SOWING IN OCTOBER
Fruits and Vegetables
Lettuce
Lettuce is used as a synonym for money. We say “is there any lettuce?”, asking whether there is money involved. Also, when we want to describe one who spends money without thinking, we say “he spreads money just like lettuce leaves”.
It is the best known green, fresh vegetable – we eat its big leaves.
Lettuce is eaten raw, alone or in salads, usually matched very well together with spring onion and dill.
In Greece we also eat it cooked in lamb dishes, or in stew during Easter time (called mageritsa).
Lettuce’s secrets
It is a very well known vegetable since ancient times – was used in Greece and several other countries.
It derives from Asia. There are many varieties today, from the simple, common lettuce – what we call romana – there is a French variety, iceberg, lola, Chinese, and other lettuces, that come in various colors, from dark green to red, transforming our salads to colorful dishes.
Lettuce contains a lot of water and small amounts of fiber. Its most important nutrients are vitamin A and potassium. Lettuce is also a source of vitamin C, calcium and iron.
….and lettuce’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the lettuce you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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Broccoli
It really looks like a tiny tree and is the cauliflower “cousin”!
Broccoli is one of the tastiest and healthiest winter vegetables. It can be eaten
raw or boiled in salads, pickled, in velouté vegetable soups, even “au gratin”!
Having a rich nutritional value it is beneficial for our health and ideal for those
who choose a low calorie diet!
Broccoli’s secrets
- The name broccoli is Italian, meaning the flowering top of a cabbage.
- It belongs to the same family as cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels
sprouts! - The green “tree shaped” part we eat is not the broccoli’s fruit, but its
flower! - It’s an Italian vegetable, known since the Roman Empire!
- One cup of broccoli has as much vitamin C as one orange!
….and broccoli’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and glue this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the broccoli you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
Cauliflower
One of the most popular vegetables, cauliflower is planted in the summer in order to enjoy it in the winter! We could say that cauliflower is broccoli’s… “cousin”!
It can be eaten in many different ways: raw, combined with other vegetables, boiled as a salad with lemon or vinegar dressing, au gratin, in soups, cooked with tomato sauce or even pickled!
Lately, it is becoming increasingly popular as pizza crust, instead of dough!
It has high nutritional value and plenty of health benefits! It is also perfect for people who are on a weight loss diet, since it has very few calories!
Cauliflower’s secrets
- We eat the white part of it, which is actually the plant’s flower!
- It comes from Eastern Mediterranean countries, and people also referred to it in ancient Greece and Egypt.
- It belongs to the same family of broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts!
- The less we cook it…the better, as it retains higher nutritional value!
….and cauliflower’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the cauliflower you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
Radish
A radish for the appetite, people say!
Plant label: common name Radish
Type (herb, bush, tree): Herb
Maximum height: 20 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Medium, about 1-2 times a week
Soil preferences (type): Plump potting soil
Flower colour: White or purple
Sowed in (month of the year): September- November
Cold tolerance (low- high): Medium
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low
RADISH SECRETS:
· Radishes have a strong taste and we eat them raw in salads.
· They occur in many varieties, depending on the size, color and time it takes them to ripen.
· They are known vegetables all over the world.
· They get ready to eat in 40-50 days from the time they are planted!
….and radish’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the radish you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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SPRING ONION
One of the most popular vegetables of our kitchen, spring onion can be used in many different dishes and recipes, adding flavor to our food!
It has a pleasant taste, so it is often eaten raw in salads!
It is rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins, but low in calories, so it is ideal for those who watch their diet!
Plant label: common name Spring onion
Type (herbs, bushes, trees): Herbs
Maximum height: 40 – 50 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Some, small quantities every 4 – 5 days
Soil preferences (type): Soft, with a good drainage
Flower color: White, white – greenish and purple
Sowed in (month of the year): Year round
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low, ideally it needs 15˚ C
Fresh onion’s secrets:
· It belongs to the same family as garlic and leek
· The underground part of the spring onion is called the bulb and it is basically the dry onion that we put very often in our food!
· It is very popular in Asia, where it is used in almost all recipes!
….and the spring onion’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and glue this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the spring onion you planted!
This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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CHICORY
One of the most well-known winter vegetables, chicory can grow wild, in the fields, but it can also be easily cultivated in our garden!
It has a characteristic bitter taste, which is why it is also called bitter chicory.
It is rich in fiber, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamins, but low in calories, so it is ideal for those who watch their diet!
