Veggies, herbs and other things we grow and eat.

Rotating Crops in the Vegetable Garden



You can reduce the plant diseases and insects that attack your

vegetable garden by practicing crop rotation.



Rotating your crops doesn't involve pirouetting potatoes or

planting on turntables. Crop rotation simply involves not

planting crops of the same family in the same section of the

garden year after year.



Plants that are related to each other tend to be prone to the

same diseases and insect pests. For example, squash borers

will attack not only squash vines but also pumpkins. The

squash borer larvae overwinter in the soil, but if they wake

up the next summer and the squash vines are now at the other

end of the garden, the borers will have more difficulty

finding the vines.

Potato beetles and potato scab also overwinter in the soil,

ready to infect the next year's crop. Establish your potato

plot in another section of the garden to avoid those pests,

and plant garlic or onions where the potatoes had been.

Garlic and onions will repel some garden insects and will

also suppress some soil-borne plant diseases.



In the section of the garden where last year's tomatoes or

eggplants were growing, plant some members of the cabbage

family, such as broccoli or cauliflower. These cruciferous

crops have the ability to clean the soil of diseases that

attack members of the nightshade family - potatoes,

tomatoes and eggplant.



Other plants are heavy feeders and will use up much of the

available nutrients in the soil. Sweet corn is a heavy

feeder and has an especially large appetite for nitrogen.

Planting a legume such as peas or beans in that same plot

the following year will replenish the nitrogen that was used

by the corn.

An easy way to rotate crops is to divide your garden into

four equal sections and move particular crops clockwise from

one section to another each year. Rotating your vegetable

crops also gives the garden a different appearance each year

and makes the garden a bit more visually interesting.

Common Tomato Problems


Blossom end rot is a tomato affliction that causes a leathery

sunken spot on the bottom of the tomato fruit. It is typically

seen early in the season and usually doesn't affect tomato

fruit that is set later in the summer. The problem is caused

by a poor supply of water and calcium in the developing tomatoes.

Tomato plants that were planted out in the garden before the

soil warmed up are susceptible to blossom end rot because their

root systems don't develop well in cold soil. Without a good

root system the plants cannot take up enough moisture and calcium

for the developing fruit, resulting in blossom end rot.



Mulching your tomato-growing bed after the soil has warmed up

will help to prevent blossom end rot by helping to maintain even

moisture in the soil for the plants.



If you have tomatoes afflicted with blossom end rot, just remove

those fruits from the plant, maintain even moisture for your plants

and wait for the next set of tomatoes to ripen. Chances are that

the next tomato to ripen will not have blossom end rot problems.



It is very common for tomatoes to split, and there are a couple of

reasons for these unsightly splits. Split tomatoes can be caused

by either moisture or heat stress. If you find tomatoes with

large cracks that form concentric circles around the stem, this

splitting is caused by moisture stress, when the fruit becomes too

plump too quickly and bursts its skin. This type of cracking

typically occurs after a heavy rainfall following a dry spell.



Large cracks that radiate down from the stem are caused by heat

stress. This usually occurs during periods of hot, bright sunlight

and high temperatures. To help prevent this, try to maintain even

moisture for the plants and provide good drainage in the soil.

Mulching can also help prevent splitting tomatoes.



The splits and rings are cosmetic only and will not affect the

flavor of the tomatoes. As long as the fruit is harvested

immediately it will still be good for eating. But don't let a

tomato stay on the plant if it has split because it can easily be

invaded by insects or slugs and over time mold can develop in

the open cracks.

Vegetable Gardening Outside the Lines



Now that Spring planting season is upon is, it's time to plan

the vegetable garden. You may have already chosen what to plant

this year, but have you decided where to plant those vegetable

seeds and seedlings?



Traditionally a vegetable garden is planted in rows. When I

helped my mother plant the garden, we used string tied to stakes

to ensure that the rows would be nice and straight. One row for

beans, another row for peas, more rows for lettuce and tomato

plants. Each year, the garden looked pretty much the same.



The way I see it, a vegetable garden should be not only provide

a feast for the dinner table, but also a treat for the eyes and

an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. A few changes in the

garden can make it far more visually interesting.



Instead of planting a row of lettuce, try planting lettuce in

one or more blocks. Start by preparing a seed bed, raking the

soil to break up any clumps. Next, scatter the lettuce seed across

the bed, then cover lightly with soil. As the lettuce sprouts,

any plants that are too close together can be thinned out and used

as baby greens for a salad. To make a lettuce bed even more

attractive, mix several varieties of lettuce seed together before

planting. A mixed bed of green leaf and red leaf lettuce is almost

too beautiful to eat.



Rather than making just one lettuce bed for the garden, make it

even more interesting by planting a triangular lettuce bed in each

corner of the garden. Wouldn't that be pretty!



Some crops, such as peas and beans, are more manageable if planted

in rows. But you can produce a larger crop if two rows are planted

closely together. Begin by making two shallow trenches for the

seeds, about six inches apart. Plant both rows at the same time,

but stagger the seeds within the rows.



You can also double-up with some crops. Plant pole bean seeds right

along with corn seeds, then plant squash or pumpkins between the rows.

These crops grow well together, and were referred to by Native

Americans as the three sisters. The pole beans will climb up the

corn stalks, while the squash vines will sprawl amongst the plants.

The beans will help replace some of the nitrogen that corn plants

use so readily, and the squash vines will shade the earth and keep

down weeds. The prickly squash vines will also deter hungry raccoons

from stealing your sweet corn.



