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FROM THE KEIKO MIWA ROSS PRODUCTION STUDIO, THIS IS "CONVERSATIONS LIVE."

GOOD EVENING.

I'M ANNE DENNEHY.

FALL IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND FOR GARDENERS, THAT MEANS NOW IS THE TIME FOR EVERYTHING FROM PLANTING TREES AND BULBS TO CANNING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ARE TWO EXPERTS.

TOM BUTZLER IS A PENN STATE EXTENSION HORTICULTURE EDUCATOR.

HE WORKS WITH COMMERCIAL HORTICULTURE OPERATORS AND LANDSCAPERS IN CLINTON COUNTY.

HIS AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND BEEKEEPING.

ELAINE SMITH IS A PENN STATE EXTENSION FOOD SAFETY EDUCATOR BASED IN BLAIR COUNTY.

ELAINE PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ON RETAIL AND CONSUMER FOOD SAFETY.

SHE ALSO COORDINATES COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.

YOU, TOO, CAN JOIN TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

1-800-543-8242.

OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

TOM AND ELAINE, THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING IN TO TALK WITH US THIS EVENING.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TOM, WHY DON'T YOU START US OFF BY WHAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT DOING, NOW THAT THE FALL WEATHER IS COMING.

WE MIGHT HAVE A FROST COMING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, JUST DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS GO.

BUT WHAT CAN GARDENERS START TO THINK ABOUT DOING NOW TO GET THEIR GARDENS READY FOR THAT COLDER WEATHER?

>> SURE, YEAH.

THE GARDENING SEASON FOR SURE IS WINDING DOWN.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO DO AS GARDENERS IS PROTECT THAT SOIL.

WE DON'T WANT THAT SOIL TO BE EXPESSED TO THE WINTER WEATHER.

RAINFALL EVENTS, IT WILL START MOVING AWAY.

SO IF WE CAN COVER THAT SOIL WITH EITHER A COVER CROP.

THERE IS STILL SOME TIME TO PUT IN SOME COVER CROPS.

IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LATE.

OR EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THESE, IS LEAVES.

PICK UP YOUR NEIGHBORS LEAVES, LEAVES IN YOUR YARD.

BUT GET A BURCH OF LEAVES AND SPREAD THEM, DISBURSE THEM THROUGHOUT THE GARDEN AND THAT CREATES A NICE INSULATED LAYER ON THE GARDEN.

PROTECT THE SOIL AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL DECOMPOSE AS ORGANIC MATTER.

>> SO THE SPRING COMES AROUND, MAYBE SOME OF IT IS DECOMPOSED OR OTHERWISE YOU CAN JUST WORK IT INTO THE DIRT?

>> YOU COULD DO THAT.

OR, IF IT'S HEAVY ENOUGH LAYER, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, CREATE SOME OPENINGS FOR PLANTING PURPOSES BUT IT ADDS AS A WEED BARRIER SO YOU ARE GETTING DUAL USE OUT OF THAT IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ENOUGH LEAVES.

>> SO MAKING GOOD USE OUT OF THAT AND GIVING YOUR GARDEN A BUFER TIME PERIOD.

ELAINE THIS IS ALSO THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT CANNING AND PRESERVING THEIR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GROWING ALL SUMMER.

WHAT ARE JUST SOME GENERAL TIPS, SOME IDEAS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT DOING THAT?

>> WELL, ONE THING WE'VE ALWAYS RECOMMEND IS THAT PEOPLE USE THE RESEARCH TESTED RECIPES AND PROCESSES, JUST FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.

AND DON'T MAKE ANY SUBSTITUTIONS, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE PROCESSES EXACTLY AND USE THE INGREDIENTS THAT ARE CALLED FOR IN THE RECIPE.

JUST, AGAIN, FOR SAFETY REASONS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CANNING A SAFE PROCESS.

NO SHORTCUTS.

WE DO REQUIRE ALL CANNING SHOULD HAVE A PROCESSING STEP AND BY PROCESSING, WHAT I MEAN IS ONCE THE FOOD GOES INTO THE JAR AND THE LID GOES ON, AND THE RING GOES AROUND IT, YOU STILL NEED TO DO A PROCESS EITHER IN THE WATER VAT CANNER OR THE PRESSURE CANNER.

AND THEN ALSO WE ARE GETTING NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH THAT WE ARE USING THE BEST QUALITY PRODUCE THAT WE CAN.

WE DON'T WANT TO USE OVER RIPE PRODUCT, OVER RIPE PRODUCE OUT OF THE GARDEN OR ANYTHING WITH BLEMISHES OR, YOU KNOW, SPOTS OR THAT KIND OF THING ON THE PRODUCE.

>> OKAY, THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

SO YOU CAN MAYBE WING IT A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU ARE COOKING IT AND YOU CAN TRY EXPERIMENTING A LITTLE BIT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND TESTED METHODS WHEN YOU ARE DOING THE CANNING PROCESS.

GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND.

AND WE DO HAVE A CALL.

AND THIS IS FROM SCOTT IN ALTOONA.

HI, SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE HOST AND GUESTS WOULD RECOMMEND FOR ME TO GROW IN MY GARDEN OVER THE WINTER TIME.

>> OPTIONS FOR GROWING IN YOUR GARDEN OVER THE WINTER TIME AND I TAKE IT YOU HAVE AN OUTSIDE GARDEN?

>> I DO.

>> TOM, ARE THERE ANY OPTIONS FOR THINGS HE CAN GROW TO EXTEND THE GROWING SEASON EVEN MORE IN THE WINTER?

>> YEAH, SO, I MEAN OUR OPTIONS ARE PRETTY LIMITED.

THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS THAT ARE GROWING THINGS IN THE GARDEN ARE WARM SEASON VEGETABLES, TOMATO, PEPPERS, SUMMER SQUASH.

THAT SEASON IS PRETTY MUCH WINDING DOWN.

THEN WE ARE GETTING INTO THE SEASON WHERE OF THE SCHOOL SEASON VEGETABLES CAN STILL GO ON FOR SEVERAL MORE WEEKS.

IT WOULD BE A BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, KALE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT TO PLANT THEM NOW IS GETTING A LITTLE LATE.

SO REALLY THE ONLY THINGS YOU CAN PLANT NOW, IF YOU HAVE STARTED THEM FROM SEED ARE THINGS LIKE RADISH, SOME OF THE LETTUCES, SPINACH.

AND EVEN THEN, YOU MAY NEED TO EXTEND THAT GROWING SEASON A LITTLE BIT INSTEAD OF JUST LEAVING IT OUT THERE IN THE OPEN.

EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON WOULD BE PUTTING THESE LITTLE TENTS, ROW COVERS OVER THAT SO THAT SOME HEAT IS TRAPPED.

SO THERE ARE STILL A COUPLE VEGETABLES YOU CAN PLANT.

THE OTHER THING IS GARLIC.

YOU CAN PLANT GARLIC THIS FALL, OF COURSE.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL WEEKS OF PLANTING SEASON FOR GARLIC BECAUSE THAT, OVER WINTER, YOU WOULD WANT TO PLANT THAT RELATIVELY-- IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE YOU DO WANT THE ROOTS TO GROW SO THAT THE BULB CAN GET THROUGH THE WINTER AND, YOU KNOW, A FLUSH OF GROWTH IN THE SPRING.

>> SO STILL SOME OPTIONS EVEN THOUGH IT'S WINDING DOWN.

YOU HAVE SOME OPTIONS GET SOME GARLIC IN THERE IF NOTHING ELSE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL FROM ED IN BELLEFONTE.

HI, ED, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR CALL.

I GUESS THIS QUESTION IS ADDRESSED TO TOM.

WE ARE RELATIVELY NEW BEE KEEPERS.

