Anyone trying new or different veggies this year? (seed starting)

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Well, I got my order sent in and can hardly wait to get the seeds in the mail and get em going. Going to try and grow some artichokes this year (Dave's idea. Mental note, keep him away from seed catalogs when I'm ordering!). I'm trying some different kinds of heirloom or OP tomatoes this year that are suppose to be the most disease resistant. I've had such trouble with funguses on the tomato plants, so I thought I'd give myself a little advantage this year. Hope they're as resistant as advertised. I saw in the catalogs some peppers that taste like the really hot ones, but without the heat, so I'm giving them a try too. Here's hoping this year I find some real keepers that I'll have in my garden every year. Anyone else planting anything different? I am so ready to get started on the garden this year!!!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), January 02, 2002

Answers

Hi Annie!

Not sure where you are, but I grew artichokes here in Michigan about 6 years ago, Imperial Star, and they grew great! Just get them going early, and plant them in a warm place. I had mine next to a fence. Has anyone grown amaranth? I can't eat wheat and am trying to find other grains. After you grow it, how do you process it? I've ordered several 'wild' perennial greens. (Don't have a lawn for them to grow in!)I'm also trying Cardoon. Good luck with your chokes!

-- Amy (kimico@aol.com), January 02, 2002.


I sent to Pinetree Garden Seeds for 100 Stevia seeds. My first time to try raising it. It is a perennial in S.America and can be grown as an annual here in Ohio.

Claims to be 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar and no calories or cavities. All natural. Can cook and bake with it and have a cookbook for substituting for sugar.

Although some of you folks are familiar with it, it is all new to me. I am hopeful. Sugar has been a concern to me in the event of serious hard times. So much so, that I have a hundred pounds stored at all times (and that is nothing in the event of long term hard times.)

Maybe I can experiment and become comfortable that stevia is the answer to the sugar concern.

-- homestead2 (homestead@localnetplus.com), January 02, 2002.


Check the archives for a post about a month ago. A generous offer from a member in Florida: Send a SASE and $1 for 50 Stevia seeds. He has an apparent history with the plant so he may be able to give you some great advise on its culture. I plan to give it a try as well this spring as I did respond to his offer. I use way too much sugar for my own good, mostly in coffee. So it might be a means to my cutting back on sugar use. Dwight

-- Dwight (summit1762@aol.com), January 02, 2002.

I've never heard of Stevia before, but it looks interesting. I found an interesting website that deals with Stevia, and it says that it's difficult to grow it from seeds, but you can get starter plants from the following sources:

Sources for mail-order stevia plants

The Herbal Advantage is a Missouri herb supplier offering 2 1/4" pot size stevia plants ready for planting in your garden. For information and prices, call 800-753-9929, or write to them at Rte. 3, Box 93, Rogersville, MO 65742

Richter's Herbs, a Canadian business, offers plants in 2 1/2" pots via courier to customers in the U.S. and Canada. For information and prices, you can call (905) 640-6677 or fax them at (905) 640-6641 or write them at 357 Highway 47, Goodwood, Ontario L0C-1A0

Well Sweep Herb Farm is another source offering plants in 3" pots either via mail order or to customers who stop by. It is located at 205 Mt. Bethel Road, Port Murray, NJ 07865 or can be reached at (908) 852-5390

I just might try some. We're also going to be starting to grow some oriental vegetables this year, there's a pretty good market for them in our area. I need to get my buddy AV to come help me build a hot box so we can get started earlier this year.

Good luck,

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), January 02, 2002.


Where are you? In Maine, I have tried artichokes and had rather dreadful results. Got SOME, but spent more on the seed than I would have on the result. Have other words of (in my small mind) wisdom, but need to know your climate. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 02, 2002.


Hi Brad, used to be in zone 7, but I think they've readjusted it to zone 6b nowadays. I've tasted artichokes out of a can once, but have never had fresh ones before, so this will be a new one for me. Dave's the one that talked me into them, so I'm going to let him have at it when it comes to preparing them! :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), January 02, 2002.

My mother has artichoke plants. Once they are established they do well, but may freeze out in cold climates. She puts hers in a pan with a lid, turns the heat on rather low, and simmers hers until a fork goes easily into the stem end. The thick leaves can be eaten by dipping it into something good (like butter or mayo) and scraping the meat off of them between your teeth. At the base of the choke there is a thick, fleshy disk called the heart which is the part that gets canned. Remove and discard the small leaves and the rather fuzzy stuff on top of the heart. Since you have only tasted artichokes from the can, you may want to experiment with one from the store. The artichoke plant itself is large, a heavy feeder, and handsome with long, jagged, silver grey leaves.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), January 03, 2002.

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