Magnolia Walker Company Ezine

GARDENING STRATEGIES & VEGETABLE PROCESSING

This is a collection of hints, organic ways to rid garden of bugs, ways to start plants, keep down weeds, plants that grow together, and ways to store foods. From 40 years of gardening.

Don't plant Fennel in garden.

Plant Horseradish at edge of, or corners of the garden where it can stay. Horseradish rejects the potato bugs, plant potatoes next to it. To kill potato bugs that are already on the plant pick them off and drop the bug into a can with Kerosene or Fuel oil. Look under leaves of plants for orange clusters of eggs. If you find clusters pick off leaf and also drop them in the can. Lite liquid in can to destroy the bugs and eggs.

Don't store Apples and Potatoes together in your storage area.

For tomatoes, mix 2 Tablespoons., Epsom salt and 1 Tbsp. cement, then mix with the soil before putting the tomato plant in the hole. Use a hotcap to protect plant form frost in early spring, tomatoes will be 2 to 3 weeks earlier. To reject the hornworm, plant by basil, yellow marigolds, and borage. Plant dill to draw worm away from tomato. NEVER plant tomato in same spot each year. For cut worms--cut a 3" strip long enough to put around stem at ground level so half is above the ground. Before frost, pick green tomatoes.. Place in a solution of 5 gallon water and 1/4 cup bleach in pail, set for fifteen minutes, this removes bug eggs, now wipe to dry tomatoes. Put into cardboard box, with small tomatoes in bottom and large tomatoes in top. Cover with newspaper on top to retain moisture. Store in 40 to 65 degree basement or garage. Ripen by putting and apple with 6 tomatoes in box or cake pan, in room light. Use cut grass to place on the ground all around tomato plant stem, to hold moisture and so fruit does not lay on soil. For blossom drop--spray with a solution of, 3 gallon water, 2 Tbsp. of Ivory Liquid, 1/2 cup sugar. Spray leaves about four times a year.

For cabbage, after it is planted, lay a roll of aluminum foil down each side of the plant, row. This will make the white cabbage moth think it is the sky and they'll fly away. Also a spray far the moth is: 1 gallon of water, 2 teaspoons mint, 2 teaspoons powdered garlic and 2 teaspoons joy dish soap. Spray this on whole plant at one week intervals. Camomile tea make strong then add to a gallon of water. Put panty hose on plant, it will expand as the cabbage grows, moth cannot get in. Camomile Leaves- soak in water several days, spray seedlings with brew.

For peppers, before planting mix a fourth of teaspoon of sulfur into soil. Put cut grass from lawn mowing around each plant.

For cauliflower, put a grocery bag or panty hose over plant to whiten and keep bugs off. Use some spray as far cabbage.

For weedless carrots or beets, plant seed in row by dragging the hoe flat on the ground, spread seed along evenly, then just spread soil by dragging fingers across. How lay foot wide heavy plastic on row to cover, put sand(soil) on top of plastic to hold it down. Leave plastic on for 5 days. How remove and in a few days you will see a row of carrots. For fruit trees, hang bare of fels naptha laundry soap high in the trees. Plant tansy under trees. Plant nasturtiums around trees.

For Apple Maggot Flies, Hang 3-1/2" red balls coated with tack trap or tangle foot 6- for large, 2- for small trees. I use plastic covers.

Moth Lures, Hang milk jug with a cut just below neck to half across and three inches down, in it put 2 parts vinegar to 1 part molasses and hang in apple tree.

Ammonia repels bug, Hang in a milk jug before blossoms start

For blueberries, Put sphagnum moss around each plant. Feed cottonseed oil.

If potato bugs are on tomato plants shake 100% bran(wheat) on plants early in the morning while the dew is on them.

For ants, Spray vinegar on count also sprinkle baby powder by doorframe where they come in.

