2018

Greenhouse Opens March 30 Spring Hours OPEN 7 D AYS A WEEK MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 10-6 SATURDAY 9-6 • S UNDAY 10-5 Closed for the Season after July 1

Visit our web site: www.debaggioherbs.com • Purchase gift certificates anytime of the year • Check the status of major crops • Create a shopping list • Renew your catalog subscription • Submit a change of address • Download a PDF of the catalog • Contact us

43494 Mountain View Drive • Chantilly, VA 20152 • (703) 327-6976 • www.debaggioherbs.com This catalog lists for purchase at the greenhouse only. We do not ship plants Copyright © 2 0 1 8 by DeBaggio L.L.C. All Rights Reserved 2 HaPPy SPRing ! eaRly SeaSOn Mid SeaSOn lateSeaSOn Spring 2018 MaRCh thRu Mid -M ay Crop Schedule Mid -a PRil end Of aPRil thRu ClOSing Lettuce Italian and Asian Greens Brocolli, √ Tomato Basil First Crop Second Crop Peppers Eggplant √ √ Okra Cucumber Squash/Zucchini √ Nasturtium √ Most herbs are grown for you throughout the season and will be available as ready, subject to normal seasonal ebb and flow.

Perennials will be available throughout the season.

Annuals will be ready at the appropriate planting time.

Please visit our web site or call to check stock! Outages and Readies will be posted on www.debaggioherbs.com Renew yOuR CatalOg SubSCRiPtiOnS COntentS With postage rates and printing costs increasing so rapidly, it annuals & Perennials 24-29 is necessary to ask you to renew your free subscription to the ...... directions back page catalog and growing guide every few years so I can ...... fruit trees 45-46 ...... remove those who have lost interest or moved. herbs-300+ varieties 4-23 ...... basil 4-6 ...... The renewal process is simple: lavender 10-12 ...... Check the mailing label on the back of this catalog. if your Rosemary 16 ...... subscription is about to expire, there will be a message for you Sage 18 ...... to renew. thyme 21 ...... Supplies 47 ...... there are three ways to renew. Scented geraniums 30 ...... Soaps 46 1) Visit our website, www.debaggioherbs.com/signup.html ...... Vegetables- 200+ varieties 32-42 (preferred method) ... 2) Send your address label to me on the back of a postcard lettuce & salad greens 34 Peppers 3.6..- 39 3) bring your address label to the greenhouse ...... tomatoes 40-44 ...... TiPS 3 Some tips on growing herbs indoors in general, the rules for growing most house plants also apply to herbs indoors. if you are successful in skirting a few rules with your plants now, it is likely you can do the same with your herbs. air. Your herbs will thrive in a temperature between 65° to 70°F, about what is comfortable to you. Avoid rooms that are stuffy and have stale air. Herbs like fresh, moving air but not drafts; humidity is best around 50 percent. Soil. For your container potting mix, forget about soil. A soil-less medium of one part sphagnum peat moss and one part perlite makes a good mixture for herbs. If you prepare your own mix, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of horticultural lime per quart of mix; peat can be quite acid and the lime sweetens the mix. Stir ingredients while dry and dampen the medium before planting. Soil-less media with natural ingredients, but without soil, have been tested on herbs and found to be superior to other potting soils. For years we have used Pro-Mix BX, a commercial soil-less medium, with excellent results. water. Watering is not as tricky and mysterious as you may have been led to believe. Here are a few general rules which might improve your green thumb: • Don't let the pot sit in water and drown the 's roots. • During warm weather and rapid growth, plants are more tolerant of water. When the air is cool and light is poor, go easy with water and allow the surface of the soil to dry between watering. • Water temperature should match air temperature. • A fan moving air around and over your potted herbs will help dry the growing medium. Pots. Containers come in many sizes, shapes, colors and materials. I like plastic because it is light and cheap. Plants do not dry as quickly in plastic as they do in clay pots which can be a disadvantage during winter. Don't worry about stones or broken crockery in the bottom when the pot has lots of drainage holes; the stones actually hinder drainage and are a bad idea. Pot your herbs in a container 2 inches larger than the one it is transplanted from. Don't put a small plant in a huge pot, the roots cannot use all that moisture and they are likely to rot quickly. Because plants grow at different rates, planters with several different types of herbs will need careful attention; it is sometimes better to use the planter to hold individual pots which can make individual transplanting easier. You can keep your plants smaller by leaving them in small pots, but this restriction of growth means less foliage and it can harm the plant. When roots begin to fill the pot and circle its sides, it is time to transplant. Yellowing or shedding leaves sometimes indicates the plant is pot bound. light. Most herbs need 5 hours of full sun for optimum growth. Only a few herbs will grow well without direct sunlight. Don’t despair if you lack a south facing, sunny window. Herbs will often adjust to less than the best conditions. A fluorescent light garden is one way to give your herbs and other plants near perfect light conditions. Commercially available ‘Grow Lites’ can be used but are more expensive. Fluorescent tubes should be no more than 3 to 5 inches above plant tops. Use 4 cool white tubes for each 10 inches of table width. Lights can be used to supplement natural sunlight. Use a timer to provide a total (sun and fluorescent) photo period of 12- 14 hours. food. It's better to give your herbs a little food often (every week at half strength, for instance) than a lot all at once. A slow release fertilizer like Osmocote 14-14-14 works well. If your pots are small and you like liquid fertilizers, choose a 10-10-10 or a 20-10-20 formula. Keep in mind that when you water more often, you should also feed your plants more often. Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion are excellent for soil-less potting media. 4 HERbS : a-b Edible, aromatic, ornamental herb plants

It’s time again to celebrate herbs in the warm backyard soil of spring and re-establish the ancient link between humans and plants. To help you and your garden celebrate, we have grown the finest plants of the best herb, vegetable, and edible 1 varieties. Most of our herb plants are grown in a deep 2 ⁄2 inch pot. angelica. genoa green basil. Angelica archangelica. drained with a pH range of 4.3 to 8.2. Ocimum Height is quite variable amongst the Biennial. Light green appear atop basilicum ‘Genovese Verde Migliorato’. A different forms, ranging from10 inches to 4 lobed, serrated leaves in second year and basil are available at the end variety distinguished by a well rounded feet tall. flavor without the cloying sweetness of may be cut to extend plant life. Height can of april, but please, don’t plant them reach 6-8 feet when planted in a partly more common Basil. Our most popular outdoors until the warmth of frost shaded area. variety. This is the only variety we use for free mid May because these tender pesto. Clear white flowers on 6 to 8 inch anise hyssop . stems. Plants are 24 to 30 inches high. Agastache plants react unfavorably to cool, genovese basil. Traditional Italian foeniculum. Perennial. Neither anise nor damp weather. basil. Authentic flavor and appearance. hyssop, this mint-like plant is tidy, tall, and amethyst basil . Ocimum basilicum Tall and relatively slow to bolt with large, highly ornamental. Possessed of a strong dark green leaves about 3" long. Grows anise scent and flavor, its leaves are dried 'Amethyst Improved'. Purple Genovese 24-30 inches tall. Similar in flavor to our for tea and potpourri, and can be type. Nearly black, large, turned down leaves. Plants are 16 to 20 inches tall. own ‘Genoa Green’. substituted for anise in baking. Although anise basil. greek basil. sometimes referred to as “Anise mint” or Ocimum basilicum Ocimum basilicum “Korean mint”, it does not spread from ‘Anise’. Heart-shaped green leaves have ‘Karamanos’. Chris and Popi Karamanos runners. Beautiful violet tinged flower a spicy anise aroma with hints of mint and returned from Greece with seeds of this spikes are lovely dried. Bees love its citrus. Stems have a reddish-purple blush; variety and shared them with us. Green nectar which gives a distinctive flavor to flowers are light pink. Plants average 24 leaves are small and pointed. The flavor is their honey. Delights in a shady spot inches high. a combination of anise, spice, and where summers are hot. cinnamon. The plant forms a beautiful, tight, perfect sphere 17 to 24 asil when harvesting basil, remove the inches high. White flowers. is king of entire stem, rather than Space on 12 to 15 inch bthe summer centers. lime basil. garden, the most plucking individual leaves. Ocimum popular annual americanum ‘Lime’. A 26 inch herb in this will prevent flowering tall basil with a distinctly zesty America, and and increase your overall lime aroma. Keep a plant the subject of yield per plant. basil can handy to use leaves on fish adulation and and in salads. festivals. It is tolerate severe pruning during Magical Michael fast-growing, the height of the growing season. basil. prolific, and the Ocimum basilicum essential ingredient in an ‘Magical Michael’. 