Learning when to harvest eggplants results in the tastiest and most tender of the fruit. Leaving the eggplant harvest too long causes bitter eggplant with a tough skin and large seeds. Learning how to harvest an eggplant correctly comes with practice, but it shouldn’t take long before you’re picking an eggplant like a pro. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade  family and a relative of tomatoes When to Harvest Eggplants A...

GARDEN & HOME Hibiscus – August Plant of the Month Jason French, Greenhouse Manager “The hibiscus family provides great color for the summer.” Hibiscus are a great summertime plant.  They like warmth and sun.  What could be a better plant of the month for August? There are three main types of hibiscus.  There are the tropical, hardy or perennial, and the shrub Rose of Sharon.  While they are all related their care does vary a little. The...

Cantaloupe Agua Fresca Agua fresca means “fresh water” in Spanish, and that’s exactly what this drinks is: a refreshing water-based beverage. Made up of little more than fresh fruit, citrus juice, and water, aguas frescas are the perfect way to cool down when it’s hot outside. What to buy: Look for the ripest melons available in the produce section—the riper the melons, the less sugar you’ll have to add to the recipe. A ripe melon...

GARDEN & HOME Plants and the Kansas Heat From Our Garden To Yours, Expect Success With Stutzmans Summer temps in Kansas can get extremely hot.  Plants will need some extra love and care during this time.  Here’s some tips to help. How to Prevent Heat Stress in Your Garden Plants Heat stress in garden plants is a real problem during July and August in much of the country. Extended periods of high heat (particularly when the heat index...

HEALTH & HAPPINESS Summer Heat Safety Tips By Mary Gormandy White M.A., SPHR Reviewed by Terri Forehand RN By Mary Gormandy White M.A., SPHR Reviewed by Terri Forehand RN Summer heat can be dangerous – even deadly – if you don’t take the proper precautions. According to Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Health and Public Safety, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control,...