Vegetables For Your Survival Garden

Postage Stamp Vegetable Gardening

Vegetables For Your Survival Garden

Hybrid Vegetables A-B

A well-planned and properly tended vegetable garden can be an extremely rewarding experience for anyone. When conditions are right, this garden will continuously suppy you with fresh, nutritious, pesticide-free (should you choose this method) vegetables and will be a source of exercise and relaxation.

Yet how well the garden does in any particular year depends on a number of variables beyond the gardener's control: the weather, seeds that don't sprout, insect infestations, birds that eat seedlings, gophers, and so on. While you have no choice about many of these developments, this section will provide some gardening expertise to make your work a little easier, increase the yields of your crops, and solve troublesome gardening problems.

This section is devoted to the hybrids of the vegetable world. The seed sources are listed with each variety and the sources can be found at the end of the directory to the left of the page. Each seed catalog is given a code, which is the first three letters of the company name.

Varietal Terms

All-American Selections: Vegetable varieties chosen each year by the All-American Selection organization as the winners of the All-American medals. The bronze, silver, and gold awards are based on results of tests conducted in test gardens across the United States. To be selected for All-American honors, a vegetable must have superior qualities and be adapted to a wide range of seeds and climates. All-American Selections are noted as AAS in seed catalogs.

Gynoecious Cucumbers: These varieties bear only female flowers for heavier production. Seeds of a pollinator are included in all gynoecious variety seed packets to ensure good fruit set. They are identified in seed catalogs as gyn.

Hybrids: A cross between two parents of different types. Each parent imparts its own particular qualities. The seeds of hybrid varieties will not retain the varieties characteristics.

Plant Variety Patented (PVP): Hybrid varieties developed by breeders and protected under the Variety Protection Act, which prohibits unauthorized propagation of these varieties for sale.

ARTICHOKES (Cynara scolymus)

DAYS TO MATURITY: Artichokes bear one year after planting, sometimes the first summer.

PLANTING TIME: Plant root divisions during the spring. You can also sow seeds indoors at 70 degrees about three months before the last frost. Set them out in a protected area with southern exposure.

SOIL: Light, sandy, well-drained.

NUTRIENTS: In summer, apply a fish emulsion at 10-dy intervals.

WATER: Water well and often through spring and summer. Never allow roots to dry.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Space plants 3 feet apart.

HARVEST: Cut the unripened flower heads before the bracts begin to separate.

STORAGE: Artichokes can be stored in a refrigerator drawer only a few days.

Artichoke Growing Tips

Better Taste

When summers are especially hot, the heat will open the leaf buds, causing the dible part of the artichoke (the leaf bract) to become tough and leathery. to avoid this, harvest the buds when they are still closed tight. At this stage, they'll be absolutely succulent.

Summer Artichokes

Gardeners in hot areas sometimes have trouble growing artichokes because they dry out. Spreading lawn clippings around the roots will retain moisture and keep the artichokes happy.

ARTICHOKES

Green Globe Improved: Perennial. Does well in areas with long growing season, mild winters and damp climate. SHU THO

Imperial Star Hybrid: PVP 95 days. Sweet, mild artichokes that you'll be picking from midsummer through fall, that average 4 1/2" in diameter when mature. BURP HEN PAR

ASPARAGUS (Asparagus officinalis)

DAYS TO MATURITY: The first crop will come during the third year if the gplant is grown from seeds. It will take two years if it's started from year-old roots.

PLANTING TIME: Sow seeds indoors in midwinter or in a hotbed in early spring. Transplant the seedlings outdoors in the spring when all danger of frost has passed.

SOIL: Sandy loam; pH 6.0-8.0.

NUTRIENTS: In early spring, feed with a "complete" organic fertilzer. Fertilize again in the summer with fish emulsion after harvesting the spears.

WATER: Do not irrigat during winter months. Soak the roots thoroughly whenever the soil begins to dry out.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Dig a trench 8-10 inches deep and 12 inches wide. then form a shallow ridge 8 inches high at the base. Space the crowns 12-18 inches apart with the small, stringy roots spread over both sides of the ridge. Cover the crowns with 2-3 inches of soil.

HARVEST: As the young plant grow, fill in the trench little by little. Don't harvest any spears the first year. During the second year, when the foliage turns brown in late fall, cut the stems to the ground.

STORAGE: Use fresh.

Asparagus Growing Tips

Cut Low

To keep asparagus growing at top speed year after year, cut the stalks to within 2 inches of the ground after the first fall frost. Do this after the leaves turn yellow but before the berries on the female plants fall. If the berries are allowed to drop, they will produce seedlings that will compete with the established plants and reduce overall production.

