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PLA1NDEALER - PAGE 13 -FRIDAY, APRIL 6.1979 Perky Patche» in the »ky... Build your own wilderness Tomatoes now grow in surprising places The tomato, America's fa­ vorite garden plant, is now growing in surprising places. No longer restricted to rural settings, the tomato is alive and well in the big cities-- growing on balconies alongside skyscrapers and cascading from hanging bas­ kets indoors. If you're a city dweller and yearn to test that green thumb of yours, why not start growing your own tomatoes? All you need are the basics required for container gar­ dening with all plants--light, soil, nutrients and water. Tomatoes are sun wor­ shippers and need at least six hours of continuous sunlight daily, according to the Ortho book "All About To­ matoes." But don't despair if you don't have a southern exposure. You can supplement the sunlight you do have with in­ door fluorescent lighting, or you can. grow juicy tomatoes in portable containers that can be moved to follow the sun. Choosing the right soil for your indoor tomato plant is important. Most profession­ als prefer the synthetic "soil­ less" mixes to regular garden soil, since they are cleaner and free of weed seeds and plant disease organisms. Synthetic mixes also have more space between soil par­ ticles, which provides for rapid drainage of water so that sufficient air and water will be left in the soil. Air in the soil is vital for the growth of roots, which transport nu­ trients directly to your plant. A continuing supply of nu­ trients is necessary if you want robusty(omato plants. Soil and water will supply your plain with a certain amount of nutrients, but these should be supple­ mented with regular applica­ tions of a good fertilizer, like Ortho Tomato and Vegetable Food 10-20-5, which will give your plant the required bal­ ance of 10% nitrogen, 20% phosphorous, and 5% potas­ sium. Since it's a timed- release formula, one applica­ tion wijl feed your plants for a three to four month period. To bring all these nutrients to your plant's roots, make sure you water it regularly. With these basics in mind, you're now ready to decide which tomatoes you want to star in your "patch in the sky." The most adaptable for indoor growing are the hy­ brid, or small-fruited, types. Smallest of the hybrid to­ matoes is "Tiny Tim," a di­ minutive 12-inch plant with cherry-sized fruit. Marinate for super taste Cheap doesn't mean dull, says the new Ortho book "Elegant Meals With Inex­ pensive Meats," especially since some of the most ele­ gant dishes are simple broiled meats. With a good marinade and skewers, you can prepare a luscious mixed grill combin­ ing cuts of beef, lamb and * pork, fillet and variety meats like liver or kidney. Marinate the meat ahead of time in a mixture of soy sauce, sherry, oil, onion and garlic, and refrigerate. Then place in your broiler and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with a great big tossed salad pr your favprus Y e g e t u b t e V . V . V . ' . ' . Y V , « . If you want your tomatoes to really stand out in your salad, you can try larger vari­ eties such as "Pixie Hybrid" that yields tomatoes the size of a half dollar. The tasty point is that to­ matoes for gardening indoors come in all shapes and sizes--and if you're not sure which is best for your plant­ ing needs, consult a good book on the subject, like Ortho's "All About To­ matoes." Once you've mastered the art of growing tomatoes in your apartment, you can use them to "landscape" in­ doors. Place them wherever you would normally put flowers to add lush, spots of color to your interior. These plants also make excellent centerpieces for your dining room table and, when you've finished admiring them, you can toss the tomatoes right into your salad. WILD YOUR OWN WILDERNESS; It's possible with trees. Editors of Ortho's best-seller, "The World of Trees," report that a California family created their own refuge on a 90 x 100 foot lot near a housing development. The family did it by agreeing on their objective--to be able to look out any window and never see another structure and then by planting trees and shrubs. Here's their report: "We welcome birds and squirrels; the skunks and raccoons investigate by night. It is a good feeling, the feeling of wilderness, even though we know that the neighbors we love are almost within touch." Herbs 9 spices cultivated first in ancient world Excavations and early documents show that herbs were important to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. There is little doubt they were also cultivated in the Orient centuries before they were grown and appreciated in the West. Columbus was an impor­ tant figure in the history of herbs and spices. When he returned to Spain from the New World he carried allspice, red pepper and cocoa. These plants, together with plants from Europe and the Indies, became the basis of the great Renaissance gar­ dens where many kinds of herbs were planted together in elaborate formal patterns. Today herbs and spices are enjoying a renaissance here in the United States. In the early years of this century Americans knew lit­ tle of herbs beyond fam­ iliarity with the ubiquitous parsley, mint and a few other basics. But lately there has been a tremendous escalation in the popularity, production and distribution of herbs and spices as garden seed, plants and dried products. One reason for this is the fact that many of them flourish in a range of cli­ mates, require little mainte­ nance. use water sparingly and have built-in pest resis­ tance, according to Orth6's new book. "The World of Herbs & Spices." In addition, Americans are becoming more interested in good food and more creative -in their cooking. They are taking cooking lessons, buy­ ing cookbooks and discover­ ing secrets of great cuisines that rely on herbs and spices. As a result, they are using a * greater variety of seasonings. The popularity of herbs also can be attributed to the upsurge of interest in garden­ ing. People are discovering the pleasures, as well as the economy, of homegrown produce. The word herb' is de- r i v e d f r o m t h e L a i i n herba. which means grass i ! . or green crops. Most herbs. >\V are.herbaceous plants, that - is. plants whose stems are soft and succulent rather than woody. The word "spice" comes from the Latin "species," which means ally. Therefore, Spices may be thought of as allies of or complements to other substances. A spice may be any strongly flavored or aromatic substance obtained from seed, root, fruit, flower or bark that is used in the same ways as herbs. But the real importance of herbs and spices is not what distinguishes them from one another, but unites them for us. the pleasure they give and their usefulness in cooking and other ways. Herbs and spices are used in very small quantities be­ cause of the potency of their essential oils. Therefore, they appeal to the gardener with limited space and the cook on a budget. But you should also keep in mind that an herb or spice can be the main event insead of a mere garnish or flourish. For example. Persian cooks flavor parsley with lamb; crystallized ginger root is well known in the Orient as a confection and Italian pesto -- made of freshly ground basil leaves -- is used with pasta exactly as a meat sauce is. Ortho's book "The World of Herbs Spices" provides an illustrated guide to more than 160 herbs and spices shows how to grow them and o f f e r s s o m e c r e a t i v e recipes--such as the delici­ ous Italian pesto. mand don't think of herbs And don't think of herbs and spices as inessentials or luxuries. Green herbs are in some cases as rich in nutrients as their vegetable relatives. Tips for in-flight comfort When traveling by air, try to pack only what you can carry aboard the plane. This permits you to change your plans enroute, and eliminates the possibility of lost or de­ layed baggage. If you plan to work during your flight, consider travel­ ing first class where you will have more room. Window seats are best for sleeping. Aisle seats give you leg stretching room and ac­ commodate carry-on lug­ gage. Non-smokers should ask foi a seat at least five rows away from the smoking sec­ tion. Any closer and you might as well be sitting with smokers. You may want to consider staying at hotels or motels near airports to avoid driving in the city. „ Please Place Your Orders EARLY Wf>$ CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY RIVERSIDE BAKE SHOP 1309 RIVERSIDE DR. • 385-0044 • McHENRY