Spices to have on hand

MRE’s, mac and cheese, powdered potatoes, and canned vegetables are going to get really old, really fast after the SHTF.

But if you take a little extra time to include herbs, spices, and seasonings into your supply lists, you can completely change the flavor of otherwise bland meals.

I don’t always follow the rules and tend to be a fan of the “throw it in, how bad could it be”cooking method when it comes to spices.

With many of the prepackaged survival meals on the market, it would be pretty hard to ruin a meal by adding some. (Which in a survival situation you really don’t want to do.)

Common Spices:

1. Salt
2. Black Pepper
3. Crushed Red pepper
4. Chili Powder
5. Garlic Powder
6. Garlic Salt
7. Minced Garlic (If you can’t tell, I like garlic  )
8. Onion Powder
9. Cinnamon (also great on fruit)
10. Bay Leaves
11. Parsley
12. Oregano

Uncommon Spices:

These mostly include ingredients mentioned above and are way too high in sodium, but they sure can turn bland food into something delicious and take all the guess work out of seasoning.

1. Meat Spices ( those mixed spice things that are made for grilling) One of my favorites is Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormicks.
2. Mrs. Dash
3. Cajun Seasoning
4. Chinese 5 spice
5. pickled peppers ( jalapeno,  banana, and peperoncini are my all time favorites)
6. Wasabi Powder
7. Tobasco sauce ( Or my favorite Cholula… goes great on eggs)
8. Sriracha Sauce
9. Balsamic Vinegar
10. Oils ( olive oil is great and can be infused with other flavors for all kinds of uses)
11. Honey (Not technically a spice, but an unlimited shelf life that can be used to sweeten everything from coffee to baked goods is never a bad thing to have around!)

The Great thing about spices is that they never actually spoil. But over time, spices will lose their potency and not flavor your food as intended and you may need to experiment on how much more spice needs to be added.

As a general rule, whole spices will stay fresh for about 3-4 years, ground spices for about 2-3 years and dried herbs for 1-3 years.

Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

Tequila Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

No. 4 by Michelle Reynolds on May 3, 2013 Make It

2

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I like tequila bottles! I like the variety of shapes, the glass, the corks, and, of course, I like the contents. But what to do with the bottles when they are emptied? Save them! There are a variety of uses for the bottles. I use them for margarita salt containers, soap bottles, to hold bath salts, infused olive oils and vinegars, salad dressings, salsas, dried herbs and spices—the list goes on.

A friend of mine made a tequila bottle hummingbird feeder for me a couple of years ago. It is the first feeder in my garden the little birds go to in the spring. It hangs by a wire cage that is embellished with bottle caps. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I decided to give my feeder a friend and embellish its wire hanging cage with bright colored beads to help attract the hummingbirds.

• Time:1 hour
• Cost:$12
• Tools:2
• Materials:4

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Step 1

Choose from a variety of tequila bottles you have saved from your fiestas, or choose your favorite bottle and invite your friends over to help you empty it.

 

Step 2

Submerge the bottle and soak in warm soapy water. After it soaks for a day, the label will peel or scrape right off.

 

Step 3

Cut the wire to 36-inch lengths. You’ll need four pieces. You’ll cut off excess later, but it is better to have too much than not enough length.

 

Step 4

You’ll need to identify the middle point of each length of wire. Start with the midpoints of two of the pieces of wire, and wrap each around the neck of the bottle crossing the two in opposite directions. As you crisscross the wires, twist at the point of the crossovers on each side. Twist five rotations at each crossover. Repeat this step with the second set of wires. Make sure this step looks nice and neat. The rest of the project will go smoothly if the first twists are uniform.

 

Step 5

Thread each twist with two beads and spread to separate the wires. This will keep the beads in place before the next step.

 

Step 6

Continue to crisscross, twist five times, thread the beads, separate wire, and repeat until the bottle is encapsulated in the wire and bead cage. Make sure you twist tightly for a clean appearance on all twists and to be consistent throughout the project.

 

Step 7

For the last set of crisscrosses, continue to twist past the five twists and on through to the ends. You’ll end up with four sets of two-wire twists. Cut off excess wire and make all four ends the same length, being careful to give yourself enough length to make a hanger loop. Take two adjacent sets of twisted wires and twist them together to the end. Repeat with the other two sets. Loop the twisted wires around your finger or a dowel and twist the ends, finishing off the loop. And again, maintain a nice clean look.

 

Step 8

Make the hummingbird nectar by heating up a sugar water solution of four parts water to one part plain white sugar. Allow to cool before filling the bottle. (Please do not use food coloring or honey in the water. This could harm the birds.) Insert the feeder stopper to fit snuggly, hang the feeder on a hook in your garden (preferably next to red flowering native plants), and enjoy!

 

 

Walking Tacos

Here are most of your ingredients for the Taco Chili.  Not pictured is the lime and hot sauce.

