Vegetables Spring 2016

Vegetables Spring 2016 Arugula Medium A salad green used since Roman times. With a slightly peppery taste, arugula is high in Vitamins A and C. to grow, this is a "must have" for your salads. How to Grow: Plant 1/8 deep as soon as soil can be worked in early Spring. Quick germination. Sow again in late summer/fall for second harvest. Days to Harvest: 45 Beans How to Grow: Beans are warm-weather crops and should not be planted until the soil has warmed. Direct sow them in the garden 1/2" - 1" deep, depending on the size of the seed. Adding compost to the soil improves growth. Repeat plantings every three weeks to prolong your harvest. Companions: Plant summer savoury with beans to repel bean beetles and improve overall growth; marigolds encourage growth and discourage pests. Black Valentine Beans Bush Bean (Bush Bean) Grown before 1850, introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1897. At one time, this bean was almost legendary amongst gardeners - it produces masses of delicious, tender, straight, 6" long green beans very early in the season. Leave some pods to dry on the bush for an excellent dry black soup bean. Catalogues of the time described it as having "fine quality and delicate flavour." Known for its hardiness, ability to grow in adverse growing conditions, and resistance to bean mosaic. Days to Harvest: 48-70

Kentucky Wonder Bush Bean (Bush Bean) Derived from Kentucky Wonder Pole. Produces heavy yields of tender, stringless pods of excellent flavour. Days to Harvest: 65 Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean (Pole Bean) Grown since 1850, this traditional pole bean has a well-deserved reputation as a heavy producer of tender, green pods that can be used fresh or dry shelled. Days to Harvest: 68-72 Beets Advanced How to Grow: to grow. Direct sow seed in the garden in late spring/early summer 1/2" deep. A second crop can be seeded in late summer. Thin to 4" apart. Companions: bush beans (not runner), lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli and sage all promote growth and deter pests. Chioggia Beet An Italian heirloom, named for the port town of Chioggia, that not only has an absolutely delicious, sweet taste, but when sliced it shows concentric red and white rings of colour. Doesn't bleed. Beautiful in any dish. Days to Harvest: 55 2

Cylindra Beet 1880's. Deep red, cylindrical-shaped roots are sweet, easy to peel and good for both slicing and canning. The leaves are attractively red-veined. Days to Harvest: 56-60 Golden Detroit Beet Another golden beet with golden-orange skin and deep yellow flesh. Very sweet, doesn't bleed. Days to Harvest: 55 Lutz Green Leaf Beet/Winterkeeper One of the best beets for storage, which earned it the name 'Winterkeeper,' this American heirloom's large, red roots can also grow up to 6" diameter and still remain sweet and tender. The large, bright green, pink-veined tops are delicious and can be harvested regularly as greens during the summer. An outstanding beet for the garden! Days to Harvest: 75 Broccoli Advanced How to Grow: Sow seed 1/4" deep in soil-less mix in flats 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Keep moist, under lights, until germination. Harden off and plant out 12-18" apart. Successive plantings prolong the harvest. Companions: Onions and oregano repel pests, especially the cabbage moth. De Ciccio Broccoli 1890. Italian heirloom that is light green and produces a blue-green central head followed by a long harvest of side-shoots. Excellent flavour! Days to Harvest: 48-85 3

Brussel Sprouts Advanced How to Grow: Brussel Sprouts require a long growing season. Sow seed 1/4" deep in soil-less mix, 4-6 weeks before last frost. Keep moist, under lights, until germination. Harden off and plant out in garden 18" apart. Do not use too rich a soil. Companions: Onions, oregano and thyme all deter cabbage moths. Long Island Improved Brussel Sprouts 1890's. This heavy-yielding, semi-dwarf plant, once a prime commercial variety, was sidelined by the advent of modern hybrids. However, it's well worth growing, loaded with firm sprouts that have an excellent flavour and freeze well. Days to Harvest: 80-115 Cabbage Advanced How to Grow: Sow seed 1/4" deep in soil-less mix 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Keep moist, under lights, until germination. When ready, harden off & plant out 12-18" apart. Companions: Onions, oregano, hyssop and thyme all deter the cabbage moth; chamomile enhances flavour; dill improves growth. All Seasons Cabbage First listed by J.H. Gregory and Son in 1886, this cabbage quickly gained popularity. As its name indicates, it can be planted at all seasons, and makes both a splendid early and late variety. It forms a fine large hard head of superior quality, not bursting after heading. The heads are of great thickness, which make it a capital sort to keep through the Winter. As well as being a great storage cabbage and being a good crop for spring and fall harvests, it reputedly makes excellent sauerkraut Days to Harvest: 85-95 4

