The Beet The beet is closely related to Swiss chard, another tall, leafy vegetable. Beet greens have been consumed by man since prehistoric times. The Romans enjoyed them this way and eventually found that they liked the roots when cooked. However, little else is known about the beet. During the 16th century, the beet began to grow in popularity in…
The Bean and the Cowpea
The Bean and the Cowpea Bean cultivation can be traced to the earliest vestiges of human civilization. Beans may have been the first vegetables that mankind learned to cultivate. Fava beans have been found in Neolithic excavations in Switzerland. Chickpeas, favas, and lentils have been found in Egyptian tombs, and the Chinese started growing soybeans around 1500 BC. However, many…
How to grow Garlic
How to grow Garlic Garlic, which is a member of the same family of plants as the onion, has been cultivated for millennia. As a cultivated plant, it is so old that it is difficult to credit a country of origin for this vegetable. Some historians believe that the onion was indigenous to southwest Siberia and spread to southern Europe,…
How to grow Broccoli
How to grow Broccoli Broccoli belongs to the largest family of vegetables known as the Brassica family, which also includes cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnips, and rutabaga. In fact, broccoli is nearly identical to cauliflower. The only differences between the two are the vegetables’ color and the fact that cauliflower tolerates heat, while broccoli does not. Fundamentally,…
How to grow Asparagus
How to grow Asparagus Asparagus has been a popular vegetable since ancient times. Roman chefs valued asparagus so highly that they dehydrated the stalks and kept them on hand throughout the year. Author Benjamin Watson wrote in his book, Heirloom Vegetables, that “One of emperor Augustus’s favorite sayings was…’Do it quicker than you can cook asparagus’,” referring to the Romans’…
How to grow an Artichoke
How to grow an Artichoke The artichoke is one of the most curious plants you will ever encounter. It is actually a perennial herb from the thistle group. Scientifically, it belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes all asters. Artichokes are native to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. As an edible vegetable, the artichoke was first developed in Sicily,…
Celosia
Celosia - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Celosias belong to a family of more than 50 plants that are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and the Americas. The cultivars produce flowers that are either plume-like (Celosia Pampas Plume) or crested (the Cockscombs). They are believed to be related to Amaranths. The name Celosia comes…
The Celery
The Celery – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Wild celery is believed to have grown throughout Asia and Europe. It was used by ancient peoples for medicinal purposes. The plant was a biennial which grew in damp, marshy areas and had a strong, unpleasant taste. Probably because of its unpleasant taste, it was ignored as a vegetable until the…
Castor Beans (Ricinus)
Castor Beans (Ricinus) – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Castor Bean is an annual native to the southeastern Mediterranean and East Africa. Its Latin name, Ricinus, means tick because the seeds are said to resemble a blood filled tick. It is an ancient plant that has been cultivated for thousands of years and considered by many civilizations to be…
Carnation
Carnation – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Carnations, members of the Dianthus family, specifically Dianthus Caryophyllus, have been cultivated for at least 2000 years. It was the Athenians that named the flower Dianthos, from the Greek words dios (devine) and anthos (flower). Gillyflower, another name by which the plant is known, probably came from the French who called dianthus,…