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August 6, 2003 |
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Totally Tasty!
I have to admit that the
First Annual Tastiest Tomato Contest was a big hit!
We had 18 entries and
lots of people out to just watch the
fun! What a day! It started with a guest appearance on the
Gard'n Wise Guys show at 8 AM and from there we hustled over
to KCTV-5
to plug the contest at 9:30. From the TV station we went right to
Family
Tree Nursery to start preparing for the contest. All of the
participants were eager and excited about the prospect of having
Kansas City's Tastiest Tomato. Kevin, Jan Olson, John Bruntzel
and I were judges and as always the
banter was at its best! Talk about a tough job. There were some
really great tasting tomato's but the
winner was clear! I guess it's
not a bad position to be in considering the fondness
I have for this particular fruit (or is
it a vegetable?). If you didn't enter this year do not
despair, we will hold the contest again
next year and you too can compete for the title of growing Kansas
City's Tastiest Tomato!
I would
like to talk about how great the weather has been but since it
hasn't I guess I will move on. What a nice surprise late Tuesday
evening. I was already in bed when we received
a brief shower and listened to the rain gently falling
against the skylight! It has been a long time since hearing that
sound and it made me feel quite happy knowing that the gardens
were getting a small drink from Mother Nature. We received only a
¼
of an inch but hey,
¼
inch is better than nothing! Continue watering and keep praying
for more rain!
~
Shelly
Beat The Heat...
Ugh... The heat
is on. And on, and... It's only
early August and that means several more weeks of pretty hot
weather. Remember, exposure to too
much hot weather can be dangerous. Here are some tips to help
you beat the heat :
- Tasks
that occur outdoors in sunny areas should be done in early
morning or late afternoon whenever possible, not during the
midday heat. Most watering, pruning, dead heading, etc., is
better for plants when done in early morning. Many chemicals,
especially insecticides, are better applied late in the day
when the wind is down and beneficial insects are not present.
- Allow
yourself to acclimate to the heat slowly. Over a period of a
week or two, gradually increase the amount of time spent in
hot, still areas or in direct sun.
- Be sure
to stay hydrated, drinking as many liquids as possible. Don't
wait until you are thirsty to have a drink, as thirst is an
indicator that your body is already dehydrated. Water is
preferred, except when heat cramps occur (then drink a lightly
salted beverage like a sports drink). The water's temperature
should be cool, not cold.
- Though
tempting, do not work in the yard in a tank top or without a
shirt due to the potential for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear
loose fitting, light colored clothes. Keep the fabric content
high in cotton to aid sweat evaporation. Neckbands, headbands,
wristbands, visors, and hats can increase evaporation to keep
the body cool.
- Lastly,
take frequent breaks to reduce the amount of time spent in the
sun or heat. After working for an hour, take a break to cool
down and have a drink in the shade to reduce the build up of
heat stress on your body.
Source
Growin' Garlic...
Garlic is a cook's best friend. Home-grown garlic is
an extra special treat. Making sure your garlic is harvested
correctly is simple but important:
Garlic
should be harvested when the foliage begins to dry. Using a
garden fork or shovel, carefully dig the bulbs with the foliage
still attached. Dry the garlic on an elevated wire screen or
slotted tray in a warm, well-ventilated location for 3 to 4
weeks. When properly cured, cut off the dry foliage ½ to
1 inch above the bulbs, trim off the roots and brush off any
loose soil. Place the bulbs in a mesh bag and store in a cool
(32 to 40°F), dry (60 to 70% relative humidity) location.
Properly cured and stored garlic should keep for 6 to 7 months.
Source
Recipe for Aging Gracefully...
If you like the worn-in look of an
established garden but find yourself looking at brand new pots,
statuary, and stepping stones try some moss. The gray/green
patina of moss makes almost anything look like it's been there
for a long, long time. This is a wacky little tip that scores of
gardeners swear by for accelerating the growth of moss just about
anywhere:
- Find
some moss, preferably a dense, low-growing variety and put a
handful in a container.
- Pick out
and discard any small stones.
- Add a
couple of cups of buttermilk. (I told you it was wacky.)
Buttermilk apparently contains something that moss really
likes.
- Put the
mixture in a blender and puree until smooth.
- Add
water as appropriate to create a consistency that pours like
latex paint.
- Pour or
brush this concoction anywhere you want to encourage moss
growth.
Remember
that for moss to survive it must be kept damp. A hot, sunny
location will prove to be more trouble than it's worth.
Thump Goes The Melon...
Watermelon growers probably have some pretty big fruit by
now. You don't want to harvest your melons too early! Just
check for these tell-tale indicators of ripeness:
- The
underside ground spot turns from whitish to creamy yellow.
- The
tendril closest to the melon turns brown and shrivels.
- The rind
loses its gloss and appears dull.
- The
melon produces a dull thud rather than a ringing sound when
thumped.
Honk If You Have Hornworms...
Tomato hornworms are serious garden pests. They like to eat
the leaves of tomato plants and will do so completely to the
mid-rib of the leaf. Fortunately they can be dealt with without
drenching the entire plant in pesticide. The trick is early
detection and removal. While it's hard to see a green
caterpillar on a green leaf the black droppings from the
caterpillar are a bit more obvious. When you see the droppings
look closely for the caterpillar and remove it immediately.
What's Hot On The Hotline...
Along with the hot weather of summer come some recurring
pleasures that offer an opportunity to share in the
accomplishments of others, and to wonder at the diverse and
rewarding products of their hard work and talent. In other words,
it’s County Fair time, and our area of mid-America is second to
none in the variety and enthusiasm our County Fair exhibitors
show! Read all about the fair in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
Ozone, Mow Zone...
Small gasoline
engines like those found on
lawnmowers, weed whackers and leaf blowers lack pollution
controls. According to the
Mid-America
Regional Council the average lawnmower produces as
much pollution in one hour as 40 late-model cars!
Do yourself, and your fellow gardeners, a favor by not mowing on
ozone alert days. If you have to mow, try to do
it after 7 PM.
Source
Finally... "Lush growth and
vibrant color are seldom possible without courageous pruning." ~
Eat Your Peas for Gardeners |
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