think I'm going to try them in pumpkin muffins this year.
I agree with Rachel. Such helpful content! I found a recipe for cranberry relish that uses ginger and fresh pineapple along with pecans and orange zest (and cranberries, of course). It has become THE one most asked for by family.
That sounds delicious!
I recall my wife making one like that one time. She's a ginger nut, so if it has ginger in the title, she gets interested. We liked it. I should ask her to make it again.
Shane, if she loves ginger, I bet she'll like my persimmon jam with a bit of ginger in it. The ginger really brings it all together, and that's the way I usually make it.
We looked over your recipe. She's definitely interested. Now to find persimmons...
I think you're right!
Do you recommend a place to buy cranberry bush plants?
We got ours from fedco trees years ago, and I think they still sell one variety: https://fedcoseeds.com/trees/stevens-american-cranberry-583
Thanks!
Thank you- I wonder why I do not see any cranberries grown in backyards here in Oregon, (lots from the industry here though) just too many other options for berries and fruits in yards. I would love to grow some though. Lots of crabapples here, smaller types, cherry size. Now I wish I had a small press to crush them, they are so firm! The apples were not great this year but pears and crabapples did good....
Crabapples are indeed hard, and they don't have all that much juice. Even in a press, you wouldn't get much. They do make a darn good crabapple jelly though!
Oh, I didnt mean a press, just to break them open to make them easier to ferment. I had to cut about 400 crabs all in half by hand but worth it. They make a real powerful sourness that is just terrific, nice to ferment with something sweeter like regular apples or pears, so maybe I will make a pear-crab mix next. Yesterdays wind knocked down some of the BIG pears at the top of some local trees, Bartletts. Sooo good. 10 pounds in 20 pairs!! Maybe I will go visit Ashland Oregon to see the cranberry fields sometime...hope it was a good year for them....and you...best
Nice! That's a really good idea!
Love this! I’ve been wondering if I can treat bear berries the same as cranberries, time to give it a try!
Wonderful, so glad it's helpful to you!
Thank you so much for sending us new information and reminders.
I enjoy every bit of info you have for us.
You're quite welcome!
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!