Cooperative Extension Offers Spring Tips
Tuesday, May 20, 1997
These briefs are provided by Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension's Ideas for Better Living Program. You may
wish to use them as written or contact us for additional
information. If you would like to include a contact for the
public, please direct readers to call the Colorado State
Cooperative Extension office in your county.
Gardening
TIME TO TRANSPLANT VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS
It's mid May, and time to begin transplanting your tomato,
pepper, cucumber and other vegetable starts you began growing in
pots. But remember Colorado's varying weather and be prepared to
cover the starts if a late-season frost threatens.
When you buy tomatoes, don't buy large blooming plants.
Until night temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, the
flowers won't pollinate and produce fruit. If all you find at the
store are leftovers--tall, leggy plants--buy them anyway and dig
the hole a little deeper. Plant them so four or five inches of
the plant shows above the soil. The buried stem has the ability
to produce roots. These plants will establish more roots than
regular tomato transplants and usually will become sturdy,
heavy-bearing tomato plants. (Information from Colorado State
University Cooperative Extension)
WHERE OH WHERE HAVE YOUR SEEDS GONE?
Most seeds will sprout if you follow the directions on the
seed packets, but a variety of factors can keep them underground
forever. For example, if you took a risk and planted a little
early, seeds may not germinate. You also may have planted them
too deep. Seeds need warm, moist soil. If the soil is too cool,
such vegetables as squash, beans and corn may rot. Some seeds--
lettuce for example--must be planted very shallow because they
need light for germination. If you planted seeds saved over the
winter, they may not have been stored under ideal conditions for
germination. (Information from Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension)
MOSQUITO PLANT TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
The "Mosquito Plant" repels mosquitoes without nasty
chemical odors, without using electricity and without any greasy
lotions--or so the advertisements say. In addition, the ads claim
it can be used indoors or out, and will protect within a 10-foot
radius.
Forget it. The Mosquito Plant is just a species of scented
geranium which, along with lemon thyme and lemon grass, contains
citronella oil. This is the same oil you find in citronella
candles sold to keep mosquitoes away. These plants are useless in
repelling mosquitoes. To be of any value, the foliage needs to be
crushed to release the citronella, which then must be rubbed on
the skin, and that raises questions about possible allergy
problems. (Information from Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension)
IF IT HOLDS SOIL, IT CAN BE A PLANT CONTAINER
While many of us think of wooden barrels, terra cotta,
plastic or glazed pots as likely containers for plants, just
about anything that holds soil can make a good container. Be
sure, however, that your container has a hole in the bottom for
drainage. Place it in a sunny location, fill it with soil mix and
plant it. A few applications of fertilizer along with frequent
watering will ensure abundant flowers throughout the summer.
(Information from Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension)
CLIP DEAD LEAF TISSUE TO PREVENT DISEASE
If you don't like the dead tips on the leaves of your
plants, use a sharp pair of scissors or pruners to clip the dead
portion of the leaf off. It's a good idea to get rid of this dead
tissue, anyway, as it can become infected with disease. Since
it's dead, it's not doing the plant any good. To protect against
the possibility of disease, periodically dip scissors or pruners
in rubbing alcohol. This kills any disease pathogens that might
be on the tools. (Information from Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension)
Families and Consumer Sciences
TEACH YOUR CHILD THE VALUE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Most parents want their children to become responsible. This
characteristic develops over time and comes with consistent
parental guidance. The Bureau for At-Risk Youth says children
become responsible when they:
* see others act responsibly;
* are given opportunities to accept responsibility;
* learn by their successes and their failures;
* earn positive reinforcement and increased independence as
a result of responsible actions; and
* have encouraging, loving adults who show confidence in the
child and his/her ability to do what is right. (Information from
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension)
HAIR SPRAYS CAN CAUSE FABRIC DISCOLORATION
To prevent fabric discoloration from hair spays, use them
before putting on your clothing, or put a towel over your
clothing before spraying. Many hair sprays, mousses and gels
contain alcohol, which can cause permanent color loss in some
fabrics. This color loss may not show up until after the garment
is cleaned or laundered. Lacquers in some hair sprays can cause
dark stains around collars, neck area and shoulders. Though they
may not be permanent, these stains can be difficult to remove.
(Information from Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension)
Food Safety and Human Nutrition
BABIES NEED WHOLE MILK BY FIRST BIRTHDAY
By the time a child is a year old, parents should substitute
formula for whole milk. Low-fat and skim milk do not have enough
fat and calories to supply the nutritional needs of a
one-year-old, according to the Food and Drug Administration. By
age one, the child is growing so quickly and the fat in milk is
so important for brain and central nervous system development,
that you should not consider lower-fat milk. The recommendation
that daily fat intake should be less than 30 percent of calorie
intake does not apply to children less than two years old.
Special toddler formulas on the market claim to be better
than milk. These formulas are nutritionally good, but not any
better than milk. (Information from Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension)
EGG-SAFETY TIP HANDY FOR CAMPERS
It's nearly time for backpacking and camping. Should you
pack raw eggs with you? It's probably not a good idea, unless
you"re toting a cooler along. A safer bet is to bring dried eggs,
which can be purchased in sporting goods stores. Reconstitute
them with purified water and use in many of the same ways you use
fresh eggs. (Information from Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension)
USE YOUR HAND TO MEASURE CALORIES
It's one thing to know three ounces of lean ground beef
contain 165 calories and a cup of cold cereal snaps up 110
calories from your daily quota. It's quite another, however, to
know just what constitutes an ounce. Here are some "hand rules"
to help guide you.
* A fist--or your cupped hand--is about equal to one cup.
Hand sizes vary, so an actual measuring cup may be best.
* A thumb equals about an ounce of cheese.
* A handful is about one or two ounces of nuts or small
candies. For chips and pretzels, two handsful equal about an
ounce.
* The palm of your hand or a deck of cards is about equal to
three ounces of meat, fish or poultry, which is the recommended
serving size.
* A thumb tip is about one teaspoon. So, if the amount of
peanut butter, mayonnaise, butter or that swipe of brownie batter
is about the same in size as the tip of your thumb, you've eaten
about a teaspoon's worth.
* A tennis ball equals a serving of fruit. So, an apple or
an orange the size of a tennis ball provides one serving.
(Information from Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension)
Environment
WHERE THERE"S HORSES, THERE"S HORSE MANURE
Did you know the average 1,000-pound horse produces nine
tons of manure a year? That's 50 pounds of manure a day! Add an
additional cubic foot of bedding material and you get 730 cubic-
feet of refuse each year from one horse. This means horse owners
must seriously consider proper methods of stockpiling the manure
to safeguard against surface and groundwater contamination, and
then composting the manure.
Composting manure requires an investment of time and money.
Minimum requirements include a tractor with a front-end loader
and a manure spreader. So, if you own a horse, but haven't solved
the manure problem, or if you are thinking of owning a horse,
call the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office
in your county about the environmentally important matter of
dealing with manure. (Information from Colorado State University
Cooperative Extension)
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