Straight Spears

When gardeners cultivate too vigorously with a hoe, they wind up with misshapen, crooked, or curved asparagus spears. Slow down and take care not to nick the spears when you weed. These nicks affect the spears' growth.

More Asparagus

Cutting back asparagus foliage always reduces the next crop. To make your aparagus go that extra mile, support the growing foliage with stakes and wires. This keeps the bed tidy and ensures the biggest crop possible each year.

Better Production

To increase your asparagus yields almost immediately, strip off the green peppercorn-size berries as they appear on the fronds of the female plants.

ASPARAGUS

Complete Asparagus Garden: These are roots of Mary Washington, Purple Sweet and Barr's Mammoth. SHU

Jersey Giant: All-male hybrid asparagus with high productivity and fine flavor. 7-9" long purple-tinged spears 3/8-1/4" diameter.  Up to 10 days earlier than other varieties. BURP GUR HEN PAR TER

Jersey Knight: 99.5% male seeds bear top-size, purple tipped spears, 5/8" inch.  GUR HEN PAR TER

Jersey Supreme: All-male variety is cold hardy and disease resistant as jersey Knight. Large spears. GUR HEN

Marte:   100% male hybrid. Green spears tinged in purple. If you mound soil around spears, they will be white. TER

Purple Passion: Larger, sweeter and tastier spears than green types. Stalks turn green when cooked. GUR

Purple Sweet: Roots. Extra-large deep burgundy spears. HEN SHU

BEANS (Green) (Phaseolus vulgaris)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 40-80, depending on variety.

PLANTING TIME: Plant after the ground has warmed to at least 60 degrees. You can also start them under glass or polyethylene two to four weeks before the last frost date. For a continuous supply, plant every two weeks.

SOIL: Do not plant beans where other beans have grown in the past three years; pH 6.0-7.5.

NUTRIENTS: With the help of soil bacteria, beans draw nitrogen from the air for growth. Feed plants every three to four weeks with organic fertilizer.

WATER: Water regularly and thoroughly all season. Avoid overhead watering.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Sow seeds 1-1 1/2 inches deep, 3 inches apart. If you are growing pole green beans, place them 6 inches apart along fences, trellises, or bean poles.

HARVEST: Pole beans are best harvested when young. Bush beans can be picked at any stage but have a better flavor when young. By keeping the beans picked, you will extend the season.

STORAGE: Use fresh, canned or frozen.

Green Bean Growing Tips

Bush Pole Beans

To magically turn pole beans into bushy vines, pinch off the growing tips every time they exceed 12 inches. This keeps the plants at easy-picking height and doubles the crop over comparable bush beans.

Bean Tower Power

Beans go crazy when properly supported by a bean tower. A tower of bean power grows up to 20 pounds of Kentucky Wonder string beans a season. Construct the tower from 3/4" PVC pipe. Drill 1/8" holes 6 inches apart in the bottom crosspieces. By hooking them up to a hose, you can irrigate the plants' root zones below ground.

Bean Jungle

You can double the harvest of beans per vine by growing them up a trellis or large-mesh wire fencing rather than up wires or strings. Sow seeds 1" inch deep, 3 inches apart, after the soil temperature exceeds 60 degrees. Although this creates a jungle of foliage, the beans can be picked easily at all levels.

Protecting Beans

Radishes planted around both pole and bush beans enhance the beans' flavor and repel bean beetles. Radishes are ready every 24 to 30 days, so reseed every 10 days or so.

The Snap Test

To pick green beans when they're first-rate, apply the snap test. If a pod breaks in half with a succulent crack, it is ripe. If the older pods are not diseased, throw them into the compost.

Bean Sculpture

To create a unique bean tower, nail two old 26-inch bicyble wheels to a fence or post. Plant pole beans 6 inches apart along the base of the first wheel. The beans will eventually grow in and out, up and sideways, along the spokes, creating some unusual patterns.

BEANS (Bush)

Baritone: 58 days. dark green pods are 5 1/2" long and hold their color well all season long. GUR HEN

Brio: 54 days. Heat tolerant, very high yields. 5" dark green pods have a shiny appearance and are excellent for freezing. Blanching makes them darker green. VER

Burpee's Tenderpod: 50 days. AA winner. 4 1/2-5 1/2" long, stringless, round, deep-green, tender pods. BURP

Bush Blue Lake 47: 58 days. Fiber-free 6 1/2" long pods. Heavy producer. BURP

Contender (Early Contender): 40 days. Pods are 6" long, thick, oval, slightly curved, tender and stringless. Tolerates hot weather. Seeds are buff color with brown mottling. Use canned or frozen. GUR HEN SHU

