Sed rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) Overview. Sed rate, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), is a blood test that can reveal inflammatory activity in your body. A sed rate test isn't a stand-alone diagnostic tool, but it can help your doctor diagnose or monitor the progress of an inflammatory disease. When your blood is placed in a tall, thin tube, red blood cells (erythrocytes) gradually settle to the bottom. Inflammation can cause the cells to clump.
Wait to plant your yellow crookneck squash until three or four weeks after the last frost, when the soil has warmed. Create mounds of soil about 2 feet across. Use your hoe to dig a moat around the hill. Use four to five seeds for each mound. Poke holes at the top, 2 inches deep and three inches apart.
Winter squash is a catchall phrase used to refer to several types of gourds that are harvested after they have fully matured. Ripe winter squash has a hard skin that protects it and usually allows it to be stored for up to six months with no ill effects. Popular varieties include pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, hubbard squash, and turban squash. Pumpkins are some of the most easily recognizable types of winter squash.