WE HAVE TWO HIVES THIS YEAR TO HELP POLL POLLINATE OUR FRUIT TREES AND OUR GARDEN AND WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BEES SEEM HUNGRY AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH POLLEN SO WE STARTED FEEDING THEM SUGAR WATER A LITTLE AREA.

WE BELONG TO A CLUB IN CENTRE COUNTY AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE OBSERVED THE BEES DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING ENOUGH NUTRITION AND THERE ISN'T A LOT OF HONEY IN THEIR SUPERS.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE TREND IN CLINTON COUNTY?

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT ELSEWHERE?

>> ED, YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING QUESTION.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, TOM?

AS A BEE KEEPER?

>> JUST BACK UP A SECOND.

SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BEES AND FORAGING AND FOOD SUPPLY.

GOING INTO WINTER, HONEY BEES TYPICALLY NEED ANYWHERE 40, 50, 60 POUNDS OF HONEY LEFT BEHIND SO THAT THEY CAN CONSUME THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THOSE COLD WINTER MONTHS.

THEY CAN'T GO OUT AND FORAGE BECAUSE IT'S WAY TOO COLD.

SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME FOOD LEFT BEHIND.

AND SO HE TALKED ABOUT FEEDING THEM.

SO THEY'RE FEEDING THEM SUGAR WATER SO THEY CAN PACK THAT IN SO THEY HAVE THAT FOR THE WINTER MONTHS.

HAVE I NOTICED THAT IN MY AREA?

NO, I HAVEN'T BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE IN CLINTON COUNTY, I LIVE NEAR THE CREEKS AND RIVER BOTTOMS.

THERE IS AN INVASIVE PLANT JAPANESE KNOT WEED IN FULL FLOWER LINING THE BANKS OF THE PINE CREEK NEAR WHERE I LIVE AND I STOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES TO SEE WHAT WAS VISITING AND FORAGING AND THERE WERE HONEY BEES ALL OVER.

SO THEY HAD A GOOD FALL SUPPLY OF NECTAR WHICH THEY WILL EVENTUALLY RIPEN AND THE YOUR HONOR INTO HONEY.

BUT-- AND TURN INTO HONEY.

BUT IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS A DIRTH AND YOU ARE GOING IN AND LOOKING AND INSPECTING YOUR HIVES AND YOU NOTICE THE FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LIGHT, YEAH, IT IS ENCOURAGED TO FEED THEM SUGAR WATER SO THEY CAN BUILD UP THEIR STORES.

>> THAT'S AN OKAY THING TO DO IF HE IS OBSERVING THAT AND SEEING OTHER BEE KEEPERS IN THE AREA ARE NOTICING THAT, TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE?

DO THE BEES BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY?

>> WELL, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO GOING INTO THE FALL, LIKE WE ARE NOW, IS OPEN UP YOUR HIVES AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH FOOD IS THERE.

YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT 30, 40 POUNDS OF HONEY THAT YOU CAN LEAVE BEHIND, YOU TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE OFF AND EXTRACT THAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY FROM THE HONEY BEES OR THEY WILL PERISH OVER THE WINTER MONTHS.

>> OKAY.

INTERESTING.

WELL, WE HOPE THAT HELPS, ED, AND YOUR HONEY BEES DO OKAY OVER THE WINTER.

AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO JUST CANNING FOR A MOMENT.

WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE BASIC STEPS FOR CANNING.

AND WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT SHOWS SOME OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.

I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT VIDEO AND ELAINE, COME BACK TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANNING BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DOING IT.

>> SURE.

>> AND FOR SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO REALLY QUICKLY AND COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT.

>> WHETHER ITS LOW ACID FOODS LIKE CORN, CHICKEN AND BEETEDS OR HIGH ACID FOODS LIKE APPLES, PICKLES AND JAMS AND JELLIES, THE CANNING PROCESS INVOLVES A KEY INGREDIENT: HEAT.

IT'S THE HEAT THAT WILL INITIALLY KILL ANY MICROORGANISM THAT CAN GROW AND CONTAMINATE YOUR FOOD.

THE HEATING PROCESS IS GENERATED IN BOILING WATER BATH CANNERS OR ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEM CANNERS FOR HIGH ACID FOODS AND PRESSURE CANNERS FOR LOW ACIDIC FOODS.

KEEP IN MIND, THE HIGHER THE ALTITUDE, THE LOWER THE BOILING POINT TEMPERATURE.

AND THEREFORE THE LONGER YOU WOULD HAVE TO BOIL THE FOOD.

ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 15 MINUTES.

PRESSURE CANNING IS ALSO AFFECTED BY ALTITUDE AND WOULD REQUIRE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED.

>> SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANNING.

WATER CANNING, AND PRESSURE CANNING.

FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS NEW TO THIS, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMING.

MAYBE BREAK THAT DOWN FOR US AND DECIDE WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO.

>> OKAY, SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE WHAT THE ACIDITY IS OF THE FOOD THAT YOU ARE CANNING.

SO FOR HIGH ACID FOODS, AND THIS WOULD INCLUDE MOST OF YOUR FRUITS AND ANYTHING THAT YOU ACIDIFY LIKE WITH PICKLE, YOU KNOW, PICKLES, ANY VEGETABLES THAT YOU MIGHT PICKLE, JAMS, JELLIES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF ACID IN THEM.

SO THOSE CAN BE SAFELY WATER BATH CANNED OR ATMOSPHERIC SYSTEM CANNED.

AS FAR AS LOW ACID FOODS, THEY DO NEED TO BE PRESSURE CANNED, SO THESE ARE MOST OF YOUR VEGETABLES AND MEATS, POULTRY, THAT KIND OF THING, HAVE LOW ACID.

AND THEY NEED TO BE PRESSURE CANNED BECAUSE WE NEED TO RAISE THE BOILING POINT ABOVE 212 UP TO 240° WITH THAT PRESSURIZED STEAM IN THE PRESSURE CANNER.

THAT'S GOING TO KILL THE BOTULISM, THE BACTERIA AND PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE KILLED BY A BOILING TEMPERATURE.

SO THE SPORES, SAY ARE NOT GOING TO BE KILLED AT 212.

THEY REQUIRE THE HIGHER SYSTEM OR PRESSURIZED SYSTEM.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW.

SO IN SOME WAYS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU ARE CANNING, THE DECISION IS MADE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY AGAIN WANT TO FOLLOW THE SAFETY GUIDELINES ON THAT, REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT HELPS A LOT.

AND WE HAVE A CALL AND THIS IS FROM DICK IN JOHNSTOWN.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" WITH WPSU AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> YES, IT'S MOSTLY A COMMENT BUT IT WILL DEVELOP INTO A QUESTION.

I TOURED AN APPLE ORCHARD TODAY, A BEAUTIFUL DAY, TREES LADEN WITH VERY LARGE APPLES, IMMIGRANTS PICKING THEM.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

THEN I WAS GIVEN SOME APPLES AND THERE WAS NO TASTE TO THEM.

I FEAR WE HAVE BRED THE TASTE OUT OF OUR APPLES AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOUR PANEL WOULD HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OKAY, THANKS FOR YOUR CALL, DICK, AND I IMAGINE, JUST GOING BACK TO WHO IS PICKING THE APPLES, WE HAVE PICKERS FROM ALL OVER, ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

BUT ARE THERE ANY NEW CHANGES IN APPLES?

>> NO, I MEAN THE APPLE MARKET IS DRIVEN BY THE CONSUMER TASTE AND PREFERENCE.

AND I JUST WONDER MAYBE THE VARIETY WASN'T MATURE ENOUGH YET.

YOU KNOW, ALL APPLES ARE NOT HARVESTED AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE IS AN EXTENDED HARVEST, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT VARIETY IS.

