Page 34 - Blog

Summer Squash Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Row Spacing:4’-5’
Hill Spacing:2’-3’
Days to Germination: 4-10 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Direct-sow 3 to 5 seeds per hill when soil and weather are reliably warm, after the danger of frost has passed, thinning to the strongest single seedling. To start transplants, sow singly in pots 3 to 4 weeks before setting out. Provide ventilation, strong sunlight and even moisture. Gradually accustom to the outdoors, planting out after the danger of frost has past. Enrich soil with compost, organic fertilizer and/or well-rotted manure. Cover seedlings with cloches or other protection if it gets too cold. Water regularly and feed as needed with manure tea, kelp or fish emulsion. Harvest on the small side for the best flavor. Regular picking also encourages production. Leaves contain a skin irritant, so work carefully around the plants or wear long sleeves. (Powdery mildew on the leaves is normal in late summer, as temperatures cool

Sunflowers Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:4”-5”
Plant Spacing:12”-24”
Days to Germination: 7-14 days
Germination Temperature:65°-85°F

Helianthus annuus. Easy to grow in full sunlight, they should be sown in well-draining, loamy soil after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the seeds 1⁄2" deep and keep the seedbed uniformly moist until the seedlings emerge, about 10 days after sowing. Weed carefully and keep well-watered until established. You may also start Sunflowers indoors 3 weeks before the last frost date. Plant seeds 1⁄2" deep in pots of good seed-starting mix at 65° to 85°F. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin or transplant them 12" to 24" apart in the garden. A good cut flower, this cheerful garden favorite may be planted successively every 3 weeks in the spring and early summer for more continuous blooms.

Our Pollinators are in Peril

Cucina Fresca is a wonderful cookbook that emphasizes the importance of using abundant, fresh vegetables to create beautiful foods simply for family and friends. One of our favorite leek recipes, it is wonderful hot or cold as an accompaniment to grilled fish or meats. (Available through your local book store or www.amazon.com)

Sweet Corn Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth: 1"-1 1⁄2"
Row Spacing: 24"-30”
Seed Spacing: 3"-4”
Days to Germination: 4-14 days
Germination Temperature: 60°-80°F

Direct-sow Corn when the soil is reliably warm, above 60°F, well after the last spring frost date. Prepare a well-draining area with rich soil in full sunlight. Amend the soil as necessary with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. Corn is pollinated by the wind, so grow a minimum of 4 rows, even if they are short rows, to ensure good pollination. If the weather gets wet and cold, you might want to re-seed just to be safe since Corn has a long maturation cycle. After thinning to 10" to 12" between the plants, water regularly and mulch with hay or straw to deter weeds and retain ground moisture. Corn is particularly hungry for nitrogen: feed regularly as needed.Harvest when the silk begins to turn brown and a kernel, pinched with your fingernail, releases its sweet,milky liquid.Harvest shortly before cooking

Per Se
10 Columbus Circle
4th Floor
New York
Phone: (212) 823-9335
www.thomaskeller.com/perseny

Per Se, the highly anticipated restaurant from renowned chef Thomas Keller, opened February 2004 in Columbus Circle’s Time Warner Center complex. Through his latest culinary enterprise, Keller brings his distinctive hands-on approach from Napa Valley’s The French Laundry to New York City, reflecting his intense focus on detail, extending not only to cuisine, but to presentation, mood and surroundings.

Sweet Peas Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1”
Seed Spacing:2”-3”
Plant Spacing:6”-8”
Days to Germination:10-21 days
Germination Temperature:55°-65°F

Lathyrus odoratus. Wonderfully scented, Sweet Peas prefer cool, moist growing conditions. Soak the seeds for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Sow in well-draining soil that is fertile and rich in organic matter as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Work in compost and/or well-rotted manure as needed. They can also be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting outside. In areas with milder winters, Sweet Peas may also be started in the late fall for early spring blossoms. Once the seedlings reach 2" tall, thin to a spacing of 6" to 8" apart. Water well and mulch to keep roots cool and moist. Sweet Peas will need a solid support from a trellis, fence or netting to support their vines and profuse flowers. Cut the flowers often for sweet bouquets and keep up with dead-heading to increase flower production.

