Saturday, December 31, 2011

Potato Soup ( How To Make Old Fashioned Potato Soup ) Recipe

              Hello, and welcome back here with us on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.  

              Today we have a real treat for everyone. It is one of Americans favorites soups, Potato Soup.

              Most all of us love eating potato soup, and it is so good and a potato is 99% fat free, and yet is a nutrient dense food.

              Potato Soup is so easy to make and your whole family will love it. Today we have two recipes for you and your family.  Enjoy!!!

  #1. Recipe (  How To Make Old Fashioned Potato Soup )

Things You'll Need

1 1/2 lbs. potatoes                                              1/2 stick of butter  
1 carrot                                                              1 Tbsp flour
1 celery stalk                                                      Salt
1 medium size onion                                           Pepper
2 Tbsp butter                                                    Cheddar cheese
Soup pot                                                           Bacon bits
1/2 tsp celery salt                                              Chives
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp caraway seed
1 small bay leaf
2 cups water
1 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Peel the potatoes and dice them in small pieces. Cut up the carrot and celery into small pieces. Dice the onion and saute it in the butter at the bottom of the soup pot.  

2. Add the celery salt, marjoram, caraway seed, bay leaf, water, milk, butter, flour, salt and pepper to taste.

3. Bring the soup to a boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender when pricked with a fork.  

4. Place a portion in a soup bowl when the soup is ready. Sprinkle the top with shredded cheddar cheese, fresh chopped chives and bacon bits.

This recipe serves four people.    
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# 2. Recipe (  How To Make Potato Soup )  

Things You'll Need:

Large pot
Water
Potatoes
Butter
Milk

Instructions:

1. First fill your large pot with water and set it to boil.  

2. Wash and cut about six potatoes into small pieces or medium-sized squares (depending on size or how much soup you want to make).  

3. Add the potatoes and stir from time to time.

4. Once the potatoes are boiled and soft, pour out the water.

5. Lower the temperature to a medium. Add milk and butter to your preferred thickness.

6. Stir and taste. When the soup has blended together well, you are done. You can add some bacon bits or cheese to top it off.      

            Make sure the taste suits your family. The recipe is not exact, so you can add more milk for a soupier soup or less for a thicker and chunkier soup.  

Reference: eHow.com  

            Well that's it for today, we hope you all enjoy the recipes and we hope to talk here again tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way. Until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all A Happy New Year!! and Happy Gardening Always.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Potatoes Baby Red ( How To Grow Baby Red Potatoes )

               Hell, and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.  

               Today we would like to talk about Baby Red Potatoes. The Baby Red Potatoes are also called New Potatoes. They are very popular with a lot of people, they have a thin red skin, they are very good in Pot Roast, Soups, Stew, Steamed, Boiled, Roasted.  

               The Baby Red Potatoes are only 2 to 3 inches long. They are just as good for you, as any other potatoes, they are full of nutrients. You and your family will love eating them.

Advantages:  

1.  Potatoes are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates with 37% more potassium than a banana.

2.  One potato offers a whopping 45% of the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin C.

3.  A potato is 99% fat free, and yet is a nutrient dense food.

4.  An 8 ounce baked or boiled potato has only about 100 calories.    

Nutritional Information:    

Serving Size 1 Potato ( 148g or 5.3 oz )
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100
Calories from Fat 0                                                          
                                                                                              % Daily Value*  
Total Fat 0g                                                                                              0%
Saturated Fat 0g                                                                                       0%
Cholesterol 0mg                                                                                        0%
Sodium 5mg                                                                                              0%
Total Carbohydrates 26g                                                                           9%  
Dietary Fiber 3g                                                                                       12%
Sugars 3g  

Vitamin A 0%                                                                         Vitamin C 45%
Calcium 2%                                                                                      Iron 6%    

              Baby Red Potatoes are easy to grow, but they are some important things to keep in mind.  

1. Always plant in full sun, never plant the same crops in the same place every year, it is always highly recommend to rotate your crops every year. Your soil is always important, you need dark rich soil.    

2. Put potato garden in, out of your everyday living way so you will not feel trapped in. Never plant your potato garden in a low spot, if you do every time it rains your garden will be under water, standing water will cause your garden to die.

3.To have a straight rows in your potato garden,  mark your rows by driving a stake in the ground, at each end of the row, tie a string from one stake to the other stake this will give you a straight row. Use your garden tiller to dig down to the depth of 8 to 10 inches, remove all big rocks and all roots, add 2 to 3 inches of compost, use your tiller and mix well,add 1 1/2 to 2 inches of aged manure ( cow or horse ) use your tiller and mix well.  

4. Take your garden rake and make your rows into a mound about 3 to 4 inches high and 12 inches wide. Make your rows 24 inches apart.

5. Always plant your potato eyes up, plant 3 to 4 inches deep and plant 10 to 12 inches apart, water well after planting.    

6. When your potato plant are 3 to 4 inches high, gently add 2 inches of compost on top of them. Mulch between rows and hills. The mulch reduces weed growth and retains moisture.  

7.  When your red potatoes have developed their first set of true leaves, spray them with a foliar spray made of fish emulsion or seaweed. The foliar spray provides the nutrients your potato plants need to produce tubers and stay healthy through insect attacks and disease. Spray once a week until all the red potato plant flowers are in full bloom.

8. When your red potato plants have sprouted, cover them with a floating row cover. The floating row cover allows sunlight and water to reach the potato plants but keeps insect pests from reaching the plants. You may remove the floating row covers when the plants begin to flower.  

9. Water your plants every other day. The soil should be moist, but you need to avoid leaving standing water.

10. Start checking potato growth in late spring. Harvest new potatoes when they are between 1 and 2 inches long by digging gently around the potato plants and using a sharp knife to cut the potatoes cleanly away from the roots. Allow smaller potatoes to continue to grow before harvesting to extend the harvesting season.

11. When you have harvested all the tubers on a potato plant, pull the plant up and add it to your compost pile.      

             Well that's it for today, we hope we been some help for today on Garden The Easy Way, until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.
 


 

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Red Potatoes ( How To Grow Red Potatoes )

               Good day to you all, we hope you all are having a great day, this is Ken and Marilou with you today on Garden The Easy Way.        

               Today we would like to talk about Red Potatoes, they are one of the easier vegetables to grow and take care of. Growing potatoes is great for beginning gardeners, but we all should be growing potatoes, they are so good for us. Potatoes are America's most popular vegetable, you can bake, boiled, fried, microwaved, roasted, steamed. They are quite low in calories and loaded with nutrients.  

