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ORGANIC FIELD GUIDE ORGANIC FIELD GUIDE
COMMON EDIBLE PLANTS GROW IT EAT IT LOVE IT
Health Power
Rhubarb is a great source of dietary fiber and helps resolve indigestion
issues with its gentle laxative properties. It may also help lower cholesterol
and blood pressure. The potassium supports proper nerve functioning and
muscle contraction, including the heart. Vitamin C gives rhubarb antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic properties. Vitamin K with calcium adds
to bone formation and helps prevent bone breakdown. Rhubarb is low in
carbohydrates, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. It increases metabolic
rate, which is excellent for eating while trying to lose weight. Rhubarb has
antibacterial and antifungal properties that may help prevent infections. If
applied topically, rhubarb prevents staph infection.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Vitamins – K and C
Minerals – Calcium, Potassium, Manganese and Magnesium
Disease Prevention
Cholesterol lowering properties support a healthy cardiovascular system
free of diseases like atherosclerosis. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that eliminates
water-soluble free radicals, many of which may later contribute to cancer.
C also protects blood vessels by helping prevent the formation of arterial
plaque via its interactions with the bad form of cholesterol (LDL). Vitamin C
promotes heart health by stopping potentially fatal plaque-induced clots from
causing a heart attack or a stroke. With vitamin K, calcium and manganese,
regularly eating rhubarb may help prevent osteoporosis.
How to Grow
Rhubarb is an interesting food because it produces fruit, but we eat only the
stems. It is an easy, long-lived perennial plant and very cold hardy. Harvest
it toward the end of winter through the middle of summer. Prepare the soil
by shifting the pH to 7 if not already there. Amend the area with a generous
amount of aged compost, manure or highly fertile planting mix. Generally,
gardeners do not need more than a few plants. If you want to grow many,
plant individuals 2 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. Depending on time of year,
you may find root crowns or potted plants. In spring, or in pots before spring,
plant root crowns in soil and cover with a thin layer. Keep the soil moist but
never waterlogged. Weed the bed as needed. Let the plants continue to grow
through the first year without harvesting. In the second season, harvest the
larger stems first as needed, making sure not to take all the stems from one
plant. Stems are ripe when they change from green to purplish red. After
harvesting each year in the spring, apply another layer of compost or planting
mix to promote healthy rejuvenation of reserves once more.
Insect Control
Common attacking insects include aphids. They are also susceptible to viruses.
To deter aphids, companion plant marigolds. They attract both ladybugs and
hover flies, which lay their larvae on colonies of aphids for food. They consume
thousands this way. Or rinse off the aphids with a strong stream of water
that does not damage the host plant. To avoid viruses, get the plant or seeds
at a trustworthy nursery. Make sure there is good air circulation and do not
waterlog the soil. Keep plants out of low, shady areas. Dispose of infected
sections of plants immediately. If all else fails, spray with a copper- or sulfur-
based treatment found at nurseries.
Tips
Enjoy the flowers in the summer time, but do not let the plants run to seed, as this
greatly reduces the following harvest. Note: Never eat the leaves of rhubarb, as
they contain very harmful toxins, especially if you eat significant amounts.
Health Power
Including lemon grass in your garden provides many benefits. Making tea with
the stems helps digestion, promotes a calm night’s sleep, reduces anxiety, eases
headaches and even has antimicrobial abilities to fight some infections. It may
help with respiratory problems and provide some calming effects as well. Adding
lemongrass to the bath will help clear up oily skin. Lemon grass citronella oil is a
natural, effective mosquito repellent. To get the oil directly from the plant, break
off a stalk and peel off the outer leaves until you find a scallion-like stem at the
base. Bend and rub with your palms until it turns juicy. Then rub thoroughly over
exposed skin. Planting these plants around the patio will help deter mosquitoes.
Lemon grass is able to repel fleas and ticks in the same way. If you are walking your
dog through deep grasses, lemon grass can be a quick help for both of you. As a
detoxifying agent, lemon grass has a diuretic effect (causing more urination) which
helps flush out the kidney, liver, pancreas, bladder and digestive tract. Loaded
with beneficial minerals, which can lower blood pressure, maintain healthy nerve/
muscle function and act as co-factors for enzymes with many diverse functions.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Vitamins – B9 (Folate) and B2 (Riboflavin)
Minerals – Manganese, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper and
Phosphorus
Disease Prevention
Lemon grass in your diet can only help, but we need more research before we can
say it helps prevent disease. Very high manganese gives enzymes all over the body
their co-factor and maintains the biochemical balance necessary for health. Good
source of iron to help prevent anemia. Lowering blood pressure takes some stress
off the cardiovascular system and may help prevent heart problems.
How to Grow
Popular in Asian cuisine, lemon grass grows easily and has many uses from
adding to fresh dishes to drying out to brew tea. Grows best in tropical
regions, but also grows outdoors in warmer, temperate regions with a
healthy dose of compost/planting mix and full sun. Alternatively, you can
grow in slightly cooler climates in pots. Bring them indoors during the cool
months and keep them in a sunny location. To grow lemon grass, pick up
the greenest, healthiest looking plant with bulbs and roots still attached,
if possible. Trim off the top couple of inches, get rid of any dead-looking
growth and set the stalks down into a container of room temperature
water in a sunny location (window sill). After the roots have matured a
bit, take the started plant out of the water and set it down in fertile soil
with the crown just below the surface. If you live in a climate where it gets
cooler in the winters, plant in pots and place in a sunny, warm location of
the patio or house. Lemon grass cannot survive freezing temperatures, so
be swift to bring them indoors when temperatures drop. In warmer areas,
plant outdoors in full sun. Water regularly to keep the soil damp, not soggy.
Outdoor plants can reach 4-6 feet high and 6-8 feet wide, so allow them
room to spread.
Insect Control
Few problems with pests; none that threaten the life of the plant. In
companion planting, some gardeners repel melon flies by planting and
trimming lemon grass near their crop.
Tips
Buy more than one stalk at the market to use as a backup if one or more
plants do not sprout roots during initiation.
INGREDIENTS
1 package frozen puff
pastry thawed
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
12 rhubarb ribs
1 cup orange juice
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons Amaretto
1 package (8 ounces) Mascarpone Cheese
1 tablespoon honey
INSTRUCTIONS
■ Preheat oven to 400°. Unfold one pastry sheet and place on a parchment
paper-lined baking sheet; repeat with remaining pastry sheet. Whisk egg
and water; brush over pastries. Using a sharp knife, score a 1-inch border
around edges of pastry sheets (do not cut through). With a fork, prick center
of pastries. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. With a spatula,
press down center portion of pastries, leaving outer edges intact. Remove to
wire racks to cool.
■ Arrange chopped rhubarb in a single layer in a 13x9 inch baking dish.
Combine orange juice, honey and Amaretto; pour over rhubarb. Bake at
400° for 10 minutes. Strain rhubarb and transfer liquid to a small saucepan;
bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer until reduced
to ½ cup, about 20 minutes. Cool.
■ For filling, stir together Mascarpone Cheese, Amaretto and honey until
smooth. Spread Mascarpone mixture over center of each pastry. Top with
chopped rhubarb. Brush rhubarb with liquid. Serve after cooled.
Rhubarb Tart
RECIPE CARD
Rhubarb Lemon Grass