by startyou on March 10, 2010
So many people have never heard of spaghetti squash but it’s one of my favorite vegetables and amazingly easy to grow. Last year we put our spaghetti squash in too late, July, and when it came up, which didn’t take too long, it grew up and then bolted in about a week. They were on the small side but we were still able to sell a bunch of it at the local farmer’s market. I think this year we will try to get it in by April, or wait until Sept. to put in a late crop. So what is Spaghetti squash?
Spaghetti squash is a Winter squash and is in season from October to November (although you can find it from August to March).
Spaghetti Squash is oblong with ivory-yellow skin and yellow, spaghetti-like flesh. It has become a popular spaghetti substitute for people trying to reduce their carbohydrate intake.
Squash is full of good-for-you nutrients, including the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, the blood pressure lowering mineral potassium, and lots of dietary fiber. A starchy vegetable, winter squash contains more calories than non-starchy veggies, but don’t let that dissuade you from enjoying it. Just make sure to count it as a starch on your plate. 1 cup of baked winter squash provides you with 80 calories, 18 g carbohydrates, 5.5 g fiber, 2 g protein, 1 g fat.
You can bake Spaghetti Squash or even make it in the microwave. Cut it in half and then place in a cassarole dish with a good bit of water in the pan. To find out if it’s done, in about 46 minutes, on 350 degrees, dig a spoon in, and you will see that the squash has indeed turned into strands that look just like spaghetti.
Scoop the seeds out, and throw away, and then scoop the rest of the precious strands out. I usually do this step one day, and then make my dinner the next day. I usually make an Italian Style dish with Tomato Sauce, bread crumbs, and mozzerella cheese. Since my husband loves spaghetti, this is another way for me to fix his favorite dish. What I really love about this squash is that is keeps for months. I usually have one or two on top of the refrigerator and it keeps for 3-4 months with absolutely no change. When I run out of ideas for dinner, I just pop one in the oven, and I don’t even have to keep a close eye on it. It’s very forgiving.
So, when planning your garden this year, consider this versatile and easy to grow squash.
Share on digg
by startyou on March 4, 2010
These days, home gardening has become popular again. Home gardening is a wonderful practice for the whole family. Here are some simple tips for you to start your home garden. Make it fairly easy on yourself the first year. Do not pick out the plants that are the hardest to grow. Make the first year about having fun and getting some nice vegetables on your table. Starting from seed should most likely start the second year. Give yourself a good start by buying your seedlings the first year. If you can buy from a local organic farmer, he would love it. Sometimes, when we buy from a large chain, we don’t really know where the plants have come from. Having a home garden and placing lovely homegrown vegetables on your table will give you a sense of accomplishment. But you need to plan your garden well and choose the right vegetables for your growing climate. Not every vegetable grows well in every climate. Do you have short season or a long growing season. If you have a long season you can start with lettuce, spinach, swiss chard and onions very early in the season. Garlic needs to be planted in September and winter over. Some cold weather crops can be planted and will stay very well even thru very cold temperatures. If it is going to go down to freezing temperatures, try to cover if at all possible. Potatoes can stay in the ground long after the season is over and then dug up later if your climate is not too extreme. Herbs are another favorite for the home garden. If you have limited space, you can grow your herbs indoors in a sunny window, or on your deck or balcony. Gardening can be fun and educational for the whole family. Perhaps if you get the whole family involved, some members have parts that they like and some that they don’t like. Children seem to especially like to grow things from seed. Whoever is the most stressed out in your family, will probably enjoy doing the weeding as it can be very relaxing and help them forget about things for awhile. Dad’s usually love the rototiller. Don’t try to do too many vegetables the first year. Keep it under ten things, so you can learn how to control the weeds the first year. Learning how to deal with the particular types of weeds in your region will be part of your learning curve. There are many good organic remedies for vegetable problems. Your local extension office is a very good place to ask questions. Your local farmer’s market is also a good place to ask questions. Sometimes, older people will remember things that they used before we had so many pesticides available. Carrots, beets, peppers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and lettuce are all very easy to grow. Enjoy and don’t forget to share with your neighbor.
Share on digg
by startyou on March 4, 2010
Over the years, Ginger has been used many times for different purposes. Not just as a flavoring to spice up dishes, but also as medication due to its healing content. Older generations of Chinese used to consider this a sacred and expensive medication.
Some of the known illnesses that can be treated with the help of ginger are nausea, digestive problem, arthritis, morning sickness, motion sickness, diarrhea and migraine. Apart from that, because of the many uses of this wonder root many hobbyist or those who love to putter around the garden are now growing this amazing plant right in their backyard.
So to help you with your hobby or to grow your plant effectively without the help of an expert, the following tips are just some of the things you can do.
Keep in mind that growing a ginger plant is very easy and can be done even in a pot or container. But before you start planting anything, make sure that you have good soil, as this can have an impact on your garden. Aside from this, the location, drainage, and climate are just some of the factors that you must be aware of to create healthy ginger. It is best if the basic requirements for growing plant are followed to the letter. If the soil is not appropriate, then it is best that you plant it in pots or containers.
Next is choosing healthy ginger. Choose fresh and plump ginger that has healthy growth buds. Cut the rhizome into pieces to ensure that each and every one of the buds contain healthy eyes. You can then soak the rhizomes in clean water overnight so the shoots can develop faster.
After all the preparation, you are now ready to plant the ginger. Make sure that you place the ginger growth buds facing upward at a depth about six to eight centimeters. If planting in garden soil, try to leave space of about four to five inches in between two plants. However, if you are using pots, cautiously cover up the buds with good soil.
Just like any plants, ginger needs regular watering and it is done every two days. It is important not to over water it as it will cause water logging. Therefore it is vital that you maintain the humidity level which you can achieve by mulching, as this procedure can also help in controlling weeds.
Do not forget to supplement your plant with fertilizer every four months. You can also use liquid fertilizers. Should the leaves become dry, it means that it is now time to harvest, which is around eight months after you planted the roots.
Remember, just like your pets, a plant needs constant love and nurturing. You receive what you give. If you give your plant what it needs then it will surely give you the wonderful ginger that you are looking for.
Share on digg
by startyou on February 27, 2010