               Today we would like to share with you all how to plant red potatoes, they are so easy to grow but there are some things you need to know.    

1.  Plant the whole potato or cut the eyes of the potato off  2 to 3 eyes is best, the cut should not be bigger than a chicken egg. If your cut has only one eye your vine will not produce as many potatoes, but the potatoes will be bigger potatoes, if your cut has 2 or 3 eyes your vine will have a lot more potatoes and they will be a smaller potato. So if you want huge giant potatoes plant your cut with only one eye. Important after cutting your potato eyes, lay them out to dry, do not pile them up lay them out side by side to dry 24 hours before planting.

2.  Make your rows, use garden tiller deep 10 to 12 inches, pick out all the rocks and grass roots out, ( plant in full sun ).  

3.  Add 1 1/2 to 2 inches of aged manure ( cow or horse ), mix well with garden tiller. Money Saving Tip, if you go and see your local farmer he will probably give you all the manure you will need for ( Free ), Most farmers are so kind and willing to help out anyway they can, and they are glad to get rid of the manure, our local farmer will even go and get his tractor and load the manure for us, 3-big scoops with his tractor and we have a big pick-up load on the best all natural organic fertilizer money can buy for ( Free ). Go see your local farmer, don't forget to ask for Aged Manure.

4.  Add 2 1/2 to 3 inches of compost, mix well with garden tiller.

5.  To make your row straight, drive a stake into the ground at both ends of your garden, and run a string from one stake to the other, that will tell you where your row will be.

6.  Mound soil up with your garden rake, about 6 to 8 inches high on the sides, and 12 inches across the top. Make rows 24 inches apart.

7.  Plant potato eyes, 2 to 3 inches deep, ( always plant with the eyes up ). Plant your row 10 to 12 inches apart, water well after planting.

8.  Never let your soil dry completely out, gently add 2 inches of mulch on top after the vine is 3 to 4 inches tall. The mulch will help hold the moisture in, and will help to keep the weeds out.

9.  Harvest new potatoes when the plants bloom. Wait until the leaves turn yellow and the plant starts to die back in  the fall to harvest fully mature potatoes.  

Things You'll Need:

Sharp knife
Garden tiller
Compost
Fertilizer: Aged cow or horse manure
Shovel
Garden rake
Hoe
Pitchfork, to dig your potato with in the fall
Organic mulch  

            Well that's it for today, here on Garden The Easy Way, we hope to talk here again tomorrow. Until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Potatoes ( How To Grow Yukon Gold Potatoes )

              Hello and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way. This is Ken and Marilou, and today we would like to talk about a potato that is very popular, the name is Yukon Gold Potatoes, they are flavorful and you can cook them a lot of different way. Restaurant like them because they are big and they have a sweet taste to them, and they are great baked for the stuffed potato. They are delicious fried or made into potato salad. The Yukon Gold is a large potato and is recognized by the smooth eyes and it has thin yellow skin and yellow flesh on the inside. If you grow this Yukon Gold Potato, you and your family will be glad you did.

            We Americans love our potatoes, this year in Idaho, they grow over 117,000 millions of pounds of potatoes, that is a lot of french fries. But after a little research we found out that China come in number one on growing potatoes, they grows the most potatoes in 2007, they made over 80,000 million tons of potatoes. Russian in second with 37 million tons. What a big surprise, people all over the world love eating their potatoes.  

            The Yukon Gold is a good big potato to grow, and it is easy to grow, but just like everything else there are some things you need to know.    

1. You can plant  ( tubers whole )  or cut them into pieces with 2 or 3 eyes, after cutting, the size should be no bigger than a chicken egg, spread them out in a well ventilated place to dry 24 hours before planting. The eyes produce vines and roots. ( For the People out there that don't  know what a tubers is, it is a Potatoes. )

2.  Your soil is very important, till down in the soil about 12 inches deep, add 2 to 3 inches of aged manure (cow or horse) mix well, add 2 to 3 inches of compost, mix well.  Good Money Tip, if go see your local farmer near you he will probably give you all the aged manure you will need for, ( Free ).  Most all farmers are very kind people and they are willing to help others out anyway they can, and the farmer is glad to get rid of the manure. We have a dairy farmer just down the road from us and when we go to his farm, he will get his big tractor out and give us 3-big scoops in our pick-up, and now we have a pick-up load of the best all natural organic fertilizer that money can buy for ( Free ).  Go see your local farmer, you will be glad you did. Do not for get to ask for the aged manure, cow or horse will work.

3.  Make sure to plant in ( Full Sun ) make your rows in a mound.  

4.  Make sure to plant with the eyes up, and only 2 to 3 inches deep, and 10 to 12 inches apart, rows 24 inches apart. Water well after planting.  

5.  Never let the soil dry completely out, you can add mulch to help hold in moisture, and the mulch will help to keep the weeds down.

6.  Height: 18 to 24 inches                 Days to Maturity: 65 days              

Things You'll Need:  

Sharp Knife
Garden Tiller
Compost
Fertilizer: Aged manure ( cow or horse )
Shovel
Hoe
Garden Rake
Pitchfork for digging up your potatoes when you harvest  

              Well that's it for today, we hope that we have been some help here today on Garden The Easy Way, until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.  

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Potatoes ( How To Grow Russet Potatoes )

              Welcome here today with us, this is Ken and Marilou with you all on Garden The Easy Way.    

               Today we would like to talk about one of Americans favorite eating potatoes, it is the Russet Potatoes, they are so good eating. You can fry, bake, and we all love mashed potatoes and gravy, and they make good french fries and potato salad. They have thousands of recipes on way to cook with potatoes. People raise and love eating potatoes all over the world. They done a survey a few years ago and they said the average Americans eat about 125 lbs. of potatoes per person every year.  

              Potatoes are good for us, it is a vegetable. Potatoes are high in complex carbohydrates, and most varieties contain quite a lot of starch. The White Potato is a little less starchy variety. They are brown color on the outside and white on the inside.      

             Planting a garden in your backyard is so rewarding, you and your family will enjoy it so much. For some people it is a hobby but you feel so good when you and your family are together working in the garden and watching it grow. Picking your very own fruit and vegetables, feel so good. You will be happy if you put a garden for you and your family and it will save you a lot of money, it will be like getting all of your fruit and vegetables ( FREE ).  

            How To Grow Russet Potatoes  

1. Cut seed in pieces from the Russet Potatoes, the seed is the little dark spot on the Russet Potatoes also called the eyes on the potato, cut each piece, with at least one eye on it two or three eyes is good on each cut, the piece you cut should be no bigger than chicken egg.