Go pick up however many small bags of Fritos you need.  My grocery store only had the bigger 99 Cent bags, the small ones are perfect, so find those 

Making the chili, dump it all in!

Seasonings that make the chili mmmm!

Here is your set up.  Open up your Frito Bags, get your chili and all your fixin’s in order…

Now the fun begins, spoon in your taco chili….

Add your cheese…

Add your sour cream…..

Add your jalapenos, or green onions if you can’t take the heat 

My bags were a little big, so I cut the extra bag off the top to be able to eat my tacos better

Here you have it, your perfect little bag of “Walking Tacos!”

_______________________________

Walking Tacos

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6-8 little sweet peppers or 1 green and 1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
Pinch of kosher salt and black pepper
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 Cup Herdez Salsa or your favorite salsa
1 small can tomato paste
1 Cup warm water
3 cans of beans, drained (I used black, pinto and red kidney)
1 can black olives sliced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon hot sauce, Tabasco
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
Pinch of Kosher salt, fresh cracked black pepper and Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley (to taste)
1/2 Cup fresh chopped cilantro
Bags of Fritos
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Jalapenos, or green onions
1. Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion and peppers for 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, salt and pepper. Cook until browned. Drain if needed. I usually don’t need to for the lean beef. Pour in tomatoes, salsa, tomato paste then stir to combine. Add 1 Cup warm water to thin out slightly then add in beans, olives, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, lime juice, salt, pepper and garlic salt. I start with just a pinch of salt then keep tasting until it’s to my liking. Add chopped cilantro and reduce heat to low to simmer until ready to serve.
2. Open bags of fritos. Spoon in chili, cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. Stick a fork in it and eat!!

 

 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR TEEH 'SNOW

-Put a tiny bit of toothpaste into a small cup,
mix in

one teaspoon baking soda
one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide
half a teaspoon water.

 

Thoroughly mix then brush your
teeth for two minutes. Remember to
do it once a week until you have
reached the results you want. Once
your teeth are good and white, limit
yourself to using the
whitening treatment once every
month or two.

 

 

Homemade Febreze:

Option #1
1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top

Option #2
1/8 cup white vinegar
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot Tap Water to fill bottle
Add Essential Oils to scent or use the citrus vinegar listed below as your scent.



Easy Bookmark: http://www.primalrights.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=50

 

 

 

Swim Ear Drops

Swim season is quickly approaching for some of us and others it's already here. If you or someone you know is prone to getting water stuck in their ears, try a few drops of this mix to get it free.

Ingredients:
1 small bottle of Vinegar
1 small bottle of Alcohol
1 eye drop container (or anything with the ability to distribute drops)
1 Funnel (make sure it fits the eye drop container)

Directions:
Fill the bottle with 1/2 Vinegar and 1/2 Alcohol. Secure cap on and shake well to mix. Put four drops in each ear after swimming. Be sure to then tilt your head on to a towel to get rid of the water.


Easy Bookmark: http://www.primalrights.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=7865

 

 

Homemade Cat Litter

Homemade Cat Litter:

This ‘recipe’ is a clone for ‘Yesterday’s News’ cat litter.

Shred or tear up a bunch of newspaper (no slicks). Soak in a bucket of water that has a bit of dish soap. I found that soaking for several hours produces a better end result. I just use my hand to mix it all up to make sure the fibers are all breaking down. Then I drain it using an old colander. Back into the bucket with clean water to rinse. Drain again, pressing out as much water as you can. Mix in some baking soda, then crumble it over an old window screen to dry.

Newspapers use soy based inks now, but you will NOT be able to get the bucket or colander clean again, so use old ones. Do not drain this into your sink. The cellulose in the paper could potentially clog up your pipes.

Every day I pick out the poops from the litter boxes. This seems to control urine odors as well as any purchased kitty litter. I live in the country, so I just scatter it around my property.

*The way you introduce this to cats is to put a layer of this over your existing cat litter. Each time you scoop stuff out replace old with this until you've completely made the switch. I have an old picky cat who has used the same Tidy Cats all of his life, he LOVES this stuff!

Oven-Fried Onion Rings

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup ( 35 grams ) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1 cup ( 250 ml ) plain yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup ( 70 grams ) plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 4 cups ( 200 grams ) finely crushed potato chips
• 2 larger onions
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• salt

Directions:

•  Preheat oven to  390 F.
• Combine 1/4 cup (35 grams) flour, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne and 1/2 tsp salt in a large bowl. Minus the spoons.
• Mix the eggs, yogurt, 1/2 cup ( 70 grams ) plus 2 tbsp flour  in another medium bowl.
• Whisk until  smooth.
• Smash the chips finely and place them in a bowl too.
• Peel the onions and cut them into 1/2 inch (1 cm) rings.
•  Use a piece of parchment to cover a baking sheet.
• Drizzle with 3 tbsp vegetable oil.
• Pop it into the hot oven for 8 minutes – or until the oil just starts to smoke.
• Toss the onion rings in the flour mixture.
• Dip each ring into the batter.
• Let the excess batter dribble off a little.
• Coat the rings with the crushed potato chips.
• Place the rings on the hot baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes, then flip each ring over before baking for another 8 minutes.
• Since you will probably have more rings than you can fit in one baking sheet you might need to work in batches.
• Sprinkle with salt while the rings are still hot.
• Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Garden Planting Guide, Schedule, and Tips

