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Nasturtiums – Party Girl In the Garden

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Nasturtiums are considered the party girls of the summer garden. Used here and there, she can bring joy to a gardener’s garden.

Nasturtiums are an annual that should be considered for any summer garden. Planted in the ground or in a container, this easy to grow annual should be invited to your garden party. Mostly known for the red, orange, and yellow party dresses or blooms, nasturtium is a muli-asking Diva.

A simple pot or plot of less than perfect soil will usually do the trick. First, decide what you want – more leaves or more blooms. If you want more leaves, enhance your soil with organic matter. If you want more blooms, provide a dry slightly humus soil with low fertility. The beauty of this party girl is she is low maintenance.

SOW AND GROW

Soak the seed to soften the shell-like coating. I use a kelp/water solution when I soak any seed to hasten the germination period. Sow the seed two times as deep as the length of the seed. Nasturtiums require darkness to germinate. If you are sowing inside, seeds can be started as early as 3 weeks prior to the last frost date in your zone. In Zone 6/7, mid-April or early May, is a terrific time to start these seeds.

Be sure to watch the outside temperatures. Keep in mind, this young lady is not a fan of frost, extremely hot sun, or strong winds. If they become weather-beaten, pinch off the leaves and more leaves will surely sprout. Follow the leaf to the main stem and pinch it off. This will trigger the nasturtium to sprout more leaves. This leaf dance party will continue until the first frost of autumn.

Once the seedlings have been hardened off and planted outside, provide protection from the strong summer sun. After all, no girl wants to get sunburn or scorching on her leaves. Nasturtiums will happily consider part shade without skipping a beat.

Light on the lettuce? Does your salad need a picker-upper? Nasturtium brings the party to the table.

MULTI-TASKING MOMMA

Now that she is flourishing from a lack of attention, the nasturtium is ready to show off. From the leaves to the blossoms, certain foods can be taken from ‘okay’ to ‘dancing in your mouth!’

The leaves can be sliced up or left whole. A milder taste can be appreciated in the smaller leaves. The spicy, mustard-like bite is found in the larger leaves. If you harvest the leaves for later use, rinse, dry, and refrigerate them in a baggie. Consider using them within 3 to 5 days. Without light, the leaves will yellow.

Sliced, diced, stuffed, stir-fried, and more are just a few of the ways the nasturtium leaf can be used. Easily flavored vinegar, using the leaves and the buds make a colorful addition for use from the pantry. Tied with a bow, a jar of spicy nasturtium vinegar makes a great gift from the garden.

Imagine a large nasturtium leaf with a dab of chicken salad and rolled up as a mid-afternoon snack. Such a different twist to enjoy a chicken wrap with a little zing!

Did you know that the leaves also have an antiseptic quality? By grinding the leaves and straining in water, this solution can be used to clean up simple wounds. A natural antibiotic, fresh from the garden. Leaves of the nasturtium can also be used as a tea to soothe sore throats and minimize cold symptoms. Nasturtium leaves also contain Vitamin C…what’s not to love?

Nasturtiums are ready to dance to almost any tune from the garden to the plate! I marvel at the ways one can use this resourceful plant.

SAVOR THE FLAVOR

A few nasturtium leaves, mixed greens, a smattering of blossoms, craisins, add one boiled egg…the perfect salad. I call this disco on a plate!

Stuffed blooms make such a statement at a dinner party. The unexpected mingling of herbs or dried fruit bits in goat cheese, cottage or ricotta cheese is purely delightful. Add blossoms to a jar and mince a clove or two of garlic. Allow this to settle in a pantry for a week or so. Strain and use to flavor a nice pasta, or add to a mashup of nasturtium leaves for pesto. Chopped blossoms mixed in soft butter makes a colorful spread on toast for a bit of morning joy!