2. Prepare the planting bed by tilling the soil and mixing in 3 inches of aged manure and mix into the soil well. If you will take the time and go and see your local farmer he will probably give you all the manure you will need, most farmers are very kind people and they are always willing to help other people, the farmer just down the road from us is a dairy farmer and he and his family are so kind, when we take our pick up to there farm they get there big tractor out and give us  three big scoops of manure, and now we have the best natural organic fertilizer money can buy for ( Free ). Go see your local farmer he will help you out, and they are glad to get rid of the manure.  Very Important Make Sure You Ask For Aged Manure, if you tell the farmer you are putting it in your garden he will know what you need.  Consider adding top soil if the area is mostly clay. Create rows for the potatoes that are at least 24 inches apart from one another.  

3. Insert your finger or the handle of the shovel into the bed to make a hole that is about 2 inches deep. Place the seed piece and lightly cover with water. Space the holes 12 inches apart and water thoroughly.  

4. Add more soil around the plants as they begin to sprout, sun exposure ruins potatoes so be sure to keep them buried throughout the growing season.

5. Keep adding more soil around the plants each week and water thoroughly to keep the temperature of the soil down.

6. Never let your soil go completely dry.

Things You'll Need:  

Knife
Russet seed pieces
Soil
Fertilizer:  Aged manure ( cow or horse )
Shovel
Hoe
Tiller      

              Well that's it for today, we hope to talk here again tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way. Until then, this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Potatoes ( How To Grow White Irish Potatoes )

               Good day to you all, welcome back today with us this is Ken and Marilou, on Garden The Easy Way.

               Today we would like to talk about one of our favorite vegetable, the potato we would like to talk about is  White Irish Potato and we will also tell you how to plant them and grow them. There are so many different kinds of Red Potatoes also many different kinds of White Potatoes, and they all are good eating.

               Potatoes remind me of squash, we have winter squash and we have summer squash, the winter squash you can not eat the skin, it is too thick and tough, but the summer squash you can eat the skin, it is a thin light skin, just wash and cut them up with the skin on them. The Potatoes are the same way so to speak, they are white potatoes and red potatoes that have light skin you can eat and some white potatoes and red potatoes have a dark thick skin, they are too tough to eat, so you will have to peel them before eating, just like the winter squash.  

              Today we would like to talk about a White Potatoes with a thin skin, it is light brown and you can eat the skin, making it easier to cook with, and they make great french fries.  

              How To Grow White Irish Potatoes

1. Cut your potatoes eyes off of the Potatoes, make sure to cut one to three eyes off per cut, no bigger than the size of a chicken egg. The eyes will produce vines and roots.  

2. After cutting your Potatoes Eyes, let them dry 5-6 days before planting 60 to 70 degrees, this will keep them from rotting after planting.  

3. Plant in full sun, well drained area, use garden tiller, dig down 12 inches, add 4 inches of aged manure (cow or horse) see your local farmer he will probably give you all you will need for (Free), they are happy to get rid of it. Add 4 to 6 inches of compost, mix well and use your garden rake and mound the rows up, make the rows about 12 inches wide, and 4-5 inches high is best, that will give your potatoes plenty room to grow.

4.  Plant your potato eyes 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Space your rows 36 inches apart, water well 6 inches deep.    

5. Add mulch with organic material to conserve moisture. Add more soil at the bottom of the vines when they grow 6 inches above the ground, this will keep the sun from hurting the potatoes.    

6. Water vines to keep the soil moist. ( Never let the soil dry completely out ).  After the flowers start to die back, check to see if harvest can begin by digging with your fingers to find a potato. Scratch the skin and if it easily scratches away, the potatoes are not yet ready. Cut the vines back, wait a few days and try again. Begin harvest when it is hard to scrape off skin.

7. Dig 8 inches away from the plant with a pitchfork-- be very careful-- at a downward angle toward the vines and carefully pry the earth and potatoes out of the ground. try not to impale or scrape potatoes, as those will not store well. Pull them out of the ground and let them lie in the garden a few hours until the soil dries and falls off easily. Watch carefully and do not let them sunburn. Store them in a dark, cool area.  

Tips & Warnings:

A.  Start early varieties as soon as soil reaches 50 degrees f in spring and wait until mid-June to plant fall crops.  

B.  Purchase only certified potatoes or tubers to plant from a nursery as eating potatoes are treated with a non-sprouting chemical. ( The Best And The Easy Way Is buy a bag of  Potatoes and Cut off Your own. )  You will save money, and you know for sure what kind of Potatoes you are Planting.

Things You'll Need

Garden Tiller
Compost
Fertilizer aged manure (cow or horse)
Shovel and Garden Rake  
Hoe and Pitchfork and Sharp Knife
Organic mulch      

              That's it for today here on Garden The Easy Way, we hope to talk  again tomorrow, until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Peanut Butter ( Homemade Recipe )

              Merry Christmas and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way. This is Ken and Marilou
and we hope you all and your family had a Happy Safe Christmas Day.

              Today we have a very special treat for the kid, we have  America's favorite sandwich spread. Most all of us grow up eating Peanut Butter Sandwiches, they are so good and high in nutrition and very healthy for us.

              Quick and easy to make, and your kids will have a lot of fun helping you, make your own Peanut Butter.  

Ingredients:      

*2 cups roasted shelled, unsalted peanuts  

*1 tablespoon peanut oil  

*1/4 teaspoon salt ( optional for low salt diets )    

Preparation Directions:    

1. Place peanuts, oil, and salt into a blender or food processor.

2. Blend well, until desired texture is reached.

3. Place peanut butter in airtight container.

4. For crunchy peanut butter, add 1/4 cup of peanuts and blend again, but, for just a short burst or two.

5. The oil can separate from the peanuts during storage. Simply stir and serve.

              I can remember back as a young boy how much I love peanut butter sandwiches with a glass of milk, and I still do, in fact it's sound so good,  I think I'll go and make me one.

            Thank you all for joining us today, we hope to talk again here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then,  this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all a Happy Gardening Always.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Baked Sweet Potato Fries ( Recipe )

              Hello, and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

              This is Christmas Eve and Marilou and  I Ken, would like to start out by saying " Merry Christmas  to you All " and we hope you and all of your family have a Happy Safe New Year.  

              Today we have a very short recipe but it is a very good recipe. It is healthy and the kids and all the family will love it.        

