Hi,

Did you miss us? Sorry for the delay in the newsletter, the longest delay in 4 years. We had a great time out West. Needless to say, 70 in the afternoon and 50 at night was like Heaven. Well we're back and we have so much to do at the farm. All of the old strawberry plants are getting removed and the media is getting sterilized for new plants. If you are looking at a method to sterilize your media, coconut coir and vermiculite or perlite and vermiculite, follow these steps;
1. Mix together nine parts water and one part hydrogen peroxide 3 percent solution in a bucket or container. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at most stores and pharmacies.

2. Add your substrate ( cleaned out media, roots etc.) material.

3. Allow to soak for 60 minutes, then rinse your material with a hose to blast off any roots. Soaking your materials in water-peroxide solution should deal with most contaminates safely.  A capful of chlorine to a gallon of water and rinsed well also works.

 

If you like we will clean the media for you using our heated method.  Email John@hydroharvestfarms.com for details.

 

European Cucumbers Crazy Good!

 

One variety of European Cucumber is now available at the farm. Our friend Paul brought some seeds for us to try and wow, they were great. 

Armenian (European) cucumber is closely related to muskmelon, but is elongated like a cucumber.It is light to medium green, marked with paler green longitudinal furrows, and is thicker at the blossom end. The fruit changes to yellow when ripe, at which time it has a strong muskmelon odor.

 

In Florida, as in most parts of the country, the Armenian cucumber is grown as a great tasting cucumber for salad and chilled soups and for pickling. Planted in late August in Gainesville, fruits suitable for use have been produced by late October. (From IFAS)

It is a warm season crop, and should be planted from seed in the early spring or early fall in all areas of Florida except South Florida where it may be seeded October through February.

 

It has a thin skin, quite suitable for eating and is seedless. It is very sweet in flavor and the texture is that of a crisp melon.  Read More

 

 

 

 

Cucurbitaceae is a family of plants including the melon, cucumber, calabash, squash, and luffa.

 

 

 

 If you would like us to try something new, please email john@hydroharvestfarms.com . Either bring us the seeds, or let us know what you had great success with and we will share it with our customers. It's all good.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamming Event August 13th

Food Craft Basics - "Jam"

If I can, you can. Want to learn the basics of canning. Simple easy everyday stuff you can can? Sweet fruit in season and much more. Come to our Canning 101 class on Saturday August 13th from 11-12.00 or so. It's at the farm. Bring your canning recipes, tips and questions to share. I will be going over the basics of simple waterbath canning and some tips. Canning is fun and so easy. Send me an email if you will be coming, I need to make sure I have enough for everyone. Even if you think you may come. terrie@hydroharvestfarms.com

If you would like to purchase our canned goods when class is over, we have plenty.

The farm is always alive with great ingredients for canning, all year round.

Don't Wait Too Much Longer
Nutrient Special Summer Promo

 

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 OF NUTRIENT!)

$19.90

(shipping $6.95)

OR BETTER YET

Four Pair GET ONE PAIR FREE

$79.60

(shipping $11.90)

Andrea's Recipes

Radishes

"WASTE NOT, WANT NOT"

"BUY LOCAL, BUY SEASONAL, BUY FRESH"

RECIPES FROM ANDREA, PRODUCE FROM THE FARM

WELCOME HOME THE LAWSON FAMILY

THIS WEEK I WENT ON A BINGE PRESERVING ROASTED PEPPERS

THIS IS A METHOD FOR FREEZING ROASTED RED PEPPERS IN THEIR OWN JUICE

I turned on my gas grill: place peppers on grill turning occasionally until skins blister. Remove and place in a paper bas and turn down top of bag to keep peppers hot. Once cool remove peppers, take a paper towel and run over skins to remove peels. Pull out the cores and attached seeds. Cut open each pepper and scrape out any remaining seed into a catch bowl. Place the cleaned peppers into a second bowl.

Set a wire strainer over the bowl contained the cleaned peppers and tip the skins, cores seeds and any juice into the strainer. Press the stuff in the strainer gently with the back of a spool so that all the juices drain over the cleaned peppers. Discard remaining stuff in the strainer.

Divide the cleaned pepper among freezer containers. Pour the juice over the peppers. Cover the containers with tight fitting lids, mark them with the date and freeze.

After thawing your cleaned pepper can be eaten cold, chopped into salad or place on toasted brushetta. .

ROASTED RED PEPPERS

Roast peppers 30 minutes at 375 degrees turning occasionally until skins are blisters. Cool thoroughly in a paper bag. Skin, core and seed. Cut flesh into suitable strips. Place in one-pint glass canning jars.

Prepare a brined: To one cup water, add one level Tbsp. coarse salt and � tsp. Citric acid.

Add enough brine to fill jars. Process in boiling water bath about 35 minutes. Seal jars and allow to come to room temperature.

I place mine in the refrigerator, they tend to get used up fairly quickly in my house.

I PICKED ALL MY RED PEPPERS FROM MY SYSTEM, WAS ON A ROLL CALLED DOWN TO THE FARM ASK FARMER FRANK AND FARMER CASS, PICK ALL THE RED PEPPERS YOU HAVE.

RIGHT NOW THE FARM HAS READY TO PICK OKRA, RADISHES AND ARUGULA. SO I WILL BE HEADING DOWN TODAY TO PICK UP MY WEEKLY SUPPLY OF PRODUCE.

DON'T FORGET TO CALL AHEAD AND REGISTER FOR THEIR CANNING DEMONSTRATION AND INSTRUCTIONS. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

RECIPES COURTESY OF ANDREA FREEBODY, APOLLO BEACH, FL.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE RECIPES, LOOKING FOR AND OLD FAMILY RECIPE AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING YOUR RECIPES. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME SO IF I PUBLISH YOUR RECIPES, IF YOU LIKE I WILL INCLUDE YOUR NAME. email ANDREA at afreebody@verizon.net.

AGAIN WELCOME BACK LAWSON FAMILY.

Don't Forget Our Jams, Salsa's, Pickles, Dressings and more.

Come On Down