It’s Harvest Time
Three years ago, I inherited a fairly large vegetable garden when I purchased my home. The previous owners had a pretty sweet setup, and I felt an obligation to keep the garden going. While I am certainly no green thumb, each year I learn a little bit more and my harvest gets better and better.
Thanks to the overly wet summer we’ve had here in Chicago, I was able to neglect my poor garden and still see a high yield of zucchinis, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. And now that fall is just around the corner, I know I’ll be gifting plenty of delicious vegetables to my family, friends and coworkers over the next few weeks. This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year, the vegetables keep coming nonstop!
Like I said, I tend to abuse my plants and I’m guessing lots of new homeowners are just like me. It takes some figuring out, but it’s worth the effort. It’s fun and it gives us a sense of accomplishment. When it comes down to it, it’s really not that hard. With the right plants and favorable weather, even the most neglected gardens will produce!
With the edibles category continuously growing, many growers are adding and expanding their edibles production. Have you seen an increase in vegetable sales? Which varieties have been your biggest sellers?
If you’re one of those growers expanding on edibles, here are some recent introductions you may want to consider adding to your production:
Zucchini ‘Payroll’ (Syngenta)
This widely adapted and stress-tolerant zucchini is bred for powdery mildew and virus resistances.
Tomato ‘Sweet Valentine’ (Hem Genetics)
This experimental tomato boasts tons of sweet, heart-shaped fruit. It would be a great gift item for Valentine’s Day.
Lettuce ‘New Red Fire’ (American Takii)
Available in organic seed, this lettuce features dark red leaves with a moderate cold tolerance and a strong tolerance to heat.
Basil ‘Dolce Fresca’ (PanAmerican Seed)
A sweet Italian basil, ‘Dolce Fresca’ is tidy with a unique bushy habit and shorter internodes. It has a high usable leaf yield.
Tomato ‘Think Pink’ (Sakata)
‘Think Pink’ is a large, globe-shaped tomato with raspberry-pink color and smooth taste that is well balanced between acidity and sweetness.