Showing posts with label eating healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eating healthy. Show all posts
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Plant Profile: Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe
Name: Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe
Botanical Name: Cucumis melo
Zone: 3 to 9
When to Plant: 2 to 3 weeks after last frost date
Sun: Full Sun
Sow: direct sow or transplants
Planting Depth: 1/2 inch
Spacing: 4 feet between each plant
Germination: 5 to 10 days
Maturity: 80 days
Height: 15 to 18 inches
Spread: 3 to 6 feet
pH Range: 6.0 to 8.0
Yield: 5 to 7 per vine
Description: This melon has a firm but thin rind (skin) that is slightly ridged. It is mostly flesh with a small seed cavity. The flesh itself is salmon colored that is fine textured. It is very sweet with a nice tasty flavor. The vines are compact and can be trained if needed.
Harvest: Grow to 4 pounds or more. Ready to harvest when the rind (skin) has a sweet smell.
Seed Saving: Allow the melon to fully ripen. Scoop out the seeds and remove any pulp. Rinse the seeds and remove any floating seeds. Turn the water on high in the sink and rinse the seeds in a colander forcefully to remove any thing that may still be on the seeds. Place the seeds on a paper towel and allow them to fully dry. Once completely dry place in a clean glass jar or zip lock bag.
Growing Tips: Take great care if planning on pre-starting since it will not transplant well if roots are disturbed. This plant does exceptionally well with high potassium and nitrogen.
Problems: Cucumber beetle, mildew
Author's Notes: If there was one reason why I love this plant is that it's Drought Tolerant! Not that many fruit and vegetable plants can say that! The first time I grew this plant I didn't take great care of it and didn't add anything to the soil until the vines started spreading; but like the trooper it is, it marched on and produced the tastiest melons I have ever eaten. This one is defiantly worth a try and is very easy to grow. This is a must have for new gardeners.
While often called a cantaloupe it is actually a muskmelon.
If you can resist eating it right away after picking; wait until the next day. Letting it sit on your counter will actually make it a little sweeter. The first time I tried it I was skeptical but it actually seems to be true.
Recipes:
Measurements for above recipe @ http://divascancook.blogspot.com/2011/06/vodka-drunken-melon-balls.html
Very simple recipe @ 3:48
1 Cantaloupe, 1/2 tsp Curry powder, 1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Garam or Cholle Masala
References/Recommended Sites:
Burpee.com: Hale's Best Jumbo
Gardens Alive: Organic Hale's Best Jumbo Melon
Washington State University, Skagit County Extension: Seed Saving (pdf file)
University of Arizona, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences: Saving Melon Seeds
University of Illinois Extension: Muskmelon
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Plant Profile: Burpee's Fordhook Zucchini
Name: Burpee's Fordhook Zuccinni
Botanical Name: Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Cucurbita Species: pepo
Zone: 3-12
When to Plant: Plant after last frost
Sun: Full
Sow: Direct Sow
Planting Depth: 1inch
Spacing: 36 inches
Germination: 4 - 11 days
Maturity: 57 Days
Height: 34- 40 inches
Spread: 18 inches
pH Range: 5.6 - 7.5
Yield: High yielding plant
Description: Hybrid developed by Burpee which produces black/green stripped zucchini. This bush plant produces broad dark green leaves.
Harvest: For full flavor harvest when the fruit is 7 to 10 inches long.
Seed Saving: Seed saving is not recommended because this plant is a hybrid so seeds saved may not produce plant with the same quality as the parent plant.
Growing Tips: Add fertilizer just as the plant starts to produce fruit to increase production.
Problems: Squash bugs, aphids, squash vine bores, powdery mildew
Author's Notes: This is a must have for new vegetable gardeners or anyone looking for an easy high yielding summer squash. This was one of the first vegetables that I ever grew, which is odd since at that time I hated zucchini. But I grew it and I was determined to eat it. And boy was I surprised! I now officially love zucchini and this plant proves the old vegetable gardener's saying "If you haven't grown it, then you haven't really tasted it." Store bought zucchini has nothing on this supper tough plant.
Back then I figured you just stick seeds in the ground, add water, then watch it grow. When every thing else died, had stunted growth, and didn't even produce anything; this guy marched on. It grew even in poor soil, no fertilizer, as well as ofte forgetting to weed and water. Even though I did everything wrong my three hardy plants produced enough fruit for one to two meals a week until the frost killed them.
Recipes:
Sauteed Zucchini
Zucchini loaf bread
Grilled Zucchini
References/Recommended Sites:
Burpee.com: Fordhook Zucchini Summer Squash
YouTube.com
Botanical Name: Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Cucurbita Species: pepo
Zone: 3-12
When to Plant: Plant after last frost
Sun: Full
Sow: Direct Sow
Planting Depth: 1inch
Spacing: 36 inches
Germination: 4 - 11 days
Maturity: 57 Days
Height: 34- 40 inches
Spread: 18 inches
pH Range: 5.6 - 7.5
Yield: High yielding plant
Description: Hybrid developed by Burpee which produces black/green stripped zucchini. This bush plant produces broad dark green leaves.
Harvest: For full flavor harvest when the fruit is 7 to 10 inches long.