SOME OF THEM RIPEN EARLIER, SOME OF THEM MATURE LATER.

JUST MAYBE THAT COULD BE PART OF THE ISSUE.

I'VE EATEN SOME OF THE LOCAL APPLES AND THE ONES I HAVE EATEN ARE GOOD SO I DON'T KNOW.

>> LIKE ANYTHING, IT DEPENDS ON THAT PARTICULAR ORCHARD OR TIME OF YEAR, JUST LIKE ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLE.

>> YEAH, THE GROWING CONDITIONS WERE FINE.

I MEAN IT WAS PRETTY DRY IN THE BEGINNING PART OF THE SEASON, BUT THEN WE GOT PLENTY OF MOISTURE FROM THE MID POINT ON.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE FRUIT WAS ABLE TO SIZE UP WITH PLENTY OF SUNLIGHT, PHOTOSYNTHESIS OCCURRED, CAN'T STORAGE IN THE CARBOHYDRATE STORAGE IN THE FRUITS.

>> IT'S HARD TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.

SORRY WE COULDN'T GIVE YOU A MORE SPECIFIC ANSWER BUT IT PROBABLY JUST DEPENDS A LOT ON THE SITUATION.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, I'M ANNE DENNEHY AND THIS IS WPSU' "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" GARDENING AND CANNING TALKING WITH TWO EXPERTS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

YOU CAN EMAIL ON YOUR QUESTIONS AT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CANNING AND THE SAFETY.

ARE THERE JUST COMMON OR EASY TO MAKE MISTAKES THAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY'RE NEW TO CANNING BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT, AS WERE YOU SAYING, TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO BE SAFE.

>> I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE MISTAKES I MADE BEFORE I CAME TO PENN STATE EXTENSION, WHEN I WAS OUT THERE TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO CAN ON MY OWN AND SOME OF THE THINGS I DID, I DIDN'T HEAT THE JARS.

NOW I KNOW I GET MY CANNER HEATED UP, GET THE WATER IN IT, PUT THE JARS IN THIS THERE, GET THEM HEATED, YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST PUTTING IT IN COLD AND THAT MAY AFFECT PUTTING-- I WAS PUTTING THE PRODUCT IN THE COLD JARS AND THEN PUTTING THE COLD JARS IN THE BOILING WATER.

; WHICH SOMETIMES WOULD I HAVE THEM CRACK.

>> TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE.

>> SO THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

BUT, YOU KNOW,.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE PROCESSING FOR THE RIGHT LENGTH OF TIME SO THAT IT GETS TO THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO REUSE THEIR LIDS.

I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO DO THAT.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT SAVES THEM MONEY, BUT THE LIDS, THE ADHESIVE ON THE LIDS IS, IF YOU USE THEY WILL ONE TIME AND THEN TRY TO USE THEM AGAIN, MAYBE SOME OF THE ADHESIVE IS GONE.

YOU MIGHT GET A GOOD SEAL THE SECOND TIME BUT YOU MIGHT NOT AND THE SEAL COULD FAIL LATER ON SO YOU ARE REALLY NOT SAVING ANY MONEY.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO WATCH OUT FOR.

AND JUST USING CORRECT HEAD SPACE WHEN YOU ARE FILLING THE JARS SO THE HEAD SPACE IS THE AIR THAT IS AT THE TOP OF THE JAR FROM THE TOP OF THE RIM DOWN TO THE LIQUID THAT'S IN THE JAR.

HERE AGAIN IS WHEN YOU NEED TO FOLLOW YOUR RECIPE OR YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR PROCESS AND GET THE CORRECT HEAD SPACE, BECAUSE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS REQUIRE DIFFERENT HEAD SPACE AND THAT'S BECAUSE AS THE JAR IS PROCESSED, THAT AIR IS GOING TO ESCAPE OUT THE JAR AND CREATE THAT VACUUM THAT GIVES YOU A GOOD SEAL AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, HELPS PREVENT SPOILAGE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KEEP YOUR JARS OVER THE YEAR.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND YOU CAN REUSE THE JARS.

IT'S JUST THE LIDS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO.

YOU ARE BETTER OFF NOT REUSING.

>> YES, YOU CAN REUSE THE JARS AND YOU CAN ALSO REUSE THE RINGS THAT HOLD THE LID ON, BUT DON'T REUSE THE FLAT.

SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM THE FLAT.

>> AND ANOTHER OPTION IS ACTUALLY FREEZING YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE SHOW.

YOU SAID THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DO.

ARE THERE PROs AND CONS TO FREEZING VERSUS CANNING, ELAINE, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> YES, FREEZING IS A GOOD OPTION.

SOME PEOPLE FREEZE-- ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE MAY NOT FREEZE IS, YOU KNOW, LIMITED CAPACITY FOR FREEZER STORAGE.

BUT FREEZING IS, IN SOME WAYS, A LOT EASIER, QUICKER, DOESN'T HEAT UP YOUR KITCHEN AS MUCH.

AND FREEZING, IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY, IF YOU GET, YOU KNOW, THINGS FROZEN QUICKLY, IT DOES PRESERVE THE FLAVOR, THE TEXTURE , YOU KNOW, OF THE PRODUCT.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION.

>> WE HAVE SEVERAL PEACH TREES SO I'LL FREEZE THE PEACHES, CUT THEM UP, SLICE THEM UP AND I LIKE THAT MUCH BETTER THAN CANNING THE PEACHES.

I THINK, YOU SAID IT, THE TEXTURE AND THE FLAVOR, I THINK IS A LITTLE MORE INTENSE WITH THE FREEZING THAN THE CANNING.

>> OKAY, INTERESTING.

DO YOU HAVE TO WORRY MORE ABOUT FREEZER BURN OR MISHAPS IF THE POWER GOES OUT.

>> YEAH THAT'S A BIG DISADVANTAGE.

IF WE GET A WINTER STORM OR SOMETHING AND IF POWER IS OUT, THEN, YEAH, EVERYTHING IN THE FREEZER CAN GO TO WASTE.

>> BUT OTHERWISE, YEAH.

>> YES, AND THE OTHER, YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT FREEZER BURN.

YOU DO WANT TO USE PACKAGING MATERIALS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR FREEZING.

SO, YOU KNOW, SEETHER FREEZER BAGS OR THE LITTLE FREEZER CARTONED-- CARTONS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO USE YOUR LEFTOVER MARGARINE TUBS OR THAT KIND OF THING.

YOU DO WANT TO USE SPECIFIC PACKAGING MATERIALS.

THAT KEEPS THE AIR OUT AND THE MOISTURE IN, SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE OTHER TYPES OF CONTAINERS THAT WE LIKE TO TRY TO USE UP ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR THAT.

>> OKAY.

SAVE THOSE FOR THE FRIDGE OR SOMETHING OR STORING OTHER THINS BUT NOT FOR THE FREEZER.

THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW.

WELL, TOM, GOING BACK TO YOUR GARDENING GETTING THINGS READY FOR WINTER AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES AN URGE TO DO A LOT OF CLEANUP BUT IS IT ACTUALLY GOOD TO LEAVE CERTAIN TYPES OF FLOWERS AND PLANTS JUST LEAVE THEM OUT FOR THE WINTER?

>> YEAH, SOMEHOW WE GOT ON THE TREND, LIKE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN IT CAME TO CLEANING UP THE GARDEN AND THE LANDSCAPE, YOU TAKE EVERYTHING DOWN.

THE RESEARCH OVER THE YEARS HAS SHOWN WE HAVE SOME NATIVE INSECTS, SPECIFICALLY NATIVE BEES THAT WILL USE THESE FLOWER STALKS AS A PLACE WHERE THEY RAISE THEIR YOUNG AND WINTER THERE.