Garden Planting Guide,Schedule, and Tips | Urban Farmer Seeds

Home > Gardener's Guide > Garden Planting Guide

Choosing Seed Varieties 
Part of the enjoyment of planning your garden is choosing which seed varieties you want to grow. Choosing varieties that work best for your growing conditions and take advantage of your environment will ultimately decide the outcome of your growing experience. Below are a few tips when selecting your vegetable, herb and ­flower seeds. 
Vegetables: 
Selecting your veggies before you design your garden will help ensure you have the correct amount of room and the best growing conditions. For smaller gardens choose bush varieties that take up less room. For shorter growing seasons try fast maturing varieties that can produce maximum yields for your growing season. 
Herbs: 
Choose herbs by size, growing habits, and life expectancy. Many herbs can live as perennials and will increase in size every season thus needing adequate space to grow and receive the proper nutrition. 
Flowers: 
Flowers can reward gardens with beauty and high pollination rates. Mixing ­flowers in with your vegetable garden will increase yield potentials. Also choosing between annuals and perennials can be hard. Annuals can be easily removed and replaced the next season while perennials will come back every season. Plus, many ­flower seeds are hard to germinate and require an adequate amount of care and time to grow correctly.

Planning 
Planning is the key to success for any garden or landscaping you plan to grow this season. Choosing a plants location, spacing, and feedings is important in the success of your gardening season. Always be on the safe side when you garden so never bite o‑ more than you can chew! Grow a smaller garden, one that can be taken care of if time is scarce. 
Always leave enough space between vegetables, herbs, and ­flowers in order for them to breathe correctly and receive proper nutrition. Choose varieties that are correct for your growing conditions. Perennials cannot survive in certain locations so know your hardiness zone and choose perennials accordingly. 
For vegetables plan your yields according to family size and whether you will need to freeze, can or practice successive gardening in order to have fresh crops every couple weeks.

Sowing 
Most soil mixes consisting of peat, perlite, and vermiculite are excellent seed sowing media for bedding plants. Besides light and moisture, seeds need warmth to germinate well. A soil temperature of 70°F is sufficient for most crops. Please see the planting depth of most seeds for optimal conditions. Some seeds prefer growing just below the soil including most vegetables, herbs and ­flowers. Although some fl­ower seeds need light to germinate and should be placed on top of soil. 

Transplanting 
After the seeds have germinated, let the surface dry out occasionally. Seedlings should never go through the night with wet leaves. Grow them at proper temperatures as given in this guide for fast, yet sturdy plants. When ­seedlings have developed their first set of true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted to a 4” inch pot for optimal growing conditions. 
Many ingredients can be used, to prepare a good growing medium for bedding plants. Most commonly used are 2 parts soil, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part sand with fertilizer added. Mist the young plants frequently during the first week of transplant until they are well established, then water more thoroughly and less often. Keep your seedlings growing fast with the recommended liquid feeding program. 
Some vegetables are recommended for direct sowing such as beans, peas, corn, carrots, radish, pumpkins, cucumbers and others. Some varieties do much better by starting inside such as tomatoes, peppers and herbs. These seeds don’t require much attention just a regular watering and should be hardened o‑ before transplanting outside.