Plant lettuce and radishes together in row. Helps space lettuce

For sweet potatoes, to harden them before digging(in northern states) after first leaf darken frost, cut all vines back to within 4" of the ground, place vines on top of cut off stems. leave for one more week, then dig. Harvest oregano or basil before flowers start, dry and crumble, store in jar. Harvest Jerusalem artichokes just after a frost. If you use animal manure, also use lime to sweeten to soil. Wood ashes is very good spread thinly in the garden in the winter, the will cut out cutworms. Harvest horseradish after frost, improved flavor.

Horseradish dressing: 1/4 large root grated, Add1/2 a grated apple, 3 tbsp.. of sour cream, and salt to taste. To store Horseradish, wash, grate, and place in glass jars with vinegar and some salt.

Comfrey, use leaves for a healthful tea, use sparingly. the root can be stored until you need a poultice for skin problems, aches and pain, and it has a tendency to heal bone ailments. Very good at drawing out infection.

Geese will keep down the weeds and bugs in your strawberry patch. They even leave some fertilizer as a bonus

Grasshoppers do not like the spirea bush. Puree one gallon of spirea leaves with one quart of water. Strain, then combine, 1/2 cup of the mixture to two tablespoons dish soap and two gallons of water. Spray on fruit trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens.

Brussel Sprouts need the bottom leaves pinched off so the little heads can start developing on the plant. Plants can be pulled up just before frost, and store in unheated area, with straw to cover. Use same pest control as cabbage.

Plant garlic in northern states as late as the end of Oct. or beginning Nov. so the bulb does not grow to much and winter kill.

To prepare broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus for the freezer. Using a 4 to 6 quart kettle, fill half full with water and bring to a boil, drop in florets or whole heads for 1 minute, covered. Now drop into cold water to cool. Put into Zip lock bags and put into the freezer. When ready to use, drop into boiling water for 5 minutes to thaw and steam.

Coleslaw for freezer, shredded cabbage(1 head), 1 green pepper, chopped fine, 1 lg. carrot chopped fine, 1 tsp. salt, mix well and let stand for 1 hour. Squeeze out excess water. DRESSING, 2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 cup vinegar, 1 tsp. mustard seed, 1 tsp. celery seed. Boil for 1 minute, then let cool. Pour over cabbage mixture. Mix and put into containers, freeze

Freezer corn, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup butter, 2 tsp. Sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 8 cups corn(off cob). Husk corn, wash, cut corn off cob, add water, butter, sugar, salt, and boil for 3 minutes, add 1/2 cup milk and boil 3 more minutes. Let cool and package in freezer boxes or bags.

Sauerkraut, 5 lbs. cabbage, 3 tbsp.. pickling salt, 1/2 cup Chablis wine. Chablis wine is optional. Shred the cabbage in a crock. Layer with salt, punch cabbage with fist or open hand to make juice should be level with the top pf cabbage, after cabbage is all in crock, add wine and punch very good to mix. Place a plate or unfinished board on top, then weight it down with jug of water. Leave in a 70 degree room. Let it ferment until juice rises above by 1 or 2 inches and goes back down again. About 1 week or so. Cover with dish towel to keep out fly=s or dust. Clean scum buildup on top if necessary.

REMEMBER make it 1 week before the full moon. Rinse in cold water to remove some salt. Wring out and then put it into zip lock bags. Now put into the freezer. For better flavor add 1 tsp. caraway seed to each bag.

Celery Chili Sauce, 36 ripe tomatoes chopped, 3/4 quart white vinegar, 3 stalks celery cut fine, 2 red peppers cut fine no seeds. 4 lg. onions cut fine, 3 cups white sugar, 1 tbsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. celery seed and 1 handful of mixed spices(pickling) in a bag. Boil all together until reasonably thick, take out spice bag and put in hot pint jars and seal.