SO THESE ARE FLOWER STEMS THAT ARE HOLLOW AND I GET IT IF YOU ARE ON A CORNER LOT, YOU WANT THINGS TO LOOK A LITTLE NEAT AND PRIM AND PROPER, BUT IF YOU HAVE THOSE FLOWER BEDS THAT ARE A LITTLE OFF TO THE SIDE OR IN THE BACK, REALLY WE SHOULD GET IN THE HABIT OF JUST LETTING THEM GO, JUST LETTING THEM STAY OVER THE WINTER AND INTO THE SPRING SO THAT IF THERE ARE SOME NATIVE BEES NESTING IN THERE, GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO COMPLETELY LIFE CYCLE, EMERGE AND DO THEIR THING FOR THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.

>> OKAY.

SO IT ALSO MEANS A LITTLE LESS WORK.

MAYBE JUST LEAVE A LITTLE PATCH.

>> I USE THAT WITH MY WIFE.

I'M NOT GOING OUT AND DOING THAT WORK.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO LET IT GO AND IT'S A GOOD EXCUSE.

>> A GOOD REASON TO DO IT.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

ELAINE, GOING BACK TO THE CANNING AND PRESERVING.

ARE THERE CERTAIN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE EASIER TO DO THAN OTHERS.

TOM WAS TALKING ABOUT FREEZING THE PEACHES RATHER THAN CANNING THEM.

ARE THERE ONES THAT YOU THINK, IF YOU WERE JUST A BEGINNER, THINKING ABOUT STARTING TO DO IT, WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START?

>> WELL, I THINK PEACHES ARE A GOOD START TOMATO, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMMONLY AVAILABLE STR IEMS THE EASIEST THINGS TO START WITH.

PICKLES, JAMS, JELLIES AND THESE ARE ON THE WATER BATH CANNING SIDE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FEEL A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE FOR PRESSURE CANNING SO IF THEY GET SOME CONFIDENCE WITH THESE TYPES OF PRODUCTS, THEN THEY MAY , YOU KNOW, HAVE LESS ANXIETY AND THINK ABOUT GOING INTO MORE PRESSURE CANNING.

THOSE SOME ARE SOME OF THE EASIER THINGS, TOMATOES, SALSA JAMS, JELLIES, PEACHES, APPLES.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU STARTED OFF WITH WHEN YOU STARTED?

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT I STARTED WITH.

>> AND GRADUATED FROM THERE.

>> THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A NEWCOMER TO IT, IT CAN SEEM-- YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO DO IT CORRECTLY AND NOT MAKE THOSE MISTAKES.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

WELL, SO, TOM, THIS IS ALSO A GOOD TIME FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR LAWN.

SO NOT THAT PART OF IT THAT'S PLANTED WITH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO ARE THERE GOOD THINGS TO DO NOW TO GET YOUR LAWN READY FOR THE WINTER?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, MOST FOLKS IN PENNSYLVANIA HAVE THESE LAWNS THAT ARE COMPRISED OF COOL SEASON GRASSES SO COOL SEASON MEANING THEY'RE ACTIVELY GROWING IN THE COOL PART OF THE YEAR.

SPRING AND FALL.

DURING THE SUMMER THEY GO SOMEWHAT DORMANT BECAUSE IT'S HOT AND THE MOISTURE IS NOT AS READILY AVAILABLE.

RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO OVERSEED IF, YOU KNOW, THE KID CREATED A BARE SPOT, GOOD TIME TO PUT DOWN SEED.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME AREA ASIAN, THIS IS JUST-- AIRATION, IS CREATING HOLES IN THE LAWN IT LOOSENS THE SOIL UP A BIT.

A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT.

SO YEAH, LAWN CARE RIGHT NOW IS REALLY, IT'S A GOOD TIME.

>> OKAY.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF ONE THING I'VE SEEN IS NO MOW LAWNS.

APPEALING ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.

OR GROUND COVER, SOMETHING, YOU THINK, OKAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO LEAVE IT FOR THE BEES OR THE OTHER INSECTS.

I DON'T HAVE TO MOW IT IS ANOTHER ADVANTAGE.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT AND WHETHER THOSE ARE FEASIBLE?

>> YEAH A NO MOW LAWN.

I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE SO MAYBE THAT'S A NEW ONE COMING ALONG.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE GRASSES, THEY'RE GOING TO GROW.

NOW THERE ARE SOME GRASSES THAT WILL GROW SLOWER THAN OTHERS AND SO THEN YOU CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU MOW THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

SO SOME OF THE CREEPING RED FESKUES AND THEY'RE SLOWER GROWING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T TAKE AS MUCH WEAR AND TEAR SO IF YOU'VE GOT KIDS THAT ARE REALLY ACTIVE OR PETS, THOSE ARE A LITTLES MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR AND TEAR AND THEN YOU'VE GOT OTHER PROBLEMS.

SO, YEAH, THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE MAINTENANCE AROUND GRASS.

NOW THE OTHER THING YOU COULD DO IS TAKE THE GRASS OUT AND GO WITH SOME OF THE GROUND COVERS AND SO THAT IS AN OPTION, YES.

>> IF YOU REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO MOW OR YOU WERE INTERESTED AGAIN, LIKE BEING A HOME FOR THE INSECTS AND OTHER ANIMALS.

THAT'S AN OPTION TO LOOK AT.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A CALL FROM STEVE IN DUBOIS.

THANKS FOR CALLING "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" ON WPSU.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU FREEZE THE LITTLE ITALIAN FLAT STRING BEANS.

I GROW ABOUT 20, 30 POUNDS A YEAR AND I GIVE THEM AWAY.

NOW SOMETIMES I TWANT TO KEEP IT FOR WINTER TIME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FREEZE THEM.

BUT OR PROPERLY.

YOU KNOW.

ANY DIRECTIONS HOW TO DO IT?

>> OKAY.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO FREEZING STRING BEANS.

ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ON THAT ELAINE?

>> WELL, AS WITH MOST VEGETABLES THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FREEZE... >> I'M JUST GOING TO-- THERE WE GO.

WE WERE JUST GETTING A LITTLE FEEDBACK FROM HIM.

GO AHEAD.

>> OKAY, SO AS WITH ANY VEGETABLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO FREEZE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, OF COURSE, IS, YOU KNOW, CLEAN THEM, TAKE THE ENDS OFF, PUT THEM IN BITE SIZED PIECES OR WHATEVER.

AND THEN THERE IS A BLANCHING PROCESS, WHICH IS STARTS TO-- WAS WE DO WITH THAT IS PUT THE VEGETABLES INTO BOILING WATER FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, A MINUTE OR TWO MINUTES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PRODUCT IS AND THEN PACK THOSE INTO FREEZER BAGS-- COOL THEM, DRAIN THEM, PACK THEM INTO FREEZER BAGS OR FREEZER CARTONS.

THE BLANCHING PROCESS HELPS SLOW DOWN THE ENZYMES THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD GO ON AND SPOIL THE PRODUCT OR, YOU KNOW, LOSE THE NUTRIENT VALUE, THAT SORT OF THING.

SO IT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD.

WE DO HAVE RESOURCES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE AVAILABLE TO-- I CAN'T GIVE ALL THE SPECIFIC MINUTES AND SO FORTH FOR HOW EVERYTHING IS DONE, BUT WE DO HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE PENN STATE EXTENSION WEBSITE IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH A QUESTION AFTER THE SHOW TONIGHT.

SO WITH THE GREEN BEANS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE A CANDIDATE FOR SPB WHO HASN'T CANNED A LOT BEFORE?

YOU COULD FREEZE THEM OR TRY CANNING THEM, TOO?

>> SO GREEN BEANS ARE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE VEGETABLES THAT WE DO NEED TO PRESSURE CAN BECAUSE THEY'RE A LOW ACID FOOD.

