by Lynne Byass | Oct 2, 2023 | Calendula, Plant of the Month
I thought we’d do something different this month: a flower instead of a vegetable. Before you turn away, asking “What value is that?”, read through the rest of the article – you may be pleasantly surprised. DESCRIPTION Calendula is an annual...
by Lynne Byass | Sep 3, 2023 | Plant of the Month, tomatoes
It’s that time of year: tomato time. Tomatoes are the number one vegetable grown by home gardeners in the western world. Gardeners are seeking that well-known and loved taste; the taste you just don’t get in store-bought tomatoes. But what do you need to...
by Lynne Byass | Aug 5, 2023 | Celery, Plant of the Month
HISTORICAL INFORMATION Celery originated in the Mediterranean region. Archaeological evidence of celery being grown in Switzerland 6,000 years ago shows that celery seeds were bring transported throughout Europe and, probably, into Asia, in ancient times. It is...
by Lynne Byass | Jun 5, 2023 | Peas, Plant of the Month
Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, Pease porridge in the pot, nine days old. old nursery rhyme HISTORICAL INFORMATION Pease porridge, the ancestor of what is now known as pea and ham soup, was a staple food in medieval times. It consisted of split peas, salt,...
by Lynne Byass | Apr 29, 2023 | Lettuce, Plant of the Month
HISTORICAL INFORMATION The plant we now call lettuce was once thought to have been bred from a ‘weed’ growing in the countries close to the Mediterranean Sea. Wild varieties (Lactuca serriola) can still be found growing there, and in parts of Asia. The...
by Lynne Byass | Apr 1, 2023 | Cabbage, Plant of the Month
HISTORICAL INFORMATION The cabbages we know today were bred from wild mustard plants that grew around the Mediterranean region. The parent plants of modern cabbages were grown at least 1,000BCE and, in Roman times, were considered a delicacy. Plant breeders, mostly in...