Mortgage Lifter Tomato

source: MIgardener

• Indeterminate
• 85 days
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 7-14 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 75-95 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8 inch
• Plant Spacing: 24"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Solanum lycopersicum

Mortgage Lifer tomatoes are huge both in plant size and fruit size. The rich, juicy, deep velvet fruits, commonly weighing in over 2 lbs, and packs a punch with flavor. They taste acidic with a fruity sweetness and have few seeds. For the richest flavor, pick tomatoes when they are fully ripe. The Mortgage Lifter's open pollinated heirloom plants grow 7 to 9 foot vines and are indeterminate, meaning they set fruit continuously throughout the growing season. This variety was developed in the 1930’s in order to pay off the developer's home loan during the depression era, hence the name "Mortgage Lifter."

They mature in 80-85 days, so it helps to start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last average frost date. It takes 5-10 days for the seeds to germinate, and prefers 70-80 degree F temperature to germinate. Seedlings can be transplanted into prepared garden soil once the danger of frost has passed. They should begin to mature by late May, if germinated by early March. Choose a sunny location that receives eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Space Mortgage Lifter tomato plants 30 to 48 inches apart to allow plenty of room for growth. These plants require heavy trellising. They require ample water, so water when weekly rainfall is not sufficient. Mulching will help retain soil moisture and reduce competition from weeds. 

- Phyllis

Cherokee Purple Tomato

 

source: MIgardener

• Indeterminate
• 80 days
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 7-14 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 75-95 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8 inch
• Plant Spacing: 24"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Solanum lycopersicum

This Tennessee heirloom is believed to have been passed down by the Cherokee tribe. Sizeable in both vine and fruit, this open pollinated, indeterminate heirloom can yield tomatoes weighing up to 12 ounces each! It is meaty tomato with a bold flavor that is a balance of sweet, acid and savory, with even a hint of smoke that won best-tasting tomato in 2012. Let it fully ripen on the vine before harvesting for the best flavor.

The tomatoes are blushed with purple-red skin, tinged with light green shoulders, and typically grows three to five inches in diameter and is ready to harvest starting in 80 to 90 days after transplanting outside. It is an indeterminate and therefore will produces continually until it is killed by frost.

Start seeds indoors at least eight weeks before the last frost date, planting in rich potting soil. Sow seeds a half inch deep, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. Cherokee Purple seeds are relatively slow to germinate and typically grow slowly for the first three or four weeks, even after sprouting. It requires full sun and regular water.

Before transplanting outside, prep the site with compost, worm castings, or manure to ensure a healthy nutrient supply. Space plants 18 to 36 inches apart, and spread fine mulch or straw on top of the soil, leaving some space around the base of each plant. Covering the soil with some form of mulch will help to regulate soil temperature and maintain moisture. Water regularly, or when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Apply compost or a balanced fertilizer monthly as the plant matures. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and will slowly deplete the soil nutrients. They will need heavy staking so that they can continue to climb to their full potential. As the plant grows, suckers, or side shoots, form in the crotches between the leaves and the main stem. If left untamed, these suckers will grow just like the main stem, also producing flowers and fruit. Unfortunately, this growth often stretches the plant’s energy too thin. n order to maximize healthy growth and fruit production, you will need to prune the majority of these suckers. encourage a strong main stem to develop. This stalk will feed the entire plant for the next three to five months, throughout the growing season.

-Phyllis

Aswad Eggplant

source: MIgardener

 

• 85 days
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 10-15 Days
• Seed Depth: 1/4"
• Ideal Temperature: 75-95 F
• Plant Spacing: 18" 
• Frost Hardy: No
• Solanum melongen

Aswad means "black" and this eggplant's massive dark purple-black fruits with a squat, round shape can grow up to 3lbs or more. Originally from Iraq, this variety is heat tolerant and will produce abundantly, often producing in excess of 30-pounds per plant! 

Eggplants are cold-sensitive and require a long warm season for best results. Plant seeds in sunny warm location in peat pots 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting into garden after all danger of frost is past and night temperatures are consistently at or above 65°F. Eggplant roots are subject to cold damage and plants seldom recover from cold snaps. Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Do not permit seedlings or young plants to suffer from low temperature or drought. Mulching between plants is useful. Space plants 18 to 24" apart with 30 to 36" between rows. Aswad eggplants are very large, 5-6 feet tall, and need to be staked or caged for support. 

However, people have grown this variety in large containers successfully, but they must be big ones. Aim for at least a 5-gallon capacity. You will also need to be certain that there is ample drainage. To ensure free drainage – the best growing medium of eggplant is 2 parts standard potting soil, 1 part sand. This more free-draining mix provides enough nutrients, but let’s excess water drain out. Water the pots well and install a small support system, like a tomato cage to support the large plant and fruits.

Plants thrive in the heat of summer. These eggplants take 70-85 days to mature, and can be harvested after some color appears but always while fruits still have their glossy shine. They can have purple-tinged green leaves, drooping violet 1.5" flowers. The leaves, stems, and calyx can have small thorns.  