SO WE REALLY DO NEED TO USE THE PRESSURE CANNING PROCESS FOR GREEN BEANS.

>> PUT THEM IN BAGS TREES THEM AND COME BACK AND THINK ABOUT CANNING THEM NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE A CALL FROM MARY IN STATE COLLEGE.

HI, MARY, THANKS FOR CALLINGS CONVERSATION LIVE AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.

I DO.

I PLANT SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND WHAT HAPPENS IS A BIRD OR SOME INSECT EATS THE SEED OR EVEN IF IT GERMINATES, IT GETS AN INCH HIGH OR SOMETHING, SOMEONE EATS IT.

I'M NOT NIMBLE ENOUGH TO MAKE LITTLE CAGES TO GO AROUND EVERY SEED.

I WAS THINKING IF IT'S FEASIBLE, COULD I TAKE A TIN CAN AND TAKE OFF BOTH ENDS AND PUT THAT DOWN AROUND THE SEED?

I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY SO I CAN GET MY SUNFLOWERS TO GERMINATE AND GROW.

SO ANY HELP.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE SUNFLOWERS HAVE BEEN REALLY POPULAR IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> SURE HAVE.

>> REALLY BEAUTIFUL FLOWERY KIND OF, YOU GET TO ENJOY IT.

EVERYBODY DRIVES OR WALKS BY GETS TO ENJOY IT.

SO ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, HOW TO GET THE SEEDS GROWING SO THEY CAN GET PAST THE BIRDS OR WHATEVER IS ENJOYING THEM.

>> GO IT'S BIRD,-- IF IT'S BIRDS, MAYBE INSTEAD OF TINS CAN, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A ROW OF THESE SUNFLOWER SEEDS, LIKE A ROLL OF CHICKEN WIRE TO CREATE THE BARRIER WHERE THE ANIMAL CAN'T COME DOWN AND FEED OR PECK AWAY.

>> SOME TYPE OF FENCING... >> JUST ROLL IT OVER.

IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH BEST TO PLACE THAT ON THE GROUND TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE SEEDS GET, YOU KNOW, THE SEEDLINGS GET A CERTAIN HEIGHT.

>> AND THEY'RE ANNUALS, RIGHT?

>> SUNFLOWERS?

>> YES THEY'RE ANNUALS.

>> HAVE YOU TO REPLANT THEM EVERY YEAR.

SO IFIC COME UP WITH A GOOD TECHNIQUE FOR PROTECTING THEM ONE YEAR MAYBE YOU CAN USE THAT FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS, TOO.

WE HOPE THAT HELPS, MARY AND YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH YOUR SUNFLOWERS IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.

AND WE'LL JUST TAKE A BREAK TO REMIND PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, THEY, TOO, CAN JOIN US.

I'M ANNE DENNEHY AND THIS IS WPSU'S "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" GARDENING AND CANNING.

WE ARE TALKING WITH TWO EXPERTS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

SO THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR, I MEAN, THE GARDEN SEASON IS KIND OF WINDING DOWN BUT YOU GET OUT THE CATALOGS IN THE MAIL AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PLANTING IN THE SPRING.

AND BULBS THOUGH.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN PLAN RIGHT NOW.

IS THIS A TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO GET THEM IN BY.

>> YOU DO WANT THE ROOTS TO GROW A LITTLE BIT.

SO THEY GET ESTABLISHED, BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH WINTER AND PUT UP THAT FLUSH OF GROWTH IN THE SPRING.

SO RIGHT NOW IS A REAL GOOD TIME YOU CAN STILL PLACE ORDERS OR GO TO GARDEN CENTERS AND PURCHASE THOSE NOW.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU WOULD WANT TO GET THOSE BULBS IN.

YOUR TULIPS, DAFFODILS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> AND IS NOW ALSO THE TIME TO SEPARATE THEM, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, FOR A LOT OF OUR PERENNIALS, YES.

IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, LET'S SAY TULIPS BECAUSE THE FOLIAGE THAT WAS GREEN AND ROBUST IS PRETTY MUCH DIED DOWN AND IT ALMOST MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THERE SO IF YOU CAN FIND THOSE BULBS NOW, YOU CAN DIG THEM UP AND DIVIDE THEM AND THAT GOES WITH ALMOST ANY PERENNIAL RIGHT NOW IS, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DIVIDE THEM, PLACE THEM IN THEIR SEPARATE LOCATIONS, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF HEAD START TO GROW SOME ROOTS, GET THROUGH THE WINTER AND YEP, JUST A FLUSH OF GROWTH IN THE SPRING.

>> ELAINE IS NODDING HER HEAD, TOO, AND I AM, TOO, THINKING ABOUT THE TULIP AND HOW DO YOU FIND IT?

YOU KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA WHERE THE TULIP IS BUT DO YOU GUESSTIMATE AND TRY TO LIKE... >> YEAH, THAT OR AND I'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO DO DIVISION OF THE BULBS, I'LL PUT FLAGS OUT BECAUSE I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL GREEN.

AND THEN I FORGET ABOUT IT BUT I KNOW WHERE THE FLAGS ARE AND THEN CAN I GO DO SOME DIGGING AND DIVIDE.

>> DO YOU HAVE A WAY OF LIKE DAFFODILS THAT GET IN BIG MASSIVE BULBS OF NOT BREAKING INTO THE DAF DAF BILL BULB OR IS THAT PART OF IT.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GO INTO SMALL TINY BITS BUT BREAK THEM UP INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS AND DIVIDE THEM AND PLANT THEM IN THAT LOCATION.

OVER TIME, THE VIGOR OF THE PLANT STARTS TO KIND OF GO DOWN SO THAT THE DIVISION OF THE MASS WILL HELP FOR THE NEXT GROWING SEASON.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

WE HAVE A CALL FROM HAL IN REEDSVILLE THANKS FOR CALLING AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> I HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF CRAB GRASS IN MY GRASS LAWN.

I HAVE SPRAYED IT WITH A CRAB GRASS KILLER WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE EFFECT, MY QUESTION IS WILL THAT RETURN IN THE SPRING?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> RIGHT.

SO, A LOST FOLKS GET REALLY KIND OF BOTHERED WITH CRAB GRASS BECAUSE THE ESTHETICS AGAINST WHATEVER OTHER GRASS YOU HAVE IN THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN CRAB GRASS IS AN ANNUAL, NOT A PERENNIAL, THAT PLANT, ONCE IT GETS HIT BY THE FROST, IS GOING TO DIE.

BUT IT WILL BE GOING TO SEED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY AND THAT SEED SPREADS.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE SITTING ON THAT SOIL AND GOING TO BE READY TO GERMINATE IN THE SPRING.

SO LIKE TWO PLANS OF ACTION HERE.

ONE IS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A HEALTHY ROBUST STAND OF TURF GRASS, THE DESIRABLE GRASS BECAUSE WHEN THAT IS REALLY DENSE AND THICK, IT SHADES OUT THAT CRAB GRASS SEED AND IT DOESN'T GERMINATE.

IT NEEDS SUN LIGHT TO START THE GERM GERMINATION PROCESS AND THE OTHER IS TO USE A PREEMERGENT HERBICIDE.

IN THE SPRING YOU WOULD PUT DOWN THE HERBICIDE AND THAT WOULD PREVENT THE CRAB GRASS FROM GETTING ESTABLISHED.

>> SO A COUPLE OF OPTIONS THERE IF YOU WANT TO USE A LITTLE ELBOW GREASE AND TRY TO GET IT OUT THAT WAY OR OTHERWISE TO USE AN HERBICIDE IN THE SELECTIVE AREAS AND MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT GOOD HEALTHY GRASS HOPEFULLY MATTING IT OUT.

