Posted by Bret Knight on April 12, 2011
Using saved seeds from previous crops is often a great method to be self sufficient. This is a wonderful goal. Extra skills are needed to grow from seeds. Seed size gives you an indication of how hearty those seedlings will be. If the seed is small, you will find seedlings to take some extra time to really take off. Large seeds give stronger seedlings. In this article, I will give you a quick introduction to raising from seeds.
Depending on where you are, you will find you will need to start warm season small seed crops indoors so they will have time to produce during the season. The temperature of the soil needs to be higher for warm season seeds to germinate. Plant large seeds in late spring because they do not need as much help. Remember, seed germination and temperature of the soil are closely related.
You can start small seeds closer together. If you do plant them close, you will have to take some time to thin them out. Your new young plants are competing for resources and you do not want to have any crowding issues. Many people sow them close together and thin them early in order to maximize the space and be able to absorb the pain of some seeds not germinating.
Please be aware of the vulnerabilities of seedlings. Some diseases, like fungal issues, can kill your plant. The best way to reduce the risk is to plant them when the soil is warm, but not wet. Super clean containers can be an great option to reduce disease risk. Make sure your seedlings start out in an area with good circulation. To ensure cleanliness, use bleach on all equipment and utensils. Lastly, you should make every effort to ensure you use sterile soil and clean water.
You do not have to start everything in the greenhouse. The age old way of growing outside is fine. After all, this is the way nature intended. If you plan, you will find your plants are drought and disease resistant. Just be mindful of new pests and watch for disease.
You do not have to have a greenhouse to start seedlings. Many people have a shelf in their house or garage with fluorescent lights. There is nothing wrong with starting your seeds here. You can regulate the temperature and put the lighting on a timer. Some have even integrated self-watering systems to make starting seeds simple and efficient. Just be careful any time you use electricity and water together. They do not play well. Be cautious.
This particular report happens to be the primer upon the best way to be effective with seed products as well as seedlings. Remember, small seeds need more time to take off while large seeds seem to grow much quicker. Take some time to remember seedling vulnerabilities and make an environment for them to flourish. Growing from seed is a great way to be self sufficient.
If you’re interested in learning more about the vegetables or how to grow them, read another article, where I share more information on how to be self sufficient. Be Self Sufficient today!
Posted by KC Kudra on September 27, 2010
Shrimp are a wonderful thing. They can be found in many different sizes and all of them are delicious. Yet there are so many things most people do not know about shrimp, even though they are the most popular seafood in the world. Their secrets abound. Here is the first little known fact: raw shrimp are often called “green” shrimp.
Your average shrimp has ten legs. Since most of us eat them after they have been shelled, we do not often see the legs. The head of the shrimp takes up about half their body size. Even though we call it the head, it also includes the thorax as well. They are related to other crustaceans like lobsters and crabs. They are also related to insects, which is why some cooks refer to them by the endearing name, “Bug.”
In the United States, we eat a billion pounds of shrimp per year. In fact, in Las Vegas, Nevada, 60,000 pounds of shrimp are consumed every day… that is more than everywhere else in the U. S. combined! Wow, that is a lot of shrimp! Almost 90% of that is imported from Central America and Asia, and 40% of that is farmed shrimp. Almost 80% of the shrimp we eat here is consumed in restaurants. We like to eat them, but apparently, we do not like to cook them ourselves. Once you have tried cooking them a few times, you will see how easy it really is.
In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea.” He then proceeds to describe 21 different ways to prepare shrimp, including three different frying methods. The versatile shrimp can be added to stews and soups. It can be used as appetizers, snacks, and main dishes. You can add shrimp to just about anything. Broil them, saute them, fry them… they all taste fabulous.
If the terms “prawn” and “shrimp” are confusing to you, you are not alone. Even shrimp experts can mix them up. For example, the California spot prawn is really a shrimp while the ridgeback shrimp is truly a prawn. In most fish markets, any large shrimp may be called a prawn, but in actuality, there is a physical difference between the two. Shrimp have side flaps that overlap on their first three abdominal segments, while prawns first two segments are the same size.
Shrimp make great easy party appetizers that everyone will love at any party because people love shrimp appetizers more than any other appetizer. You can purchase them in a variety of sizes like small, medium, large, jumbo, and colossal. They are sold by count. For example, jumbo shrimp would be labeled 21/25 on the package. This means there are 21 to 25 shrimp per pound. You can serve them lightly cooked in all of their glory or you can add them to recipes.
You will notice that different types of shrimp exhibit different textures and flavors. These factors are influenced by what they eat as well as the water they live in. Wild shrimp have a more complex flavor due to their varied diet. They also have firmer meat since they need to search for their food. Farmed shrimp have a softer texture since they know where to get their food.
Making trouble-free Superbowl party recipes means that you can prepare all your snacks well in advance and relax with your guests when the game starts. There are lots of Superbowl recipes to choose from and meat snacks, like chicken wings, ribs and hot dogs, are always incredibly popular. You will find hundreds of quick trouble-free appetizers at our site to give you some more ideas.
