The Sweet Pea – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions In 1696, a Franciscan monk, Father Cupani was wandering the hillsides of Sicily when he came upon a flower so vividly colored and so potently fragrant that he was captivated. He collected the plant and planted its seed in his monastery garden. The fragrance of this sweet pea was extraordinary…
The Spinach
The Spinach – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Spinach is a cold tolerant annual that was native to central and southwest Asia and was first cultivated in Iran. Wild varieties can be found throughout Asia, North Africa and Europe. There are basically two kinds of spinach: smooth-seeded (including most modern varieties) and prickly-seeded (from several older varieties). Both of…
The Shallot
The Shallot – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Shallots are closely related to multiplier onions which are small onions that multiply freely by producing several lateral bulbs. The difference between a multiplier onion and a shallot is arbitrary. Commercially those onions with yellow or brown skins and white interiors are classed as multiplier onions while those with red skins…
The Salsify
The Salsify – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Salsify is a hardy, long-season perennial vegetable that has a deliciously flavorful creamy root. It has been cultivated for centuries in Southern Europe and around the Mediterranean. It has never gained widespread popularity, but has always had a very loyal following among a devoted few. Salsify came to the New World…
The Rutabaga and the Turnip
The Rutabaga and the Turnip – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Rutabagas and turnips belong to the brassica family which includes cabbage, cauliflowers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and mustard among other vegetables. Turnips have been cultivated for thousands of years and are probably native to both Europe and central and western Asia. Rutabagas, which are often called Swede turnips, combine…
The Rhubarb
The Rhubarb – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Rhubarb is an herbaceous perennial, a member of the buckwheat family. The plant possesses an extraordinary tolerance for both cold and drought. It is hardy to Zone 3 and can be grown in colder climates if mulched. It can adapt to warmer climates where the plants simply die back in summer…
The Rape
The Rape – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Rape is an annual belonging to the mustard family and a member of the larger brassica group, which includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and turnips. Little is known about the origin of rape except that the seeds have been highly valued for their oil since ancient times. Nearly half the…
The Radish
The Radish – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Radishes originated in China, and in China, today, truly wild forms of the radish can still be found. The name, radish, comes from the Latin word, radix, which means “root” and specifically radish root. The genus name, Raphanus, is a Latinized form of a Greek expression raphanos which means “easily reared”.…
The Pumpkin and the Squash
The Pumpkin and the Squash – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Squash, beans and corn, known as the “Three Sisters” comprised the trinity that was the staple diet of ancient America. Unbelievably, remains of wild or, possibly, cultivated squash have been found in Mexico that date to 9000 BC. Similar archaeological evidence has been unearthed in South America, Central…
The Pepper
The Pepper – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Sweet and hot peppers are indigenous to Central and South America. They have been cultivated since prehistoric times. Archaeologists have found chili peppers at sites dating to 7000 BC. The Aztecs, Incans and Mayans all cultivated peppers. The Aztecs had at least seven different words for hot peppers. We derive the…