Plant label: common name CHICORY
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 10 – 20 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun, but short hours of sunshine
Water requirements (little, a lot): A lot, small quantities every 4- 5 days
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients, with good drainage
Flower color: purple
Sowed in (month of the year): October to January
Cold tolerance (low- high): High
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low
THE CHICORY SECRETS
• We eat its leaves, either boiled, with olive oil and lemon, or raw as a salad. But very often it accompanies meat or fish, in several recipes.
• It has many varieties and types: wild white, wild red, tame, Italian, radicchio and the famous stamnagathi
• It is well known since ancient times!
….and the Chicory label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the chicory you planted!
This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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ARUGULA
One of the most aromatic and spicy herbs, very popular in Mediterranean cuisine, especially in Italy!
It is eaten raw in salads or in cold sandwiches, on pizzas, or with pasta!
It has rich nutritional value, as it is rich in minerals, vitamins and plant fibers, while it has minimal calories!
Plant label: common name Arugula
Type (herbs, bushes, trees): Herb
Maximum height: 20 – 100 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Often and in small amounts
Soil preferences (type): Plump and rich in nutrients
Flower colour: White and yellowish
Sowed in (month of the year): September, October and November
Cold tolerance (low- high): Quite high, to -10˚C
Heat tolerance (low – high): Ideally it needs 15-25˚C
THE SECRETS OF ARUGULA
• Belongs to the same family, along with cabbage and broccoli
• It has many health benefits, such as anti-cancer, strengthens bones and boosts immunity
• In Roman times, arugula was used as a pain reliever
• On the island of Ischia in Naples, a digestive alcoholic drink “rucolino” is produced from arugula.
…AND THE ARUGULA TAG!
Click on the link below, adjust the size, print, cut the border with scissors and glue this paper tag on an ice cream stick! Place the stick in the soil of the arugula you just planted!
Place the stick in the soil of the arugula you just planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially later when you will grow many plants at the same time!
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Fresh Herbs
Garlic
Garlic is present in the folklore of many cultures. European folk beliefs considered garlic a powerful ward against evil eye, demons and vampires. To ward off vampires, garlic could be worn, hung in windows, or rubbed on chimneys and keyholes.
Apart from… folklore, garlic is used as food flavoring, as it has a very nice spicy taste, and for medicinal purposes, as it is very good for our health! It can be eaten raw, grilled, boiled, in sauces, in salads, in pickles, but also in our favorite Greek… tzatziki (sauce with yoghurt, put in traditional dish of
souvlaki).
Its close relatives include onions, and shallots.
GARLIC’S SECRETS
• The white part of the garlic we eat is its bulb, which is found inside the soil!
• It is very good for our health, because it reduces blood pressure, protects
against colds, ameliorates the heart function and also acts as an antiseptic
…AND HERE IS THE GARLIC LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, Cut the border with scissors and Glue this paper tag on an ice cream stick!Place the stick in the soil of the garlic you just planted!
Place the stick in the soil of the garlic you just planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially later when you will grow many plants at the same time!
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Flowering Plants
Anemone
It is a well-known flower, cultivated in gardens and parks
It is abundant in forests and meadows
Its name, anemone, means “daughter of the wind” – it comes from the Greek word anemos (wind)
The Ancient Greeks believed that these plants bloomed only when the wind blew
There are more than 60 different species of anemone
Plant label: common name Anemone
|
Type (herb, bush, tree) |
herb |
|
Maximum height |
Usually up to 15 cm |
|
Light preferences (shade, sun) |
Sun |
|
Water requirements (little, a lot) |
A lot, so that the soil doesn’t dry |
|
Soil preferences (type) |
Rich in nutrients |
|
Flower colour |
Red, dark purple, light purple, pink, or white |
|
Sowed in (month of the year) |
September to November |
|
Cold tolerance (low- high) |
Quite enough |
|
Heat tolerance (low – high) |
Quite enough |
Anemone’s secrets:
In Eastern cultures anemone is a symbol of illness or bad luck, while in Western cultures it is a symbol of protection from negative thoughts and actions
The ability of the flower to close at night and open in the morning means the prediction of something that will happen soon (like rain)
Herbalists in the Middle Ages used it as a medicine for headaches
Today it is rarely used due to its toxic ingredients
The name of the flower is associated with an ancient myth describing the love of Adonis and Aphrodite that didn’t last long. When the wind blows it makes its buds bloom and after another blast its petals scatter far away…
…AND THE Anemone LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and glue that paper label on an ice cream stick!
Then put the stick in the soil of the Anemone you planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially when you sow and grow several plants at the same time…!
