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Summer Gardening Tips For Your Survival Garden

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Garden maintenance is necessary in all seasons, especially in the summer. As temperatures continue to rise, our survival gardens need extra care. This summer, some states are experiencing record highs, therefore, our summer gardening tips deserve proper consideration!

Like humans, plants need food, water, and protection against disease to survive and thrive. Let’s give them a fighting chance in one of the hottest summers in recent years.

In this article, I’ll go over these summer gardening tips:

  • Feeding your plants
  • Proper watering for your plants
  • Protecting your plants against pests and disease
  • Weed control

Also, I’ll cover vegetables you can plant in the summer! Let’s get started!

Summer Gardening Tips: Survival Garden

Summer Gardening Tips For Your Survival Garden

Summer Gardening Tips For Your Survival Garden

Feeding Your Plants

Even if you added compost at the time of planting, keeping your plants fed throughout the summer season is important as plants produce more when they’re well fed.

About mid-summer, add a very thin layer of compost throughout the soil about 1 inch away from the plant making sure not to disturb the root system. Adding a layer of mulch on top of the compost will help keep the soil moist which will help keep those necessary nutrients provided by the compost in place. You should not have to compost more than once throughout the summer months.

If you use fertilizer, never add more than is directed as it can burn the plant’s root system. Also, avoid adding it to any plant in extreme heat or drought as this can put stress on your plants, which can make them more susceptible to things like plant disease.

Proper Watering For Your Plants

During the summer months, vegetable gardens require about 2 inches of water a week to stay hydrated. It is important to know that the amount of water you give them is just as important as how you water them.

Here are some great tips for watering your survival garden throughout the summer season:

  • Make sure the water is reaching the plants root system and not just sitting on top of the soil. Also, leaves that are wet continuously is an invitation for plant disease to set in.
  • As I said before, add mulch to your survival garden! In the case of watering, adding 2-3 inches of mulch to your garden beds will help keep the root systems at a steady cool temperature, conserves water, and helps to prevent weeds. Ground pine bark, wheat straw, and pine straw make great mulch for your survival garden.
  • If you are growing your vegetables in containers, they will require daily water. Containers tend to dry out much faster than garden beds.
  • Consider a soaker hose or irrigation system as these are the best options for watering your garden beds as they allow just the right amount of water to reach the roots.

Protecting Your Plants Against Pests And Disease

The summer months are when your plants are most susceptible to pests and disease!

Follow these steps to help protect your survival garden against plant disease:

  • First and foremost, proper sunlight, feeding, and watering all play a role when it comes to keeping your plants disease free!
  • Keep garden beds free of debris as debris can carry disease organisms.
  • Keep your garden tools clean. Clean them after every use. Wash your gardening gloves as often as you can.

To help control pests this summer, look out for damage on each plant often. Catching pests early is key to getting rid of them quickly. Check out my article, 4 Organic DIY Insect Sprays For Your Survival Garden, for all natural solutions for pest control.

Weed Control

Controlling weeds in your survival garden can seem like an impossible task at times, especially in the summer! Applying mulch, cultivating, and using weed mats all help tremendously but, will not guarantee a weed free garden.

If you are in search of all natural solutions to killing weeds, check out these articles:

Vegetables You Can Plant In The Summer

If you are looking for a few more vegetables to add to your survival garden but, aren’t sure which ones will do well being planted this time of year, consider these vegetables.

  • Beans
  • Zucchini
  • Celery
  • Squash
  • Peppers
  • Corn

If you would like to know which plants would make great companion plants to these vegetables, check out my article Companion Plants To Benefit Your Survival Garden.

Do you have summer gardening tips to share? Share with us in the comment section below.

Check out these other great articles on survival gardening:

Survival Gardening – How To Grow Lettuce Indoors

Survival Gardening Hacks To Achieve The Perfect Tomato Plant

Composting For Beginners | The Building Blocks To A Better Harvest

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Self Sufficiency

NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.

The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.

The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.

“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”

The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller

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Self Sufficiency

How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!

This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.

So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?

RELATED: How To Make Buttermilk On Your Homestead

Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know

Why Make Sauerkraut?

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Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.

So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon of salt

Tools Needed:

  • knife
  • bowl
  • mason jar
  • smaller jar
  • rubber band

Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients



Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.

You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.

Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.

Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips



Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.

Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt



Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.

TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.

RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe

Step 4: Massage the Cabbage



Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.

TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.

Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar



Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.

IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.

Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar



You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.

Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.

Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band



Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.

Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily

Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.

Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures

Homemade Sauerkraut Cumin Juniper | How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar

After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.

NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.

You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.

Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut

  • Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
  • Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
  • Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
  • If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.

Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!

So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.

What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!

Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!

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Self Sufficiency

9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN

Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!

RELATED: Microgreens Growing Guide

In this article:

  1. Tomato
  2. Eggplant
  3. Beet
  4. Spinach
  5. Pea
  6. Carrot
  7. Radish
  8. Cauliflower
  9. Asparagus

Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!

Tomato

Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.

Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.

Eggplant

Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?

Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.

Beets

Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.

If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.

Spinach

Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!

Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.

Pea

Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.

Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.

Carrot

There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.

They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.

Radish

A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.

Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.

Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.

Asparagus

Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!

Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.

All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!

So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!

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