FROM THE GROUND UP. Medicinal Herbs - Nature s RX. Volume 22, Issue 4 Fall The Floyd Bennett Garden Association

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Blaise Knight
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Traditionally known as natural or folk remedies, they are used to ail variety of issues including the chills, colic, fevers, dizziness, gas stomach nausea, voting, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, heart

Peppermint - Peppermint is a perennial herb of the mint family cultivated for its aromatic oil. It thrives best in rich moist soil where it is cool.

1 The Floyd Bennett Garden Association Volume 22, Issue 4 Fall 2016 FROM THE GROUND UP The Newsletter That Helps You Grow Medicinal Herbs - Nature s RX Submitted by Diann Davis Peppermint and fennel are two medicinal herbs that can do wonders for the body. Traditionally known as natural or folk remedies, they are used to ail variety of issues including the chills, colic, fevers, dizziness, gas stomach nausea, voting, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, heart palpitations, influenza, grippe, hysteria, rheumatism, neuralgia and headaches with little known side effects. Peppermint - Peppermint is a perennial herb of the mint family cultivated for its aromatic oil. It thrives best in rich moist soil where it is cool. The vine can grow three feet in length and spreads by runners with creeping stems that grow up to two feet. It produces lilac-pink flowers and its leaves produce pungent oil that is used to make tea, chewing gum, perfume, soap, crème de menthe liqueur, flavor candy. The peppermint menthol (peppermint camphor) is extracted from the oil to be used as an antiseptic in medicines for treating colds and by dentists. It is in toothpaste, powders and various pastes used by them as well as dental floss, and other medicines because of its cooling effect. It is even in some deodorants and CONTENT Medicinal Herbs 1-2 First Year Experiences 3 Garlic Diseases 4-5 Recipes 5 Halloween Madness 6-7 Announcement Back powders. As an aromatic, the oil can be burned over or in a lamp, sprinkled whole or chopped to be inhaled or placed throughout the home to freshen the air and give the area a clean smell. As a stimulant peppermint strengthens the digestive tract by stimulating the gastric lining and lessening the amount of time food stays in the stomach. It relaxes the muscles and promotes burping - useful for relieving colic, dysentery, gas, stomach nausea and grippe. It also has been used for dysentery, which is an infection of the lower intestine. Taken as a tea it quickly diffuses itself through the digestive tract to bring the body to natural warmth. You may need more than one cup so that it gets into the system. If you can t make tea, you can chew the leaves and swallow them. Peppermint lozenges are known to ease sore thoughts and relive migraine headaches. Although rubbing peppermint on the skin has been known to help ease the pain of rheumatism, neuralgia and headaches, it can cause irritation and redness. Fennel - Fennel is a perennial herb that can be used as a spice whose seeds and leaves stimulate the appetite. It is very aromatic, slightly sweet, and a little bit spicy with an anise or licorice flavored scent. When planted in a garden it will come back every year unless the root s taken out. The plant produces yellow flowers that yield seeds and loves shade and rich moist soil. Insects rarely bother it. Fennel has many medicinal and culinary uses acting as a stomachic, carminative, pectoral, diuretic, aromatic and a spice. As a stomachic, the oils of the plant have a relaxing effect on the intestines to help aid digestion and relieve gas. It is also known to relieve acid stomach in pregnant women, colic in babies as well as bad breath. As a calmative it cures spasms and cramps. It can be grounded and steeped as a tea for snake and insect bites or poison from food. It is also known to aid obstruction of the liver, spleen, gall and yellow jaundice.

Fennel can manage IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms and bloating if the tea is taken several times a day.

The herb can help eliminate colds by inhaling the steam when it is boiled (boil in water, place a towel over your head and the pot and inhale the aroma).

As a spice, fennel tastes great in salads, side dishes, pureed in soups and sauces and as an ice cream flavor! Fennel has also been known to help one lose weight. Fennel has no bounds!

5lb tomato grown by Carolyn Munoz FBGA Contacts Adriann Musson Gail Schneider President Fundraising 917-446-3764 347-533-3787 fbgapres@optonline.net gschneider33@hotmail.