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Tulip
When one hears the word tulip, Holland definitely comes to mind! This flower has become the symbol of the Netherlands, even though it comes from Central Asia!
It is one of the most beautiful and impressive flowers, that we plant in autumn and forms meadows full of beautiful colors!
Plant label: common name Tulip
Type (herb, bush, tree): Herb
Maximum height: Up to 70 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Around one time a week
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower colour: Red and yellow, less often pink and white
Sowed in (month of the year): October and November
Cold tolerance (low- high): High
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low
Tulip’s secrets:
· In Byzantine times, the tulip was the symbol of Constantinople.
· Tulip symbolizes eternal love
· On Chios island there are 4 types of tulips that we call “lilies”
· Plant the tulip bulb, at a depth of 8 to 10 cm, with the nose upwards
· It is said that the tulip got its name from its resemblance to the turban, a type of hat worn by many people in the Middle East. The turban is also referred to as “toliban” and in Latin this changed to “tulipa”.
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and stick that paper tag on an ice cream stick!
Then place the stick into the soil of the tulip you planted! This way you will know which plant it is since you are growing multiple plants at the same time…!
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Hyacinth
Everyone agrees that it is one of the most beautiful plants of autumn, with an intense, intoxicating aroma and colorful flowers!
Mikis Theodorakis has also mentioned the hyacinth, in his well-known song “Boat on the shore” with the lyrics saying:
“Boat on shore, boat on shore,
pot with hyacinth and basil”.
We find it in flower beds, in large gardens, as well as in pots on balconies.
Plant label: common name Hyacinth
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: Up to 30 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A lot, so that the soil doesn’t dry
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower colour: Purple, blue, yellow, pink, red or white
Sowed in (month of the year): October
Cold tolerance (low- high): Quite enough
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite enough
Hyacinth’s secrets:
· In ancient times it was considered a favorite flower of the goddess Aphrodite and symbolized love and beauty
· It has a very strong aroma and a lot of pollen – this is the reason it gathers many bees around it
· Possibly toxic to cats, dogs, and humans
· It can also bloom in water! To achieve this, we take a special jar with a narrow neck and put the hyacinth bulb in the upper part, in such a way that it is at a breathing distance from the water in the jar.
…AND THE HYACINTH LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and stick that paper tag on an ice cream stick!
Then place the stick into the soil of the hyacinth you planted! This way you will know which plant it is since you are growing multiple plants at the same time…!
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Freesia
A very beautiful, flower with an unusual appearance – it resembles a cob, before its flowers bloom- and a strong fragrance
It belongs to the Iris family and has bulbs
Plant label: common name Freesia
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 10 – 70 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A lot, 1-2 times a week
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower colour: White, yellow, orange, blue, maroon, red, purple, pink or a combination thereof
Sowed in (month of the year): October and November
Cold tolerance (low- high): Quite enough
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite enough
Freesia’s secrets:
· It symbolizes unconditional love, innocence, friendship and trust
· It was discovered in southern Africa, where it was called lily of the valley
…AND THE FREESIA LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and stick that paper tag on an ice cream stick!
Then place the stick into the soil of the freesia you planted! This way you will know which plant it is since you are growing multiple plants at the same time…!
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Pansy
It is one of the most beloved, popular, blooming and beautiful winter flowers, with characteristic black balls in the center of its flower.
Panses form amazing “carpets” in large pots, flower beds, and gardens.
The Greek national poet Kostis Palamas inspired by the beauty of flowers has mentioned pansy, in the lines of his poem “In the garden” where he writes:
“In the garden the roses were laughing at me, the violets out of their veils sent me their freshness greetings. And I passed.
The odorless meditative pansies stared at me, unmoving. And I stood by them”
Plant label: common name Pansy
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: Around 20 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A little, 2 – 3 times a week
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower colour: Yellow, orange, red, burgundy, purple, white, blue or colorful combinations
Sowed in (month of the year): October
Cold tolerance (low- high): Very high, even in -15°C
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite
Pansy’s secrets:
· It got its name from the French “Penser”, which means I think. This happened, because in the past, when a man wanted to show a woman he was thinking of her, he offered her pansies.
· Its colorful flowers are used by famous chefs to decorate dishes!
· It is the official symbol of Osaka in Japan.
· It is also widely used in Phytotherapy, as one of its active ingredients is the main ingredient in today’s aspirin, helping us overcome headaches and dizziness.
…AND THE PANSY LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and stick that paper tag on an ice cream stick!
Then place the stick into the soil of the pansy you planted! This way you will know which plant it is since you are growing multiple plants at the same time…!
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