In the Garden ~ Cucumber Overload

     

        If there is one vegetable that grows in abundance during the late Spring early Summer, it has to be the cucumber. Not only do they grow in abundance but they also like to hide in their own vines and can get out of hand if you are not checking on them regularly.  With the many cucumbers that end up on kitchen counters around the world, people might become stymied by what to create with this summer veg that is beyond slicing and dicing. 

A classic of all cucumber lovers is cold cucumber soup.  While many people do not enjoy cold soup, since that is not what we have been programmed to think of as soup, it is cool, refreshing and flavorful, a great complement to any dinner during the summer and an easy way to consume a few cucumbers. Our favorite recipe has yogurt and dill that helps to add a measure of summer flavors with all the freshness of the cucumbers.

Cucumber Soup

1 cup cucumber, deseeded

½ cup water

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 TBSP fresh dill

2 TBSP fresh parsley

1 tsp salted herbs

Blend everything together and let chill for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator.  Serve in chilled dishes for effect and top with fresh slices of cucumber as well as additional herbs.

Another classic that leads towards fresh and tangy cucumber goodness that we featured in our Asian themed dinner last year was a Cucumber Sesame Salad. You could make this for a group or just for yourself to “spice up” your cucumber dish and use up some of your delicious grown veggie. 

Cucumber Sesame Salad

2 cucumbers peeled and sliced thin

2 TBSP rice vinegar

1 TBSP sesame oil

1 TBSP sugar or honey

2 tsp soy sauce

½ tsp Salt

1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Crushed red pepper flakes

Peel and slice your cucumbers and set them on a paper towel to remove some of the moisture.  In a medium bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients.  Add the cucumbers and stir to coat.  Taste and see if you need to add more flavor.  Then chill for up to 4 hours ahead of serving or even a whole day.  

We have often used cucumbers in multiple cocktails over the years.  An Elderflower Basil Martini, in which the cucumbers, combined with the basil, really showed off the color green.  Another great classic, especially  in March is an Irish Maid, be sure to find a bartender that knows what they're doing when you order this one.  Last but not least a full summer classic, Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic.  This drink brings together two great summer flavors and puts them together in one glass.  A delicious and refreshing combination for sure. Plus, it looks amazing in the glass. 

Cucumber Watermelon Gin and Tonic 

8 cups cubed seedless watermelon

4 ounces fresh lime juice

1 cup gin

1 cup thinly sliced cucumber

1 TBSP agave

½ cup mint

1 cup tonic water

Cut up your watermelon and place it in a blender.  Blend until smooth and there are no more chunks.  Strain the watermelon through a sieve into a pitcher. Add in gin, lime juice, agave and mint.  Stir to combine.  Serve over ice, and garnish with a cucumber and mint. Top it off with tonic water. 

There are many creative ways to add cucumber into your diet everyday, when you have it growing in abundance.  Let us know your favorite way to eat and serve this summer staple. Until then happy gardening and we hope you are enjoying the fruits of your labor.

In the Garden ~ Gardening in the Texas Heat

Summer is rapidly approaching and you want to make a garden that your neighbors will be envious of and that is low maintenance.  Which can mean many different things in Texas but the main one is going to be something that can survive the Texas heat!  We all know how hot it can get in Texas, with very little to no rain, during those late summer months.  Here are our top five suggestions to keep your garden in color, and not break the bank on watering.

One of our favorite plants is Lantana.  We happen to have five planted right in front of the breakfast room window, which is perfect for early morning bird watching during the season.  Hummingbirds, butterflies and all sorts of pollinators love this bunch of flowers, and can be seen gathering pollen from the plants, once flowers start to bloom until the first freeze.  Our secret, we do not water these beauties at all.  They keep growing and supplying lovely color, from April until about December, when we cut them back to rest until next year.  Nature keeps our lantana in water when it rains, and they seem to be thriving.

Second on our list is Salvia.  We typically have the blue variety planted in our garden and this year we added a red and dark purple.  This native plant thrives in the Texas heat and can grow to be fairly substantial if given the space to spread it’s foliage.  The beautiful blooms give color the whole season, and come back year after year.  Of course it attracts pollinators of all kinds.  The bees really love the flowers and return every year.

