Easy Gardening for Northern Climates

October 27, 2004

EASY-GROW VEGETABLES

Carrots--Sow in early spring. Be patient--they germinate in 14 to 21 days. Keep soil moist. Snap peas--A vertical climber, snap peas are ideal for small gardens and containers. Flowers and tips are also edible Lettuce--Any and all varieties. Mix seeds/transplants together for a gourmet salad blend. Kale--Healthy, tasty, good in hot and cold dishes. Frost hardy. Potatoes--A must-have in northern gardens. Try peanut, blue varieties and Yukon Gold. Onion (green and bulb)--The hardiest vegetable on Earth. TIP: Grow "long day" varieties for long days (higher latitudes); "short day" ones, for lower latitudes. Cabbage--Early and late varieties. Keep evenly moist to prevent splitting. Spinach--Sow a new crop every 2 weeks for continued harvest Broccoli--These tasty and versatile "little trees" pack a big nutritional punch. Mustard greens--Red Giant, Green Wave, kale (above). Oriental greens--All varieties thrive in northern gardens. Nutritional heroes. Broad (fava) beans--The northern lima bean. Vertical, hardy, neat-looking plants. Beans (runner)--Some varieties sport beautiful white, pink or orange blossoms.Beets--All varieties do well in cool soil. Radish--Kids love them. So do crows (they toss them around the garden like beach balls). Brussels sprouts--The older varieties often do best. Leeks--Worth the wait; they're sweetened by frost.

EASY-GROW FLOWERS

Annuals--Pansies, calendula, nasturtium, sweet peas, baby blue eyes, dianthus, lunaria, Iceland poppy, silene... Biennials--Foxglove, Sweet William... Perennials--Columbine, Shasta daisy, delphinium, bee balm (monarda), Jacob's ladder, bleeding heart, autumn joy, geranium, forget-me-not, primrose, meconopsis poppy, Oriental poppy Bulbs and other early perennials--Tulips, primrose, daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, lily

EASY-GROW HERBS Chives--Stems and flowers are edible. Divide plants every 3 to 4 years. Mint--Keep contained and well-mulched. Grow in shade or partial shade. Adapts well to life in an indoor herb garden Lemon balm--Member of mint family. Good in baths, iced tea. Arugula (garden rocket)--Sesame-nutty flavor that adds zest to salads. Oregano--Hardy, pretty plant. Dries well. Parsley (flat and curly leaf)--Another must-have, vitamin-rich. Sage--Blue-green leaves. Fragrant perennial; prefers well-draining soil. Chamomile--For herbal tea, grow the German, not Roman variety. Thyme--Plants can tire and may need to be replaced after several years. Dill--You need this for everything from pickles to seafood dishes. Fennel--A hint of licorice; cook and use the bulb like onions; tops for herbs. Garlic--Plant cloves in late summer; mulch and protect over winter for a summer harvest.

OTHER EASY-GROW VARIETIESFruiting shrubs are ideal for edible landscaping. Try raspberries, hardy kiwis, rhubarb, currants (red, black and white), gooseberries, and crabapples. If you have a greenhouse, go ahead and try tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and squash.

~plantea.com

Diana Gonzalez

Seven Star Soap Co.

"Natural Soaps by Diana"

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