Page Eight N/Warren Town and County News Thursday, January 10, 2019
Yard and Garden: Keeping Fall
Garden Produce Through Winter
By Richard Jauron and Willy Klein, ISU Extension
Vegetable gardens may close down for the winter
in Iowa, but gardeners can still enjoy the vegetables
they have grown. Many vegetables keep for months
in cold storage when provided the right conditions.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
horticulturists share information on vegetable
storage. To have additional questions answered,
contact Hortline at 515-294-3108 or at
hortline@iastate.edu.
My acorn squash are turning yellow. Why?
The problem may be improper storage. Acorn-type
squashes should be stored at a temperature of 50 to
55 degrees Fahrenheit. Some acorn-type squashes
will turn yellow when stored at temperatures above
55 F. High storage temperatures may also cause the
flesh to become stringy.
Why are my potatoes beginning to sprout?
Potatoes should be stored at a temperature of 40 F
and relative humidity of 90 to 95 percent. Tubers
often begin to sprout if storage temperatures are
above 50 F. Also, don't store potatoes with apples or
other fruit. Fruit produce ethylene gas. Ethylene
promotes sprouting of potatoes.
My sweet potatoes have become dry and
stringy. What caused this? It's likely the sweet
potatoes were not cured and stored properly. After
harvest, sweet potatoes should be cured for seven to
10 days at a temperature of 80 to 85 F and relative
humidity of 85 to 90 percent. (Since it's difficult for
most home gardeners to provide these conditions, a
good option is to place sweet potatoes in perforated
plastic bags and set the bags in a warm (70 to 75 F)
location in the home. Extend the curing time to 14 to
21 days.) Curing promotes healing of minor cuts and
bruises, prolonging the storage life of sweet potatoes.
Curing also improves the flavor of sweet potatoes as
starches are converted to sugars during the curing
process. After curing, store sweet potatoes at a
temperature of 55 to 60 F and relative humidity of
85 to 90 percent. Sweet potatoes stored at
temperatures above 60 F will shrivel and become dry
and stringy. Sweet potatoes may develop an off-flavor
and the flesh may become discolored when stored at
temperatures below 55 F.
My onions don't store well. Why? The storage
life of onions is largely determined by the variety
(cultivar) and storage conditions. When properly
stored, excellent long-term keepers, such as 'Copra,'
'First Edition,' 'Stuttgarter,' and 'Redwing,' can be
successfully stored for several months. Poor keepers,
such as 'Walla Walla' and 'Sweet Spanish,' can only
be stored for a few weeks. Onions should be placed
in mesh bags, crates or wire baskets and stored in a
cool (32 to 40 F), dry location. If storage temperatures
are too warm, onions may sprout. Rotting may be a
problem in damp locations. Inspect stored onions on
a regular basis in fall and winter. Discard any that
are starting to rot.
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Three Things Retirees Should Ways Stress Takes a Toll
Consider When Deciding on Your Body
Whether to Rent or Own a Home Did the latest challenge at work bring on a
Home ownership has long held an honored position tightening in your stomach? Does constant worry
as an integral part of the American dream, about a loved one's health make you physically ill
But when retirement time comes, rethinking that yourself?. Everyone at some point feels the effects of
dream could be in order. Sometimes renting a house stress. Not everyone deals with stress in the best way,
or apartment is the better bet both financially and though.
in terms of the retiree's changing lifestyle and health, "Often stressed-out people seek relief through
alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, but that just makes
says Eric Kearney (www.erickearneyadvisor.com), an
investment advisor for Retirement Wealth. matters worse," says Richard Purvis, a health and
wellness practitioner and author of Recalibrate: Six
"When people plan for retirement, they focus on
things like how much they have saved, how much Secrets to Resetting Your Age (www.