Third, is the Red Yucca.  While we just added our first one to our garden this year. This popular plant can be seen along road sides, in multiple businesses around town and even along the freeway in larger cities.  Native to West Texas, the Red Yucca thrives in rocky soil and tends to be a little drier.   If you are trying to get away from having a yard full of grass and want to add a little xeriscaping, this should be your top pick.

Fourth, is Texas Sage.  The silvery foliage gives color and interest all year round and has a profusion of purple blooms during the rainy season.  Be sure to have enough space for this beauty to spread out, it can grow up to 6 feet if that is your desire.  A great benefit besides being good for those hot Texas summer days, if you have deer, this plant is deer resistant.  Add them along the edge of your beds to form a wall of sorts to protect your garden while adding interest and color throughout the year.

Fifth but definitely not the end, Rudbeckia, loves the sun and Texas heat.  You can find these flowers blooming in hay fields, along roadsides, and in many gardens.  The seeds spread with the wind, so if you only want them in certain locations be sure to move them early before blooming.  If you like a little chaos in your garden then let the seeds fall where they may and see just how far mother nature's hand will go.   These lovely yellow flowers add great color to any garden and of course the pollinators love them.  Be sure to add some to your garden for added color and interest.

While these are some of our favorite plants and flowers to have on hand to combat the Texas heat, there are many more you can find that you might enjoy more.  After all your garden is what you make of it and can be as full or as sporadic as  you like.  We prefer to have our’s be a little chaotic and colorful, with the least amount of maintenance possible.  Stop by anytime to explore our garden or ask questions to discover how easy it is to grow heat and sun tolerant plants. 

In the Garden ~ Natural Pest Control

 

    Every year, we are excited to start a new garden and every year we face the issues of dealing with common garden pests.  Since we garden organically, we do not use typical pest control items, so that our food could be consumed straight off the vine, or plant. 

Our number one pest removal is as simple as cooking oil and dish soap.  Two cups of oil, and 1 cup of dish soap combined.  Then take 1 tablespoon and mix it with a liter of water, to spray on plants.  This mixture helps to naturally remove pests such as aphids and mites.  These soft bodied insects absorb the mixture into their skin and die, and it’s safe to spray directly onto the leaves and stems of your plants.

Another great option that you can purchase from your favorite garden center is Neem Oil. Mix 100% cold pressed Neem Oil with some dish soap and the life cycle of the insect pest in your garden will no longer continue.  It’s just as easy to spray on the plants as the dish soap spray you just made.  

If you have slugs or snails in your garden; a lid filled with beer will draw them in and they will drown, consuming the liquid.  You don’t need a full can, unless you are placing more than one trap in your garden.  At least you know they will die happy, while moving around the beer trap. It is a more humane way of removing these pests than salt or a stronger pesticide.

Of course, there are natural deterrents that you can grow that will add safety to your garden area.   Nasturitium is a great plant to grow that also provides food.  The pepper scent will deter squash bugs, white flies and various beetles from eating away at your garden.  The flowers will attract beneficial insects as well, who might also feast on the pests you are trying to keep away from your harvest.  All parts of the nasturtium are edible, the flowers and the leaves. They make a great garnish for salads and other dishes. 

The most common plant around to help keep away garden pests of all sizes is the marigold.  Marigolds work wonders as a border flower at keeping out deer and rabbits along with a myriad of insects. The pungent smell repels the mammals while attracting those insects that will help to pollinate your garden for optimal growth. Companion planting marigolds works wonders on your garden at keeping it pest free.  

One more easy to use pest control is diatomaceous earth.  This fine ground power made from aquatic fossils works wonders on pests with hard exoskeletons.  The powder strips away the protective exoskeleton and causes the insects to dry out.  It makes for an easy to use deterrent that can be mixed into soil or spread around plants. Be sure to get the food grade diatomaceous earth and not the kind that goes in your pool. 

Inside your house, if your fruit is out on the counter or your trash cans are not covered, you might find that you have little gnats flying around. A jar filled with apple cider vinegar, and topped with plastic wrap with holes poked in it works amazing.  The smell attracts the gnats, and the plastic wrap traps them inside.  A safe and easy method to remove pesky gnats from your airspace.  

