Variety Listing
Cynara Scolymus. Native to the Mediterranean, the artichoke has been cultivated since the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was introduced to California first by Spanish explorers, later by Italian farmers who settled along the central California coast. Today, the majority of artichokes eaten in Canada and the United States are grown [...]
Ocimum basilica. Native to the Middle East and Asia, basil has been cultivated for medicinal and culinary purposes for more than 5,000 years. Countries, such as India, traditionally utilized basil for supplementary treatment for diabetes, asthma and stress as well as a topical remedy for acne. Additionally, recent studies have discovered potent antioxidant, antiviral and [...]
Phaseolus vulgaris. Beans are a dietary staple throughout the world, grown in a multitude of varieties and eaten at various stages of maturity. Though they belong to many different plant species, they can be divided into two broad categories-edible pod beans and fresh-shelled beans. Beans are quite sensitive to cold temperatures and frost. They should [...]
Beta vulgaris. Beets and their cousins all descended from the sea beet, a wild seashore plant grown throughout southern Europe, which has been eaten since prehistoric times. Beets have been used since ancient times for medicinal purposes. Today, it is newly appreciated for its anti-cancer properties and its cholesterol-lowering ability. Common beets are deep [...]
Brassica oleracea Italica Group. The modern world received broccoli from Italy, where it has been a favourite food since the days of the ancient Romans. For centuries, it was only known in the Mediterranean, but in the 1500s, it was introduced to France and about 1720 to England. It wasn’t until 1920 that a group [...]
Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group. Though Brussels sprouts were developed somewhere in Europe, it is not on record whether their place of origin was really Brussels. A relatively modern vegetable, this nutritious member of the cabbage family was first cultivated in the 1600s or 1700s and didn’t become widely known in this country until the [...]
Brassica oleracea Capitata Group. One of the oldest vegetables known, cabbage has been cultivated for at least 4000 years. The world of brassicas is bigger than just cabbage for coleslaw. The cabbage family includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi. Many varieties of cabbages have been introduced ranging from the sweet, beautiful Savoy [...]
Canataloupe, as they are known in North America, are named for the town of Cantalupo near Rome where they grew. In Europe, these melons are known as musk melons or nutmeg melons, and take their name from the Romans’ habit of sprinkling the fruit with powdered musk to enhance the flavour. They are the most [...]
Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group. The word “cauliflower” comes from two Latin terms and literally means “cabbage flower”. It has been cultivated in Asia Minor and the Mediterranean for more than 2,000 years. Cauliflower is cool season crop and belongs to the cole crop family which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, kale and kohlrabi. To [...]
Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro or coriander is one the world’s oldest spices. Spanning from 5000 BC to modern times, it has been used medicinally and culinary around the world. In ancient times, countries such as China, India, Egypt, Greece and Rome used it for both its seed and leaf. It is thought this aromatic herb [...]
Zea mays. Sweet corn is undoubtedly the most eagerly anticipated crop of the season. But, did you know that corn is not a vegetable? It is actually a grain native to the Americas. Aztecs, Mayan, Inca, and North American tribes cultivated corn (maize) for thousands of years before the Pilgrims arrived. Today, our sweet corn [...]
Cucumis sativus. “Cool as a cucumber” is not just a catchy phrase-it has some basis in fact. A cucumber’s pulp temperature may be up 20° cooler than the outside air. Cucumbers are about 96 percent water. Because their skin holds in moisture like a jug, these vegetables have been used to quench thirst since ancient [...]
Anethum graveolens . Dill was known as a medicinal herb to the ancient Greeks and Romans and was mentioned in Egyptian writings some 5000 years ago. It is native to southern Russia, western Africa, and the Mediterranean region. It is the most important culinary herb in Scandinavia, as popular as parsley is in other parts [...]
Glycine max. Edible soybean, called Edamame in Japan and Mao Dou in China, is grown mainly to harvest the young green-shelled beans for vegetable uses, and not for the matured soybean crops. Most commonly served as an appetizer, the whole pod is steamed or boiled for 3 to 5 minutes until bright green. Then they [...]
Solanum melongena. Eggplant, a native of India, is actually a pear-shaped berry and part of the so-called deadly nightshade family, which includes potatoes and tomatoes. And despite the mythology of their poisonous effects, eggplants, particularly their skins, contain high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds, cancer-fighting elements that eat up free-radical scavengers in the bloodstream. Thus, [...]
Add a sprig of herb and familiar foods take on a new character. Fresh herbs add aromas and flavours, from subtle to pungent. The popularity of herbs is due to the fact that these culinary delights are easy to grow, yield prolifically in small spaces, and are just delicious. The range of herb gardens can [...]
Brassica oleracea var. acephala. Kale is thought to be one of the first cultivated brassicas, some 2000 years ago. It was the most widely eaten green vegetable in much of Europe until the Middle Ages. Colewort, its wild ancestor, still grows along the coasts of western Europe. Kale has been particularly important in colder regions [...]
