Planting Notes 2008

Garden Notes 2008

Tuesday April 22, 2008

Well this section may be a bit disorganized for a while. I'm basically just trying to get the names and basic info of all the plants down and will organize later.

/Richters Trip April, 21st 2008

Tomatoes Sorted By Season 2008

All tomato seed planted in ProMix April 10,2008

* planted for Mom

# planted for Me

Early (55-68 days)

Siberian

Early – short vines – 2-3” egg shaped red fruit – determinate – = good for market gardeners. Cottage Gardener

* 2

# 4

Red Alert

Early – small patio size red fruits – prolific – determinate, but plants from my saved seeds grew very large and bore fruit up until frost. Saved seed

* 2

# 2

Bloody Butcher

Early – rare- 4 oz red fruit in clusters – very juicy – indeterminate Cottage Gardener

* 2

# 4

1 for Shirley

1 for Janice

Garden Peach

early –

fuzzy with pink blush –

good keeper –

vigorous vines.

Terra Edibles

* 2

# 2

Ropreco

early Italian Heirloom red paste. Bushy compact vine needs no staking Stellar Seeds

* 2

# 5

1 for Shirley

Yellow Stripe Roman –

Early –

yellow/orange striped

Terra Edibles

* 2

# 5

Sweetie –

early red cherry.

Indeterminate 

Two Wings Farm

* 2

# 2

1 for Shirley

Elfin

Early red grape Indeterminate – short bushy plant Two Wings Farm

*2

#2

1 for Shirley

1 for Janice

Black Cherry

early – rare, true cherry – black skin, deep red inside Terra Edibles

*2

#2

Sun Sugar

early

yellow/orange

super sweet –

prolific the whole season –

bought plants from Organic farm (Lucknow) 2007 –

saved seed

*2

#2

1 for Shirley

Mid-Season (69-79 days)

Box Car Willy

mid-season –

10-16 oz. red Fruit –

disease and crack resistant –

very juicy –

indeterminate

Cottage Gardener

*2

#2

Bonny Best

mid-season

Medium red fruit –-

Determinate medium sized plant

Cottage Gardener

*2

#4

1 for Shirley

1 for Janice

==Mortgage Lifter== – mid-late season

very large red fruit –

productive –

disease resistant –

Cottage Gardener

*2

#3

Aunt Ruby’s German Green

Mid/late Season.

Indeterminate

Two Wings Farm

*2

#2

Pruden’s Purple

mid-season –

large dark pink fruit –

medium vines –

good for Northern areas and uncertain sunshine

Cottage Gardener

*2

#2

Moneymaker

Medium sized fruit

Very productive –

Cottage Gardener

*2

#4

Silvery Fir

Russian –

called carrot leaved –

small 2 ft plant –

2-4” red fruit –

large crop –

determinate –

good for edible landscaping

Cottage Gardener

*3

#10

1 for Shirley

1 for Janice

Oxheart

Large pink fruit –

Grew this from seed last year – got heart shaped and round tomatoes on the same vine

Did not save seeds, but planted 2 seeds from previous year to see what happens

*2

-----------

Martino’s Roma

Mid Season –

prolific –

red –

indeterminate

saved seed

Third year I’ve grown this one

*2

#5

Purple Russian

mid-season –

from Ukraine –

productive –

egg shaped

Terra Edibles

*2

#5

Black Plum

mid-season –

mahogany past tomato

Terra edibles

*2

#5

--------------

Matt’s Wild Cherry

mid-season –

prolific small red fruit –

from Mexico

Terra Edibles

*2

#2

Chiapas Wild

red, currant type –

slow to germinate last year, but a number of self seeded plants grew well.

Large sprawling plant.

Saved seed

*2

#2

Riesentraube

mid-season -

rare,

German –

1 oz pear shaped red fruit –

hundreds per plant

Terra Edibles

*2

#2

Isis Candy

mid-season –

¾” fruit –

gold with red swirls –

sweet –

productive

Cottage Gardener

*2

#2

1 for Shirley

1 for Janice

Brown Cherry

mid season –

from Russia –

brown/copper green –

1 ½- 2” fruit –

prolific –

produces into fall.