             Baked Sweet Potato Fries      
            We found this delicious recipe on cooks.com Sherry's Baked Sweet Potato Fries, and it is so quick and easy to prepare.  

Ingredients:
 
2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed, dried
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika  

Preheat oven to 425 F.    

Slice potatoes lengthwise. Toss potatoes with oil, salt, and paprika. Spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray. Spread potatoes on cooking sheet.  

Bake 15 minutes. Turn slices over, bake another 10 minutes.

Submitted by:  Sherry Monfils      

               Well that's it for today, we hope to be back here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way. Until then this is Ken and Marilou , wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Sweet Potato Baked Stuffed ( Recipe )

              Good day to you all, and welcome here today on  Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

              Today we would like to talk about Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, there are a lot of recipes on stuffed bake sweet potatoes available, but we think that we have found one that you and your family will love, it taste so good. We found this recipe on cooks.com and it was submitted by: Diana Rattray, we thank you for sharing your recipe with us all, it is so very delicious.

Ingredients:  

4 medium sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon milk  
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained and reserve liquid  
6 marshmallows      

*Bake sweet potatoes at 450 degrees until soft. Cut each sweet potato in half lengthwise and scoop out potato, leaving shell intact. Mash sweet potatoes with butter, salt and milk, along with 1/2 cup crushed pineapple. Add a little more milk or butter if necessary.    

*Fill sweet potato shells. Slice marshmallows in half and top each sweet potato with two halves. Top with a spoonful of crushed pineapple.  

*Put reserved pineapple syrup or juice in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Drizzle each sweet potato with a little of the juice. Place sweet potatoes under broiler and broil until browned.  

Serves 4 to 6.      

              We will quit here for today, and we thank you all for being here today on Garden The Easy Way, until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou wishing Happy Gardening Always.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Sweet Potato Casserole ( Recipe )

               Hello, and welcome back here today on  Garden The Easy Way this is Ken and Marilou.

               Today, Marilou and I would like to talk about one of our favorites holiday foods, and we have found two great tasting recipe on cooks.com to share with you all.      

               Sweet Potato Casserole it is one of just about every one's  favorite holiday treats, it's so easy and quick to prepare and it is so delicious.  

               Recipe # 1    

Ingredients:    

2 large cans sweet potatoes, drained
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs  
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted          

Topping:  

3/4 cup oats
3 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup crushed pecans  
3/4 cup shredded coconut
mini marshmallows        

Mix the first 6 ingredients with a mixer. Prep baking dish with cooking spray, then pour in. Mix the topping ingredients by hand. Sprinkle on top.  

Bake uncovered at 350 F for 25 minutes.  Sprinkle marshmallows on top, then bake uncovered 5 more minutes.        

Submitted by:  Kimberly Mendez LaLonde  

           Recipe # 2

Millie's Sweet Potato Casserole  

3 c. canned Louisiana yams, mashed  
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. miniature marshmallows
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 c. cream
1 tbsp. butter, melted  
1/2 c. pecans, chopped        

Blend together the sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, spices, butter, cream and half the marshmallows. Spoon into buttered baking dish. Top with pecans and remaining marshmallows. bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Marshmallows should be delicately browned.  

               We hope that you will try this recipes, because Sweet Potato Casserole is so delicious. Thank you  all for being here today on Garden The Easy Way. We hope to be back tomorrow, until then happy gardening always, Ken & Marilou.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Sweet Potatoes ( How To Grow )

              Good day to you all and welcome back here today with us, this is Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.  

              Today we would like to talk about one of my favorite vegetables and a lot of other peoples favorite vegetables, the great tasting Sweet Potato.  It is so delicious and very famous around the holidays, there are so many ways to fix them for the dinner table, we will talk more about that later, but first we would like to tell you all, they are so very easy to grow.

             Here are some things you need to know about Sweet Potatoes.  You do not buy sweet potatoes seed, there is no sweet potatoes seed. What you will plant is called slips, you will plant slips from the sweet potato, you can grow your own slips indoor. You can go to the store and buy 2 or 3 sweet potatoes and grow your own slips. You can put the sweet potato in jar of water, filled the jar with water, after you put your sweet potato in the jar stick 3 to 4 toothpicks in the sweet potato to hold it up, so the end of the sweet potato is sticking out of the jar. The sweet potato will start to vine, all you have to do is cut the vine about 7 to 8 inches from the sweet potato. The 7 to 8 inches you cut off is called slips, and that is what you plant in the soil to grow your sweet potatoes. You can also plant a sweet potato in a flower pot in potting soil, if you like.

             You can save your self a lot of time by going to just about any place that sell plants and seed and buy all the slips you will need at a very low price, that is what we do because we like to Garden The Easy Way!!

How To Plant:  

1.  Sweet Potatoes like dark rich sandy soil. ( Plant in Full Sun. )

2.  Make your rows in a mound, and your rows 3 to 4 feet apart.

3.  Plant the slips 14 to 18 inches apart. Plant your slips 1 inch under the soil.

4.  Water well after planting, water as needed. Never let the soil dry completely out.

5.  Harvest sweet potatoes 4 months or no longer than 5 months.  

Warning and Tips:

A.  Never try to plant too early, wait until all danger of frost and cold weather has passed. The soil should be good and warm or your slips could die. The soil should be at least 70 degrees.

B.  Sweet potatoes love hot weather, and they are eager to grow but you need to water 3 or 4 times a week if you don't get any rain.

C.  Harvest your sweet potatoes 1 to 2 weeks before your first frost.

D.  Before storing your sweet potatoes, let them dry outside 3 to 4 hours, take a brush and brush all the dirt off the sweet potatoes, then allow them another 11 to 14 days of curing in a warm room with moderate humidity. Then store them in a cool dry place until you need them.  
  
E.  Never wash your sweet potatoes before you store them, if they are wet or have any moisture on them they all could go bad.  
 
F.  If stored properly sweet potatoes should last 6 to 8 months.

           Enjoy your good eating Sweet Potatoes.

           Well that's all for today, we hope that we have been some help here today, on Garden The Easy Way. Tomorrow we will like to share some sweet potato recipe with you all, until then Happy Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Peanuts ( How To Boil Raw )

              Hello, welcome back here again with us this is Ken and Marilou with you all on Garden The Easy Way.

              Today we want to talk about Peanut, there are different ways to cook peanuts, but the healthiest is to boil your peanuts.  So many people all over the world are raising their own peanut.  Just about everyone love peanuts.    