2002 All- array of lively summer America Selection. This ararat basil. attractive, bushy basil has olive green dishes. The basil crown is found atop Ocimum basilicum pesto, that rich, oily, green Italian paste leaves with red veining and stems. Sweet ‘Ararat’. Striking foliage is infused with that celebrates summer breezes and warm type basil with fruity aroma and long purple markings. Strong sweet flavor with friendship. Not only is basil a valuable tool lasting, burgundy inflorescence. an anise overtone. Perfect for salads, Mammoth basil. in the kitchen, several of its forms are also Large, sweet, pesto, tomato dishes, and as a garnish. highly ornamental and dress the Cinnamon basil. puckered leaves. Space 18 inches apart. Ocimum landscape with their wondrous shapes and Use in salads, sauces, and with basilicum . A variety from Mexico with a colors. Basil is native to tropical climes vegetables. clean spicy aroma with a hint of cinnamon. Marseillais basil. and are considered annuals in our climate Ocimum Green leaves are distinctly veined. Light because they are hardy to only 32ºF. basilicum 'Marseillais'. Dwarf, bushy plants Plants require a minimum of four hours of lavender flowers are held on purple- stained stems. Plants may reach 3 feet with medium sized aromatic leaves. Height direct sun per day and should be planted to 12 inches. in a soil that is rich, loamy, and well- high. HERbS : b aSil 5 before you Visit us I can guarantee the quality of our plants because we grow them ourselves. Demand for certain varieties is sometimes greater than I anticipated and we run out. Often there is another crop on the way. This catalog lists most of the varieties I grow, however, it is not possible to list everything. Some plants are tricky to propagate; others are too new for me to describe in any detail. if you don’t see something listed or there are plants you can’t do without, please call to check our supply before you visit. Minette basil. Ocimum ‘Minette’. variety is great for small containers or as a become a standard against which others border in the garden. are measured. Vigorous branching creates This recent introduction is a small bush Purple delight basil. basil that would make a nice border or pot Ocimum remarkable density. White flowers on plant. Make sure you pick a spot that has basilicum ‘Purple Delight’. This new basil three-inch long stems top the plant. A excellent drainage and good air circulation is similar to the original ‘Dark Opal’ before strong spicy aroma with hints of citrus and as the tight foliage can trap moisture and seed quality declined. This new variety mint envelopes the plant when brushed succumb to disease. Height to about 12 has little or no green to mar the dark with the hand. Plants grow to 10 to 12 inches. Space 10 inches apart. purple leaves. Growth is strong and inches high. Mrs. burns’ lemon basil. Sweet dani lemon basil upright. Strong flavor. . Ocimum Ocimum Purple Ruffles basil basilicum ‘Mrs. Burns’ Lemon’. Large . Ocimum ‘Sweet Dani’. Here is a big, broad- leaves and a strong lemon aroma basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’. An All American shouldered basil that boasts big harvests characterize this unique lemon variety. It is Selection in 1987, this robust plant has of strongly lemon-scented foliage. The wonderful in salads and makes a delightful had problems holding its dark purple color. plant quickly reaches 30 inches with summer ice tea. Barney Burns’ mother, We try to remove all seedlings that contain leaves 2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches Janet, combined ground beef and finely green to maintain its proper color. Plants wide. This delightful new basil is the chopped lemon basil leaves to create a reach 27 inches and are 17 inches wide. breeding work of Jim Simon and Mario grilled burger they named Barney’s Basil The aroma is sweet with cinnamon-spice Morales at Purdue University. 1998 All- American Selection. Burger. Great for summer cookouts. Plants scents with some mint and anise. Sweet thai basil. may reach nearly 3 feet high and 2 feet Red and green holy basil. Ocimum wide. basilicum . This is the basil most often napoletano basil. Ocimum sanctum . Single plant has both Ocimum red and green leaves and musky scent. used in Thailand. Highly scented green basilicum . A standard variety of southern Height: 16 to 20 inches. Limited supply. leaves are loaded with a spicy anise-clove Rubin basil. Italy, sweetly flavorful of anise and a touch Ocimum basilicum scent. Purple stems and blossoms. About 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide. of mint. Plants are covered with puckered 'Rubin'. A European re-selection of ‘Dark thai Magic basil. green leaves that average over 5 inches Opal’ that has better red color and is more Ocimum long and as wide. This basil is easily our disease resistant. basilicum ‘Thai Magic’. Typical anise Spice basil. second most popular basil (after Genoa Ocimum americanum flavoring of other Thai type Basil, only Green). Plants reach 24 inches high. milder and sweeter. nufar basil f1. ‘Spice’. This basil is commonly sold as thai Siam Queen basil Ocimum basilicum Indian Holy Basil ( O. sanctum ), an error by . Ocimum ‘Nufar’. A new Genovese type basil with its American introducer repeated for basilicum ‘Siam Queen’. True good flavor and aroma. In tests it has decades. Its green leaves produce an Thai Basil. This is a knockout as an shown good resistance to fusarium wilt, a aroma that is spicy clove and anise. May ornamental and its leaves have an disease which has plagued growers for a have a modest use with vegetables. assertive anise scent, perfect for Asian decade. Plants are 24 to 30 inches tall. Green leaves are fuzzy and strongly food. Siam Queen’s standout feature is its Space on 12 to 15 inch centers. veined. Plants grow to 15 inches high. radiant purple, ball-headed inflorescence, Pistou basil. Spicy globe basil. Ocimum sp. 'Pistou'. A Ocimum ‘Spicy containing many individual stems with lavender or pink blossoms. Green leaves small leaved, dwarf basil forms a small Globe’. Since its introduction in 1985, this are 3 1/2 inches long by 1 1/4-inch wide. globe. Only reaching 6 to 8 inches tall this dwarf, hybrid basil with tiny leaves has 6 HERbS : b-C Plants are about 24 inches high. Space 15 beautiful, large, lavender-pink flowers, from its flowers and use its cucumber- to 20 inches apart. 1997 All American eaten in salads. Grows to about 2 feet. . flavored, hirsute leaves in cold drinks like Raspberry wine. Selection winner. Pimm’s Cup, borage acts as a magnet in Valentino basil. Monarda Ocimum basilicum 'Raspberry Wine'. Perennial, hardy to - the garden for pollinating bees. The blue 'Valentino'. This large lettuce-leaf type 30ºF. Long Blooming variety. Flowers are flowers are also candied for cake basil reaches up to 2 feet tall. a rich raspberry color. Height to 30 inches. decorating and used dried in wreaths. Like all monarda, growth habit can be Height to 2 feet. bay invasive. . Laurus nobilis. Sweet Bay or Bay wild bergamot. burnet. Laurel. This is the bay of commerce and Monarda fistulosa . Sanguisorba minor . A the one seen growing in Europe. For our This perennial produces bright lavender Frenchman would not be without ready climate, it is usually a potted plant to be flowers and has highly fragrant leaves. access to burnet, the handsome brought indoors, but in a fortuitous site, it Most bee balm ( Monarda didyma ) in ornamental with accordion green leaves. may be grown outdoors with protection. cultivation today is actually of hybrid origin Its cucumber flavor is subtle, but Fresh leaves are used with meats and and has wild bergamot as one of its unmistakable. Try it in vinegar, salad vegetables. Once you have a bay of your parents. Unlike its more commonly grown dressing, or just cut up in a salad. Height own, you will find many excuses to use it. relatives, wild bergamot prefers dry soil to 30 inches in flower. Space 18 to 24 Slow growing until well established. conditions. Typically grown in full sun, this inches apart. Perennial, hardy to -40°F. plant will tolerate some shade. Height is Lovely in the garden. bee balm/Monarda/ bergamot usually 3-4 feet. Flowers are edible and the spicy leaves can be used to make tea butterfly weed/Pleurisy Root. Jacob Kline. or substituted for . Monarda x media Asclepias tuberosa. Perennial, hardy to - ‘Jacob Kline’. Perennial, hardy to -25º F. betony/ wood betony. 