Is it Time to Start Seeds?

The trouble is, you cannot grow just one zucchini. Minutes after you plant a single seed, hundreds of zucchini will barge out of the ground and sprawl around the garden, menacing the other vegetables. At night, you will be able to hear the ground quake as more and more zucchinis erupt. ~Dave Barry

It's too early to start most vegetable seeds, at least for those of us in Zones 3, 4, 5 and probably 6. The rule of thumb is to start six weeks BEFORE the planting date of most vegetables. Or eight weeks ahead of time for slow growing vegetables like peppers. So, in Zone 5 we can put tomatoes out around the end of May, without protection. I could start tomato seeds the first week in April and that would be about the right time.

There are always exceptions to the rules of course. If you want to start celery, leek, or onions from seeds instead of transplants then you want to start those in February. Or try your hand at growing begonias and petunias from seed. You would then start those in February too. Be aware that you will need a VERY sunny window, sun room or greenhouse to grow these plants. They will need to be turned daily so they don't grow towards the light and "bend". I'm not trying to discourage you, just letting you know to plan for the room and the work involved.

Some vegetables can be planted directly outside. These vegetables can be planted a week to two before the last frost, as long as you can work up the soil, which shouldn't be a problem by then: beets, carrots, parsnips, peas, radishes, Swiss chard and turnips, arugula, mustard, cress and leaf lettuce. When you are sure the weather is warm enough so you won't have frost any longer you can plant these seeds: beans, cucumbers, nasturtiums, basil, dill, corn and squash.

Here are the posts from last year that have details on seed starting:

Starting Herb Seeds Indoors
Growing Lantana from Seed
Pumpkin & Sunflowers from Seed
Tomato Seed Starting Tips
Damping Off (Seedling problems)
Sowing Tiny Seeds

I'm sure I'll think of more seed sowing tips, but if you look these over and have more questions please let me know.

~Brenda

Household Cleaning Tips from the Parlor

Our friendly message board community, known affectionately as The Parlor, has had plenty of conversations about old fashioned and frugal cleaning solutions.  Below are some of the tips shared on our boards. If you would like to add your input, please visit the "old fashioned cleaning tips" thread in the Parlor or feel free to leave a comment here.

[simplycindy]
I have heard vinegar water and use a crumpled newspaper to wipe the mirror, no streaks. I use the newspaper but I use it with glass cleaner so I don't know how the vinegar works. Reuse jars and cans as vases, pencils holders, put small nails or screws in them etc. Try to use a rag rather than paper towels. I enjoy trying to simplify my life as well, always open for ideas.

[lbjack]
White vinegar mixed with water is good for cleaning. I have used paper towels in the past, but am switching to rags this year.

[Linda Lou]
For cleaning glass I use a pint of water, add 1/4 cup non-sudsy ammonia and about the same amount of alcohol in a spray bottle. I don't measure it, just add some of each to the water. Both my daughter and I like it better than Windex from the store. Cheap, too. It cuts grease on the front of my microwave, too, which is part of my range hood, right over my stove. It gets so messy.

I use an old flour sack dish towel for wiping the glass, not linty at all. Old cloth diapers are great, too.

Sometimes I just spray some of it on the kitchen floor, put an old dishcloth on the head of my Swiffer and use it to wipe up spots on the floor instead of getting out the mop and bucket. I am not paying for the wet Swiffer cloths any more.

[JOSE]
I Keep A Spray Bottle Of Diluted Bleach (1/2 Bleach 1/2 Water) On My Kitchen Sink. I Use It To Clean My Stove, Counter Tops, Cutting Boards, Etc. When I Am Cooking Poultry Or Any Type Of Meat, I Will Increase The Bleach In The Spray Bottle To Eliminate Cross Contamination In My Kitchen Area.

I Also Put 1 Cup Of Bleach In My Dishwasher About Once A Week Along With The Detergent. And If We Are Sick In Our House, I Always Add Bleach To The Detergent And Wash In Hot Water.

A Small Bleach Spray Bottle Can Be Kept In The Bathrooms For Quick Clean-ups Also.