CHOOSING YOUR MIXER

These are just a few ways to grow this wonderful annual. As a mixer in the garden, Nasturtium is a graceful socialite. She can hang down to cascade over the side of a planter, climb up a low fence, or be used as a groundcover. Such a tasty way to cover a barren area and have an edible border at your fingertips! There are also compact dwarf cultivars. Consult your seed catalogs to choose wisely.

A simple vase of nasturtium leaves can prove to be an asset in the kitchen.

WHEN THE PARTY IS OVER

What to do with the stems that are pinched back? Consider using them in a vase. This plant mixes well as a filler with just about any cut flowers. A simple vase placed in the kitchen will remind you to use every part of this plant as often as possible.

For my summer garden party, Nasturtiums will always be welcome guests. What will you invite to your summer garden party?

Seeking Nasturtium ‘Alaska’ seeds as I nest…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Avocado – Jewel of Goodness

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Avocado, a delicious capsule of goodness I have come to embrace.

The avocado was a foreign object to me. I grew up eating good ole southern fare. This green capsule, now called one of the superfoods, has officially taken my tastebuds hostage.

I am no stranger to trying new and different things – if they are visually appealing. I remember it being a popular item served during football games when I lived in Virginia. With a bowl of chips, my family made the green goop (I called it) disappear. At the time, I could not understand why.

Avocado Selection

The perfectly chosen avocado should not feel mushy or have soft spots. If it feels heavy for its size, you have selected correctly. Want to hasten the ripening of an avocado? Simply place them in a brown bag on the counter. Keep an eye out so they do not over ripen. One can also place them in a bag with other fruits like banana’s to encourage ripening – but check daily! In a day or so, you should have a perfectly usable fruit.

Storage Tips

Rule number one – do not immediately refrigerate avocados. This fruit should be kept at 68 degrees. Producing ethylene, like a banana, refrigeration will not encourage ripening but could ruin a perfectly ripe fruit.

If your avocado is not quite ripe, just leave it on the counter for a few days. I like to use an antique bowl for a pop of color. After all, it is all about the pretty in my world.

Avocado’s held by a bowl that says sunshine…it is all about the pretty in my world.

If you want to keep a ripe avocado for a few days until you use it, only then refrigeration is okay. Keep in mind, this will slow down the over-ripening, but not stop the ripening process. Refrigerated too long, the fruit will turn to mush.

A sliced avocado should be spritzed with lemon juice to preserve the color and wrap or place in an airtight container. Even when the avocado turns brown, it is edible – just aesthetically unpleasing.

Fruit With Benefits

According to Medical News Today, the avocado is essential to the whole well being of the body at any age. The benefits of consuming this green jewel include heart health, detoxifier, strong fighter of chronic diseases, and improves digestion to name a few. A terrific resource for vitamins C. E, K, and B-6, the avocado also has healthy fats that enhance our skin.

Planting avocado pits can provide unique gifts for your fellow plant lovers.

Plant Those Pits

Starting an avocado tree from one of the pits is an easy project. Knowing that it will take years to bear fruit, it can make beautiful houseplant. As with any plant, the conditions must be right for this plant to thrive.

To start, fill a nice size jar with water. Make certain the pit is clean and dry. The widest end of the pit should face the water. Poke at least three toothpicks into the side of the pit, allowing no more than one inch immersed in the water. Find a warm and bright spot to place your avocado pit so you can see the progress as it sets roots and sprouts. nIt will take six to eight weeks to see growth. Try several in case the pit doesn’t sprout. They make unique gifts for your favorite plant’s person.

Once your pet becomes a seedling and reaches a height of six to eight inches, cut it in half. It will send out heavier roots with a flush of growth with luscious leaves. Find the perfect pot, at least ten inches in diameter, add good quality soil, transplant and let the magic begin. Don’t plant the seedling too deep. Half of the pit should be above the surface of the soil. As your new plant thrives, pinch it back occasionally to avoid legginess. Depending on your climate, you could plant your tree outside or place it in a container that is portable. Remember – it is a tropical tree.

