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Show ' DAVIS COUNTY CLIPPER, APRIL 18, 1984 taScte r (SaBSSKtnra Good Soil Is Secret To Growing Good Gardens By TERRY A. TINDALL Extension Soils Specialist Utah State University Home gardeners in Utah may not be achieving optimum yields from their gardens, due to poor physical conditions of the soil. This is primarily a result of low organic matter in their garden soils. , : GARDEN WASTE materials can be converted in many ways into a black, fragrant, crumbly, partially decomposed organic residue called a compost. A compost is the best way to improve a garden's physical properties by the addition of organic matter. In all composting your objective is to arrange organic material in such a way that soil bacteria and fungi can thrive and multiply as they break it down. These microorganisms, like all organisms, need moisture, air and food. THE COMPOST serves many useful functions in the home garden including a convenient place to dispose of garden waste, vegetable tops and peelings, grass clippings, leaves and any other organic mate-- , rial that will decompose quickly. This decomposted material resulting from composting provides an inexpensive way to increase your, garden soil fertility. This will serve in many ways the same purpose as peat moss. Composted materials add much to the soil. They improve soil workability, provide nitrogen and other nutrients through decomposition, and also increase the water holding capacity of the soil. A HOME OWNER may consider putting the compost in a screened area. The compost area need not be attractive and enclosures are often made with railroad ties or constructed of lumber and screening. Gardeners have found the best way to build a compost pile is to put a mixture of green and dry materials together. Grass, clippings, green weeds, lettuce leaves, pea vines and other succulant material provide sugar and protein that are excellent for bacteria. Dry materials such as twigs, leaves, and sawdust contain very little nitrogen and will decompose very slowly unless mixed with moist material. THE BEST results for a compost pile is to layer the organic material about 6 inches thick. Between the layers sprinkle Vz pound of comfor plete fertilizer such as every square foot of area. This will increase the microbe activity and hasten decomposition. Also, include a few shovelfuls of garden soil to keep the littler in place and provide additional microorganisms. If your material is dry, add water. The compost should be moist and watered every 4 days. Make additional layers the same way until a height of 3 or 4 feet is , reached. The amount of dry woody material will affect the rate of decomposition. However, under normal conditions the composting rial would be turned every 4 weeks after you start it. This turning will enhance decomposition. The compost should be ready to use in six months. DO NOT utilize diseased plants in your compost pile. Disease can over-wintin a compost pile and may infect other plants when spread around them. Also avoid using weeds which have gone to seed. Once the compost is ready you can use it as a surface mulch. Apply the finished material 4 inches deep to help control weeds as well as to conserve moisture and prevent soil crusting. 3-- er 2-- M66G AS A SOIL conditioner, mix it into the soil before planting. When used in this way, it is beneficial to all plants. Mixing compost into the soil improves structure, areation and drainage. It provides a natural, long lasting source of plant nutrients and is inexpensive to make. To decrease the composting time to just a few weeks, some gardeners mix 3 equal parts of the following materials. One part of manure or dried blood or cottonseed meal. This will provide nitrogen for heat and food for microorganisms to decompose the materils rapidly. The other two parts can be such materials as leaves, grass clippings, co- ttonseed hulls, shredded hay, straw, etc. Make sure that you shred the three materials. You can use a rotary mower to cut and mix the elements together. Smaller organic pieces decompose more rapidly because