Espada: 56 days. Dark green 6" pods produce over a long period. retains flavor when cooked, fresh or frozen. HAR VER

Festina: 56 days. Blue Lake-type. High yields of dark green pods that stand up to cooking, freezing or canning. VER

Fordhook 242: 75 days. Bush-type plant. 3-5 seeds per pod. Green. GUR

Green & Gold Blend: 50 days. A blend of Early Contender and Improved Golden Wax beans. Stringless meaty pods in medium green and golden yellow. tolerates heat. Great for canning, freezing or eating fresh. GUR

Harvester: 50-60 days. 5-6" pods are round, stringless, tender and smooth. 21" plant. White seeded. VER

Heavyweight II: 53 days. Plants are 18" tall. 8" long pods. BURP

Hurricane: 50 days. Sets an abundance of pods even under hot dry conditions. Pods are 5-6" long. Good for freezing or canning. SHU VER

Igloo: 57 days. Plants flourish even in cooler soil and air temps. Dark green, straight pods measure 6" long. Use fresh, frozen or canned. HEN

Improved Roma: Bush bean. Flat, wide, 5" long, stringless green pods. REN

Improved Tendergreen: 52 days. Pods are 6-7" long, dark green, straight, wide and stringless. Upright plant. SHU

Jade: 60 days. Upright bush olds long, straight dark green pods above the ground. GUR HEN

Kentucky Dreamer: 54 days. Improved Bush Kentucky 125 type. 6-7" medium green pods. 17" plant. Pods are low in fiber. White seeded. VER

Kentucky King: 57 days. Classic Kentucky Wonder "pole bean" flavor on a bush. Large clusters of beans. BURP

Kentucky Wonder 125: 12-15" plants produce 7-8" long pods. White seeds. PAR

Landstar: 52 days. 6 1/2-7" long and 3/8" in diameter. Low in fiber. 18" plant. VER

Matador: 56 days. Straight, round, bright greed, 6" long pods. Hold their dark green color during cooking. VER

Pickin' & Grinnin': 57 days. Huge meaty pods up to 9" long. Stringless and straight and have an old-fashioned green bean flavor. Use fresh, canned or frozen. HEN

Purple Queen: 52 days. Deep-purple beans turn green after cooking. BURP

Rodcor: 53 days. Yellow 6" long beans with dark seeds. 24" plant. PAR

Shade: 54 days. 5-6" straight green beans. High quality table bean. VER

Slenderette: 53 days. Slender, dark-green 5" long pods, stringless with white seeds. PAR PLA REN SHU VER

Strike: 55 days. Medium green 5 1/2" pods are smooth, slim, straight and very attractive. Holds up well for canning or freezing. VER

Tema: 55 days. Germinates in cold soils. 5 1/4" shiny, dark green, tender and fiberless pods. VER

Tenderette: 58 days. Straight, uniform 5" long pods. 20" high plant. HEN PAR SHU

Tendercrop: 54 days. Pods are 5-6" long, tender and meaty. tan seeds are mottled with purple. Excellent freezer. SHU

Tenderpick: 54 days. Straight, slender, dark-green 5 1/2" long beans with curved tips. BURP

Tennessee Greed Pod: 50 days. Highly recommended for hot, dry growing conditions. Pods are 6-7" long, medium-dark green. If plant is left to dry (90 days) makes great baking bean. SHU

Titan: 58 days. Dark green bush bean, 5-6" long. Excellent canner. VER

Top Crop: 52 days. 6-7" long round pods. Straight, meaty, stringless and fiberless. 15-18" plant. HEN SHU VER

BEANS (French Filet)

Beananza: 55 days. Dwarf French filet bean. Sweet, nutty flavor. 7" stringless. Pick regularly to keep producing. BURP

Crockett: 60 days. Filet bean. Slim, tender, flavorful pods. HAR

French Filet (Stringless): 56 days. Best picked at 5-7" long. tender "nutmeat" flavor. BURP

Goldito: 52 days. Early yellow French filet bean. 4 1/2-5" long pods capture the subtle buttery flavor of a wax bean. Vigorous plants. VER

La France: 58 days. Stays tender until reaching full size. Pick when young. BURP

Masai: 55 days. Popular baby French filet bean. Borne on bushes that have small leaves making it easy to pick. 4" long pods are a nice green color. White seeded. VER

Rolande: Extra-slim, long deep green filet snap beans. French delicacy with superb taste. REN

Straight 'N Narrow: 53 days. Outstanding French filet bean. Petite, straight, dark green, 5" long beans. 18" sturdy upright plant. VER

