Talking About Whiteflies Again?

The biggest question I ever get is how to get rid of white flies...I have written on this before but I have been doing a little research on how to get rid of them and here are a few more ideas.....

Murphy's oil soap will kill white flies on house plants: mix equal parts of soap and water and place in spray bottle mist affected plants.

How about mixing garlic powder and dish washing liquid? Mix 3 teaspoons garlic and 1/2 teaspoon dish washing liquid to 1 quart water. Put this in a large clean jar and shake very hard until all ingredients are mix together. This will be a concentrate so you will have to mix this with water....2 ounces to 16 ounces of water. Place into a spray bottle. ***remember garlic will also kill beneficial insects so spray carefully)

Hot Pepper sauce and Vegetable oil... 2 teaspoons pepper sauce and 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil add 16 ounces of water into a spray bottle.and shake well before spraying each time.

I hope this helps those with white fly problems.

Always use a small amount to see if it works on your plants...

Did you know? White flies excrete a sticky honeydew that tends to attract black mold to plant leaves....its true!


Happy Gardening....

Lynn

I would love to hear if you ever try different ingredients to help with insect problems?

Green Apple Chutney

It is almost apple season which I enjoy...we have two apple trees but the birds usually get them before we do. We have a local apple orchard we visit every year. We usually bring home a few baskets full and then I set up the kitchen to make apple chutney. Here is my recipe for Apple Chutney. It is so good on ham!


Apple Chutney

2 1/2 lbs green apples (chopped) (leaving the skins on)

1 small bulb garlic (chopped)

4 cups malted vinegar

1 pounds dates (chopped)

a small stem of ginger (chopped)

2 1/2 cups raisins

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon salt



In a large pan place apples and enough vinegar to cover apples...gently boil until soft.

Place chopped dates and ginger and garlic.... after apples have soften up a bit. Then place the rest of the ingredients stirring well.

Simmer for about 45 minutes...spoon in to warm sterilized jars and then seal jars. (check in your hot water baths instruction guide on the set timing for chutneys)


* A reminder on how to sterilize preserves in a water bath.... ( always make sure you use clean undamaged jars) (keep jars full of hot water before placing warm preserves in them)

1. Use a special sterlizing pan or a large sause pan. I line mine with a a folded cloth to keep my jars from banging against each other.

2. Place jars with lids fasten in the pan and I fold the cloth around each jar to prevent them from touching.

3. I then fill the pan with cold water to cover jars...at least 1 inch over the jars. I simmer for the required time.

4. Once the sterilizing time is complete and the jars have cooled check seal. Store in cool dark place.


Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Open Face Onion Sandwich

We have onions drying for the winter monthes...but it is hard not to use a few each week. I hope we have enough left for the winter monthes. I love making open face onion sandwiches.....just thought I would share the recipe.


Open Face Onion Sandwich

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

4 slices of fresh bread remove the crusts (you can also use store bought)

1 very nice sweet onion cut into 4 very thin slices

Preheat the broiler

In a small bowl, mix together cheese and Mayo. Spread evenly on bread slices. Place onion in the middle of the square.

Broil 4-5 inches from heat until light brown. Serve immediately.

I sometimes add a slice of tomato too! Yum!


The garden is still doing pretty good....can't wait to plant our fall veggies.


Happy Gardening..

Lynn

What Zucchini in my Salsa??

I was asked what part of the scape should you use... I asked my friend and she said use everything that is tender. Puree the pods in the blender...use the stalks by peeling it like broccoli stems. I can't not recommend enough to try this it was so Good!

We have had so much zucchini that I have been trying to find ways to cook it and I have this great salsa recipe... I though I would share it with you...so Good and Crazy! What until your friends find out what is in their salsa.

Zucchini Salsa

1 cup zucchini finely chopped

1 tablespoon salt

2 cups fresh tomatoes

1 cup sweet corn

1 red bell pepper

1/2 chilies finely chopped

1/4 cup red onion

2 tablespoons oregano ( tablespoon if dried)

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix together the zucchini and salt let this sit for about an hour in refrigerator then drain stir in the remaining ingredients. Enjoy!!

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Basil Vinegar

My Basil has been growing like crazy...and it really needs to be cut back. I decided it would be great to have a few bottles of home-made vinegar during the winter monthes. I cut a bunch of my basil and began making my Basil Vinegar....