Vegetable Planting Tips

	Bean Tips  Should be directly sowed into your garden and shouldn’t be grown as transplants. Be sure not to plant bean seeds too early as they may rot due to cold weather and moist soil. If you insist to start early place a black tarp over the soil to warm its temperature. For Bush bean varieties try a continual planting schedule by sowing a seed every couple weeks which should give you a consistent harvest. Plant bush seeds every 12-18” and be sure to water consistently until germination occurs then every few days. For pole varieties they will need some time to grow their vines but will produce continuous harvest for a couple months. Pole beans need some type of support so be sure to have a trellis or fence ready before planting. Plant seeds every 4” and supply moist soil. Add fertilizer half way through their growing season.  Suggest Varieties:  Topcrop - A great bean for canning and freezing.  Slenderette - One of the best tasting home garden beans available.  Contender - Very productive and needs little care.
	Cucumber Tips  Cucumbers require full sun and a large amount of space in order to develop properly. If space is limited there are some varieties available that can grow in small spaces and containers (Spacemaster). Cucumbers should be directly sowed into your garden and should not be transplanted. Be sure to plant after last frost as any freezing temperatures can kill your plants. In general cucumbers can grow in most soils but prefer a pH of around 6.5. Be sure to add a generous amount of organic compost to your soil before planting your cucumber seeds. This will ensure proper nutrition and produce strong vigorous plants with heavy yields. To maximize fruit growth try applying a minimal amount of fertilizer when needed. A good way to reduce weeding and increase soil moisture is to apply some type of mulch to your garden. Try using at least 4 inches of wood chips or mulch.  Suggested Varieties:  Spacemaster - Great for containers or small gardens.  Homemade Pickles - A very popular pickling variety in home gardens.  Straight Nine - Very good quality, ­flavor, and yield for cucumbers.
	Onion Tips Onions can be a tricky vegetable to grow. The most important aspect to remember about onions is there are two different categories: long-day and short-day onions. Long-day onions will grow best in northern states while short-day varieties do well in southern states. Short-day onions develop bulbs with an average of 12 hours of daylight. Long-day onions develop better with more sun, around 15-16 hours of daylight. To ensure proper maturation be sure to grow the variety of onion that is suited for your location. Onion seeds can be started both indoors and outdoors but for best results seedlings should be started indoors. When ready to transplant, place onions 3 to 4 inches apart, in rows divided by 15” inches. Onions grow best in rich soft soil, but can grow well in most soils especially with fertilizer. Keep the soil moist and allow good drainage.  Suggested Varieties:  Sweet White Walla - A mild onion that can be eaten like an apple.  White Spanish - A standard large sweet onion.  Yellow Spanish - One of the most popular home grown onions.
	Pea Tips Peas are a hardy crop that can provide an abundant harvest in a limited amount of space. There are four main varieties of peas that are grown in the home garden. Garden peas (English peas) have hard outer shell and must be removed. Snap peas have low-fiber pods and are snapped and eaten before the seeds mature. Snow or Sugar peas should be eaten whole with both pod and seeds. Lastly, Cowpeas are shelling peas with excellent fl­avor. Pea seeds should be directly sowed into your garden in early spring. When the seeds begin to germinate they will need a trellis or staking to provide the necessary support. In order to extend harvesting and yield try sowing seeds every week. Peas plants should be spaced every 5” inches. Peas are heavy feeders and will do best with occasional fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can increase foliage but decrease pea yield. Lastly, keep the soil moist and harvest mature pods to keep plant productive.  Suggested Varieties:  Super Sugar - Original tall snap pea that has been improved.  Oregon Giant - Home garden favorite with excellent yield potential.  Little Marvel - Excellent sweet fl­avor with high yields.
	Pepper Tips Peppers come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as a varying degree of sweet to very hot peppers. Today’s gardeners enjoy a large selection of home garden peppers; green bell peppers by far being the most popular choice. Peppers can be sowed both indoor and outdoor but for best results we recommend starting pepper seeds indoors, eight to ten weeks or more before the last frost date for your location. Pepper seeds are difficult seed to germinate and seedlings tend to grow slow as well. One way to increase seed germination is to provide a bottom heat to your soil raising it to 80 degrees. This will increase higher and quicker seed germination. When transplanting your pepper plants space 18-24” apart and 24” between rows. Select a location that receives full sun an add plenty of fertilizer to the garden soil. Keep soil moist but not wet.  Suggested Varieties:  California Wonder - A garden staple; easy to grow with great ­flavor.  Early Jalapeno - Early maturing, low-range hot pepper.  Cayenne Long Red - Medium-hot pepper with excellent fl­avor.
	Tomato Tips Gardens are by far the most popular vegetable in home gardens being grown in over 85% of them. There are many different types including beefsteak, heirlooms, organic, cherry, paste, mid-size, early ripening and the list goes on. Tomato seeds should be started indoors for best germination results. Start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date for your location. Plant 1/4” deep using sterile soil. This helps prevent disease and other problems. The tomato seeds will germinate best if the soil is kept between 80 to 90 degrees. Water lightly and keep the soil consistently moist until germination occurs. When ready to transplant be sure to harden the young plants o‑ by placing increasing time outside for a 1 week period. Transplant tomato plants 32” apart and 32” between rows. The more space the better. Plant in a location with full sun and provide fertilizer when needed.  Suggested Varieties:  Brandywine - Popular home garden tomato with great ­flavor.  Sweetie - A prolific produce of cherry sized tomatoes.  Cherokee Purple - Favorite for taste, unique color, and high yields.