of the increased surface areas. WEEKLY REFLEX. DAVIS NFWS JOURNAL. APRIL 18, 198-- " 1 Growins Food In SmaU Garden? relatively new wall o water consisting of a plastic cylinder containtubes will provide ing water-fille- d an amazing degree of cold protection to the plants. Soil covers of either black or clear plastic will hasten maturity of warm season crops such as melons and tomatoes. To get high yields, use either wide rows or bed planting rather than the old single file row system. For bed planting, lay out the gar8 den providing inch walkways. Arrange the plants in areas 5 feet wide. With no traffic to pack the soil, the root growth wont be inhibited. THE BEDS of closely spaced plants help to control the weeds. The plants quickly shade the soil and thereby reduce weed germination. Be sure to thin early, following the guide on suggested spacing. 16-1- 3-- , SUGGESTED VEGETABLE SPACING IN INCHES continued from pg. 1 3 inches deej cabbage, 18x18; cantaloupe, be to2 make a trenchfrom the seed and inches 36x48; carrots, 2x2; cauliflower, 18x18; chard, 2x2; sweet corn, 9x24; cucumbers, 12x48; egg plant, 18x18; kohlrabi, 4x4; lettuce-lea- f, 12x12; onions, 6x6; lettuce-hea3x3; parsnip, 4x4; peas, 2x2; peppers, 12x12; potatoes, 9x9; radish, lxl ; spinach, 4x4; summer squash, 48x48; winter squash, 60x60; tomatoes, 24x24; watermelon, 60x60. ALSO BY using organic mulches such us lawn clippings or leaves, you can greatly reduce the need for hoeing. Aim to destroy any small weeds with shallow, regular cultivation before the compete with the crops for moisture, nutrients and light. Remember that you must provide adequate fertility to get high d, production. Healthy, adequately nourished plants that get a good, early start will also be less subject to disease and insect attack. You may scatter about l'Albs. of fertilizer per 100 square feet and mix it with about 2 inches of soil before planting. A MORE efficient method will 16-16- -8 Bush beans, 6x6; pole beans, 4x36; beets, 4x4; broccoli, 18x18; should begin with about BEFORE PLANTING, you may improve tilth of the soil and make it hold water better by adding 3 inches of organic matter 6 inches 2-- deep. Leaves, sawdust, wood shavings, old hay, straw or such material vill serve the prupose inexpensively. However, you need to add 1 pound (1 pint) of ammonium sulfate for each 1 inch of material per 100 square feet to avoid nitrogen deficiency since ex- tra nitrogen is needed to pose the organic material. I 1 COUPON 2 IBATirS By KATHRYN JENNINGS Idonna 1.. Law Icy and her mother. Emma G. Lee. are sampling some of the orange maimalade which was made by Doiothv and Walt Willey. RIGHT NOW during this season of plenty of fresh navel oranges, is a good lime to make a few jars of this tangy citrus marmalade. This tangy marmalade is great for that morning toast. Get some oranges and lemons anJ make a few jars of this goml marmalade. OR VNGE MARMALADE 5 medium sized navel oranges, or 4 cups fruit 2 small whole lemons 3 cups water 6 cups sugar ; cup lemon juice I pkg. orange gelatin z. ft- L- - V' J r, -. ' 81" x 96" ..... Coupon good April 19-2- 1 only - t. I ?') y Ixe are sampling the orange ami Walt Willey. Slow is the time to make this esiy dims maimalade. A regular reader of the Clio-jHAda Stewart also shares a rede lor ham and cheese hake and asm ado pie. Ixiili dclidous and a hit different. WASH AND slice thinly, the oranges and lemons, discarding any seeJs. usually navel manges do not have any seeds. Cut the slices into smaller pieces as you prepare the fruits. Now cover fruit with the water, in a glass or china bowl and let stanJ overnight. In the morning, bring entire mi xture to a boil and let boil gently for 40 minutes, over medium heal. REMOE IROM heat and let stand 4 hours. Add the sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, continue to boil for another 20 minutes. stirring occasionally or until mixture sheets from the spoon or 220 degrees. Add the lemon juice and the gelatin and stir to dissolve. Meantime prepare 7 half pint mar-roih- r, sized canning jars, or 4 pint jars. Pour into the