Page 12 - Blog

Diakon Radish Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:8”
Seed Spacing:1/2”-3/4”
Days to Germination: 3-7 days
Germination Temperature: 45°-85°F

After the danger of hard frost has passed, direct sow Daikon Radish seed in moderately fertile, well draining soil in full sunlight. If necessary, amend the soil lightly with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure: overly rich soil may result in too much top growth and not enough Radish. They prefer sunny, cool weather. Direct-sow 1⁄4" deep in rows about 8" apart, tamp down and water lightly. The key to growing crisp, mild Daikon Radishes is to keep them well watered and thinned to 1" to 2" apart once they are 2" tall. Radish thinnings may be tossed into salads – tops and all. Harvest Daikon Radishes when they are small and tender for the mildest flavor and most crispy texture. Pull each Daikon Radish gently out of the soil. Direct-sow every 7 to 14 days for a steady supply through the summer.

Shade Tolerance

Dill Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:12”
Plant Spacing:4”-6”
Days to Germination:21-25 days
Germination Temperature:60°-70°F

A delicious seasoning for fish and vegetables, Dill is a member of the Umbelliferae family and is known to attract beneficial insects to pollinate other vegetables and fruits in your kitchen gar- den. Sow anytime after the soil can be worked in the spring. Direct seed Dill in moderately fertile, well-draining soil in full direct sunlight. Sow small pinches of seed every 3" to 4". Then, carefully thin the seedlings to about 6" apart. Dill dislikes transplanting, so leave it alone except for regular watering and weeding. A wonderful leafy variety, direct sow Dill every 2 to 3 weeks for continual harvest through the summer. A fast grower, Dill bolts in hot weath- er, so multiple sowings are a good idea. Harvest sprigs of Dill at anytime or the entire head when the seed has matured for use as seasoning when making dill pickles.

Shade Tolerance

That moment when you can bring the seedlings you've tended indoors outside and lovingly plant them in their carefully laid-out beds is sweet. But the seed starting doesn't end when you've moved those seedlings outdoors! There are lots of veggies and flowers that prefer to be sown directly into your garden beds. Direct-sowing seeds is so rewarding, and easy. All it tales is a bit of patience and close attention. In this blog post, we lay out how to direct-sow, and tell you which vegetables, herbs and flowers prefer this method.

A rich, wonderful meal all with a bit of bread, there is nothing quite like classic Dutch Mustard Soup. Unable to find a traditional recipe, we made up our own and hope that you enjoy its tangy bite and creamy texture. (We bring home real Groningen Mustard from Abraham's Mustard Mill but you can also purchase good Dutch mustard, De Echte Zaanse Mosterd, from The Dutch Epicure at www.dutchepicure.com.) Of course, it is wonderful if you like to make your own mustard from mustard seed. Eet smakelijk!

Echinacea Root Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:18”-24”
Days to Germination:10-20 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Echinacea purpurea and angustifolia. Start Coneflowers indoors before the last frost date. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours, and then sow in a good seed-starting medium. Provide 65° to 75°F temperatures and uniformly moist soil until seedlings emerge. Introduce strong sunlight. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant to larger, deeper pots for full root system development. After all danger of frost has passed and seedlings are 4" tall, harden them off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Transplant out 18" to 24" apart or direct-sow in rich, well-draining soil and full to partial sunlight. Water regularly and mulch to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Grown for its roots rather than for its flowers, this mixture may yield more foliage than flowers, if any. Summer harvesting.

Edamame Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Row Spacing:18”-36”
Seed Spacing:3”-6”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:60°-80°F

Growing Edamame is as easy as growing Bush Beans. It also loves sun and well-draining, fertile soil. Direct-sow Edamame when the soil has warmed to 60°F and all danger of frost has passed. Amend the soil as needed with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-aged manure. Cool, wet weather may necessitate a second planting: Edamame seeds rot in cold, damp soil. After planting, do not water until the sprouts emerge, unless it is very hot and dry. After emergence, and throughout the season, avoid watering the foliage. Water by soaking the soil around the plants and fertilize with kelp or fish emulsion as needed. Harvest Edamame when its inedible pods are green, tender and plump, well before they turn yellow. Meaning ‘twig bean’ in Japanese, Edamame is similar to the field soybean although it has been bred for larger seeds, sweeter flavor,

Castle Hill Inn & Resort
Ocean Drive
Newport, Rhode Island
Phone: (401) 849-3800
www.castlehillinn.com

Located on a 40-acre peninsula, this 1875 gabled Victorian mansion is perched on a sunny bluff over Narragansett Bay. The Inn’s chefs artfully craft seasonal dinner and tasting menus from the finest regional produce, fish and meats. Each inspired course is a unique, sensory feast. We also adored the wild Alaskan king salmon filet, grilled with pan roasted green cabbage, sweet sausage and fingerling potatoes with a Pinot Noir beurre rouge.

Eggplant Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth: 1/4"
Row Spacing: 18”-24”
Plant Spacing: 12”-18”
Days to Germination: 7-12 days
Germination Temperature: 70°-90°F

This Nightshade family member just loves the heat! To speed germination, soak the seed in warm water for an hour, then sow sparingly in flats or pots in sterilized seed starting mix. Provide light, heat and ventilation: bottom heat hastens germination. Two weeks after emergence (or when 2" tall), replant individual seedlings into 4" pots. Use richer-thanaverage soil mix and fertilize seedlings weekly. Eggplants need 8 to 10 weeks to achieve sufficient size to be tranplanted outdoors. Prepare your Eggplant bed in a hot spot with good drainage, adding lots of compost and/or well-rotted manure. Plant out when soil and air temperatures have thoroughly warmed. Create additional warmth (especially at night) if temperatures are expected to drop below 55°F by covering plants with cloches or other coverings to retain heat. Harvest Eggplants

Soul-Satisfying Eggplant

The Essential Reference: Vegetables From Amaranth to Zucchini
Published by HarperCollins Publishers
Narrow, lightweight lavender Oriental-type eggplant is the most dependably sweet and tender type for this and other recipes, Eastern or Western.