Teseo: 58 days. European French filet bean with round, pencil-slim, very straight 5" x 1/4" diameter, dark green pods. Upright, medium bush-type plant. White seeded. VER

Tricolor: Extra fancy green and yellow haricots verts. Bush bean. Long, slim, rounded pods with delicate, sweet beany flavor and crispy snap. REN

Trofeo: 58 days. Filet-type bean is unbeatable for buttery flavor and crisp, tender texture. Upright bush plants. Long, thin, dark green beans. GUR

BEANS (Italian bush)

Dragon Tongue (Kragon Langerie, Merveille de Piemonte): 50 days. 8" flat pods change from greenish yellow background to yellow with purple stripes. Pick as snap beans. When stripes change to purple to red, pick as a shell bean.

Gina: 55 days. Large bush should be staked. Widely adaptable. 5-5 1/2" flat pods. PAR VER

Lodi: 57 days. 5 1/2" long pods. White seeds. VER

Magnum: 52 days. 6-7" flat, straight green pods. VER

Roma II: 54 days. 5-6" long, thick, flat, medium green and stringless pods. 18" plants. Use as a snap bean or green shell. VER

Romano: 59 days. Wide, flat, stringless pods up to 6" long. Compact plants bear until frost. HEN

Romano Gold: 50 days. Plants are dark green. Yellow Romano. VER

Vermont's Green & Gold: 60 days. Romano bean mix of gold and dark green Lodi varieties. VER

BEANS (Wax)

Carson: 52 days. Bush. Slim, straight and light yellow pods. High yields. VER

Cherokee: 48 days. All America Selection Winner. Oval 6" long pods are light yellow and stringless. Upright bush habit. SHU VER

Eureka: 55 days. Full, straight, bright-yellow 5-6" beans. 12-15" plants. BURP

Golden Butterwax: 56 days. Brightly colored, 6", golden-yellow straight pods are easy to spot for harvest. HEN

Golden Rod: 53 days. Bush. Brightest yellow of any wax bean. 5-6" pods. Seeds develop slowly. Excellent for canning, freezing and fresh. SHU VER

Gold Mine: Bush. Yellow 5-5 1/2" long pods are held in clusters for easy picking. BURP

Improved Golden Wax: 48 days. 6" long pods, golden yellow, meaty, brittle and stringless. Excellent canner. GUR HEN SHU

Mellow Yellow: 60 days. 12"x12" bushy plants. 6" long golden-yellow pods. BURP

Pencil Pod: 53 days. Bush. Long, 5-6" pods are very straight, as round as a pencil and produce a continuous crop. Golden-yellow pods with black seeds. Grows exceptionally well in all soils and climates. VER

Rocdor: 53 days. Early wax bean 6" long. Round pods have deep yellow color and very slow to develop seeds. Upright plants. Dark seeded. Pick young to enjoy as a yellow filet type. HAR

Slenderwax: 56 days. PVP. 5 1/2" long, deep yellow pods. White seed. Good freezer. HAR

Unidor: 54 days. Bush. 6" golden yellow wax beans. Pods are round, flesh, tender and tasty. Widely adapted to most soil types. Excellent fresh or for freezing. VER

BEANS (Lima) (Phaseolus Lunatus)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 60-90.

PLANTING TIME: Sow outdoors about four weeks after the last frost.

SOIL: Light, warm, and sandy; pH 6.0-7.5.

NUTRIENTS: Lima beans sdupply their own nitrogen. feed them every three or four week with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer.

WATER: Avoid overhead watering. Keep moist and don't allow a crust to form over the soil surface. Don't overwater.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Sow seeds 1-1 1/2 inches deep. thin bush beans to 3 inches apart. Thin pole beans to 6 inches apart.

HARVEST: Pick the pods of limas as soon as they begin to look lumpy and before they turn yellow.

STORAGE: If you have too many beans, dry them for future use by letting the pods mature on the vine and turn beige. Remove the dried beans and heat them in a 130 degree F oven for an hour to kill any weevils. Store them in sacks or sealed jars in a dry place. Some varieties can be frozen.

Lima Bean Growing Tips

Peak Flavor

The large white or speckled lima beans are at their peak flavor when the beans are fully formed in the pods. To test, simply shell several pods that seem to be full, then choose pods with a smiliar feel. This test will not work for baby limas or baby butter beans.

Early Harvest

You can gain a couple of weeks on the season by sprouting lima beans seeds on a window sill inside wet paper towels. When they start to sprout, set them outside. Stick the sprouting seeds with sprout tips showing in the ground the minute the soil warms up.

