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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Okra And Its Health Benefits

By Rosy Vohra

The worldwide used versatile vegetable called okra is characterized by green color, elongated and tapering ridged pods infused with double row of seeds and slimy texture when cut open. This integral member of the cotton family is indigenous to regions around the Nile in North Africa and the Middle East for it was discovered dating as far as 3500 years ago in Ethiopia. Early Egyptians are known to love its taste. Okra later transcended to North America enroute slave trade and then to Europe, Asia and South and Central America.

Besides being low in calories it is aplenty with vitamins of the category A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and dietary fiber. Eating okra is much recommended for pregnant woman besides other for it is rich in folic acid which is essential in the neural tube formation of the fetus during 4-12 weeks of gestation period in the mother's womb.

Growing Tomatoes - A Guide For First Time Tomato Growers

The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table: Recipes, Portraits, and History of the World's Most Beautiful Fruit

By: Philip Turner

Growing tomatoes has to be one of the most rewarding of all vegetable growing activities. Seeing those large red globes appear, as if from nowhere, is awe-inspiring.

There are hundreds of tomato varieties you can grow so try growing two or three different ones. Once you find a favorite you can then grow that one every year, and a few others, just in case you find an even better one.

Most tomatoes grow better in a greenhouse, but most gardeners do not have a greenhouse and must grow their tomatoes outdoors. A conservatory makes a good alternative to a greenhouse, better in some ways because it is larger and better ventilated.

You can start now by experimenting by buying different varieties of tomatoes at the supermarket. Try the yellow varieties because their taste is unbelievable. They are expensive, but if you like them then next year you can grow your own.

Order your seeds from specialist seed catalogs if you want the maximum choice. Garden centers only stock a few of the most popular varieties of seeds.

You need to decide between bush type tomatoes and the traditional type that require staking. If you grow bush tomatoes they are best grown in large containers to keep the fruits off the ground. You might have seen photos of bush tomatoes growing in hanging baskets - Forget it. There is not enough compost to support the roots of a tomato plant in any hanging basket.