Ten Unusual Seeds

Monday, April 2nd, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 29 comments

Seeds are the miracle makers of the garden world. Big things come from such small, seemingly inert packages. A carrot seed is small enough to get caught under a fingernail and yet will produce a delectable carrot in a few months. And what about sunflowers or corn? So much promise!

There's still time to get seeds started. If you live in a cold climate you can get a jump start by sowing seeds indoors. Gardeners who live in regions with long summers and warm falls be sure to buy extra now to start a second crop of blooms and vegetables midsummer.

Flowers

Sunflower 'Sonya'

Zinnia 'Benary's Scarlet Giant'

Gomphrena 'Las Vegas Pink'

Cosmos 'Cosmic Orange'

Polish Amaranth 'Oeschburg' (Amaranth cruentus)

Veggies & Herbs

Carrots 'Purple Dragon'

Lettuce 'Tom Thumb'

Tomato 'Sun Gold'

Yard Long Beans

Pepper 'Holy Mole'

Soil Prep for Edibles

Monday, March 12th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 31 comments

The first week of March definitely came in like a lamb this year with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. It was beautiful weather for working in the staff garden at the City Garden Home.

The soil needed some TLC after working hard all fall and winter. Vegetables are needy when it comes to soil. They require fertile, well draining ground for optimal growth. I like to refresh the soil after each growing season to replenish nutrients. Gardening is raised beds makes it easy. I take the existing soil and mix in well rotted manure and compost or humus. A good ratio is 2 parts soil to 1 part manure and 1 part compost.

As a final step Jobe’s Organics All Purpose fertilizer was added. This stuff is powerfully good at breaking down nutrients in the soil for plants to absorb.

This year is going to be the best yet for the staff garden.

Fruit or Vegetable?

Monday, February 27th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 263 comments

From a gardener's perspective a tomato is a fruit. It forms from the ovary of a flower and contains seeds. Therefore it is a fruit.

Now a cook might tell you different because tomatoes are not often used to sweeten a dish. They are served as vegetables so they are vegetables. Right?

Tell me your opinion for a chance to win an awesome Garden Patch Grow Box™ and a packet of 'Jelly Bean' and Roma tomato seeds from my Bountiful Best collection from Ferry-Morse Seed Company.

The winner will be announced Wednesday March 7, 2012.*

Congrats to Debbie Chen! She's the winner of a Garden Patch Grow Box™. We suggest planting it with tomatoes!

*Winner will be selected by P. Allen Smith and his staff based on the merit of their comment. Click here to read the official rules and legal mumbo jumbo.

Introducing My Bountiful Best

Monday, February 20th, 2012 by P. Allen Smith, 23 comments

This year I teamed up with Ferry-Morse Seed Company to offer my top 10 seed varieties that I'm calling my "Bountiful Best." You can find these seeds at any garden center. Just look for the display with my picture. I selected these based on their easy care nature and abundant production. Many are suited to small spaces and even containers.

Give these varieties a try and you'll be in fine fettle for serving dishes made with homegrown ingredients.

1. Basil 'Genovese' – If you only grow one herb, make it basil. This variety has large leaves that are full of flavor. Summer garden.

2. Cucumber 'Lemon' – Unusual round, yellow cucumbers. Their sweet flavor makes them good raw, but you can pickle them too. Good for small spaces. Summer garden.

3. Cucumber 'Spacemaster' – Large 7 to 8 inch fruits are borne on compact plants. All you need is a 12-inch pot to grow 'Spacemaster'. Summer garden.

4. Peas 'Cascadia Sugar Snap' – This pea has multiple personalities. Harvest early to use as a snow pea or matured pods are delicious snap peas. Spring garden.

5. Radish 'French Breakfast' – A scarlet and white radish that is as beautiful as it is flavorful. Spring garden.

6. Arugula 'Roquette' – One of my favorite salad greens and so, so easy to grow. Spring and fall garden.

7. Squash (Zucchini) 'Black Beauty' – Every garden needs at least one zucchini plant! Dark green fruits are tasty sautéed or used in baked goods. Summer garden.

8. Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' – The vegetable garden isn't always the most colorful spot, unless you grow 'Bright Lights.' Neon pink, orange and red stems. Spring and fall garden.

9. Tomato 'Jelly Bean Hybrid' – This indeterminate, grape tomato produces abundant fruits with delicious flavor. Summer garden.

10. Tomato 'Roma VF' – These are meaty tomatoes with few seeds. Perfect for sauces, salads and salsa. I selected this variety because it is resistant to both verticilium and fusarium wilt. Summer garden.

Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 by P. Allen Smith, 5 comments