BEANS (Lima, bush)

Baby Fordhook: 70 days. Delicately flavored, tender, 2-3" long pods with 3-4 small baby beans. BURP

Baby Thorogreen: 67 days. Dwarf plants don't require staking. Plump, pale green seeds. Good choice for northern areas. GUR

Burpee's Bush Lima: Clusters of 5-6 pods with 4-5 large, flat oval beans. BURP

Burpee's Improved: 70 days. Large clusters of 5-6 flat 5" pods. Easy to shell. SHU VER

Dixie Butterpea: 75 days. Plants bear masses of medium pods stuffed with round, white rich beans. PAR

Dixie Speckled Butter Pea: 76 days. 21" plants. Let the beans dry (90 days) on the vine for an excellent baking bean. Sets well under hot weather and will grow well in drought areas. VER

Dixie White Butter Pea: 70 days. Pure white beans have a meaty, delicious, butterbean flavor. Medium pods are round, white and good-flavored. Grows well in hot weather climates. Tolerates drought conditions. SHU VER

Eastland: 68 days. Strong plants produce 3-4", semi-flat pods. HAR PAR

Fordhook: 75 days. Dwarf form of the "Potato Lima". Dwarf growth. Outstanding freezing bean. Pods are produced in clusters , contain 4-5 large fat beans per pod. SHU

BEANS (Lima, Pole)

Burpee's Best: 70 days. Classic flavor of Fordhook bush limas but with higher yields and bigger pods. 12' vines produce 3-5 beans per pod. BURP

Florida Butter Speckled: 86 days. Known in the South as 'Speckled butterbean'. Buff-colored seed splashed with maron. Beans are speckled. Does well in all climates. VER

Speckled Calico: 78 days. Pole lima. Large colorful beans have full bodied lima flavor. 6-7' plants. Heat tolerant. HEN

BEANS (Soybean)

Be Sweet 292: 70 days. Bushy plants produce around 30 pods per plant, 2-3 beans per pod. BURP SHU VER

Green Pearls: 65 days. Light green pods bursting with delicious seeds, each with a smooth, sweet, nutty flavor. 12-14" plants. BURP

BEANS (Green, Pole beans)

Blue Lake FM-1: 60 days. Stringless and fiberless at all stages, dark-green pods. White seeds. PAR

Emerite: 64 dats, Pick at 4-5" for filet beans, or let them grow to 7" for snap bean. Heavy producer of light green, straight, pencil-slim, round pods. Use fresh or frozen. VER

Fortex: 75 days. Stringless French variety. Vigorous plant growth requires sturdy stakes. You can harvest the beans from 6-11" long. BURP VER

Helda SG: Stringless, 9" beans. 8' plus vine spreads to 4'. White seeds. PAR

Kwintus: 43 days. Flattish, stringless, 8-10" long pods. PAR

Missouri Wonder: 65 days. Excellent for planting in corn. Seeds are mottled with putty, brown stripes. Dependable under stress. SHU

Purple King: 75 days. Towering vines glow with shiny purple, 5-6" pods. BURP

Purple Podded Pole: 65 days. 6' plants. Pods are green purple but change to dark green when cooked. SHU

Smeraldo: 4-6' vines, 2' wide. Flat, bright green 8-10" pods. White seeds. PAR

Stringless Blue Lake S-7: 60 days. 6-6 1/2" long pods are borne on spurs extending out of the 7' vines. Needs a trellis or fence. VER

BEANS (Pole, Italian)

Neopolitan Pole: 60 days. Improved Romano type. Uniformly long, large, sweet pods with no after taste. BURP

FAVA BEANS (English Broad Bean)

Broad Improved Long Pod: 85 days. Must be planted early in the spring. Upright plants. 7" pods contain 5-6 big, flat, oblong beans that are used in the green shell or dry stage. Good freezer. HAR

Bush Fava: 85 days. Won't do well in hot weather. Pods are 7" long, each containing around 6 large, light green beans used like limas. SHU

BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris)(Dried/Shell)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 90-125.

PLANTING TIME: Plant outdoors when the soil has warmed to 65-70 degrees F and all danger of frost is past.

SOIL: Well-drained; pH 6.0-7.5.

NUTRIENTS: These legumes supply their own nitrogen. Apply fish emusion or other organic fertilizer every three or four weeks during the growing season.

WATER: Water weekly to an 1-inch depth.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Sow seeds 1-1 1/2 inches deep, 3 inches apart. For pole beans, space 6 inches apart.

HARVEST: Pick pods in the fall when plants' leaves have fallen. Dry on a screen or hang plants upside down. Shell by threshing in a burlap sack or by hand.

STORAGE: Keep the dried beans in a capped jar.

