Dec 9, 2014
All-American Veggies

Last month, All-American Selections announced its winners for the 2015 season. In my last blog, I shared the winners in the flower category, which included for the first time two vegetatively propagated varieties. However, All-American Selections is not just about flowers. Vegetables are a huge component of the trial program. So today I’d like to share with you the 2015 winners in the vegetable category.

So if edibles are part of your production, here are some new varieties to consider adding to your lineup!

Basil ‘Dolce Fresca’ (PanAmerican Seed)

‘Dolce Fresca’ produces sweet tender leaves that maintain an attractive, compact shape that is both versatile and beautiful. After harvest, the plant was quick to recover and kept the desired ornamental shape that is perfect for containers, borders or as a focal point.

Lettuce ‘Sandy’ (Seeds by Design)

‘Sandy’ is the first AAS-winning lettuce since 1985! It is an attractive oakleaf type with a multitude of sweet tasting frilly dark green leaves. When planted with cool season flowers, ‘Sandy’ will add an abundance of interesting texture to patio containers.

Pepper ‘Emerald Fire’ (Seminis Vegetable Seeds)

At 2,500 Scoville units, this is the hottest pepper in this year’s pepper winners. It boasts extra large and very taste jalapeÃ±o fruits that are perfect for stuffing, grilling or using in salsa. ‘Emerald Fire’ produces gorgeous, glossy green peppers with thick walls that have very little cracking.

Pepper ‘Flaming Fire’ (Seminis Vegetable Seeds)

The fruit of ‘Flaming Fire’ is ideal for making chili sauces and the heat of that sauce will increase depending on how late in the season the peppers are harvested. This variety is an exceptional pepper that was sweeter tasting than similar Fresno types.

Pepper ‘Pretty N Sweet’ (Seeds by Design)

‘Pretty N Sweet’ is a sweet, multi-colored pepper on a compact 18-inch plant that is attractive to use in ornamental gardens and containers. Against the comparisons, it was earlier, more prolific and has a sweeter taste with more substantial pepper walls.

Radish ‘Roxanne’ (Bejo Seeds)

A hybrid radish, ‘Roxanne’ has uniform bright red color and a beautiful cream white interior. It is a great tasting radish with no pithiness or bleeding, even at a larger size. ‘Roxanne’ stays firm and solid even when oversized, and holds well in the garden.

Squash ‘Bossa Nova’ (Seminis Vegetable Seeds)

The dark and light green mottled exterior of this zucchini is more pronounced than other varieties on the market, which makes the fruits easier to see during a long harvest. Compact plants produce fruits earlier in the season and continue producing for three weeks longer than comparison varieties.

Squash ‘Butterscotch’ (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)

This small-fruited butternut squash is perfect for just one or two servings. Compact vines are space saving for smaller gardens or for those who just want to fit more plants into the space they have. ‘Butterscotch’ can be used in container gardens and will resist powdery mildew later in the season.

For more information about All-American Selections winners, past and present, go to www.all-americaselections.org.

Do you currently grow vegetables, or do you plan on adding them to your production this season? Which varieties have been successful for you? Send me an e-mail at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com, and let me know!

Jasmina