If you’re like me, then chances are good that you’ve spent quite a bit of time at your local grocery store, fruit or vegetable shelves, and farm stand in search of THE vegetable to grow in your garden. Now, if you’ve gone to any of these places recently, chances are you’ve had enough. After all, fruits and vegetables are relatively inexpensive and convenient for anyone to enjoy right out of their backyard, and unless you’re trying to grow large amounts of such items, chances are good you’ve had enough.
But there is one thing I’ve learned about recently, and I’ve never regretted it. It’s called heirloom gardening, and frankly, now that I look at it, I’m a bit glad that I’ve started. For heirloom gardening to work, you first need to select a variety of plants that flourishes and grows well in your climate. Then you need to learn the growing habits of each variety and plant them accordingly. You’ll want to allow for proper spacing when planting and also for the proper amount of sunlight and water. You’ll have to keep in mind that these plants are not your normal hybrid variety; they’re meant to be hearty and sweet, so as not to attract deer. And as with any living organism, you’ll have to be cautious of diseases and pests. But the results will be worth it all!
The list of vegetables that are available for heirloom gardening is almost unlimited. Not only do they offer interesting colors and different tastes, heirloom tomatoes and peppers offer old fashioned flavors as well. The only limit is your imagination! Let’s look at some varieties that are available today.
Asparagus is a very old tradition in gardening, but maybe an even more old tradition worth checking out is asparagus on a horse. Of course asparagus is usually seen in the grocery stores as a fresh garnish, but think of what it would be like with the time and effort put into it. Heirloom seeds are available for asparagus, so you can save the seeds from the year before and plant them the next year. It wouldn’t be the same as if you grew the asparagus, but it would be delicious to serve to your friends and family.
Turnips are considered a delicacy and very popular in Britain. There are two types of turnip greens available at the grocery store, purple turnip and swede. The swede is popular with those who are looking for a different taste than the norm of greens. These turnips can be grown in containers or loose to provide bushes that are 6 to 8 inches in length. Sweet turnips are easy to store for use all year long and are rich in vitamins A and C.
Arugula is also a very common veggie to grow at home. This purple vegetable is popular in Italy and can be grown in many regions with suitable climates. The leaves of the plant are lacy and the centers are generally larger than what is found in typical turnips. The leaves can also be green, white or purple and are sometimes smaller than turnips as well. These veggies are usually ready to harvest when the centers are still slightly larger than what is found in the store.
These are only a few of the many herbs you can grow at home. If you want to cook with fresh herbs that you grow yourself, why not give it a try? Perhaps you already have an herb garden at home that you can start from seeds. Or perhaps you are in a situation to need a large quantity of herbs – perhaps you are an avid chef who buys fresh herbs each season. You could do worse than begin with some of the veggies and herbs that are used in the kitchen most often. You’ll be graced with the freshest dishes imaginable.