Carrot Advanced How to Grow: to grow. Surface sow seed on well-drained and wellworked garden soil in spring and tamp down. Sandy soil and peat-types are best. Thinning the seedlings to 2-3" apart is the key to a good carrot crop. It's tedious work but worth it. Companions: Bush beans encourage growth; chives and leeks enhance flavour; parsley and sage deter carrot flies. Cosmic Purple Coloured Carrot A purple carrot with an orange interior and a sweet taste. The 7" roots are smooth and straight. Purple colour diffuses when cooked. Days to Harvest: 70 Danvers 126 Carrot In 1947, the Danvers 126 was developed as an improved strain with better interior colour, smoother skin and a better yield. This variety is stocky (7-8" long) with rugged tops that make harvesting much easier (no more carrots broken off in the ground!). It's an excellent carrot for storage, freezing, canning and juice and has high disease-resistance. Days to Harvest: 73 Little Finger Carrot If you want true baby carrots, Little Finger is the one to grow. Developed in France, this carrot grows to just 3" long and 1/2" wide with roots that are very tender and sweet. It grows well in heavy soils; is perfect for container gardening; can be used fresh, cooked, pickled or canned and is a good carrot for market growers. Days to Harvest: 55-60 Cauliflower Advanced How to Grow: Sow indoors 5-6 weeks before the last frost for a spring crop. Sow 1/4" deep and lightly cover seeds. For a fall crop sow 75 days before the first frost. Cauliflower needs average temperatures of 15C, so you may find it better to grow them as a fall crop. Plant out about 2 ft apart; keep well-watered and mulched. Companions: onions, oregano, hyssop and thyme all deter the cabbage moth; chamomile enhances flavour; dill improves growth. 5

Snowball Cauliflower This dependable heirloom has been the market standard ever since. Termed "self-blanching" because its leaves will curl over the head in cool weather, keeping the curds white, it saves the work of tying until the heads are 6" wide. Thriving in cool weather, it produces 8-9" heads very early. Writing in "Gardening for Profit" in 1886, Henderson wrote that it was ready for market fully one week before any other variety. Days to Harvest: 65 Cucumber Medium How to Grow: Cucumbers are heat-loving plants. Direct sow 1/2" deep when the soil has warmed up. Thin seedlings to 12-36" apart. Trellising the vines saves space. Companions: Beans aid growth; nasturtiums deter insect pests; radishes deter cucumber beetles. English Telegraph Selected from 'Rollinson's Telegraph,' this (truly) English cucumber produces long, straight, green fruits that average 12-18" long, are non-bitter and have fewer seeds than regular cucumbers. Trellis for straighter fruit. Excellent for greenhouse production as well, it is a strong grower and prolific producer. Days to Harvest: 60 Long Fellow Cucumber Introduced in 1927 by the Jerome B. Rice Seed Co. of New York, it was developed from "Emerald," a variety from the late 1800s believed to now be extinct. True to its name, Long Fellow produces straight fruits up to 15" in length, with dark green skin and white spines. Quite productive, with excellent quality flesh, it has long been a favourite of market growers. Days to Harvest: 65-75 6

National Pickling Cucumber Developed by the National Pickle Packers Association in collaboration with the Michigan Agricultural Experimental Station in 1924, this is a very popular variety with picklers! Highly-productive, disease-resistant vines start producing early and produce a wonderful abundance of dark green fruit with crisp white flesh and black spines. Retains quality over a longer season than most. Fruit can be picked small (2-3") for gherkins or larger (5-6") for full-sized pickles. Days to Harvest: 55 Eggplant Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Eggplants are slow growers and heat-lovers, meaning that they need to be started early indoors to produce fruit. Sow seed 1/4" deep in soil-less mix, 7-8 weeks before the last frost. Harden off & transplant to a warm, protected, sunny location, when soil has warmed, 12" apart. Companions: Beans encourage growth and deter the potato beetle; thyme & marigold deter pests. Black Beauty Eggplant Introduced from Europe in 1910, this variety lives up to its name! Deep purple, 3 lb. fruits have wonderful flavour and store well. This plant will produce 8-10 fruits per plant if picked regularly. Days to Harvest: 75-90 Little Fingers Eggplant This delightful eggplant produces an abundant amount of slim, dark purple fruit in clusters of three or more. They can be harvested when no longer than your little finger (hence the name) or they can be left to grow to 6-8" with no sacrifice in taste. These are great for stir-frying or grilling. Days to Harvest: 70 7