Cottage Gardener

*2

#2

Yellow Cherry

Seeds of Survival –

Greta’s Organic Seeds.

Gift seed.

*2

#2

1 for Shirley

Yellow Pear

mid-late season –

small, very sweet yellow pear shaped fruits –

very prolific and seeded themselves.

Saved seed

Third year to grow these

*2

#2

Late (80+ days)

Hill Billy

late season –

from West Virginia –

12-24 oz reddish orange fruit

Terra Edibles

*2

#2

Caro Rich

late season –

bright orange – high beta carotene –

large bushy plant

Terra Edibles

*2

#2

-------------------

Opalka

late season –

9-11 oz red fruit –

from Poland –

long vines –

indeterminate

Terra Edibles

*2

#5

Amish Paste

late season –

from Wisconsin –

12 oz meaty red fruit –

indeterminate

Christine grew this one last year

Terra Edibles

*2

#5

Orange Banana

Late season –

indeterminate –

good disease resistance

Cottage Gardener

*2

#5

---------------------

Red Pear

late season –

very old –

rambling 6 ft. vines –

small fruit (cherry size)

Cottage Gardener

*2

#2

Herbs

From Richter’s

Basil, Medinette seeds

- planted indoors April 10 & 13

Basil, Cinnamon seeds

- planted indoors April 10 & 13

Borage seeds

- planted indoors April 10 & 13

Coriander, spice seeds

- planted indoors April 10 & 13

Dill, Mammoth seeds

• planted indoors April 13

Dill, Fernleaf seeds

- planted indoors April 10 & 13

Heartsease (Johnny Jump-ups) seed

- planted indoors April 13

Marigold, Mexican seeds

- planted indoors April 13

Nigella seeds

- planted indoors april 13

Parsley, curled seeds

- did not plant this year

California Poppy seeds

Seabuckthorn seeds

- planted and refrigerated April 10

Scullcap, Oriental Blue seeds

- planted indoors April 13

Soapwort seeds

- planted and refrigerated April 10

Virgin’s Bower seeds

Basil, Genovese Plug tray – 120 plants

Basil, Lesbos 12 plants

Parsley, Moss curled plug tray – 120 plants

Garlic, Society – 1 plant

Labrador Tea – 1 plant

Lemongrass – 1 plant

Meadowsweet – 3 plants

White Sage – 1 plant

Speedwell, creeping – 6 plants

Partridgeberry – 3 plants

St. John’s Wort – 1 plant

Sweetgrass – 3 plants

Stevia, Crazy Sweet – 1 plant

Tarragon, French – 1 plant

Uva Ursi – 1 plant

Wormwood, beach – 3 plants

Apothecary Rose – 2 plants

Vegetables

Beans

* Provider – (snap)

• Very early green bush bean.
• Developed in 1976, it reliably produces heavy crops of round, fleshy pods in 50 days.
• The plants are compact and adapt well to a variety of adverse growing conditions.
• In addition, they can germinate in cool soil.
• Cottage Gardener

Dragon’s tongue - Bush bean.

• This heavy yielding variety of yellow wax bean
• Extremely juicy and tender, it makes for wonderful fresh eating.
• Slightly flat, light yellow pods with purple stripes
• 20-25cm long.
• Extremely vigorous plant loaded with beans.
• Certified Organic.
• Terra Edibles

Purple Teepee – bush bean

• plant beginning of June
• unique variety
• compact plant with pods setting above foliage
• Long purple pod
• Excellent taste
• Dominion seed house

Slenderette – green bush bean

• high yield
• mid-season
• white seeds
• C/O
• Dominions Seed House

Rattlesnake Snap – Pole

• 60–90 days.
• Dark green pods streaked with purple, 7–8" long
• 10' vines.
• Very fine flavour with good resistance to drought.
• Cottage Gardener

Cherokee Trial of tears (dry/snap)- (Pole; 65 – 85 days)

