The Pick of the Crop

(Page 2 of 6)

March/April 1984
By Brent Elswick  
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Rogers Brothers also came up with two of the finest new edible-pod types, Snowflake and Honeypod. The former's tidy plants produce a lot of sugary peas, while Honeypod is a great new dwarf Sugar Snap type. Either is well worth a try. The final edible-pod pea that performed well in my trials was Early Snap from Agway. This one matures in only 50 days and has all the fine qualities of Sugar Snap, with the added advantage that the plants are much stockier and easier to manage than those of the old standbys.

RELATED CONTENT

Because cabbage is quite tolerant of frost, the cold, damp weather didn't hinder that vegetable as much as it did some of the other early bearers. Jonathan Green's Greyhound has long been the favorite early, pointed type in Europe, and it does just as well on this side of the Atlantic. I was impressed with its tender, delicious small heads and early maturity. Even earlier is Hispi Hybrid from Thompson & Morgan. This one matures in 60 days . . . four or five days ahead of Greyhound and the older Jersey Wakefield. Like those two, Hispi makes fantastic eating, and its size can reach nearly double that of either of those fine varieties. Park's Golden Cross Hybrid matures in just 50 days, and its tight heads are creamy, sweet, and ideal for small gardens or close plantings. A similar variety is Thompson & Morgan's Quickstep Hybrid, which is firmer still, making it a better selection for coleslaw. Heavy Weighter Hybrid, from Park, is a later (75 days) cole with a round, slightly flattened head weighing five to seven pounds and is resistant to both frost and summer heat. And if you like a little color in your cabbage patch ( and in your salads), try Blue Pak from Ferry-Morse. Finally, for kraut and cooking, I can heartily recommend the very firm Hannibal from Sluis & Groot.

CAULIFLOWER, BROCCOLI,AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Gleckler's Seedsmen offers Snow Giant one of the finest cauliflower varieties I've ever grown. The eating quality, production, an disease resistance of this cultivar are all superb. And while White Fox from Sluis Groot can't quite match Snow Giant in eatin quality, its ability to tolerate more heat make it a good choice for 1984, too.

Two impressive new broccoli varieties also merged in my '83 trials. Park's Green Dwaf — with fine-flavored buds growing on plants that average a scant 8" tall — is a new early sort that's ideal for small gardens. Another welcome addition to my broccoli patch was Sluis & Groot's SG 1. The heads of this cultivar are quite large, and they mature in midseason.

Though brussels sprouts have never been a favorite of the Elswick family, I do include new varieties in my trials each year. However, only one performed up to snuff this time around: Fasolti Hybrid from Jonathan Green, which matures in midseason and is a superb producer of medium-sized sprouts.

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Next >>
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.