Polly Sweet Pickles, 1. use small cucumbers, cleaned. 1 pint salt to one gallon of hot water, cover cucumbers with this and leave for 5 days. 2. Drain off salt water, mix 2 tbsp.. alum to 1 gallon hot water, cover and leave for 24 hours then drain. 3. Split cucumbers now if you are using cucumbers over 2-1/2" lone. Mix 2 level tbsp.. alum to 1 gallon of hot water, cover and leave for 24 hours 4. Mix equal amount of sugar and vinegar, enough to cover pickles, add 3 tbsp. of pickling spice, cover and leave 24 hours 5. Next day pour off vinegar , reheat and measure and add equal amount of sugar and pour back on pickles. Cover and leave 24 hours. 6. Pack pickles into jars and heat vinegar. Pour over pickles and seal. Pint size containers are best. These are great.

Vegetable Soup, Use any vegetable. combination. Boil 5 min. Pack into jars. Process time necessary for vegetable. requiring longest processing time. All vegetables require to be processed at 10 pounds of pressure EXCEPT pimiento peppers

TOMATOES in boiling water bath, 10 min. for salad tomatoes.

Corn relish for hot dogs, Boil 12 ears of corn 3-5 min. Dip in cold water. Cut kernels off cob, don't scrape. Chop 1 quart cabbage, 1 cup sweet red peppers and 2 lg. onions, 1 cup sweet green peppers. Add 2 quarts of corn, 1 cup sugar, 2 tbsp. ground mustard, 1 tbsp. salt, 1 tbsp. mustard seed 1 tbsp. celery seed, 1 quart vinegar and 1 cup water, and simmer 20 min. Pack hat into hot sterile jars and seal

India Relish, 2 quarts green tomatoes, 12 lg. onions, 12 lg. cucumbers, 1 quart vinegar, 3 cups white sugar, 1 tbsp. ground mustard, 1 scant tbsp. black pepper, 2 tbsp. mustard seed, 1 tbsp. tumeric, 2 tbsp. celery seed. Chop tomatoes, onions and cucumber add salt for taste. Let stand overnight and drain. Add vinegar, sugar, and spices. If vinegar is too strong dilute it with water. Heat to a boil and simmer for 10 min. Pack in sterilized jars and process.

Mexican Persevered Pumpkin, remove the seeds from a pumpkin. Cut into strips, peel with a vegetable. peeler, and cut into 1" cubes. Place the cubes in a solution of 4 tbsp. lime juice and 1 gallon of water. Be sure it is well covered and let stand for 12 hours. Drain and wash thoroughly. Weigh pumpkin and mix with an equal weight of sugar. Let stand for 1 hour. When the juice begin to flow place over a low heat and cook very slowly until the pumpkin is dark brown and transparent. Remove the cubes from the syrup and place on wax paper in the sun from 5 to 7 days or until no moisture shows

Rhubarb Conserve, 5 pounds rhubarb, 8 cups sugar, 3 cups weak vinegar, 2 oranges, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 2 cups seedless raisins, 2 cups walnut meats. Wash rhubarb, cut in pieces and cover with boiling water. Allow to stand 3 min. and drain. Add sugar, vinegar, graded rind and juice of oranges, spices, and raisins cut in pieces. Cook slowly until thick, add chopped nut meats and pour into sterilized jar and seal while hot.

Grape Juice, Remove from stems and wash sound ripe grapes. Cover them with water and heat slowly to simmering, don't boil cook slowly until the fruit is very soft then strain through a bag and add 1/2 cup of sugar to each quart of juice. Pour into clean jars to within 1/2" of top of jar. Put on cap, screwing it on firmly by hand. Process according to time table. 5 pounds pressure for 8 min. If only enough water is added to start the grapes to cooking and the sugar omitted from thin recipe, the juice may be used to make grape jelly when jars are opened.

To Get Arid of Grasshoppers, take a couple dozen grasshoppers medium to lg. size alive or dead and place in blender with enough water to thin they down. Blend at high speed several min. The result can be sprinkled with a watering can onto the plants you wish to protect or strained through a fine sieve and then sprayed on plants. Grasshoppers will not eat anything sprayed with this. It must be reapplied after rain.