********
Tuesday I finally got my pepper seeds planted and in the propagator. I'm not going to grow as many this year as in the past, as I still have a lot of them in the freezer. I only planted four each of Quadrato Rosso D'Asti, Red Marconi and Early Jalapeno. Tonight I planted a few containers of tomatoes, although I hadn't planned on starting them until the 15th. I decided to just put one seed per container, so if I don't have 100% germination, there will still be time to try again. So far I've planted three Sungold, four Cherokee Purple, two Matt's Wild Cherry and two Yellow Brandywine.
There's still room for nine more cups in the flat.
I still had a few more tomatoes to plant, when my son John showed up to install my new cooktop, so I'll have to finish tomorrow.
It looks awfully big. And black. And flat.
There's still room for nine more cups in the flat.I still had a few more tomatoes to plant, when my son John showed up to install my new cooktop, so I'll have to finish tomorrow.
It looks awfully big. And black. And flat.I was in dire need of a new one, though. The old one had two burners that had quit working, so it was a bit difficult fixing a large dinner. A couple of years ago, John replaced the thingies that the burners plugged in to, but the clips just wouldn't hold them in place, so they wouldn't keep an electrical contact. Even though it still looked fine, I decided not to put any more money into repairing it. I hope I won't regret getting a ceramic cooktop. At least it has a large double burner that will hold a canner, and there are no overhead cupboards from which to drop things onto it. But, oh my, I'll probably have to learn to cook all over again!
I haven't been outside doing any garden preparation. It's been raining the past two days, and my cold has turned into a sinus infection. I'm feeling pretty lousy, so I'm not going to push it. Let's hope the antibiotics and the sinus rinses get me well soon, 'cause I've got lots of work to catch up on!
I haven't been outside doing any garden preparation. It's been raining the past two days, and my cold has turned into a sinus infection. I'm feeling pretty lousy, so I'm not going to push it. Let's hope the antibiotics and the sinus rinses get me well soon, 'cause I've got lots of work to catch up on!
That cooktop looks so easy to clean. Mine is a pain to clean. I'm sure you will be cooking up a storm soon enough. It can't be that different than your old stove.
ReplyDeleteYour only a few days early starting some of your tomatoes. I still have the majority of mine to start for the plots and everyone else that I grow them for.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how quick your peppers and tomaotes germinate in your new propagator.
I'm so happy that you got your new cooktop!! Yipee for you!!
Now you better take it easy and get rid of that sinus infection!
Your new cooktop looks wonderful, cooking with only two burners would be no fun at all. It's been raining here too, but will hopefully stop today.:(
ReplyDeleteohh thats bad, feel better. I like Sinus rinse and sometimes it works like magic and gives us a bit relief.
ReplyDeleteThe planting sounds great - I should take your lead and plant only what I need.
ReplyDeleteThe new cooktop is beautiful. I imagine it will be wonderful to have four burners again!
Sorry about the sinus infection. Sometimes those things linger on. The rain outside probably doesn't help much! Hang in there - Spring is almost here...
Farmer
Hope you feel better soon. I'm on my second round of antibiotics and home from work again today. And like you I have lots to do in the garden. No time to be sick!
ReplyDeleteOh no, get better soon! Nice to have a new kitchen toy, though. We had a glass cooktop at our previous house, and cleaning it was a breeze! Those peppers and tomatoes should sprout quickly in your propagator.
ReplyDeleteI only planted half the peppers I did last year, because I still have some in the freezer, too.
ReplyDeleteI did go crazy with the Heirloom tomatoes...what was I thinking?
Hope you're feeling better. Take care.
Daphne, I expect it to be a lot different than the old stove (which isn't all that old, it started malfunctioning about a week after the warranty was off), as the burners should actually, you know, get hot!
ReplyDelete********
Robin, I was so over that cold (I thought) and feeling better when this sinus infection hit me. Bummer, at what should be the busiest time of spring.
********
Mr. H., the sun is trying to shine today, but more rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week. I don't care, the garden soil was really bone dry.
********
Farmer, I have good intentions of planting less this year, but I'll probably not be able to control myself ;-)
********
Liisa, sinus infections aren't fun,that's for sure. My face hurt last night, I didn't get much sleep.
********
Alison, I hope I don't regret the glass top, I've never had one before, but I hate cleaning the drip pans under burners. No matter how careful I am to keep them clean, I always manage to burn something onto them.
