Perennials with Extended Bloom Periods

These perennials have a colorful bloom period of 10 weeks or more. Plant them to maintain color in your garden for longer periods of time. (right) My Garden boxes in late Summer 2008.

• 'Monch' Aster (Aster frikartii 'Monch')
• Bellflower (Campanula carpatica, C. portenschlagiana)
• Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)
• Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum)
• Yellow Bleeding Heart (Corydalis lutea)
• Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra exima)
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
• Blanketflower (Gaillardia)
• Butterfly Flower (Gaura lindheimeri)
• Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)
• Hollyhock (Alcea)
• Bee Balm (Monarda)
• Catmint (Nepeta cataria)
• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriciplifolia)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
• Meadow Sage (Salvia nemerosa)
• Showy Stonecrop (Sedum telephium)

Types of Tomatoes

There are five commonly used terms associated with each of the five types of tomatoes. (right) A couple of my Beefsteak Tomatoes from 2008's harvest.

Determinate: Bush-type tomato plants that grow to a certain size, stop and set all their fruit at once.

Indeterminate: Vining-type tomato plants that continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season.

Patio: Tomato plants that are specifically bred to be small enough to grow in a window box, hanging basket or small container.

Heirloom: Non-hybrid tomatoes that have been grown for generations. Known for their exceptional flavors and rich colors, heirloom tomatoes have stuck around because of the careful cultivation and the seed saving skills of generations of gardeners throughout the world.

Hybrid: Tomato plants that have been developed to be more disease resistant and uniform in production for large-scale food processing - in some cases, at the expense of true tomato flavor.

Purple Top White Globe Turnip

I started with Purple Top White Globe Turnip (Brassica rapa) seeds from the Seed Savers Exchange. I planted them directly into the garden 1/4" deep and 4-6" apart. This variety of Turnip has been widely used since before 1880 and produces uniform 6" smooth white globes that are best for eating when 3-4" in diameter. They have a sweet mild fne-grained white flesh and a bright purple and white exterior. Turnips are biennial and will cross-polinate, so seperate by 1 mile from other turnips when going to seed the second year.

Growing Tips: Turnips prefer cool weather and full sun. Soil should be kept moist but not wet. Turnips are companion plants to onions and peas and can be planted near them.

Starting from Seed: Sow seeds as soon as soil can be prepared in the Spring or late July or early August (for a fall-winter crop). Plant seeds 1/4" - 1/2" deep, 2" between seeds in rows that are 24" apart. Thin to 4-6" between plants.

Harvesting: Turnips mature in 45-65 days and should be harvested when they reach 3" in diameter.

Scarlet Globe Radish

I started with Early Scarlet Globe Radish seeds from Ed Hume Seeds. This particular variety is great for eating fresh, using in salads or as garnish. I planted the seeds directly into the garden 1/4 deep, 2" apart in two rows, 2" apart. Radishes are an easy to grow crop that yields rapidly and can be planted from March through September.

Growing Tips: Radishes prefer full to partial sun. Radish grows best in the spring and autumn but will tolerate light winter frosts.

Harvesting Tips: Radishes mature and are ready for harvest in 24 days. Pull radishes when they are up to 1" in diameter and relatively young. Check your radishes often because the window of when they go from tasty to terrible is a relatively short period of time.

Starting from Seed: Sow seeds directly into the vegetable garden anytime soil is workable from March to September. Avoid planting radishes during really hot weather. Cover seeds with 1/4" of light soil. Leave 6 to 12 inches between rows, or in smaller gardens, space plants 2 inches apart in all directions. Germinates in approximately 1 week, keep soil moderately moist during germination.

White Marigolds

Marigolds will bloom from mid-summer until the first frost. They give off a pungent odor that adds a lovely smell to any outdoor garden plus, the aroma of marigolds are not favored by many garden insects making them a natural companion plant in vegetable gardens to keep insects away. Marigolds are very easy to grow from seed, start indoors and transplant outdoors after the first frost for best results. (right) My White Marigolds in late August 2009.

Growing Tips: White Marigolds prefer full to partial sun and water as needed. Remove dead flower blooms to encourage new growth.