2 Fennel can manage IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms and bloating if the tea is taken several times a day. Raw fennel bulbs are said to fight constipation and as a diuretic it can increase urine and menstrual flow. The herb can help eliminate colds by inhaling the steam when it is boiled (boil in water, place a towel over your head and the pot and inhale the aroma). It also thought to improve concentration, alertness and stimulates the sympathetic nerves. As a spice, fennel tastes great in salads, side dishes, pureed in soups and sauces and as an ice cream flavor! Fennel has also been known to help one lose weight. Fennel has no bounds! WORDS TO GROW BY Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. Author Unknown 2.5lb tomato grown by Carolyn Munoz FBGA Contacts Adriann Musson Gail Schneider President Fundraising fbgapres@optonline.net gschneider33@hotmail.com Susan Sugarman Tom Ingram Vice President Landscape Maintenance susan.sugarman@gmail.com tomato1646@verizon.net Judy Tropeano Tom Marange Treasurer Help-A-Gardener jcricket16@aol.com tom.jetty@verizon.net Clara Villanueva Marie Artesi Corresponding Secretary Landscape Design fbgasecretary@aol.com Lynn Halligan Recording Secretary & Special Events mamaduke23@aol.com Zena Nelson Newsletter Editor fbgaeditor@gmail.com Sylvia Tsingis Joe Nerone Champions of Courage Pumpkin Patch Garden starcilagos@verizon.net Carl Arendt Ops & Maintenance Lynn Graham Children s Garden carloelba@optimum.net firecutskill@yahoo.com Roy Brummell Conflict Resolution roybrumm@verizon.net Late tomatoes for all this year. Pumpkins were plentiful though!

3 Letter From a First Year Gardener Hello, my name is Ekaterina (aka Kat), and I am a first year gardener at FBGA. I was waiting for a plot couple of years and was very thrilled to get one this year L(ucky) 13. I got my plot in April, which gave me a plenty of time to get used to the idea of becoming a real gardener (not a pots planter anymore); to clean up overgrown weeds from my plot; build a fence and a gate; and do some planning for my future garden. I was very excited about planting in a real garden, but had to hold myself back and not plant every possible fruit and vegetable on my 10x20 plot! Now, at the end of my first garden season, I can summarize my experience and share with you what did I plant and describe my successes and my disasters. With help of my son, Ilia, the following were planted: 30 strawberry plants, 3 kinds of cucumbers, tomatoes ( Bull s Heart, Black Prince, Golden Jubilee and Grape ), sweet peas, sweet and hot peppers, dill, parsley, scallions, radish, gooseberry (compact), black currant, and potatoes. I had a pretty good harvest of strawberries, even though I lost some to birds (before I covered them with a net). Tomatoes were a total success! I am especially proud of the Bull s Heart variety, which I grew from seeds that my grandmother, Valentina, gave me 14 years ago!!! Yes, that s right, 14-yearold seeds! I also had very good harvests of cucumbers, peppers, and radishes. Many first-year gardeners make mistakes, and I was not an exception! I planted 8 potatoes per my son s request without thinking. OMG! I spent a tremendous amount of energy trying to get rid of the Colorado potato beetle, which was indulging not only in my potato plant but also my tomato plant as well. I committed myself to keeping my garden as organic as possible, so I used a hand-bug-picking method, soap-baking soda mix and Neem Oil spray for organic gardens in my war with the potato beetle. I won about 10 lbs. of beautiful pink potatoes, but what price did I pay! No potatoes for me ever! Besides fruits and vegetables, I also successfully planted flowers, including Gladiolus, Iris, Aster, and Calendula. The flowers were a beautiful addition to my garden and my home. I will definitely plant more varieties next year. I also have to mention my quality community time with Joe Nerone at Pumpkin Patch. I always wanted to grow pumpkins and FBGA gave me this opportunity. I learned a lot from pumpkin-patch keeper Joe about different kinds of pumpkin, squash, edible plants, plants that keep away certain bugs, edamame beans, and a little rabbit that lives on the pumpkin patch. Thank you, Joe! Overall, I had a very good experience as a first-year gardener at FBGA. It is a very relaxing environment with nice, welcoming gardeners who are ready to share their experience, plants, and harvest and who offer you help and invite you to their picnic tables. My first season is over, but I am very excited about next season and already preparing. See you soon! Submitted by Ekaterina Wruck

GARLIC DIESEASES Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention August Saint-Gaudens, the renowned American Sculptor, once said, [w]hat garlic is to food, insanity is to art.

