GardeningSphere

Leek

The Leek, 'Allium Ampeloprasum Porrum', has been a staple in European kitchens for centuries. This sweet, mild onion relative won't overpower other flavors in a dish. The Leek is under used and over priced in the U.S. The sweet, mild onion flavor of leeks makes them a versatile addition to many recipes. Leeks can be used as key ingredients in foods or blended without overpowering drained soil. Water the planting bed regularly because uneven moisture will affect taste and texture. Harvest Leeks when about 1 inch in diameter, firm and not too bulbous at the base.

Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce

The Lettuce Leaf Black Seeded Simpson, 'Lactuca sativa', has a delicate flavor and the plant withstands heat, drought, and light frost. If you want to produce a fast lettuce crop, this is the variety. The Black Seeded Simpson is an old favorite, both because of it's flavor and because of it's earliness. The full sized leaves can be harvested in just a little over a month and "greens" can be harvested in 3 weeks. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Butterhead- Kagraner Sommer Lettuce

The Lettuce Butterhead Kagraner Summer, 'Lactuca sativa', is a French butterhead also known as 'Butter Bow Head', and has tasty, well-formed medium sized heads that are slow to bolt in summer heat. The French butterhead was originally from Germany. It is excellent for window boxes, indoor pots, and is a cute border plant. The mild tasting leaves are soft and buttery. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Butterhead Batavia Blonde Lettuce

The Lettuce Leaf Blonde, 'Lactuca sativa (Batavia Type)', is a Danish variety that has fringed blonde leaves, excellent flavor, and withstands heat without getting bitter. The Europeans consider Batavia lettuces to be one of the best tasting lettuces. They are tasty, sweet, and they have nice texture. Blonde is a very attractive ornamental with fringed, blonde leaves. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Butterhead Marveille Lettuce

The Lettuce Butterhead Marvel of Four Seasons, 'Lactuca sativa', has stunning reddish leaves flaunting cranberry red tips with excellent flavor that makes this lettuce a must for your garden. If you are looking for a lettuce that is both attractive and tasty, this Heirloom may be your choice. The medium large heads are 8 to 12 inches in diameter. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Butterhead Speckles Lettuce

The Lettuce Butterhead Speckles, 'Lactuca sativa', is an Heirloom that originated from the Mennonites who brought it with them from Germany and Holland over 200 years ago. Make a salad with Speckles lettuce and no one will notice if there are bugs in it. The unusual speckling of these mild, tender, thick but soft leaves will add visual interest to any salad. Speckles is rarely bitter and is quick maturing. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Lolla Rossa Lettuce

The Lettuce Leaf Lolla Rossa, 'Lactuca sativa', has a mild but distinct flavor and that is why Lolla Rossa has a large following. It is an excellent "Cut-and-come-again" lettuce. This very attractive lettuce has a mild, unique flavor that is prized by many. In addition, the red-edged, frilly, deeply curled leaves are very attractive and they make a wonderful garnish. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Mesclun Mix Lettuce

The Arugula, Mizuna, Tatsol, Lettuce Summer Bibb, and the Lettuce Black Seeded Simpson. Lettuce is a cool season annual. Successive plantings can produce lettuce spring through fall. Plant in early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before the average last frost date, and successive plantings thereafter every 3 weeks until 5 weeks before fall frost. Lettuce likes light, fertile, moist, and well drained soils. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Romaine- Paris Island Lettuce

The Lettuce Romaine Parris Island Cos, 'Lactuca sativa', is an old favorite romaine that is named for Parris Island off South Carolina. The crunchy leaves, creamy heart, and the vigorous growth are just a few words that describe Parris Island Romaine. Parris Island is 8 to 12 inches tall with upright, dark green leaves that are slightly crinkled. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Romaine Freckles Lettuce

The Lettuce Romaine Freckles, 'Lactuca sativa', is an Heirloom Romaine with maroon splotches that handles heat well. Make a non-traditional Caesar salad with this gorgeous romaine. This Heirloom is both heat tolerant and very tasty. The Austrians call Freckles "forellenschuss" which translates as "trout, self enclosing", indicating it's a speckled romaine. Lettuce likes light, fertile, moist, and well drained soils. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Salad Bowl Mix Lettuce