20ºF. This three foot tall perennial Bright red flowers on a plant reputed to Stachys produces beautiful orange-red flowers that have some mildew resistance. Marshall’s delight. officinalis. Betony was an official herb of really attract butterflies. The Monarda x the apothecary, believed to have magical Asclepias (Milkweed) is the Monarch media ‘Marshall’s Delight’. Perennial, healing powers. It was grown in monastery caterpillar’s sole source of food. One of hardy to -25º F. A product of an extensive gardens all over Europe. Today, its the last plants to break winter dormancy, breeding program in Canada, this popularity has been surpassed by its close growing to about three feet tall by mid is said to have the most resistance to relative, lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina. summer. Unlike its swamp loving cousins, powdery mildew. Most species, with the Betony still deserves a place in the A. tuberosa generally prefers arid soils. exception of M. fistulosa , have increased modern herb garden It is a marvelous Roots were used by Native American susceptibility to the ubiquitous fungus ornamental plant well suited for the Plains Indians to heal lung ailments and when their roots are allowed to dry out. cottage garden or the middle of the border wounds. See also: Red Butterfly Weed Bright pink, edible flowers. Plants reach with its reddish-purple flowers forming Asclepias curassavica in the about 28 inches tall. whorls along tall spikes which rise 2 to 3 ornamental section lemon bergamot . Monarda feet above strongly aromatic basal foliage. citriodora . Annual. Also known as lemon Good for cut flowers. Catnip/Catmint. Nepeta ssp. mint, this Monarda has strongly lemon- borage. scented foliage which lend a delightful Borago officinalis . Annual, Perennials, hardy to at least -40ºF. Kitty’s accent to tea. Leaves can also be used to hardy to 25°F. While you can make fritters helpless attraction to catnip (and to a flavor meat dishes and, along with the, lesser extent, catmint) is comical and HERbS : C 7 Chervil. harmless. Less well-known is the pleasant Anthriscus cerefolium . Annual, leaves as it matures. White flowers tea made from the flower heads and produce seed pods which can be pickled hardy below 20°F. Height to 2 feet (in leaves. The following types are available. and used like capers. Catnip. flower). Its penchant for cool weather Regular Chives Nepeta cataria . With its makes chervil a spring and winter herb in . Allium three-foot height, this catnip is formidable. our climate. It is at its best grown in a cold schoenoprasum ‘Purly’. A medium to It shows its mint heritage with a spreading frame over winter. Summer shade will help heavy leafed chive with an upright, straight habit. It has large gray leaves and white moderate temperatures. Foliage should be tubular leaf. Hardy early riser in the spring. flowers. Seeds will readily self sow. Use cut often for use, even when plants are Rosy flower heads in late spring may be leaves to flavor meat, vegetables, and for small. Chervil is sometimes called clipped and used in decorative chive cat toys. blossom vinegar. lemon-Scented Catnip. “gourmet parsley” because of its Nepeta resemblance to curly parsley and the Cilantro (Coriander). cataria ‘Citriodora’. Same habit as above fondness in which French cooks hold it. It Coriandrum only with a lemon scent. is one of the fines herbes of the Gallic Japanese Catmint sativum. Whether you call it cilantro or . Nepeta kitchen. coriander may depend on how you use it. subsessilis . Although this clump forming Cilantro, also dubbed “Chinese parsley”, is perennial is hardy to about -20ºF, it may Chives. cultivated for is aromatic foliage and used A familiar perennial herb with a be short-lived if planted in a hot, dry spot. in Asian and Latin American dishes. The bright blue flowers bourne from mild onion flavor. Although the roots are Cilantro seeds (coriander) are used in midsummer through early autumn hardy to - 40ºF the tops will die down to baking and in a variety of vegetable and separate this from the run of the mill the ground at the onset of cold weather. meat recipes. One of the most frequently Nepeta species. Keep lightly pruned. Plants develop into clumps which should asked questions here at the greenhouse Minimally attractive to cats. be divided every three to four years. Cut is, “why is cilantro so difficult to grow?”. Six hills giant Catmint . Nepeta snippets from the plants often. Remove Cilantro is no more difficult to grow than flower heads before seeds develop to ‘Six Hills Giant’. Very vigorous ornamental any other herb. Cilantro is a short-lived eliminate seed scattering problems. reaching 3 feet tall. Beautiful blue flowers. annual with two growth stages: the first is Foliage is used in a wide array of dishes Minimally attractive to cats. vegetative and the second is devoted to dwarf blue Catmint including soups, stews, vegetables, meat, . Nepeta flower and seed production. The fish, and eggs. vegetative stage lasts up to 60 days after mussinii . A lovely ornamental with blue garlic Chives. Allium tuberosum . transplanting, and is enhanced by regular flowers and small gray leaves. Height: 18 Sometimes called Chinese chives. This cutting of foliage every 7- 10 days during to 24 inches tall. Minimally attractive to garlic- flavored chive develops flat, broad periods of rapid growth. The appearance cats. of fine, lacy foliage indicates the beginning Chamomile. of the flowering stage and the production Use the flower heads in of coriander seed. At this point the foliage tea and in a decoction as a hair rinse. becomes very bitter. Hot summer weather Both types of chamomile grow best when causes the plant to grow faster and go to planted on fertile, well-drained soils in a seed sooner than during cooler periods. In site with at least 4 hours of direct sun. order to have fresh cilantro all summer, People allergic to ragweed should be wary successive crops 2-3 weeks apart, must of ingesting any part of Roman be grown. Annual, hardy to 25-30°F. chamomile. german Chamomile. Height to 36 inches. Matricaria Coriander, Vietnamese. recutita. Annual about 18 to 30 inches Persicaria high. Hardy to 29°F. Pinch young plants to odoratum. The flavor of his Asian herb promote branching and more flowers. Cut resembles cilantro with a hint of lemon. flowers frequently to keep plant vegetative. Plants are nearly care free and fast This is the best chamomile for tea. Roman Chamomile. growing, producing a steady supply of foliage without interruption by flowers. An Chamaemelum nobile . Low growing excellent pot plant that can be grown perennial ground cover hardy to -40°F. indoors in a light garden. Give partial Height 10 to 12 inches in flower. shade during the heat of summer. Cut Sometimes called English chamomile stems often to encourage branching. Use because of its association with the with fish, vegetables, soups, meats, and in gardens and lawns of that country. Keep sauces. Tender perennial, hardy to about plants amply watered during dry summers. 20°F. Height: 2 to 3 feet. Mowing or frequent trimming retards flowering and encourages spreading. 8 HERbS : C-g Curry Plant. Helichrysum italicum. 