4 large sprigs of fresh Basil

2 cups of white wine vinegar

I place the basil in a clean canning jar( don't worry about crushing it a bit that will help with the flavor) then pour the vinegar over the basil then screw on lid tightly. I store this in a cool dark place for 2-3 weeks. I shake the jar every couple of days to make sure the Basil is mixing into the vinegar.

I love to add this to my salad dressings or even over baked chicken Yum!

I also like to add other flavors to White Wine Vinegar: Blackberries and Lavender flowers this is so Good!

When I use Apple Cider Vinegar I add Chili Peppers, Horseradish and Shallots. Yum!!


Do you make Herb Vinegars? What do you like to add?

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Cucumber Jam?

We love cucumbers in my family..and the best thing about cucumbers when they are ready to pick you can get a bunch off of one bush. We usually pick and wrap them in clear plastic wrap. They will last a few weeks in the refrigerator.

Since we can't freeze cucumbers we try to eat as many fresh or we make my famous bread-n-butter pickles. I found this great cucumber jam recipe and I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!!!

Cucumber Jam

2 lbs Cucumbers (peeled)

2 lbs sugar

2 tablespoons water

Juice of two lemons

Dice cucumbers and simmer in water until soft, add lemon juice and sugar, stir and boil...keep boiling until setting point (it becomes thick)

Jar and seal

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Some Ways To Use Basil

Basil is one of my favorite herbs...I don't know why I don't grow it.... I always buy it at the farmers market. I bought a big bunch of it this weekend and I am going to make my favorite Pesto Sauce.

There are other ways to use Basil such as...

1. You can grow it in a pot on your windowsill it is suppose to keep flies away.

2. You can crush its leaves and rub the juice on your skin as a mosquito repellent.

3. You can crush some in a tissue an inhale it to keep mental fatigue away.

4 It also adds some zing to a hot refreshing bath.


or...... how about making my favorite Pesto!

1 tablespoon pine nuts

4 tablespoons chopped basil leaves (fresh is best)

2 cloves garlic (chopped)

3 oz Parmesan cheese (grated)

6 tablespoons olive oil


Blend together pine nuts, basil, and chopped garlic until smooth...then add olive oil slowly to the mixture until you have a thick paste. Stir sauce into hot pasta and then sprinkle with cheese. Yum! This will keep at least a week in a good sealed container...although I doubt you will have any left-overs!

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Getting Rid of Whiteflies

These tiny pests can do a lot of damage to flowers and fruit trees. Whiteflies suck all the juice out the leaves of flowers, flower buds and stems. I don't know how may times I have reached for a piece of fruit off one of our fruit trees and had a bunch start flying around my head.


Signs that you might have whiteflies:


Weak or stunned plants


Sticky coating on leaves and fruit ...we sometimes get this on the bark of our peach trees.


Yellow eggs the size of tiny pinpoints on the underside of leaves.


When we get them really bad we have to cut down a tree or pull up a flower bush. I hate to do that but when you have them really bad that is what you have to do. Here is one way that I have tried to get rid of them:

http://crazygardening.blogspot.com/2009/05/tomato-or-fruit-tree-white-fly-trap.html


I just found this recipe that I am going to try:

Whitefly recipe:


1 cup sour milk


2 tablespoons flour


1 quart water


mix together and spray of infected areas.


I really hope this helps kill our whiteflies. I will let you know!

Happy Gardening...


Lynn

Minty Mango Salsa

My mint is doing great and I have been trying to find recipes to use it in..... here is one that I thought was Terrific! Enjoy!

Minty Mango Salsa

1 large ripe mango peeled and diced

1 medium sweet red pepper diced

1 can 4 ounces chopped green chilies

1/4 cup green onions

1 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons minced fresh mint

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger ( I left this out and it was still very good)

Tortilla chips

In small bowl mix together mango, red pepper, chilies, onions, lime juice, mint and ginger. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

Enjoy!!!

Happy Gardening.....

Lynn

A Recipe for a Great Container Garden....

I have many herbs growing in pots all around my deck...I also love flowers. I really think it makes my deck look interesting to have many pots growing many things...I have rosemary, basil and mint growing in pots along with petunias and marigolds.

I love sitting outside enjoying the smells and the blooms from my many different plants. Don't forget about hanging basket plants...My husband always grows a few tomatoes in hanging baskets every year...the tomatoes are easier to get to and it is another fun conversational piece. I think next year we are going to try to grow strawberries that way to see if we can beat the slugs.

Here is a recipe that I use every year in my container gardens and you probably have all the ingredients in you home right now!