The Lettuce Leaf Salad Bowl Blend, 'Lactuca sativa', is one of the most heat tolerant and bolt resistant leaf lettuces available. Red Salad Bowl is absolutely beautiful. The delicate, burgundy red, deeply lobed leaves are accentuated when grown with the long, wavy leaves of green salad bowl. It looks even better when served on the table! Red Salad Bowl color is even more intense during cool weather. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

Big Seeded Mache Corn Salad

The Mache Corn Salad Big Seeded, 'Valerianella locusta', has the mildest flavor and softest texture of any salad green. The leaves are so tender, they melt in your mouth. We chose the big-seeded Mache variety because it handles spring/summer heat without getting bitter. Great for both north and south gardens. This old garden green, enjoyed in the late stone age, contrasts nicely with the sharp-flavored greens in salads. To harvest, simply cut off at ground level. The leaves can be picked off when they are 1 to 2 inches long.

Mizuna Mustard

The Mustard Mizuna Siu Cai, Xiu Cai, 'Brassica rapa', is the perfect mustard green with its mild, sweet, earthy, mustardy flavor that tolerates cold and heat. It is so attractive that it is used as an ornamental. Commonly used as a graceful bedding plant that "floats" in the flower beds and as a sweet, mild mustard green that is ready to harvest in 3 weeks. Mizuna looks are deceptive; it is a beautiful graceful prolific branching plant that will also germinate under cold and wet spring conditions.

Hales Best Jumbo Muskmelon

The Muskmelon Hale's Best Jumbo, 'Cucumis melo-Reticulatus Group', is an old time favorite with a fabulous flavor. Hale's Best has very thick, sweet salmon-pink flesh with a small seed cavity. Talk to old timers and they still swear by Hale's Best. Hale's Best grow and stays sweet in a wide variety of conditions, particularly drought. The muskmelon is about 6 inches in diameter and weighs about 3.5 pounds each. Muskmelons prefer light and well drained soil. Muskmelons use a lot of water but they should not ever be soggy wet.

Hearts of Gold Muskmelon

The Muskmelon Hearts of Gold, 'Cucumis melo-Reticulatus Group', is a great short season melon. The Hearts of Gold Melon is very simply a wonderful melon with it's out of this world flavor. The dark orange, thick flesh is very aromatic. The melons are round and about 6 inches in diameter. They will mature in about 75 days and the melon is very heavily netted. Muskmelons prefer light and well drained soil. Muskmelons use a lot of water but they should not ever be soggy wet.

White Sweet Spanish Onion Bunching

The Onion Bunching White Sweet Spanish, 'Allium fistulosum', has delicate stems and juicy sweet tops that onion lovers can't resist. The White Sweet Spanish Valencia also forms a small, globe-shaped white onion. A scallion is an onion harvested before it has the chance to bulb. Bunching onion varieties such as this one can produce small or no onion bulbs but are milder, juicier, and sweeter tasting scallions than scallions of regular, full size bulbing onions. Scallions can be harvested any time during the growing season before they begin to bulb.

Moss Curled Parsley

The Parsley Moss Curled, 'Petroselinum crispum', is an herb you can always depend on because of it's cold hardiness. Don't leave parsley on your plate! For a fresh palate, fresh breath, and good nutrition, enjoy eating this decorative herb. Moss Curled Parsley grows in 12 inch mounds that are very attractive in the garden. They can be grown in herb pots, or even grown inside in a very bright spot. Plant in the spring in well drained soil.

Oregon Sugar Pod Pea Edible Pod

The Pea Snow Oregon Sugar Pod, 'Pisum sativum', is a flat podded type pea that has great disease resistance and has tasty, stringless pods for stir fry or salads. This is one of the three vegetables that tastes much better garden grown than from a store. Oregon Sugar Pod produces a huge number of 4 inch tasty pods which are harvested and eaten when the pods are flat, before the seed forms. Successive plantings 1 week apart will prolong the harvest season.