>> THAT GOES BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD ABOUT IT'S A GOOD TIME TO HERE SEED, PUT OUT GRASS SEED NOW SO IF THERE ARE ANY OPEN SPOTS OR BARE SPOTS, THE GRASS SEED WILL FILL THE VOID AND CROWD OUT THE WEED SEEDS FROM COMING IN.

>> GOOD ADVICE.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL AND THIS IS FROM DANIEL IN ALTOONA.

HI, DANIEL.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING CONVERSATION IS LIVE AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING PIE CALL.

WOULD I LIKE TO POSSIBLY OVER THE WINTER MY ANNUAL FLOWERS GROWING IN THE GARDEN.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AND WHAT KIND OF BUGS SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT?

>> YOU'VE GOT BUGS ON YOUR ANNUALS?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> WELL, NO.

I DON'T NOW BUT I'M WORRIED IF I BRING IN PLANTS, I MAY BRING IN SOME UNFRIENDLY INDIVIDUALS.

>> OKAY.

>> WELL, SURE, IF IT'S OUT THERE IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, THEY'RE OUT THERE.

SO I THINK THE BIGGEST THING YOU MIGHT BRING IN IS AIF I HAD AFIDS THAT MIGHT JUMP FROM OUTSIDE TO THE INDOOR HOUSE PLANTS.

THE THING WITH ANNUALS, THEY'RE ANNUALS.

THE LIFE CYCLE IS ONE YEAR.

I THINK MY PLAN OF ACTION ON THIS WOULD BE TO LET THE ANNUALS GO TO SEED, HARVEST THE SEED AND THEN PLANT THAT SEED NEXT YEAR SO A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE MARIGOLDS.

SO, LET THOSE PAIR GOLDS, THEY'RE STARTING TO SET THE SEED NOW, LET THEM DRY AND JUST STORE THAT SEED IN A COOL, DRY PLACE OVER THE WINTER.

AND THEN START FRESH WITH A NEW SET OF ANNUALS.

>> OKAY.

SO THAT'S ONE APPROACH TO TRY.

WE HOPE THAT HELPS, DANIEL AND YOU CAN GET YOUR GARDEN GOING FOR NEXT YEAR, TOO, THINKING ABOUT IT.

WELL, ELAINE, I WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT TO-- YEAH, THANK YOU.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO CANNING AGAIN.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES BUT VENISON AND OTHER MEATS IS SOMETHING THAT IS POPULAR TO PRESERVE.

ARE THERE ANY IMPORTANT TIPS TO THAT, TOO?

BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PRODUCT.

>> YES, YES.

SO, YES, IT IS POPULAR IN THIS AREA TO CAN VENISON AND OTHER MEATS CAN BE CANNED AS WELL.

BEEF, CHICKEN.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THEY DO HAVE TO BE PRESSURE CANNED.

IF-- THEY CAN ALSO AS WELL BE FROZEN.

SO YOU KNOW, IF IT'S FRESHLY SLAUGHTERED MEAT, IT REALLY SHOULD BE COOLED DOWN TO 40° WITHIN 24 HOURS.

AND THEN PACKAGING IS IMPORTANT FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR FREEZING AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO WITH MEAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE USING FREEZER PACKAGING AS WELL AS THAT'S GOING TO HELP KEEP THE MOISTURE IN AND AIR OUT.

THOSE ARE TIPS FOR FREEZING AND AS I SAID WITH IT HAS TO BE PRESSURE CANNED SO PROPER PROCEDURES HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED WITH THAT.

ANOTHER THING THAT IS POPULAR IS MAKING JERKY.

SO DOUGH HYDRATING THE MEAT AND WITH THAT, WE DO RECOMMEND, I CALL IT A KILL STEP WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY BEFORE YOU DEHYDRATE, YOU EITHER BOIL OR BAKE THE MEAT TO KELL ANY BACTERIA OR PATHOGENS IN THE MEAT BEFORE YOU DEHYDRATE IT.

BECAUSE THE DEHYDRATING TEMPERATURE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO KILL THOSE BACTERIA AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING.

AND AS I SAID, DEHYDRATING.

MAKING JERKY IS REALLY POPULAR IN THIS AREA.

>> DEFINITELY AND AGAIN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN GO ONLINE AND FIND THE RESOURCES IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THINGS ABOUT IT, TOO.

GREAT TO KNOW.

AND WE HAVE A CALL AND THIS IS FROM PATTY IN STATE COLLEGE.

HI, PATTY.

THANKS FOR CALLING "CONVERSATIONS LIVE."

AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> I DO, YES, THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL AND THANK YOU TO YOUR GUESTS THIS EVENING.

I'M LEARNING LOTS OF TIPS AND GETTING LOTS OF INFORMATION.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAVE A SMALL PINE TREE IN MY BACKYARD.

MY DAUGHTER WOULD LIKE IT BUT SHE LIVES IN A TOWN HOME AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO PLANT IT.

SO I'M WONDERING IF I PULL IT OUT OF THE GROUND, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IF I LEAVE IT THERE TOO LONG, IT'S GOING TO GET REALLY BIG AND, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE A PROBLEM LATER.

BUT IF WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE GROUND AND PUT IT IN A POT AND IF SHE LEAVES IT OUTSIDE ON HER PORCH, WILL IT MAKE IT, LIKELY IT LIVE?

>> I WOULDN'T PUT IT ON THE PORCH.

WOULD I MAKE SURE HAVE YOU A BIG ENOUGH POT THAT IT'S GOING TO FIT THE MARKET OF THAT ROOTING STRUCTURE.

AND THEN I WOULD PUT THAT POT IN A PILE OF MULCH OR DIG A WHOLE AND PUT THE POT IN THE HOLE.

MY CONCERN THERE IS IF YOU ARE PUTTING IT ON THE PORCH, WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, THAT ROOT NOW IS EXPOSED TO THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES ALL AROUND THIS POT WHERES IF IT IS SUBMERGED INTO THE GROUND OR MULCH PILE, YOU HAVE AN INSULATING LAYER FOR THE ROOTS.

PUTTING IT ON THE PORCH I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO WORK.

>> IF THEY WOULD PUT IT IN THEIR BASEMENT OR GARAGE WOULD THAT BE A BETTER CHOICE?

>> NO, I WOULDN'T GO WITH THAT EITHER.

IN THE BASEMENT I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT DRYING OUT, YOU KNOW, MOST BASEMENTS ARE PART OF THE HOUSE AND SO YOU'VE GOT THE FURNACE GOING.

IT'S REMOVING MOISTURE, HEAT PUMPS, THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING OF.

SO I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT PART.

MAYBE THE GARAGE.

THAT MIGHT WORK.

I THINK THAT'S A BETTER OPTION THAN THE PORCH.

BUT YEAH, I THINK ITS BEST BET WOULD BE TO BE OUTSIDE.

>> AND JUST BURY THE POT THEN.

>> BURY THE POT.

AND THEY DO THAT IN NURSERIES.

IT'S A NURSERY PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE, POT IN POT.

THEY'LL DIG A HOLE PUT A POT IN THE HOLE AND PUT THE POTTED PLANT IN THAT POT THAT'S IN THE SOIL.

AND IT'S CALLED POT IN POT PRODUCTION.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO INSULATE AND PROTECT THOSE ROOTS FROM THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES DURING THE WINTER.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY-- IT'S A NICE LITTLE TREE AND I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO-- WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE IT SO UNTIL THEY CAN FIND A SPOT FOR IT.

WE'LL LOOK INTO BURYING THE WHOLE POT THEN AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR CALLING PATTY.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU SEE THOSE KIND OF LIKE OWNER AMAL OR DECORATIVE TREES THAT ARE IN THE POTS SO THEY CAN HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> ABOVE SOIL?