2 to 3 feet in flower. Space plants 8 inches apart. Perennial hardy to 15°F. This is not the curry of commerce, a combination of epazote. herbs and spices, but a gray-leaved Chenopodium ambrosioides . plant resembling rosemary or (Mexican Tea, Wormseed). Annual, lavender with a strong curry aroma. Myth buster hardy to 32°F. Height to 24 inches. Easy The curry flavor is preserved when to grow but can become a nuisance if it is added after cooking or when Fennel and Dill DO nOT cross permitted to make seed. This is the used in chilled dishes such as pollinate. There is no need to keep famous Mexican herb used to flavor deviled eggs. Excellent in bean dishes and also finds its way potpourri. Small button sized them seperate in the garden. into corn, mushroom and seafood yellow flowers. Makes a Pollination across genera dishes. Medicinally, it was once used delightful potted plant in an to expel worms from children. area with good air circulation. is very rare. Cross pollination Height to 4 feet. would only affect the eucalyptus, Silver dollar. dill. offspring/seeds anyway, not Eucalyptus cinerea. Round, silvery leaves Anthemum graveolens . frequently used by florists. Although Short- lived annual, hardy to 29ºF. Dill is the parent plants. these plants may quickly mature to 20-40 as much misunderstood as cilantro. It feet tall in a few years, they are not has two distinct growth patterns, one considered cold hardy in our area. vegetative and the other flowering. During early growth, fragrant leaves are fennel. pharmacology, Foeniculum vulgare . A produced; harvests should be frequent. the gardener finds the sweet, anise flavored plant, often mistaken Dill’s vegetative period lasts 40 to 60 days. coneflower better suited amongst other in its early growth for dill, a close relative. During this early period, leaves are ornamental herbs such as butterfly weed, Leaves, stems, and seeds are used to produced rapidly and should be harvested garlic chives and wild bergamot. Down- flavor pasta, meats, fish, and vegetable often. Once the central flower stalk rises, turned (reflexed) around a dark dishes. These short-lived perennials are leaf production ends and seeds are bristled cone are characteristic of the hardy to -10ºF, and can reach up to 6 feet produced. For continuous leaf production coneflowers (except Tennessee tall. Space transplants 24 to 30 inches successive sowing is necessary. My coneflower which has upturned petals.) apart. Finnochio (bulbing fennel) is listed father’s favorite way to use dill is to mince When the petals have dropped off, the in the vegetable section. leaves and mix them with boiled new bronze fennel remaining cone can be used in making potatoes, chopped onions, vinegar, and . ‘Rubrum’. Bronze, wreaths and in other crafts. Or leave them olive oil. Leaves and seeds are used with feathery leaves give this variety an in the garden for the finches. All other vegetables, beef, eggs, fish and in ornamental character. Makes a dramatic coneflowers require full sun, although they sauces. garnish. Growth is not as robust as green will do nicely in part shade, and well- varieties. drained soil. They will tolerate periods of green fennel echinacea/Coneflower . Large, thick stems . Echinacea drought during the summer. Several support this tall plant with delicate green varieties are available this year. was important as a medicinal plant to the Purple. leaves. American Indians. Although there may be Echinacea purpurea. Large, a place for echinacea in modern drooping, purple-petaled flowers. Height is feverfew. Tanacetum parthenium . SeedS Short-lived perennial, hardy to -20°F. An old medicinal plant, revived to combat Renee’s Garden seeds are well-known modern headaches, as a tea. In the for their quality and selection. Renee personally garden it delights the senses with beauty selects her varieties “based on great flavor, easy Height can vary widely ranging from 2 to 5 culture and exceptional garden performance.” The feet tall depending on soil fertility and sun. seed packets feature beautiful watercolor portraits and have individually written descriptions, growing flax tips and instructions, a planting chart, harvesting blue flowered information and recipe ideas. Of course, what’s inside . Linum perenne. the packet is what is most important. The seed is from Perennial, hardy below 0ºF. This pretty the top germinating, most reliable seed lots usually 1 border perennial created lots of excitement reserved for specialty growers. among visitors last year. The long feathery branches produced loads of small pale 1-source: reneesgarden.com blue flowers which opened dutifully each HERbS : g-l 9 morning with the sun, closing as the heat with light pink, nearly white flowers. with a continue the crop the following year. Roots of the day intensifies. As with ordinary flax, maximim height of about 20 inches. older than 3 years tend to be rather tough seeds contain linseed oil and can be used Rhizomatous spreader makes a good and are usually discarded. Plants will in baking. groundcover without becoming “weedy”. benefit from a garden that contains Does best if planted in loose leaf litter generous amounts of manure. Space germander. Teucrium chamaedrys. such as in a woodland setting where it will plants 18 to 24 inches apart. tolerate dry conditions. Soil should remain Semi-evergreen, hardy to -5°F. Height to slightly most if planted in full sun. Musk hummingbird Mint/ giant 24 inches. This fast growing, hard to find geranium is the source of zdravetz evergreen shrub is ideal for an edging hyssop. (geranium) oil used in perfumery. around the herb garden. It has light violet Phillip Vapelle. Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot flowers in the summer. It can be kept G. renardii Sprite'. Perennial. Hardy to 0ºF. Short, clipped in almost any shape you desire xplatypetalum ‘Phillip Vapelle’. Neat 15 tubular, apricot colored flowers summer and is an excellent substitute for boxwood. inch mounds are formed by softly hairy, through fall. Fragrant foliage. Height to 18” In the days of Charles V, germander had blue-green leaves. Large bluish-purple inches. numerous medicinal uses. flowers with strong dark veins and deeply notched petals are produced over a long hyssop. good King henry period. Hyssopus officinalis . Semi- . Chenopodium Rozanne geranium. Geranium evergreen hardy to -20°F. Height to 30 Bonus-Henricus. Perennial, hardy to - 'Rozanne'. Perennial. Hardy to -20ºF. inches and round. Incomparable as a 20ºF. Virtually unknown in this country, but Deep green foliage plants have large 2 specimen plant or hedge, hyssop has a popular pot herb in England where it is 1/2” violet-blue flowers which bloom from lovely flowers (we offer both blue and pink also known as English Mercury and All June to October. The foliage turns red in varieties). It has a slightly bitter taste, Good. Usually cooked like spinach, the the fall. Height to 20” inches. reminiscent of chicory. Distilled hyssop oil young, green shoots and leaves can also brings a higher price than lavender in the be used in salads, soups and stews. To horehound. perfume trade. Leaves are used sparingly prevent this from becoming a weed Marrubium vulgare . in tea and salads. problem, keep the plant cut back so Perennial, hardy to - 20ºF. Spreading, flowers and seed do not have a chance to ornamental, medicinal herb that performs Jasmine, white flowered. form. well under drought conditions. Used to make horehound candy. Jasminum officinale . Perennial, hardy to hardy geranium/Cranesbill 20ºF. Also known as Common Jasmine, Poet’s Jasmine, and Perfume Jasmine. While not as magnificently floriferous or as This vine is unlikely to reach its potential aromatically endowed as their close 30 to 40 feet height in our climate. It relatives the bedding geranium and should be kept in a pot, staked and scented geranium (both more accurately pruned to a manageable 4 to 5 feet. Very referred to as pelargoniums), these hardy fragrant, small, white flowers are produced perennials nonetheless provide summer until fall. Used in perfumes and in ornamental interest. Most prefer some food flavoring (Maraschino cherries). afternoon shade or a woodland-like setting where they make excellent ground covers. Jessamine, night blooming. They will do well in full sun with adequate soil moisture. Allow to wind through Cestrum nocturnum . Also called Lady of or Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ or plant in front the Night. Tender Perennial. Small, of the border. Yearly or biannual division Photo Courtesy of intensely fragrant flowers open at night, will keep plants healthy, in check and Susan Belsinger close during the day. Blooms appear in provide extra plant material. Some horseradish. mid summer and sometimes autumn. varieties produce interesting fall color. All Amoracia rusticana. Height 6 to 12 feet and as wide. Prune are hardy to at least -10ºF. hard after flowering to keep bushy. Johnson’s blue Perennial, hardy to -40ºF. Some people . G. himalayense x may believe that a little horseradish sauce G. pratense 'Johnson’s Blue'. One of the goes a long way. While that is a matter of Joe Pye weed . Eupatorium most widely available hybrids in personal taste, it is certainly true of the cultivation. Clumps of finely cut foliage horseradish plant.A small sliver of root left purpureum. Perennial, hardy to -30ºF. provide a base for beautiful lavender-blue in the ground will soon grow into a mature -scented, pink-purple flowers grow flowers from mid-summer to fall. plant and provide as much fresh root as in clusters on plants reaching up to 10 feet Musk geranium. tall. Moist areas and thickets are where Geranium the gardener can handle. Roots can be Joe Pye Weed will reach its full potential, macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen’s