For example, I did not know that there existed the braided soft neck garlic, and the purple stripe hard neck garlic.

4 GARLIC DIESEASES Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention August Saint-Gaudens, the renowned American Sculptor, once said, [w]hat garlic is to food, insanity is to art. Before I began researching for this article, I did not know that there was a variety in the types of garlic. For example, I did not know that there existed the braided soft neck garlic, and the purple stripe hard neck garlic. Apparently, the garlic that I repeatedly purchased and used in cooking is called the fresh elephant garlic. This season, I am very excited to plant garlic since it will be my first time. I heard that planting garlic can be a very easy-to-grow herb in the garden but it is also prone to disease. So I decided that before planting, I research and share my findings about garlic disease. There are several different types of diseases that can infect garlic. These include, but are not limited to: Basal Rot, White Rot, and Downy Mildew. Botrytis Rot and Penicillium Decay. Prevention: Most of the major garlic diseases stem from the soil, so prior to planting garlic; you must assess the condition of your soil and should rotate it yearly. A healthy garden is key to growing healthy garlic. Thus, the first step to preventing fungus, e.g. fusarium, and other soil borne diseases is to ensuring that you plant the garlic in well-drained fertile soil. Also, once planted, make sure that when you are weeding the garden, you do not injure the roots because this would allow diseases to pierce the garlic via the broken plant tissue. Furthermore, when covering the garlic, it is important to know which type of covering is best for the garlic. For instance, mulch is helpful for evening out the moisture in the soil between rains and snow. Consistent soil temperature prevents the separation of the young roots from the cloves that results from repeated freezing and thawing resulting in frost heaves. Types of Diseases and Symptoms: Basal Rot: Basal rot is a slow developer that causes the garlic leaves to become yellow and slowly die. Fungal growth, an indicator of Basal Rot, occurring at the base of the garlic bulb can lead to rotting before and after the harvest. The best way to prevent the disease from spreading is to remove the infected plants immediately upon discovery. Additionally, by treating the garlic cloves with a hot water treatment before planting can reduce the chances of infectious diseases by one-half. White Rot: White Rot is just like Basal Rot, but the disease develops much faster and thus causes the plant to die much quicker. If there exists white, fluffy fungal growth on the stem that extends around the bulb base, then remove the plants immediately. It is advisable to not re-plant in infested fields, but application of some iprodione products (Rovral-an agricultural product-not to be used on residential sites) at planting may help reduce disease incidence. Also avoid planting infested cloves. Pre- treating garlic cloves before planting can help reduce white rot. Hot water pre-treatment includes dipping cloves in hot water before planting, though the water should not be above boiling as this will kill destroy the cloves. Downy Mildew: Downy Mildew causes white furry growth on and yellowing of the plant leaves. The younger plants will die and older plants will not continue to grow. To reduce Downy Mildew, space out the planting of the garlic because good air circulation prevents and reduces Downy Mildew. Botrytis Rot: Botrytis Rot is also known as neckrot because it causes water-soaked stems and gray fuzzy fungal growth. To prevent the Botrytis Rot, space out the plants and use disease free bulbs. Disease free bulbs apt for planting result from proper storage the year before, including drying the harvest immediately and storing the garlic in cool and airy spaces. Penicillium Decay: Penicillium Decay eventually causes the seed clove itself to decay because the disease affected the plant by stunting its growth and the plant seems lifeless and yellow. The garlic glove will be a bluish-green. To prevent Penicillium Decay, plant the gloves immediately after they crack and ensure that you do not injure the bulb. Also, when storing, immediate dry the gloves beforehand. Nematodes: Nematodes disease has a variety of infections: Ditylenchus dipsaci, Pratylenchus penetrans (lesion), and Meloidogyne (root knot)

species are most commonly associated with Allium crops. The best method for preventing Nematodes is prevention from the onset. Soil or even bulbs can be tested for Nematodes at diagnostic facilities.