>> YEAH YEAH I MEAN SOMETIMES YOU GO TO GARDEN CENTERS AFTER CHRISTMAS WHEN, YOU KNOW, NO ONE HAS BOUGHT THE LAST COUPLE POTTED PLANTS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THOSE ROOT BULBS ARE FREEZING SOLID AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ROOTS.

I MEAN STILL A LIVING ORGANISM.

SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT THERE AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF THESE EVERGREENS, WHETHER IT'S RHODODENDRON, AZALEA OR NEEDLES, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SUNLIGHT OR WIND GOING OVER THE SURFACE, IT'S EXTRACTING MOISTURE FROM THE NEEDS AND LEAVES SO THOSE ROOTS HAVE TO BRING MOISTURE UP FROM THE GROUND INTO THAT INTO THE LEAVES AND NEEDLES TO REPLACE THE LOST MOISTURE.

IF THOSE ROOTS ARE FROZEN, THEY CAN'T MOVE WATER UP THROUGH THE PLUMBING SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING DIES.

>> IT DRIES OUT AND DIES.

>> YEAH, OKAY.

SOMETHING GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND.

AND IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, I'M ANNE DENNEHY AND THIS IS WPSU'S "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" GARDENING AND CANNING.

WE ARE TALKING WITH TWO EXPERTS HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242.

YOU CAN EMAIL ON YOUR QUESTIONS AT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

SO, TOM, WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT I.T.

ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BE TRANSPLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS, RIGHT?

AND SO WHAT ARE SOME KEY, JUST SOME KEY STEPS THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT?

>> SO, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE DIGGING THE HOLE AND SO FORTH?

>> UH-HUH.

>> SO WORKING WITH HOMEOWNERS AND SOME OF THE LANDSCAPE COMMUNITY ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES WHEN IS THEY DIG THE HOLE, THEY DIG THE HOLE TOO DEEP, PUT THE TREE IN THE HOLE AND THE ROOT BALL IS TOO DEEP IN THE SOIL PROFILE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT ROOTS BREATHE.

THERE IS AN EXCHANGE OF GASES.

SO IF THEY'RE TOO DEEP, THEY'RE BASICALLY GOING TO SUFFOCATE.

IT WILL BE A SLOW DEATH.

IT WON'T BE INSTANTANEOUS BUT THE HEALTH OF THE TREE WILL SLOWLY DECLINE AND EVENTUALLY DIE.

SO THE BIGGEST THING IS DIGGING THE HOLE.

MAKE SURE IT IS THE CORRECT DEPTH.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE WIDTH.

THE IDEA KIND OF BALL PARK IS AT LEAST THE HOLE SHOULD BE TWO TIMES THE SIZE OF THE ROOT BALL.

IF THE SOIL IS REALLY CLAY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DIG A LARGER HOLE BUT YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DIG A HOLE THAT JUST FITS THE ROOT BALL BECAUSE YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO RESTRICT ROOT GROWTH.

>> SO THE KEY PART OF IT IS THE SIZE OF THE HOLE THAT YOU ARE DIGGING.

>> AND IT'S A COMMON MISTAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE WHEN THEY'RE DIGGING A HOLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK I'LL DIG A HOLE AND PLOP THAT PLANT IN.

YOU REALLY NEED TO GAUGE THAT, THE TOP OF THE ROOT BALL SHOULD MEET THE SOIL LINE.

>> IF YOU DIG IT TOO DEEP, CAN YOU BUILD IT BACK UP AGAIN SO IT DOESN'T SINK DOWN?

>> YEAH SO IF YOU PUT THE TREE IN AND YOU NOTICE THIS THE ROOT BALL IS REALLY DEEP, YOU NEED TO REMOVE THAT TREE AND THE ROOT BALL AND PUT SOIL BACK IN.

BUT THE KEY ON THAT IS MAKE SURE YOU TAMP IT IN TIGHT.

BECAUSE IF YOU PUT IT IN LOOSE, THAT ROOT BALL IS GOING TO PUSH IT DOWN AND IT'S GOING TO SINK SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S FIRM SOIL UNDERNEATH IF YOU HAVE TO BACKFILL A LITTLES ABOUT I.T.

>> AND ANOTHER ISSUE I'VE NOTICED WITH ROOTS IS A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE ALL PACKED TOGETHER AND SO EVEN IF YOU ARE GET THE HOLE RIGHTED THE DEPTH AND RIGHT WIDTH, IS IT IMPORTANT TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THE ROOTS CAN GET OUT?

>> YEAH, YEAH, SO A LOT OF TIMES TREES AND SHRUBS ARE LEFT IN CONTAINERS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS, THEY HAVEN'T SOLD OR MOVED.

THE ROOTS, THEY WANT TO GROW OUT AND THEY'LL HIT THE SIDE OF THE POT AND JUST CURVE AROUND AND START GOING AROUND THE CIRCLE AND THEY'RE TRAINED TO GO AUNDER RO THE CIRCLE SO IF YOU PLANT THAT TREE WITH THE CIRCLING ROOTS, THE ROOTS WILL CONTINUE TO CIRCLE IN THE SOIL AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL GIRD WILL THE TREE.

IT WILL KILL THE TREE SO YOU MAY HAVE TO TEASE SOME OF THOSE ROOTS APART, MAYBE CUT A COUPLE OF THEM, SPREAD THEM OUT.

HAVE YOU TO BREAK THE CIRCLING THAT'S OCCURRING WITH THE ROOTS.

>> OKAY.

GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND.

AND WE DO HAVE AN EMAIL THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT HERE AND SEE IF WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION.

THIS IS FROM FAYE-- I'M SORRY, THIS IS FROM LYNN IN STATE COLLEGE.

LYNN WRITES WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO USE ON MY BROCCOLI TO KEEP THESE LITTLE GREEN WORMS OFF OF THEM, SOMETHING SAFE AND NOT HARMFUL TO HUMANS.

ANY OPTIONS TO KEEP THE WORMS OFF THE BROCCOLI?

>> IF YOU ONLY HAVE A COUPLE BROCCOLI PLANTS YOU CAN GO OUT AND SQUISH THEM BUT THERE ARE ORGANIC PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN USE.

THEY'RE USED IN ORGANIC PRODUCTION.

SO THERE ARE OPTIONS OUT THERE.

>> SO JUST GO TO THE GARDEN STORE AND ASK FOR THAT AND MAYBE SOMETHING SHE SHOULD ABLE TO GET EASILY.

>> THERE WITH THE REGULAR INSECTICIDES BECAUSE IT'S AN INSECTICIDE.

IT HAS TO HAVE A LABEL THAT'S APPROVED TO BE USED ON GARDEN VEGETABLES.

>> BUT AN ORGANIC ONE THAT IS SAFE TO USE.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

>> I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT.

THAT WHAT I DO, WHAT I'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS WORKED REALLY WELL, NO INSECTICIDES, AS I USE THE ROW COVERS, MAKE A LITTLE FRAME OVER YOUR ROW AND, YOU KNOW, USE A MESH OVER THEM.

THAT KEEPS THE LITTLE WHITE BUTTERFLIES FROM LAYING EGGS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BUGS COME FROM.

>> AND THAT'S EXCLUSION.

THAT WILL WORK.

YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT IT ON, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY COVER THE PLANT.

AND THAT WORKS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT VEGETABLES.

YOU CAN DO THAT FOR ALMOST ANYTHING.

BUT IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH FLOWERING CONVENIENT TAX BILLS-- VEGETABLES SUCH AS PUMPKINS AND CUCUMBERS, WOULD YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT NETTING OFF.

>> YOU CAN DO IT ON LETTUCE BECAUSE I'VE GROWN LETTUCE AND OTHER CRITTERS AND INSECTS ARE HELPING THEMSELVES TO IT, TOO.

