Q and A: purslane, storing baby food, and winterizing strawberries

Purslane

How do I get rid of Purslane that has tried to take over my garden? I’ve been pulling it up and taking it to the dump and mulched between my rows with newspaper and barn cleanings. HELP!

Dianne Iverson
McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Just keep at it. Remember that purslane is a vegetable and is good to eat. My youngest son, David, used to say it was his favorite vegetable and grazed on it every time he went into the garden. Looking on it in that light, it doesn’t seem so horrible! Just try to keep it pulled so it doesn’t go to seed. Next year you’ll have less and less. Just don’t give up. A good mulch (six inches deep) should keep it under control and strategic pulling will take care of stray plants. — Jackie

Storing baby food and winterizing strawberries

Some younger people we know have some Gerber baby food that has been stored, both the plastic containers and sealed jars. Not wanting to waste food, they wanted to know about the expiration dates. They are 2010 thru 2011. I told them I would not trust the plastic containers and did not know about the sealed jars, but I knew someone I could ask! I am a long way from baby food, so what is your best guess?

I have strawberry plants that just went in this year. How do you winterize those when the time comes?

J from Missouri

I’d probably toss the plastic container food. The baby food in glass jars should be perfectly fine. Like home canned foods, just make sure the jars are sealed and that the food looks and smells fine. The “freshness date” on store foods is simply a marketing ploy to make folks dump perfectly good food and buy more new.

Wait until the ground freezes this winter, then cover the plants with about eight inches of weed-free straw. In the spring after the weather warms a bit, move the straw off of the plants and into the rows between them to act as mulch. Your new berry patch should be off and running! — Jackie