Got a stove or fireplace where you burn wood only? Save those ashes and use them in this summer’s garden to grow some of the finest tomatoes ever. Already I can hear myself singing: “Oh it must be the tomatoes, maybe strawberries and homegrown potatoes, but I still think it must be tomatoes.” Those are a few words from my ‘Prostate Song.’
Can I tell you about a true experience? I’m assuming you’ve said ‘yes.’ A few years back I had an appointment with the urologist for my annual checkup that included PSA blood test results and a DRE. All the guys out there among my reading audience who have ever seen a urologist or family doctor will know what I’m talking about. To make a long story short, it was a bit of a surprise to me what happened following my examination. I ended up singing the ‘Prostate Song’ a cappella for the attending doctor and a colleague resident urologist who was also present. I shan’t describe their enthusiasm and favourable reaction and comments at conclusion of my singing. Safe to say my prostate story in song and spoken-word form needs to be heard over and over again by men everywhere over the age of 40 (and their wives).
From the prostate let me jump next to another part of our human anatomy. It appears from research that eating more black beans and dark-coloured beans may help with gut issues and colorectal cancer prevention. Most of us have heard an old expression with variables from school days that goes something like this: “Baked beans are a musical fruit, the more we eat the more we toot. The more we toot the better we feel. Home-baked beans for every meal.” The focus now is not just eating fresh home garden-grown beans, but encouraging more use of dry beans in home-based cooking, so get out your old cookbooks for recipes such as Three-Bean Baked Casserole and Cowboy Crockpot Barbecue Beans.
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Well, that’s it in capsule form, ladies and gentlemen, in terms of what to expect. Have you finished your seed list yet? I’ve ordered some and checked out seed display stands at local garden centres and stores. There’s always something new or different to plant each year, although I’m working at cutting back. Gardening is the best kind of an addiction to have. Ask any gardener.
As soon as spring settles in I’ll be replacing old flags with new ones. Our national Canadian flag is one of the best known and easily recognized throughout the entire world. Bright red and white-as-snow colours complement each other so well. While watching a golden-oldie movie I noticed a lot of the men tipping their hats to the ladies. Can that old tradition ever be revived? Anyhow, here I am tipping my hat to all readers with thanks for coming by, so stay a while. Today I’m sipping on green tea with reishi ganoderma mushroom blend.
Use wood ashes to grow great tomatoes — peppers too
These plants like neutral pH to slightly acidic soil. The pH scale of measurement runs from 1 (very acid) to 14 (very alkaline) with 7 as neutral. Slightly acidic soil has a pH range of 6 to 6.5. Ashes can be an excellent resource for gardeners by helping recharge soil with minerals and numerous trace nutrients. At the top of the list is calcium, which is absolutely essential as an easily absorbed form that tomato and pepper plants require. There’s a good chance you’ll never have blossom end rot on tomatoes again after a dressing of wood ashes is worked into soil — some added into the planting hole and more ashes also spread on the soil surface and watered in around transplants. Besides large amounts of calcium, wood ashes also contain potash, both of which are absolutely essential for plants to develop healthy cells and strong stem and branch structure that lead to plenty of blossoms and healthy fruit. Remember: without enough calcium, tomato plants — and even peppers — are highly prone to blossom end rot. First fruits may look OK on top but a ghastly appearance on the bottom side confirms decay. Tomatoes are up to 90 per cent water and it just so happens potash (a.k.a. potassium) is used by tomatoes to help them absorb water, resulting in larger, more juicy fruits. Wood ashes also increase soil’s ability to retain moisture. When it rains or after you water plants, they remain hydrated longer.
There are cautions against using too much of anything. Overuse of fertilizer can burn plants and too much nitrogen provides an overabundance of leafy growth, with less fruit or slow-to-ripen fruit. So what’s the caution with using wood ashes? If too little wood ash is applied in the garden, tomato plants may not receive enough of the critical nutrients they need. If extra-heavy doses of wood ash are applied year after year, it can affect the pH of soil and, over time, negatively affect or change soil from slightly acid or neutral pH to somewhere on the sweet or alkaline side. In most cases that’s not likely to happen. Home soil test kits to help determine your soil pH are available at many garden centres.
A reminder to menfolk again: when it comes to prostate health, the key wellness-promoting nutrient in tomatoes is an antioxidant called lycopene. A saladette plum-shaped mid-season bright red variety called Health Kick tomato is promoted as containing an extra-high concentration of lycopene. Ask for Health Kick tomato seeds at garden centres or send an email to Lindenberg Seeds.
Health benefit of black beans confirmed by studies
Good or not-so-good food choices can affect gut bacteria. Black beans and dark red beans are rich in dietary fibre and excellent sources of plant-based protein, plus anti-inflammatory micronutrients and antioxidants. Researchers in a study found participants who consumed dark beans each day had positive changes in their gut microbiome: more beneficial bacteria and fewer opportunistic bacteria and bowel issues. A surgical oncologist and director of a gastrointestinal program stressed that “We each have good bacteria and potentially bad bacteria. And so if we can stimulate the good bacteria to impact the immune system to prevent cancer or cancer recurrence or cardiovascular disease through diet, that would be extremely important.” He also said “it is essential for physicians to talk to their patients about gut health and how diet can influence the bacteria.” A person has between two and three trillion bacteria within the body, he said, and evidence shows they play important parts in preventing disease and guiding treatment.
Here are some dry baking and casserole bean varieties that have a mild adaptable taste:
- Calypso dry bean, also known as Orca drying bean, an organic Mexican heirloom, unusual black and white colour (see photo), has a creamy texture, looks great on the plate, compact bushy plants easy to grow and harvest. Online or phone toll free 1-888-804-8820.
- Jacob’s Cattle, an old-fashioned favourite heirloom with slender kidney-shaped beans with red markings on a white shell; superb for baking.
- Red kidney, a must-have high yielder of large red beans and a favourite for all-veggie chili.
- Soldier, an heirloom with excellent flavour and early maturity, abundant yield, extra-long pods and a soldier symbol on the eye. Online or phone 1-800-363-7333
- Black turtle bean, a solid-black variety loaded with protein, fibre, zinc, copper and antioxidant activity, plus a detoxifier. Online or (not toll-free) phone 204-895-9962.