>> YOU CAN GO OUT TO PENN STATE STUDENT FARM AND ALMOST ALL OF THEIR VEGETABLES ARE COVERED BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO EVEN USE ORGANIC SPRAY PRODUCTS.

THEY COVER THEM AND SO YOU DON'T HAVE THESE INSECTS COMING IN AND FEEDING.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

WE HAVE A CALL FROM FAYE IN STATE COLLEGE.

HI, FAYE, THANKS FOR CALLING WPSU "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> YES, I DO.

I HAVE A HOME RIGHT IN STATE COLLEGE, A MILE FROM TOWN.

IT'S A HALF ACRE.

I GROW A LOT OF FOOD, HAVE A LOT OF BERRIES.

AND MANY, MANY NATIVE PLANTS.

AND IT'S TOTALLY ORGANIC AND I HAVE BEES AND I HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT HAS PLANTED BAMBOO THAT HAS TAKEN OVER THE BACK BY THE BEES AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ORGANIC ANYWAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO USE TO GET RID OF THE BAMBOO.

I HAVE BEEN PULLING IT UP BY HAND BUT I'M 70 AND IT'S GETTING OLD.

AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE IT'S GETTING REAL THICK ALODGE THE-- THICK ALONG THE FENCE LINE.

IS THERE ANY OPTION TO GET RID OF THE BAMBOO WITHOUT HURTING THE BEES OR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> BAMBOO IS PRETTY RIGOROUS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS-- THERE ARE SOME BAMBOOS THAT ARE NOT INVASIVE BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL JUST SPREAD AND THEY CAN BE TOUGH TO ELIMINATE.

I MEAN I'VE HEARD STORIES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT IN BACK HOES TO GET RID OF THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE STRUCTURES, RESERVES THAT JUST SENDS UP THIS NEW GROWTH.

YOU CAN CONTINUALLY CUT DOWN THIS BAMBOO AND IT SENDS UP NEW GROWTH.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE COMMENT ON THAT, AND I HAVE NOT WORKED A LOT WITH BAMBOO SO THERE IS PROBABLY MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE, AND YOU CAN CALL ONE OF THE EXTENSION OFFICES AND GET THIS INFORMATION.

BUT THE THING WITH BAMBOO, IT'S NOT FLOWERING TO ATTRACT THOSE HONEY BEES.

HONEY BEES ARE NOT VISITING THE BAM BAMBOO SO THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY USE AN HERBICIDE.

AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD USE AN HERBICIDE, CUT THE BAMBOO AND APPLY THE HERBICIDE AT THE CUT LOCATION AND SO HONEY BEES ARE NOT GOING TO BE VISITING THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE ONE OPTION.

BUT I'VE REALLY NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH A BAMBOO ISSUE.

I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL SO I WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO LOOK AT SOME FACT SHEETS TO MAKE SURE ON THAT.

>> MAYBE SHE COULD CONTACT THE MASTER GARDENER AND SEE IF THEY CAN OFFER SUGGESTIONS OR TAKE A LOOK.

>> I KNOW THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW THE CONTROL MEASURES ON THE BEFT WAY TO TACKLE THAT.

>> IF WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND TALK TO THE MASTER GARDENER AND GET YOUR HANDS ON THAT INFORMATION.

>> SHE SAID SHE IS IN CENTRE COUNTY SO CENTRE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE IS OVER IN BELLEFONTE, AND YEAH, THEY'VE GOT A VERY ROBUST MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM.

PEOPLE THAT MAN THE HOT LINE SO THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR THEM.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUESTION FROM JIM IN CANE.

HI, JIM, THANKS FOR CALL, AND DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

>> GREAT PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING MY CALL.

THE MUGO PINE QUESTION.

HAVE A NUMBER OF MUGO PINES PLANTED IN ORNAMENTAL MOUNDS UNDERSTAND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, INTO THEY'RE DEVELOPING A SILVERY WHITE PUB ESSENCE ON THE LEAVES OR THE NEEDLES UNDERSTOOD IT'S KILLING THEM.

I HADN'T SEEN IT BEFORE.

THESE PARTICULAR TREE, HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THERE A HALF DOZEN OR SO YEARS, GROWN REALLY WELL, NO SIGNS UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO JUST STARTED SHOWING UP.

I'VE LOST SEVERAL AND IT LOOKS LIKE I ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO LEFT.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO HANG UP AND LISTEN TO THE ANSWER.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> IN THE MINUTE OR SO WE HAVE LEFT, IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO.

>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SILVERY DISCRIMINATION BUT THESE PINES, AND NOT JUST MUGO PINES BUT A COUPLE OTHER PINES, NEEDLE CASTS ARE DISEASES.

THEY'RE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT AND SO I THINK IT WAS JIM.

JIM, IF YOU COULD GET SOME SAMPLES OF THESE NEEDLES TO PENN STATE'S PLANT DISEASE CLINIC AND THAT WAY WE CAN DEFINITIVELY SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE PINES, BUT I REALLY SUSPECT IT'S ONE OF THE NEEDLE CASTS AND THESE DISEASES ARE CAUSED BY FUNGAL ORGANISMS.

THERE ARE WAYS TO CONTROL THAT, BASICALLY THE USE OF FUNK FUNGICIDE.

IT IS A FREE SERVICE.

YOU CAN MAIL IT YOURSELF OR MAYBE TAKE IT UP TO YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE AND OFTEN TIMES YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH AND THEY CAN BRING IT DOWN TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE OR DOWN TO THE PLANT DISEASE CLINIC HERE ON CAMPUS.

BUT IT'S A GREAT SERVICE.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY'LL DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE.

BUT I SUSPECT IT'S A NEEDLE CAST.

>> SO HOPEFULLY HE CAN AT LEAST SAVE A FEW OF THEM.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

WE HAVE ONLY A FEW MINUTES LEFT.

IS THERE ANY FINAL ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER THINKING ABOUT CANNING OR HAVEN'T DONE IT IN A WHILE, WANT TO GET BACK INTO IT.

>> WELL, AS I SAID, YOU KNOW, USE YOUR RESEARCH TESTED RECIPES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THE PENN STATE EXTENSION WEBSITE EXTENSION.PSU.EDU AND LOOK UP, YOU KNOW, HOME FOOD PRESERVATION WE DO HAVE A PRESERVING AT HOME RESOURCE GUIDE.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR SERIES OF LET'S PRESERVE FACT SHEETS ON MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS RELATED TO CANNING AND SPECIFIC FRUITS, VEGETABLES, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND PEOPLE CAN CALL THEIR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE IF THERE ISN'T A FOOD SAFETY EDUCATOR IN THAT OFFICE, WE DO HAVE I FOOD SAFETY HOT LINE WHICH IS BUZZING THIS TIME OF YEAR AS PEOPLE ARE CANNING AND YOU KNOW, THEY CALL WITH A PROBLEM, WHAT DO I DO?

I'M DOING THIS RIGHT NOW.

HELP ME!

SO WE DON'T ALWAYS GET BACK TO PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY.

BUT WE DO TRY TO GET BACK TO THEM WITHIN 24 HOURS SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THERE AS A RESOURCE AS WELL.

>> OKAY, THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW ELAINE AND I CAN BELIEVE THAT YOUR PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE HOOK THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THAT'S A REALLY POPULAR HOBBY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN TO TALK WITH US AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TOM FOR COMING IN AND SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE ON GARDENING AND ALL THINGS TREES AND PLANTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OUR GUESTS TONIGHT HAVE BEEN PENN STATE EXTENSION EDUCATORS TOM BUTZLER AND ELAINE SMITH.

I'M ANNE DENNEHY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND LISTENING TO WPSU' "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" GARDENING AND CANNING AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN ON OCTOBER 19 FOR "CONVERSATIONS LIVE" ASK A VETERINARIAN.