[BogiesMom]
I use vinegar in my dishwasher about once a week to clean it and unclog soap residue, just like the coffee pot. I use vinegar in the rinse cycle for jeans and DH's work clothes instead of fabric softener...I save that for my towels and sheets.

In the garbage disposal, I put in ice cubes to keep the blades sharp and lemon, or lime peels to freshen it.

[Linda Lou]
I also keep a spray bottle of bleach. It only takes 1 tsp. bleach per cup of water to kill bacteria. I normally use about 2 T. per pint of water, which is still overkill. Your bleach water should be dumped and newly made every 5 days, as the bleach dissipates. (The Clorox site says to dump daily.) At the extension we were taught every 5 days.

I use Dawn dish soap on my fabric stains, especially oily ones before they go into the wash. I don't pay for expensive pretreatments or stain removers. That, or I wet a bar of Fels Naptha soap and rub on the area. I keep a bar in a little metal tub that looks like a wash tub, as part of my laundry room decor.
I also use the cheap fabric softener sprayed on a damp cloth if I want it in my clothes instead of paying for dryer sheets.

[JoyAnn]
I use vinegar for almost everything. White for cleaning and apple cider for personal use. Apple cider vinegar stops the itch of poison ivy, it removed a wart from my elbow, and I use it as a hair rinse after shampoo and conditioner.

But you asked about cleaning. I have always had a problem with ants during warm weather. Since cleaning with white vinegar, ants are much less a problem. It is the best thing for linoleum (manufacturers recommend it) and it is a good degreaser in the kitchen. I could go on and on about vinegar. It is great for small burns you get while you are cooking. The skin won't even blister if you treat the burn right away.

[Hotzcatz]
To save from even using diapers or other other kind of cloths that leave lint and then have to be cleaned, try a rubber squeegee on windows and other flat glass areas. I have a small one in the shower for the shower doors as well as a long handled one for windows. I find it to be much faster and easier than using newspapers or cloths.

[stonepine]
There have been a few references to baking soda. I use this for so many things, works well to clean my stove, as well as used with a little vinegar to pour down plug holes to clear them, or just keep them smelling nice. We get lots of hair in our bathtub drain and this mixture works a treat. I does fizz up, so be prepared!

[southernlady]
lemon juice baking soda and vinegar is a good cleaners also they used lye soap it was more the multipurpose cleaner of the time. They used linseed oil to polish furniture and broom and scrub brush was the mop. I do suggest using a mop and broom if you have hard wood floors you can use a dust mop . There is books to buy as well as other products for the home that was used in the old days. I am including the links they are mail order catalogs and are wonderful to have. one is Cumberland General store and the other Lehmans, this is where the Amish shop.

http://www9.mailordercentral.com/cumberlandgeneral/

http://www.lehmans.com/

[Red]
I have retired all of my cloth napkins to use as rags with a spray bottle of 100% vinegar that has been infused w/ herbs and flower petals in the sunnier windows of our apt. I do not use them in the kitchen for fear of cross-contamination, but they are great through out the rest of the house especially as they are lint free. Seems like everything I clean sparkles and is slower in accumulating dust. Oh, and the infused vinegar smells so good, cleaning almost seems like a cleansing aromatherapy session... not to mention the fact that it minimizes the harmful fumes and chemicals I am exposed to on a daily basis. I was skeptical at first, but now I am convinced... well as long as I can have my bleach every once in a while.

[grannieg]
take a old tray or pot,place a piece of alfoil in bottom of it,add boiling water,place silver ware in,place bicarb soda,watch your silver come clean,works even on the most tarnished pieces,take out,buff with a soft cloth and your silver never looked better

[Janet]
I find that using white distilled vinegar along with baking soda will help remove the burn inside of pans. Then I scrub with really hot water and lots of soap. It does a pretty good job of cleaning up.

