Q: Is there a good way to preserve pumpkins or winter squash?
Pumpkin and winter squash are already very shelf-stable once they’ve been cured. Just wipe the rind with either vodka or rubbing alcohol and store in a cool, dry place, and they should keep for months.
If you want to preserve cooked, pureed pumpkin or squash, you will need to freeze it. I like to measure it out and freeze in a plastic or silicone container, then vacuum seal and return to the freezer. Freezing into a brick shape makes vacuum sealing easier. When trying to vacuum seal wet food, the liquid tends to get drawn into the machine and interferes with the seal. Alternatively, you can use a zip-lock bag and push all the air out before laying it flat in the freezer.
Canning is another alternative, but it must be processed in a pressure canner and can only be cubed (not pureed). Pumpkin and squash are low-acid foods that can harbor botulism spores. Processing at 240 degrees (which can only be achieved in a pressure canner) will neutralize the spores and kill food spoilage bacteria. The squash must be cubed to allow the heat to permeate all of the food. Pureed squash is too dense for this to happen in a household pressure canner. Pumpkin puree that has been commercially canned is, of course, safe because the factory process allows for much higher temperatures to be reached. For a safe, tested recipe, see Pressure Canned Pumpkin or Winter Squash | Fresh Preserving
Q: Can I grow jujubes in Southern California? I live in Riverside County, where it gets very hot in the summer.
Jujube (Ziziphus jujube), also known as the Chinese Red Date, is a very hardy tree that is native to China. It has a weeping growth habit and can reach 16-40 feet in height. It has dark green, shiny leaves and bears many 1-to-2-inch reddish-brown oval fruit. When eaten fresh, the fruit has the texture of a dry, sweet apple. It has a single oblong seed in the center, similar to dates. The fruit can be dried and will have a sweeter flavor and chewy texture. Although the tree is very attractive, it is very thorny and tends to send out many root suckers.
Jujube will grow very well in the Inland Valleys and desert areas of Southern California since it tolerates both hot, dry weather and alkaline soil. Once established, it is also very drought-tolerant.
Los Angeles County
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Orange County
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Riverside County
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San Bernardino County
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