Episode 67: Asparagus, Vines, and Deer Repellents

Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is back with another informative episode that's sure to captivate all nature lovers! Hear from experts with tips on how to cook asparagus, a popular springtime perennial. Then learn about some different fragrant vines that may work in your garden. Finally, explore the validity of popular myths about strong smelling soaps as deer repellents.

Up first is Patch to Plate, with Annie Scibienski, who shares her wealth of knowledge on all things asparagus. From growing to cooking and preserving, Annie provides some great tips to help you make the most out of this delicious perennial vegetable. She suggests different cooking methods, including blanching, grilling, and stir-frying, and shares some mouth-watering recipes like Pan Roasted Asparagus and Asparagus Quiche without crust. So, if you're a fan of asparagus or want to learn more about this nutritious and flavorful vegetable, don't miss this segment!

Next, Jean Thomas and Tim Kennelty are back with The Cover Up, with a focus on flowering vines. Passionflower is a beautiful  climbing vine with white and purple or blue flowers. There are now hardier varieties that can survive in zone 5. While it blooms from midsummer to early fall, each flower only lasts about one day. The Kiwi vine is another interesting option that can grow up to 33 feet long and has some varieties that are hardy to zone 4. A native of China, it has green heart shaped leaves that are spirally arranged on the stem and a flower that has a slight resemblance to the kiwi bird. Both passionflower and kiwi vine can be fragrant additions to your garden if you can provide the appropriate support for them to climb.

Finally, Devon Russ debunks some myths about deer repellents in Hits and Myths. As many gardeners know, deer damage can be a significant problem, and there are many so-called remedies out there. Devon explores the effectiveness of strong-smelling soap and concludes that it's not a magic bullet. Instead, she recommends using deer repellents that contain eggs or creating a simple homemade egg and water spray. She also suggests that gardeners might want to consider using a protective cage or fence. So, if you want to protect your garden from deer damage and learn the truth about deer repellents, you won't want to miss this segment!

So, whether you're a seasoned gardener or just love nature, this episode of Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley is packed with useful information and fascinating stories that are sure to entertain and educate. Tune in now and join the conversation!

Hosts: Jean Thomas and Annie Scibienski

Guests: Annie Scibienski, Tim Kennelty, Jean Thomas, Devon Russ

Photo by: Tim Kennelty

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Teresa Golden, Annie Scibienski

Resources:

Patch to  Plate: Asparagus

CCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension (ccecolumbiagreene.org); Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners; Cornell Cooperative Extension | Food Gardening (ccecolumbiagreene.org)

CCE Food Preservation: Cornell Cooperative Extension | Food Preservation (ccecolumbiagreene.org)

Roasted Asparagus: Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus | Extension | West Virginia University (wvu.edu)

Cooking asparagus, various methods: asparagus - FoodLink - Purdue Extension

Crustless Asparagus Quiche: Crustless Asparagus Quiche Recipe | PBS Food

Freezing, Canning and Pickling Asparagus: Asparagus: Canning, Freezing, Pickling (psu.edu)

CCE Recipes

Cornell Consumer Information

The Cover Up: Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata (North Carolina State Extension)

Passiflora incarnata (Missouri Botanical Garden)

The Cover Up:Kiwi vine

Actinidia arguta - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org) ;

How the Chinese Gooseberry Got Rebranded as the Kiwifruit | Time

Hits & Myths: Soap as a Deer Deterrent

Preventing Deer Damage - 6.520 - Extension (colostate.edu)

Repellents | Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (icwdm.org)

Effective Methods for Preventing Deer Browse Damage on Newly Planted Trees and Shubs (usda.gov)

Comparison of Commercial Deer Repellents (unl.edu)

Reducing Deer Damage to Ornamental and Garden Plants

Last updated May 4, 2023