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We have a new rule here. Zucchini at every meal. Try this one. Slice zucchini very thin like with a mandoline or a food processor. Marinate on the counter with lemon juice. When it softens layer it on toasted crusty bread. Sprinkle with olive oil and parmesan cheese. I'm going to try it as a salad here shortly. I think it would be just as good on lettuce.

I'm assuming that you are rotating your crops annually so the crop before can help feed the crop after, and not leave behind a soil deficiency. How does crop rotation affect the soil? Each crop has different fertilizer requirements. By changing the location of your crops you can avoid the risk of depleting the soil of specific nutrients. Some crops will actually add essential elements to the soil. By using crop rotation, you can actually build up the soil over the years. How do I do this? It’s easy! Plants are often grouped by families that share similar growth habits and cultural requirements. By knowing your plant families (and their garden companions) you can create a plan for your own garden rotation. The following example divides the garden into four sections. As you can see, each year, the vegetable groups are planted in a different section of the garden. There are a few simple rules for crop rotation: • Don’t follow tomato, peppers or eggplant with potatoes, or each other. • Allow 3 years before replanting the same group in any given bed. • Onions may be planted throughout all groups. • Beets, carrots and radishes may be planted among any group, and replanted as early crops are removed. • Don’t forget to interplant with companion plants to minimize pesticide use. See the Companion Plants handout for some ideas on this practice. • Keep good notes so you can duplicate successes. Another interesting idea-“Green Manure” To help build organic matter, you might also consider using a “green manure” sometimes called a cover crop. There are both summer and winter cover crops. Buckwheat makes a great summer cover, and would be used in conjunction with your garden rotation plan. Cereal rye is a good choice for fall planting. Sow it after your fall garden cleanup and then till it under in the spring. By adding organic matter in this way, you will increase aeration and water holding capacity of your soil, prevent weed growth and soil erosion, and support the beneficial organisms necessary for a healthy, living soil. Year 1 Nightshades Peppers, Tomato Eggplant Potato Greens Cauliflower Cabbage, Broccoli Lettuces Legumes Peas Beans Pole beans Squash /Corn Cucumbers Squash Corn Pumpkins Year 2 Squash /Corn Cucumbers Squash, Corn Pumpkins Nightshades Peppers, Tomato Eggplant, Potato Greens Cauliflower Cabbage, Broccoli Lettuces Legumes Peas Beans Pole beans Year 3 Legumes Peas Beans Pole beans Squash /Corn Cucumbers Squash Corn Pumpkins Nightshades Peppers Tomato Eggplant Potato Greens Cauliflower Cabbage, Broccoli Lettuces Year 4 Greens Cauliflower Cabbage, Broccoli Lettuces Legumes Peas Beans Pole beans Squash /Corn Cucumbers Squash Corn Pumpkins Nightshades Peppers Tomato Eggplant Potato Also, was the soil ball root bound, did you mix the proper fertilizer into the soil before you planted (1-1-1) and follow it up every two weeks with another top feeding. Did you prune out the central leader to make the plant bush out?

Zoodles! Steelnut introduced me to them. They are very good....with everything. 😊

found a home for them