Greetings!
Since this is the beginning of the Fall planting season, I thought maybe a little refresher course on Plant Life Cycles may be a good topic. It really is elementary, but hey, I'm not smarter than a Fifth Grader! One thing that has become apparent is that you can't fool mother nature. Timing is everything. Although we don't plant in soil in Florida, nothing changes as to what you need to plant and when. Season, Sunlight, Moonlight, Temperature all play a role in the life of a vegetable or fruit. One handy guide can be located at the IFAS site at the University of Florida IFAS Extension.
We don't recommend some of the pest controls listed on this site, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see growing times for Florida and what to plant and when.
We have a lot of vegetables already in the Vegetative stages that you can purchase. Or, start your own seeds. Either way, growing Hydroponically is the only way to grow!
There are 3 Growth stages for Lettuces:
1) Germination;
Germination is the stage when an embryonic plant emerges from a seed and begins to grow. A stem pushes up from the ground and the shell of the seed is sloughed off. For a seed to germinate, external factors like water, temperature and specific light conditions must be present.
2) Seedling:starts from the time the seed's coat breaks and the roots emerge until they are transplanted into growing media.
3} Vegetative:
The newly emerged plant stem will elongate and true leaves will begin to grow from a point at the tip of the plant. The plant's roots are growing underground to absorb water and nutrients from the surrounding media.
There are five growth stages for the Tomato
1) Germination and early growth stage: starts from the time of planting the seed, until the seed's coat breaks and the roots emerge.
2) Seedling Stage: starts from the time the seed's coat breaks and the roots emerge until they are transplanted into growing media.
3) Vegetative stage: starts from the time the seeds are transplanted into the growing media until the first flower opens.
4) Early fruiting stage: starts from the time the first flower opens until the first fruit is picked.
5) Mature Fruiting stage: starts from the time the first fruit is picked until the termination of the crop.
Ah, this is only the beginning. Pretty soon you too will be smarter than a Fifth Grader!
THANKS FOR PICKING US! |
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First in a Series of Seminars
On October 2 at 11.00 we will be conducting the first in a series of Hydroponic and growing related seminars at the farm. The exciting thing is this will be a great time to learn the basics of growing Hydroponically and pick up your strawberry plants and other starter plants we have ready to plant.
This seminar will include assembly, growing media information, properties of nutrition and good gardening practices for healthy plants.
Also, we will be offering specials on equipment, nutrient and growing media. Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity to learn some tips and save some money.
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JAMS AND DRESSINGS
 If you haven't been by to taste our wonderful farm fresh canned goodies, come on down! As Lynn Kessel put it, LIFE ON THE FARM JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT TASTIER! Check out Lynns article in the Tampa Tribune. If anyone can come up with some delicious ways to prepare food, Lynn can. In fact she has a wonderful BLOG that everyone who cares about food and eating local, buying local and great recipes, should check out. In fact she mentioned a home canning class:
The Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service is offering home canning classes to anyone interested. These classes will benefit all canners - from beginners to experts. Watch a canning demo, learn about safe canning practices and get answers to food preservation questions. All classes are free and begin on Sept. 29. Register online by clicking here.I just went on this site and it looks like it is filling up fast! If you can't get in this class and you think it would be a good idea for us to do a class, email john@hydroharvestfarms.com and let us know. If we have enough interest, we will put one together.
Not that we don't want you to buy our great jams etc, but canning is a great way to take a seasons harvest and save it when you can't pick those foods. Canning is one of my favorite hobbies. It's fun and rewarding and saves money! What more can you ask for? Always check to see what we are growing, or what is on special at the farm, and work your canning around that. Of course our canned goodies are a great way to add special flavors to your everyday meals. At breakfast you can put our jams on pancakes, french toast and waffles. The Strawberry Jam goes great on ice cream, pound cakes and many other foods. The Ruskin Summer Fresh Tomato Salad Dressing goes great as a marinade, or mixed in with other veggies. These flavors are out of this world. If you don't try them, you'll be missing something special! |
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ALL KINDS OF STARTER PLANTS ARE ON SALE AT THE FARM
Strawberry plants like the ones pictured above will be arriving soon. We also have, available now, tomatoes, bell peppers and many varieties of herbs.
Remember we only sell and grow vegetables and fruits that are free of any chemical pesticides and/or certified organic. The plants we have available for sale are only varieties that do well in our growing zone. The plants you may pick up from local big box stores are not always a variety that will do well in our climate, Also, they may not even be a plant that is seasonal. They look good in the containers they sell, but what happens after they leave the container into your garden is the important thing. Stop by and pick up some beautiful starter plants for your home garden.
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COME ON DOWN!
WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBOR!
