Category: How-to

I grow kale primarily because it’s so healthy to eat, but it’s also a beautiful plant. There are so many amazing varieties, with curled or smooth leaves. Latin Name: Brassica oleracea var. acephala Plant Family: Brassica (Brassicaceae) Cool-season crop Did You Know? In the past decade or so, kale has become the darling of the health food world. It’s considered […]

As you’ll soon see, I can’t grow cauliflower due to our very hot and dry summers. But this tasty crop grows well in so many regions! Latin Name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Plant Family: Brassica (Brassicaceae) Cool-season crop Did You Know? The earliest documented records of cauliflower cultivation date back to the 6th century B.C. Three-quarters of the world’s cauliflower […]

It’s a lot of fun to grow cabbage but you need to be aware that they can have insect problems. Fortunately, the plants don’t need to be pollinated so using row cover is the easiest solution. Latin Name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata Plant Family: Brassica (Brassicaceae) Cool-season crop Did You Know? Cabbage is one of the oldest cultivated crops, dating […]

I didn’t like to grow broccoli in the old days because of all the insect problems. Two things changed that attitude. First, I learned how easy it is to keep damaging insects away from the plants. And second, I discovered a fantastic variety called ‘Belstar’. Need I say more! Well, yes I do, as you’ll see below! Latin Name: Brassica […]

I grow Swiss chard every year, without fail. That’s because it’s heat-tolerant and if you harvest individual leaves rather than whole plants, they’ll feed you all season long! Latin name: Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris Plant Family: Beet (Amaranthaceae) Cool-season crop Did You Know? Swiss chard is native to southern Europe and cultivated for its leaves and stems. In a field trial […]

In the early years, I didn’t like to grow spinach due to insect problems. Once I learned about covering my plantings with floating row cover or agricultural insect netting, my plants were pristine! Latin Name: Spinacia oleracea Plant Family: Beet (Amaranthaceae) Cool-season crop Did You Know? Spinach was first cultivated in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), followed by India and China. […]

I love to grow beets! For pristine leaves and roots, cover them with either floating row cover or agricultural insect netting. Why? That’ll keep damaging leafminers away. Latin Name: Beta vulgaris Plant Family: Beet (Amaranthaceae) Cool-season Crop Did You Know? Beets have been cultivated for their greens since ancient times. But their roots weren’t harvested for food until the mid-1600s. […]