Vegetable Garden?

Question

So my brown thumb and I are going for take 2 on growing our own vegetables.

I had a tiny bit of success last year and managed to grow some broccoli, a couple of zucchinis and 1 yellow squash.

My issue is this:
If my broccoli (or tomato or pepper) row is successful, I now have… what, maybe 2 weeks to eat 9 or so heads of broccoli before it goes bad?

Is there anything I can do to enjoy the vegetables of my labor for longer? I could probably freeze broccoli, but I can’t freeze tomatoes.

I work so hard, and I want to be able to enjoy the things I grow.

P.S. I have asked this in the garden section also, but surely there are some green thumbs among the vegetarians.

:)

Thanks for all the wonderful answers so far. Spaghetti sauce sounds wonderful. I must add that tomato is an example. Any more general thoughts on vegetables in general, and enjoying them for longer would be very helpful.

:)

Oooh, you are so right. I should add that.
I live in the U.S. in Ohio. Weather can be very tricky here.
Sometimes we have enormous winters, sometimes very hot summers.

Answer 1

Honey, don't give up.
Your garden is providing you with "seasonal" items, and yes, when the broccoli is ready to harvest, that's what one eats.
But the best thing about my garden is that I freeze and can anything I don't eat fresh for the winter.
I even can a variation of soups. I make tomato sauce, ketchup, and tomato soup.
I grate zucchini, measure the amount required for a cake and freeze it.
I make chutneys,and pickled "anything".
In the root cellar, I have boxes with sand were I store carrots, potato's, beets, onions and fruits like winter pears and apples.
Last year I canned over 800 quarts of different items, not including fruit sauces, jams an jelly.
I even make vegetable broth from all those peels, and freeze that too.
I know it is a lots and lots of work, but right now it is winter, -30, and I enjoy the "fruit" of my labour.

Answer 2

I don't know what sort of climate you live in, but have you considered planting over a longer period of time? Tomatos take relatively little of the season to grow and ripen, so it should be easy to do this. Plant a small amount at a time, perhaps a week apart, and you will be able to enjoy your work for longer.

Answer 3

All of the answers thus far about tomatoes are good ones, it is by far the easiest veggie that I grow, and canning them is very simple once you get the hang of it. If you buy a canner, there are instructions included.

I've also had luck with a variety of green beans (bush beans) called Blue Lake. It is very prolific and can be canned/frozen easily.

Answer 4

I would steam, then peel the tomatos. Cook with some green peppers, onions and italian seasoning then jar or freeze it for later use (stewed tomatoes)

You can also peel, de-seed and puree, then freeze for use in sauces, meatloaf, stuffed peppers and many other dishes.

Answer 5

If you plant your vegetables at different times(like a week apart) Then they mature at different times so you have fresh veggies longer.As for tomatoes you can make your own salsa using the tomatoes,peppers,onions,etc. And it tastes better than store bought.

Answer 6

I grow my own veggies too. I do inverted (upside down) and hydroponic gardening so I can have year round veggies (indoor gardening with grow lights) I am learning to can so I can enjoy my tomatos year round. You could maybe make some batches of cream of brocolli soup and freeze them in ziplock bags in individual servings

Answer 7

sure, I the picture of it when I can pass to my outside and %. clean vegetables, they style a lot extra appropriate then interior the food market, I absolutely have a wide backyard and would hardly ever wait until eventually it really is waiting, oh my cucumbers are waiting..

Answer 8

Look into canning. You could store tomatos that way. Also sun dried/dehydrated tomatos.

Answer 9

you can freeze the tomato
and in the future plant 1 brocollie each day and harvest 1 each day when they ready, so you always have fresh food until you run out.. yum

Answer 10

spaghetti sauce.... make a huge batch then freeze...