Variety'. harvested at any time but flavor tends to although it is very adaptable . Perennial, hardy to -10ºF. Also called big- be at its peak after a hard frost. Harvest rooted geranium. Semi-evergreen plant the largest roots, leaving smaller ones to 10 HERbS :l avEnDER lavender when gardeners talk about hardy lavender, they often want to know plant height and flower color. those are important considerations, but the season of bloom is often overlooked. we have grouped our selection to highlight this important varietal difference. through careful selection, a gardener may have lavender blooming all summer. although grown for their fragrance and color, lavender is used sparingly in teas, to flavor meats, and in some desserts. hardy lavender are able to withstand temperatures below 0°f. for best growth they require at least four hours of direct sun but prefer sun all day. Our soils are often heavy clay and should be amended with sphagnum peat or compost. a common problem with our soils is also high acidity (low ph), a condition that may stunt or even kill lavender which require a ph of 6.4 to 8. height will vary with the variety. in our area, plants should be spaced far enough apart to allow excellent air circulation. do not plant lavender in an area with poor drainage, or watered by an automatic sprinkler system. lavender detests wet roots or wet foliage, especially during periods of high heat. Keep plants compact and finely shaped by pruning them each spring as new growth begins. by removing one-third to one-half the length of each stem at this time, new growth is encouraged that will also produce more flowers per plant. a 2-inch deep mulch of coarse sand or light-colored, pea-sized gravel on top of the soil underneath the plant aids growth, increases flower and production, protects against disease, and prevents winter damage. you will notice that two of the best known lavender, Although we rarely run out of lavender entirely, our selection ‘hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’, are absent from our listing. of varieties is generally best around May 1. Occasionaly, crop failures of certain varieties occur after printing this catalog. Recent research has found that for all their ubiquity in Please call for availabiltiy. Available in 4 1/2 inch pots. catalogs and garden centers, true ‘Munstead’ and true ‘hidcote’ are rare in america. eloquently praised for practice has been continued for so long that ‘Munstead’ their stature and flowers over the past 50 years, other may no longer exist in its originally described form. worthwhile have been virtually ignored by according to dr. arthur O. tucker, virtually all plantsmen and garden writers. Perhaps excessive plants labeled in nurseries as ‘Munstead’ should be demand for these diminutive, slow growing plants renamed ‘Compacta’, a catch-all name for seed grown prompted nurserymen to offer seed and seed-grown varieties. Many newer varieties, some selected from such plants to the unsuspecting public. lavender plants seedling variants and renamed, are more reliable in our propagated from seed vary considerably from the parent climate, offer longer periods of bloom, or are much more and exhibit a wide range of plant size and flower color in exciting as garden plants than are these two old a single generation. this careless and irresponsible standbys. HERbS :l avEnDER 11 arly blooming lavender are forms bracts on the top of the flower) that are are 20 inches high (nearly 4 feet when in of angustifolia and are generally larger than the species. bloom) and 3 feet in diameter. Plant on 30 to 48- inch centers. Note: Fat Spike is not typical of the winter hardy lavender id-season blooming e the proper cultivar name, it is ‘Grosso’. I grown in England. They are winter hardy lavender in our climate and burst into flower in late are unique, have seen several mail order nurseries offering plants under both names, as May or early June, but they do not usually dramatic, highly ornamental M different plants! Limited supplies. flower later in the year. These stalwart, hybrids with beautifully rounded shapes, fred boutin lavandin. decorative plants offer a wide variety of long, elegant stems, and substantial Lavandula flower color, shape and size. Although the flower heads. To distinguish them from xintermedia 'Fred Boutin'. Unique, large varieties we offer were all introduced in other lavender, the French call them plants reach 20 inches in height and 30 the 20th century, their genetic lines go “lavandin”. They begin blooming in mid- inches across. Hardy below 0ºF. Violet back hundreds of years. flowers used in potpourri. lady June just as the English lavender are Phenomenal lavandin . Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lady’. losing their punch. Unlike L. angustifolia . Lavandula This 1994 All America Selection winner is varieties, these are sterile hybrids, crosses xintermedia ‘Phenomenal’ PP24193. Silver a Burpee introduction, a seed-grown of L. angustifolia and L. latifolia. This mounds maintain their tidy habit. Purple lavender (the only one I grow from seed) mixing of genes has created dazzling flowers on long stems. Height and width to about 12 inches 30 inches. high with blue Prune lavender 1/3 to 1/2 the length of each stem in early flowers. Foliage produces a richly Spring to keep plants healthy and full of flowers aromatic aroma. Pink- flowered. Provence lavandin Lavandula angustifolia 'Jean lavandins with silver-gray pointed leaves . Lavandula that are as vibrant in winter as in summer. Davis'. Gray-green leaves on a 13-inch xintermedia ‘Provence’. This French Their long flower stems and bright flowers plant, reaching 24 inches when in flower. hybrid produces long, elegantly pointed make them natural for crafting lavender Buds are green; flowers pink. gray-green leaves that create a large Sweet Romance® fans, wands and swags. These lavandin globular plant. Although the name seems Lavandula varieties are only slightly less winter hardy to indicate otherwise, and many catalogs angustifolia 'kerlavangem' USPP 23,001, because of their mixed genetic claim it to be, this is not one of the Can 4,906 Proven Winners® variety. backgrounds. Lavandins generally are cultivars used in the commercial oil trade. Vigourous, compact mound topped with more tolerant of our humid summers than Vegetative plants are 18 to 20 inches tall plump, rich violet purple flower wands that lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) . and may reach 3 feet in diameter. Long are perfect for cutting for fresh and dried dutch lavandin . Lavandula 18-inch flower spikes carry clusters of bouquets. Grows to 8-12 inches tall and xi ntermedia ‘Dutch’. This may be the dark aster violet flowers. Space on 3 foot as wide. Short flower stems. centers. most widely cultivated lavender in the Super lavandin. panish lavender U.S., England, and the Netherlands. The Lavandula . Lavandula French lavender growers also favor this xintermedia 'Super'. Lavender blue flowers stoechas. Spanish lavender, also one. A beautiful globular shape, large very appear in mid to late summer. This sometimes called French lavender S gray leaves. Flowers are dark violet and lavandin is a commercial source for oil. or Italian lavender (see why we don’t like carried on stems about 20 inches long. common names!), has the most unusual Vegetative plant height: 16 inches. Bloom flower of any lavender and is the earliest ender lavenders sometimes unreliable. Introduced are in an to bloom. The species is characterized by sometime before 1923. two large purple bracts which protrude like fat Spike lavandin aromatic and esthetic category of . Lavandula wings from a small egg shaped bud atop a ttheir own. Their complex beauty xintermedia ‘Grosso’. If I could grow one single stem, giving the effect of a fat springs from strongly scented and finely lavender only, ‘Grosso’ would be my first bodied butterfly. Light green, narrow modeled leaves, as well as unusually choice. For form, color, and year round foliage on a plant about 18 inches high. e shaped inflorescence in which colored good looks, this hybrid carn’t be beat. It Leaves are nicely perfumed. The species ilu bracts play an important decorative role. was discovered in tFhea Vaucluse District of and cultivars are hardy to about 10ºF. p They make excellent subjects for France in 1972 oand named after the Harsh winters may cause enough damage Cr container gardens where their aroma and famous lavender grower Pierre Grosso. It to prevent plants from flowering that year. summer flowers will create comment and has become an important commercial Spanish lavender should be pruned after ornamental value. Bring their containers cultivar because of its disease