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Types of Squash: Summer and Winter
Is squash a vegetable? Well, that’s a good question as there are various opinions. Technically it is categorized as a fruit because it develops from a flower and it has seeds. Summer squash is a big production in large amounts. It is a summer staple for our family. Squash is divided into summer squash and winter squash. Summer Squash Summer squash includes zucchini and yellow squash. I grow both types. They are picked while they are still somewhat immature, small and tender. The outer skin is delicate and easy to eat. The plants need to be checked daily for new produce, and when removing the squash, cutting versus breaking…
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A Guide To Peppers
Peppers are a favorite in most gardens behind tomatoes and herbs. They are often grown in container gardens and they do well. Peppers are a warm season favorite however, they require higher temperatures, grow more slowly and are smaller in size compared to a tomato plant. They require full sun and they need to spaced 12-18 inches apart. Peppers are a thirsty plant and need plenty of water. The soil must drain well so the roots do not get saturated which can water logs the roots. A little history about the spiciness/heat of pepper began in the 1900’s. The Scoville scale of heat is a measurement of the spiciness/heat of…
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Baking With Zucchini
We learned a lesson from zucchini over the years. We always grew 3-4 plants each year and you probably can guess the rest of the story. We ate zucchini. We cooked with zucchini. We froze zucchini. We gave away zucchini. We now grow 2 plants and that seems to plenty to fit our needs and we do not feel as if we are being wasteful. We like baked goods with zucchini the most. Zucchini bread and other baked items are very easy to make. Grating the zucchini is a snap if you have a food processor with a grating feature. (It really saves the knuckles.) A hand grater works fine…
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Homemade Fruit Roll Ups
As my son transitioned to food and milk at one year I quickly realized he had a huge appetite. It was hard to keep him full and I soon introduced a pretty large size snack time in the late afternoon. I have been very committed to homemade food for him to avoid preservatives and unhealthy ingredients. So, I needed to get creative with our snack time for a good variety of healthy snack options. Well, we get some amazing fresh strawberries locally that are delicious. My son LOVES strawberries. So, I found a creative way to use our strawberries that would be a new snack to introduce. I decided to…
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How To Maintain Your Vegetable Garden
Keeping a healthy garden requires regular attention and monitoring throughout the growing season. The basics of sun, water, and nutrients are the easy part. When planting seeds or transplants matching the growing requirements to the garden’s microclimates is one key consideration. I take this one last opportunity to assess soil temperatures. If I find they are a little below recommended temperature it helps me anticipate growth patterns. Get your soil thermometer here! I LOVE this one. Guide On What To Plant General Garden Maintenance Regular maintenance is ongoing. Soon after planting, mulching is beneficial. Mulch will help prevent weeds and helps keep moisture in the soil. When the seeds are…
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Spring Salads
Spring brings in some amazing produce and one of the best ways to enjoy it is in fresh salads. From snap peas to spinach to radishes. Winter brought lots of roasting of butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. As good as that was it gets a little old as I push into February. The days are getting longer and warmer. Spending time outside and not in the kitchen is welcomed in my house! I have put together some simple and quick spring salads which can get you out of the kitchen quick and outside working in the garden. Salads are a great go to meal for a nutritionally packed menu…
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Growing Herbs
When I first started out gardening I wanted to begin small with something I could manage. I was not very knowledgeable or informed yet on all the ins and outs of gardening, nor did I have the space for a large garden. So, I started with herbs. Herbs are an easy place to start. They just need a little sunshine, soil with good drainage and some room to grow. Herbs can turn ordinary meals into something special with a pinch of this and a bit of that and meals can be transformed. I have planted herbs for a few years and they bring an interest to gardens which otherwise would…
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What Vegetables To Plant In Your Garden
Now that your space should be all ready to go , what to plant is the next step. The choice of what to plant can be overwhelming. My first few years I was so overwhelmed with planting that nothing did well. The choice of plants depends largely on the tastes of the family and the amount of growing space. If space is limited, you should consider planting crops that will be most productive. Which vegetables you decide on; however, is entirely up to you. It really depends on your personal taste. If you missed other installments of this series, check them out here: Selecting A Location Garden Soil Preparation Plotting…
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Pruning Fruit Trees
Training and pruning fruit trees is an essential step for growing fruit successfully. Fruit trees should be pruned every year and when you plant a fruit tree you should be dedicated to giving it the proper attention and care. Proper pruning gives you the best chance for good fruit. I have apricot, peach, and apple trees in my backyard. My apple tree and apricot tree are 18 years old. I have not always pruned them every year and I pay for it when I have a poor crop. My peach tree is not that old but needs pruning nevertheless. It is important to understand the principles of pruning and to…
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Easy Container Gardening
Almost any vegetable that will grow in a backyard garden will also do well as a container grown plant. There are several general advantages to have a container garden. They are less costly to install. They are less difficult and time consuming to maintain. They can be grown in a window sill, a patio, a balcony, or a doorstep. Pest management is easier. Poor soil conditions can be easily overcome. Soil for a containers typically is available in garden centers. Using soil from your backyard garden is not recommended as you can transfer any diseases, pests, and weed seeds. The soil needs to hold moisture and nutrients but drain well.…
Home Grown is Best