Organic pest removal is effective and easy to use, if you want to take the time to discover what works best for you and your garden.  There is no need to add chemicals to your body from the use of pesticides. After all you only have one body to live with, and this is your one chance to treat it the best.  You have already started by growing  a garden, continuing those good works in how you treat pests.

In the Garden ~ Perennials

    

     Color in the garden begins with perennials.  Yes, I know you can always add annual flowers for color, although you may have to possibly purchase and replant new annual flowers.  The initial time and effort expended in planting perennials, pays off in the long term, and sometimes creates more plants for you to share or move around in your garden. Therefore, one of the great aspects of perennial plants is the fact that they come back year after year.

    Some of our favorites are Irises.  They have lovely blooms in a variety of colors.  Most often people see purples and whites, though there are so many more choices.  Typically, they only bloom once per year, typically, they can cycle through blooms over the course of a month.  This year’s Iris blooms were not the best. I think partly due to the freeze we had in January.  No matter where we are, we will always have Iris in our garden. We are hoping to add to our Iris collect this year with some new varieties and colors, and are always willing to share from our plants as well.  

    Another crowd favorite are gladiolus.  The long, spear like stem blooms slowly flowering from the bottom to the top creating a riot of color late in the spring to early summer.  These flowers are wonderful to watch bloom and attract pollinators of all kinds.  The challenge is to make sure they do not get too too heavy and fall over as the blooms open.  So many color options are available in these flowers that you can match your garden to any color scheme.  

    Let’s not forget a series of blooming herbs.  Lavender, sage, rosemary, comfrey,  and oregano make up some of the beautiful and simple edible plants that grow in our garden.  Small purple or white flowers bloom on these plants, typically in the spring.  Besides being fragrant they can help keep pests away, and can be dried to use in cooking and for making teas.  

    A large portion of our perennial garden is made up of varieties of lilies.  We have a variety of colors and various bloom sizes in our lily collection, which adds color and dimension to the garden.  One great thing about lilies and Irises they like to spread their wings and are easy to split and move around your garden from plants you already own.  

    Most of our perennial plants are in full sun.  We are slowly adding plants that require more shady areas.  Hostas, cannas, elephant ears and certain ground covers prefer a more shady environment.  I always think it’s fun to see the hostas reemerge in the spring from under the cover of winter.  Deep down you know you are gardening right, when your plants return each year to shower your yard in a wash of colors.  

    Perennial gardens might seem like a lot of work to start but if you have the patience to wait and watch your garden grow, the rewards in the long run will be great.  The return of your plants every year is worth the time and effort to me, instead of having to buy new each year. 

In the Garden ~ Victory Garden

 

        The effort at home during World War I was to encourage families to plant a Victory Garden.  Widely encouraged during World War II as well, Victory Gardens were a sign of support and self-sufficiency of the Americans on the home front.  Call it what you will, a garden is one of the best ways for people to feed themselves from the land they already own and occupy.  A Victory Garden became ways for neighbors to help neighbors during times of strife and challenge. 

Today the landscape of the American people has changed and gardens could have a bigger impact on today's culture than ever before.  Food deserts are popping up everywhere in large cities and create food scarcity for millions of families.  Food scarcity is a larger problem today than it was sixty or even seventy years ago.  Afterall, “13.7 percent (18.3 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2024” (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics).  

Not everyone can grow a garden or have access to even attempt to grow in containers but there are other options available to help reduce food scarcity.  In our community alone there are several food resources that are open to applicants and provide a variety of food choices to help eliminate food scarcity.  There is even a community garden whose goal it is to feed those in need but provide a learning space for others to learn how to grow their own food and help them to become self-sufficient.  

Gardening is more than just feeding your family. It’s a skill that can be put to use to help others learn to grow food and provide nutrition in a meaningful and fulfilling way.  The sense of pride and accomplishment from growing your own food and sharing with those around you is worth more than one can measure.  “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”  The same concept can be given to the garden.  

