GenAcres Homestead

Reasons for Loss of Liquid in Pressure Canning or Siphoning First, if you've lost liquid during the pressure canning process, you're certainly not alone, b ut it's important to learn the reasons for liquid loss so it doesn't happen more often than you'd like.

Mint is a hardy perennial commonly associated with sweets.  Mint lends a cool, peppery bite to plenty of dishes.  It’s very fragrant, fast-growing but it can be invasive. Starting from Mint Seed Mint is very difficult to grow from seed and most plants grown from seed will be different than the parent plant.  This is because they are hybrid varieties that don't come true to form when grown from seed.  Growing Mint from seed is not recommended, but here are the details. Growing Mint Plant size:                                 Height 12”–18” height  Spreading. Spacing:                                    8-24”. Container Size:                       ...

GROWING  ARUGULA aka  Rocket Roquette  Cool-season annual plant Height:  6-12"       Width 8-10" The leaves of Arugula provide a spicy zing when added to salads.  It will grow a rosette about a foot wide and equally as tall.  It's a cut-and-come-again plant.  It boasts several health benefits.  It is an excellent source of fiber, rich in Vitamins A, C, and K as well as a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Types: Wild Arugula.  Grows up to 2' tall with jagged leaves and a yellow flower. Rocket Salad.  A weaker peppery flavor.  The plant grows up to 3' tall.  It has lobed leaves and a white flower.     Starting Seeds of Arugula Seed Depth:                    1/8" on the soil surface and tamp down. Seed Spacing:   ...

Spinach is a cool-weather quick-growing annual related to Beets and Swiss Chard. Spinach has high amounts of carotenoids, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium. It is one of the healthiest salad choices you can make. The Basics Annual Height: 6" to 3' Width: 3" to 15" Types: Savory Spinach. Dark green crinkled leaves. It grows flatter compared to other Spinach. It tends to be more cold-hardy and becomes sweet and crispy after a frost. Flat-Leaf Spinach. Grows more upright and easier to wash. Semi-Savory. A hybrid between the two. Leaves aren't as crinkled or as smooth.   Starting Seeds of Spinach Seed Depth: 1/2" deep Seed Spacing: 2" apart, thin seedlings to 4-5" apart. Mature 10-12". Days to Germinate: 1 week at 60 degrees. Days to Harvest: 20-30 days for baby greens. 35-45 days mature leaves. Seed Longevity: 1-3 year...

     Pruning Hostas Hostas are well known to be one of the easiest perennials to grow.  And while pruning hosta leaves isn't necessary to maintain your hostas' shape or size, you can keep them looking beautiful as long as possible during the season with some easy seasonal pruning.

  Winter Sow your Vegetable Seeds! First off, if you are unfamiliar with the basics of winter sowing, you may want to start with the Winter Sowing 101 article, then come back for the vegetable sowing specifics.

  Winter Sowing Failures and Reasons Winter sowing has become one of my favorite ways to grow plants.  It's also becoming more and more popular because it's easy and it works! But, if you’ve read the Winter Sowing 101 guide and tried the winter sowing method but had some failures, the reasons for your lackluster results are probably listed below, along with ways to help ensure future success. Further Reading:  Winter Sowing 101 Seeds Didn't Germinate A common reason is bad seeds. Simple enough, right? If you had very little or no germination at all, it could be as simple as old seeds. Different types of seeds have different shelf lives. For instance, onion seeds are only viable for one to two years and should be used the year after they’re harvested, ifpossible; whereas seeds of collards and cucumbers can be viable for up to and even after five years when stored properly in cool, dry conditions. A Little Bit About Traded Seeds For years I tried to save money by trading ...

  GROWING SAGE Perennial Zones 4 – 8 (Hardiness Varies) Sage is a shrubby perennial that’s an obvious choice for the kitchen.  From spring through mid-summer, Sage displays blue to lavender flowers which are very attractive to birds.  It has an earthy, rich, spicy flavor and it is part of the mint family. The most popular types of culinary Sage are   Garden Sage, Golden Garden Sage, Berggarten Garden Sage, Dwarf Garden Sage, Tricolor Garden Sage, and Window Box Sage. Starting Sage from Seed Seed Longevity:                                            2 years. Seed Sowing Depth:                                     Surface, cover lightly. Best...