[Pastors Wife]
I make my own laundry soap, dish washer soap and pine cleaner

Laundry soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Not baking soda)
1/2 cup Borax

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened. Remove from the heat and add 1 qt hot water to a large bucket. Add soap mixture and mix well. Fill bucket with 2 gallons of hot water. Let it set for 24 hours. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load

Pine Cleaner
Mix 2 cups water, two teaspoons borax, 10 drops of pine essential oil and 5 drops of cedar essential oil

Dishwasher soap
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda

Mix the washing soda and the borax together. Store in a covered container.

[JMC]
I put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in my floor washing bucket... it helps with any insects that want to come in, and smells nice too....

There are tons of household uses for vinegar on the Old Fashioned Living website here

What About a Measuring Party?

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends. ~Nancie J. Carmody

I was looking through some of my vintage books and found this odd party idea in my copy of Bright Ideas for Entertaining from Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott. The small hardcover was published in 1905. The entry is for a "Measuring Party". She mentions that this is a "pleasing way" of raising money for charity. This verse should be printed on the invitations in addition to the usual where and when information:


A measuring party we give for you,
'Tis something pleasant as well as new.
The invitation carries a sack,
For use in bringing or sending back
Five cents for every foot you're tall,
Measure yourself against the wall.
An extra cent for each inch you'll give,
And thereby show how high you live.
Then with music and song, recitation and pleasure,
We will meet one and all at our party of measure.

The author also suggests that a "tiny bag made of a bit of silk or ribbon" should be sent with each invitation. On the night of the party guests will bring these little bags with their money and place in a bowl or basket by the door. She suggests:

"Care should be taken to carry out the program suggested in the last two lines of the above verse. Much amusement may be created by having some one appointed to take various measurements of the guests attending, such as the length of the nose, size of the head, size of the hand etc. "

This could be a lot of fun, especially if the hostess puts something on the invitations like "A Measuring Party from 1905!". The bags could be little party favor bags which as inexpensive and can be folded into the invitation. The author also suggests there be music, food and drink during the party. Here are some other ideas:

-Change it to anywhere from $1.00 to $10.00 a foot depending on what you are raising money for. This could work for many types of fundraisers, and it would be unique!

-Little sheets could be printed up with spaces for writing in measurements of the nose, head, arm, hand etc. and door prizes could be given randomly by having everyone turn in their sheets with their names on them.

-This would be a very neat party for the entire family. The kids would love it and you could have door prizes for the adults and the kids.

-To keep the cost down, ask for volunteers to bake cookies, punch etc.

What do you think about this party idea?

~Brenda

Reader's Garden Question & Recipe

Today I have a question from a reader who is wondering about a plant, and a recipe to share. As always, if you have a question please let us know!

Will cattle eat trumpet vine if planted on a fence and if so will it hurt them? Thank you for your time. ~Karen

It looks like it is not poisonous to cattle, but if you do an online check you'll find some sources that say it is. I think the confusion comes from people speaking about different plants. Campsis radicans is what I know as trumpet vine or trumpet creeper. The picture on the left is the plant I did research on. I could find no reference to it being poisonous to cattle or horses or mention of it being eaten. They all said about the same as this snippet:

People are reported to react on contact with trumpet-creeper. It is doubtful that animals are affected. ~ University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

If you are still doubtful you could call or email the University Extension office for your state. They always have information on this type of thing. The plant is known for causing some people with allergies or sensitive skin to develop a rash if they handle it.

A GRILLED CHEESE RECIPE
Readers will remember, Catherine, our resident Herb Lady who shared herb recipes and tips with us for years in the Old Fashioned Tips newsletter. She sent me this wonderful recipe last week and I wanted to share it with you all. You can visit her at her blog, Edible Herbs, Flowers & Other Edibles.

This idea popped into my head one day several years ago when I was grilling veggies for dinner, and I thought "boy these would be good layered with cheese on a sandwich" ~Catherine

GRILLED CHEESE AND EGGPLANT WITH BASIL
Grilled cheese sandwiches are the kind of homey, comfort food that just plain makes you feel good. The addition of grilled eggplant (good for you,leave the skin on) and/or sweet peppers and herbs (in alternate layers with the cheese) makes this a satisfying meal. Doing the low-carb thing? Grill Portobello mushrooms instead of buns or bread for the "wrapper."

