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Monday, July 30, 2012

Video: Just Garden Insects: Butterflies, Bees and More

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I calming video of insects found in the garden. It is also a little contest to see who can identify them first. Enjoy.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Video: Complete Guide to Growing Heirloom Tomatoes: Start to Finish

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This video is a compilation of 6 videos I created this year. It shows you the growth and progress of a single heirloom tomato through the whole season. You will see how to plant a tomato 'Black Krim'. It will teach you how to plant, tend, prune, stake and manage the tomato plant for pests and disease. Enjoy. I had a lot of fun making videos this year. I hope you find it helpful.




Friday, July 27, 2012

Part One 7/27/12: Planting Your Fall Garden Tomatoes!

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Planting Determinate Tomatoes for a Fall Garden
(Part 1 of 8) 

The heat of the summer is coming to the end. Although you wouldn't know it here in Maryland. Today is 96 degrees with a heat index of 106. But... the heat will break soon. Now is the time to not only think about your Fall garden, but time to start planting it. Tomato time is here again!

The first step is to weed out over-grown beds and remove spent vegetables. Your beat up tomatoes, tired cucumbers and other vegetables need a quick removal and burial. Don't stay overly attached to them. It is planting time for tomatoes and other Fall crops.

Late July is planting time for your determinate tomatoes. The Fall garden makes great use of determinate type tomato varieties. You want varieties that mature in 75 day maximum in our Maryland Zone 7.  A maturity date of 65 days or less is best. We typically get frost late October. You want to plant your new tomato seeds between 7/15 and 7/31. The goal is to have your fruit mature by.... first frost.

If you want to start you tomatoes in seed cells that is a good idea. Hot summer days can dry out garden beds quickly. Heavy storm rains can swamp gardens. Those events can bring havoc to germinating seeds. Developing a few transplant tomatoes in a shady part of your yard is a good strategy.

I will be planting the determinate tomato seeds I collected in this video.




The varieties I am planting are:

Sub Arctic:    It is billed as a 45-50 day determinate tomato with 2-4 oz fruit. It can stand 40 degree nights.
Polar Baby:   Developed in Alaska, a 60 day determinate tomato with 2 inch fruits. A small plant.
Silvery Fir:    Russian origin heirloom 60 day determinate tomato. 2-3 inch flattened fruit on a fine leaf plant.


You can grow your Fall tomatoes in containers too. The good thing about the Fall is you don't have to overly worry about watering the tomato containers. This video provides some basic container gardening tips.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Video: Baxter's Bush Cherry: The Ultimate Container Tomato

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The 'Baxter's Bush Cherry' tomato is the perfect tomato for container gardens and your earth garden. The video explains it all but it is a cherry tomato that isn't prone to cracking. It sets fruit in high heat. Sweet with a great tomato tang. It only grows 4 feet but it produces over a long long period.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

NOW! is the Time to Start Planning Your Fall/Cool Weather Garden

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It's just about August and here in Maryland Zone 7 that means it is time to start planning the Fall garden. Over the next week I will be seed starting greens, planting peas and probably plant tomatoes. Yes tomatoes! I seed saved my cool weather varieties which are essentially fast fruiting determinate varieties of tomatoes. I am going to start them tonight indoors. I know we can get into late October without a frost here. That is enough time for my tomatoes. (I hope)

I'll be blogging more on this topic and shooting some videos over the next two weeks. At the least you can get spinach, lettuce, leafy greens and peas in you garden for the Fall. Think about it. I'd love suggestions for cool weather vegetables.

Thanks

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Video: Why Ferment? Collecting Tomato Seeds A-Z

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This video explains to you the reason tomato seeds need to be fermented and it shows all the steps you need to know to collect and save your own tomato seeds.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Olive Oil and Garlic Heirloom Tomatoes and Clams

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I'll have a recipe video of Olive Oil and Garlic Heirloom Tomatoes and Clams sometime this summer.  This was the test run. You have to do something with those heirlooms... right?