resistance. flowering in our area. inside and their blooms and foliage will Otto Quast. We call it Fat Spike because of its huge, brighten winter’s dreary habits. These dark violet flower heads, 3 inches long plants are hardy to about 25°F, and may 'Otto Quast'. The rosy plum purple flowers and filled with 10 circles of flowers atop occasionally over winter in a warm, of this named cultivar have “butterfly stately 14 to 20 inch stems. The plants protected location. wings” or “rabbit ears” (actually sterile fernleaf lavender form gorgeous gray mounds of foliage that . Lavandula 12 HERbS : l-M lemongrass. Marigold, Sweet multifida . One of the most unusual . Tagetes lucida. lavenders. At first glance this does not east indian lemongrass. Hardy to 15ºF. Also called Texas appear to be a lavender at all. Finely cut Tarragon. Often used as a tarragon green leaves highlight this sprawling 24 Cymbopogon flexuosus . Tender Perennial substitute and sometimes sold as inch high plant with multiple bright blue (tropical). This is not the lemon grass tarragon in grocery stores during the flowers. The aroma is decidedly found in Asian markets (West Indian winter months. Small yellow flowers may unlavender-like, almost like turpentine. Lemongrass, C. citratus ), which can only goodwin Creek grey lavender be propagated by division, but a close appear in mid to late summer. Holds up in . relative which is easily grown from seed. our humid summers when real tarragon Lavandula xginginsii ‘Goodwin Creek Although smaller in stature than its more languishes. Height to 2 feet. Use to flavor Grey’. This recent hybrid (L. dentata x L. widely known cousin, it is of no less meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, eggs, lanata) has delightful silver-green, fuzzy, importance in commerce. It is the source salads. serrated leaves, a sweet odor, and dark of lemongrass oil used to flavor candy blue flowers. Plants can reach 24 inches Marjoram see Oregano and ice cream and is used in the cosmetic . high and as round. green fringed lavender. and perfume industry. Clumping form allows good yield the first year. Height to Lavandula dentata . Sometimes incorrectly 18 inches. Space 8-12 inches apart. Use called French lavender. Saw-toothed in Thai cooking, tea and potpourri. Limited green foliage is complemented by an availability. unusual but recognizably lavender west indian lemongrass. fragrance. Instead of clustering along the Cymbopogon citratus. Tender perennial. stem, tiny lilac petals appear around a fat, Dense clumps can grow to 3 feet wide green inflorescence, topped by two light and 6 feet tall with 3 foot long leaves. Use purple bracts. Excellent pot plant. Height tangy leaves and leaf bases. Lemongrass 2 to 3 feet in flower and as wide. Space does best at temperatures between 64ºF on 2 to 3 foot centers. Sweet lavender and 100ºF and high humidity. No problem . Lavandula during our summers, but may prove xhybrida. (L. xallardii )This hybrid is a challenging during the short days of the cross between L. dentata and L. latifolia . dry, winter months. Keep well nourished Sweet lavender is fast growing, and richly Mint. with a fertilizer high in potassium. Use in ssp. Although long scented by its large, gray- green leaves, Thai cooking, tea and potpourri. Available associated in the American mind with cold many of which are toothed. It is topped mid spring with a traditional lavender flower spike on drinks, mints play a much more varied which dark blue flowers climb. Height to 3 lovage. and vital role in the kitchen by flavoring Levisticum officinale . feet and as round. Space on 3 to 4 foot tea, vegetables, salads, jelly, cookies and centers. Makes a good pot plant. Perennial, hardy to -35°F, reaching 6 feet desserts. Mints also have a place of its second year. With its concentrated honor in fragrant potpourris. Small lemon balm. celery flavor, lovage is certain to be the children may have an immediate and Melissa officinalis . workhorse of your kitchen garden. It dies adverse reaction to some mints. Spreading perennial, hardy to -20°F. back each winter to return each spring Hundreds of mints are known and they Height to 2 feet. The puckered, green from its roots and create lovely, but run the gamut of intriguing flavors and leaves of lemon balm produce a coarse, ornamental foliage. The plant can cultural requirements, all which manage to delightful, musky lemon fragrance. Prune be cut back to two feet high in summer to remain “minty”. For the home gardener flowering stems to prevent seed formation obtain a new harvest of foliage. Use with limited space, two or three carefully as scattered seeds could produce a foliage sparingly in soups, stews, chosen and contained species usually serious weed problem in the garden. vegetables and many other dishes. suffice. (If you lack space to let them run, grow them in pots on a hard surface.) lemon Verbena. Marigold, Mexican. Aloysia triphylia. Tagetes Mints generally do not require more than Tender perennial hardy to about 25°F. minuta. Annual hardy to 30°F. Height 6 to 3 hours of sun a day, but they can Mature plants may reach 6 feet. Lemon 15 feet. Although the plant produces small withstand constant sunshine. A constantly verbena is a woody shrub that rewards pale yellow flowers in clusters just before moist, loamy soil with a pH range of 5 to the gardener with light green, pointed frost, it is the foliage that South Americans 7.5 is required for best growth. All mints leaves filled with the sweet, heady find useful. Aromatic green leaves from spread from runners either underground essence of lemons. Use in a variety of the plant are ground with peanuts, hot or on top of the soil. Most mints grow 20 recipes for everything from salads, fruit peppers, and olive oil to make a pesto-like to 30 inches tall. Space plants on 6 to 12 dishes, tea, ice cream, and potpourri. sauce that is eaten with potatoes. inch centers. Planting them together does Plants are usually deciduous indoors not alter their aroma or flavor, but once during winter unless 14 hours of daylight they become a tangle of foliage it may be can be provided with supplemental light. difficult to select the particular mint variety HERbS : M-O 13 you want to use. parent. It has decorative puckered leaves attractive compact evergreen with small, apple Mint. Mentha xvillosa var. with crinkled edges that recommend it as white flowers followed by purple berries. alopecuroides. Sometimes called woolly a garnish. Also nice in mint juleps and Height to 5 feet. Wonderfully decorative iced tea. indoors and out. mint to distinguish it from another mint Peppermint, Mitcham. called apple mint, M. suaveolens . Mentha banana Mint. Oregano/Marjoram Mentha arvensis. xpiperita var. piperita ‘Mitcham’. This is a superior peppermint variety, slightly Perennial. Hardy to -20ºF. Uniquely sweeter and somewhat stronger than scented leaves smell slightly of banana. others. Its dark green leaf with a purplish Lavender flowers sprout along upper underside furnishes the justification for a stems. Grow in a pot to contain spreading nickname, Black Peppermint. It is habit. Keep soil moist, but well-drained. sometimes called Blue Balsam Mint, and Full sun to part shade. Use in tea, salads, Chocolate Mint. It is excellent as a tea meat dishes and potpouri. and for flavoring desserts. Corsican Mint. Pineapple Mint Mentha requienii. . Mentha Few plants hug the ground as closely as suaveolens var. suaveolens . The small, does this mint, a Baby Tears look alike. Its brightly variegated green and white leaves tiny, green heart shaped leaves are Compact greek Marjoram of this Mentha species set it apart. The . strongly scented of pennyroyal and gardener with space or a generous strip Origanum majorana ‘Nana’. Hardy to peppermint. It is not always winter hardy of street side “parking” may want to use 20°F. An introduction of the National in our area. this colorful plant as an ornamental english Pennyroyal. Arboretum’s Herb Garden, grown from Mentha ground cover. The sweet pineapple-mint seed obtained in Greece. It contains the pulegium. This low growing ground cover aroma is refreshing on a hot summer day. marjoram aroma you expect, but the plant with tiny green leaves comes with a Has a tendency to revert to all green with is shorter with distinctly gray leaves. Much heady, pungent aroma, making it a natural age. for potpourri. It is commonly an ingredient Red Stemmed applemint. hardier, and more disease free, than the typical marjoram. in homemade flea collars for dogs or Sweet Marjoram. Mentha xgracilis 'Madeline Hill'. A true Origanum stuffed into animal bedding. Pennyroyal is "double" mint. Both spearmint and majorana. A tender perennial hardy to not recommended for internal