1 Sweet bell pepper, halved, cored and seeded, and each half pressed flat

1 Small eggplant, sliced length-wise or sandwich length, approx 1/4 inch thick

6 Ounces cheese of your choice (try Swiss, Gruyere or Colby for a change), thinly sliced

French, rye or wheat bread (or Portobello mushrooms)

Olive oil

1/2 Cup approximate fresh basil leaves, rinsed and dried

First Step:
Lightly brush eggplant strips and peppers with olive oil. Sear vegetables 1 minute each side on grill or in pan, then cook, turning often until desired doneness. If using Portobello mushrooms instead of bread for the "buns," grill mushrooms in the same manner.

Second Step:
Lightly brush bread with olive oil and assemble sandwiches, alternating layers of vegetables, cheese, and basil leaves beginning and ending with cheese. Toast sandwiches on grill or in pan, turning at least once, until cheese is just melty.

Serve and enjoy!

On OFL we have more eggplant recipes and tips:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/eggplant3.html

~Brenda

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Fun 2007

 

 

 

Tips for great soup & bean tips

On Friday I shared some yummy bean soup recipes with you. This week, I wanted to share a couple of articles with great information about both beans and soup!

The first one has tips on storing, sorting, and soaking beans to get them ready for cooking. The article also has several recipes referenced! To read the article, go to Bean Tips on Alicia's.

The other article tells you what to do if you add too much salt, want to thicken your soup, explains a bouquet garni, and more. To read the article, go to Soup Tips on Annie's. There are several recipes listed on this one as well.

If you would like to try your hand at making cream soups, we have some great tips and recipes on Old Fashioned Living here.

Enjoy :)

More Good Housekeeping During 1944

Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do-or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so. ~Stanley Crawford

Last week I shared lunch ideas from my copy of The Good Housekeeping Cook Book, today I wanted to share beverage ideas. Remember, 1944 was near the end of WWII, so can you imagine how strapped for cash and stressed out everyone must have been? I like thinking of what was happening during the time period of vintage cookbooks while I'm reading them over.

When Sugar Is Scarce

To help you save sugar when scarce, many of the drink recipes in this chapter include directions for replacing part of the sugar with white or dark corn syrup. In using honey for sugar, try substituting 3/4-1 cup of honey for each 1 cup of granulated sugar. If too sweet or not sweet enough, adjust the amount to suit taste.

Dinner Punch

1 cup hot tea
1 tbsp. minced mint
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup Sugar Syrup *see below
few grains salt
Rind 1 cucumber, cut in long strips
1 1/2 cups grape juice
1 12 ounce bottle ginger ale (1 1/2 cups)
1 12 bottle carbonated water
Ice
Orange and lemon slices

Pour the hot tea over the mint. Add lemon juice, syrup, salt and cucumber rind. Let stand until cool, then strain and chill. Just before serving, add grape juice, ginger ale and water. Pour into a pitcher half full of ice. Garnish with fruit slices and mint if desired. Makes 6 1/2 cups before adding ice.

Sugar Syrup

3 cups granulated sugar
3 cups water

Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil, while stirring until sugar is dissolved. Cover and boil five minutes, without stirring. Cool. Pour into clean jar, cover, and store in the refrigerator for future use in beverages. Makes about 4 1/3 cups sugar syrup.

Orange Lime Fizz

2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
12 sprigs mint. chopped
4 tbsp. lime juice
1 12 ounce bottle chilled carbonated water
Ice

Heat 1 cup of orange juice to the boiling point. Add the sugar and mint. Cool, covered; then strain, and add remaining 1 cup orange juice and the lime juice. Just before serving, add the carbonated water and ice. Makes 3 3/4 before adding ice.

Raspberry Mint Cooler

1 cup raspberry jam
3/4-1 cup minced fresh mint
4 cups water
1/2 cup lemon juice

Combine jam, mint and 2 cups of the water. Boil 3 minutes. Let stand 1 1/2 hrs. Strain. Add lemon juice and remaining 2 cups water. Carbonated water may be substituted if desired for the regular water. Serve well iced. Serves 4.

~Brenda