Onions and garlic make a great border around the edge of the garden

or around groups of plants. Add some flowering annuals here and there

amongst the vegetable plants too. Not only will it make the garden

more beautiful, but flowering plants will also attract beneficial

insects and pollinators to your garden. Mix it up a little and have

fun with your vegetable garden!   Thanks Mike!

Growing Asparagus



An asparagus patch is typically started with one-year-old

crowns purchased from a garden center or seed catalog. A

crown is the root system of a year-old asparagus plant grown

from seed.



There is conflicting information on how asparagus crowns

should be planted. Traditionally it was recommended to dig

an 8-inch deep trench for the crowns, then carefully spread

out the roots within the trench, refilling it a bit at a

time as the plants grow.



However, recent comparison studies have shown that it isn't

necessary to gradually fill the trench or spread out the

roots. Additionally, the deeper asparagus crowns are

planted, the more the yield will be reduced.



To plant your asparagus crowns in the spring, start by

digging a trench that is 5-6 inches deep. For every 50 feet

of row, add a pound of 0-46-0 triple superphosphate fertilizer

or two pounds of 0-20-0 superphosphate fertilizer to the trench.



Next, toss the crowns into the trench, right on top of the

fertilizer. The plants will grow well whether or not the

roots are spread out. Place the crowns 18 inches apart,

with five feet between rows. This will provide good air

circulation for the plants and help prevent fungal diseases.



Finally, backfill the trench to the original soil level, being

careful to not compact the soil over the crowns. If you have

poorly draining or clay soil, it would be better to plant your

asparagus in a raised bed. You can learn how to create a

raised bed here:



The asparagus spears cannot be harvested the same year the

crowns were planted. The plants need this time to build their

energy so they can produce well. The following year you may

harvest a small crop over a three-week period, and over a 4-6

week period the year after that. It is the third year after

planting when you can continue to harvest for the full 6-8 week

season. Stop harvesting when new spears become less than a

half inch in diameter.



Once harvesting is done, allow the plants to grow and keep

their fern-like foliage through fall and winter. The foliage

will catch snow that will provide moisture and insulation for

the roots. Cut or mow the foliage in early spring before new

growth begins to emerge.

Share this information with everyone!

  Apples Protects your heart prevents constipation Blocks diarrhea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints

Apricots Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzheimer's Slows aging process

Artichokes Aids digestion Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease

Avocados Battles diabetes Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin

Bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhea

Beans Prevents constipation Helps hemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar

Beets Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengthens bones Protects your heart Aids weight loss

Blueberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation

Broccoli Strengthens bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure

Cabbage Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Helps hemorrhoids

Cantaloupe Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system

Carrots Saves eyesight Protects your heart Prevents constipation Combats cancer Promotes weight loss

Cauliflower Protects against Prostate Cancer Combats Breast Cancer Strengthens bones Banishes bruises Guards against heart disease

Cherries Protects your heart Combats Cancer Ends insomnia Slows aging process Shields against Alzheimer's

Chestnuts Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure

Chili peppers Aids digestion Soothes sore throat Clears sinuses Combats Cancer Boosts immune system

Figs Promotes weight loss Helps stops strokes Lowers cholesterol Combats Cancer Controls blood pressure

Fish Protects your heart Boosts memory Protects your heart Combats Cancer Supports immune system

Flax Aids digestion Battles diabetes Protects your heart Improves mental health Boosts immune system

Garlic Lowers cholesterol Controls blood pressure Combats cancer kills bacteria Fights fungus

Grapefruit Protects against heart attacks Promotes Weight loss Helps stops strokes Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol

Grapes saves eyesight Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Enhances blood flow Protects your heart

Green tea Combats cancer Protects your heart Helps stops strokes Promotes Weight loss Kills bacteria

Honey Heals wounds Aids digestion Guards against ulcers Increases energy Fights allergies

Lemons Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy

Limes Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy

Mangoes Combats cancer Boosts memory Regulates thyroid aids digestion Shields against Alzheimer's

Mushrooms Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria Combats cancer Strengthens bones

Oats Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Battles diabetes prevents constipation Smoothes skin

Olive oil Protects your heart Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Battles diabetes Smoothes skin

Onions Reduce risk of heart attack Combats cancer Kills bacteria Lowers cholesterol Fights fungus

Oranges Supports immune systems Combats cancer Protects your heart Straightens respiration
 
Peaches prevents constipation Combats cancer Helps stops strokes aids digestion Helps hemorrhoids

Peanuts Protects against heart disease Promotes Weight loss Combats Prostate Cancer Lowers cholesterol Aggravates
Diverticulitis

Pineapple Strengthens bones Relieves colds Aids digestion Dissolves warts Blocks diarrhea

Prunes Slows aging process prevents constipation boosts memory Lowers cholesterol Protects against heart disease

Rice Protects your heart Battles diabetes Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Helps stops strokes

Strawberries Combats cancer Protects your heart boosts memory Calms stress
 


Sweet potatoes Saves your eyesight Lifts mood Combats cancer Strengthens bones
 


Tomatoes Protects prostate Combats cancer Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart
 


Walnuts Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer boosts memory Lifts mood Protects against heart disease
Water Promotes Weight loss Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones Smoothes skin
 


Watermelon Protects prostate Promotes Weight loss Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure

Wheat germ Combats Colon Cancer prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes improves digestion

Wheat bran Combats Colon Cancer prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes improves digestion

Yogurt Guards against ulcers Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol Supports immune systems Aids digestion 7 don'ts after a meal

 
*    Don't smoke-Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer are higher).  
*    Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1 hr before meal. 
                                       
*     Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.
      
 *    Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted &blocked.
                                             
*    Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.                                                             *    Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.                                                                      
*    Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine.  

Happy Eating!