If you are looking for a cold-hardy avocado tree, they can be found on-line. One nursery, Brighter Blooms offers a cultivar that is cold hardy in zone 7 gardens. I am not certain if it would taste the same. Under the right conditions, it might be worth a try, with space or a hothouse.

Creating Good Green Goop

Last Fall I went to the Audi Field in Washington, DC for a food festival. One of the vendors had avocado toast. I tasted it and am now a changed woman. As the crunch of the whole grain bread slathered with the seasoned avocado spread danced in my mouth, I fell in love. The green goop that I did not understand, lingered on my tastebuds.

I did my research, acquired the essentials – avocado, garlic, tomato, lemon juice, a touch of olive oil, and Penzey’s Justice…and made my own green goop. Creating different palette-pleasing combinations of avocado spread is now my passion. I even found a recipe that used sweet potato slices in lieu of bread. That could be interesting.

Have you considered growing your own avocado tree? Perhaps it would be nice to grow one as a tropical plant for the summer. At some point I would tire of dragging it indoors in the winter. I think I will stick to reputable markets or grocery stores.

Avocado dreaming,

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Pausing for Tea….

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Sometimes a day comes that requires you to pause and just have a cup of tea. Why tea??? The relaxing qualities, aroma, health benefits and warmth as it is sipped with a certain grace, gliding down the throat…oh what a great feeling from within!! The warmth radiates throughout the body and all is right with the intimate world around you. My what a journey…at least in my mind.

Last Saturday I needed to escape fro it all, pause for a bit and decided to enjoy a cup of tea or two. I wasn’t really hungry, so no nibbles were required. I simply wanted to enjoy a hot cup of tea that perhaps had some positive benefits for my body and perhaps an uplifting fragrance for my spirit. I put the kettle on, grabbed a few new magazines and chose a long unused teapot and matching cup. I chose The Republic of Tea “Hibiscus Superflower Tea, a blend of Coconut bits, Nigerian Hibiscus flower, Rose Hips, and Stevia – as its proprietary blend. I gently steeped it for 5 minutes and eased into the moment….which turned into an entire day of oohing and ahhing over gardens in England and sipping a wonderful cup of tea.

Although I did not grow the tea for this day, it made me think of what herbs can be grown in the garden for tea. As we approach this year’s gardening season consider growing some herbs for a good cup of tea with benefits. A few of my flowering favorites are chamomile, bergamot, and borage. Borage has such a lovely blue flower and is considered to be an uplifting herb. A gorgeous star flower that adds sheer joy to a salad or in a cup of iced tea or lemonade. I like to see the blossom’s floating in a sea of pale yellow with a leaf of mint….just beautiful!!! A beneficial of having Borage in the garden other than for tea….it is a terrific bee attractant. It is like a bee alarm that goes off in the garden!!

There is also Bergamot. A wonderful bloom that resembles fireworks, however, it can be aggressive in the garden,  but easily maintained when tugged in time – keep an eye on this one!!! Using the leaves that emit a wonderfully sweet orange blossom fragrance, this herb is a native plant that has been used for many, many years. The oils found in the leaves offer a huge level of antioxidants. A calming tea best enjoyed ….whenever!!

Rose hips are another common item found in the garden. Those wonderful orange remnants of bloom found on the rose-bush offer flavonoids, lycopene, Vitamin C and VitaminA. Drinks can be made by crushing the rose hips and steeping them in hot water. All this beneficial goodness, found in the garden. Imagine that! Some other herbs to consider are most of the Mint family, Chamomile, Lemon Balm (delicious hot or cold) and Anise Hyssop.  Now before you go making all sorts of combinations as a cure-all, check with your doctor. Some herbs interact with medications or allergies.

ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL PRIOR TO INGESTING!!!

Steal a quiet Saturday for yourself, make time to pause to enjoy a cup or a pot of a delicious tea from the garden. You will be surprised at the joy that it will bring if you dry the leaves and store them to be enjoyed offseason.

Peace from the Cottage,

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