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Remington Electric Mower Comparisons

Section of the MTD umbrella, Remington sells mowers which range from classic manual styles to electric, cordless versions. As of January 2014, the organization’s lineup of mowers includes RM212A the Remington RM202A and RM212B. While these yard tools offer mowing capabilities and electricity, they vary in their electricity sources and attributes, not to mention their price tags.

A Little Push

In the entry level, the Remington RM202A 2-in-1 Electric Push Mower runs on a engine. This mower is based on a power cord and includes a 19-inch cutting deck, 7-inch brakes and single-lever, six-position height adjustment, reaching heights between 1.25 and 3.5 inches. It sparks grass debris via a mulching side discharge.

Sticking with all the Cord

Like the Remington RM202A, the RM212A 3-in-1 Electric Push Mower requires a cord for power. It retains the specs in areas including deck height, deck size, height adjustment, engine and mulching capabilities. But this midrange version adds a rear bag. It upgrades the brakes to eight inches, so providing just a lot of lift, useful for slightly bumpier yards to the mower.

Breaking Free

On peak of the pile, Remington Electric Battery Push Mower distinguishes itself from the RM202A and the RM212A using its battery, making for cordless operation. Besides this factor, the specs of the RM212B remain equal to its cousin, including a 19-inch cutting deck, height adjuster, rear mulching tote and raised wheels.

A Personal Decision

Your selection of mower boils right down to the requirements of your yard, your preferences and your budget. These cordless and corded electric mowers cater to little – or medium-sized lawns, ideally under 1/3 of an acre in size. As of January 2014, the Remington RM202A provides the choice, at a price of $169. The RM212A mulching tote and tires come at little cost, as this version retails for $199. The RM212B’s operation , however, will make the biggest dent in your checkbook. Each weapon comprises a limited warranty when purchased new.

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Edible Zinnias

Bright, vibrant zinnias grow in lots of gardens. You can locate them in bouquets and dried flower arrangements. They also seem in tacos, tea and cheeses, as well as in fruit salads and birthday cakes. The edible landscaping movement is turning more people on to a simple fact that many state folks have known for a long time: several flowers make for healthy eating. Alphabetically, zinnias are last on the list, but that’s no reflection on their taste or adaptability for recipes.

About Zinnias

Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) Are annual flowers that grow in most of U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones. They’re native North American plants. Zinnias usually grow to be 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet broad, although some dwarf varieties are smaller. Their showy blossoms come many different colours, such as orange, red, yellow and bright pink. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long.

Growing Zinnias

Zinnias are easy to grow from seeds. They require eight to 12 weeks to blossom after planting. Zinnias should be planted after the danger of frost is past. They grow in most types of soil, but it must be well-drained. Prepare the soil by adding compost. Add 1 or 2 inches of compost to the top of the flower bed, and dig 6 to 8 inches of soil and mix the compost and soil. Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of this amended soil. Water well. Zinnias should be planted 6 to 18 inches apart, depending on how big the plant will probably be when fully grown. They need to be planted in full sunlight, which means they need over six hours of sunlight each day.

Cooking With Zinnias

Katie Shanks, who along with her family owns and operates Arcadia Farms, situated near Portage, Michigan, provides tips for cooking with zinnias. Shanks recommends rinsing the zinnias in cool water, shaking them checking and dry them thoroughly for bugs, which may hide under the big petals. Although the entire zinnia is creamy, Shanks recommends removing the seeds and just cooking using the petals. The flavor of zinnias is somewhat bitter, based on Shanks, who says, “Cooking with zinnias is much more about the enjoyment than the taste.” Nevertheless, she developed recipes to get 10 en plates that include zinnias within an ingredient. Miche Bacher, author of “Cooking With Flowers,” recommends tasting each type of flower before using that kind in a recipe.

Safety First

According to the University of Wisconsin, zinnias are nontoxic. You still will need to take precautions before cooking with them. Zinnias employed for cooking should not be treated with any chemicals, including pesticides or herbicides. If you use compost in the soil around them, it must be free of pathogens, which is present in manure. To compost manure so that it’s safe to use with edible plants, experts recommend that the compost pile heat to 130 to 150 degrees and keep that temperature for three days. Stir the compost, and permit it reheat three times; then, let it sit for about two months before applying it.

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Types of HVAC Units

HVAC — heating, ventilation and air conditioning — symbolizes the technology and science of heat air and spreading it through a construction effectively. HVAC professionals at the residential marketplace specialize in the sale and service of furnaces, ac units and fan ventilation methods. Within the previous two decades HVAC technology has advanced in leaps and bounds, driven mainly with the dual concerns of energy efficiency and environmental awareness.

Heating Things Up

Home furnaces come in two basic types: gas-fired and electric. While gas technically lags in efficiency versus an electric furnace, the substantially lower cost of natural gas in most regions compared with power offsets the efficacy advantage and generally means lower monthly operating expenses. Even the gap in efficacy has impeded, as newer gas-fired condensing furnaces recover heat previously dropped in the combustion process. Forced-air furnaces are ranked on the AFUE scale. Short for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, the present federal minimum for new furnaces is 78 percent. Condensing furnaces offer AFUE ratings above 90 percent.

