What a year I'm having in the garden! First the most pathetic tomato that I've ever seen, and now I believe my pickling cucumbers are conspiring against me. They're huge and turning orange. I'm new at this gardening thing, but I do know that cukes are suppose to be green. Why are mine orange? I was planning to make a small batch of pickles this week-end, but I don't know what to do with this monster. These are suppose to be Boston Pickling cukes, so I wasn't expecting this. I did some research on this issue, and there are gardeners all over the blogosphere who have encountered this problem with this particular variety. When I first saw it, I couldn't figure out what it was. When I realized it was a cuke, I thought it could have been a problem as a result of where I planted them. I have Roma tomatoes, dill and onions close by. Not! Most of the gardeners who encountered this same problem have said they have a sweet taste and should still be good for pickling. I plan to make spicy pickles, so I may try it in a salad. I'll keep you posted on the taste and quality of the cukes.
I was able to harvest a beautiful orange Beefsteak, which makes up for the pathetic one below that I picked several days ago. I planted a rainbow Beefsteak, so I'm looking forward to seeing the various colors on the vine.
What a difference in these tomatoes! I'm going to make myself a nice BLT this week-end and this baby is going to on the bed of lettuce topped with crispy bacon. Let the week-end begin! The zucchini will be used in zucchini bread and placed in the freezer. The chilies will used in my pickles and a pot of chili. It's a hundred degrees I know, but I'll taste it and place the batch in the freezer.
Do you make pickles? If so, please share your recipe. I'm also curious to know what type of pickling cukes you plant. I don't think I want to deal with Boston Pickling cukes again.