              After you pull your peanut plant up out of the soil you will see lots of big clusters of peanuts, some people will  call them raw peanuts, and some people call them green peanuts that are hanging from the bottom of your plant, whichever you want to call it is OK, because it means the same thing ( uncooked peanuts ).

              Today we would like to tell you how to boil your peanuts, it is so quick and easy.  And they are so good eating, your family and all of your friends will love them.

              Cook to suit your taste, you can add a little salt or not any salt at all, you can cook peanuts to suit your taste.  Cooking time may vary because of the amount of water and peanuts you are cooking and how hot your cooker gets, but the time will run between 2 to 4 hours.  You can always pull 2 or 3 peanuts out after 1 hour of boiling and do a taste test.  

              The best way to cook your peanuts is to get a little LP Gas bottle with a burner and set it in your backyard and watch them cook.

1.  Hook up your LP Gas bottle to your gas burner.

2.  Get a big heavy pot, set it on the burner.

3.  Fill the pot up a little over half way with peanuts.  

4.  Add water above the peanut, don't worry if some peanuts float to the top. that is OK.

5.  Turn the burner on and start cooking.        
     

            Thank you all for being here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken & Marilou, we hope to talk here tomorrow.  Until then, Good Gardening Always.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Peanuts ( How To Oven Roast )

              Hello and welcome back here today with us Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.    

               Today we would like to talk about Peanuts, there are so many people that love eating peanuts, and there are different ways to cook them, and there are hundreds of recipes, but today we would like to tell you how to roast your raw peanuts.  It is so quick and easy and it only takes 35 minutes.  And it is fun for the whole family and they are so good .    

  1.  Preheat your oven at:  350 degrees.  

  2.  Put a single layer of raw peanuts in shallow baking pan.

  3.  For unshelled  peanuts (peanuts still inside their shells): Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

  4.  For shelled peanuts (peanuts with shell removed): Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

  5.  Stir once or twice during cooking time.

  6.  Cook until slightly underdone.  

  7.  Peanuts continue to cook when removed from oven.

  8.  Let cool 10 minutes before eating.

  9.  Store unshelled roasted peanuts in an airtight container up to one month on the shelf, 6 months in refrigerator or 12 months in freezer.    

Tips:  

  1.  Choose unshelled peanuts that have clean, unbroken, unblemished shells that do not rattle when shaken.

  2.  1-1/2 pounds of unshelled peanuts equals about 1 pound shelled or 3-1/2 to 4 cups.

  3.  Store unshelled raw peanuts in an airtight container up to two month on the shelf, 6 months in refrigerator or 12 months in freezer.

What you Need:  

*  Raw Peanuts

*  Oven

*  Shallow Baking Pan  

            We hope that you all enjoyed your bake peanuts they are so good and a lot of fun baking for the whole family.  Until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou with Garden The Easy Way, wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Peanuts ( How To Grow )

               Hello and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.      

                Today we would like to talk about Peanuts, as you all know they are so good eating  and very high in nutrition and very good for you and your family.  I can remember back over 55 years ago as a young boy how happy my little brother and I  where when it was time to harvest our peanuts, that we helped to plant in our garden, we had to wait all summer, and into late fall before, our Dad said " OK it's time to get the peanuts", I will never forget that.  Gardening is a hobby for a lot of people and fun for a lot of people too, but it's best when it is family doing it together, you and your family will have memories for the rest of your life, just like I do.  There are lots of ways to prepare peanuts, and some things you may not know, they are so easy to grow.  There are just a few important things you need to know about growing peanuts, and also we would like all of you to know that you don't need to buy seeds from a seed store because you can buy raw peanuts from your local grocer, if available.                              

1.  Never plant until all the danger of frost is gone and all cold weather has passed, the ground should be warm or your plant will not come up.                    

2.  Peanuts like sandy soil with lots of compost and manure.  Mix it up well, and it is best when you are making row, make your rows in mound that will give 2-big benefits to your peanuts plants.    
    
A.  Good drainage, peanuts must not set in water, they must have good drainage.    
 
B.  Plant 1 to 2 inches deep, Space seeds 6 to 7 inches apart, in rows 3-feet apart. ( Mound your row is better. )
         
C..  The peanut pods or pegs will grow from a large stem which bends down and pushes into the soil.  If the soil is too hard, add two inches of mulch and sand on top of the soil.  By putting your rows in a mound you will have a lot better harvest.                            

3.  Water often, sandy soil with manure dry out quickly, never let your soil dry completely out.  Try to keep your soil moist, you can put down two inches of mulch that will help keep it moist and it will help to keep the weeds out.                                

4.  Harvest peanuts after the first frost.  Pull the entire plant out, and allow the peanut to dry.  You can pull off the peanut shells, and roast them.  Save some of the raw peanuts for seeds for next year peanuts.        

              We hope you all will plant peanuts too because it will be so enjoyable for you and the whole family.  Wishing you all Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Sweet Corn Peaches and Cream ( How To Grow )

               Good day to you all and welcome back here today with us on Garden The Easy Way this is Ken and Marilou.                              

               Today we would like to talk about one of our favorite in the garden and I just bet it is one of your favorite too!  Because it is so delicious.              

               Sweet Corn Peaches and Cream, yes it is so very delicious, and if you raise enough you can put some in the freezer and save it.  After your crop is gone you will have your sweet corn in the freezer.      

               Sweet Corn Peaches and Cream is also very easy to raise, but just like most everything, there are some very important things to keep in mind when planting.  

               Things You Will  Need:      
  
A.  Garden Rototiller      
B.  Garden Rake and Hoe  
C.  Garden Spade         
D.  Aged cow or horse manure    
E.  Balanced plant fertilizer such as 12-12-12 or 34-0-0-NPK          

1.  Plant your corn away from your garden because corn get so tall, it will shade your garden or you can plant your corn on the north side of your garden.  Select a well-drained planting area that receives full sun all day.  Corn thrives in high hot humid temperatures.          

2.  Turn the soil over to a depth of 7 to 8 inches using your garden spade or rototiller.  Reducing compaction in the soil helps corn plants establish strong root systems.      

3.  Add 50 lbs. of aged cow or horse manure to the soil for every 90 to 100 square feet you wish to plant.  Additionally, scatter 3 1/2 to 4 lbs. of balanced fertilizer such as 12-12-12 onto the soil for every 90 to 100 square feet of garden space.                    

4.  Rototiller the manure and fertilizer into the soil.  Operate the tiller long enough to brake up any heavy clods of soil and remove any rocks the tiller brings up.                        

5.  Wait until all danger of frost has passed, and all cold weather.  The soil needs to be 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the kernels to germinate.  Colder temperatures cause the corn to rot.      

