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by Jeanne
[…] think I shared with you how my homegrown lettuce this year includes some heirloom varieties. An heirloom variety is one in which the seeds have been passed down for generations. They are […]
I learned how to make tomato juice without a juicer out of necessity – when my garden gave me an abundance of tomatoes. There are only so many tomatoes you can eat in a week! When life hands you a ton of tomatoes…make tomato juice. Or at least that’s the motto around here. This year,…
Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Light Requirements: Cantaloupes require full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production. Soil Requirements: They prefer well-draining, fertile soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal, as they provide good drainage while retaining…
Making herbal teas is just one fun way to use the dried herbs from your garden. I love knowing that the herbs in my cup of tea are from my own garden. You don’t need any fancy equipment to make your own herbal teas, although purchasing a few things does help. Here’s how to make…
Lemon Balm Plant Profile Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis Lemon balm is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It’s prized for its bright green, lemon-scented foliage and small white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Lemon balm typically grows to a height of about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60…
Oh how I long for the tomatoes of my youth. Such flavor. I buy heirlooms when I see them in the market.
I am familiar with Heirloom tomatoes and I 100% agree with what you said about the grocery tomatoes we mostly get foisted on us. Having been alive in a time when tomatoes really tasted good and had access to them subsequently at some farmers markets, I miss them.
I didn’t know Heirloom could be applied to other fruits, vegetables and flowers.
Hi all! Yes, Jo, they’re now using the term heirloom for older varieties of flowers too, and I’ve recently seen the term applied to livestock. I’m more familiar with the term “heritage” livestock breeds when referencing older breeds.
Denise, thanks for leaving a comment!
Your post reminded me of an incident back in the day. A fellow-journalist was still single and she bought a bunch of tomatoes from a retailer that really emphasises the quality of their foods. The tomatoes were fresh, pretty… My colleague kept meaning to use the tomatoes in something but she was so busy she’d end up just buying something on the run. You know: the joy of a single life where you’re just chasing career advancement. THREE weeks later, she wanted a salad and remembered the tomatoes. The scary thing is they looked as fresh as when she first bought them. Fresh, pink, no blemishes, no sign that they were going off. In the middle of summer. She threw them in the bin. We laughed so hard when she told the story, wanting to know: what in heaven’s name did they breed into those tomatoes?