 

Variety	Planting Depth	Sowing  Date	Days to Germination	Soil Temp F°	Plants “	Rows“	Days to Maturity	Family of 4 (typical growing season)	Seeds per Oz.	Seeds per 100’ row
Asparagus  Bean Bush  Bean Vine  Beets  Broccoli  Cabbage  Carrots  Cauli­ower  Corn  Cucumber  Eggplant  Gourds  Kale  Leek  Lettuce  Melon  Mustard  Okra  Onions  Peas  Peppers  Pumpkins  Radish  Spinach  Squash  Strawberry  Tomatoes  Turnip  Watermelon	4”  1.5”  1.5“  .5”  1”  .5”  .5”  .5”  1”  1”  .5”  .5”  .25”  .25”  .25”  1”  .25”  1.5”  .5”  1.5”  .5”  3”  .5”  .5”  1”  .125”  .5”  1.5”  1”	Jan-Feb  May-June  May-Jun  March-July  Apr-June  Apr-May  Jan-Aug  Jan-June  Apr-May  Apr-July  April-June  April-May  May-July  March-May  Feb-Oct  Mar-Apr  Apr-Sept  Apr-Sept  Feb-Apr  Mar-June  Jan-May  Apr-June  Mar-Aug  Mar-July  Mar-Apr  Dec-Feb  Jan-May  Mar-Aug  Mar-Apr	10  7  7  4  4  4  6  5  5  3  6  10  4  7  3  4  8  6  6  6  8  4  4  5  4  10  6  3  4	75  80  80  85  80  85  80  80  95  95  85  80  80  80  75  80  75  95  75  75  85  90  85  70  95  80  85  85  95	14  18  4  4  24  24  3  15  3  36  24  48  18  6  10  36  6  18  3  5  24  6  2  6  36  18  32  3  72	28  18  30  18  30  30  18  28  24  40  36  60  24  24  20  36  12  36  15  36  24  36  20  16  36  36  32  24  72	720+  50+  70+  40+  70+  100+  65+  60+  60+  50+  80+  100+  55+  120+  55+  85+  35+  55+  90+  60+  75+  90+  30+  45+  65+  120+  70+  45+  110+	40 plants  25’ row  25’ row  15’ row  15’ row  15 plants  30’ row  15 plants  75 plants  6 plants  6 plants  varies  20’ row  10’ row  15’ row  varies  10’ row  15’ row  40’ row  40’ row  10 plants  3 plants  4’ row  20’ row  3 plants  2 plants  15 plants  15’ row  6 plants	750  100  100  1500  9000  8500  25000 10000 75  1000  6000  1000  8700  11000 25000 1000  15000 500  8000  120  4500  180  2500  2800  250  70000 11000 15000 350	1 oz  .5 lb  .5 lb  1 oz  .25 oz  .25 oz  .5 oz  .25 oz  .4 lb .5 oz  50 plants  .25 oz  .25 oz  .5 oz  .25 oz  .5 oz  .25 oz  2 oz  1 oz  1 lb  50 plants  .5 oz  1 oz  1 oz  .75 oz  1 gram  50 plants  .5 oz  .75 oz

Herb Planting Tips

	Basil Tips There are many di­fferent kinds of basil to choose from for today’s gardeners. They range from cinnamon, lemon, to purple basil used mostly for decoration. Choose a variety right for you and your needs as basil is only an annual and will have to be replanted every year. Basil can be grown indoors with the right conditions but is most often started indoors and then transplanted outdoors. Start your basil seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost for your location. Drop a few seeds into each cell to ensure germination. Cover the seeds with a slight soil cover and dampen soil with a light watering. To speed up germination cover with a plastic top and place in a sunny location. Water twice a day and remove plastic top when seedlings emerge. Once two sets of leaves emerge basil can be transplanted into the garden. Pinch o­ the top two sets of leaves once the basil plant reaches reasonable height. This gives you a much higher quality plant.  Suggest Varieties:  Italian - Great aromatic leaves and most popular basil variety.  Lemon - An aromatic basil with a great lemon ‑flavor.
	Chive Tips Chives are by far the easiest herb to grow in the home garden. They can be easily started by seed indoors or outdoors. Plant chive seeds about 1/4” in wet soil. Chive seeds will germinate best indoors in a dark spot until they begin to sprout. Then move to a location where they get some sun. Chives do well in soil temperatures 60-70 degrees. When the chives reach 6” tall they are ready to be transplanted to the garden. Find a location that has strong sunlight and rich soil, but will survive and almost any area. If you decide to directly sow chive seeds into the garden be sure to wait till after the last frost. The seeds may be slow to germinate until the soil warms up. Harvesting chives is just as easy as growing them. Once they reach 1 foot tall they are ready to be used. Cut o­ as much as you need. It is safe to cut o­ as much as half of the chive without harming the plant. The ‑flowers the chives produce are edible as well and can be added to your salad or decoration of many meals.  Suggested Varieties:  Original - A wide plant that has an excellent onion ‑flavor.
	Dill Tips Dill is a tall, hardy herb plant that will grow as an annual in most locations. Dill is grown for both its leaves and seeds which can be used in many ways. One of the easier herbs to grow inside and outdoors. Can easily be grown in a container garden. When grown outdoors it is important to take two things into consideration. It grows tall so be sure to plant in a location that will not block other plants from receiving an adequate amount of sun. Also since it grows tall it can be damaged by high winds so try to find a location that blocks the wind. Plant dill directly where it will stay as it germinates quickly. Find a location that has plenty of sun. Cover the seed with 1/4” of soil and water soil generously. For best results the soil needs to be cultivated deep in order for the dill roots to strengthen properly. Plant seeds in the spring after your last frost date. To ensure a long harvest try planting seeds every few weeks.  Suggested Varieties:  Common - Original dill plant with high essential oils.  Bouquet - Easy to grow with ‑flavorful and unique foliage.
	Mint Tips Mint is another easy herb to grow and is perfect for the beginning gardener or anyone that loves mint. Mint grows very quickly and is a hardy perennial that can grow to over 3 feet in height. We suggest starting mint indoors with controlled conditions. Sow mint seeds 1/8” deep and cover with loose, moist soil. For best germination rates keep soil above 70 degrees. When the transplants are reasonable size and have been hardened o­ from the outside conditions bring them outside and plant anywhere from 12-24” apart depending on the variety requirements. Choose a location that has full to partial sun and mint will do well in almost any soil conditions. Mint leaves can be harvested at any times once that plant has established itself in your home garden. Try picking them in the morning hours when the oils tend to be strongest. Spread leaves out and dry in a cool, ventilated area.  Suggested Varieties:  Spearmint - Great scent used in sauces, teas, jellies, and sweets.  Peppermint - Used in ‑flavoring peppermint candies and teas.