6.  Rake your garden level.  Use the edge of the rake to make your rows plant deep 1 inch.              
                     
7.  Plant your seeds about 10 inches apart in a row. Plant your rows 34 inches apart, you will be able to plant your rows evenly and quickly.                  

8.  Cover the seeds with soil and gently firm it.                      

9.  Water the planted area.  This will help hold down any loose soil and help the germination process.  Continue light watering whenever the soil seems to be drying out.  Never let your soil dry completely out, corn must have water to produce.              

10.  Continue watering on a regular basis.  Based upon the corn variety you have chosen, make a second light application of fertilizer between the rows, about halfway through the growing season.  When daytime temperatures rise and the corn begins growing rapidly, provide the patch with at least 1 inch of water per week.  This is particularly important after pollination, when the ears begin to fill with kernels.          

11.  Weed the patch as necessary, taking care not to damage the roots of the corn plants.  Corn is shallow rooted.    
                  

12.  Watch for indications of ripening.  After the silk on the ears withers and turns dusky brown, your corn is ready for harvest around 83 days to reach maturity after planting.              

Tips & Warnings:  
             
*  Corn is wind pollinated.  To ensure maximum pollination, plant your corn in a square or rectangle as opposed to a long single row.
        
*  Pick your corn in the morning when the temperature is cooler.  Never pick more corn than you can consume in one day.  If you intend to eat the corn with dinner, immerse the ears in a large container of cold water.  This will prevent them from drying out until it is time to shuck them.                                

             Well that's it for now, we hope to talk to you all soon here on Garden The Easy Way, until then Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Spaghetti Squash Recipes 3 of 3 ( Recipe )

               Welcome back with us today on Garden The Easy Way, this Ken and Marilou.                                                                             

                Today we would like to talk about Spaghetti Squash it taste so good, and it is very healthy and good for you.  You can cook and serve it in so many different ways, bake it, boil it, fry it.  There are a lot of recipes for Spaghetti Squash, we will share another recipe of spaghetti squash with you all today, we think you will like it a lot.                               

   Spicy Roasted Tomato Marinara with Spaghetti Squash                   

   Prep Time:                       15 min          Level:   Intermediate
   Inactive Prep Time:     1 hr 0 min          Serves:   4 servings
   Cook Time:              1 hr 10 min                                                             

   Ingredients:           

   1 cup Parmigiano-Herb Stock, recipe follows           
   8 Roasted Peeled Tomatoes, recipe follows                 
   3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling         
   5 to 6 flat anchovy filets             
   1 sweet onion, thinly sliced or chopped     
   1 Fresno or Holland chile, sliced or chopped    
   3 to 4 cloves garlic, sliced or chopped              
   A couple small sprigs fresh marjoram or oregano, finely chopped   
   2 tablespoons tomato paste       
   1/2 cup dry red or white wine        
   A handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped          
   A few fresh basil leaves, torn         
   2 medium spaghetti squash          
   Salt and freshly ground black pepper           
   Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shredded, for serving         

   Directions:           
   Set aside or prepare the stock and roasted tomatoes.              

  Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat.  Add the anchovies and stir until they melt into the oil.  Add the sliced onions, chile, garlic, marjoram, and cover and cook to soften the onions, 10 to 15 minutes or until very sweet and soft.  Add the tomato paste and stir 1 minute, then add the wine and stir a minute more.  Stir in the prepared stock, prepared roasted tomatoes, parsley, and basil and simmer over medium heat 10 to 15 minutes more to combine flavors.  Cool and store the sauce for a make-ahead meal.          
 
  On the night you serve this meal heat the oven to 450 degrees F and cover a baking sheet with foil.  Split the squash in half and scoop out the seeds then season with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on baking sheet or sheets.  Roast the squash 45 to 60 minutes, until very tender.  Once the squash has been roasting 30 minutes, reheat the sauce over medium heat to a bubble then reduce the heat to low and keep it warm.  Turn the roasted squash over and shred each half with a fork turning the flesh into what looks like a yellow boat filled with spaghetti, drizzle the hot squash with a little extra-virgin olive and adjust the seasoning, top with lots of marinara and garnish with shredded cheese.  Serve each "boat" on a platter and eat the squash and sauce right from the skin of the squash.             

    Parmigiano and Herb-Fortified Stock     
1 large rind trimmed from a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or a few small pieces rind perhaps saved-up          
Herb bundle of several sprigs each fresh thyme, parsley and rosemary, tied        
1 onion, quartered    
2 ribs celery, sliced on angle       
2 carrots, sliced on angle     
Peeled rind of 1 lemon   
2 fresh bay leaves               
4 cups chicken stock   
12 cups (3 quarts) water                

For the stock:     
Place the cheese rind, herb bundle, onion, celery, carrots, lemon rind, bay leaves, chicken stock, and water into a pot and bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat to a simmer.  Simmer at least 1 hour, and then remove the rind, and vegetables with a slotted spoon or strainer.      

Roasted Tomatoes:            
24 ripe organic vine tomatoes or large plum tomatoes    
Several cloves garlic, crushed  
Extra-virgin olive oil, for liberal drizzling               

For the tomatoes:     
Heat the oven to 500 degrees F.              
Arrange the tomatoes on a baking sheet or baking sheets in a single layer.  Scatter the garlic among the tomatoes, dress with extra-virgin olive oil to coat and season with salt and pepper.  Roast the tomatoes   
until they burst and skins split and begin to char, about 30 minutes.  Cool the tomatoes until cool enough to handle the peel.  Place the tomatoes in a bowl.          

         Well that is it for today, we hope you all like the recipe.  There are 40 recipes on Spaghetti Squash at .foodnetwork.com.  Marilou and I hope to talk here again tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then Good Gardening Always Ken & Marilou.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Spaghetti Squash Recipes 2 of 3 ( Recipe )

              Hello and welcome back here today with us Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.        

              Today we would like to share with you all some delicious Spaghetti Squash Recipes.  There are so many ways to prepare Spaghetti Squash.  You can boil it, bake it, or fry it.  We would like to start out with the most popular Spaghetti Squash Recipe for kids and a lot of adults.  It is so quick and easy, but very delicious.

              1.  Boil entire fruit about 20 minutes, open and remove seeds.  Fluff flesh out of shell with a fork for spaghetti-like appearance.  Serve with spaghetti sauce or season to taste.                                                  

              2.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Cut the squash in half (horizontally) and scrape the seeds.  Place the squash, flesh side down, in a shallow roasting pan.  Fill the pan with about 1 cup of water.  Roast the squash for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the squashes are soft.  Remove the squashes from the oven and cool.  Using a fork, remove the flesh, the flesh will resemble curly noodles like spaghetti.                              