A garden doesn’t need to be acres upon acres.  It can start at as two small pots of items you want to try.  Potatoes and tomatoes, or squash and cucumbers.  Find your favorite veggie and start out small, then grow as you learn more and can expand into more space.  Find a sunny window and allow your plants to flourish.  Learn from family, friends or the internet how to grow your favorite food.  Ask for help from your local garden center or attend a live class to learn how to grow your own food.  

Knowledge is power in all things, not just in your primary education but in all aspects of your life.  Work with your neighbors to grow different things and share the bounty with each other.  Come together and grow food to feed your body and your soul.  Whether you are growing food for your family or to share, the reward will be worth the effort in the end. 

In the Garden ~ Companion Planting

 

    This February weather has been pretty mild so far, but do not let it fool you into complacency, your plants are not yet ready to go outside.  What you can do instead is get ready to plant in the coming weeks by starting your plants early inside, if you have the space.  This could be anywhere you have good lighting or you can also use grow lights.  If you are really lucky, a green house.  To get some of the best yields you have ever had, we wanted to talk about companion planting.  

Companion planting is growing vegetables, herbs or flowers near each other to optimize the soil, bug deterrents and pollinators, for a stronger healthier plant and a larger yield.  Did you know that tomatoes love carrots?  While we usually plant basil with our tomatoes, they also love carrots.  Since carrots like cooler weather, start them first, then succession plant in tomatoes and basil, as the days go longer and the temperature increases.

Another favorite of ours to plant together is nasturtium and cucumbers.  Nastirtium is a flowering green, where everything it grows is edible.  The flower and leaves are a perfect addition to salads, and adds a bit of peppery spice to the dish.  Cucumbers thrive with nasturtium growing close by.  Ours took off and did not look back.  

Probably our most successful and favored planting companions is the “three sisters” combination of beans, squash and corn.  This triple threat works great together and produces wonderful yields when grown together.  With differing times of produce, you can have food all summer long with these companions.

We usually mix together our greens, in rows by and around each other.  Kale, spinach, arugula and chard all go well together and create bountiful yields when planted.  The cooler weather allows for greens to grow and thrive together early on in the season, and when planted next to each other, they all thrive.  

We have left the best for last, marigolds.  Marigolds are a garden staple and we plant these all around the edge of our beds to help keep away unwanted pests and to draw in pollinators.  Marigolds help tomatoes, summer squash, lettuce, and green beans.  These flowers are beautiful as well as beneficial for any garden.  

Do not be afraid to combine your plants this year for a stronger, healthy plant that produces more food for you and your family.  Companion planting is more than just planting next to each other, its a great way to ward off pests and optimize your garden to produce more.  Be sure to check out the chart from the Farmers Almanac website for more details and plants that we did not cover.  Happy planning and plating this Spring.

In the Garden ~ How Much Should you Plant

   

 

    It might seem early to start thinking about what and how much you want to grow in your garden this year but you might want to think about first how much you will need.  Right now is the perfect time to plant your onions, that will be ready for early spring.  But how many onions do you need to plant?  Of course if you do not like onions, then we can’t really be friends.  Just kidding! They do lend great flavor to dishes as a base so it might be time to rethink those onions.

For ease of simplicity we are going to use the base measurement of a family of four. For those who know my family, know that we are not a family of four but seven and four of those are teenage boys, which is sometimes like feeding two grown adults.  All this to say, take these numbers as a base and add in more of what you really like and maybe what you really want to eat.  Of course, how much space you have is also a contributing factor.  Are you only growing your garden in pots, then maybe you will have to ignore all these numbers.  If you have a good amount of space or friends willing to share and grow this will help guide for variety and fun.

Don’t forget that you can rotate items out as the weather changes. For example, those leafy greens and spinach will do very well during the cooler months, while tomatoes will not.  Rotate your choices to also add variety and diversification to your garden.  If you plan to preserve your items for use all year long, even better, that will stretch your garden into the winter months when you won’t be able to grow as much food.