Clearing the Air

Energy-efficient houses are built to be as airtight as possible. Indoor air may therefore become stagnant, as pollutants and airborne particulates collect. Low-tech choices include opening windows and doors at moderate weather or using an attic fan to exhaust stale air on cool nights. More recent inventions — heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators — induct fresh atmosphere while simultaneously exhausting an equal quantity of stagnant atmosphere to keep a neutral indoor air equilibrium and maintain household humidity and humidity.

Keeping It Cool

Central air conditioning, composed of an outside condenser and indoor air handler that distributes conditioned atmosphere through the whole house through duct work, is still the golden standard of residential cooling in terms of power and comfort. Window A/C units have been utilized to cool person rooms where retrofitting duct work for a central system isn’t feasible. Air conditioner efficiency is measured by a unit’s SEER rating. Short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, the figure expresses the proportion of BTUs of heat energy extracted per hour versus the amount of electricity in kilowatt hours consumed. Current federal minimums require a SEER of 13 on all of the central air conditioners. Window units are exempt from the federal minimum, but most offer a standard SEER of 10.

Pumping It Out

Since a heat pump performs both the heating and cooling functions, the technology goes in a category all its own. Heat pumps heat and cool by moving heat energy from 1 area to another. In summer, an indoor evaporator coil circulating refrigerant consumes household heat and conveys it outside to be spread into the atmosphere by a condenser coil. In winter, the two coils trade functions and the exterior coil extracts latent heat energy from cold outside air, compresses it into refrigerant and moves it indoors to be spread into duct work from the indoor coil. Since no fuel is burnt, heat pumps pose none of the efficiency losses associated with combustion. In moderate climates where temperatures seldom drop below 35 degrees in winter, a heat pump transfers around four units of heat for every 1 unit of power it consumes.

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Do You Have to Tie Up Romanesco Cauliflower Heads?

Due to its unusual color and contour, its hard to ascertain whether romanesco (Brassica oleracea var. romanesco) is cauliflower or broccoli. It is frequently called broccoli and you might find it recorded one of the broccoli seeds in catalogs, but technically, romenasco is just a cauliflower. The pyramid-shaped mind is made up of curds that grow in spirals and kind interesting fractals. Romanesco is just a self-blanching cauliflower you don’t need to tie up.

Blanching the Head

Blanching means protecting heads of cauliflower in sunlight so they develop a creamy white color. For many varieties, particularly old-fashioned kinds, this means pulling on the big leaves up above the head, and fastening them in place with string or a rubber band. Self-blanching cauliflower has leaves which grow up and above the mind naturally, providing partial protection from sunlight with no requirement for tying. Romanesco is just a self-blanching type. Most romanesco cauliflower cultivars create creamy, pale green heads instead of white. 1 notable exception is “Veronica,” which has bright, lime green heads.

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Difference Between Indian Bitter Gourd & Chinese Bitter Gourd

Mormordica charantia, or bitter gourd, is tightly linked to the cucumber and appears a bit like a large, warty zucchini. Normally called bitter melon in the United States, this fruit lives up to its common name. The bitter taste is foreign to most American palates and takes getting used to, but it adds a zesty snack to many cooked dishes. Grown as an yearly vine in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, bitter melon is comparatively pest-free and easy to grow with patience and suitable support.

Chinese vs. Indian Melon

Indian and Chinese gourds have exactly the same hardiness, cultural requirements and bitter taste (particularly to those not familiar with the bitter melon taste). The sole difference is the appearance of the fruit. Indian bitter gourds are narrower than the Chinese type, as opposed to a zucchini. They’ve irregular ridges and triangle-shaped “teeth” all on the surface of the skin, along with slightly ragged ridges. Indian bitter gourds may be green or white. Chinese gourds can grow over 11 inches long and have blunt ends. Broader than Indian gourds, they have light green skins scattered liberally with wart-like bumps. Both types have thick skins and white seeds.

Propagation

Mormordica charantia germinates easily from seed. Seeds could be hard to find locally if no Asian markets are nearby, but you can buy them via mail order or harvest your personal from the mature gourd, that turns bright orange since the fruit ages. Given enough time, the gourd will break open and the outer component curls up, revealing seeds covered in dark red pulp. Germination is improved if the seeds are soaked in water for 48 hours, according to the National Bitter Melon Council’s website.

Cultivation

The seeds can be started inside or sown directly into the soil, 1.5 to 2 feet apart, once the outside temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Both Indian and Chinese bitter melons grow best in full to partial sunlight and require moist, well-drained soil. Although the vine can sprawl along the ground, it may be less vulnerable to ailments if it rises vertically. Bitter gourds require a trellis, pole or other scaling support that’s at least 6 feet tall.