Kale Advanced Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch How to Grow: Kale is a cool weather plant; start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost by sowing 1/4" deep in soil-less mix in flats, or direct sow in mid-summer for a fall/winter crop. Thin to 18-24" apart. Companions: Beans, beets, lettuce promote growth; onions, sage, thyme and nasturtiums deter pests including aphids and cabbage moths. Slow to bolt, and extremely hardy, this kale tastes best after frost. Grows only 12" tall, with finely curled blue-green leaves. It will over-winter in Zones 4-5 if mulched. Very attractive. Days to Harvest: 50-65 Siberian Kale (60 days) Siberian Kale is extremely cold-hardy and can be wintered over in some areas. Huge, ruffled, blue-green leaves are eye-catching in the garden and very flavourful. This kale has flourished for us in drought and wet conditions, in cool temperatures and in heat. Frost improves the flavor and texture of the leaves. Grows to 30" tall. Days to Harvest: 60 Lettuce How to Grow: to grow. Sow seed 1/4" deep in early spring and thin to 4-6" apart. Continual harvesting encourages new growth. Lettuce is a cool weather crop so sow another crop in late summer for harvesting past heavy frosts. Companions: Onions, carrots and radishes. Black-Seeded Simpson Lettuce (Looseleaf) Introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in the 1870s, this variety quickly became almost legendary. This loose-leaf heirloom has large, green crinkled leaves and produces consistently through all kinds of growing conditions. Very flavourful. Slow-bolting; drought, heat and frost tolerant. Days to Harvest: 45 8

Forellenschuss Lettuce (Romaine) This Austrian heirloom's name means "speckled like a trout's back," referring to its exquisitely beautiful patterning of maroon over lime green. Each plant has its own unique colouration. Very frost hardy, has won taste tests and been accepted onto SlowFood USA's Ark of Taste. Days to Harvest: 55 Oak Leaf, Red Lettuce (Looseleaf) Beautiful, deep burgundy oak-leaf shaped leaves when mature. Grow in full sun for best colour. One of the best cold-weather varieties. Days to Harvest: 55-60 Parris Island Cos Lettuce (Romaine)This is a classic romaine used in Caesar salads. An 1886 gardening book indicated that "millions of this variety are annually grown to supply the markets of London alone, where it is preferred to all others." Forming tall, slightly-ruffled heads of dark green leaves with a white heart, this lettuce has a crisp, sweet flavour and is slow to bolt. Days to Harvest: 68 Tennis Ball Lettuce (Butterhead) Introduced in the 1850s (although the name makes it seem modern!), and offered in Canada since at least 1878, this tiny, perfect lettuce produces loose heads measuring only 7" in diameter. Perfect for pots and balconies. Days to Harvest: 50 Tom Thumb Lettuce (Butterhead) This miniature, baseball-sized lettuce is one of the oldest lettuce varieties still in existence, cultivated since at least 1850. Growing to no more than 4" across, it makes a great salad for one (or two people who aren't big salad eaters). Buttery, medium-green leaves have creamy-yellow centres. Perfect for container growing or community garden plots, it tolerates high heat and resists bolting. Days to Harvest: 50-70 9

Onion Advanced How to Grow: Globe onions require a long growing season; bunching onions mature much more quickly. Generally, they should be started indoors 5-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1/8-1/4" deep in soil-less mix in flats and clip them as they grow so they grow no taller than 5". Transplant when all danger of frost is past, 3" apart (depending on size of globe). Companions: Onions are one of the best companion plants for the garden and we suggest interspersing them amongst your vegetable crops. The two exceptions are peas and beans, which apparently don't like onions. Evergreen Bunching Onion Aka 'He-Shi-Ko.' Grown since the 1880s, this popular perennial bunching onion produces slim, bulb-less white roots. Both roots and tops can be eaten and are absolutely delicious. Extremely easy to grow from direct sowing. Very cold-hardy, the plants can be left in the ground over winter and then divided in spring to create a perpetual onion bed! Plant in spring and/or late summer. Days to Harvest: 60-80 days from spring sowing; 120 days from fall sowing. Cipollini, Yellow Cipollini (pronounced chip-oh-lee-knee) onions are becoming all the rage amongst foodies. Italian heirlooms (their name literally translates as "little onion"), they have small (3-4"), slightly-flattened bulbs with white flesh and yellow skin. Oh-so-sweet, they grill or roast beautifully, and if you don't devour them all fresh, they also have exceptional storage abilities, lasting up to 5 months. Excellent for braiding. Days to Harvest: 85 Peas Difficulty to Seed Save: How to Grow: to grow. Peas are cool weather crops and should be direct sown in the garden 1/2" deep and 3" apart as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Sow again in late summer for a fall harvest. Regular picking prolongs the harvest. Companions: Beans, corn, cucumbers, carrots, eggplants, parsley, radishes, tomatoes and turnips. 10