CLOSED ONLY ON RAINY YUCKY DAYS, CALL AHEAD IF YOU ARE NOT SURE!
Monday- Saturday 10-5
Sunday 11-4
Directions to farm 1101 Shell Point Rd E Ruskin, Fl
MAP
We are closed on Christmas, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Rainy Yucky Days.
Our Farm is a U-Pick Farm and a Farm Stand
We also offer local fruits and veggies
We also have coupons every week. SAVE on produce, systems etc.
Don't forget we welcome kids. We encourage them to touch, feel and taste the food. Bring Grandma too!
John gives educational seminars and tours at the farm or at your business or school. Just call 813-645-6574 or email john@hydroharvestfarms.
HYDROHARVESTFARMS.COM
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ANDREA'S RECIPES
SLOW COOKER VEGTABLE MEDLEY
1 � ld. Zucchini
1 � lb. yellow squash
Cut up eggplant
Onions cut up in rings
� tsp. salt
� tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
� cup butter or margarine
3 Tbsp. fine dry bread crumbs
3 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
Fresh chopped herbs of choice
Cut all vegetables into � inch pieces. Place in the bottom of a crock-pot. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Dot with butter; sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or until tender.
"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT" Add anything you have in your produce bin, such as carrots, green beans, etc.
SLOW COOKER HERBED POT ROAST
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS RECIPE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BROWN MEAT.
1 2-lb. chuck roast or pork roast
1 slow cooker bag for easy clean up
� med onion, chopped coarsely
1 cup red wine
1 bag of pot roast seasoning or seasoning to your taste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Pepper to taste
2/3 cups assorted herbs, basil, oregano, dill, mint, rosemary, sage, marjoram, chives and thyme
Place bag in slower cooker. Put roast in bottom of cooker. Place onions on top. Mix wine and seasoning. Snip assorted herbs to make 2/3 cups. Chop them to release the flavor of each. Add to the wine mixture and pour over the roast. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.
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NUTRIENT SPECIAL
STOCK UP NOW
THE BEST NUTRIENT DEAL ANYWHERE!
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HYDRO HARVEST FARMS NUTRIENT SPECIAL!
The nutrient solution is the most important factor in the success or failure of a hydroponic system. Most fertilizers commonly available in garden centers do not contain all of the 13 elements necessary for plant growth because the growing media usually provides many of them. Hydroponic plants receive nutrients from a different source; so it is necessary to use a fertilizer formulated for hydroponic systems. It is important to follow the dilution rate recommended on the label. |
One Pair of Nutrient (MAKES 256 GALLONS!)
$19.90
(shipping $6.95
OR BETTER YET
Four Pair GET ONE PAIR FREE
$79.60
(shipping $11.90)
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STARTER PLANTS AVAILABLE NOW!
Biltmore Beefstake Tomatoes
Tomahawk Bell Peppers
Herbs Galore
All Available NOW!
STRAWBERRY PLANTS COMING SOON, ORDER YOURS NOW!
Strawberry Plants will be here before you know it!
Already many people have emailed to let us know they want us to hold some for them. We will be picking them up in North Carolina in the beginning of September. I will let everyone know when we get them in. But, if you could email us and let us know approximately how many you need, we will make sure we have plenty for our customers. The price is still only $1.00 each.
| WHAT'S GROWING |
PEPPERS CHEROKEE RED LETTUCE
NEVADA GREEN LETTUCE
ORIENTAL EGGPLANT
WHITE SPEAR ONIONS
SWEET BASIL
LEMON BASIL
PEPPERMINT
SPEARMINT
GARLIC CHIVES
ONION CHIVES
THYME
ROSEMARY
OREGANO
DILL
LEMON GRASS
STEVIA |
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WHAT'S HAPPENING SOON!
OCT 2 Saturday
Seminar on Hydroponic Growing Tips and Practices. Free, and lots of sales for growers.
OCT 9-NOV
Pumpkins Pumpkins and more Pumpkins. We have the best freshest pumpkins anywhere. We have loads of them. We have a great Pumpkin Patch for pictures, rolling around in and just a nice place to sit.
This year we will have a prize winning pumpkin!
HYDROHARVEST BOO FEST 2010 OCT 23 SATURDAY
This is the grandaddy of our events. Wear your costumes, play game, fun crafts, prizes and fun! Starts at 12.
RUSKIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Nov 6 &7
Great fun at Simmons Park in Ruskin. Every year we sell some great Shortcakes!
CHRISTMAS TREES AND SANTA AT THE FARM STARTING NOV 27
Fresh Cut and Potted Christmas trees will be available everyday at the Farm. |
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DON'T MISS PAST EMAILS
I have tons of great info in all of the emails. If you are looking for something from the past,
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