Adzuki: 90 days. 2' tall bushy plants. 7-10 small dark red beans in long, narrow pods. Mature bean has a distinct "nutty" taste. Widely used in Japanese dishes. VER

Calypso: 90 days. Unique black and white seeds on a strong, upright 15" plant. Large oval beans, half white, with an eye half black and dotted with black spots. Highly disease resistant. VER

Cannellini (White Kidney Bean): 100 days. Classic Italian white shelling beans with large kidney-shaped seeds. Upright 24" plants. Fine baking quality. VER

Coco Rubico: 60 days. Pods are 5-6" long, flat, and pink-streaked. Cream-colored beans with bright rosy colored spots. Use fresh, shelled or dried. VER

Dark Red Kidney: 95 days. Old-fashioned baking bean. Large, flat, green pods are filled with huge, red kidney-shaped beans. Baked, boiled, Mexican dishes or in soups, this is a popular bean. HEN SHU

Dwarf Horticultural: 60 days. Meaty flavor. Excellent snap beans when green delicious dried. Seeds are buff with maroon streaks. HEN

Flagrano: 76 days. Each pod contains 8-10 mint green seeds. Beans can be used fresh, in salads, soups or as a vegetable by themselves. Can also be frozen. Also good as a dry bean. VER

Garbanzo (Chickpea): 65 days. Large tan bean with nut-like flavor which keeps its shape well when cooked. Erect, bush-type plant. Use as a shell bean or allow to dry (100 days) and store. Well suited for drought areas, but not for extreme Northern climates. SHU VER

Navy Pea (Navy Bean): 85 days. Small semi-vining plants produce small pure white oval beans. Excellent baker. VER

Pink Floyd: 98-102 days. A unique pink colored, normal sized dry bean. Grows well in almost any climate, even dry climates. VER

Red Kidney: 100 days. One of the best varieties for use as a dry bean. Large, red, kidney-shaped bean, excellent baked, or boiled, in soups, salads, Spanish and Mexican dishes. VER

Red Ryder: 84-88 days. Red dry bean that matures early enough for short season gardens. Borne on upright bushes. VER

Scarlet Beauty: 90 days. A beautiful large bean, red with some beige striping. Sprawly plant. Reaches shell stage in 70 days, dry bean in 90 days. Makes a great chili. VER

Tongues of Fire (Horto): 75 days. Italian variety. Pods are flat and pale green with reddish-purple streaks and an unusual beany flavor. Use at green stage as green bean or let mature to yield dry baking bean. Seeds are large, round and buff colored with red splashes and dots. VER

Topaz: 88-93 days. Pinto type dry bean that is ready to harvest when most dry beans are just starting to mature. Upright bush plant. Beans are white with pinkish speckles. VER

BEETS (Beta vulgaris)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 48-80.

PLANTING TIME: The first sowing should be done two to four weeks before the last spring frost date. Sow additional crops every two weeks or so.

SOIL: Light, loamy, and well-draimed; pH 6.0-7.5.

NUTRIENTS: When seedlings are 3-4 inches high, feed them with fish emulsion and any other organic fertilizer. A light application of organic nitrogen is the only fertilizing they need.

WATER: In dry weather, water thoroughly to prevent wilting. Water overhead to keep both the tops and the roots crisp.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Beet seeds come in clumps containing three or more seeds. Sow these clumps 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart; stamp on the soil after the seed has been covered. For intensive beds, you can plant about 20 beets per square foot.

HARVEST: Start harvesting beets when they are 3/4 inch in diameter. Most varieties lose their flavor if they are allowed to grow larger than 3 inches in diameter.

STORAGE: Beets should be used fresh or pickled.

Beet Growing Tips

Redder Beets

To produce bright red beets, sprinkle the bed lightly with table salt-about a spoonful per foot. This improves the growth and color of the roots and eliminates white rings.

Tough Beets

Tough beets are often caused by insufficent water or irregular watering. Water beets when the soil is dry 2 or more inches down (check with a trowel). Do not let the soil dry out at any time during the growing period.

Winter Beets

Every good cook likes to grow a few beets to pop into winter salads. Space 30 beet seeds in an 8-inch pot filled with potting mix. Keep this watered and on a windowsill. thin to 10 well-spaced plants. Use the beet greens and roots when needed.