Parsley Tips
Parsley tends to grow best in the northern states of the country, but can be grown almost anywhere with the right care and location. Parsley can add beauty and taste to many meals. Parsley seeds are on the harder side to germinate when compared to most herb seeds. One of the best methods to increase germination is to soak your parsley seeds in warm water overnight. Be sure to change the water frequently, every 2 hours, as a growth inhibitor is released by the seeds! Sow the seeds in a seed starting medium and cover with 1/4” of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and seeds will do best with a soil temperature of 70 degrees. Seed germination can take up to 14 days so be patient. Transplant seedlings when 6” in height and after your last frost date. Be sure to loosen soil deep into ground for health parsley plants. Depending on variety, but in general space plants 6-8” apart. Try protecting your parsley over the winter and it may reseed itself. 
Suggested Varieties: 
Italian Leaf - Flat, dark leaves with pronounced flavor. 
Krausa - Dense, beautiful dark green leaves on strong stalks.

Sage Tips
Sage is a rewarding herb to grow as it can add some taste to any meal. Sage is an easy herb to grow from seed but can require some patience as sage seeds are slow germinators. Sage can be started indoors or outdoors but as always we recommend starting inside for better germination rates. Spread sage seeds over soil and cover with 1/8” of damp soil but not soaked. Not all seeds will germinate and the ones that do may take up to 6 weeks. Patience is key! When your Sage seeds have become seedlings and are ready to transplant into your home garden be sure to harden them o­ to the outside conditions. Sage plants prefer full sun and do best in well drained soils as they prefer to not have their roots remain wet. Allow for the soil to dry between waterings. Sage comes from hot, dry climates and will do best in southern states but can be grown throughout the states. Harvest biggest leaves first and pruning the top leaves early will entice a fuller, better producing Sage plant. 
Suggested Varieties: 
Common - Great herb for many dishes that include meat.

 

Variety	Planting Depth	Indoor Date	Outdoor Date	Soil Temp F°	Height"	Spread"	Days to Maturity	Soil	Light	Growth Type
Basil  Catnip  Chives  Coriander  Dill  Lavender  Lemon Grass  Mint  Oregano  Parsley  Rosemary  Sage  Stevia  Thyme	1/2”  1/4”  3/8“  3/8”  3/8”  1/2”  3/8“  1/8”  1/4”  3/8”  1/8”  1/8“  1/8”  1/4”	6-8  6-8  8-10  N/A  N/A  8-12  6-10  10-12  6-10  10-12  8-10  6-10  6-8  6-10	Anytime  Anytime  3-4 before  Anytime  4-5 before  1-2 before  2-3 before  N/A  Anytime  3-4 before  Anytime  1-2 before  Anytime  2-3 before	70  70  65  60  65  70  70  70  70  70  70  60  65  70	12-24  12-36  12-18  12-36  36-48  18-36  12-24  12-24  12-24  18-24  48-72  12-48  18-30  6-24	12  18  18  4  12  24  18  18  18  6-8  48  30  20  10	70  75  80  65  60  2 years  75  N/A  85  80  85  70  100  80	Rich, moist  Rich  Rich, moist  Light  Rich  Well drained  Rich  Rich, moist  Poor  Rich  Less acid  Well drained  Rich  Fertile	Full  Full  Full  Partial  Full  Full  Partial  Partial  Full  Partial  Full  Full  Full  Partial	Annual  Perennial Perennial Annual  Annual  Perennial Annual  Perennial Perennial Biennial  Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial

