WSU Extension Q&A: Wash berries before eating, preserving
Q. I have heard that you should not wash berries before freezing them. True?
A. Berries should be washed before eating or preserving. To wash, rinse thoroughly under cold running water, drain in a clean strainer and pat dry with a paper towel. Soaking berries in a sink full of water is not recommended because it can spread contamination from one berry to another. Using soap or detergent is not recommended or approved for washing fruits and vegetables. The produce can absorb detergent residues.
Q. Last year, all the peaches on my peach tree had split pits. What happened?
A. Split pits can be caused from rapid growth during pit hardening, which occurs about two months after bloom. Try to thin your peaches before this time or well after bloom. Also, make sure that you are not over watering and fertilizing.
Q. Is it possible to continue feeding low-quality forages like wheat straw after my cows calve?
A. Yes, but it is important to remember that after the cows calve, their nutrient requirements increase significantly. Compare the nutrient requirements of a 1,200 pound cow with average potential milking ability in the last trimester of pregnancy with a cow of the same size and milking ability in the first three to four months after calving. After calving, the protein requirement of the cow rises around 30 percent, and the energy requirement goes up about 15 percent to 20 percent.
Low-quality roughages are economical to feed, but the increased nutrient demands after calving (i.e. lactation) dictates that other feeds may need to be included in the diet of the cows to support the increased nutrient requirements. Mixing higher quality hays into the diet after calving will help in supplying additional protein and energy. Hays such as good quality grass-legume mixes and alfalfa are good choices to make up the deficiencies.
Q. What do the H’s stand for in the 4-H clover?
A. Since 1918, the four-leaf clover with an “H” on each leaf has symbolized 4-H clubs representing “head, heart, hands and health.” The logo colors are white and green with the motto of “making the best better.” The emblem is protected under federal statute.
Questions should be called in to the WSU Extension offices in Kennewick at 735-3551 or Pasco at 545-3511.
This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 10:11 PM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Wash berries before eating, preserving."