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- August 13, 2020Statice Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:8”-12”
Days to Germination:10-20 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F
Limonium sinuatum. This popular cut flower prefers to be started indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Sow seed in a good seed-starting medium at 70°F with even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. When the seedlings are 3" tall, acclimate them by gradually exposing them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks. The seedlings may be transplanted into the garden once the threat of frost has passed. Statice may also be sown directly into the garden. Thin or space plants 12" apart in the garden in well-draining, loamy soil and full sunlight. For use as a dried flower, harvest the sprays when the florets are just three-quarters open and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated spot out of the sun. Summer flowering. Height: 2' to 3'.
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- August 13, 2020Stevia Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:0”
Row Spacing:12”-18”
Seed Spacing:3”-6”
Plant Spacing:12”-14”
Germination Temperature:60°-70°F
Stevia rebaudiana, the Sweet Leaf. Start transplants indoors 10 to 12 weeks before setting out after the last frost date. Sow seeds on top of soil mix, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Provide even moisture, warmth and strong light. Cover with plastic wrap until sprouts emerge: then discard plastic. When seedlings are 4'' tall, harden them off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors for 1 to 2 weeks. Carefully transplant out into well-draining, loamy soil in full to filtered sunlight spaced 12" to 14" apart. The sweet glycoside-packed leaves may be plucked at any time, but they are best harvested when the plant is in full bloom with dainty white flowers. Height: 24-30".
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- August 13, 2020Stocks Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:0”
Seed Spacing:8”-10”
Plant Spacing:12”-18”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F
Matthiola incana. Stock, an old-fashioned cottage flower, can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, yet it is best started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting out after all danger of frost has passed. Sow seeds on top of soil mix, leaving the seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Provide even moisture, strong light and luke warm water. Prepare a garden bed in full to partial sunlight with rich, well-draining soil. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them outside over 1 to 2 weeks. Carefully transplant them 12" to 18" apart. Prized for their spicy clove scent, Stock has stalks studded with small, semi-double flowers ranging from white to pale pink to deep burgundy. It makes a great garden display or cut flower. Summer flowering. Height: 18".
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- August 13, 2020Strawberries Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/16”-1/8”
Row Spacing:24”-30”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:30 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F
In order to get a crop the first year, sow Strawberry seeds up to 16 weeks before the last frost date. Seeds sown 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost date will not produce until the following year. Sow very shallowly since light aids germination. Provide strong light, good air circulation and 55° to 65°F temperatures: seeds kept above 70°F will not germinate. Ensure moist soil by covering with plastic wrap until seedlings emerge. After all danger of frost has passed, harden plants off by gradually acclimating them to the outdoors over 7 to 10 days. Amend the soil as necessary with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. Transplant out in rich, well-draining soil and full sunlight at the same depth. Water regularly and mulch with straw to deter weeds, retain ground moisture, keep the fruit clean and prevent mature -
- July 14, 2020
After years of trying different recipes and never being really satisfied, I finally created the perfect mocha cake recipe for my taste buds. I use all-purpose flour since I don’t usually have cake flour on hand. I prayed that the finished cakes tasted as good as the raw batter. I think it does. It even comes out of the cake pans easily without using parchment paper.
The Mocha Cake recipe is wonderful when Strawberries are in season too. Then, I forsake the Mocha frosting and Strawberry Topping. Once the cakes are at room temperature, slice each cake into two layers so that there are four layers. Wash, dry and slice freshly harvested Strawberries and sprinkle them with fine sugar and a splash of raspberry liqueur. After about an hour, spoon the Strawberries over the bottom layer and top with a 1/2 inch layer of whipped cream sweetened with brown sugar and vanilla paste. Assemble the remaining layers of the cake, spreading each with the macerated Strawberries and whipped cream. Top the final
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- July 14, 2020
To enjoy making light Strawberry desserts all winter long, make raw Strawberry Purée at the peak of their harvest. It's so easy and so incredibly convenient to have frozen airtight freezer bags lined up in the freezer. One way to use Strawberry Purée is in our easy Strawberry Yogurt Mousse.
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- July 14, 2020
For delicious drinks on special occasions through the winter, bring back the incredible taste of just-picked Strawberries by making this easy simple syrup. A little splash can be added to club soda or champagne. Or, you can make an adult beverage: vodka or tequila (2 ounces), Strawberry Purée (1 ounce), Strawberry Simple Syrup (1/2 ounce), lime juice (1/2 ounce) and club soda (1 ounce): in an ice-filled cocktail mixer, shake and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.
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- July 14, 2020
- 2005 Award Winning Recipe!
Karen’s over-the-top exclamations about this salad turn out to have been understatements. “It is so good”, according to Karen, “that you will want it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!” We do. Karen adores her gardens, sheep and Japanese Chin dogs as if they were all her children. Her husband Gary Hayre is a willing gardening accomplice and an ice wine maker extraordinaire.
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- July 14, 2020
- Back in the 1980s, Alice Wiegand gave me the recipe for her Strawberry Shortcake topping. It was the best, most explosive essence-of-Strawberry taste that I'd ever experienced. Since then, I adapted it slightly, adding the lemon juice and the Triple Sec. I make it every year, the same day that I pick my Strawberries. I freeze most of it, but I always bake little shortcakes to enjoy it that very night with a dollop of brown sugar-sweetened whipped cream. It's wonderful over almost everything~homemade cheesecake, our Molten Ginger-Lemon Cakes, shortcakes and ice cream.
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- July 14, 2020
My husband Sander's favorite desserts are those that are light, like this Strawberry Yogurt Mousse. Compared to other mousse recipes, it's easy to make and it has yogurt in it and doesn't have a lot of sugar so it feels more healthy.
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- August 13, 2020Strawflower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:0”
Seed Spacing:6”-8”
Plant Spacing:9”-15”
Days to Germination:7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F
Helichrysum bracteatum. Strawflower can be direct-sown into the garden after the last frost date, or may be started indoors 4 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds on top of the soil, leaving seeds uncovered but pressed firmly onto the soil surface, as light aids germination. Provide even moisture and strong light during germination. Harden off the seedlings by gradually acclimating them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks before transplanting out 9" to 15" apart. Strawflower is a great cut flower with a long vase life. It also makes a perfect dried flower when cut just before its pink, red, sulphur-yellow, golden-yellow, lemon-yellow, orange, rose, salmon and white blooms open. Summer flowering. Height: 24" to 30".
