It's time to take the Gloxinia plants out of the dark.
After spending a dormant spell where they were kept
in the basement in the dark this Summer the Gloxinia's
were taken from the basement last week to the sunlight
once again.
They got their watering, a fertilizing and some sunlight
and they are welcoming it by sprouting once again.
While most may grow theirs in the Summer and let them
rest in the Winter I do just the opposite and enjoy their
colors in the dull days of Winter to get my flower and
color fix. They are easy to grow and can be grown under
artificial lighting or partial sunlight and in fact do not like
direct sunlight so they are perfect for a Winter infusion
of color. The same rules of growing them applies as with
those of the African Violets only the Gloxinia needs a period
of rest. So if you want some color this Winter you may want
to try growing your own from seed now.
Here at Grownotes.com is some growing and care tips.
The "Invasion" that was mentioned before about the
dreaded Asian Beetles is in full swing.
When they started coming into the house, as bad as
one hates to, the whole outside of the house had to be
sprayed to stop most of them from coming in. No matter
what kind of house you may have and how air tight you
may think it is, believe me they will come inside somehow,
someway. They are drawn to light so when the sun hits
the side of the house or garage that is where the majority
land to get in. As seen here on the side of my house---
See all of those little beetles, now picture them in the
hundreds all over your buildings.
This is just a small pile that were swept up from my front
porch the following morning to show you how many
there really are. Now imagine a pile like this all around
the foundation of your buildings where they die and fall.
When they first showed up here in Ohio they were
in masses and despite spraying and businesses having
to call in exterminators to be rid of them, their numbers
are not dwindling.
Even if you are against insecticides you will have second
thoughts when they migrate into your state and they are
on the move having started on the east coast.
We women have a hard time allowing bugs to stain
our window curtains, walls and stinking up the place.
I do not know how the restaurants deal with them.
Be aware that that crunchy bacon bit in your salad might
well be a beetle. YUK!
Enough of the stinking pests!
This week is the Circleville, Ohio Pumpkin Show.
It is the largest free fair in the state and was started in
1903 as a few small stands where Farmers showed
off their crops and pumpkins in the Fall.
Now it has grown and the show vies every year to see
who grows the largest pumpkin. States compete against
each other to break the records for the largest pumpkin.
Yesterday at the weigh in Dr. Bob Leggitt won the
first prize spot amongst the participators by having a
record winning pumpkin of 1,635.5 pounds.
The World record is 1,725 pounds so it was a little short of
the record. It was a great attempt though.
This is the size of the pumpkins I grew this summer,
just pumps on the Circleville pumpkin in
comparison ;-)
everything eatable imaginable with pumpkin in it.
Including pumpkin: pie, ice cream, fudge, cookies,
cake, butter, bread, donuts, waffles, brittle, pancakes,
taffy, elephant ears, brownies, cheesecake, pizza,
chili and pumpkin burgers. Which is just a sloppy joe
but they are really yummy.
The local bakery bakes a 400 pound pumpkin pie that is
6 feet in diameter and takes six hours to bake.
You cooks will appreciate this recipe:
100 pounds of pumpkin
40 pounds of sugar
26 gallons of milk
15 dozen eggs
4 pounds of corn starch
1 1/4 pound of pumpkin spice
1 1/4 pound of salt
42 pounds of dough
Now that is a pie!
Here is a link to the worlds largest free show:
Circleville Pumpkin Show
Happy Gardening Everyone!
