Self Sufficient Lifestyle
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How To Grow Squash
You can quite easily grow squash. It really is the best vegetable for the new gardner and its really easy to grow. What you will want to do is either purchase already started squash plants from your local garden supply store. Or plant squash seeds in your garden after all dangers of frost are past.
Be sure to choose a place for your squash plants that gets plenty of sun. And early in the spring be sure to work plenty of organic material into the soil where you will be planting your squash plants.
Plant your squash in hills 3-4 foot apart with 2 plants per hill. Once your squash plants are growing mulch your plants with organic material like leaf compost to deter weeds and to hold in moisture. Give your plants plenty of water and feed them once a week with compost tea.
*** Hint ***
6-8 Squash Plants that are well taken care of is all you will need to provide your family with all the squash they will ever need.
Compost Tea
How To Make Compost Tea
1. Fill a bucket one third full with completed compost.
2. Fill the bucket to the top with water.
3. Let the water set for 3-4 days covered to keep out mosquitos.
4. Strain your water off through cheese cloth into another bucket.
5. Dilute the water with more water until it is the color of tea.
6. Save your compost tea in covered cans or buckets until you use it.
7. Apply the compost tea to your plants as needed to feed them.
In case you want to know how to build a easy compost bin just click the below link.
Have you always dreamed of planting things in the soil and watching them grow. Hopefully into vegetables that you and your family can enjoy. With the economy the way it is wouldn't you like it a lot better if you and your family could be more self sufficient. Well it does involve some hard work but it really is easier than you think for you and your family to be much more self sufficient. You will need to do some research and decide exactly what you want to grow and how you want to pursue your ideals.
The very first thing you will want to plan is your vegetable garden. Start small and plant the vegetables that you and your family like and that you know will grow in your area. Even if you have only limited space you can try container gardening to raise delicious vegetables for you and your family to enjoy. You can easily grow lettuce, onions, radishes, and more in small containers on a patio if that is the only space you have. If you have a little more space or even a small garden in your back yard you can expand to tomatoes, squash and peppers. A little more space and you can add delicious corn and pumpkins. And don't forget okra if you have enough room for it. Before long you will be growing all the vegetables you need for a delicious soup.
And don't forget to put up some of your harvest to enjoy during the cold winter months. Study and do research to find out how each vegetable can be put up and kept for winter best and then go for it. There are all kinds of delicious recipes for salsas, squash casserole, or tomato soup that you can make now and freeze or can for the winter months. You can be enjoying that great tasting tomato soup on those cold winter days from tomatoes you grew in your back yard garden over the summer. Or you can take a squash casserole out of the freezer to enjoy as part of your Christmas Dinner that you made from squash you grew back in July. And the sense of accomplishment will be there also. Just think how proud you will be when you tell your family and friends that you grew those squash last summer that you made that delicious squash casserole from.
And don't forget those wild fruit trees and berry bushes. See if the neighbors will let you pick what they are not going to use. You can usually find a bounty of wild berries, plums, apples and etc if you will ask around. You can make jams, jellies, juices, and put up frozen fruits for winter. You can easily educate yourself on how to make jellies, jams, dry fruit, and etc. Be sure you have permission if you are gathering fruits and berries on someone elses land.
You will need to do research and read books on how to make jams, jellies, juices and how to dry fruit. You may want to invest in an inexpensive food dehydrator to dry your surplus fruit with. You can dry fruit and make some delicious homemade trail mix like your not going to buy in any store any where.
How To Start Your Tomatoes Off With A Bang
1. The night before you plant your tomato plants in the ground set the plants in their containers in a large bucket or container. Fill the bucket up with water about 3 inches deep. Put 1 teaspoon of tomato miracle grow in the bucket or container per plant. Let the plants set and soak up the water over night.
2. The next morning dig your holes for your tomato plants. Allow plenty of room for root growth. If you are planting tomato plants in 6" pots dig a 6 " deep hole.
3. Now here's a great secret I'm going to let you in on for some of the healthiest tomato plants you will ever see. Put 1/2 Cup of Epson Salt in the bottom of each hole and fill each hole full of water.
4. Carefully remove each tomato plant from its grow cup and shake to be sure the roots are free and not bound up. Plant your tomato plants one at a time in each hole and pat your dirt down tight.
5. Now is also the time to add your tomato stakes or tomato cage. Stake and tie your plant as it grows. Every two weeks give each tomato plant a teaspoon of miracle grow. And water your plants often.
If you follow these instructions your tomato plants will be super healthy and will produce an abundance of tomatoes.
Tomato Information And More
Just click the below link for lots more great tomato information including a great recipe for tomato pie. In fact one of the best tomato pies you will ever eat.
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Those tomatoes look just so fresh and juicy. An inspiring post, well done
Awesome hub. You have a wealth of info on gardening. I love it! Thank-you.
Julie-Ann Amos says:
9 months ago
What a GREAT hub - I'd so love to grow more of my own stiff here at home