Backyard Gardening

Beets

3/19/2012

Chioggia Beets

Assyrian text mention beets as far back as 800 BC. Beets are grown as annuals. They are typically purple but can be white and yellow as well. Common beet varieties are Detroit Dark, Early Wonder, Lutz Green Leaf, Chioggia, Burpee Golden, Ruby Queen and White Albino. Common ways to eat beets are boiled, roasted and grilled.

Growing Beets
For a continuous supply of beets, plant seeds after last frost in short rows at monthly intervals until mid-summer. Plant beet seeds 1/2 to 1-inch deep in full sun. Seeds take 7-10 days to germinate and 50-80 days to mature. For tender roots, water frequently in dry weather. Beets like temperatures of 50-75 degrees.

Harvesting Beets
Beets should be smooth, round and firm. Harvest when beets are between 1-inch and 3-inches wide. The larger beets are sweeter but also tougher. Beets can be picked for 4-6 weeks before they become too woody.

Beet Pests

Carrot weevils are present if chewed holes appear on leaves. Cover beets with agricultural fleece to prevent weevils from infesting crop.
Mites are present if leaves become yellow, stippled and dry. Forcefully spray leaves with water to knock the mites off the leaves.
Whitefly is present if leaves weaken, turn yellow and fall off. There will also be a honeydew secreted by the whiteflies. This causes fungus. Spray plants forcefully with water and rub the leaves with fingers to remove whiteflies.

Cooking with Beets
Roasted or grilled beets are a wonderful to addition to salads.
http://www.fresheasymeals.com/grilled-fresh-beets.html

Nutrients in Beets

Vitamin C
Fiber
Iron
Magnesium
Folate
Potassium
Manganese

Cucumbers

3/12/2012

Cucumber

Cucumbers are a fast growing vegetable that love warm temperatures. They need both warm soil and warm air to sprout seeds and for pollination. Most vines will spread over 6 feet, so make sure you give them room to grow. You can grow them on fencing or trellises if space is at a premium. You can also plant compact varieties, such as, Tiny Dill or Patio Pik in large containers or tubs 8 inches wide by 12 inches deep.

Growing Cucumbers
Plant seeds in rows 1 week before last expected frost about 1 inch deep and 12 inches apart. Cucumber roots are sensitive so if you plan on transplanting the seedlings be sure to do it before the become root bound. Keep the soil moist and make sure you water them from below. If you sprinkle water on the vines they will mildew. Cucumbers require a compost or slow acting all purpose fertilizer in the spring and again very lightly once a month through the growing season. English cucumbers need to be grown in greenhouses, they should not be pollinated by bees or they will lose both form and flavor.

Harvesting Cucumbers
Pick cucumbers when they are dark green, firm and of moderate size. If cucumber are yellow and tough they are overripe. Picking cucumber off the vine will increase production amounts. The harvest usually lasts 4-6 weeks long. Store cucumbers in a cool moist environment. They will keep refrigerated for 5 days. Pickling cucumbers is the best way to store them long term.

Cucumber Pests

Aphids are the problem if cucumber leaves curl, pucker or turn yellow. Vigorously spray the leaves in the morning to rid the leaves of aphids.
Cucumber beetles only cause minor problems themselves but they can spread disease that can devastate plants.
Slugs eat big holes in the leaves. To prevent slugs either pick them out or provide a barrier around the garden made out of sand, cloth or ashes.

Eating Cucumbers

Eat cucumbers raw alone or with a dip such as plain yogurt or hummus.
http://www.fresheasymeals.com/cucumber-sandwiches.html
http://www.fresheasymeals.com/cucumber-and-tomato-salad.html
http://www.fresheasymeals.com/fresh-arugula-salad.html

Nutrients in Cucumbers
Cucumbers are very low in calories, fat, sodium and carbohydrates. You will find these nutrients in each 1/2 cup serving of sliced raw cucumber:

Vitamins A, C, K
Folate
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Manganese

Tomatoes

3/3/2012

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are easily one of the most popular garden plants. They provide a big reward for just a little work in the garden. There are early, midseason and late season varieties of tomatoes, so make sure you buy the type of tomatoes that will grow in your climate. There are numerous varieties of tomatoes. You can choose to grow tomatoes that are red, yellow, orange or pink in color. Tomatoes also come in many different sizes. You may wish to grow a few different types of tomatoes for different uses.

Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes cannot withstand frost, so plant seeds indoors and transfer transplants 2-4 weeks after last frost. Plant determinate, or bushy tomato plants 3-4 feet apart and indeterminate, or vine-like tomato plants 5-15 feet apart. Plant seeds 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch in depth. Plant transfers in a large hole with the bottom leaves even with the soil. Tomatoes like a sunny location with a minimum 8 hours of sun per day. Stake or trellis vine-like tomatoes to keep the fruit off of the ground. If tomatoes are allowed to sit on the soil they may cause rot and discoloration. Tomatoes require 1-inch of water per week. There are tomato varieties that can be grown in containers, as well as, greenhouses. For dwarf varieties use pots 6-inches deep and for standard varieties use containers 24-inches deep. If your tomatoes do not ripen it may be due to cool temperatures. For good production feed tomatoes with compost or a slow-acting fertilizer in spring. Lightly feed tomatoes through the growing season.
Harvesting Tomatoes
Pick tomatoes when the fruit is firm to the touch and the color is deep. Tomatoes will ripen after being picked, but for best results pick the fruit when ripe. To extend the growing season make sure you keep ripened fruit picked.

Tomato Varieties

Small fruited tomatoes are usually the size of a large marble or up to about 1-inch in diameter. A few varieties of these are: "Red Cherry", "Yellow Cherry", "Red Pear", "Yellow Pear", "Sweet 100" and "Tiny Tim".
A few large fruited tomato varieties are: "Early Girl", "Springset","Beef Stake", "Beef Master", "Big Boy", "Big Girl" and "Ponderosa".
Good varieties for canning or using in tomato sauces or pastes are: "Roma" and "San Marzano".

Tomato Pests

Aphids may be present if the foliage curl, pucker and turn yellow. Look for ants because they are attracted to the sticky secretions of aphids. Vigorously wash the plant leaves, including the underside with water in the morning to remove aphid infestations.
Tomato Hornworms bore holes in the leaves, as well as, the fruit. These are large green caterpillars with white stripes and a horn at the rear. Handpicking them off the plants is the best recommendation to get rid of them.
Slugs cause large ragged holes in leaves. Look for their slime on leaves. Pick slugs off of plants by hand or put a barrier around the plant like ash or sand.
Blight shows up as greenish black spots on older leaves. The fruit will have a large dark spot that is firm to the touch. A copper based fungicide should help get rid of blight.
Bacterial Wilt causes plants to wilt and rapidly die. The plants won't show any signs of yellowing or spotting. Frusarium Wilt will cause plants to yellow spreading from the base of the plant up. You need to remove the infected plants and destroy them because both types of wilt cannot be cured. Keeping areas around plants clean helps prevent wilt.

Cooking with Tomatoes

Tomatoes are wonderful to cook with because they can be used in so many different ways.
Here are a few recipes to use for your garden fresh tomatoes.

Fresh Tomato Recipes:

Canned Tomato Recipes:
A wonderful way to keep tomatoes to use year round is to can them. Here are some recipes with canned tomatoes.

Nutrients in Tomatoes

Excellent source of vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, E and K
potassium
manganese
fiber
chromium
folate
copper
niacin
magnesium
iron
phosphorus

Beets

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

Becky

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