For the new seed saver, start by planting varieties that are easy to grow and simple to collect. Select annuals that are open-pollinated and primarily self-pollinating which allows the seed to stay true to form. A good place to start might be the following list of edible plants, each takes up the same space in […]
heirloom seeds
Plant Families
Writing a book starts with research, and while digging deeper into the plant families for The New Heirloom Garden, I had to learn a little Latin to help keep everything straight. To say two plants are in the same family is not to say they are the same, yet they may share similar characteristics. It’s […]
Heirloom Winter Squash and Gourds
Heirloom winter squash and gourds are everywhere. Colorful displays decorate front porches, stores and restaurants. The squash is from the genus of Cucurbitaceae or cucurbit family and includes winter and summer squash, melon, cucumbers, pumpkins and chayotes. Globular fruit grows on long vines, with twining tendrils, and requires very little effort on the part of the gardener, beside […]
Husk Cherry Clafoutis
The first time you taste a husk cherry, your taste buds will buzz with pineapple, butterscotch, and mango. What looks like tiny cherry tomatoes encased in miniature paper lanterns is called a ground husk cherry, sometimes called a Cape Gooseberry, although no relation to cherries or gooseberries. They are related to tomatillo the tiny fruits […]
Heirloom Ornamental Corn
Corn is a space hog in the kitchen garden, the roots go deep and absorb quantities of nutrients from the soil. Plus fresh corn is easily available from a local farm stand. This year, however, I was tempted to try an heirloom ornamental corn called Japonica Striped Maze and ordered a packet from the Seed Savers Exchange. […]
Seed Boxes
Seed catalogs are stacked neatly on the dining table and each time I make a pot of tea, I flip through the pages. But where are those beautiful seed boxes from the past? Nowhere can I find a beautiful, yet practical seed box to keep all my seeds neatly organized and safe, so it’s high time that I make […]