Progress #9 Pea Shelling

The Pea Shelling Progress # 9, 'Pisum sativum', is an old favorite and this 18" plant needs no staking and has plump peas with a superb flavor. Remember when you were a kid how fun it was to pop open a pod and eat the peas? As an adult, you will enjoy the wonderful taste of Progress # 9 and appreciate the dwarf vines which require no staking! Progress # 9 has 5 inch pods with 7 to 9 plump peas per pod. Shelling peas should be harvested when when the pods are plump which is about 3 weeks after flowering.

California Wonder Pepper Bell

The Pepper Bell California Wonder, 'Capsicum' is an excellent stuffing pepper. California Wonder is sweet, flavorful, and commonly grown in short climates. The California Wonder is good for stuffing and is also tasty enough for salads. They are excellent for cold climates and in longer season climates the peppers will turn bright red after green. The California Wonder Bell Pepper has more vitamin C than an orange. Blossom pruning will improve fruit size. Pinch off about 50% of the flowers.

Early Jalapeno Pepper Chile

The Pepper Hot Early Jalapeno, 'Capsicum annuum', is a very tasty hot pepper for ethnic foods. There is a lot of hot, very tasty flavor in this small 3 inch pepper. The Early Jalapeno pepper will turn red after green if left on the vine. The Early Jalapeno Hot Pepper is as good container variety and it also makes a smart informal hedge. Peppers use quite a bit of water but prefer to be watered deeply and not too often. Use gloves and do not touch any other part of the body after harvesting. Wash your hands immediately.

Habanero Pepper Chile

The Pepper Chile Habenero, 'Capsicum chinense', is the hottest known pepper in the world! It adds fire and a distinctive citrus flavor to salsas, chutneys and soups. The Habenero Chile Pepper is prized by chile aficionados not only for its intense heat, but its distinct fruitiness. The Habeneros will turn a bland barbeque into a fiery feast. Harvest when 1 inch long or longer. Use gloves and do not touch any other part of the body after harvesting. Wash your hands immediately.

Hungarian Hot Pepper Chile

The Pepper Chile Hungarian Yellow Wax, 'Capsicum annuum', is a medium-hot Old World favorite that is the perfect pick for pickled peppers. The Hungarian Yellow Wax pepper was developed in Hungary and has a waxy color that resembles bees' wax. The Wax peppers are actually orange-red when ripe, but are usually pickled while still yellow. Peppers use quite a bit of water but prefer to be watered deeply and not too often. Harvest when peppers are yellow and 3 to 4 inches long.

Pepperochini Pepper Greek

The Pepper Chile Pepperoncini Greek, 'Capsicum annuum', is the essential pickled pepper in Greek salads and antipasto platters. The flavorful golden pepper is the classic garnish for deli sandwiches, salads and pizza. It is usually picked and pickled in the yellow stage. The Pepperoncini Greek Chile pepper holds its color and flavor well when processed. This pepper plant is very productive. Peppers use quite a bit of water but prefer to be watered deeply and not too often. Harvest when peppers are yellow and 3 to 4 inches long.

Pumpkin Big Max

The Pumpkin Big Max, 'Cucurbita maxima', is a large pumpkin that may reach 100 pounds. Grow the biggest Jack-O-Lantern in the neighborhood and it is good for pies and canning! Big Max is the choice of "professional pumpkin contestants". The smooth light orange skin is perfect for Halloween carving or other holiday decorations. To achieve maximum size, grow one pumpkin per vine. Harvest before the first light frost or when the pumpkin foliage begins to dry out.

Cherry Belle Radish

The Radish Cherry Belle, 'Raphanus sativus', has a mild flavor and solid white flesh that makes the Cherry Belle very popular. This spring radish grows best during the cool periods of spring and fall. The Cherry Belle is great if eaten fresh, in salads, or in sandwiches. It can be grown inside during the winter. The flower pods are edible and they will grow in the shade. Harvest when the radish is 1 inch in diameter. Bigger radishes get pithy and hot.

French Breakfast Radish

The Radish French Breakfast, 'Raphanus sativus', is an Heirloom variety that has been in cultivation since the 18th century. French Breakfast has endured in gardens for over 100 years because of it's wonderful, delicate flavor. This spring radish grows best during the cool periods of spring and fall, but will also withstand some summer heat. Radishes prefer loose, light soil, with a fair amount of organic material. Harvest radish when 3 to 4 inches long. Bigger radishes are pithy or hot.