Lactuca sativa. The early Romans, who treated lettuce as a luxury food, were intrigued by the milky juice that exuded from the cut stem. In fact, the word lettuce derives from the Latin word lac, or “milk”. The Egyptians ate a romaine-type lettuce that grew on the island of Cos off the Turkish coast. In [...]
Cucumis melo . Melons are members of the large family of gourds or pumpkins, which grow on trailing vines. There are thousands of varieties and range in size. Melons are considered to be a fruit, but are often used as a vegetable. The wild ancestors of this species seem to have been native to [...]
Origanum vulgare. The intense aroma and unmistakable flavour of true oregano are invaluable for seasoning Italian dishes, roasted meat, and vegetables. This robust aromatic can be grown in an herb garden or in containers. Oregano needs both excellent drainage and good air circulation to thrive; moderate fertilizer is sufficient. This hardy perennial is a bushy [...]
Over the past few years, the popularity of Oriental greens has increased greatly among North American vegetable gardeners. Most Oriental greens are members of the Brassica family. The most widely available of these vegetables are the Chinese cabbages, bok choy or pak-choy and Japanese mustards. These tasty and healthy greens are used in stir [...]
Petroselinum crispum. Parsley often is taken for granted, yet its sprigs are essential for perking up a bland dish, add colour to a special meal, or dress a glass of tomato juice. It is a key ingredient in bouquet garni and in fine herbs. Whether it is curled or flat-leafed, parsley is one of [...]
Pisum sativum. Peas are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables. A team of archaeologists unearthed peas that dated to 9750 B.C. at Spirit Cave in Thailand. In ancient times, these legumes were generally dried and used in soups. In wasn’t until the 17th century that eating fresh peas became fashionable with the French people. Today, [...]
Capsicum annum. When Columbus discovered the New World, he was searching for precious black pepper. But what he brought back to Europe were green peppers – long, spicy vegetables. These New World peppers quickly caught on in Europe, and then spread to Africa and Asia. Today, hundreds of pepper varieties are grown worldwide. Some are [...]
Pumpkins evoke memories of the autumn season; whether placed in a fall or Thanksgiving display or carved into scary looking jack-o’-lanterns. This type of winter squash boasts more than decorative good looks, it can be baked in pies and breads and the seeds can be roasted for snacks. In the garden, pumpkins love lots of [...]
Cichorium intybus. Radicchio came to prominence with the pasta craze. It is a wild Italian chicory, related to the root chicories, and is enjoyed for its slightly bitter leaves. Red heads with white accents make radicchio an eye-catching crop. Chioggia types form rounded heads. Treviso radicchio looks like romaine lettuce, but it has pink-to-red [...]
Rosemarinus officinalis. A beautiful evergreen perennial shrub, rosemary has narrow, aromatic green leaves that is reminiscent of pine. It is used for seasoning meats, savoury dishes, roasted potatoes and baking. It prefers light, sandy soil mixed with lime and south-facing planting area. To protect plants from winterkill, trim back. This will encourage new branching in [...]
Spinacia oleracea. Spinach was first cultivated in Persia several thousands of years ago. It was brought to Europe by the Moors when they invaded Spain, and presented to China as a gift from the King of Nepal in the seventh century. Today, California is a leading producer of spinach, growing about half of the fresh [...]
Squashes were important American Indian staples. The Indians not only ate squashes, but they used the gourds to make water jugs, bowls, and ceremonial masks, and they wove the stringy fibers of some varieties into cloth. Squashes come in so many colours, shapes, sizes, and textures that they defy simple description. The most common classification [...]
Fragaria x ananassa . Strawberries were prized in ancient times by the Romans for its medicinal uses. Today, the common garden strawberry is a hybrid of two species: the big and juicy Chilean strawberry crossed with a sweet red American species. Strawberries are actually a member of the rose family are not “technically” berries. They [...]
Beta vulgaris. Chard was believed to have originated somewhere in the Mediterranean as it was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. By the sixteenth century, several varieties were available. The word Swiss was used to distinguish chard from French spinach varieties by nineteenth century seed catalogue publishers. Swiss chard, known as leaf beet and [...]
Thymus vulgaris. Thyme grows trouble-free in an herb garden, along a pathway, or in a container. A garden bed needs no special preparation before planting thyme as it grows fine in average soil. Thyme grows to a low bushy mound of small, dark green leaves with attractive pink to purple flowers in midsummer. Thyme is [...]
Lycopersicon esculentum. It took nearly four hundred years for much of the Western world to overcome its fear of tomatoes. The Spanish conquistadores brought the New World fruit to Europe and reported that the Aztecs and Incas ate tomatoes regularly with no ill effect but, early Europeans greeted the American fruit with distrust because botanically [...]
Citrullus lanatus. It is thought that watermelon originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Sometimes, they were placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. From there, watermelons spread throughout countries along the Mediterranean Sea by way of [...]
