CERTIFIED GROOMER GROOMING SPECIALIST
November 2018 THE BEACON Page 11B
By Melanie Alexander
On the first full day of autumn , the blue sky with fluffy white clouds beckoned me out the back door to the pathway around the lake for a walk . It ’ s one of those glorious days that makes one glad to be able to get out and about . Tonight , I plan to have supper on my back porch in anticipation that there might be cooler times ahead .
I ’ ve already begun to think about upcoming autumn gatherings that generally center around the sharing of a meal or dessert . I ’ ve begun to plan for finding apples from a local orchard to make apple butter to share with neighbors and friends during the upcoming season . I love the aroma of the cinnamon , apple & cider mixture on the stove and remember smelling those same aromas at my grandparents ’ homes as a young child . I love
By John Hawley
Purdue Extension Educator
hawley4 @ purdue . edu
Putting your Garden to Rest !
Fall is here to stay , and soon winter will be knocking on our door . If you ’ re anything like me , you ’ re wondering what to do with the remains of your garden . Wilted vines and decaying plant matter likely cover a once glowing landscape and one question remains … where do I start ? For this month ’ s article , I ’ ll cover how to put your garden to rest for the winter !
When assessing the remains of your garden or landscape , thinking of the future is essential . What do you plan to grow next year ? Will you rotate your crops ? Will you plant a cover crop ? These are some of the questions that should be addressed before you get to work .
When considering what you will grow next year , be mindful of what is left behind . If you plan to plant peppers again , remove remaining plant materials from this year ’ s crop to ensure you aren ’ t providing pests and disease an overwinter host . You don ’ t necessarily need to dig up entire plants , but be sure diseased stems and leaves aren ’ t left to rot .
Another great practice is crop rotation . If you had blight problems with tomatoes this year ( many of us did ), it would be unwise to continue planting tomatoes in that same spot for more than a couple years , even if you remove the remaining plant matter . The best idea would be to consider rotating another crop in that spot .
Successful four-year rotations often flow from root crops to legumes , to leafy greens , and finally to fruiting crops , according to our partners at Michigan State Extension . For example , you could grow carrots , green beans , kale , and tomatoes over a four-year rotation . Rotation isn ’ t mandatory , but many gardeners find success
baking pies using the autumn fruits , and my neighbors are always willing to take some of the extra servings off my hands . But – instead of sharing pie recipes I decided to share some alternatives to the laborintensive pastries but still have the wonderful aroma and tastes of autumn fruits .
Spiced Apple Dessert
This recipe has instructions for making caramel syrup yourself , but I pick up a container of caramel flavored sundae syrup or the caramel dipping sauce found in the produce section of your supermarket . 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt 1 egg lightly beaten 2 cups finely chopped ( or shredded ) peeled tart apple ( about 2 large )
¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
In a large bowl , combine the flour , sugar , baking soda , cinnamon , and salt . Combine eggs and apples ; add to flour mixture and mix well . Stir in
in managing problems and increasing harvests when they try it .
One practice increasing in popularity among both farmers and gardeners is cover cropping . Conventional wisdom teaches us that tillage is good for the soil . While that may be true in certain circumstances , continued research has shown us that establishing a healthy soil with strong and vibrant root systems is beneficial when tackling issues such as erosion and low organic matter . Typical examples of cover crops for gardens include winter rye and buckwheat .
Integrating compost is another common technique best utilized in the fall . Even if you don ’ t have fresh compost , consider covering your dormant garden with leaves or other organic matter . If you aren ’ t cover cropping , till the leaves in at least a few inches down . You will be surprised at how quickly leaves break down . Continued use of this practice can go a long way into improving the overall soil health of your garden .
Regardless of the practices you adopt in your garden , being prepared for the next growing season is important ! nuts . Transfer to an 8 ” square pan which has been coated with nonstick cooking spray . Bake at 350 ° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean . Cut into 9 squares . Serve while warm topped with caramel syrup . Topping this with whipped cream makes it even better !
Apple & Cranberry Cobbler Fruit Layer 5-6 medium cooking apples , peeled , cored and chopped 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon orange zest
In a large bowl , combine the chopped apples , whole cranberries , sugar , flour , and orange zest . Toss the mixture lightly and spoon into a 2-quart casserole dish . Bake the fruit mixture , uncovered in a 375 ° oven for 25 minutes . Remove from oven and top with the following mixture . Biscuit Layer ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup cornmeal 3 tablespoons sugar 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
Start repairing tools , storing seeds , taking notes , and planning your garden for 2019 . It will be here before we know it !
As always , I advise gardeners and landscapers to download the Purdue Plant Doctor App for mobile phones and tablets . This App is an excellent tool for learning how to handle many different plant problems from pest control to winter damage .
To download the Purdue Plant Doctor App , search your service provider ’ s App store or visit : https :// purdueplantdoctor . com /
To learn more about the topics discussed in this article , visit : https :// www . purdue . edu / hla / sites / yardandgarden / putting-the-garden-to-bed / or http :// msue . anr . msu . edu / news / plan _ now _ for _ crop _ rotation _ in _ your _ vegetable _ garden
For additional information about other agriculture and natural resources topics , feel free to email me at hawley4 @ purdue . edu . You can also reach my office at 812-926- 1189 . We are located at 229 Main Street , Aurora , IN 47001 .
Look for my next article in the December issue of The Beacon !
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¼ cup butter cut into small pieces 1 / 3 cup milk 1 egg , lightly beaten
In a medium bowl combine the dry ingredients . Using a pastry blender or fork , cut butter into flour mixture until butter is pea-sized . Stir milk and lightly beaten egg together and add to the flour / butter mixture . Stir just until combined . Spoon mixture on top of fruit , forming 8-10 mounds .
Bake an additional 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean . Cool for about 30 minutes . Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream . Serves 8-10 .
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