Days of Vines

Pepper Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Row Spacing:18”-24”
Plant Spacing:18”
Days to Germination: 8-18 days
Germination Temperature:70°-85°F

Start Peppers 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date in your area. Sow 3 to 5 seeds per individual pot of starter mix or singly in peat pots. Provide light, even moisture and ventilation. Bottom warmth hastens germination. Seedlings prefer 70° to 85°F during the day with slightly cooler temperatures at night. Individually transplant the strongest seedlings to 4" pots and fertilize weekly. Do not allow seedlings to become root-bound. Amend a well-draining, sunny site with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-rotted manure. When night temperatures are reliably above 55°F, expose the Pepper plants to sun gradually over 1 week, then transplant. Water well and fertilize as needed with manure tea, kelp or fish emulsion. Mulch soil around Peppers if soil dries out too quickly. Harvest carefully, using a sharp blade, leaving 1⁄2" of

Sweet Potato Instructions
Here are some general hints that will help your plants get off to a good growing start and increase your chances of a bountiful harvest.

Receiving Your Potato Plants
Heavy plant foliage is sometimes trimmed to prevent over-heating during shipment. Many large Sweet Potato Farmers cut off all the leaves and a part of the plant's roots. Expect your plants to appear wilted or possibly bleached to a higher color due to their enclosure during shipment, but do not be alarmed if either condition exists. Sweet Potato plants are very tough, and if planted properly and favorable weather exists, your plants will grow well and yield an abundant harvest.

If there is to be a delay in planting, remove the plants from the carton and take the rubber band, waxed paper and moss away from the roots. Then place the roots in a position where they can receive moisture, being careful to keep the plants away from the sun and wind. Do not wet the stems or leaves. Roots placed on wet sawdust

Swiss Chard Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”-1/2”
Row Spacing:16”-20”
Plant Spacing:10”-12”
Days to Germination:7-12 days
Germination Temperature:45°-65°F

Chard has compound seeds, which may produce several seedlings. Soak seed in bathtub-warm water for an hour before sowing. Planting Chard in soil too cold results in bolting (going directly to seed). Wait until soil has warmed to over 45°F, about 2 weeks before the last expected frost date. It may also be grown for fall/winter use if started in the middle of the summer. Chard likes evenly moist, moderately fertile soil amended with compost and/or well-rotted manure. A light sprinkling of complete organic fertilizer ensures lush growth. When seedlings are about 3" tall, thin them to 3" to 5"apart. Later, thin the plants out to an eventual spacing of 10" to 12". Steam thinnings or toss in soups or salads. To harvest Chard leaves, cut the large outside leaves first. Chard may also be sown thickly and snipped with scissors for

Tassel Flower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/2”
Seed Spacing:1”-2”
Plant Spacing:6”-10”
Days to Germination: 8-15 days
Germination Temperature:65°-75°F

Emilia javanica. Tassel Flower is prized for its wiry stems of scarlet or orange blooms. Its tousled, pompon flowers are quite small, so its hot hues won’t overpower your plantings. Rather, it weaves in and out of other plants in a densely planted bed, adding a dash of spice. It attracts bees and butterflies and is an excellent cut flower, too. Sow directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed, in full sun and well-draining soil. Keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings are established. Or sow seeds indoors in a warm spot several weeks before transplanting out. Cover the seeds lightly and keep them moist until germination. Harden off the seedlings by slowly introducing them to the outdoors over the span of a week, and then thin or transplant seedlings to 6" to 10" apart. Annual. Summer flowering. Height:

Kitchen Garden Seeds
Bantam, CT
We adore puréed Butternut Squash soup in all different sorts of ways. This version turns the heat up a little or a lot depending on the preference of you and your family.