Home Gardening
by Ruby Hawk on Jul 24, 2009 with 27 Comments
Home gardening is a healthy way to exercise, save on your grocery bill, and vegetables from your own garden are tastier than any found in the supermarket.
Gardening is a healthy way to spend your time and vegetables grown in your home garden are much tastier than those bought in the supermarket. You will be hooked on gardening after tasting your home grown tomatoes, sweet peas, okra,and corn. Supermarket vegetables cannot compare in any way to home grown.
It doesn’t take as much space as you might think to grow an abundance of vegetables. I was speaking to my brother last night and he said he had just finished canning 15 jars of home grown tomatoes. The amazing thing is that his garden plot is about as large as a pick up truck. In that space he has tomato plants, cucumbers, banana peppers, squash, and onions. He tells me they have eaten all they can, given produce to neighbors, canned, frozen, and still have veggies coming in. He has asparagus growing wild that he mows down and it continues to spread. They have good tender asparagus most of the year. Mowing it keeps fresh shoots coming up. He has a green thumb and takes particular pleasure in gardening.
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Okra is one of my favorite vegetable. When I gardened I kept several rows of okra and started cutting it as quickly as I could see little pods on the stalk. The proper time to cut okra is when it’s small and tender. I have never seen okra in the supermarket that was young and tender enough to be good okra. It’s always tough and unfit to eat when bought from the supermarket. That’s why so many people think they don’t like okra. Grow a few stalks in the corner of your garden and try it when the pods are small.
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Green beans will grow plentifully in a small space. Drive a tall stake in the ground and plant green runner beans in a circle around the stake. Place a small stake by each bean plant and run a strong cord from each plant and tie to the top of the tall stake. You will have a tent of beans when the plants run up the cord. If you have a fence you could plant a row of runners along a fence. Cucumbers will also do well along a fence.
Vegetables do well planted with flowers. Zinnias will attract harmful bugs and keep them away from vegetable plants. If you don’t have space for a vegetable garden, tucking your vegetables amongst your flower plants is an attractive way to have fresh vegetables and keep your flower garden.
Gardening is also a great way to get your kids out in the fresh air and sunshine. Kids will enjoy eating the vegetables they have helped grow. It’s not to late to plant a fall garden. Collards, turnip greens, lettuce, and cabbage will have time to produce before cold weather. So hurry while you still have time. When you harvest those turnip greens cook a big pot for me.
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My recipe for fried okra:
Gather small pods,as many as you want
wipe them with a damp paper towel
slice fairly thin but not paper thin
put some corn meal, salt, and black pepper in a paper or plastic bag
Put sliced okra in the same bag, shake well
Place frying pan on stove with about ½ inch oil or less, you can add more if needed
Heat to medium but not too hot
Pour your okra into pan but not any meal left in bag
Cook and turn as needed on med heat until browned
Serve with a slice of corn bread, sliced home grown tomato, green beans , cabbage slaw, and a piece of sweet potato pie. Now enjoy a good southern supper.
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Published in: Gardening
ken bultman | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
You made me hungry. I always enjoy the row of zinnias down the center of the garden patch. Here in Florida we won’t start our fall garden for several weeks yet.
deep blue | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Great informative tips. Nothing compares in harvesting your own source of fruits and vegetables by your backyard.
chitragopi | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
great recipe. going to try today
Darla Smith | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Wonderful article!
Angela DiAngelo | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
This article is viewer friendly, informative and light. The photos enhance the article well. The recipe in the ending tops it off nicely. The entire article enhances the taste buds.
Alexa Gates | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
very informative!! makes me hungry
Inna Tysoe | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Great article.
Inna
CHAN LEE PENG | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Great informative article. Home gardening is a good hobby. Thanks and liked it.
Jamie Myles | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Great article. I love fried Okra. going to try your recipe.
OhSugar | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
I enjoyed read your very informative article. Well done.
Mystify | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
A really great article yet again.Wonderful work Ruby.
Ruby Hawk | Jul 24, 2009 | Reply
Thank you my friends. Are any of you having trouble signing in? I cannot sign in. they will not accept my sign in. I tried several times with no results and I’ve sent off an email. the sign in page will not even acknowledge my email address. I can’t imagine what happened.
Liane Schmidt | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
I love your articles!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Jenny Heart | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
I’m hungrey
PR Mace | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
Great article. I love a home garden. Yes, Ruby, I have been having problems signing in for the last few days. Seems it is always something.
Moses Ingram | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
We always had a vegetable garden when I was growing up but I don’t have the land for it now. Great article.
papaleng | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
excellent article. I too have a small backyard garden planted with Okra, eggplant and ampalaya.
Lostash | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
Nice one Ruby! Although I’m not a gardener myself, I love to be in them!
George W Whitehead | Jul 25, 2009 | Reply
As I get older I find that gardening is becoming a chore rather than a pleasure, but it’s a chore worth sticking at.
Steven West | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
Terrific article. I can tell you really enjoy working out in the garden.
maranatha | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
I don’t know about the okra, but I am sure with you on the rest! Here in the desert we won’t plant until September, but it’ll usually grow all winter long.
I like your article; easy to read and personable.
Francois Hagnere | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
You taught me something, I knew nothing about the okra. This is another very interesting article. You know how I love gardens!
Thank you Ruby,
Take care,
François
Ruby Hawk | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
Thank you my friends, You are the best.
Hazel Crowther | Jul 27, 2009 | Reply
Thank you, you have inspired me to get out there and do some gardening, I have the space and never do anything about it!
Anne Lyken Garner | Jul 27, 2009 | Reply
I just had okra for lunch today. It was delicious. Home grown is the best!
CutestPrincess | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Home Gardening is a popular hobby for a number of reasons.
AngelaDavid | Aug 23, 2009 | Reply
Tasty article here! TU!