Cumin is used in nearly all cuisines of the world. It is commercially grown in North Africa and West Asia, but if it’s given a head start and a warm summer, it will be productive in gardens. Before it produces its strongly aromatic seeds, its flowers will attract a host of beneficial insect predators that will help to control garden pests. Find out more about how to grow cumin from seed in the guide that follows.
Continue ReadingLearn how to grow culantro in the home herb garden for a never-ending supply of sharply flavoured leaves. This herb is so widely used around the world that it goes by many names: Shado beni, chardon béni, bandhaniya, samat, alcapate, cilantro de monte, cinlantro habanero, Mexican coriander, sneki wiwiri, and so on. You might find it listed as fitweed, spiritweed, stinkweed, duck-tongue herb, sawtooth, or saw-leaf herb. In Vietnamese it is ngo gai.
Continue ReadingCilantro is easy to grow and fast to go to seed in summer. The umbel (cluster) of flowers that forms at the top of the plant is highly attractive to beneficial predatory insects. The secret is to give cilantro deep soil for the roots, try placing the plant in partial shade, pick frequently, and resow several times. Continue reading below for some tricks and tips to grow cilantro from seed.
Continue ReadingChives have been in use as a culinary herb in China since around 3,000 BC. It was Marco Polo who returned westward with the notion that they made good eating, but chives were not popular in European gardens until the 16th century. Continue reading below for our top tips on how to grow chives from seed.
Continue ReadingA delicate, parsley-like plant with a hint of liquorice, chervil is one of the traditional fines herbes. Chervil is an excellent companion for Brassicas, lettuce, and radishes, but does best in part shade. Try growing some between rows of tall cabbages and kale. Chervil helps to repel slugs. Continue reading below for some tips on how to grow chervil from seed.
Continue ReadingGerman chamomile is also known as scented mayweed and wild chamomile. It’s a hardy annual with pleasantly scented flowers, and is primarily grown for medicinal use and teas. Learn how to grow organic chamomile in containers or in the herb garden. Continue reading for some tips on how to grow chamomile from seed.
Continue ReadingKnown in antiquity as “catswort.” Bees are highly attracted to its flowers, but the flea beetle is deterred by it. The universal appeal of this species to cats is underscored by the fact that the herb’s common name in every Western language contains some variation of the word “cat.” Continue reading below for some pro tips on how to grow catnip from seed.
Continue ReadingGrow caraway for its intensely scented seeds or as a parsnip-like root vegetable. It will manage in partial shade, but grow in full sun if harvesting the seeds is the intent. Caraway will thrive in nearly any reasonable soil, but if grown as a root crop, take some time to cultivate deeply as you would for carrots. Continue reading below for some other details on how to grow caraway from seed.
Continue ReadingBorage is an excellent all around companion plant. Borage deters hornworm and cabbage worms, and is particularly useful planted near tomatoes and strawberries. Very attractive to pollinators and excellent for the soil and compost. Borage is deer-proof.
Continue ReadingBergamot is also known, somewhat confusingly, as Bee Balm, Scarlet Bee-balm, Horsemint, Oswego Tea, and by its genus name, Monarda. All varieties are aromatic and highly attractive to pollinators, including hummingbirds. Pick the leaves as desired for fresh use in the kitchen. For drying, harvest leaves before the flowers open. Cut flowers for drying as soon as they’re fully open. Masses of tiered pink and purple blossoms grow from August until frost. Continue reading below for our recommendations on how to grow bergamot from seed.
Continue ReadingBasil is a very easy crop to grow from seed for summer harvests. Basil seeds germinate slowly, a bit faster when heated from below, and basil enjoys hot weather and full sun. Each variety has its own charms, but Sweet...
Continue ReadingThe thick walls of some pumpkins are wonderful for cooking and store well all winter. Pumpkins for carving are thinner walled so kids can decorate them easily. Continue reading below for some key tips on how to grow pumpkins from seed.
Continue ReadingPotatoes, just like other vegetables, flower in the summer. If the flowers are pollinated, small fruits can form that look like tiny tomatoes. If the fruits mature, they can develop seeds. In most cases, the genetics of potato seeds are not predictable, and may produce undesirable traits. In this case, the seeds are hybrids that have been carefully produced by plant breeders, so they will produce consistent results.
Continue ReadingOkra is a fast growing, warmth loving, very attractive flowering plant. The pods emerge from each pollinated flower, and will produce viable seeds if left to mature. Learn when to plant okra seeds in the instructions below It’s a fun summer crop, and adds variety to your organic vegetable garden.
Continue ReadingSalad greens are usually picked at an immature size and coaxed into regrowing several times. They are a perfect choice for container gardening, as long as a good soil mixture is in place. Continue reading below for some good general tips...
Continue ReadingThe seeds and fronds are also tasty, and beneficial insects love the flower heads. Fennel (as well as anise, star anise, and some other plants), contains the compound anethole, which is widely used as a liquorice flavouring. Anethole is thought to be 13 times sweeter than sugar.
Continue ReadingOne stalk of cooked broccoli gives you 75mg of vitamin C, 1300 IU of beta carotene, 3g of protein and 5g of dietary fibre with only 40 calories. The crown portion tastes great when cooked or steamed. You can eat...
Continue ReadingThe immature seeds of the edible soya bean are a nutritious snack. Steam or boil the whole pods for 3-5 minutes and set out, salted or unsalted, as a fun finger-food. This treat is called edamame. The small, slightly fuzzy...
Continue ReadingMany people feel that pole beans have a richer bean flavour than bush beans. The effort of trellising them is more than repaid by the ease of picking and their extended, abundant harvest. Pole beans are a good choice for...
Continue ReadingIf planted in a well-drained site, with protection for the roots from frost over the winter, runner beans can be grown as a perennial. Otherwise, enjoy them as fast-growing annuals plants. Runner beans are botanically different than regular pole beans. They prefer cool summer weather and will drop their blossoms if it gets too hot.
Continue ReadingSummer turnips are great for salads, pickles, and stir-fries. The mild, crunchy roots are a refreshing addition to salads, as are the edible leaves. Turnips are easy to grow at just about any time of the season, and they work in farm rows and patio containers. Continue reading below to learn some top tips on how to grow turnips from seed.
Continue ReadingThese big sprawling plants are easier to grow than tomatoes and do not require any protection from rain. Their fruits develop within a distinctive, paper-like wrapper that forms from the calyx of the flower. As the fruits mature and swell, they sometimes fill or split the covering. Tomatillos are prized for their tartness, and are widely used in Mexican cuisine. Ground cherries (AKA Cape Gooseberries) produce sweeter tasting fruits that are used for preserves and desserts. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow tomatillos and ground cherries from seed.
Continue ReadingTomatoes like fertile, well drained soil that is high in organic matter. Dig in finished compost and manure, and add 1 cup complete organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. The nutrition from heavy clay soils is excellent for tomatoes, but they are slow to warm, so transplanting should be done later.
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