BEETS

Albina Vereduna: 70 days. Ice-white globe shaped beet has a sweet flavor and a curled and wavy leaf. THO

Alto: 70 days. Uniform, straight roots have a smooth rich, red skin and flesh is free of rings. THO

Boro Hybrid: 75 days. Midsize, uniform dark-red beets without a trace of zoning. 12" high plants, 6-8" wide. Great pickler. PAR

Chicago Red Hybrid: 49 days. This is an early variety that can also be used as baby beets. BURP

Detroit 6-Rubidus: 75 days. Firm, smooth skin, deep red flesh without a hint of fiber even when 5" in daiameter. Bolting virtually eliminated. THO

Detroit Dark Red MT: 63 days. Nearly globe-shaped roots have good uniformity, with solid, deep red flesh. Good storer. HAR

Egyptian Flat TF 68: 50 days. Large 3-5" beet with an unusual flattened look. Deep burgundy roots. 8" tall plant. PAR

Harrier: 50 days. Roots are unifore in color, shape and size with attractive tall tops. Use fresh, canned or pickled. GUR HEN

Improved Extra Long Cylindra: 55 days. Carrot-like beet gives four times as many slices as a regular beet. SHU

Kestrel: 53 days. Baby beet. Dark-red roots have small crown. 8-10" tall tops are green with contrasting red veins. HAR TER THO

Long Season (Lutz): 80 days. Pick them young or old, small or large, their taste remains consistent. Good storer. HAR

Moneta: 46 days. This variety is single seeded. Smooth, round dark-red beets with deep-green 12" tops. NIC

Pacemaker III: 55 days. 12" tall tops. Round root with no zoning. TER

Perfected Detroit Dark Red: 58 days. Deep dark-red through and through. Uniform color, shape and size with no white rings or streaks. Use fresh, canned or pickled. GUR HEN

Red Ace: 53 days. Deep-red roots are smooth, tender and sweet. HAR HEN PAR SHU TER THO VER

Red Cloud: 60 days. Round shape, high sugar content. PAR SHU VER

Red Heart Hybrid: 58 days. Petite, sweet, elongated globes to 3" long. Foliage does not "bleed" or stain. BURP

Ruby Queen: 54 days. AAS Winner 1957. Roots are uniform, smooth, round and one of the deepest reddish-purple colors you'll see. Tender and sweet. Use fresh, canned or pickled. GUR HEN SHU

Touchstone Gold Hybrid: 60 days. Pale orange exterior and golden rings within. Much sweeter and smoother than red beets. HAR PAR

Winter Keeper: For fall crop this beet produces large roots. They keep for months when properly stored in a box of moist sand. PLA

Wodan: 70 days. Round, bright-red fleshed roots. Use as a baby beet or larger size. Ideal for pickling. THO

BROCCOLI (Brassica oleracea italica)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 47-90 days.

PLANTING TIME: Broccoli can be started indoors or in a hotbed two to three months before the last spring frost. Plant seedlings in the ground four to six weeks before the last frost. Broccoli does best when temperatures remain between 40 and 70 degrees F throughout the growing season.

SOIL: Rich, heavy; pH 6.0-7.0.

NUTRIENTS: Broccoli is a heavy feeder. Nourish once a month with fish emulsion or with an organic liquid nitrogenous fertilizer, such as 1 tablespoon of blood meal mixed with 1 gallon of water.

WATER: Never allow its roots to dry during the summer months. Neither should you waterlog broccoli. A light mulching will help keep the soil moist.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Sow 1/2 inch deep, 1-1 1/2 feet apart.

HARVEST: The plants are ready for picking just before the buds begin to open. Harvest them with a knife, cutting the stems 6 inches beneath the bud clusters. Some varieties produce edible side branches; other produce a central head with no side shoots.

STORAGE: Use broccoli fresh.

Broccoli Growing tips

Fully Packed

Broccoli often produces premature, small, scattered heads when young plants are subjected to temperatures below 40 degrees F before or shortly after planting. Shield your plants in early spring with hot caps or other protective devices.

Broccoli Factory

Some gardeners continuously produce edible broccoli buds like they're running a production line. Their secret: after harvesting the main head, you must pick the developing buds every three or four days as long as the plant continues to produce. Once you let a few developing buds flower, the action stops, and you're out of business until next season.

Firm Anchor

To stop mature broccoli plants from tipping over, make a hole with a trowel. Plant each seedling so the base of its leaves is only a finger's breadth above the soil surface. Since the plant develops a heavy superstructure, this extra depth provides firmer anchorage.