              There are 40 recipes on Spaghetti Squash at www.foodnetwork.com.            

              Thank you all for being with us today on Garden The Easy Way, we hope you all enjoy the two recipes, we will be back tomorrow with two more delicious recipes on Spaghetti Squash.  Until then Good Gardening Always Ken & Marilou.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Spaghetti Squash ( How To Grow )

               Good day to you all and welcome back here today with us, Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.  

               Today we would like to talk about another popular squash, the name is Spaghetti Squash it is a winter squash.  It is a medium sized, oblong fruits, yellow in color.  Spaghetti Squash is a very good eating squash, and the kids love it, it is probably the most popular Squash for kids.

              We will add a recipe later, and some more good news, the winter spaghetti squash will last long in to the winter, well after your garden is gone.  All you have to do is in the fall after the vine is starting to die and the outside of the squash has turned yellow, it's time to pick the spaghetti squash.  When cutting the squash for storing for the winter, always cut the stem back from the squash about 2 inches, store in a cool dry place about 50 to 55 degrees, squash in cool area will keep fresh up to 6 months.

               The winter Spaghetti Squash is easy to raise, but there are some things to keep in mind.

               1.  Do not plant too early, wait until all danger of frost has past and all the cold weather is gone.  The ground has to be warm in order for the seeds to germinate.

               2.  It is very important to have good rich soil, you can add organic fertilizer, such as manure or compost, add to 3 to 4 inches of manure or compost, and work it up well in under the soil.  Level your garden soil with a garden rake, and now you are ready to plant.

                3.  Always plant in full sun.

               4.  You can plant in rows or mounds, you can purchase the seed in the winter, and set out the plant in the early spring or you can just plant the seed in your garden soil in the spring.  Plant directly outside in warm weather, transplant the seedlings or plant the seeds in groups of 2 to 3 in a sunny location.  You can plant in mounds or rows 4 feet apart., plant in soil 1 to 1 1/2 inch  under the soil.

              5.  Water well after planting, but be careful not to dig up your seed, water well but water on low pressure.  Keep all the weeds out and keep the soil water often unless you get rain, just never let the soil dry completely out.

                6.  Days to Harvest:  100 days after planting,  good eating!!!

             Well I guess we will quit here for today, tomorrow we will share some winter spaghetti squash recipes with you all.  Until then, thank you for being here with us on Garden The Easy Way, Good Gardening Always Ken & Marilou.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Blue Hubbard Squash ( How To Grow )

               Hello!  we hope you all are having a good day and welcome back here with us  Ken and Marilou on Garden The Easy Way.

               Today we would like to talk about another winter squash, the name is Blue Hubbard Squash, it is a light color blue on the outside and yellow on the inside. It is a vine plant not a bush like plant so it does need a lot of room to grow.

               Blue Hubbard Squash is so beautiful and it has a smooth creamy flesh that tastes so very good baked, but you also can fix them a lot of different ways, and there is a lot of recipe.

               Blue Hubbard Squash is very easy to raise but there are some things you need to know.

              1.  Do not rush to plant too early in the spring, make sure you wait until all danger of frost has past and the ground is warmed up, or your squash may not come up.

              2.  You do need good rich soil, and some good organic fertilizer mix well, and some mulch.  Make sure to add it all together and mix it up well 12 to 24 inches.

              3.  Always plant in full sun.

              4.  Level your garden soil, and make your rows.  Bury the Blue Hubbard Squash seeds, 1-inch below the soil surface and 5 feet apart.  If you are growing more than one row of Hubbard Squash, space them 7 to 10 feet apart.

              5.  Water well after you have planted, but be very careful not uncover your seeds.  You need to keep the flow of water low, water often keep soil moist to a depth of 2 inches.  Reduce watering once the seeds have germinated.  The seeds will typically germinate within 7 to 10 days.  Once they're sprouted, water once a day and use enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.  

              6. Fruit Size : 4 to 5 lbs.

              7.  Days to Harvest: 100 days

              Well that's it for today we hope to talk to you all tomorrow here on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

     

Monday, December 12, 2011

Buttercup Squash ( How To Grow )

                 Hello and welcome back here today with us on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

                 Today we would like to talk about Buttercup Squash, it is another good eating squash and it is harvested in the late summer.  it is considered a winter squash because the squash is stored and eaten during the winter.  Unlike summer squash that is harvested when the rind is tender and used immediately, Buttercup squash and other winter squash are harvested when the rind is hard.  The Buttercup Squash is sweet tasting, deep green outer shell and thick, flavorful orange or deep yellow flesh.  Buttercup Squash is planted in spring. 

                 Buttercup Squash is easy to raise, but there some things you need to know. 

                 1.  Do not rush to plant buttercup squash, the plants will not grow in cold or damp soil.  Always wait until danger of frost and all cold weather has past, and the ground  has warmed up. 

                 2.  Always work up your soil well before planting.  Add 3 to 4 inches of manure or compost, and work up your soil well, mixing it all through your soil.  

                 3.  Plant the buttercup squash in full sun only, never plant in a shaded area.  ( They must have full sun ).

                 4.  You can plant in rows or hills, in rows use a garden hoe to make rows 6 to 10 feet apart, then plant the seed in the row 2 to 4 seeds, allowing 3 to 4 feet between each cluster of seeds.  If you wish to plant in hills, use your hoe or rake to make shallow hill 4 to 5 feet apart, then plant 4 to 5 seeds evenly spaced in each hill.  Planting depth 1"-inch under the soil.  When the seedlings have two sets of leaves, thin the buttercup squash plants to one plant per cluster in rows, or 2 to 3 plants per hill. 

                 5.  Water the buttercup squash after planting, and keep the soil moist for 3 weeks.  Never let your soil dry completely out, if you get rain that will help, but if there is no rain and the summer is hot and dry, you may have to water every 3 to 4 days, let your soil dry out a little before watering again.  Feed buttercup squash about three weeks after blooms appear.  Apply a general-purpose fertilizer around the plants, then hoe the fertilizer into the soil.  Water immediately after feeding to prevent the fertilizer from burning the roots.  Hoe the squash patch frequently to keep weeds out.  You can also layer with mulch to help keep the weeds out and it will help save on water by keeping the soil moist. 

