What to do with all that squash you grew

Are you in the middle of a squash bonanza like me? I've eaten it fried, dried, in casseroles and stir fried! I wanted to share a simple way to preserve squash by dehydrating and also this good recipe for dried squash chips that I made this week.

First how to dry squash:
I use a purchased dehydrator. It was not expensive and there are lots of choices for these on line. There are also instructions for making your own solar dehydrator too. I like the one I have. It has served me well for several years and is plenty big for what I need to dry. The photos below are a step-by-step on drying zucchini. The same method works for any summer squash. If the squash was extra large I cut the round slices into two sections.

1. Slice 1/8 in. thick

   

2. Layer slices on rack 

3. Ready to remove and store in baggies

Seasoned Squash Chips:

Using the same method as above except before layering slices on your racks, put the squash slices into a gallon sized baggie and add 1-2 teaspoons each of dried oregano, dried basil and garlic salt plus about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Zip up the baggie and shake to coat all the slices. You can use purchased Italian seasoning mix if you don't have dried basil and oregano. If you do that use less salt. Now put on the racks and dry as above. These make a great healthy snack

seasoned chips ready for drying

Next week I will post my Zucchini Lasagna experiment. The photo below shows that it was a hit!

Tad slurped it up!

Best Gardening Advice My Dad Ever Gave Me

Last week I promised to tell you the best gardening advice dad ever gave me. It's very simple but most of us have a very hard time with this one and it can make or break your garden. Without farther ado here it is in his own hand writing:

Trust me in Zone 6B this should be the Gardening Gospel! I have seen it snow 5 inches on May 5th!

Solve Your Bug Problems withThese Tips

Squash Borer - Gross! 

Last year the squash borers got my squash and the squash bugs got what the borers left! I found the perfect solution in daddy's notes. He said, "Plant radishes with cukes, melons and squash. Mennonites said this would work for borers and bug problems. I did it and had no bug problems! Radishes & Marigolds work wonders for bug's." I'm for sure going to try this this spring.

Dad always tested the germination rate of his seeds. To be sure the seeds were good he would wet paper towels, place a few seeds (be sure to label what they are) on a towel, fold it over the seeds and place in a baggie. Check them in a few days to see if tiny shoots are coming out. If so, you know your seeds are viable. If no sprouts in a week or so buy new seed. Better than planting a garden with seeds that will not germinate.

About Turnips: Papa said Sept 15 was perfect time to plant them in our zone 6B. No bugs by planting them this late. He had best success by planting in rows rather than beds. First harvest was Oct 15. Need to thin the plants and eat the greens in order to get nice turnips later in season.  Harvested good turnips in December and still had turnips to eat after a hard freeze took out the green tops. Roots stayed good in ground even after hard freeze.

rooting in water

My grandma always started her sweet potatoes in the kitchen a month or so before the first of May. They will form roots in water and all you need to do is cut out the plants (each potato will produce several vines) and plant them in your garden. Be sure to till the soil until it is loose and fluffy. I've grown pretty good potatoes by continuing to pile on straw as the vines grow bigger, All I needed to do to harvest was remove the straw!

sweet potato in water

 

 Next week: The Best Gardening Advice Daddy Ever Gave Me!