Garden Source

The Sorrel or Common Sorrel, ‘Rumex acetosa’, is a hardy perennial. The Sorrel leaves have a sharp, lemon/spinach flavor and is one of the earliest spring greens. Sorrel is an underutilized vegetable in the United States and unjustifiably so. Sorrel is very high in Vitamin C and has many uses. The young tender spring leaves can be used as salad greens, famous for Cream of Sorrel soup, cooked like spinach and served with trout or salmon, or mixed in with cooked spinach or chard. The fresh leaves are used by some to soothe canker sores. Once you try Sorrel, it will become as regular a garden plant as spinach. The Sorrel plant is 12 to 36 inches tall and has large, crinkled, arrow-shaped leaves. The plant is also called Sour Dock, Herb Patience, and Patience Dock. Plant the Sorrel 2 weeks before the average last frost date. In mild climates, Sorrel can be planted in the fall. Sorrel prefers a moderately acid soil and the soil needs to be kept moist for the best flavor and production. Cut older, yellow leaves off to encourage the young, tender, healthy growth.

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The Basil Italian Large Leaf, ‘Ocimum basilicum’, is a sweet basil that is particularly good for pesto and is also excellent for fresh use. There is nothing like the smell of basil, it is the smell of summer. There is no more useful herb. The Italian Large Leaf Basil has just that, a larger leaf than other basils. It is a good all “around basil” and it has very few pests. Basil is used in so many foods, it is hard to mention them all. It is used in Italian foods and pesto and pasta sauces. Fresh basil makes a nice tea, an excellent vinegar, and tastes great fresh with fish, poultry, rice, mild vegetables, eggplant and many others. Plant 1 to 2 weeks after the last average frost date. Place the Basil seeds in well drained soil with lots of organic matter.

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Matran® EC is a fast, non-selective burn down herbicide, killing young weeds in 24-72 hours. Trials have demonstrated its effectiveness against a broad spectrum of weeds such as chickweed, foxtail, crabgrass, lambsquarters, pigweed, Johnson grass, purslane, wild oats, and others. The active ingredient in Matran® EC is clove oil; other ingredients are wintergreen oil and lecithin. It affects only those parts of the plant that are coated. Use 1-8 gal in 25-100 gal of water/acre. Using ThermX70 yucca extract at .03 fl oz/gal and Citric Acid at 5 lbs/acre greatly improves coverage and impact. If weeds are larger, multiple applications may be necessary.NOP approved and OMRI listed.

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