use. peppermint can be detected in this one of Kentucky Colonel Spearmint. about 30°F, marjoram is a sweet, mild a kind mint. Mentha spicata ‘Kentucky Colonel’. The Silver Mint. oregano that is suitable for flavoring Mentha spicata. beans, cabbage, carrots, , Spaniards thought so highly of this mint Perennial. Hardy to -20ºF. Hairy-leafed that they carried it all over the world with eggplant, spinach, potatoes, beef, form of spearmint with lavender flowers , eggs, lamb, many other them in their explorations and trading. on terminal spikes. Grow in a pot to That explains why it is found around the comestibles. Plants are upright to about contain spreading habit. Keep soil moist, 20 inches tall and 12 inches broad. world. The mint is so sweet it is almost but well-drained loam. Full sun to part golden Creeping Oregano. like eating candy. shade. Use in tea, salads, meat dishes Orange Mint Origanum vulgare subsp. vulgare . Mentha aquatica. and potpouri. Also called water mint, eau de cologne, ‘Aureum’. Perennial. Ground cover with pink to white flowers. Pretty yellow-green lemon mint or bergamot mint after the Myrtle. Myrtus communis. Tender foliage. Ornamental. Italian bergamot, Citrus bergamia. As the golden Oregano. common name indicates, the large glossy perennial, hardy to 26ºF. When Venus Origanum leaves of this mint are strongly flavored of sprung from the ocean she was wearing a vulgare subsp. vulgare ‘Dr. Ietswaart’. citrus. Dried leaves are an interesting myrtle wreath on her head. During the Spreading ground cover with wrinkled addition to potpourri. What a treat to find Middle Ages, Greek Myrtle continued to golden foliage and 12 inch flower stalks. some of this mint in a tossed salad or in be a symbol of love and was always Ornamental, good for edging. greek Mountain Oregano. potato salad . added to bridal bouquets. The leaves Peppermint, Crisped . Mentha were used, as now, like Bay Laurel Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum . Hardy to - xpiperata ‘Crispa’. This mint first came to (Laurus nobilis ). Myrtle is a terrific pot 20°F. Large, dark green leaves cover the my father with a whispered story of plant, although some incidental leaf drop hairy stems of this quickly spreading intrigue, a “double mint” plant smuggled can be expected when brought inside the plant. The leaves have an assertive from France. True or not, there was no house for the winter. Be careful not to oregano flavor and, when chewed alone, reason to smuggle it through customs; it over water. The soil should dry slightly make the tongue tingle. White flowers has been in American herb gardens for between waterings, but not to the point of appear in mid-summer. allowing the plant to wilt. italian Oregano. decades with good reason. While Compact green Myrtle Origanum technically a peppermint (a virtually sterile . Myrtus xmajoricum . This sterile hybrid is probably hybrid of M. spicata and M. aquatica ), it communis var. tarentina ‘Mycrophylla’. An a cross between sweet marjoram ( O. has retained the odor from its spearmint 14 HERbS : O-P majorana ), for flavor, and wild oregano ( O. widely used in Mexican cooking. The very many harvests from a single large plant. Curly Parsley. vulgare ), for hardiness. It has some of the striking, long, bell-shaped lavender flowers Petroselinum crispum characteristic sweetness of marjoram and in late spring or early summer make this var. crispum. Biennial. For the last few retains much of the punch of Greek plant a welcome addition to the herb years, we have offered a variety called oregano, too. This is the best all-purpose garden. ‘Forest Green’. Its finely curled, dark green oregano. It is upright with medium green leaves curve in rather than out, as do all leaves and is the many other 18 to 24 if you want to be happy for a few hours, get drunk. if you want to be happy for a varieties, inches tall. weekend, get married. if you want to be happy for a week, butcher a pig. if you making it easy Plants form to clean leaves clumps and do want to be happy for all your life long, become a gardener. close to the not spread. Kaliteri --a legend written across note paper sent by John Koehne ground. It is nicely flavored Oregano. and decorative. giant italian Parsley. Origanum onites 'Kaliteri'. This is one Par Cel. Petroselinum great oregano, as any Greek will confirm. Apium graveolens . Biennial, crispum var. neapolitanum . Biennial. This The velvety gray-green leaves contain hardy to -10ºF. A cut and come again is the flat-leaved parsley called plenty of subtleties, but can still pack a vegetable celery that looks and grows like Prezzemolo gigante d’Italia in Italy. Ours is punch. It has a clumping habit that makes a curly leaf parsley. All the flavor of celery the true Catalogna cultivar, not to be it tidy in the garden and it is a good pot but does not form large stalks. confused with the more ordinary flat- plant. Slow to flower, this tender perennial leaved parsley. This parsley has large, flat is hardy to below 20°F. Parsley. leaves that look like celery and is lebanese Oregano. Petroselinum ssp. It is Origanum unfortunate that parsley is so often limited accompanied by the finest flavor. Stems syriacum. Tender perennial. Terrific to decorating dinner plates. Tarragon and may be eaten like celery. Plants mature oregano flavor. Non-spreading, upright fennel are just as good for that purpose, quickly and may reach 2 feet high. plant reaches up to 2 feet tall. Also known but hardly anybody thinks of them as as Biblical Hyssop, White Oregano, or garnishes. Try parsley with asparagus, Japanese Parsley. Cryptotaenia Za’atar peas, potatoes, eggs beef, and goose. Or hot and Spicy Oregano. japonica. Mitsuba, as the Japanese call it, Origanum chew a leaf as a breath freshener. is not a true parsley. In appearance it vulgare 'Hot and Spicy'. Perennial, hardy There is a myth about parsley that it resembles a flat leafed Italian parsley. Its to at least 10ºF. Clump forming with can’t be transplanted successfully. This mild flavor is essential to many oriental spreading habit. Strong, spicy flavor. If you idea originated in times before nurseries dishes and it can be substituted wherever like to be able to taste your oregano, then sold plants in pots, and amongst a recipe requires parsley. Unlike parsley, this is the one for you.Good culinary gardeners who attempted to move plants Mitsuba is a hardy perennial. variety. sown directly in the garden. You should Kent beauty Oregano. Origanum have no trouble transplanting potted plants Patchouli. Pogostemom cablin . Frost ‘Kent Beauty’. Tender perennial. with their large, healthy root structure. Deciduous spreading plant has large, Parsley plants grow quickly and they sensitive perennial. It does not need showy spikes with pink to purplish bracts. can be cut for use when they are only a strong sunlight (it is often cultivated Has some flavor but best used as an few inches high. Some summer shade will commercially under rubber trees) and can ornamental. create a lushness unobtainable in full, be grown easily indoors during winters. Rigani (Pot Marjoram) drying summer sun. Cut stems often and . Origanum Height to 4 feet. Tiny white flowers are remove old, yellowing leaves. Provide produced on spikes in late fall and winter. onites. In the past, this oregano was often ample water to keep plants from wilting referred to as “Pot Marjoram”. It is a and fertilize with liquid or slow release Perilla. tender perennial (hardy to about 20°F) nutrients. Perilla frutescens . This with golden-green leaves and has an When parsley over winters (or is Japanese annual, sometimes called aroma like no other, strong but nuanced chilled for 30 days by temperatures below “Beefsteak Plant” or “Shiso”, is hardy to and with almost no heat when chewed. 