BROCCOLI

Apollo: 60-90 days. After the main head is harvest, copious amounts of long-stemmed side shoots can be picked over a long period. TER

Arcadia: 70 days. 5" wide heads. 2' tall plant. Tightly domed, purplish-green heads. HEN TER

Belstar Hybrid: 66 days. 6-8" across heads. Plant reaches 16-20" high, 16" wides. PAR TER THO

Bonanza Hybrid: 55 days. Mild, nutty flavor. Extra-large, tight-budded 9" center heads. Large side shoots about 5" across. Good freezer. BURP

Cima di Rapa (Raab, Broccoletto): 60 days. Quick sprouting relative of the turnip. Use in stir fries, salads, or as a cooked vegetable, slightly spicy tasting leaves, shoots and flower buds (like a mini broccoli). THO

Coronado Crown Hybrid: 59 days. Weather-tough. 6-8: domed heads and 18-24" across. GUR PAR

Early Dividend Hybrid: 45 days. Large heads 8-10" across. PAR

Fiesta: 65 days. 6-7" bright green, tightly domed heads. Compact plants. TER

Flash Hybrid: 50 days. Very heat resistand and disease tolerant. BURP

George's Favorite Hybrid Blend: 60 days. Unique blend of early, mid and late season hybrids. BURP

Greenbelt: 90 days. Heads have an excellent fine bead and are medium in size. Medium green color holds up well when cooked or frozen. Holds up well in high temperatures. VER

Green Goliath: 53 days. Large, tight-budded, blue-green heads. Produces many side shoots. BURP

Green Magic: 60 days. Uniform blue-green heads are heat tolerant. Use fresh or frozen. GUR

Gypsy: 58 days. Large uniform yields. Tolerate to a wide range of growing conditions. Good fresh or for freezing. HEN

Hybrid Broccoli Blend: 53-70 days. Blend of early, mid-season and late broccoli hybrids. VER

Packman: 55 days. Unusually large central head with abundance side shoots. Bright green color. HAR NIC PAR TER THO VER

Premium Crop: 58 days. AAS Winner. Large, 9-10" firm central heads. Dark green buds. HAR HEN NIC TOT

Small Miracle Hybrid: 55 days. Full-size heads on 1 foot midget plant. For small space gardens you can plant 8" apart. PAR

Southern Comet: 80 days. Forest-green heas can be harvested when 6-8" in diameter. Good side shoots. 14-16" tall plant. TER

Veronica: 85 days. 7" heads are formed from cluster of swirling charteuse spires. TER

BRUSSELS SPROUTS (Brassica oleracea gemnifera)

DAYS TO MATURITY: 80-140 days.

PLANTING TIME: Sow seeds 120 days before the expected fall frost. The minimum soil temperature is 40 degrees F.

SOIL: Almost any kind of soil is fine, although they don't like overly acidic conditions; pH 6.0-7.5.

NUTRIENTS: Fertilize the plants three times during the growing season. Apply fish emulsion or use 1 tablespoon blood meal mixed into 1 gallon of water.

WATER: Sprouts need plenty of water.

LIGHT: Full sun.

SPACING: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, 3 feet apart.

HARVEST: When the sprouts are firm and deep green, snap or trim them from the stalk. They have the best flavor when they are 1-1 1/2 inches in diameter. Mild frost improves the flavor. Pick the lower leaves off when you harvest the sprouts but don't remove the top leaves.

STORAGE: They are best used fresh.

Brussels Sprouts Growing Tips

From Bottom to Top

To harvest brussels sprouts properly, start at the bottom, snapping them off as you go up. Always remove the leaves below the picked sprouts. Leave the small top sprouts and any that are smaller than 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Hungry Birds

The birds in your garden probably love brussels sprouts as much as you do. Save these vegetables for yourself by putting wire or plastic netting over the top of each plant. This stops the birds' feasting and lets you harvest the entire crop without interference.

Good Anchorage

To stop brussels sprouts from tipping over just before harvest time, shore up the soil around the plant stem one month after planting. This anchors the plant firmly.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Bubbles: 90 days. One of the easiest to grow. Highly adaptable with some tolerance to heat and drought. VER

Diablo Hybrid: 125-160 days. Smooth, tight 1-2" medium-green buds break off easily. 20-30" stem. PAR TER

Falstaff: 125 days. Reddish-purple sprouts holds color when cooked. Frost intensifies its color. Slow to mature. GUR HEN PAR THO

Franklin: 80 days. Uniform, firm sprouts. Tall plants. TER

Jade Cross: 80 days. Adaptable to wide range of climate and soils. Firm, tightly packed blue-green sprouts. NIC SHU

Royal Marvel: 85 days. Large, round sprouts evenly spaced on tall, vigorous plants. Dark gray-green color. Good freezer. GUR HAR HEN

Tasty Nuggets Hybrid: 78 days. Very vigorous stalks with excellent production. Set out 5 plants per person. Cool weather improves flavor. BURP

Trafalgar: 240 days. This modern hybrid prodecues a heavy crop of medium sized, firm button sprouts and they keep their excellent quality over a long period. THO