Fruit

Yellow, vanilla-scented flowers appear in spring to early summer. Flowers are both female and male and are followed by the fruit, which can be generally ready to harvest two months following planting. Fruit should be picked while it is young, eight to 10 days following blossom drop. Chinese bitter gourds are at their least bitter while the fruits are small — about 4 to 6 inches long. Indian bitter gourds can be harvested once they are 4 inches long.

Preparation

You may cut the bitter taste of this fruit by cutting it into pieces and salting it, as with eggplant, or boiling slices in a brine of sugar, salt, turmeric and vinegar. Even though Chinese bitter gourds are frequently utilized in Taiwan, China and the Philippines for stir fry dishes, in India, the fruits are commonly used with meats or onions.

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Cortland Apple Tree Truth

Apples (Malus domestica) are precious not only for eating out of hand, however for making apple products like apple juice, cider, applesauce, baked goods, dried apples and apple butter. Not all apple varieties are suited to all purposes, since cultivars differ in fruit texture, tartness, taste and keeping qualities. Cortland apples are a long time general purpose favored, with delicious white flesh for eating and cooking and lots of juice for cider.

Origin

The Cortland apple resulted out of a breeding program at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. In 1898, the apple number Ben Davis, known for its cold-hardiness, was crossed with the McIntosh apple, valued because of its taste. Cortland combines the resistance to cold with the taste and flavor of McIntosh. It was spread in 1915. It is adapted to grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.

Tree Attributes

Cortland apple trees are extremely similar in size and growth features to McIntosh apples. The tree is propagating with an upright, vase-shaped form, medium in vigor and medium in stature, with semi-dwarf trees growing 15 to 20 feet tall and spreading 10 to 15 feet wide. The growing period length is approximately 153 days. The trees have moderate resistance to fire blight and apple scab.

Flowering

Cortland apples possess mid-season blossom starting in April with pink bows followed by abundant white blooms. Trees are partially self-fertile, needing a pollinating cultivar for good fruit set. The following varieties can function as pollinators: Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Cripp’s Pink, Burgundy, Florina, Grimes Golden, Redfree, Hewe’s Crab, and Wickson Crab. Cortland serves as a pollinator for other apple varieties that bloom before, mid-season, as well as later.

Fruiting

Unlike most apple trees, which bear fruit on branch spurs, Cortland apples create fruit on the conclusion of slender branches which are approximately 6 inches long. Preferred pruning for this fruiting style is the open-center or altered central-leader form, leaving terminal fruit-bearing branches unshortened. Trees usually start to bear after 4 to 6 decades. Big red fruits are ready to pick in September. They’ve a sweet flavor with some tartness. Cortlands are reliable annual bearers.

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Heaters for Trees

Tree heaters are usually utilized in orchards and groves to prevent fruit from freezing or being damaged by frost before crop. Even homeowners can utilize tree heaters to safeguard their fruit-bearing trees during early frosts and freezes, however. Different types of heaters are available, though some heaters might not be lawful to use if they generate a large amount of smoke and other emissions.

Forms

There are five commonly used types of tree heaters, reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Lazy flame, cone heaters and return-stack heaters all include a gas reservoir and also exhaust pipe, with cone heaters and return-stack heaters introducing variations on the exhaust pipe design to decrease emissions. Pipeline heaters redirect fuel from a central tank to burn at select heater places. Solid-fuel heaters consist of formed fuel briquettes that are placed among trees and set on fire to generate heat.

Fuels

Different fuels are offered for tree heaters depending on the kind of heater utilized. Heaters with fuel reservoirs can typically utilize liquid or solid fuels, though some heater versions are made for use with gaseous fuel tanks instead. Diesel and kerosene can both be utilized in liquid-fuel heaters, while propane is commonly utilized in gas-fuel heaters. Solid-fuel heaters can use wood chips, charcoal briquettes or other ready seams intended for simple burning. Pipe-fed heaters may use either liquid or gas fuels depending on the particular kind of heater used with the heat system.

Drawbacks

Using tree heaters isn’t without its disadvantages. Heaters which use kerosene, diesel and similar liquid fuels without return or filters stacks create large amounts of smoke and other allergens and might not be lawful to use in all areas. The release of heat into the open air is also inefficient, with some heaters being more inefficient than others; because of this, heaters only protect a small region and numerous heaters may be required in case you’ve got more than several trees. Some heater fuels are expensive as well and might be used up fast if using a heater having a little reservoir.

Supplementary Use

Tree heaters are occasionally used as a supplement to other anti-frost and freeze protection methods to provide better tree protection while decreasing the cost or other negative impact of the heaters. Fans and wind machines are generally utilized to prevent frost from forming fruit and trees by circulating air over and around the trees, whilst sprinkler irrigation processes continually spray water to the trees, causing the water to freeze instead of the tree itself. Warm water is also applied close to the base of trees to avoid the ground from freezing and raising the amount of heat that’s drawn from deep in the ground.

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