The Kohlrabi –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Kohlrabi is yet another member of the ubiquitous brassica family which includes cabbage, kale, collards, turnips, rutabagas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. Kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts are probably the only commonly known vegetables of northern European origin. Kohlrabi apparently developed from the marrow cabbage a wild form of cabbage which frequently…
The Horseradish
The Horseradish –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Horseradish is a member of the mustard family and as such is related to kale, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and radishes. It is grown for its thick, fleshy white roots which are ground into a paste and used as a condiment. The zesty bite and distinctive aroma of the horseradish are not…
The Gourd
The Gourd –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Gourds are believed to be one of the earliest cultivated species. Because the only known populations of wild gourds exist in certain areas of Africa, archaeologists have theorized that prehistoric humans who lived near the rivers on the West Coast of Africa first used the small gourds that grow wild in…
The Garlic
The Garlic –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions GARLIC, which is a member of the same group of plants as the ONION, has been cultivated for millennia. As a cultivated plant, it is so old that it is difficult to credit a country of origin for this vegetable. Some historians believe that the onion was indigenous to the southwest…
The Eggplant
The Eggplant –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught…
The Cucumber
The Cucumber –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions It is generally agreed that cucumbers originated in India and have been under cultivation for at least 3000 years. From India, the pant was introduced into China and then into the West. Both the Greeks and the Romans knew and grew the cucumber. With the possible exception of some gherkins grown…
The Corn
The Corn – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions One of the greatest gifts that the New World presented to the Europeans was corn or maize as it was then called by some. One of the first sights for Christopher Columbus’ crew as they reached Hispaniola was of fields of maize growing on the island. The cultivation of corn in…
The Collard and the Kale
The Collard and the Kale – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Kale and Collards are probably the earliest cultivated variations of the European wild cabbage. Kale is known to have been widely grown by both the Greeks and the Romans. From a scientific classification point of view, kale and collards are considered to be the same plant – just…
Sweet William Single and Double
Sweet William Single and Double –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Sweet Williams, members of the Dianthus family, specifically Dianthus Barbatus, have been cultivated for at least 1000 years. It was the Athenians that named the flower Dianthos, from the Greek words dios (devine) and anthos (flower), but the common name, Sweet William, has a much more confusing past.…
Potatoes
Potatoes –Â A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Potatoes are members of the Nightshade family of plants which also include the Tomato and the Eggplant. The potato is native to the Andes mountain regions of Chile and Peru. Archaeologists believe that the potato was being cultivated by pre-Columbian farmers as early as 5000 B.C. Remains of potatoes have been found…