• 1800’s.
• So-named because it was carried by the Cherokee on their forced march.
• Pods turn dark purple with shiny black seeds.
• Delicious, prolific long producers.
• Cottage Gardener

Lazy housewife – (snap or dry) (Pole; 80 days) 1810

• Brought to America by German immigrants, these beans were so-named because they were the first beans to not require destringing!
• Can be used as a shell bean as well, and has a superb flavour.
• Plants bear continuously until frost.
• One of the oldest documented beans.
• Cottage Gardener

Purple podded Pole (dry/snap/shelled) Aka Blue Coco (Pole; 59 days)

• Pre-1775 A very old bean from France.
• Deep purple pods with meaty tan-coloured seeds.
• is able to thrive in almost any conditions – is heat-and-drought-tolerant.
• Cottage Gardener

Painted Lady Runner Bean – Pole – 68 days

• 1827
• bi-colour (red & white) blossoms
• attractive to hummingbirds and hummingbird moths
• Young beans are tender and delicious as snap beans
• Cottage Gardener

Dry bean mix –

• A colourful selection of beans good to grow out, dry and save for use in soups, stews and bean pots.
• Terra Edibles

Witkiem (Broad/Fava) – 75 days

• an heirloom broad, a.k.a. fava, bean.
• classic English variety suitable for both spring and fall sowing.
• Inedible pods contain up to 6 large beans for fresh eating.
• Can be used fresh, frozen, dried or processed..
• Terra Edibles

Peas

Little Marvel 1900. (58 – 64 days)

• A dwarf shelling pea, with 18” vines,
• good taste
• English variety
• Drought and wilt-resistant
• I think this is the one that my parents grew for years. Did well at the farm as I remember.
• Cottage Gardener

Blue Podded Pea (Aka Blue Pod Capucijners) (80-85 days) 1500’s.

• This ancient pea was developed by the Capuchin monks in Holland
• makes an excellent pod pea when young, and/or fresh shelled pea and/or dry pea.
• ornamental, its attractive violet, red & pink flowers give way to visually-arresting dark blue/purple pods borne on silver-grey vines that grow to 5’. It’s worth growing just for its beauty alone.
• Note: soak dry peas overnight before cooking.
• Cottage Gardener

Snack Pea Mix –

• The variation in sweetness, texture and maturation of these edible-pod peas will provide snacking material over an extended picking time.

• Great in salads, stir-fries or eaten right in the garden.

• all staking peas that will climb 5-8 ft.

• all good soup peas

• Salt Spring Seeds

Winged Pea/Asparagus Pea (Lotus tetragonolobus)(60-75 days) 1569.

• Neither a pea nor asparagus
• It is native to the Mediterranean region and the Near East, has been cultivated for over 400 years and is now considered a gourmet vegetable in Europe. Its common names refer to its appearance (pea-like flowers and tendrils) and its taste (somewhat like asparagus).
• The plant grows only about 8” high but spreads up to 18” in diameter, making it an excellent candidate for container growing.
• vivid blood-red/black flowers and unusual winged pods.
• The pods are best eaten when they’re less than 1” long, and are wonderful in stir-fries.
• This plant is literally so beautiful that it belongs in the flowerbed, up front where it can be appreciated.
• Germination rates are naturally low, so sow more seed than you want to grow. However, once the plants get established they take off – they will flourish in poor soil and are cold-hardy.– up until mid-November!
• Rare;
• Organic
• Cottage Gardener

Beets

Cottage Gardener’s specialty beet mix

• Unlike the modern beets that we’re used to, heirloom beets come in a diversity of colours and shapes.
• Included here are four of the most popular and visually interesting varieties: Golden (yellow root), Chioggia (red & white concentric rings inside, Bull’s Blood (grown for its exquisite dark burgundy foliage) and Cylindra (long, narrow roots).
• Cottage Gardener

Bull’s Blood –

• Beautiful dark red-purple tops with a sweet flavour. Leaves can be cut many times for salads
• Matures 35 days to baby leaf tops, 55 days for beet root.
• West Coast Seeds

Bassano

• large flat beet
• from Seedy Saturday
• adapted from Ontario to BC

Carrots

Specialty Carrot Mix

• mix of purple, white, yellow and red carrots
• prior to 17^th century, carrots came in a variety of colours
• Cottage Gardener

Oxheart Carrot (90 days) 1884.