Dwarf Grey Sugar Pea (Snow/pod pea) This is one of the oldest cultivated peas still available. Documented as being in gardens since 1773, it grows to only 24" and doesn't require staking. It produces large quantities of small (2.5") edible podded peas that are tender and absolutely delicious. In addition, its edible, bright purple flowers are gaining popularity as beautiful salad additions. Days to Harvest: 57-75 Green Arrow Pea (Shell pea) An heirloom English garden pea renowned for its productivity and disease-resistance, this short (28") variety produces heavy yields of slim 4" dark green pods that contain 9-11 peas of superb flavour. The pods are borne in pairs and are near the top of the plant, making for easy harvesting. Good for shelling or eating fresh. Days to Harvest: 75 Oregon Sugar Pod Peas (Snow/pod pea) This highly productive, open-pollinated variety was developed at Oregon State University. Dwarf vines reach 30" and produce heavy yields of tender, sweet 4" pods. Days to Harvest: 64 Sugar Snap Pea 'Sugar Snap' was developed in 1975 and has gained an almost cult-like following among gardeners. It's a distinctive type of pea the pods are edible but are not flat like a snow pea. They fill out to a nice, round crispness and you eat the whole thing. They're incredibly sweet and are delicious raw or cooked. People literally rave about them to us. Growing to 6', it is an abundant producer. Days to Harvest: 60 11

Hot Pepper How to Grow: Peppers are heat-lovers and need to be started indoors to produce fruit in this climate. Sow seed 1/4-1/2" deep in soil-less mix in flats 7-8 weeks before last frost. Harden off & plant out 18-20" apart when temperatures and the soil have fully warmed. Companions: basil, oregano, parsley, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants. Early Jalapeno Hot Pepper Prized for its heat. Early Jalapeno is an easy pepper to grow. The plant's compact size (2') makes it an excellent candidate for urban gardening, and it matures very early, setting fruit under cooler conditions than most other hot peppers. The short 2-3" fruits are thick-walled and juicy and are great eaten fresh, cooked, dried, and in salsa. Although we're used to using them green, they're actually hottest when they ripen to a deep red. Days to Harvest: 70 Hungarian Yellow Wax Hot Pepper An (obviously) old Hungarian variety that does well in our cool northern climates. Long peppers, banana-shaped, progress from green to yellow to red. Medium-hot and spicy. Days to Harvest: 60-85 Long Red Cayenne Hot Pepper For those that like their peppers fiery hot! 5" long, wrinkled pods are dark green to bright red. Dries well. Days to Harvest: 70-75 12

Sweet Pepper How to Grow: Peppers are heat-lovers and need to be started indoors to produce fruit in this climate. Sow seed 1/4-1/2" deep in soil-less mix in flats 7-8 weeks before last frost. Harden off & plant out 18-20" apart when temperatures and the soil have fully warmed. Companions: Basil, oregano, parsley, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants. Marconi Red Sweet Pepper Aka 'Marconi Rosso.' Another Italian heirloom sweet pepper that is growing in popularity on this side of the Atlantic. Some claim that this is the largest sweet pepper known - its fruits can grow to 8-12" long and are 3" across at the shoulders. They start out green, mature to fire-engine red, are incredibly sweet and are wonderful roasted or grilled. It's suggested the plants be staked, as they can grow to 30." Days to Harvest: 65-70 Orange Bell Sweet Pepper The three-to-four-lobed fruits are very thick-fleshed with excellent sweet flavour and are extremely productive. The fruits ripen to a beautiful, bright orange. Days to Harvest: 60-90 Sweet Banana Pepper Hungary, 1941. The plant grows to 2' and produces heavy yields of up to 6" long fruits, that change colour from green to yellow to orange to crimson red. They are sweet at all stages, but sweetest when red. Days to Harvest: 65-75 13