Container Recipe

2 tablespoons black coffee

1/2 cup unflavored gelatin

1/2 teaspoon baby shampoo (or cheap shampoo)

1/2 cup of ammonia

1 gallon of water

1 heaping scoop of compost

Mix together and pour on as needed.

Happy Gardening.....

Lynn

Strange but Good....

We have been able to dig up many of our onions and this is one of my favorite recipes.....I hope you enjoy it!!!

Vegetable-Stuffed Baked Onions

8-10 medium onions peeled

4 strips bacon

3/4 cups carrots

1/2 cup sweet red pepper chopped finely

1-1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

3 tablespoons butter melted

1-1/2 teaspoons salt (less if you like)

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 beef broth


Cut 1/2 inch off top of onion and trim bottom to be able to sit flat...scoop out center leaving 1/2 in shell of onion. (Chop up rest of middle of onion to add to your stuffing mix)

Place onion shells in a square pan and cover with water..bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 8-10 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp...place bacon on paper towel and save 1 teaspoon drippings

In the bacon drippings saute onion, carrots, red pepper until tender...remove from heat stir in bread crumbs, parsley , butter, salt, pepper, and bacon.

Drain onion shells and fill with mixture...place in ungreased shallow baking dish. Pour beef broth over onions. Cover and baked at 350 for 45-50 minutes

Happy Gardening.....

Lynn

Mom's Clematis Recipe

My mom has the most beautiful Clematis...I have been asking her to share what she has been using on it and she has finally told me....

My mom's Clematis Recipe:

5 gallons compost

1/2 cup lime

1/2 cup bone meal

Mix all the ingredients together and spreed over base of plant. She does this early spring every year.


My mom also cuts her Clematis back hard in the early spring to encourage lots of new growth...she told me she cuts the Clematis down to around 8 inches above the ground don't be afraid to do this you will reap many new blooms. *Early Bloomers* There are a few Clematis you shouldn't prune back and they are..Alpine and Anemone if you prune back early you will be cutting off there only buds.


My mom also said she cuts all dead growth and messy vines after blooming to prevent disease's that go into the soil.

I hope your Clematis will look as good as my moms next year!

Thank you Mom!!!

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

A Friends Recipe to Keep Bugs Away.....

I have a dear friend that reads my blog and she gave me her recipe to get rid of bugs...I have never tried this but by looking at the ingredients it just might work.

Bug Spray:

1 Cup Murphy's Oil

1 Cup of Antiseptic mouthwash

1 cup of Tobacco tea

Mix together place in a hose-end sprayer..... soak plants to the point of run-off.


what is tobacco tea?

Place a handful of chewing tobacco in a gallon of water place in sun...after water turns dark brown strain with old screen window.


* My friend said this gets rid of all bugs and I say why wouldn't it.......


Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Lettuce for all Seasons.....and a recipe

We love that we can pick lettuce almost all season long...until it gets real hot. There are so many different kinds of lettuce and they all like different temperatures so you can almost grow it all season.

We grow a lot of Romaine lettuce because of its crunchy texture. We can grow this lettuce in the summer months. Our favorites are Apollo and Jericho.

We also like loose leaf lettuce...you just pick its outer leaves and it will keep on growing. We have had lettuce grow for months and months. I like that we can grow this in the summer months our favorite is Red Oakleaf and Salad Bowl.

My ultimate favorite lettuce is Butterhead or Buttercrunch (Yum!) It is soft green with red heads and has a buttery flavor you can grow this in early spring and summer. Cool season Capitane warm season Esmeralda.

What about Iceburg? We have tried to grow this....I think we get to warm in the spring time. We just can't get it to grow.

We plant lettuce all around our garden...we have lettuce in our potato beds around our onions ect... When it starts getting bitter we pull it up....making room for are other plants to grow. This works really well in the early season.

Here is one of my favorite Salad Dressings:

Creamy Herb

1/2 cup fat free mayonnaise

2 tablespoons and 1/2 teaspoon soymilk or fat free milk

4 teaspoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper


In a small whisk together and then chill....wonderful over fresh crisped lettuce.



Happy Gardening...

Lynn

Cucumbers

We love eating cucumbers in our family and we make the best bread and butter pickles around if I say so myself. There are a few common problems you can have growing cucumbers and I thought I would address how to fix those problems in this post.

Cucumbers:

First of all cucumbers need to be planted where they can get full sun...they like well drained soil. We always add a good amount of compost and then make a raised hill and place our cucumber plant in the middle of this hill. We make the hill so that when it rains the water runs off the hill... cucumbers plants do not like to sit in water!