-Phyllis

Purple Bumblebee Tomato

 

source: MIgardener

• Indeterminate
• 60 - 70 days
• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 7-14 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 75-95 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/8 inch
• Plant Spacing: 24"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Solanum lycopersicum

This unique purple cherry variety with green marbling indeterminate tomato from open pollinated seeds matures in 70 days. Heavy yields will be produced all season long on short vines. Crack-resistant with fruits 1.5 inches around. The high acidity of this variety makes for a tangy, less sweet flavor. are unfazed by temperature extremes.

Start your Purple Bumble Bee Tomatoes indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost of spring, sow your Purple Bumble Bee tomatoes seeds in a flat 1/4" deep and 1" apart. Keep the temperature near 60-75 degrees F until germination. Make sure you provide bright light but not direct sun. Keep the planting soil moist, but make sure drainage is adequate. Purple Bumble Bee Tomato seeds will germinate in 8-15 days. When the second set of leaves emerge, transplant your Purple Bumble Bee Tomatoes seedlings into individual pots; bury the stems up to the lowest set of leaves to make sure your tomatoes grow strong roots. A week before planting your Purple Bumble Bee Tomato seedlings outside, begin exposing them to the weather during the day to harden them off. When the soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees F, plant the seedlings in full sun and very rich soil; once more, bury the entire stem up to the lowest set of leaves. If providing a trellis, space the plants 2' apart, but if allowing the vines to spread, space the plants 3-4' apart. Apply a light compost tea every few weeks. Do not apply excessive nitrogen, which can promote excessive foliage and poor fruit set. Plant deeply to encourage adventitious rooting. Water seedlings with a high-phosphate fertilizer solution at planting to help boost early yields.

Try planting Purple Bumble Bee in a 5 gallon (or larger) container, but be sure to provide the support of a trellis or string, as the vines are vigorous. Keep the plants picked and snip back any suckers so the fruit production is limited to one central vine.

-Phyllis

Growing Garlic in Zone 7 - Which varieties are best.

 

source: MIgardener

Garlic comes in two basic types: softneck and hardneck. Most softneck garlic varieties are suited to areas of mild winters, but Inchelium Red, Red Toch, New York White Neck, and Idaho Silverskin are suitable for garlic varieties for zone 7 and, in fact, will thrive in zone 4 or even 3 if protected over the winter months. Avoid planting the Creole types of softneck, as they are not winter hardy and do not store for any length of time. These include Early, Louisiana, and White Mexican. 

Hardneck garlic does have a hard flower stalk around which fewer but larger cloves huddle. Hardier than many of the softneck garlics, it is an excellent choice for zone 6 and colder regions. Hardneck garlic is divided into three major types: purple stripe, rocambole, and porcelain. German Extra Hardy, Chesnok Red, Music, and Spanish Roja are good choices of hardneck garlic plants for growing in zone 7.

Characteristic	Category
Longer storage	Softneck
More cloves	Softneck
Can be braided	Softneck
Larger cloves	Hardneck
Uniform size cloves	Hardneck
Has a scape	Hardneck
Peels easily	Hardneck
Warmer climate	Softneck
Colder climate	Hardneck

Nantes Carrots

source

An early fall crop of carrots can be planted for a harvest about 75 days later, although it would be best to allow an extra week or two for ‘Nantes’ to reach maturity in the fall because their growth slows as the weather cools. For carrots their germination is unreliable so it is better to plant plenty and plan to thin your seedlings if too many germinate. Six seeds per inch is a good amount to plant. Space rows eight inches apart in the raised bed and cover the seeds with a quarter to half-inch of the light medium. Water the seeds in lightly with a spray bottle or a fine mist from the garden hose, and then keep the top two inches of that soil moist but not soggy until germination occurs, which can be anywhere from 10 to 21 days. Be careful to water at the soil line, not from overhead, to avoid waterborne pathogens. Keep the seedlings thinned properly so they have space to grow and ample air circulation.

-Phyllis

Purple and White Vienna Kohlrabi

source: MIgardener

Kohlrabi was first recorded around 1554 in Italy when the botanist Matthiolus spoke of the veggie as “having come lately into Italy.” Its name, however, translates to “cabbage turnip” in German and derives from idea that it may be a cross between cabbage and rape, and, like most heirlooms, came with immigrants to the U.S. The Purple Vienna, also known as Di Vienna Violetto, predates 1860 and is presumably from Austria. This old heirloom variety has purple skin covering a faintly greenish-white flesh that has superb flavor. The tops are small, and the leaves are both colorful and edible. Just treat them like you would kale. Harvest the attractive purple kohlrabi's at 2½" in diameter for the finest texture. You can direct sow in early spring for a summer harvest, or in August to harvest in the cool weather of the fall and winter. This is the most economical kohlrabi to use for microgreens, and their flavor is exceptional.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Learn About Purple Vienna Kohlrabi Plants   https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/early-purple-vienna-kohlrabi/

source: MIgardner

White Vienna Kohlrabi is similar to Purple Vienna Kohlrabi, but with light green bulbs and green leaves. Give kohlrabi leaves a rinse and eat them raw in a salad, or cook them as you would any other leafy green