Pumpkin Medium How to Grow: to grow. Seeds may be started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost or direct-sown when temperatures and the soil have warmed. Sow seed 1-2" deep and thin to 3-4' apart. Companions: Corn, beans. Nasturtiums and marigolds deter squash bugs and other pests and oregano helps overall growth. Cheyenne Bush Pumpkin A very early bush pumpkin, developed by the USDA Field Station in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1943. It is one of the few heirloom pumpkins to have a small, bush growth habit, making it perfect for gardeners with limited space, and is a heavy producer of 5-8 lb round orange fruit. Days to Harvest: 80-90 Small Sugar Pumpkin 1863. C. pepo Aka "New England Pie." This was an old favourite for canning and making pumpkin pies. Fruits are about 7 lbs, wonderfully sweet - made the best pies I've ever had! I have had so many customers approach me at seed shows to tell me that they won first prize at their agricultural fair for their pumpkin pie made with this pumpkin! Flesh is fine-grained. Days to Harvest: 110 Radicchio Not AVAILABLE FOR 2016 Difficulty to Save Seed: Advanced The culinary use of radicchio dates back centuries - Pliny credited its introduction to the ancient Egyptians. A popular European salad vegetable, especially in Italy, it is also gaining steady ground in North America. Forming heads of dark red leaves with stark white veining, it adds colour and texture to mesclun mixes or salads. It has a tangy taste that doesn't get bitter and can be planted for both summer and fall harvest. Early Palla Rossa How to Grow: Direct sow outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked (for Spring crop) or from mid-to-late summer for a fall crop. Sow ¼ deep, keep moist. Transplant/thin to 8 Days to Harvest: 85 14

Radish Medium How to Grow: to grow. Radishes are one of the easiest crops to grow. They are a cool weather crop and are best direct-sown in successive plantings in very early to late spring and then again in late summer through to early fall. Sow seed 1/4" deep and thin to 2-3" apart. Radishes are often sown with slower-germinating crops like carrots to mark the rows. As the radishes mature and are harvested, room is made for the carrots to expand. Companions: Radishes are one of the best companion plants in the garden and will benefit almost all other vegetable crops except some of the brassicas. Nasturtiums are beneficial to radishes. French Breakfast Radish 1879. An old Paris market radish, its shape was known as "olive shaped. An oblong radish, about 2" long, red with white tip whose flesh is crisp and tender. Recommended. Days to Harvest: 20-30 Helios Radish This Czechoslovakian heirloom is a spring radish that produces well into summer. Unique, pale yellow, olive-shaped roots have white flesh and are sweet and mild with a long harvest period. Believed to be the same as the "Small Early Yellow Turnip Radish" offered by the Vilmorin seed company in 1885. Days to Harvest: 30-35 Pink Beauty Radish This attractive radish has rose-pink, round roots. The crisp white flesh has mild heat and resists pithiness. Days to Harvest: 25 15

White Beauty Radish Pure white round roots are mildly-hot and not too pungent. Although best when 2-3" in diameter, they resist getting pithy at larger sizes. Days to Harvest: 30 days. Spinach Medium How to Grow: Spinacea is a cool-weather crop and should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. Pre-soak seed for a few hours before planting. Sow seed 1/4-1/2" deep. Sow a second crop in late summer. Thin to 8" apart; water regularly. Heat-loving varieties should be planted when temperatures and the soil have warmed up. Companions: Peas, beans, eggplants, onions, cabbage, strawberries. Long Standing Bloomsdale Spinach 1925. Very heat tolerant and slow to bolt, with dark green crinkled leaves. Its rich flavour makes it perfect in salads or cooked. One of the best early spinaches. Days to Harvest: 39-48 New Zealand Spinach "Discovered" by Sir Joseph Banks in New Zealand during the 1770 voyage of Captain Cook. A native of New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia that was introduced to Europe by Captain Cook, this "spinach alternative" is well worth growing. Growing to 2', it produces tender, flavourful tips and young leaves throughout the summer if regularly clipped. Unlike regular spinach, which "bolts" and goes bitter in hot weather, this is one of those varieties that loves hot weather and will continue to give you delicious greens all season long that are highly nutritious it is valued for its high Vitamin A, B1 and B2 content. Days to Harvest: 50-70 16

