All posts filed under: Salads

Self Watering Seed Starting Kits

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I found something interesting today related to seed starting.  The older I get, the more I think I should simplify. I was looking around on line for some cool indoor containers that would be fun to grow basil seeds and found this cute little kit.  It seems a bit pricey, but it looks sleek and contained. This unit is self contained and includes: a grow light a self watering system with water reservoir cartridges of special soil with seeds already embedded in them (evidently these are re-usable)   How it works: According to the video, you pop in a pre-planted seed thingy that has the perfect amount of nutrients, special soil, etc. all in a cartridge of sorts. pop in a cartridge, fill a reservoir with water, and plug it in. Self watering seeds are a go.   Who Could Benefit from a Product Like This: It could potentially be awesome if you are one of those crazy busy people who wants fresh basil, but can’t handle one more thing to remember to take care …

It’s April. What Vegetables Can I Plant Right Now?

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It feels like spring.  Finally!  We can all get out, get some air and get our hands dirty again.  But what can we plant that isn’t going to freeze on us and have to be replanted again later?  Here’s a list to get you started in your veggie patch. Potatoes:  as of Good Friday, you can start planting seed potatoes. Carrot seeds Beet seeds Peas Raddish seeds Broccoli Plants Cauliflower Plants Cabbage Plants Salad Greens Kale Arugula Mizuna Bok Choi Pak Choi Sweet Corn Asparagus crowns Strawberries I’m sure there are many more, but this is just off the top of my head and will at least get you started:) Wilcox tools are great for digging holes for annual flowers and vegetables, especially for those of us who don’t like to get down on our knees!  The extra long handle is 18″ long, super sturdy from tip to tip, and made in my native state, Iowa!     Click here for a great online seed selection

7 Reasons You Should Grow Microgreens

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Why the Sudden Interest in Microgreens? A few years ago, when my boys were ages 2 and 7, I discovered microgreens.  It had been a long winter, and I was aching to be outside.  January and February are the months when my family gets a new seed catalog in the mail at least once a week!  This may be from my last 17 years of mail ordering seeds and bulbs! The first time I heard the term, microgreens, was at a “Grow Your Small Market Farm” class my husband Tim and I took at Iowa State University during our days as cut flower growers.  I had no interest in microgreens at the time, because I was deeply invested in growing cut flowers.  I was always curious about what they were and how to grow them, but never made the time to learn more, until that long, cold winter a few years ago. I must have seen something about microgreens in one of our seed catalogs, and decided to learn more that winter.  It was a …

In a Funk? Make a Salad!

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Spring will come soon. I promise. Feeling a little lethargic lately?  In a funk?  I was until I decided to do something about it.  Exercise?  You might guess, but no, I’m far to lazy for that. I hopped in the minivan,  headed for the produce aisle of my local grocer, and began filling my cart with the color I was so desperately craving this time of year.  It seemed like I had thrown in about 50 pounds worth of spinach, broccoli, petite cooking carrots, strawberries, blueberries, blood oranges, red anjou pears, and last but not least, a pomegranate. The minute I got the groceries unloaded, I began washing, rinsing, chopping and pealing.  I was ready for a big salad, so I went out on a limb and tossed almost everything together.  My large white salad bowl sprung to life as I made a nest of deep green baby spinach leaves, tucked in a handful of petite cooking carrots, layered on slices of beautiful red strawberries, and sprinkled with blueberries, sunflower seeds, croutons, and a final …

Starting Basil Indoors

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How to Start Basil In Your Kitchen I just got a question from Shaina about how to start basil so she could have fresh herbs in her kitchen.  Basil is an easy one to germinate, or start from seed.  And fresh basil tastes wonderful in so many dishes.  So this one is for you, Shaina, hope this helps:) First and foremost, you’ll need some seeds!  Below are links to where you can order some of my favorite varieties!  And there are tons of different kinds of Basil! As I was hunting for links for Basil seeds and looking at pictures of this delicious herb, I began smelling Basil!  I told my family, “Man, all of this talk about Basil is making me so hungry, I am starting to smell it!!!”  Then I walked into the kitchen and realized that my son, Harrison, was eating his breakfast, leftover angel hair pasta with basil pesto mixed in!   Getting Started Potting Soil Prep:   One thing that nobody seems to tell you is that potting mix is …