********
Lynda, I have no idea where I'm going to plant all the tomatoes this year. There aren't many spots in my yard where they do well, or where the lawn sprinklers don't drench them.
have you tried a Neti pot for your sinus infection? your cooktop looks wonderful... i've also got some seeds started but still too cold for peppers, maybe in a week or so i'll get them going too... happy spring :D
ReplyDeleteRoasted, I'm using a NeilMed sinus rinse bottle, which does the same thing as the Neti pot.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit early on my tomatoes, but I usually am. I'll have to pot them up to larger containers before it's time to plant them out. I was almost late on starting the peppers, as they are so slow to germinate. I hope I planted enough, 'cause I want four of each variety. I planted two seeds per container, so hopefully I'll end up with at least one of them growing.
I still haven't cooked anything on the new cooktop. I don't want to get it dirty ;-)
I did the same thing by putting only one seed per cup for the tomatoes! Be careful canning on that cooktop, ceramic is designed to click on and off to prevent the burner top from cracking, mine won't boil my canner due to the large volume of water it starts the safety cycle and only gets to steamy but won't boil. I even bought a separate 1300 watt electric caterer portable burner, no go! I have to do it on hubby's propane burner outside, it's a pain! I've seen a cracked ceramic/glass cooktop, it's not pretty!
ReplyDeleteFunny I told my doctor yesterday that I wanted to rip my face off cause it hurt so bad. She replied "don't do that I'll get you some antibiotics". That didn't help the pain but the 800mg of Motrin did. :-) Fell better soon!
ReplyDeleteErin, this one has a burner that is supposed to be used for canning, it has a second (large) ring just for that. That was one thing I checked on before buying it. I'll also use my large stock pot, which aluminum for fast heating, has a flat bottom and is a bit smaller than the canner....
ReplyDeleteThe dual single and outer element are recommended for larger cookware, large quantities of food, and home canning.
Liisa, I think I have a bottle of Motrin, I'll make sure I take 800mg tonight!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to feeling better very soon. The cooktop looks great. I personally prefer a traditional burner because I never have gotten the knack of cooking properly on the ceramic tops - the heat up and cool down is slower both directions and I just cannot seem to manage the timing differences successfully. You are such a good cook, I am sure you will master it brilliantly - and they really are a lot easier to keep clean.
ReplyDeleteBeen raining sideways here most days this week. Wicked bad for garden work. It did give us a break today (just gloomy and wet) which is good because my fencing contractors were out to set posts this morning. They were spared having to do it in the pouring rain and wind.
I don't know, Kitsap. This one sure heats up and cools down faster than the old stove. I also like that it has a red light that stays on until the entire top is cool enough to touch. I was surprised at how fast the pan heated up for a grilled cheese sandwich. That's all I've used it for so far, LOL! I'm sure it will take some getting used to.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Gran! I'm jealous! :)
ReplyDeleteYou need brandy; that'll shift the sinus issue.
ReplyDeleteThat John's a good lad. Keep him going and you'll have a new house in no time!
IG, I think you're right about the brandy, although I hate to admit you might be right about anything at all :-)
ReplyDeleteI think new flooring and counter tops might be in John's future.
Nice start on your plants! Such a fun time of year! We've got a stove similar to that (no special canning part though!) It was with our house when we got it, and the previous owners did NOT do a good job keeping it clean, and so we've never gotten it to look brand new like yours does, which is frustrating! I'm sure you'll keep on top of it though!
ReplyDeleteMegan, I hope I can keep on top of it! So far, Mr. Granny is afraid to fry on it (that's a GOOD thing), so it hasn't had a chance to get spattered. If I can just keep him using the electric fry pan, I might have a chance at keeping the stove clean. I'd better, 'cause that big black thing sticks out like a sore thumb!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that prop system will fill up soon enough. They always do.
ReplyDeleteI too hope you enjoy that cooktop. My mom hates the one that came with their new house.
Sinfonian, I'm sure it will take a bit more cooking to get used to the cooktop. I did find out last night that one small burner stays on and boils stuff fine, but the other one has a mind of its own and keeps powering down even on high. Not liking that much.
ReplyDeleteGranny, sorry to hear about your sinuses, get better soon!! My dh has been diagnosed with bronchitis and strep throat. It's cloudy here with no chance of sunshine, so I have yet to seed my peppers and tomatoes. Eggplant are seeded already and also bitter gourds. No germination yet!
ReplyDeleteRandom, I hope you don't catch that strep throat! It really plays havoc with the gardening schedule, as does this sinus infection. My garden may be a little late this year.
ReplyDeleteIt feels so nice to start planting again. I'm trying to experiment with growing tobacco this year - they are my first seeds to sprout!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Bethany! Next thing I'll be reading how Bethany rolls her own cigars!
ReplyDelete