GardeningSphere

Bloomsdale Spinach

The Spinach Bloomsdale, 'Spinacia oleracea', is an old favorite amongst gardeners. The Bloomsdale has excellent flavor and produces large quantities of tasty leaves. If you are new to gardening, try fresh spinach in the garden, the buttery flavor will win you over. Spinach is also very nutritious with lots of Vitamin A, C, and iron and is low in calories. Harvest individual leaves from outer edges as they become big enough to use or cut the whole plant 1 inch above the base and new leaves will grow.

Summer- Black Beauty Squash

The Squash Summer Black Beauty Zucchini, 'Cucurbita pepo', has very tender, creamy white, flavorful flesh. The Black Beauty Zucchini plant is compact and bush like. This squash is a very versatile vegetable. They can be steamed, grilled, sauteed, eaten raw in salads, made into relish, and made into breads. If left on the vine, they can grow very large. Squash is ready to harvest when the stem and skin hardens. Winter squash cannot be overripe, but they can be under ripe.

Summer- Straightneck Squash

The Squash Summer Early Prolific Straightneck, 'Cucurbita pepo', was an All America Selection in 1938. The Straightneck is still very popular because of it's thick, tasty flesh. This old open pollinated squash is still a favorite and for good reason. The Early Prolific Straight is best when harvested at 4 to 7 inches. The flesh is fine-grained, thick, firm, and very tasty. Harvest as soon as squash reaches at least 1 inch in length and up to 4 to 7 inches in length. Squash are most tender and flavorful when young.

Winter Delicata Squash

The Squash Winter Delicate Honey Boat, 'Cucurbita pepo', is as sweet as honey. This small Delicata is a gourmets delight and it is full of nutrition. Honey Boat is a small, very sweet, Delicata-type squash that weights 3/4 to 11/2 pounds and is a perfect size for one or two servings. The rich, dark orange flesh has a delectably sweet, nutty flavor. Delicata squash is ready to harvest when the stem and skin hardens and the orange spot on the darkens. Winter squash cannot be overripe, but they can be under ripe.

Ornamental Mix Sunflower

The Sunflower Ornamental Blend, 'Helianthus annuus', is simply the prettiest combination of sunflowers we have ever seen. The Ornamental Blend includes Velvet Queen, Autumn Beauty, Lemon Queen, and Indian Blanket. The colors range from a soft, pretty lemon yellow to a dark velvety burgundy and from a orange/bronze bicolor to an almost endless other sunflower shades. For best results water frequently. These sunflowers may need to be staked if they get too tall.

Italian White Ribbed Swiss Chard

The Swiss Chard Italian White Ribbed, 'Beta Vulgaris', is almost the perfect vegetable. The Italian White Ribbed Swiss Chard will grow in heat and cold, is nutritious, and has a long harvest period. White Ribbed Swiss Chard can either be steamed, stir-fried, or eaten fresh. Swiss Chard is a green that many seasoned gardeners claim everyone must grow. In warm climates, plant in late summer for fall/winter crop. Chard grows best in in well drained soil with lots of organic matter.

Ace Tomato

The Tomato Ace, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is an old favorite with excellent tomato flavor and it is great for canning. The 5 to 6 inch in diameter Ace tomato weighs about 7 to 8 ounces which is a decent sized tomato. Yields are exceptional for such a large tomato. Ace is a low acid tomato for those who prefer such. Ace is an intermediate tomato which means they continue to grow indefinitely until frost. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Prune the intermediate tomatoes in order to keep a single stem.

Aunt Rubys German Green Tomato

The Tomato Pole Aunt Ruby's German Green, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is an old Heirloom variety. It is not the prettiest tomato, but it is spicy and sweet and very delicious. We think Aunt Ruby's German Green is the best flavored green tomato. The tomatoes are a large, beefsteak type with 12 to 16 ounce fruits. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Prune the intermediate tomatoes in order to keep a single stem.

Beefstake Tomato

The Tomato Pole Beefsteak, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is an old favorite. The huge tomatoes can reach up to 2 pounds. This old favorite is for those who love meaty, thick, tasty, large tomatoes for sandwiches. They are also useful for almost any dish that would benefit from rich tomato flavor. The vines are so vigorous that we recommend wire cages to hold up the plants and tomatoes. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Cherokee Purple Tomato

The Tomato Pole Cherokee Purple, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is an old Heirloom variety from Tennessee that is extremely productive and also has a very rich tomato flavor. The Cherokee Purple produces large numbers of 10 to 12 ounce tomatoes with a strong tomato flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. The flesh is a unique red brick color with a rose/purple skin color. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Cherry Sweetie Tomato

The Tomato Cherry Sugar Sweetie, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is a highly regarded, perfect cherry tomato for classic tomato flavor in salads or right out of the garden. This delicious organic tomato is well known for it's strong tomato flavor. The Sugar Sweetie has large numbers of 3/4 to 1 inch cherry tomatoes that are produced in grape-like clusters on 2 foot tall plants. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Roma Tomato

The Tomato Bush Italian Roma, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is a determinate type Heirloom paste tomato from Italy. The Italian Roma is an absolutely excellent, old heirloom tomato used for sauce or canning. The very firm, meaty 3 inch pear-shaped fruits have very few seeds. They are very productive and can produce up to 200 fruits on compact vines. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Seven Top Turnip

The Turnip Seven Top, 'Brassica rapa', is grown for the greens. There simply are no other greens that have as much calcium as turnip greens. They are tasty when steamed, stir-fried or in salads. Seven Top does not grow a turnip root. It puts all of its energy into growing the best turnip greens you have ever tasted. There are not many greens more nutritious and tasty. Seven Top prefers well drained soil with lots of organic matter. Greens can be harvested when young and tender, usually about 6 inches tall or so.

Crimson Sweet Watermelon

The Watermelon Crimson Sweet, 'Citrullus lanatus' has a high sugar content flesh that is very sweet and crisp. The Crimson Sweet would qualify as a low calorie snack or dessert. What is the first word that comes to your mind when you think of watermelon? Summer? Vacation? This watermelon will not disappoint with its very sweet (an astonishing 12% sugar level), 21 to 25 pound fruit with bright red flesh. Plant in the spring after the last frost. Watermelon use a lot of water but the soil must never be soggy.

Moon & Stars Watermelon

The Watermelon Moom & Stars, 'Citrullus lanatus', is an old Amish heirloom recently rediscovered in rural Missouri. The yellow dots look like stars scattered among larger moons on a very dark green rind and on the foliage. This genetic defect in the pigmentation makes it the most interesting looking watermelon around and has no effect on the very sweet, red, and absolutely delicious flesh. Watermelon ripens in about 35 days after the flowers are pollinated by bees. Fertilize lightly every 4 to 6 weeks.

Wheatgrass

The Wheatgrass, 'Friticum aestivum', is used to highlight beautiful pots, make tasty sprouts and it even produces healthy juice. Wheatgrass is the newest ornamental indoor plant craze. It may be hard to believe but beautiful in reality, the fresh, uniform green foliage in beautiful pots is a unique, stunning addition to any table setting or special occasions. You can harvest the Wheatgrass at about 7 inches in height and process for the juice. Grow them under florescent lights or in a very bright window or outside.