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Insects are a blessing and curse for food gardens. Over the past weeks I have pulled hundreds of worms off plants and picked up the scraps of dead plants left after they have moved through a garden. It is an upsetting experience but it is also part of a healthy ecosystem. These worms are actually moth larva and due to the good weather, all plants and animals are doing great. Of course insects reproduce en mass so we are seeing a lot of these chewing worms lately. We expect the worms will go away after a good freeze or cold snap. Meanwhile, try our organic solutions.
1. Organic liquid sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Thuricide
2. Handpicking from damaged leaves (see photos)
3. Wasps (leave a few nests around to encourage wasps to enter your garden and harvest worms for food-see photos)
Many of our clients have gotten a second chance crop thanks to the wonderful weather this fall. We have been enjoying lots of wonderful harvests of basil, peppers and tomatoes plus some summer squash but winter is tiptoeing toward our gardens. We are often asked, “What do we do with so much basil?” There are many ways to use your basil besides pesto but this also reminded me of some great recipes that we have been enjoying lately. I have even added in our famous squash relish for those of you who have squash.
Green Tomato Relish
12 large green Tomatoes (cored) or 20 small to med size
4 – green bell peppers, seeded
4 – medium yellow onions (I used one very large one)
1 – red bell pepper, seeded
1 – tablespoon + 2 teaspoons yellow mustard seed
1 – tablespoon celery seed
2 – cups cider vinegar
2 – cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Chop the tomatoes and peppers very finely. Either by hand or in small batches in a food processor. I diced up all my veggies only because I like a chunkier relish. Put the chopped vegetables in a large pot (heavy bottom non reactive pot) add the mustard seed, celery seed, vinegar, kosher salt and sugar. Stir well and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook stirring often and skimming as needed. ( I did not have to skim off anything) Simmer until the relish/chow chow cooks down and thickens into a relish, about 2 hours. Turn into hot sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath.
Squash Relish (This is one of our most requested items)
10 cups squash (summer types are best but young butternuts work well too)
4 large onions
1 large green pepper
4-5 jalapeno peppers
Chop up above ingredients in food processor (diced). Spread on 13 in by 9 in baking pan (with sides) and sprinkle with 3 Tablespoons of salt. Let the diced veggies set over night. Rinse in 2 cold water rinses. Place in a large pot and add 4 and 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 and 1/2 cups vinegar, 2 Tablespoons turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 tsp black pepper and 1 and 1/2 teaspoon celery seed. Cook for 20 minutes. Pour into 1 pint canning jars and seal. Process in water bath 10 minutes.
Pesto and Wheat Bread for Bread Machine
Makes a 1 pound loaf. Add ingredients to machine according to manufacturer’s directions.
3/4 cup lus 2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cooking oil (I use sunflower)
1 and 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup bread flour
1 cup snipped fresh basil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons oat bran (optional)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (add up to 1/2 cup if more is desired)
Fixing and Freezing Pesto (make your favorite pesto and freeze it in ice cube trays – pop them out of the tray and use them through out the next few months)
Candied Jalapenos recipe at recipezaar (favorite hot and sweet Christmas gift)
Other Recipes We Have Enjoyed
Organic gardening in Central Texas is never the same every season. There are some standard dates to keep on your calendar for changing over your crops but the weather really dictates your garden activity.
For instance, we have had a true fall season for the Austin area. Rains, cool days, and a few humid hot ones in between but most Septembers are just plain warm. In fact August 2009 was more pleasant than June and July 2009.
So what should you be doing now? Getting ready for winter and harvest the last of fall crops. You may be harvesting the last of your okra, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, winter squash and summer squash for the next month and a half. That’s right – if you kept your plants alive and did a squash seed planting at the end of July to beginning of September you have another load of veggies. Personally, I help my tomatoes last from April to December and they will give me a couple of crops but it takes a lot of effort in the summer and summer gardening was tricky this year.
It is best to follow planting directions that come with the plant/seeds. Try staggering larger plants for more space. Intercrop large plants with small ones (example: broccoli, lettuces, radishes). Mix up the plants around the garden to confuse bugs that might harm your plants and try some companion gardening techniques.
Soil amendments are materials we incorporate back into our garden beds to revive the soil – not just fertilizers. I often add in some of the following after I do a soil test.
When I put transplants and seed in I often add the following in the dug out hole before I plant. Mix 1 part greensand: 1 part gypsum: 2 parts rock phosphate: 2 parts diatomaceous earth and another mix of 1 part Earthworm castings: .25 part Medina Granular slow release fertilizer. Depending on the soil type, the organic matter already present and the soil test, you may want to play around with ratios. These amendments are not inexpensive. However, applying the amendment in a mix directly during planting give the plants what they need and the products will last much long than broadcasting. Look for my next post on soil amendments in the coming month. Cheers!