We feed our cucumbers with compost tea about a month later.

Problems we have had...

Fruit sometimes taste bitter? This is because they did not get enough water while they were forming..we water more often when we see blooms appear.


White coating on leaves? This is powdery mildew...I spray with baking soda recipe every 7-10 days. I try to avoid watering the leaves and evening watering....I only water the soil!

Yellow or Brown spots: Downy mildew this usually means we have had a lot of wet weather. I pull up the plants as soon as possible to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants. ( I *Do Not* compost these plants!

Wilted or shriveled up leaves: I usually find squash bugs on my plants. I pull these up as soon as possible and I again Do Not compost these plants. I have heard that you can use spun row covers to prevent this problem. We now use crop rotation and it has helped us with this problem.

Plants wilt quickly: Cucumber Beetles is usually the problem here...again you can use a spun row cover. Make sure you are not over watering if you do not see any pests.

Baking soda Recipe

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 quart of water

I mix into a spray bottle and spray on my plants for 7-10 days I have found this really does help with powdery mildew.

Happy Gardening..

Lynn

Tomato Pests

Many people have asked what pests like tomato plants... here is a small list of what pest may be bothering you tomato plant.

1. Colorado potato beetle I find these eary spring.

2. Missing leaves might suggest a hornworm.

3. Blister Beetles these use come out about mid-summer.

4. Fruit Flies This is after fruit begins to ripen.

5. Slugs I have these when my fruit is on the ground and there are a few overly-ripen close together.



I have found the easiest method to get rid of the Colorado Potato Beetle and the Tomato Horn Worm is to get out early and pick them off...starting the beginning of the season....before they take over your garden.

I pick them and place them in a bucket with 1 quart of water and 1 teaspoon liquid soap. This way they won't crawl back up the bucket and get out and it is safe to throw the remains in my compost pile.

I have many recipes that you can use to spray them but if you want immediate results you can always hand pick.

Happy Gardening..

Lynn

Two-Cabbage Slaw

I thought I would share one of my favorite picnic side dishes.....

Two-Cabbage Slaw

4 cups shredded green cabbage

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1 medium green pepper chopped

1 medium red pepper chopped

4 green onions finely chopped


Dressing:

1 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

In large bowl mix first five ingredients. Then a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients.

Pour over cabbage mixture stir to coat

This serves 6

I hope you enjoy this recipe....

Lynn

Sun Dry Tomatoes and Basil cheese

This is so quick to make you can serve it with crackers or one of your favorite breads. I really hope you enjoy it...

6-to-8 ounces goat cheese

18-24 fresh basil leaves

1 bottle sun-dried tomato in oil

coarsely black pepper

I lay out all my crackers on a plate..I then place some goat cheese and then a piece of basil. I then drizzle the sun dried tomato oil over the top. I love adding a little black pepper just before serving.

Enjoy!!

Happy Gardening..

Lynn

Asparagus blue cheese rolls.... appetizers

Asparagus Blue cheese rolls this appetizer is one of my favorite recipes.... Enjoy!

12 slices of white bread....crusts removed

1/3 cup blue cheese (room temperature is best)

12 cooked asparagus drained well

1/3 to 1/2 cup melted butter

mayonnaise to taste

preheat oven 375


Using a rolling pin gently flatten each slice of white bread.

In a small bowl mix blue cheese and enough mayonnaise to make it spreadable. Then spread about a teaspoon of mixture on each slice of white bread, place an asparagus spear on the end and roll it up. (try not to let too much asparagus hang out if so cut)

Melt butter then spread with a paint brush on each bread wrap on all surfaces. Place seam side down on baking sheet. bake 10-12 minutes until crisp. Then cut the roll into 4 pieces enjoy!

Happy Gardening..

Lynn

Dividing Herbs and a recipe

Every year I have to divide some of my herbs this year it will be my mint and chives. My chives have over-grown in to big clumps and my mint has jumped out of one of my beds. This is how I divide my herbs.

I dig up my chives and mint from underneath the soil trying to keep all the roots intact. I then use a knife and slice the soil into smaller clumps. I plant these new clumps of herbs in a place where they will have a lot of room to grow. This way I won't have to divide them in a few years.
* The best time to divide is early spring or fall

One of my favorite ways to use mint:

I usually go out in the morning and cut a few stalks of mint. I chopped them up a bit and place them in a ice tray...I then fill the ice tray with water. After the ice gets solid I put a few mint ice cubes in my favorite tea Yum!! I hope you try this!

Happy Gardening!

Lynn