Flower Planting Tips

	Cone­flower Tips Conefl­owers are some of the easiest and most rewarding ­flowers you can grow. They attract birds and butter­flies and can be cut and brought inside where they last a long time. Cone­flowers should be directly sowed outside into your ­flower garden. Spread your seeds 12-18” apart to give adequate space to fully grow. Cover seeds with 1/4” of moist garden soil. Cone­flowers do well in almost any soil and tolerate dry soil conditions very well. Be sure to water them during really dry periods to keep growing healthy. Cone­flowers will do well when given a fertilizer once or twice a season. Cone­flowers will grow to 24” to 42” tall and will form many branches. To encourage new blooms try cutting o‑ all the dead blooms. Cone­flowers are a very hardy fl­ower and will survive the first light frost. Cone- ­flowers reseed themselves and come back every year.  Suggest Varieties:  Purple - A sturdy perennial that will reseed itself.  White Swan - Pure white petals with an orange-brown disk.  Yellow - A beautiful cone­flower that has bright yellow petals.
	Geranium Tips Geraniums are slow to germinate from seed, so be sure to start your seeds well ahead of your blooming expectations which could take 14-16 weeks from initial sowing. In order to increase germination rates, it helps to soak before sowing. A good method for geraniums is to dampen a few paper towels and fold over your geranium seeds. Place in a zip-lock bag and let sit for 24 hours. Plant a few seeds per pot in high quality soil at a depth of 1/2”. Geranium seeds do not need light to germinate and should have a constant soil temperature of 70-75 degrees. To ensure adequate moisture be sure to cover pots with plastic until you notice green sprouts. When they begin to sprout open plastic to vent and place in good sunlight. Once two true leaves appear (the first leaves are seed leaves), remove from plastic cover. Allow seedling to grow for a couple weeks and then transplant each seedling into its own pot. Keep soil moist and supply 12 hours of sunlight a day. Pinch o‑ top of plant once it’s growing strongly. This will promote branching and full growth.  Suggested Varieties: Elite Mix - True pack-blooming geraniums with rounded heads.
	Impatiens Tips Growing Impatiens yourself is a great money saver and fun experience. The ideal time to plant your Impatiens seeds is 10-12 weeks before the last frost date of your location. Fill your pots with sterile seed starting mix and wet the soil. Place two seeds in each pot and cover with 1/8” of soil. Once the seeds have been planted it is important to cover the pots with plastic bags to keep the moisture in. Impatiens need grow lights or indirect light from a window. The soil temperature should be 70-75 degrees for maximum germination. Impatiens can sprout in as little as 7 days but can take as long as two weeks. If the temperatures are cooler it could even take longer. Be sure to remove plastic wrap as soon as the seedlings germinate. Impatiens are susceptible to fungal disease so be sure not to over water. When plants are adequate size they can be transplanted into your fl­ower garden. Wait until all danger of the last frost has passed and be sure to harden the Impatiens plants before transplanting.  Suggested Varieties:  Super Eln - Tried and true variety that offers improved yield potential.
	Marigold Tips Marigold plants are beautiful and easy to grow throughout the United States. They come in a multiple of colors but orange being the most prevalent. Marigolds are easily grown from seeds in your ­flower garden. Marigolds can be grown inside 6-9 weeks before your last frost to get a jump start on the season. Starting indoors will ensure high germination and plant success. This also helps with proper spacing without the need to thin seedlings if directly sowed. After sowing seeds in soil cover lightly with 1/8” of moist soil. Be sure to water generously once after sowing. Seeds will germinate and grow quickly once sprouted. Give your Marigold plants at least 6” to “8 apart for dwarf varieties and a good 12” to 24” apart for Giant Marigolds. Marigolds love full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Add general purpose fertilizer once a month.  Suggested Varieties: Petite Mix - A dependable ­flower for short season gardens  Little Hero Mix - This French Marigold is an extra dwarf and very vibrant.  Crackjack - Large blooms on tall stems with vibrant colors.
	Poppy Tips Poppy ­flowers are another ­flower garden favorite that grab attention and are fairly easy to propagate and care for. Poppies come in a variety of colors and sizes so find varieties that work best for your ­flower garden. Poppies can be started indoors or out. It depends when you want your ­flowers to bloom. Higher germination rates can be achieved with indoor sowing. Most poppy seeds should be sowed at 1/8” deep but some need light to germinate so be sure to read directions. Once sowed it is important to keep the soil moist but not soggy. It will take 10-15 days for your poppy seeds to germinate. Once they become seedlings begin to water every few days until transplant size. Space your poppy plants 6-8” apart for adequate spacing and growing room. When poppies die o‑ you can de-head them and save the seeds for the next growing seasons. You can also let them fall when ready and you will have poppies early the next season! They will need to be thinned as natural sowing does not cover exact spacing.  Suggested Varieties:  Great Red - Very popular giant red poppy ­flower.
	Rudbeckia Tips (Black Eyed Susan)  The Rudbeckia ­flower can be grown in almost every state. These bright yellow, daisy-like ­flowers can grow 24”-36” high and are excellent to use for indoor ­flower arrangements. These ­flowers can be started indoors or out. Its best to start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date of your location. Cover with 1/4” of moist soil and water occasionally. When starting or transplanting outside choose a location that receives full sun. Rudbeckias are very hardy and can survive in almost any soil conditions. If direct sowing into your ­flower garden sow 2 weeks before the last frost date. The best way to extend the ­flower blooms is to remove the dead ­flowers which will help direct more nutrient to healthy blooms. Most Reudbeckias are perennials that will come back every year. Be sure to plant where they have adequate room to grow for years.  Suggested Varieties:  Goldstrum - Popular ­flower with bright yellow petals and black center.  Black Eyed Susan - A beautiful, upright ­flower that grabs your eye.  Indian Summer - Golden-yellow single and semi-double large blooms.