Olive Oil and Garlic Heirloom Tomatoes and Clams - The Rusted Garden Blog
Needed Some Bread with the Clam and Tomatoes - The Rusted Garden Blog
Plating Heirloom Tomatoes and Clams - The Rusted Garden Blog



Video: Why Ferment? Collecting Tomato Seeds A-Z

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The main reason you need to ferment tomato seeds is to reproduce the rotting process that occurs naturally in Nature. This rotting/fermentation removes the gel sac around the tomato seeds that inhibits germination. This video shows you everything you need to know and do to collect your own tomato seeds.


Recipe: Panko Breaded Zucchini with Heirloom Tomato

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Panko Breaded Zucchini and Heirloom Tomatoes - The Rusted Garden Blog

Sliced 1/4 or less Zucchini - The Rusted Garden Blog
Thick Cut Heirlooms 'Brandywine' - The Rusted Garden Blog

Vegetable Prep

The zucchini and heirloom tomatoes start rolling into the garden quickly. A great recipe is to vary breaded zucchini dishes or substitute with eggplant.  I showed you one recipe for a lighter breaded batter. This batter is a pretty standard thicker preparation.

See above pictures for cutting directions.

Dip the zucchini in egg that is seasoned with salt and pepper. Coat it in flour and dip it in the egg again. The zucchini then gets breaded heavily in Panko breadcrumbs. They are unseasoned.  You will season them in the frying pan.

Seasoning

Making the seasoning...  In a bowl mix equal parts of sea salt and pepper. Enough to add a pinch or two on each side of the breaded zucchini. Then add a dash or two of onion powder and a dash or two of garlic powder. Taste it. If you like it stop, if not add in more onion powder and/or garlic powder to taste.

Frying

Fry each side of the breaded zucchini in a lightly oiled pan. Just enough oil to keep the bread crumbs coated. About 4-5 minutes on each side on a setting of 7 out of 10 on an electric stove or equivalent. Set your oven to 375 degrees for baking when you begin frying.

Season each side to taste with a pinch or two of season as you fry them.

Baking

Bake for 20 to 30 minutes to choice of tenderness. Your zucchini won't be overly soft frying it this way. The baking will soften it up and its when you add the cheese and tomato. I prefer my zucchini to be a bit more firm rather than totally soft.

Place the zucchini in a baking pan and put a tomato on each piece. Add the cheese with 10-15 minutes baking time left and a pinch of of seasoning. I recommended a combination of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Panko Breaded Zucchini with Heirloom Tomato - The Rusted Garden Blog
Panko Breaded Zucchini with Heirloom Tomato - The Rusted Garden Blog


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Cucumbers, Zucchini and Squashes are Heavy Feeders!

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These crops are heavy feeders and will take macro and micro nutrients out of the ground quickly.

I have become more convinced that the cukes, zukes and squashes should be fed weekly with a 1/2 strength liquid fertilizer. The planting beds need to be rich with organic matter and prepared well for the feeding habits of these vegetables. But continued feeding is needed. I have been paying more attention to them and feel the group of zukes I am feeding more, while obviously staying greener, have more cukes and less PEST ATTACKS.

I would appreciate any advice on growing cucumbers and your feed methods. Thanks.

Monday, July 16, 2012

'Brandywine Pink' Heirloom Variety Tomatoes: History Videos to Come!

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The 'Brandywine' Heirloom tomatoes are coming out of my garden! These are the 'Brandywine Pink' variety. I am working on videos now that profile the heirlooms and gives you a history of their origin.

In about a week I will have tomatoes to swim in. Woohoo!

'Brandywine Pink' Heirloom tomato - The Rusted Garden Blog
What you can tell from the picture is that these are huge slices from a 1 pound plus 'Brandwine Pink' beefsteak heirloom tomato. The went on a burger last night. Outstanding flavor and a great tomato smell that filled the kitchen.