• Short (5-6”)roots are thick (3-4”) & grow to 1 lb quickly.
• Excellent taste, stores well.
• Good for heavy soils or containers.
• Stays sweet and tender
• Cottage Gardener

Little Finger (55-60 days)

• If you want true baby carrots
• Developed in France, this carrot grows to 3” long and ½” wide with roots that are very tender and sweet.
• It grows well in heavy soils
• Cottage Gardener

Minicor (55 days)

• excellent for baby carrots
• rich orange colour
• West Coast seeds

Corn

Painted Mountain Corn (80-90 days)

• Not an heirloom
• most widely adapted and genetically diverse corn available. Dave Christenson developed this variety over 20 years from a number of old native varieties.
• A very early producer, it is extremely hardy and tolerates poor soils.
• Narrow, 7” cobs come in an array of colours – oranges, golds, reds and purples – with each ear having its own unique colour combinations.
• Perfect for fall decorating, flour and also for eating fresh!
• Cottage Gardener

Stowell’s Evergreen Sweet Corn (80-100 days)

• heavy feeder – needs rich soil
• soak seed overnight before planting
• introduced in 1848
• 8-9” ears, 14 – 20 rows of kernels
• 1 – 2 ears/stalk
• Terra Edibles

Hugh’s Sweet Corn

• This is a grow-out of the Sugar Dots hybrid bi-colour corn. Our organic grower friend "Hugh" planted seed saved from Sugar Dots for several years, and was pleased with the result.
• 8" cobs with 12-14 rows of the sweetest open pollinated corn we have tasted.
• Most cobs are bi-coloured but some will be all yellow as it is still evolving.
• Two Wings Farm

Broom Corn (Sorghum vulgare) (105 days)

• Not actually corn, but a type of sorghum (a grain), this is the crop used to make “corn brooms” centuries ago.
• mix of a number of heirloom varieties that grow in shades of gold, bronze, brown, black, burgundy and cream. The colour deepens as the seed-heads mature. Grow your own corn broom or use the stalks for dried arrangements
• Cottage Gardener
• Possibly use as a wind break

Cucumber

Lemon Cucumber 1894. (58 – 70 days)

• Unusual appearance – looks like a large lemon!
• Mild skin and crunchy texture – good for fresh eating or pickling.
• Cottage Gardener

Mexican Sour Gerkin Cucumber (60 – 70 days)

• Not a member of the regular cucumber family, it is a recently rediscovered heirloom.
• Hundreds and hundreds of tiny (1-2”) fruits that look like mini-watermelons are produced on vines that need to be trellised.
• "fairy watermelons".
• Their flavour is a combination of fresh cucumber taste with a sour edge, as if they'd been pickled;
• easy to grow, and are bound to be a conversation piece.
• Cottage Gardener

Suyo Long (60-70 days)

• originally from China,
• reputation for hardiness & productivity in harsh conditions. .
• Sweet-flavoured, “burpless”, with few seeds,
• the fruits grow 10 – 18” long,
• need to be trellised.
• Cottage Gardener

White Wonder 1890. (58 days)

• white cucumber,
• 5 – 7” long,
• delicious sliced or pickled.
• Heat tolerant.
• Cottage Gardener

Greens

Buttercrunch Lettuce

• Butterhead.
• Can be used as a mini.
• Very sweet yellow interior with dark outer leaves.
• Bibb lettuce dates back to 1963.
• Slow to bolt.
• Salt Spring Seeds

Heirloom cutting mix

• This is a mixture of 6 heirloom lettuces which are suited to cut and come again harvest.
• Can also be grown to full heads.
• Contains Brunia, Forellenschluss, Jebousik, Les Oreilles du Diables, Tomahawk and Waldmanns.
• Two Wings Farm

Arugula – Rocket – Surrey

• = A rich and peppery tasting rocket, without being too spicy, that will enhance your salads. =