Red Malabar Spinach This plant is incredible--an Indian heirloom, it grows quickly to 10-15' and has beautiful deep red stems and red-tinged leaves. The round, succulent leaves are absolutely delicious fresh or cooked & stay sweet and tender all summer. This plant, unlike regular spinach, loves the heat and produces steadily throughout the season if regularly picked. Perfect for large containers, it is a beautiful ornamental. Days to Harvest: 60-70 Summer Squash Difficulty to Save Seed: Medium How to Grow: to grow. Seeds may be started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost or direct-sown when temperatures and the soil have warmed. Sow seed 1-2" deep and thin to 3-4' apart. Companions: Corn, beans. Nasturtiums and marigolds deter squash bugs and other pests and oregano helps overall growth. Black Beauty Summer Squash Introduced in 1957, this is the earliest and most productive of the black/green zucchinis. Fruits are dark, dark green and straight. Best picked when 6" long or less, but stay tender even when larger. Days to Harvest: 56 Cocozelle Zucchini This Italian heirloom zucchini has a small bush growing habit, so is perfect in small gardens. It produces large numbers of beautiful fruits that are dark green with light green stripes and that are prized for slicing, frying and steaming. This is also a great variety for freezing and canning. Fruits are best picked when they're less than 12" long. It was known in the 19th C. as "Cocozelle di Napoli" and is prized in Italy for its baby fruits that are picked when they're 1" long! Days to Harvest: 43 17

Early Yellow Crookneck 1700. One of the oldest documented squash, it produces light yellow fruit with (you guessed it) a crooked neck! White, sweet flesh. Pick when skin can be cut with a fingernail. Delicious! Days to Harvest: 42-60 Winter Squash Difficulty to Save Seed: Medium How to Grow: to grow. Squash are heat-lovers and are best started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost, or direct sown when temperatures and the soil have fully warmed. Sow seed 1-2" deep. Transplant or thin out to 3-4' apart when night-time temperatures have warmed. Companions: corn, beans. Nasturtiums and marigolds deter squash bugs and other pests and oregano helps overall growth. Delicata Winter Squash 1894 This squash was popular at the turn of the previous century. Also called sweet potato squash, it has a pale yellow skin with green striations and a delicious, dense flesh tasting somewhat like sweet potato. The fruits grow from 5-9" long and are oblong-shaped, storing well. This is absolutely one of my favourite winter squashes for taste! Days to Harvest: 100 Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash 1890's. Spaghetti squash is a great substitute for spaghetti with its long strands that can be literally forked out of the shell. Vigorous vines produce cylindrical fruits that are 8-12" long and a cream-colour that turns buff. Stores up to 6 months. Days to Harvest: 70-115 18

Waltham Butternut Winter Squash This variety, introduced in 1970, is a heavy producer with 9-10" long, buffcoloured fruit. An AAS winner, it has excellent flavour, and stores well. Days to Harvest: 80-110 Swiss Chard Difficulty to Save Seed: Advanced How to Grow: Swiss chard is a cool-weather crop that also tolerates a fair bit of heat once it's established. Direct sow in early spring and then again in late summer for a fall crop. Sow 1/2-3/4" deep and thin to 15" apart. Companions: Peas, beans, tomatoes, onions. Lucullus Swiss Chard An ancient variety named after a Roman general, Lucullus produces abundantly throughout the whole season. Its leaves, which are a bright light green, have a wonderful flavour and the plant grows well in a variety of growing conditions. Days to Harvest: 55 Tomatoes Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Tomato seeds need to be started indoors 6-7 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1/4" deep in soil-less mix; harden off& plant out 24-48" apart, in not too rich a soil, after all danger of frost is over. Companions: Basil and borage repel tomato hornworms; onions, leeks and chives all deter pests, especially red spiders; marigolds encourage growth. Beefsteak Tomato (Red) Pre-1916 Indeterminate. The tomato that gave large tomatoes their descriptive moniker. This variety produces large, red, meaty fruit that average almost a pound each and full of rich, sweet flavour. Great for sandwiches and salads. Days to Harvest: 90 19