'Brandwine' Variety Heirloom Tomatoes - The Rusted Garden Blog

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Recipe Video: Heirloom Tomato Garden Salsa

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This video shows you the basics for making a garden salsa using heirloom tomatoes. There really isn't much more to do but watch the video. It will give you information about garden vegetables as I pick the vegetables used in the recipe as well as the steps for heirloom garden salsa.







Heirloom Tomato Garden Salsa - The Rusted Garden Blog

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Rusted Garden Vegetable Pictures and Plans

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Well you might have noticed I am shooting a lot of garden videos. I have 50 videos now and have added recipe videos for cooking your garden produce. The garden itself is doing well. I have been battling leaf hoppers, white-flies and weeds. I feel like I have the edge on the pests and diseases but I still need to get to August. I usually run out of steam about now.

I am picking tomatoes, peppers, herbs, beets, zukes, cukes and squashes. I hope all is well with you and your garden. Enjoy!


Vegetables from the Rusted Garden - The Rusted Garden Blog
'Brandywine Red' Heirloom Tomatoes - The Rusted Garden Blog
Heirloom Tomato Garden Salsa - The Rusted Vegetable Garden

'Armenian' Cucumbers on A Trellis: Create Vertical Growing Space

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Here are my 'Armenian' cucumbers grown up a trellis that cost about $10 to makes. There are 4 plants crawling all around it. However, I found 1 female flower. Hmmm. I hope I get cucumbers. It looks healthy!

A trellis is a great way to add vertical growing space to your garden.

'Armenian' Cucumbers on a Trellis - The Rusted Garden Blog

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Recipe Video: A Basic Heirloom Tomato Olive Oil, Vinegar & Garlic Salad Dressing

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 How to Make and Use Garlic Oil for Ear Infection

Twitter will be used for Q and A, Reminders and Gardening Tips This is my first video of a recipe. It is a basic dressing with heirloom tomatoes as the center piece. Well garlic too. Please help me spread the word. I hope you enjoy the video. I hope to make a bunch of recipe videos this year.

Using Perennial Flower Beds to Attract Beneficial Insects and Pollinators

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This video is about growing a perennial flower bed in close proximity of your vegetable garden. The flowers will attract pollinators to your garden and other beneficial insects.


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Prime Weather For Garden Diseases: Early Blight, Blight, Leaf Spot

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In Maryland, we battle Leaf Spot and Early Blight. This is what 9 days of good weather for tomato disease looks like (below). First you need rain to help the spores splash onto the leaves CHECK. You need continuous moisture in the form of rain or humidity to help the spores establish and spread upwards on the tomatoes  DOUBLE CHECK. You need warm temperatures with a day an night temperature averaging in the mid 80's CHECK.

I have been spraying my tomatoes with wettable sulfur (switched from baking soda). I have sprayed them with a standard does (weekly for July) and will spray the bottom leaves every other day with a milder dose. I have had very little disease thus far. However, July is when EB arrives to our Zone 7 gardens. Good Luck! If you don't spray preventatively... now is the time.

Today Jul 9

PM T-Storms
90°F 75°F
PM T-Storms Chance of rain: 50%

Tue Jul 10

Scattered T-Storms
82°73°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:50%

Wed Jul 11

T-Showers
82°72°
T-Showers Chance of rain:60%

Thu Jul 12

Scattered T-Storms
83°73°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:40%

Fri Jul 13

Scattered T-Storms
85°74°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:40%

Sat Jul 14

Scattered T-Storms
87°74°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:30%

Sun Jul 15

Scattered T-Storms
90°75°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:40%

Mon Jul 16

Scattered T-Storms
90°75°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:60%

Tue Jul 17

Scattered T-Storms
90°75°
Scattered T-Storms Chance of rain:60%

Monday, July 9, 2012

Video: Mid Summer Garden Tending - Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers & Melons

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Mid summer heat can take a toll on your garden. The weeds grow like well... weeds. The heat beats down plants and the bugs come out from everywhere. I know it is hot when you get record breaking heat.

