What To Do With Leeks

Find out about leek moth damage and how to control these destructive pests.Also called onion leaf miners, leek moths (Acrolepiopsis assectella Zeller) were first detected in North America in 1993.

Take, for instance. As mentioned, there is no real research confirming the usefulness of companion planting, but its tradition is long and storied. Often, companion plants repel pests and actually seem to aide in each other's growth.

This means that you should plant leeks after daytime temperatures are consistently above 45 F. If you would like to add fertilizer to the leeks beds, do so at least one season before you plant.

They can be sown in a seedbed in early spring to be transplanted in mid-summer, or sown in place after all danger of frost is past. They are best grown when temperatures are between 55 and 75 degrees F.Leeks are related to onions but have a subtler, sweeter...

Ramps signal Spring has come to the Appalachians and they bring about many family gatherings and public festivals to eat and celebrate the first vegetable of the year. The Native Americans knew ramps well and besides making a spring tonic, made a poultice...

This is a bit of information on how to harvest them, how to store them, and how to save their seeds. I have many seed heads, and chose to dry them in an open container to catch all the seeds as they ripen.

Make sure that you have a good workspace, enough room for the little ones to observe the process, and of course make sure that they can ‘help'. By coloring the water, we can see how it moves upward to the blooms.The technical term for water moving out...

At summer's end, cut spent stalks off at the ground and then dry for several days in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. Or build rustic ladder-style garden trellises. Cut smaller stalk sections to use as cross members (ladder steps).

Do not place your face near the chopped peppers and breath in deeply, as the fumes are irritating. Store them in a tightly sealed jar until ready for use. Jalapeno peppers are prized for their spicy, fresh flavor and fiery-hot zing.

Use lukewarm water, which has fewer bubbles to clog up the stems, and top off the water each day. Choose other spring flowers for a cheerful display, and highlight their colors with deep green foliage.

In addition, make stainless steel sinks and faucets shine by rubbing a cucumber slice over them. If you use them within a month, there will be no need to go through the canning process; you can use the same canning pickling brine, and keep them in a sealed...

Soil requirements: Mulched, well-drained soil. Sunlight requirements: Full sun. Leeks are mild in flavor, even milder than scallions, and usually used in stock. Size: 1 1/2 to 2 1/2-inch diameter.

Just make sure you harvest the plants before they go to seed, as they fade pretty fast after that. This can leave you with a whole lot of cilantro. This dish has regional variations, and almost every cook has a personal blend of spices.

I?ll admit, lemongrass is one of those herbs that doesn?t exactly grow like wildfire. The most obvious choice is to make a bowl of aromatic Thai soup.To make an easy Tom Ka Gai (coconut chicken soup), heat a little olive oil in the bottom of a pot.Toss...

You can try to overwinter them inside, but basil loves sun, so unless you have a full greenhouse, you're in store for plants that drop leaves like crazy. Just puree the fruits, add a bit of sugar and the basil liquid and freeze according to the ice cream...

They attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees. While they're hanging, the room might get a light oregano potpourri scent.After oregano blooms, it may produce seed. Most herb growers know that oregano leaves have the strongest and most desirable...

But the plants can bounce back after the caterpillars make their chrysalises, or the caterpillars may not show up in your yard at all. The rice is cooked, then combined with yogurt and saffron.

A good choice for beginners. There are a few species which are commonly sold as gifts for first-timers. The usual scenario is as follows:You receive a bonsai as a gift for Christmas or for your birthday.

Many people consider chives the easiest herb to grow. When thinking about chives most people concentrate on the foliage (which look like grass blades).However, every part of the chive plant is edible, and you can use the bulb like a mild onion in a pinch.The...

Parsley is a biannual, which means that in the second year it will bolt and go to seed. But don't worry -- you can always find something to do with all that extra parsley. However, it is self-seeding, which means if it likes the area where you've planted...

If there are unhatched eggs, you can try to replace the nest near where it came from but make it more secure by using a berry basket and tying it to branches so it doesn't fall out again.

I've been keeping bees on and off for about 20 years, and I started with them in high school. If so, try these fun projects. Health Raw honey makes a great health supplement, from soothing a cough to relieving allergies.

Add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the soil early in the spring to prevent nitrogen deficiency later in the growing season.Like nitrogen, iron is a vital nutrient for citrus trees. Citrus trees grow best in moist and well-drained soil, as well as full...

Spread the potatoes onto a baking sheet, top with snipped oregano leaves and squeeze on some lemon juice. When I make pizza sauce, I like to get a huge pot bubbling, but you can sauce about three pizzas with the following: A small onion and four cloves...

In France, fennel bulbs are baked, boiled or braised, and are sometimes placed on the bottom of a pan to form a "bed" while cooking other foods.Try braising a few quartered fennel bulbs with ginger and white wine.In Germany, as well as Italy, raw fennel...

But sometimes you still wind up having to trim it back, and it would be a shame to waste the clippings. It especially highlights the flavor of carrots, while providing a dramatic color contrast.Thyme leaves can easily be mixed with cream cheese and garlic...

Remember to put your blossoms between two sheets of thick paper, so you don't damage the pages of your book. This works, for the most part, but be sure to help them straighten out the petals with the brush, as they'll likely stick together.