                6.  Fruit Size: 3 to 5 pounds. 

                7.  Harvest: 75 to 110 days or more.
                
                 Well that's it for today we hope we been some help today and we hope to talk here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way.  Until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Acorn Squash ( How To Grow )

                     Thank you all for joining us here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou.

                     Today we would like to talk about Acorn Squash, it is a winter squash and it is a fall favorite of many dinner tables across the country, and like most winter squash Acorn Squash stores well, it will keep for months if stored away in a cool, dry and dark place.  And you should have Acorn Squash most of the winter.

                     There are winter and summer varieties.  Winter Squash produce fruit with thick skins.  They can be stored for a long period, well into the winter months, if properly stored.  The skin of winter Squash is not eaten. 

                     Acorn Squash is so easy to raise but there are some important things you need to know.

                     1.  Choose a spot just for your Acorn Squash, do not put them in your garden, Acorn Squash need a lot of room, they have long vines and large heavy fruit, and they will take over your garden.  Plant in full sun.

                    2. Plant only after all danger of frost has past and the soil has warmed up, you will need warm soil to germinate.  

                     3.  Acorn Squash thrive in rich well drained soil.  If your soil needs a little help, just add some garden soil mix or lot of compost and some mulch, that will feed your garden and help keep the weeds out.

                     4.  Hills is best for drainage, hills should be spaced about three feet apart.  Plant 5 to 6 seeds in each hill, after planting water well,  Acorn Squash love water, never let the soil dry completely out.  After seedling sprout and they are about 2" inches, thin out leave no more than 3 plants per hill.  

                     5.  Days to Harvest: 70 to 90 days. 


                     Well I guess that's it for today, we hope we been some help.  We hope to be back here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way, until then Good Gardening Always from Ken & Marilou.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Straightneck Summer Squash ( How To Grow )

                    Welcome back here today with us, this is Ken and Marilou with you on Garden The Easy Way.

                    Today we would like to talk about another good eating squash, the name of it is Straightneck Summer Squash, there are so many different ways of preparing the Straightneck Summer Squash for the dinner table, and hundreds of recipe. Summer squash produces thin skinned fruit, and does not store well. Summer squash is usually eaten without peeling the skin.
                   
                    You will have a lot of people tell you, enjoy it while you can because after the summer is gone you will not have anymore until next summer, that does not have to be the case, you can freeze the squash  or it can be canned.  It is a little work but if you have the time it be worth it. 

                    The Straightneck Summer Squash are so very easy to raise, but there are few things you need to know when planting. 

                    1.  Good garden soil will help you raise a lot of beautiful Straightneck Summer Squash.  If your soil does not look dark in color it may need some help, just add some compost or mulch that will feed your garden and it will help keep the weeds out.

                   2.  Plant in Full Sun: 6 to 8 hours is best.  

                   3.  Planting Depth: 1" inch under the soil, well tilled the soil after all danger of frost and cold weather has past and the soil has warmed up.

                   4.  Row Spacing: you can plant in rows or hills, keep in mind if you plant in rows the summer squash grows on bush type plants that do not spread like the plants of fall and winter squash and pumpkin.You can plant in hills, make a raised hill put 4 to 5 seeds. in each hill, 1" inch under the soil. When the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to one vigorous plant or no more than two or three plants per hill.

                  5.  Water well after planting, always remember squash love a lot of water, and they need a lot during growing season.  Never let your soil dry completely out., if you don't get any rain, you might have to water everyday or two depending how hot and dry it is.  You can always check your soil before watering, just stick your finger 2" inches under the soil, if you feel moisture you should be fine for 1 or 2 days.  Very important never let your soil dry out, it will hurt your plant or kill it, squash got to have their water.

                 6.  Days to Harvest: 45 to 50 days after planting, Straightneck Summer Squash grow so fast and they are so good eating. 


                 Well that's it for today, we hope that we have been some help here today on Garden The Easy Way.  Until tomorrow this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Good Gardening Always.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Crookneck Summer Squash ( How To Grow )

                   Good day to you all and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way with Ken and Marilou.    

                   Today we would like to talk about Crookneck Summer Squash, but first for those out there that do not know there is Summer Squashes and Winter Squashes. Summer squash produces thin skinned fruit, and does not store well. Summer squash is usually eaten without peeling the skin. Winter squash produce fruit with thick skins. They can be stored for long periods, well into the winter months, if properly stored. The skin of winter squash is not eaten.
 
                   Here is a list of Summer Squashes:   

                  1.  Zucchini 
                  2.  Crookneck Summer Squash 
                  3.  Straightneck Summer Squash 

                  Here is a list of Winter Squashes:
 
                 1.  Acorn Squash 
                 2.  Butternut Squash  
                 3.  Buttercup Squash 
                 4.  Bluehubbard Squash 
                 5.  Goldenhubbard Squash 
                 6.  Cushaw Squash    

                 So many different kinds of Squash and they are so good eating, and very healthy for us all.  And some more good news, they are so easy to raise.  

                 Crookneck Summer Squash are so delicious and lots of different ways to cook them.  There are some things to keep in mind when you plant the Crookneck Summer Squash.  

                 1. Good garden soil is a must, if you want good healthy plants with lots of Squash, if your soil does not look good in color you may need to add some compost and mulch is dark in color and very good for your garden, and it will help keep the weeds out of your garden. After adding mix it up good in your garden with a garden tiller or your shovel, level your garden soil with your garden rake, now you are ready to plant.

                2.  Plant in Full Sun: 6 to 8 hours is best.

                3.  Planting Depth:  1" inch under the soil, with tilled soil after all danger of frost and cold weather has past and the soil has warmed up.

                4.  Row Spacing: you can plant in rows or plant in hills,in rows sow two or three seeds 24 to 36 inches apart for single plant production. Keep in mind if you do plant in rows the Crookneck Summer Squash grows on bush type plants that do not spread like the plants of fall and winter squash and pumpkin. You can plant in hills, make a raised hill put 4 to 8 seeds per hill 48 inches apart. When the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin one vigorous plant or more than two or three plants per hill.

               5.  Always water well after planting, squash love water and they need a lot of it.  In the hot summer days you may have to water everyday or two, depending weather you get any rain or how hot and dry it is.  To check your soil for moisture, all you have to do is stick one of your fingers under the soil.  ( Never let your soil dry completely out, you could kill you plant ).

               6.  Days to Harvest:  45 to 55 days after planting Crookneck Summer Squash, grow very fast and they are so good!!! 


               Well we hope to be back here tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way, until then this is  Ken & Marilou wishing you all Good Gardening Always.