• = When growing, it has the appearance of rocket that grows wild. =

• = Slow to bolt. =

• = Maturity: baby-21 days, full size-40 days. =

• from the mustard family
• strong aroma with subtle peanut flavour
• Dominion Seed House

Squash

Eggplant

Black Beauty (75 – 90 days)

• Introduced from Europe in 1910
• Deep purple, 3 lb. Fruits have wonderful flavour and store well.
• Cottage Gardener
• Planted indoors April 11

Rosa Bianca (75 days)

• A beautiful Italian heirloom, this variety produces rounded, lavender/white fruit that is very meaty with a nice mild flavour and no bitterness.
• Pick when 6-8”.
• Cottage Gardener
• Planted indoors April 11

Melons

Peppers

Sweet Peppers Rainbow mix

• Dominion seed House
• Planted indoors April 11

Purple Beauty

• Mid-sized lobed pepper starts purple and deepens to almost black when ripe.

• 70 days.

• Terra Edibles

• Planted indoors April 11

Hot Pepper – Jalapano

• early variety

• Dominion Seed House

• Planted indoors April 11

Swiss Chard

Five Colour Silverbeet (55 – 60 days).1850’s.

• A very old variety, nearly lost, that grown for ornament as much as for flavour.
• The stalks come in a rainbow of colours – red, yellow, orange, pink and cream – and are beautiful in the garden.
• Plant in flower beds
• Cottage Gardener

Turnip

Rutabaga – Laurentian Thomson

• A round purplish root with a great taste for all your slow- cooked recipes.
• Long storage life if kept in a cool place.
• Untreated seed.
• Dominion seeds

Summer Turnip – Purple Top White Globe

• Round roots are 7.5 to 10 cm in diameter.
• Attractive white and violet colour.
• Flesh is white, mild and crunchy.
• Dominion Seed House

Kohl Rabi

Giant Purple

• Huge, high-yielding variety, with a nut flavour that does not become woody.
• McFayden Seed Company

Onions

Bedford Champion –

• heavy yields of large, round, 12-15cm diameter, yellow-copper skinned onions.
• Excellent storage onion that retains firmness well.
• Heirloom from England
• Plant early, matures late.
• Good for market and home.
• From Stellar Seeds
• Planted indoors April 10

Rossa Di Milano

• Large, heavy-yielding, 10-15cm diameter, red-skinned, flat-topped onion tapers slightly to a curved bottom.
• Great for fresh eating and cooking with sweet, pungent white flesh.
• Very long-keeping storage onion.
• Tops make good braiding.
• From Stellar Seeds
• Planted indoors April 10

Kincho Scallions (50 days) (open pollinated seeds)

• A standard green onion for summer and fall production, Kinko are Japanese-type scallions with dark-green leaves ad tall, straight, single-stalk stems that do not bulb.

• Increase the white stem length by planting in trenches and hilling up.

• Scallions are a year-round crop.

• For an extra early crop, start as transplants, sow 5-10 seeds per container, and set the whole clump into the garden 10cm (4") apart to produce instant bunches!

• From April on, seed .5-1cm (1/4-1/2") apart in short rows.

• Add more rows as needed, planting into August for fall and winter

• West Coast Seeds

Green Onions – He-Shi-Ko

• 40 cm tall scallions
• Stellar Seeds
• Planted indoors April 10

Lentils

Ethiopian

• large lentils are so pretty you can include the plants in the flower bed!
• lacey foliage with little blue flowers on small 12 inch plants.
• Lentils are tan/green in colour with delicious flavour, when dry.
• Great in stew and soup.
• Two Wings Farm

Spinach

Bloomsdale

• from Seedy Saturday
• Heavy yield of large dark green savoyed leaves.
• Slow to bolt. Plant in spring or fall. 1925 Heirloom.
• One of the oldest, and still one of the best! Very nutritious.

Radish

Radish Mixture

• several different kinds
• Dominion Seed House

French Breakfast

• An early radish with an elongated shape and a white tip.
• Dominion seed house