Seed Saving: Seed saving is not recommended because this plant is a hybrid so seeds saved may not produce plant with the same quality as the parent plant.
Growing Tips: Add fertilizer just as the plant starts to produce fruit to increase production.
Problems: Squash bugs, aphids, squash vine bores, powdery mildew
Author's Notes: This is a must have for new vegetable gardeners or anyone looking for an easy high yielding summer squash. This was one of the first vegetables that I ever grew, which is odd since at that time I hated zucchini. But I grew it and I was determined to eat it. And boy was I surprised! I now officially love zucchini and this plant proves the old vegetable gardener's saying "If you haven't grown it, then you haven't really tasted it." Store bought zucchini has nothing on this supper tough plant.
Back then I figured you just stick seeds in the ground, add water, then watch it grow. When every thing else died, had stunted growth, and didn't even produce anything; this guy marched on. It grew even in poor soil, no fertilizer, as well as ofte forgetting to weed and water. Even though I did everything wrong my three hardy plants produced enough fruit for one to two meals a week until the frost killed them.
Recipes:
Sauteed Zucchini
Zucchini loaf bread
Grilled Zucchini
References/Recommended Sites:
Burpee.com: Fordhook Zucchini Summer Squash
YouTube.com
Saturday, December 31, 2011
52 week challenge: Week 1 - Pantry
So as part of my goal to actually organize my house I'm starting the 52 week challenge. For the first few weeks I am going to work around the kitchen area since that is what my husband complains about the most. I don't blame him. I have a VERY bad habit of putting things just about any where and claim to have 'put it away.' I think this is how the disorganized thing starts with me. Poor hubby, he is the organized one. So between the kids and me not putting things back where the should, he didn't stand a chance.
So this week I'm starting with organizing pantry. As of now I'm almost finished. I've even mapped out a plan on where everything should go. My kitchen pantry has six levels. As of now I'm basing where things go considering on what my kids like to grab and destroy.
The top-level will be cereals and large boxed items. Second juice, powdered drinks, and sweets. Third small boxed items. Forth canned goods. Fifth non-food items like ziplock bags, ect. Sixth fruits, veggies, and anything else healthy. I recycle so I'm reusing some shipping boxes from my online christmas shopping to place on the floor of the pantry. I like to keep a well stocked pantry, so hopefully it will stay nice and tidy.
Just some tips ...
My two-year old son and my five-year old daughter like to grab food when they want. They have developed a habit of snacking all day. They get it from their Mommy. So in a very easy no effort way to get them to eat a little healthier, only healthy food will be with in reaching distance from now on.
I got this idea from one of my favorite people ever. Her name was Jennie, she was a foster parent to many children. They would often praise her for getting kids to lose weight and become healthier. She never put them on a diet and really let them eat whatever they wanted when they wanted. The catch? Only healthy foods in the house. She would always buy unhealthy snacks, but very limited. So once it was gone, it was gone. She only shopped once a week so usually all the sweet processed foods were gone with in the first couple of days.
I would really recommend this tip to anyone who wants to lose weight. I'm not saying don't buy unhealthy foods, just buy less. Then replace the rest of the amount you would have bought with stuff from the fruit & veggie section of the grocery store. This tip, however, only really works if you do most of your own cooking and eat out only two times a week or less. There is a lot of recipes online that include videos. Don't forget YouTube, I've been able to find great recipes on there too!
Wishing you all a very happy new year,
Vanessa
So this week I'm starting with organizing pantry. As of now I'm almost finished. I've even mapped out a plan on where everything should go. My kitchen pantry has six levels. As of now I'm basing where things go considering on what my kids like to grab and destroy.
The top-level will be cereals and large boxed items. Second juice, powdered drinks, and sweets. Third small boxed items. Forth canned goods. Fifth non-food items like ziplock bags, ect. Sixth fruits, veggies, and anything else healthy. I recycle so I'm reusing some shipping boxes from my online christmas shopping to place on the floor of the pantry. I like to keep a well stocked pantry, so hopefully it will stay nice and tidy.
Just some tips ...
My two-year old son and my five-year old daughter like to grab food when they want. They have developed a habit of snacking all day. They get it from their Mommy. So in a very easy no effort way to get them to eat a little healthier, only healthy food will be with in reaching distance from now on.
I got this idea from one of my favorite people ever. Her name was Jennie, she was a foster parent to many children. They would often praise her for getting kids to lose weight and become healthier. She never put them on a diet and really let them eat whatever they wanted when they wanted. The catch? Only healthy foods in the house. She would always buy unhealthy snacks, but very limited. So once it was gone, it was gone. She only shopped once a week so usually all the sweet processed foods were gone with in the first couple of days.
I would really recommend this tip to anyone who wants to lose weight. I'm not saying don't buy unhealthy foods, just buy less. Then replace the rest of the amount you would have bought with stuff from the fruit & veggie section of the grocery store. This tip, however, only really works if you do most of your own cooking and eat out only two times a week or less. There is a lot of recipes online that include videos. Don't forget YouTube, I've been able to find great recipes on there too!
Wishing you all a very happy new year,
Vanessa
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