The Garden Gazette

The Squash Spaghetti Winter Vegetable Spaghetti, ‘Cucurbita pepo’, can be served just like pasta. When cooked, the flesh separates into long spaghetti-like strands. This very tasty squash can be stored for up to 6 months. In addition to the subtle, tasty flavor, Spaghetti Squash can be prepared with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese or pesto sauce, just like real pasta. The plants produces 5 to 7 squash each. The squash are rounded, cylindrical and tan in color. Plant in the spring, 2 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date. Squash prefers well drained, rich soil with lots of organic matter. Harvest after first or second light frost. They should be harvested when you can’t dent the hard skin with your finger. Winter squash cannot be overripe, but can be under ripe.

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The Cucumber Homemade Pickles, ‘Cucumis satiovus’, is arguably the best cucumber available for pickles. Homemade Pickles has a solid and crisp interior that is perfect for 1 to 5 inch pickles. Making pickles at home is easy with Homemade Pickles. This plant has excellent disease resistance, has very high yields, and is ready to harvest early. Homemade Pickles produces cucumbers for quite a long period of time. Plant in the spring after the last average frost date. Do not plant late as hot temps may preclude good flowering. Cucumbers prefer light, rich, well drained fertile soil with lots of organic matter. Cucumbers have a shallow root system and therefore require regular moisture. Do not let cucumbers get too big because the vines stop producing if over mature cucumbers stay on the vine

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The Shiso Perilla Red (Akashiso), ‘Perella frutescens ‘crispa’, is an intoxicating flavorful herb that should be as popular as basil or cilantro and it also is an attractive bedding plant. The incredible flavor has been described as curry-like and a combination of cumin, cilantro and parsley with a hint of cinnamon. Red Shiso Perilla have green leaves that resemble parsley except they have sharply serrated edges. Red Shiso is also commonly called Japanese basil/mint. The flavor is milder than Green Shiso. Red Shiso has edible flowers. Mix or sprinkle over cucumbers, cabbage, fish, soups, rice, and potato dishes. The Shiso is also an excellent container plant. The crushed leaves smell like lemon balm. This easy to grow herb should be planted in the spring after the last average frost date.

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