Category: Organic practices

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. […]