Red Russian Kale

Red Russian Kale, source: MIgardener

	Sow	Seed to Transplant	Transplant	Harvest
Ideal	May	8-10 weeks (56-70 days)	July	14-18 weeks, November to April
Red Russian Kale	Mid August- beginning of September	3-4 weeks	Beginning to Mid-September	October onward

 

Dwarf French Green Beans vs. Royal Burgundy Bush Bean

 

	Sow	Seed to Transplant	Transplant	Harvest	Size
Dwarf French Green Beans	Mid-April in cardboard tubes	6-8 weeks, End of May to Middle of June	End if May	August	height of around 45cm (around 18in)
Royal Burgundy Bush Bean			Direct sow from end of May to June 15th	51 days to maturity; from July 20 to Aug. 5	16-20" tall with a spread of 15-18” wide.

Large American Flag Leeks

 

source: MIgardener

Sow inside in the first week of April, 2-3 seeds per cell, 1/4″ deep.
Seed to Transplant: 10-12 weeks
Transplant: In June, when approx. 8″ tall and pencil-thick, transplant outdoors 6″ apart, rows 24″ apart in holes dibbled about 6″ deep. Only 1-2″ of leaves need extend above the soil surface. Do not firm soil, allow irrigation or rain to fill in the dibble hole.

Before Planting: Leeks are heavy feeders and require fertile soil (pH of 6.2-6.8) for best results.
Watering: Since leeks have shallow roots, they require lots of water and a weed-free environment. Add mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds.
Fertilizer: A season prior to planting, add compost where the leeks will grow. After planting, feed the leeks every week with liquid fertilizer.
Transplant to Harvest: 100 days- September - until a freeze is suspected to hit.
Harvesting: To harvest, loosen the soil and then lift the leeks out be the roots so you don’t damage the plant. Pick what you need until a freeze is suspected to hit, then harvest all the leeks.

Blue Curled Kale

source: MIgardener

Kale’s flavor will actually improve if exposed to cooler temperatures, so light frosts are your friend instead of foe. This curly leaf type of kale has a beautiful green-blue hue that makes it a popular addition to many fall gardens. This variety is considered to be particularly hardy and can be harvested in all climate zones until the ground freezes. Considering that it grows in a more compact fashion than other types of kale, it’s a great crop for space-challenged gardens.

The best time to plant kale for a fall crop is in early September. It can be harvested by late October and through the entire month of November.

Yo Lo Wonder Pepper

 

source: MIgardener

Yolo Wonder is an heirloom sweet bell pepper introduced by Campbell Soup in 1952. It has a mild flavor and crisp juicy flesh. Yolo Wonder produces large 4-5" peppers that grow from the branches and hang down. It's large with thick skin and will turn from dark green to bright red when mature.

Pepper seeds can be started indoors 8 weeks before the last frost date. Plant seeds 1/2" deep in pots with growing mix and place on a warm seedling mat or in a warm area that is 70 to 85 degrees with bright light. Peppers are similar to tomatoes and require relatively warm temperatures to germinate and grow quickly. Fertilize every 2 weeks. After 8 weeks, when the outdoor garden soil has warmed, harden off the seedlings and plant them 16" apart in full sun. The 2' tall plant may require staking or a cage for support. It's best to put the support in place when the plants are first transplanted so the roots will not be damaged later.

These peppers can be grown in containers but since they have moderately large root systems, the containers need to be at least 14 inches deep, the deeper the better in terms of productivity. They will need at least five-gallon pots that you have drilled holes for good drainage. Using white buckets helps to reflect the sun and prevent roots from overheating. Fill with commercial potting mixes or making your own from equal parts of perlite, compost, and potting soil. Dry soil is disastrous for peppers; it will slow or even stop production. Your challenge will be to keep the soil evenly moist but not wet. Mulching will help retain soil moisture and keep weeds down. When watering soak the soil to a depth of at least 6" so the soil stays moist but never soggy. Mulching can help to provide uniform moisture, conserve water, and reduce weeds.


Starting early in the growing season fertilize with a weak solution of a balanced liquid fertilizer, a time-release release fertilizer, or fish emulsion. Too much nitrogen will create plants with lush foliage and few peppers.

Harvest peppers when they are very firm and green or wait until they are fully mature and red in color.

-Phyllis

Comparison of Broad Beans and Henderson Lima Beans

 

	Sow	Transplant	Harvest/ Maturity
Broad/Fava Bean	Mid-March	Mid April	70-100 days July
Henderson Lima Bean	Late March, indoors	Mid April	70 days; End of May