A type of grass, corn is a New World food. May through September is peak season. To select, a fresh husk is the number one thing to look for. Open the tip of the husk to see if the kernels are all the way to the end of the ear; kernels should be plump and milky when pinched.
Store eggplant on the countertop—not in the refrigerator. Choose a spot that's away from direct sunlight. Choose a container that allows for circulation, like a vented bowl or perforated bag.
Peeling a standard globe or Japanese eggplant is optional. Leave the skin intact for contrast, or remove it for a paler look. Summer is the perfect time to savor just-harvested zucchini.
With its slightly curved cylinder-like shape, this green summer squash is perfect for blending with other ingredients or in simple preparations highlighting the taste of fresh herbs. Like its yellow summer squash counterpart, zucchini is also a good source of vitamins A and C, and fiber. Unlike winter squashes, such as butternut or acorn, summer squash has edible skin and seeds. The most common summer varieties are yellow squash also called crookneck , pattypan squash, and zucchini.
Of all the popular summer fruits, blueberries have an advantage, nutritionally speaking. Blueberries are also full of fiber and high in vitamin C. To pick the best of the crop, look for powder-blue berries that are firm and uniform in size. Replay gallery. Pinterest Facebook. Up Next Cancel. Share the Gallery Pinterest Facebook.
Squash is one of the plants grown in the traditional Native American vegetable growing technique called the Three Sisters. The other two plants in the Three Sisters are beans and corn.
Each plant had its role in this companion planting tradition. Corn served as a structure for the vining beans to grow up. Squash served as a ground cover to prevent weeds from growing. Beans provided natural fertilizer for all. Like most veining vegetables, squash grows best in sandy, fertile soils with a pH between 6. Remove all rocks and trash from the soil.
Work it up several weeks before planting, but only when the soil is dry enough not to stick to garden tools. Squash grows best in soils that have lots of organic matter. If possible, spread 2 to 3 inches of organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area. Then till to mix this organic material into the top 8 to 10 inches of soil. Squash does not grow well in cool weather.
Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed. For a good fall crop, plant early so squash will mature before the first killing frost.
Plant squash in hills 18 to 48 inches apart on rows 3 to 8 feet apart. The vining types, such as Hubbard or acorn, need more room than the bush types Fig. When seeding squash, plant five or six seeds about 1 inch deep in each hill Fig. Water after planting the seed. After the seeds come up, thin them to three squash plants per hill Fig. Figure 1. Plant squash on rows 3 to 8 feet apart. Figure 2. To calculate the number of days you can reasonably expect to harvest summer squash from your garden, you need to know the frost dates for you area.
Count forward the numbers of days to maturity 40 to 50 days from the last expected spring frost date in your area. This is the approximate date the first summer squash is ready for harvest. Count forward from the first harvest date to the date of the first expected frost in the fall. The number of days between the first harvest and the first fall frost represents the number of days you can reasonably expect to harvest fresh summer squash from your garden under ideal conditions.
When the season is over, remove the vines from your beds, since they will propagate mildew, recommends Cornell University. Storing zucchini for any length of time isn't recommended: it's a summer squash with a thin skin that will attract mold or pests over time, so keep it in the refrigerator where it will stay fresh for up to a week.
Home Guides Garden Gardening. Related Articles.
0コメント