Bellstar Tomato (Red; Paste/Sauce) Determinate. Aka 'Bellestar. It was developed in 1981 by Dr. Jack Metcalf, of the Smithfield Experimental Farm in Trenton, Ontario. Dr. Jack did a great job it matures much earlier than most other plum tomatoes, making it a cool-season champion, yet its fruit is larger than those of most of its peers. The compact plants produce large quantities of rich-tasting fruit that are easy to pick and great for fresh eating as well as making fabulous sauce. Days to Harvest: 65 Chadwick's Cherry Tomato (Cherry) Indeterminate. This tomato comes with a pedigree - it was developed by the late Alan Chadwick of England. Chadwick was famous in gardening circles for introducing (actually he was re-introducing) the concepts and practices of French Intensive gardening and bio-dynamic systems. These tomatoes are both juicy and prolific. The sweet flavour of the tiny (1.5") round fruits is considered by some to be the best flavour of medium-sized cherry tomatoes. Great for just popping in the mouth or for salads. Days to Harvest: 80-90 Riesentraube Tomato (Cherry) Indeterminate. Pre-1856. A German heirloom whose name translates as "giant bunches of grapes." This wonderful variety produces clusters of 1" fruits, 20-40 to a cluster. One plant produces hundreds of fruits. Excellent flavour. Days to Harvest: 80 Yellow Pear Tomato (Cherry) Indeteminate. 1805. One of the oldest cultivated tomatoes. Visitors to the garden love this one's taste and appearance - unusual, tiny pear-shaped fruits that are a brilliant yellow colour and have an excellent sweet taste. Perfect for eating on the spot or for salads. Days to Harvest: 70-80 20

Turnips Difficulty to Save Seed: Advanced Des Vertus Marteau turnip How To Grow: to grow. Turnips are cool-weather crops. Direct sow outside as soon as the soil can be worked or in late summer for fall crop. Sow 1/4-1/2" deep, 1" apart. Thin to 4-6" apart. Companions: Onions, chives, leeks and peas. This wonderful old French heirloom turnip dates back to the 1800's, where it was a very popular market turnip. Its name translates as "Hammer of Virtue", alluding to its place of origin - the city of Vertus, in north-east France. The tender, long white roots, described as "very sweet" by Vilmorin, are easy to grow and perfect for those who don't think they like turnips! Growing to 6" long and 2" wide, they are excellent raw or in stirfries. They also store very well. Days to Harvest: 35-60 Golden Globe Turnip Believed to be the same as "Golden Ball", listed in 1863. This turnip was highly valued for its taste, considered by Peter Henderson (well-known market grower & breeder in the late 19th C.) to have "no superior for table use, being of excellent flavor (sic), globe-shaped, and of a beautiful yellow color (sic)". Roots are 3-4" across when mature. Days to Harvest: 55 Herbs Basil How to Grow: Surface sow directly outdoors by pressing seed lightly into soil, after soil has warmed. Keep area moist until germination. May be started early indoors. Genovese Basil (Annual) The classic large-leaf Basil from Italy, with a wonderful spicy flavour. Excellent for pesto and bruschetta. 21

Italian Large Leaf Basil (Annual) This Italian heirloom has much larger leaves than Sweet Basil - 3-4" long, broad, crinkly leaves that are perfect for pesto. Growing to 14", the stocky plants have a scent and taste that is sweeter than "Genovese" Basil. Sweet Basil (Annual) A very old herb long considered in Italy as a sign of love. One tradition held that when a man gave a woman a sprig of basil, she would fall in love with him and never leave him. Early Greek and Roman physicians believed that one had to shout & curse when sowing basil seeds, in order to grow a good crop. We, luckily, didn't have to resort to this. Basil grows 1-2' tall with a bushy appearance. In July-August, it bears pretty two-lipped white flowers. Thai Basil (Annual) An ornamental as well as culinary basil. Has a distinctive anise scent and flavour. The leaves are green at the base of the plant, turning purple near the flowers. This is the true strain used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. Variegated Cat Grass How to Grow: to grow. Sow on the surface of a pot filled with potting soil or soil-less mix and cover lightly. Keep moist and warm. When germination occurs, put the pot in a window to continue growing. At 3-4 it is ready for your cat! Beautiful open-pollinated stalks of green and white barley loved by cats. Aids digestion. How to Save Seed: If you plant it and let it grow (and cats leave it alone), it will grow to 2-4 and produce seed heads. Let these dry and then harvest the heads and clean the seed. 22

