Green Beans, Spaghetti Squash, Burgess Squash, Cucumbers & Summer Squash |
Cut the squash from the vine and leave about 3 inches of the stem. Winter Squash can last in storage anywhere from a month up to 6 months (depending on the variety).
Typical Shelf Life of Winter Squash:
1-2 Months: Acorn, Delicata and Spaghetti Squash
2-3 Months: Buttercup/Butternut & Pumpkins
5-6 Months: Buttercup and Hubbard
How to harvest Winter Squash properly to last in storage:
1. Place the unwashed squash in a spot that is warm and sunny for around a week to two weeks.
(NOTE: Don't do step 1 if you have Acorn Squash- move it to a cool location right away.)
2. Store them in a room that is cool and dry with good air circulation. (Above 50 degrees F)
Watermelon ready to eat! |
Sunflower Summertime Mix F1
(Helianthus Annuus)
- mixture of colors
- good for mass planting and cutting gardens
-pollen free hybrid collection
-height 4'-5
Summertime Mix- beautiful red/orange color and light yellow flowers |
Russian Mammoth Sunflowers
(Girasol Mammoth Ruso)
-9'-12' tall with 10'-14' flowers
-easy to grow heirloom
-gigantic single flower heads on stalks
-dry to produce thin-shelled edible seeds
We still can't believe how tall these Sunflowers are! They are truly Mammoth in size.
Process for drying Sunflowers (indoors):
1. Harvest when wilted & some yellow petals have fallen off.
2. Leave 3 inches of stem when cutting off head of Sunflower.
3. Secure string around stem of flower.
4. Hang Sunflowers upside down in warm dry area with good ventilation.
5. Check drying Sunflowers each day & collect seeds which have fallen off.
(Seeds are dry & ready when the green part of the Sunflower is dark brown & dry).
6. Using your hand rub the top of the flower head & the seeds will come out.
7. Rinse with cold water and drain.
8. Allow to air dry for a couple of days on a towel.
(If desired you can put them on a cookie sheet & toast in oven).
9. Store or eat your Sunflower seeds!
(IF DRYING OUTDOORS DO THE FOLLOWING):
Do not cut off Sunflower heads. Instead put them in brown paper bags and tie a string around the bottom of the stem to close the bag. Continue to check each day. When ready
cut the Sunflower off stalk leaving 10-12" of stem. Leave paper bag on flower until it is cut off so you don't loose any seeds. Continue above steps 6 through 9.
Sunflowers hanging in our garage to dry |
Sunflower on the end is about ready for us to remove seeds. |
I will miss the Zinnia flower arrangements in my kitchen this fall! |
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