Annual Flowers

Variety	Indoor Sowing Date	Days to Max Germination	Soil Temp F°	Planting Depth	Weeks to Transplant
Ageratum  Alyssum  Amaranthus  Aster  Bachelor Button  Baby’s Breath  Celosia  Coleus  Cosmos  Daisies  Geraniums  Impatiens  Marigolds  Moon­flower  Morning Glory  Nasturtium  Pansy  Petunia  Salvia  Sun­flower  Sweet Pea  Vinca  Zinnias	Dec-Mar  Dec-Mar  Dec-Mar  Jan-Apr  Feb-Mar  Feb-Mar  Jan-Apr  Dec-Mar  Jan-Apr  Feb-Mar  Nov-Feb  Dec-Mar  Jan-Apr  Feb-Mar  Feb-Mar  Feb-Mar  Nov-Feb  Dec-Mar  Dec-Mar  Feb-Mar  Feb-Mar  Dec-Mar  Jan-Apr	7  8  14  8  8  8  10  10  5  8  4-10  15  7  8  8  8  16  10  15  6  8  15  7	75-78  78-82  68-70  70-75  68-70  68-72  70-80  70-75  68-72  70-75  70-75  68-72  70-80  70-75  70-75  70-74  55-65  70-80  75-78  70-80  70-75  70-80  68-72	1/8”  1/6“  1/2”  1/8“  1/4”  1/4“  1/8”  1/4“  1/4”  1/4”  1/2”  1/8”  1/8“  1/4”  1/4”  1/2”  1/8”  top  1/10”  1”  1”  1/4“  1/8”	8-10  10-12  7-9  8  4-6  6-8  6  6-9  6  5-6  14-16  10-12  6-9  6-8  4-5  6  6-10  10  9  N/A  4-6  12  5-8

Perennial Flowers

Variety	Planting Depth	Indoor Sowing Date	Outdoor Sowing Date	Soil Temp F°	Height"	Spread"	Soil	Light
Achillea  Black Eyed Susan  Blanket Flower  Butter­y Flower  Candytuft  Cone­flower  Coreopsis  Dahlia  Daisies  Delpinium  Dianthus  Foxglove  Geraniums  Hosta  Hollyhock  Lupine  Penstemon  Phlox  Poppy  Primrose  Rudbeckia  Tansy  Viola	1/8”  1/4”  1/8“  1/8”  1/8”  1/4“  1/8”  1/8”  1/8“  1/8”  1/8“  1/8”  1/8”  1/2”  1/8“  1/8”  Top  1/8”  3/8“  1/8”  1/4”  1/4“  1/8”	6-8  N/A  6  6-8  6-8  N/A  N/A  6-8  N/A  6  6-8  N/A  6-10  6-10  6-8  N/A  6-8  6-8  6-8  N/A  N/A  N/A  6-8	Early  Anytime  1-4 after  1-4 after  Early  Early  1-4 after  Early  Early  1-4 after  Early  Early  1-4 after  Early  Early  2-4 after  2-6  Early  Anytime  Early  Anytime  Early  Early	60  60  70  70  65  70  70  65  60  60  70  65  70  70  65  70  70  60  60  60  60  65  65	24-36”  24-36”  24-40”  24-36”  1-15”  24-42”  18-48”  12-36“  12-36”  12-48”  18-24”  24-60“  6-36”  24-40“  48-72”  24-36”  12-36“  6-18”  24-30”  8-15”  24-36”  36-48”  4-8”	18”  18”  14-16”  18-20”  8-10”  12-18”  6”  16-24“  8-20”  18”  10-12”  24“  6-20”  24-40“  18-24”  12-14”  18“  8-10”  8-18”  12-18”  12-24”  6”  6”	Average, well-drained  Average  Loose  Sandy, well-drained  Well-drained  Well-drained  Moist  Rich, fertile  Rich,well-drained  Average  Rich, well-drained  Average  Any soil  Well-drained  Rich, well-drained  Average  Loose soil  Rich, loose  Any soil  Rich, moist  Average  Average  Average	Full  Full  Full  Partial  Partial  Full  Full/Partial Full  Full  Full/Partial Full  Full/Partial Full/Partial Partial  Full/Partial Full/Partial Full  Full  Full/Partial Full/Partial Full  Full/Partial Partial