Chives How to Grow: Sow as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. For the best growth, the soil should be around 60º to 70ºF. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep and final plant spacing should be 4 to 6 inches apart in all directions. May be started early indoors. Common Chive (Perennial) Chives have an ancient pedigree, dating back to perhaps 5,000 years of cultivation. They were a mainstay in the Middle Ages, and the Romans valued chives for their medicinal purposes. Romanian Gypsies used chives in fortune telling. They are one of the essential ingredients in the "herbes fines" of France. They have myriad culinary uses and are super easy to grow. Just let chives grow in clumps and harvest the leaves as needed, or three times a year for major harvests. They are not fussy about soil and growing conditions, other than to prefer well-drained soil and sun. Garlic Chive (Perennial) This native of Japan produces strong, flat leaves and, most importantly for the garden, showy large white umbrels of flowers in late summer-early fall. The leaves can be harvested regularly over the season, as are regular chives, and have an incredible, unique taste combination of both garlic and chives. A must-have for the garden and the kitchen! Cilantro/Coriander How to Grow: Direct seed ½ deep in a sunny location in rich, well-drained soil. Space 1 apart, in rows 16 apart. Firm soil over seed. Thin to 8 apart when 3 tall. Does not transplant well. (Annual) Native to southern Europe, Coriander is increasingly being known in North America as Cilantro. It was brought to Britain by the Romans, and has been cultivated as an aromatic spice since ancient times. Growing to 1-2', it carries delicate umbels of flowers that are pale mauve/white - very pretty. The whole plant is edible: leaves, stems and seeds. Sun. 23

Dill How to Grow: Surface sow directly outside 4-5 weeks before last frost. Seed needs light to germinate. Thin to 12 apart. Does not transplant well. Plant next to cabbage or onions, but keep away from carrots. (Annual) Used since the time of the ancient Greeks, Dill has had numerous culinary, medical and magical uses. In the Middle Ages it was used by magicians in charms against witchcraft (but we won't hold that against it). The seeds now are used mainly for pickling, but at the turn of the century they made a popular dill vinegar, and the leaves can flavour soups, sauces, etc. Dill grows to 3' high, with feathery leaves, and loose umbrels of tiny yellow flowers in summer. Sun. Old English Lavender How to Grow: Surface sow on moist soil-less mix by pressing into mix. Keep moist, under lights, at 20C until germination. When ready, harden off & transplant to garden. (Perennial) The original "true" English lavender, and still one of the best. This is the lavender used to produce essential oil of lavender for the perfume industry. It has been grown in English gardens since before the Norman conquest. Growing 1-3' tall, it forms a bushy sub-shrub of greygreen needle-like foliage. In early-to-mid-summer, dainty spikes of blue flowers cover it. The whole plant is fragrant. Oregano, Greek Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Oregano can easily be started from seeds, though you can also use cuttings from an established plant. Plant the seeds/cuttings in well-drained soil anytime after the last spring frost. The soil should be around 70ºF. For thin plants, plant 8-10 apart. The plants will grow 1-2 tall and spread about 18. May be started early indoors. Oregano makes a good companion for any vegetable in the garden. (Perennial) This is the true Oregano used for cooking, although the ancient Greeks primarily valued its medicinal qualities. Much folklore surrounds this plant - it was said that this herb, laid with Thyme in a dairy, would prevent milk from turning during a thunderstorm. Grow this 12" delight near your kitchen, so that you can easily snip leaves to flavour your favourite dish. 24

Parsley Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Directly sow outdoors as soon as soil can be worked. Press seed into soil & lightly cover, germination is slow & erratic. May also be started early indoors. (Annual) Parsley is a very old herb valued from the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks held it sacred to oblivion and to the dead, making wreaths of it to adorn their tombs. By the 16th C, it was regarded as a medicinal herb. Or you could use it in soups, salads and stews, as it's more flavourful than the curled type. Grows to 10-15" in sun or partial shade. Summer Savoury Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Surface sow directly outdoors by pressing seed lightly into soil, after soil has warmed. Keep area moist until germination. May be started early indoors. (Annual) Used since the time of Virgil, this flavourful annual was brought over by the colonists to North America. It adds wonderful flavour to bean and pea dishes, and in earlier times was believed to relieve colic and flatulence. Growing 1' high, it flowers in July, bearing small, pale lilac flowers. But you'll want to grow it for the leaves. Sun. Thyme, Summer Difficulty to Save Seed: How to Grow: Surface sow directly outdoors by pressing seed lightly into soil, after soil has warmed. Keep area moist until germination. May also be started early indoors. (Annual) Aka "French Thyme". Summer thyme is smaller than English thyme and has a spicier, sharper flavor than its cousin. Used primarily as a culinary herb. BPL Grows Seed Catalogue April 2016 Photos and descriptions are courtesy of The Cottage Gardener / www.cottagegardener.com/ 25