Rss Feed
Tweeter button
Facebook button

GARDEN MAIDEN: More than planting: Design, seed planning, budgeting …

HOLLY HUGHES.jpg

HOLLY HUGHES.jpg

Holly Hughes

17-artichoke.jpg

17-artichoke.jpg

The three inches between rows of tavor artichoke, companioned by adjacent fern like growth of a young cosmos (flowers), was quickly claimed by the quick growing vines of the Long Island Cheese Pumpkin, two first-timer specialty picks in the 2013 gardens.

17-goldbeets.jpg

17-goldbeets.jpg

Gold beets are becoming a popular favorite at our farm stand. They are great keepers in a bucket of cool sand in the canning room, and roast up well all winter long. I find the taste of gold beets to be milder in taste than red beets, with tender greens that are delicious even fully mature as fresh salad mix.

17-diversity.jpg

17-diversity.jpg

Starting my own seeds is not only a measure of seed quality but also serves to create diversity in my garden. Many of the hard to sell varieties like Romanesco (spiral cauliflower), Integro red cabbage, Sunkist tomatoes and jasmine-scented nicotiana are not grown by commercial greenhouses for mass distribution.

17-Lacinato.jpg

17-Lacinato.jpg

Lacinato kale, nicknamed dinosaur kale because of its bumpy texture, is less popular than the readily available curly kale used to create kale chips. Yet Lacinato is a type I prefer for braising as a hot side dish of fresh veggies from the garden.



Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2014 10:00 pm
|


Updated: 10:00 pm, Thu Feb 27, 2014.

GARDEN MAIDEN: More than planting: Design, seed planning, budgeting important

Holly Hughes, newsroom@mywebtimes.com, 815-433-2000

mywebtimes.com

|
0 comments

For many, grabbing a pack of seeds once they are hanging in the garden store is sufficient.


For me, garden design, seed planning and budgeting are important steps in creating a versatile, heirloom and organic hybrid collection for an efficient, affordable harvest.

Subscription Required


An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.


You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?


Login Now

Need an online subscription?


Subscribe

Login

Choose an online service.

Current print subscribers


Login Now

Need an online subscription?


Subscribe

Login

Choose an online service.

Current print subscribers

on

Thursday, February 27, 2014 10:00 pm.

Updated: 10:00 pm.

Speak Your Mind

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.