40ºF), it sends up tall flower spikes, about 30°F. Height is 2 to 3 feet. Plants Upright to about 24 inches. The original makes seed, and dies, as is the course for are colorful and decorative. Their large plant was brought to the U.S. from a other biennials. leaves are deeply toothed and carry an Greek island and was distributed by the Commercial producers, who favor anise scent, creating a resemblance to National Arboretum. Rigani means long stiff stems over flavor, grow parsley basil for which they are often mistaken. oregano in Greek. plants as close as 4 inches apart, but They are used in a wide variety of dishes, Mexican Oregano. giving plants 10 to 12 inches, especially including bean curd, tempura, and sushi. Poliomintha for large varieties such as ‘Giant Italian’, We carry both the green and purple bustamentha. Perennial, hardy to 15ºF. makes some sense in the home garden varieties of Perilla. Not a true oregano but a taste-alike, where a long season of use will provide HERbS : P 15 Papalo/ Quinquiña/ America. Use fresh leaves in beans, or commercially for the organic insecticide Papaloquelette. with tortillas and garlic. Papalo does industry because of its high concentration Porophyllum poorly in cool conditions, so is generally of pyrethrum. To make your own ruderale subsp. macrocephalum. Annual. not available until temperatures really insecticide, add 1 tablespoon freshly This cilantro substitute rarely flowers warm up. ground dried flowers to 2 qt. hot water. before our first killing frost so leaf Add a capful of dish soap and let stand 20 Pyrethrum. production is constant. Can grow up to six Tanacetum cinerariifolium. minutes. The resulting solution is then feet tall. Flavor is a combination of applied as a foliar spray. Hardy perennial. This member of the cilantro, green pepper, cucumber, and Chrysanthemum family is grown citrus. Native from Texas to South Pruning herb Plants for use and health Four types of pruning are often used on potted Fungus disease sometimes attacks low-lying herb plants (particularly rosemary and lavender) to branches and the inside of the plant where air enhance appearance and health. Some knowledge of circulation and light are poor; this is a particular each will make cultivation more successful, especially problem in humid climates or when there is an if the herbs are grown in containers. unusual amount of rain. Lower branches that have Sharp pruning shears, knives, or scissors are dead leaves on them should be removed so that air used, depending on the thickness of the stems to be can circulate under and through the plant to dry cut. dampness. A mulch of several inches of sand or pea Pruning for shape . Some pruning will be gravel dries quickly and radiates drying heat into the required to keep any rosemary shapely, but the plant and is helpful to control diseases. variety’s growth habit dictates how much. Rosemary Pruning for use . The most enjoyable pruning is plants can be pruned to almost any shape but the for use. Snip branch tips to use when needed; no most popular are globes and columns; the variety special method or procedure is necessary and it may sometimes lends itself to one or the other shape, but be done at any time of year. Fresh growth, rather rigorous pruning can overcome any plant’s than hard, woody stems is best. Performed shrewdly, inclinations. this pruning will shape your plant and keep it The best time to prune for shape is when the healthy. plant is in full growth (in our area this is spring and Root pruning. Pruning the roots of container- summer); this will provide the plant enough time to grown plants is a last resort; it revives and recover before the rigors of winter. Remove the reinvigorates root bound plants when larger pots are amount of stem necessary to create the shape you unavailable. Root pruning is best performed in mid- desire but try not to remove more than half the stem spring after the plant has been outside for several length. Leave some green leaves on the branch that is weeks and soft indoor winter growth has been left. removed or has stiffened. After the plant is knocked Pruning for shape is essential for rosemary grown from the pot, take a sharp knife and remove the into topiary forms. During periods of optimum bottom third of the root ball; then slice several inches growth such forms may need pruning every few from the sides. Add fresh growing medium to the weeks. When light levels are low indoors, pruning is container and return the plant, being careful to work useful to keep stems from becoming leggy. the medium around the edges of the root ball. The Pruning for health. Winter damage and disease root-pruned plant is likely to show some stress in the are another reasons to prune. Dead wood caused by form of wilting at this time. A protective spray of winter cold should be removed in early spring. Cut Wilt-Pruf will help less foliage dehydration. Keep the damaged stems back to green leaves or if the stem is plant in a spot sheltered from direct sun for a week dead, remove it. before returning it to a sunny exposure. 16 ROSEMaRy Rosmarinus officinalis. Rosemary, shrouded in ancient legends and the smoke from modern barbecue grills, is a pungent, resinous, evergreen shrub native to the rocky Mediterranean cliffs. It has been savored as both culinary and medicinal elixir, making palatable roasted goat meat and restoring sexual vitality. Surely one of the essential kitchen herbs, and, in its hardier forms, a handsome landscape subject. Fresh or dried, leaves are used in meat dishes and stews, with roasted potatoes, and other vegetables--in fact, it goes with almost everything from appetizers to desserts. Plants are variously hardy; most varieties will withstand temperatures from 15 to 20ºF, a few may survive as low as -5°F (see sidebar). A minimum 4 hours of direct sun is required for optimal growth. Heavy soils should be lightened with plenty of humus to make it friable; nutrient needs are moderate. As little as 12 inches of rain annually is enough for rosemary to survive, but an inch a week will make it thrive. The pH range is wide, from 4.9 to 8.2. Depending on the variety, plants should be spaced on 3 to 8 foot centers. arp Rosemary. R. officinalis ‘Arp’. with its thick, light colored stems. It introduction, now found in nurseries Discovered in Arp, Texas, by Madalene Hill makes a bushy upright plant when pruned around the U.S. This variety began its of Hilltop Herb Farm in 1972. Medium regularly. Flowers are deep violet and multi-colored life as an atypical branch on high, open growth benefits from frequent very striking for a rosemary. Sometimes a common rosemary. The medium-sized, pruning. Fragrant, thick gray green leaves found in the trade as ‘Rex #4’, ‘Majorca’, pointed leaves dazzle the eye with their and ‘Wood’. serpentine green centers on a golden are dulled by a resinous coating. Light dutch Mill Rosemary. blue flowers are borne in the spring when R. officinalis background. Overall, the plant radiates a winter has not been so severe that bud ‘Dutch Mill’. This variety, a selection made golden aura. It has bushy, compact growth damage has occurred. We refer to ‘Arp’ as by Barbara Remington of Forest Grove, and requires little pruning other than that Winter Hardy Rosemary, as this is Oregon, appears to have hardiness to necessitated by use. Leaves are more arguably the hardiest variety available. about -5°F. It is a well-shaped plant, refined than many other varieties, but they Hardy to about -10°F with protection. classically rotund, that glistens with light- contain a sharply pungent, resinous Mature plants are about 5 feet tall and as blue flowers each spring. Its fragrant aroma. Scattered dark blue flowers are wide. leaves are medium-green and lightly found on mature plants that reach 5 feet Collingwood ingram Rosemary. textured. Mature plant height is about 4 tall. Hardy to about 20°F. Available late feet. Available late season. season. R. officinalis ‘Collingwood Ingram’. This golden Rain Rosemary. gorizia Rosemary. tender variety has thick, deep green, R. R. officinalis glossy leaves that contrast dramatically officinalis ‘Joyce DeBaggio’. Our own ‘Gorizia’. The long, broad leaves of this hardiness of Rosemary and trying almost any variety in a particular site. growing Outdoors The time to take protective measures against cold is in early winter. A protective spray of Wilt-pruf will lessen the chances of Not a lot can be said for sure about rosemary hardiness. leaf dehydration from cold, sharp wind, but our winter can also One thing is certain: few of the many varieties of rosemary that bring heavy snows or ice storms which cause branches to break. exist have been given extensive hardiness tests. Five rosemary Polyethylene sheeting tied around rosemary plants gives varieties show promise to beat all but our most severe winters: branches support and provides good winter protection. Cut a ‘Arp’, ‘Hill Hardy’, ‘Salem’, ‘Nancy Howard’, and ‘Dutch Mill’. piece of poly long enough to go around the outside of the plant I must confess to constant surprises when it comes to at least once; the poly should be as wide as the plant is tall. hardiness. ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’, for instance, was at one Wrap this sheet--it can be clear, white, or black--around the time sold as a winter hardy variety under the name ‘Trusty’. It plant, being careful to leave the top open. Tie the poly in place worked well for some gardeners as far north as Pennsylvania, with soft string and tight enough to draw the branches up slightly but it was definitely not hardy for everybody and for every site. to give support against the weigh to snow and ice. