Butterhead Speckles Lettuce

The Beet Early Wonder, 'Beta vulgaris', is considered the best beet for greens. Early Wonder also has very tasty beets and produces a crop quickly. Early Wonder has it all, tasty and abundant greens and very flavorful beets. Did you know the 18 inch tall greens are as tasty as chard or spinach and are very nutritious? This plant is excellent for northern climates and southern climates where multiple crops are possible. Beets prefer deep, well drained soil with lots of organic material. They need to be kept moist.

The Pepper Hot Early Jalapeno, 'Capsicum annuum', is a very tasty hot pepper for ethnic foods. There is a lot of hot, very tasty flavor in this small 3 inch pepper. The Early Jalapeno pepper will turn red after green if left on the vine. The Early Jalapeno Hot Pepper is as good container variety and it also makes a smart informal hedge. Peppers use quite a bit of water but prefer to be watered deeply and not too often. Use gloves and do not touch any other part of the body after harvesting. Wash your hands immediately.

The Pumpkin Big Max, 'Cucurbita maxima', is a large pumpkin that may reach 100 pounds. Grow the biggest Jack-O-Lantern in the neighborhood and it is good for pies and canning! Big Max is the choice of "professional pumpkin contestants". The smooth light orange skin is perfect for Halloween carving or other holiday decorations. To achieve maximum size, grow one pumpkin per vine. Harvest before the first light frost or when the pumpkin foliage begins to dry out.

The Lettuce Butterhead Speckles, 'Lactuca sativa', is an Heirloom that originated from the Mennonites who brought it with them from Germany and Holland over 200 years ago. Make a salad with Speckles lettuce and no one will notice if there are bugs in it. The unusual speckling of these mild, tender, thick but soft leaves will add visual interest to any salad. Speckles is rarely bitter and is quick maturing. They will grow in light shade. Lettuce grows well near cabbage, beets, carrots, chives, garlic, and onion.

The Tomato Pole Cherokee Purple, 'Lycopersicon lycopersicum', is an old Heirloom variety from Tennessee that is extremely productive and also has a very rich tomato flavor. The Cherokee Purple produces large numbers of 10 to 12 ounce tomatoes with a strong tomato flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. The flesh is a unique red brick color with a rose/purple skin color. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water a week. Soak to depth of 6 to 10 inches when watering. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

The Bean Pole Snap Blue Lake, 'Phaseolus vulgaris', is an old favorite. Blue Lake Pole beans have a beany, sweet flavor and they are fiberless and meaty. Some say pole beans have better flavor than bush beans. If this is so, Blue Lake would support that suggestion. The outstanding flavor combined with high yields make growing these vigorous 5 to 6 foot vines worth the time. Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod "snaps" or breaks in half cleanly. This is when the seeds have just begun to form.