Social Security will pay, and whether they have richardpurvisauthor.com). "Instead of relieving
stress, those toxic substances tend to keep the body
pension," Kearney says. "But as you get older, you
also need to think about such issues as whether you in a stressed state, causing even more physical
can keep mowing the lawn or handling other day-to- problems."
day chores that homeownership requires. If you must April is Stress Awareness Month, a good time to
hire someone to do them for you, how much will that reflect on how the demands and anxieties of daily
eat into what may already be a tight monthly life put a strain not just on our minds, but on our
budget?" bodies as well. Stress, of course, is not always a bad
The truth: There's no answer that will fit everyone's thing. It does serve a positive purpose.
situation, he says. So retirees, or those approaching "It can keep us alert and prepares us to avoid
retirement, should weigh their personal pros and danger," Purvis says. "But stress becomes a negative
cons. factor when a person faces continuous challenges
"There's a lot to think about," he says. "Should you without any time mixed in for relief or relaxation."
sell the house you raised your family in and downsize As a result, he says, people become overworked,
to something more suitable for just the two of you? If and stress-related anxiety and illness can occur. The
you're planning to move to somewhere else in the strain leads them to suffer from such ailments as
country to enjoy your retirement, is it more prudent headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure,
chest pain, and problems sleeping.
to buy in that new location, or is leasing the way to
go to give you more flexibility if it doesn't work out?" Purvis says a few examples of how stress can play
Some things retirees should think about as they havoc on our bodies include:
ponder the own vs. rent question include: -Musculoskeletal system. When we experience
stress, it's natural for our muscles to tense up. "It's
Maintenance issues. When you own a home, every
leaky faucet, electrical problem or faulty appliance the body's way of guarding against injury and pain,"
is yours to handle as best you can. If you can do it Purvis says. Usually, the muscles relax once the
yourself, great; but often, these household repairs stressful event passes. But chronic stress keeps the
mean calling in a professional at a sometimes muscles in a constant state of guardedness. "When
exorbitant cost. When you rent, it's up to the landlord muscles are taut and tense for long periods of ime
other reactions in the body are triggered," he says.
or the property management company to take care
of the repairs. Chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, and
Mobility. Selling a house can be a long and head can lead to tension-type headaches and
complicated process, and you never know what the migraines.
market might be like when the time arrives. Whereas -Respiratory system. Stress causes people to
breaking a lease is much simpler. "If your children breathe harder. "That's not a problem for most
are scattered all over the country, you may want to people," Purvis says. "But if you suffer from asthma
move closer to one of them," Kearney says. "Also, if or a lung disease such as emphysema, getting
your health takes a turn for the worse, selling a home essential oxygen can be difficult." He says some
can be a significant burden on your family." studies show that acute stress events - such as the
The inheritance. For many people, a house is the death of a loved one - can trigger asthma attacks in
most valuable asset in their estate and they might which the airway between the nose and the lungs
want to leave it to their children in the will. Once constrict. Also, rapid breathing associated with stress
- or hyperventilation - can result in a panic attack
again, it's a matter of weighing the pros and cons.
in some people.
"Having a home to pass down to the children is a
-Gastrointestinal system. Sometimes people who
noble gesture, but it is not always feasible," Kearney
says.
"Before considering whether owning or renting is
the right option," Kearney says, "it's essential to
review all the intricacies of your situation and decide
based on your finances and your overall health and
well-being."
2019 Winter Bald Eagle Watches
Iowa is one of the best places in the country to
watch large convocations of Bald Eagles. During the
winter they move away from their nest sites and
gather around open water to hunt and fish on Iowa's
biggest rivers, particularly the Mississippi and Des
Moines. It's a thrilling sight and to make sure as
many people as possible get to enjoy this yearly
phenomenon, several organizations around the state
hold Bald Eagle watch events. To find a list of Bald
Eagle watch events, visit https://www.iowadnr.gov/
Conservation.
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are stressed will eat much more than usual.
Sometimes they will eat much less. Neither is
healthy. "You can get heartburn or acid reflux if you
eat more food: or different types of food or if you
increase how much alcohol you drink or tobacco you
use," Purvis says. When you're stressed, the brain
sends alert sensations to the stomach. Your stomach
can react with ' utterflies," nausea, or pain. "Severe
stress can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation,"
he says. "If your stress becomes chronic, you might
develop ulcers or severe stomach pain."
So what's to be done? Purvis points out that stress
is a natural occurrence in life and happens to
everyone.
"Since you can't avoid your job, bills, or other life
experiences, the best thing to do is learn to manage
stress," he says. ' /ou won't avoid stress entirely, but
it is possible to minimize the effects by eating healthy,
exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking
care of yourself in general."
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