I spent about 8 hours in the garden yesterday battling everything to win it back. Vacation is good but 7 days of an untended garden creates a lot of work. I am amazed at how much can change in 7 days. Anyway... I won the battle and reclaimed my garden for the most part.  The  video shows the progression of one vegetable bed.

Here is a video on some tending ideas and how to use transplants to save you a lot of time.


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Recipe: Large Zucchini - Breaded, Fried or Parmesan

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You can find zucchini  in the grocery store but it is usually small. Breaded and fried zucchini or zucchini Parmesan or Parmesian is a great way to utilize large (I mean large) zucchini. You can only grow these. I typically use this recipe when I go away on vacation and return to find mega zucchini in the garden.

This what I found when I returned from a 7 day vacation to the Outer Banks.

Large Zucchini for Breading - The Rusted Garden Blog

The recipe is a basic recipe that you can follow and adjust to taste. This recipe provides you the basics for breading and fry the large zukes.  You can add tomato sauce and cheese right at the end too, for a Parmesan preparation if you like.

Slice the zucchini up into approximately 1/4 inch slices. You can go thinner but you don't want to go to much larger because it won't cook through and the breading will over fry.


Sliced Zucchini for Breading - The Rusted Garden Blog

About 4 or 5 eggs will be plenty of batter base for a large zucchini. I use two kinds of bread crumbs. A basic seasoned type and Panko bread crumbs for the extra crisp. I mix them to equal parts and make enough to cover what I am frying. I do not add season to the bread crumbs. You can salt and pepper the egg batter lightly to taste. They will get seasoned as you fry them.


Egg Batter for Fried Zucchini - The Rusted Garden Blog
Bread Crumbs for Fried Zucchini - The Rusted Garden Blog

Whisk the eggs together. Soak both sides of the zuke slices in the egg for a few seconds. Coat them in the bread crumbs and stack them. I don't use flour. If you want a better crust... add a dousing of flour in the steps. That would be soak the zuke, dip them in flour, soak them in egg again and proceed with the rest of the steps.


Coat the Zucchini in Egg - The Rusted Garden Blog
Bread Both Zucchini Sides - The Rusted Garden Blog
Bread Zucchini for Frying - The Rusted Garden Blog

Fry each side of your zucchini for about 4 minutes on medium high heat. I have an electric stove and the setting I use is 7 on a 10 setting scale.

I make a seasoning of salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. I sprinkle each side lightly while in they fry in the pan.


Fried Zucchini Side One - The Rusted Garden Blog

Fried Zucchini Side Two - The Rusted Garden Blog


This is what it looks like without flouring the zuke. I prefer a lighter breading as to get less oil soaked into my meal. You want to put enough oil in the pan as to allow each side to oil up and fry. Don't over due it with oil.


Finished Fried Zucchini - The Rusted Garden Blog

Add some grated Parmesan cheese after the first flip. You can use Mozzorella. You can put some tomato sauce on them before the cheese is added. This is a great basic way to bread and fry up your large zucchini.

Enjoy!

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Was on Vacation: My Transplant Beans Are Ready for the Garden!

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I took 7 days to visit the beach. We had 100 degree temperature while I was gone on vacation. The weeds have over-grown my garden but for the most part it looks pretty good. The cabbage loopers got  a week without Bt and did eat holes in my kale.

But... that is how it goes. I did start beans in cups before I left that sprouted nicely while I was away. Starting warm season crops in cups is a great way to create transplants that can go into spaces in your garden or replace a spent crop. Tomorrow I will be removing my carrots and will put in some beans. Of course there is a rabbit in my yard that ate down all (yes all} my young bush beans before I left.

Below are 2 great varieties of beans. I grew them last year. Don't think green beans are the only beans you can grow.

'Christmas Pole' Lima Beans - The Rusted Garden Blog
'Black Turtle' Beans Bush Type - The Rusted Garden Blog