Tips for raising vigorous seeds, whether your goal is to preserve a variety or to create a locally adapted strain.
Tag: Seed Saving
How to Test Seed Germination Rates
Are those old seeds in the basement still viable? Find out with supplies you already have around the house.
10 Gifts for Gardeners
Christmas is just around the corner! If you are looking for a few ideas to bring a smile to the face of that gardener in the family this year, allow us to make a few recommendations. The Family Garden Journal. Our garden journal is a great way for a gardener to celebrate a year of…
Seeds From the Tombs
Can seeds from Ancient Egypt germinate thousands of years later? Scientists still debate the question.
The Dirt-Cheap Green Thumb
Gardening on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice looks or taste! The Dirt-Cheap Green Thumb: 400 Thrifty Tips for Saving Money, Time & Resources In and Around the Garden by Rhonda Massingham Hart will show you how to make the most of your gardening dollars, while still enjoying a beautiful and productive…
5 Homemade Gifts From the Farm
There’s nothing like a homemade gift to warm someone’s heart at Christmas. The time and love put into a handcrafted present make it special. If you enjoy country living, you have an excellent opportunity to make and grow gifts that will touch others. Need some inspiration? Consider these ideas: Heirloom seeds. If you raise and…
Pros and Cons of Fermenting Seeds Before Storage
Most guides to saving seeds from tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons recommend fermenting the seeds before storing them. However, a short perusal of the directions for this procedure is enough to convince anyone that a fermented seed culture is a nasty, smelly mess. So is it really worthwhile? Or is there a better way? Interestingly, some…
Tomato
The possibilities of a fresh, homegrown tomato are nearly endless. The simplest uses, such as sandwich toppings and BLTs, are by far the best. However, when you have a surplus, experiment. Dice them and use them instead of canned tomatoes in your favorite recipes. Cook them to make salsa or tomato sauce. Even green tomatoes…
Squash (Winter & Pumpkin)
Different gardeners have different favorite uses for winter squash, so be prepared to experiment with this unique vegetable. Squash can be boiled, baked, or mashed. It can be served by itself as a side or added to soups and stews. It can be stuffed with rice or sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Butternut squash can…
Squash (Summer)
Fortunately for gardeners, summer squash is almost as versatile as it is prolific. Slices can be cooked in soup or sautéed and added to pasta. Raw squashes can be peeled and cut into sticks to serve with dip. Both zucchini and yellow squash can be shredded for cooking and baking purposes, as well. Preferred…
