Gardening
Expand Your Edible Garden Indoors
Self-watering planters like the Gardener’s Revolution Light Garden make it easy to successfully grow a variety of greens or other edibles indoors.
(Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company)
No matter the season, size of your garden or climate, you can inject homegrown flavor into your meals. Just clear a shelf, countertop or windowsill and get busy planting herbs, greens and even tomatoes to enjoy year-round.
For quick results, grow microgreens. These nutrient packed edibles are ready to harvest in as few as 10 days. Plant microgreen seeds in a quality potting or seed starting mix. A recycled fast food container or other shallow pot with drainage holes works well. Plant the seeds according to label directions, moisten the soil and place in a warm location. Keep the soil moist and move to a sunny window or under artificial lights as soon as sprouts peak through the soil. Then break out the scissors and start harvesting when the second set of leaves appears. Use microgreens on salads, sandwiches, soups or as a snack.
Replace those underutilized appliances cluttering the counter with an under the cabinet LED light garden like the Bamboo Mini LED Grow Light Garden. You’ll be able to grow and harvest your own herbs and greens right in the kitchen for easy access. The LED lights will also help brighten the room – a welcome addition to any dreary winter day.
Purchase plants or start herbs from seeds in individual pots or a container large enough to hold several plants. Select herbs you and your family typically use for seasoning. Basil, chives, sage, parsley, and oregano are a few of the easier herbs to grow. Just harvest a few leaves or sprigs as needed for some homegrown flavor.
Boost the vitamins, minerals and fiber in your meals with leafy greens. Plant an indoor garden of leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, baby leaf kale and beet greens. A self-watering pot with a built-in overhead light like the Gardener’s Revolution® Light Garden Kit (gardeners.com) makes it easy to grow a variety of greens at the end of a counter, next to a desk or anywhere you have a few square feet of space.
Harvest greens regularly to keep the plants producing. You’ll enjoy the convenience and have no excuse not to boost the flavor and nutritional value of your meals.
Reserve a space in front of a sunny window to grow a tomato or pepper plant. Expand your growing options and ensure a bountiful harvest by supplementing natural daylight with artificial lights. Start with compact tomato and pepper varieties that require less space. You will probably need to start plants from seeds when growing these vegetables outside the normal outdoor gardening season. Once the plants start flowering, you will need to lend a helping hand. Give the stems a shake for pollination and eventually fruit formation to occur.
Reduce maintenance and the mess with self-watering containers. These planters have reservoirs that hold water that moves into the soil via wicking systems. This provides the plants with a constant supply of water while extending the time between watering. Plus, the self-contained watering setup minimizes the risk of water getting on your floor.
Start plans for your indoor edible garden with a walk around your home to identify potential growing spaces. Then develop a list of favorite herbs, greens and vegetables you and your family enjoy. Match the space to your favorites and invest in plants and resources that fit your gardening goals and help ensure success. Then start growing and enjoying the benefits of fresh, homegrown produce all year long.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. . She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
Antique and Collectibles News
Oyster Cosmograph Rolex watch
It’s been over a month since my last report on antique and collectibles news. Collectibles articles top the recent news.
A very rare Hot Wheels Camaro white enamel prototype made in 1968 was recently found and purchased by a dealer, according to the Robb report. The car was a prototype that was painted in white enamel. The white painted cars were used by the designers to check for imperfections and weren’t intended to reach retailers. A 2020 Camaro manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $25,000. The Hot Wheels car is estimated to be valued at $100,000, 4 times the value of a new Camaro. Hot Wheels cars from this era originally retailed for 59 cents. The article didn’t report how much the dealer paid for it.
An Air Force Veteran recently had a watch that he purchased in 1975 evaluated by an Antiques Roadshow appraiser according to People Magazine. The man was stationed in Southeast Asia where he admired the Rolex watches being worn by many of the pilots. He began scuba diving when he transferred to another base and learned that the watches were also good in water. That convinced him to purchase the watch through the base exchange for $345.97, with his 10% discount. It was a sizable purchase when most monthly salaries were then only $300 to $400 per month. He found the watch was too nice to use in salty water. He kept it in a safe deposit box since then, along “with the paperwork, receipts, and original box.” The watch face is marked “Oyster Cosmograph” and is referred to as the Paul Newman watch. Newman wore a similar Rolex in the movie “Winning.” The appraiser informed the owner that watches like his have been selling for $150,000 to $200,000 at auction. Because he never wore it and because he kept the original box and paperwork, the appraiser said that his watch should sell for even more. He estimated it could bring $500,000 to $700,000 at auction.
For those of you who want a collectible you can imbibe, Glenfiddich Scotch is offering 100 bottles of their single malt scotch that were produced in 1975. Maxim reports that 100 bottles of the 44-year-old scotch were created only for the U.S. market. The 100 bottles were produced from 2 different casks. Cask 4706’s description is “distinctive and rare rich gold whisky has a lively and vibrant bouquet imparting notes of oak, antique leather, tannin and crisp parchment, while maintaining its intriguing zestiness with hints of green apple and citrus.” The scotch in the cask 5114 bottles is described as “a beautifully rich and complex dark amber whisky envelops the nose with an intense spicy oak character and layers of dried fruits.” The bottles are priced at $9,000. Doing the math, that is a little over $380 for just one drink.
Our January 30th auction was very successful. Comic books, coins, sterling silver, gold jewelry and military memorabilia were some of the best sellers. Comic books have been selling so well recently that I will dedicate an upcoming column to them.
There is still time to register for my “Evaluating your antiques” on March 3rd at the Bay Path Adult Education Evening School. Other events are being scheduled. Please see www.centralmassauctions.com for details on these and other events.
Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com