jars, the marmalade and seal, place in a hot water bath for 10 minutes after water begins to boil to complete sealing of the jars. The flavor seems to improve if allowed to stand fora few days before eating. ANOTHER READER has submitted two very excellent recipes, one for ham and cheese bake and the other for avocado pic. rich w i'h cream cheese, condensed milk and avocados, just a very small portion makes a good serving. Ada Ste- wart. an avid reader and great cook, has shared these recipes. II M AND CHEESE BAKE 8 slices bread 8 slices chcdJar cheese to cover bread Vt lb. I dDIFIF Limit 2 per customer with coupon only. Coupon good April 19-2- 1 only. Limited to stock on hand. NO RAIN CHECKS. F.ntina COOK j DBdDKniDIEIID 0m mm FAVORITE decom- SALE DATES: JHUR u4' 1 (34-0-- 100 McCall, Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue . 0) pounds of the three materials. TURN THE heap at least twice the first four days. Following this procedure, heat will be initiated within 24 hours and will be substantial enough to kill many weed seeds. As materials decompose, the pile should shrink to about half of its original height. The length of the time required to decompose will vary with the time of year. If the compost pile fails to decompose, it may be necessary to restack with some new materials. PATMRR1S t (21-0-- , COUPON - feet of row. After 4 to 5 weeks, the plant: may begin to turn yellow or pah green indicating nitrogen deficien cy. Green them up quickly by scat tering Vz cup of ammonium sulfaU or 13 cup of ammoniunr nitrate per 10 foot of row over the soil surface just before i rain or irrigation. The water will take the fertilizer down to the roots. 10 FOR RAPID composting, sufficient water needs to be added to the compost. Keep the pile moist, but not soggy. For retaining heat and oxygen, the best compost pile size should be about 5 feet high, 6 feet wide and 8 feet long. Put smaller piles in some kind of enclosure. You ES3G)6 mmm it away with a hoe and spread a band of 1 I to Vi cup of a similar fertilizer pe grounJ ham. turkey or chicken, cooked 4 eggs, beaten 2 cups milk 2 cans cream of chicken soup 8 more slices bread 10-o- REMOVE CRUSTS Bom first 8 slices or brcaJ. or enough bread to fit the bottom of a 9x 3 inch casserole. Place slices of cheese over the bread, then add the ground ham or other meat and top with the other 8 slices of bread, like a sandwich. Now mix beaten eggs and milk and pour over the casserole, cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. About V) to 2 hours before scrv ing time, remove from refrigerator, remove foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 to 50 minutes. If it seems to be browning too much, put a flat pan of water under 1 1 I REMOVE FROM oven and spread the two cans of undiluted cream of chicken soup over all and bake another 20 minutes. Serves 10 to 12 medium portions. AVOCADO PIE flour 2 tsp. salt 2': cups 3 tsp. sugar Vi cup oil 4 Tbsp. milk or a little more FILLING: 1 6 oz. pkg. lime gelatin 2 cups boiling water I 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, sof- tened 1 14 oz. can sweetened conde- nsed milk 4 2 avocados, medium to large Tbsp. lemon juice BLEND ingredients for crust and pal on the bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch casserole. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven to a light brow n. If desired, put ; cup chopped nuts in crust. For filling, stir gelatin into the boiling water and cool, stir to dissolve gelatin completely and cool lo com.itcncy of egg whites. BLEND CREAM cheese and half of peeled, pitted avocado, cut up. and half the gelatin mixture. Now blend in blender or food processor until smooth. Combine milk, remaining gelatin, lemon juice anJ avocado and again blend until smooth. Mix the two batches together and pour into cooled crust, chill and serve. Makex 2 to 15 servings as it is very rich, a light green color and very good, kj 1 AIL1L IEAIMIKDS dDMILY MflDTT IMHOEWCEIDSILY DWEDD1UCIEID. M(DIL1UIDIE Mm DDdDIES RlflDTT DRKDMJUDIE same ipnancEDD hmmis. IFAM&IKDS dDRJILY Limited to Stock on Hend. I I -- J : |