When removing an infested plant, clean the equipment immediately Ensure that the seeds you intend to plant are not infected If infection of plants still persists, rotate away from planting garlic for

cornell.edu/factsheets/garlicdiseases.pdf Pleaseant, Barbara. All About Growing Garlic. Mother Earth News, Oct. / Nov. 2009. Web 17 Sept. 2016 Floyd Bennett Gardens Association Inc.

5 species are most commonly associated with Allium crops. The best method for preventing Nematodes is prevention from the onset. Soil or even bulbs can be tested for Nematodes at diagnostic facilities. Treating the bulbs with hot water may kills the nematodes in the bulbs, but once the soil is infested, crop rotation without garlic may be the only cure, but not a guarantee because of the varying persistent forms of Nematodes. Management Strategies: Ensure that the soil of the fields is clean Start by cleaning from the cleaner parts of the soil and then proceed to the soil infested with disease and/or fungus. When removing an infested plant, clean the equipment immediately Ensure that the seeds you intend to plant are not infected If infection of plants still persists, rotate away from planting garlic for a couple of years. Submitted by Asima Chaudhary FOOT NOTES Moyer, Michelle M. Diseases of Garlic: Various Pests. Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 11/11 Pleaseant, Barbara. All About Growing Garlic. Mother Earth News, Oct. / Nov Web 17 Sept Floyd Bennett Gardens Association Inc. is located in Floyd Bennett Field, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Editor: Zena Nelson Contributors: Ekaterina Wruck, Asmina Chaudhary, Diann Davis, Rita Pearl Proofreaders: Photographs: Solana Rosenberg, Ekaterina Wruck Website: fbga.net Contact Louis M. - fbgaweb@optonline.net Contact us: FBGA News PO Box Ryder Retail Station Brooklyn, NY fbgaeditor@gmail.com Our Policy: All submissions to the newsletter may be edited for grammar, spelling and length. We reserve the right to reject entries. Disclaimer Required by the National Parks Service The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the United States Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government. From Garden To Plate Original Recipes from FBGA Gardeners Peppermint Tea Place 6 or more leaves in water and boil, drink tea, lie down for twenty minutes Peppermint Cleanse- Detox water peppermint leaves, 2 lemons, ½ cucumber, 3 quarts water, diffuse overnight Fennel Slaw with Mint 1 large fennel bulb 1 ½ teaspoons of sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon mustard ¼ cup olive oil ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon chopped mint 2 teaspoons minced shallot or onion Directions: Put lemon juice, shallot, mustard salt, sugar and mint in blender and blend into a liquid, shave fennel bulb into slices, pour over fennel and let marinate for an hour, serve cold or at room temperature Fresh Green Beans, Fennel & Feta Cheese By Fox Lair Farm 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed 1 fennel bulb, cut into thin slices 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese Directions: Fill a saucepan half full with water and bring to a boil. Add the green beans and fennel slices; cook until just beginning to become tender, about 4 minutes. Pour into a colander to drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Return the empty pan to the stove and set heat to medium. Pour in the olive oil and let it heat for a minute. Return the green beans and fennel to the pan. Season with basil, salt, and pepper; cook and stir until coated and warm. Transfer to a serving dish and toss with feta cheese. Please share your gardengrown recipes! We re always eager to learn what yummy delights other gardeners have reaped. Please send the editor your ORIGINAL (internet downloads and published cookbook copies not accepted).

6 Halloween 2016

7 Halloween 2016

8 8 Announcements Renewal letters to be mailed December 5 th, Please remove your hoses from the water lines. The picnic area is closed until April 1 st, 2017.

Symptoms of Heartburn. Mustard for Heartburn Is It Effective?

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