1/2 pound garden fresh asparagus, chopped in 1" pieces
1/2 cup diced, cooked ham
1 unbaked pie shell
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place asparagus in a steamer and cook 2 to 6 minutes, or until tender but still firm. Drain and cool.
Spread asparagus and ham in the bottom of the pie shell.
Beat together eggs, cream, salt pepper and Parmesan. Pour over asparagus and ham.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until firm.
Serves 6.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Asparagus Time
Late April is the time to plant asparagus. Crowns should be purchased, in a dormant state, from a reputable greenhouse or nursery.
Pick a sunny location in your garden and dig in a generous amount of organic material, preferably compost, into your soil and then test for PH. A home test kit can be used for this purpose. You are aiming for a neutral reading of 6.5 to 7.0 Soil can then be amended accordingly using sulfur to acidify and lime to neutralize.
Dig trenches 6" to 8" deep and 4' to 6' apart. Spread roots of crowns and place in the bottom of the trenches 12' to 18' apart. Cover crowns with soil being careful not to compact as this will hinder fern growth. Gradually fill in the trenches as the asparagus grows, never completely covering the emerging plant tip.
Asparagus should be left to go through its normal growth cycle for the first 2 years. Spears may be cut in the third year.
Asparagus is drought tolerant, but if rainfall is absent for long periods, a sufficient watering will prevent stress and impeded growth. Asparagus plants will grow for over 20 years if they are properly taken care of and the climate is right. Try adding a few crowns to your vegetable garden and reap the rewards for many years to come.
Pick a sunny location in your garden and dig in a generous amount of organic material, preferably compost, into your soil and then test for PH. A home test kit can be used for this purpose. You are aiming for a neutral reading of 6.5 to 7.0 Soil can then be amended accordingly using sulfur to acidify and lime to neutralize.
Dig trenches 6" to 8" deep and 4' to 6' apart. Spread roots of crowns and place in the bottom of the trenches 12' to 18' apart. Cover crowns with soil being careful not to compact as this will hinder fern growth. Gradually fill in the trenches as the asparagus grows, never completely covering the emerging plant tip.
Asparagus should be left to go through its normal growth cycle for the first 2 years. Spears may be cut in the third year.
Asparagus is drought tolerant, but if rainfall is absent for long periods, a sufficient watering will prevent stress and impeded growth. Asparagus plants will grow for over 20 years if they are properly taken care of and the climate is right. Try adding a few crowns to your vegetable garden and reap the rewards for many years to come.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
More than 6 million Canadians join 500 million people in over 180 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. Nearly every school child in Canada takes part in an Earth Day activity.
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Plant some seedlings for an organic kitchen garden, or simply start planning your garden on paper.
Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd, is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. This date is Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Plant some seedlings for an organic kitchen garden, or simply start planning your garden on paper.
Monday, April 20, 2009
GET OUT OF MY GARDEN, CAT!
There is nothing worse than a cat wandering around the outside of your house and garden and leaving it's 'scent'. Don't get me wrong, I'm a cat person myself with two fur babies of my own.
Here are some tips to deter the neighbourhood cats:
1. Cats hate the smell of citrus. Grate some orange, lemon or grapefruit peel and sprinkle around the garden or near places where the smell is strong. The smell of Scaredy Cat (Coleus Canina) is one that cats can't tolerate, although it is inoffensive to humans. This attractive annual, nicknamed the "pee-off plant" has spikes of blue flowers in the summer. Another plant that cats don't like is Rue.
2. Cats don't like to get their feet wet. If your garden is being used as the community litter box, try keeping the ground moist.
3. Cats don't like snakes. Place pieces of old garden hose around the garden. This is also a good way to recycle an old garden hose.
4. A cat's natural enemy is the dog. Try putting dog hair clippings around the affected area.
5. Another idea is to fill your garden with more plants. Less exposed dirt....less place for a cat to do its business.
Here are some tips to deter the neighbourhood cats:
1. Cats hate the smell of citrus. Grate some orange, lemon or grapefruit peel and sprinkle around the garden or near places where the smell is strong. The smell of Scaredy Cat (Coleus Canina) is one that cats can't tolerate, although it is inoffensive to humans. This attractive annual, nicknamed the "pee-off plant" has spikes of blue flowers in the summer. Another plant that cats don't like is Rue.
2. Cats don't like to get their feet wet. If your garden is being used as the community litter box, try keeping the ground moist.
3. Cats don't like snakes. Place pieces of old garden hose around the garden. This is also a good way to recycle an old garden hose.
4. A cat's natural enemy is the dog. Try putting dog hair clippings around the affected area.
5. Another idea is to fill your garden with more plants. Less exposed dirt....less place for a cat to do its business.
Flower Garden
A friend of mine sent me a cute site today. When the black screen appears, click anywhere on it. Or click and drag with your mouse. This will definitely be the easiest garden you ever plant. Enjoy!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"SHED" Some Light on Your Garden Organization
Are you tired of trying to find a spot to store your garden tools? Maybe it's time to build a new shed.I have found a book that has hundreds of plans for sheds. These cater to the avid woodworker as well the beginner. This book also includes plans for picnic tables, dog houses, birdhouses, swings, patio chairs and even a picket fence. This is just a small sampling of the great projects within the pages of this book.
Toys are included too. All plans are complete from start to finish, and include material lists, detailed diagrams, and explicit step by step instructions.
Click Here!
Monday, April 13, 2009
ADDING OLD COFFEE GROUNDS TO YOUR SOIL
Are you green enough to try using old coffee grounds to enrich your garden soil?
Adding used coffee grounds to your soil will supply the plants in your garden with much needed nitrogen that they might otherwise lack. An additional benefit is that the used coffee grounds are FREE!
Previously used coffee grounds are an excellent addition to your compost pile too. Brown layer (carbon) could consist of dried leaves. The coffee grounds would be added with the Green layer (nitrogen) along with vegetable peelings, etc. No more than 25% of your compost pile should be coffee grounds. They will create quite a bit of heat which in turn cuts down on composting time. Many pests do not like a garden enriched with coffee grounds, but earthworms love to feed on them. It helps them grow and reproduce.
Coffee grounds are acidic, so they will mostly benefit acid-loving plants such as roses, camellias, blueberries, and azaleas. Many evergreen and deciduous trees, as well as shrubs also benefit greatly from coffee grounds.
So next time you are enjoying your cup of coffee, remember to save the grounds for the garden. You will also be keeping them out of the local landfill.
Adding used coffee grounds to your soil will supply the plants in your garden with much needed nitrogen that they might otherwise lack. An additional benefit is that the used coffee grounds are FREE!
Previously used coffee grounds are an excellent addition to your compost pile too. Brown layer (carbon) could consist of dried leaves. The coffee grounds would be added with the Green layer (nitrogen) along with vegetable peelings, etc. No more than 25% of your compost pile should be coffee grounds. They will create quite a bit of heat which in turn cuts down on composting time. Many pests do not like a garden enriched with coffee grounds, but earthworms love to feed on them. It helps them grow and reproduce.
Coffee grounds are acidic, so they will mostly benefit acid-loving plants such as roses, camellias, blueberries, and azaleas. Many evergreen and deciduous trees, as well as shrubs also benefit greatly from coffee grounds.
So next time you are enjoying your cup of coffee, remember to save the grounds for the garden. You will also be keeping them out of the local landfill.
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