In my opinion sweet potatoes are one of the most neglected crops in North American, especially outside of the South. Growing up in NJ I remember we hardly ever ate them, yet, as an adult, I learned to love sweet …
Hardneck garlic is a favorite of mine. There are several distinct forms (or types) of garlic out there. Hardneck garlic is not as common as the most common form of garlic, called softneck. Hardneck garlic gets its name from the …
What is a “double standard tomato?” In Kinds of Tomatoes: What’s Best for You we defined a standard tomato as one which breeds true from seed, generation to generation, but there is another kind of “standard” in tomato nomenclature. This …
Have you ever been confronted with the question of whether to grow heirloom or hybrid tomatoes? The very question makes me cringe, yet probably not for the reason(s) you might think. I do have a preference, yet phrasing the question …
I am convinced that more people should grow Roselle. For that matter, a lot more people should know what it is! Roselle is a tropical hibiscus, which produces edible calyxes (outer seed pods). In Spanish people call it Jamaica, pronounced Hah-mike-ah, and it …
It’s really easy to grow your own hot sauce. By “hot sauce” I don’t just mean a pure runny, hot liquid. You might make something like “salsa,” which to me, indicates some pieces in the liquid. Some are solid mixes …
If you would like to provoke some really animated discussion in a group of gardeners, just ask for their idea of “the perfect tomato.” I can almost guarantee, if there are five gardeners in the room, they’ll provide you with …
If you love tomatoes in any form and can garden, you’ll probably want to grow some yourself. Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding things to grow in a vegetable or container garden, and if you find you really enjoy …
written in January: Why would anyone chose to grow tomato plants from seed? These days most gardeners purchase their transplants at the store. Right off the top of my head I can think of four reasons one might want to start …
The Jerusalem artichoke is a neglected crop which can be exceedingly productive in a home garden. I rarely see it in grocery stores and even more rarely meet people familiar with it. Yet this was once a common crop, utilized …