Ready, Set, Fertilize

For many years, we have been telling customers that to have the best looking lawn on the block, they needed to fertilize in the fall. I thought it would be interesting to link you to the source of that information, Kansas State University (GO CATS). KSU has information on about anything you ever wanted to know about for your lawn, garden, landscape. Here is the link to the 'Fertilizing Turfgrass Report' that give us the research.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf2324.pdf
For cool-season lawns, most of the fertilizer should
be applied in the fall. Fescue, bluegrass and ryegrass
benefit most from fall-applied nitrogen applications.
September is the most important time. Nitrogen applied during
September helps thicken the stand, and encourages
development of a healthy root system. A November
application (at about the time of the final mowing of
the season) helps the turf build food reserves. This
enables the lawn to green up earlier in the spring, without
encouraging the excessive shoot growth that often
accompanies early spring Nitrogen applications.

Ferti-Lome's Winterizer contains 5 lbs of Nitrogen, applied to a 5,000 yard will apply recommended ammount of fertilizer. My suggestion would be to do an application each of the next 3 months.

Jalapeno pepper grills

Earlier this year at the Wichita Garden Show, we were lucky to come across a new vendor, Ed Bright from Honey's Jalapeno Grills. Ed designs and manufacture unique grills for cooking jalapeno peppers on your grill, or in your oven. We invited Ed to attend our Chile fest promotion this year, and lucky for us he had an open weekend in his busy show schedule. Jeremy was smart enough to get one of Ed's grills in March at the Garden Show, but by the time I went back to purchase a grill, Ed was sold out. I did pick up one of Ed's grills today at the east store, and this evening put it to good use. This is the best cooking gadget I have found for jalapeno peppers. I normally stuff a pepper with cheese, wrap it with bacon and lay it on the grill. When using Ed's grill, all of the cheese stays in the pepper, not running out as I have normally had occur. Go to http://www.honeysjalapenogrills.com/ and see Ed's grills. We hope to be able to stock the grills at our stores soon.

Green Chile Stew

Nancy goes out of town to a Garden Center conference and I become Mr. Food in the kitchen, (it is sooooo good). After cleaning out the crock pot from the Green Chile (sauce) I made, I went into Green Chile Stew mode. I don't think this recipe made it into our new Green Chile cookbook, but it is a keeper. I used medium heat Chile, so it does have a bite to it. Here is the recipe.

Green Chile Stew

20 fresh diced rosasted Hatch Green Chile peppers

1 lb. ground beef

1 red onion

6 red potatoes, cubed

15 cups water (seemed like too much, but it isn't)

4 tbsp Old Wesport Special Blend Seasoning

(available at Johnson's soon)

2 tsp garlic

1/2 cup rice (optional)

1/2 cup carrots (optional)

salt to taste

Brown ground beef. Put all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil for 15 minutes and then a slow boil for 1 1/2 hours. Serve with tortillas and plenty of your favorite beverage to cool down the fire.

Be sure to stop by Chile Fest this weekend, August 22 and 23 for samples of everything Green Chile.

The first Green Chile sauce of the season

With the 2009 Johnsons's Chile Fest soon upon us I thought it was time to make the first batch of Green Chile Sauce of the season. Most chile heads just refer to it as Green Chile. I came upon this recipe from another chile head from , Joyce Benedict. Joyce and her husband Ken, own Great Plains Landscape and Design Co. a Garden Center/Landscape company in Beloit Kansas. Several years ago, Ken was telling me about Joyce's wonderful Green Chile, and shared the recipe. We have had it in our Green Chile Recipe book for several years and it continues to be my favorite Green Chile recipe.

Joyce's "Secret" Award-Winning Green Chile Sauce

1/2 to 1 cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cup chicken broth

2 cups Hatch Green Chile, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

Dash cumin (or your favorite seasoning)

Saute' onions in butter. Addd flour to make a paste. Stir in broth, chile, garlic and cumin.

Use this sauce to spice up hamburgers, brats, eggs, soups ... anything that needs a kick!

The 'Secret' part of the recipe has been out for several years now, and after making and enjoying this Green Chile, I am sure you will give an award as well.

It's Chile Time!

Last week we traveled to pick up our first batch of Hatch Green Chiles! We've brought back a truckload and have them stored in our cooler waiting their turn at the roaster. You won't want to miss out on the excitement, in fact, join us this weekend, August 21-23 for Chile Fest! We're cooking up some dishes that contain green chile for you to samples, and will have frozen margaritas for you to wash it down with - yes, they're virgin of course. You'll also be able to find our 2009 cookbook at all of our 3 locations. And just to get you in the mood, here are some photos of the chiles along with our Head Chilehead, Marty.

Orie said early August is

the ideal time to plant your fall seeds for a great fall garden. I had pulled out what was left of my spring garden when I harvested my potatoes. I had tilled in Cotton Boll Compost to enrich the soil and let it set for about 3 weeks. Today I tilled again (to get rid of the crabgrass that had germinated) and planted Blue Lake bush green beans, Crimson Giant radish, Detroit Dark Red beets, Nantes Half long carrots, and I also found some onion seeds on the seed rack so I thought I would give it a try. I planted the beans in 2 rows, but I am going to try the scatter method on the others and see how that works. When our broccoli and other fall seedlings arrive I'll plant some additional items. Stay tuned

Cut your watering frequency in half.

I ususlly set my timer on my lawn irrigation system on the manual setting and not the daily setting when we have frequent rains. I just don't like paying the electric bill to run the pump when it is raining. If I had city water, I know I would not like to pay that bill. I normally wait until my lawn tells me it is thirsty. Most turf areas have dry spots or as some put it, hot spots, those areas for some reason or another dry out sooner than the remainder of the lawn. Core aereation helps the water penetrate the soil. These areas may be lacking in organic matter which can be added with an application of Natural Guard Soil Activator.

A product that will reduce the frequency of watering has been available only recently from Ferti-lome called Aqueduct L&G Professional Water Management The unique thing about Aquaduct is that it ensures quick penetration and reduces run off. If you have clay soils, it will aide in the absorption of water as well. It will increase fertilizer retention, reducing the potential of nitrates leaching into ground water. This university tested product will treat 5,000 sq ft. for only $14.98 in a easy to apply hose end sprayer.

If you want to cut your watering from 4 to 2 or 3 times per week, apply Aqueduct to your lawn, and also landscape and flower areas and end the dry spots.