I found a beneficial chart here: https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/vegetables/getting-started/calculate-how-many-vegetables-to-plant/ They give a great breakdown of plants per person from one to four.  If this seems overwhelming, partner with neighbors or friends.  Do you grow tomatoes really well, volunteer to grow them all for everyone and see if they can handle all the zucchini and squash.  There are so many ways to grow your own food and be able to feed your family healthy, sustainable produce that won’t break the bank.  Of course each year you garden it gets easier.  As you learn more and figure out what works best for you and your garden, it becomes a source of pride and enjoyment.   

If you plan to preserve food you might need more space and more plants.  For example, you might need 5 tomato plants per person for a year's worth of tomato products, such as salsa, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce.  Whereas, you will only need one squash plant per person, to provide an adequate amount of squash for a year.  Those cucumbers are a higher number as well, such as 6 to 9 plants total for fresh and pickled cucumbers to last a year.  Create variety in having multiple winter squash plants that will yield enough for a year.  Five different options are, acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and the like.  These all have a stronger outer layer that will store well in dry storage along with those potatoes, onions and garlic.

Do not be afraid to try something new to see how it works out.  If your goal is not to preserve food but to share with others keep those numbers high.  If you want to only grow enough for your family, I hope this helps to get you started.  Of course, it’s never too early or late to start your garden, so give it a try.  We hope to hear from you about all your growing success this year.  We will regularly post our wins and misses from our garden so be on the look out. 

In the Garden ~ The Benefit of Micro Greens

 

        Have you ever wanted to try micro greens?  Well today is your lucky day.  At The Oaks Bed and Breakfast we have been working with growing some micro greens and so far we can say it is turning out really well.  We have been working with all different types of greens to see what grows best and what we think, you the public, would like to try. 

We have even reached out to a couple of restaurants in town to see if they would be interested in topping their dishes with some local, organically grown micro greens for their customers as well.  You might also be asking, what is a micro green, and why should I eat them?  Let me explain, so that you can take advantage of these great growers by adding them to your diet.

Micro greens are essentially the start of a plant.  The baby shoots before mature growth that is tender and full of nutrients at the starting point of the growing cycle.  When a plant first begins the process of developing, they happen to pack in a lot of nutrients right at the first stage before setting fruit.  At this time of the growth cycle, the bioavailability of the plant's nutrients is the highest.  For you, that means you can reap the benefits these tiny shoots share at an early stage.

The micronutrient density of micro greens is considerable.  Potassium, zinc and magnesium all occur naturally in micro greens, which helps to support the inner workings of the gut.  The benefits of having a healthy gut leads to overall better health of people and improves lives.  If you feel good, you are bound to enjoy life better.  

A few benefits of eating micro greens are fiber, antioxidants, gut microbiome, and micronutrient density.   Micro greens are a great and easy source of additional fiber to add to your diet.  There has been a lot of talk about how important fiber is to your diet and what could be better than a few snips of micro greens added to your dinner dish.  They have been shown to help reduce constipation, prevent IBS, and even reduce digestive issues.  Of course, check with your medical professional to make sure  micro greens are the right fit for you.  All this and so much more can come from eating micro greens on a daily basis.

Micro greens are loaded with antioxidants.  Antioxidants can come from a variety of food choices such as berries but also from micro greens.  Who wouldn’t want to add more antioxidants to their diet to help prevent chronic illness, many of which are affected in the gut.  They can even help reduce inflammation in the gut, which is typically the cause of gut issues to begin with.  

Having a healthy gut microbiome really just makes you feel better overall.  Since micro greens are grown without the use of pesticides, you do not have to worry about them killing the beneficial bacteria that grows naturally in your body.   After all, pesticides kill off the beneficial and harmful bacteria on plants and then enters your system which can lead to problems.  By enjoying micro greens that have been grown without pesticides you are starting to reset the balance in your body. 

The easy production of micro greens make them more readily available to the public and general consumer.  They take less production time, and are easier and faster to grow.  Look for micro greens at specialty markets or give us a call to see what we are growing and how you can enjoy them at home to help improve your life. 

Do you want more information about the health benefits of micro greens?  Be sure to check out the following article from Bootstrap Farmer. Or take a look at this article from Healthline, about the amazing benefits of micro greens.   We hope you will grow to enjoy some at home or while dining out.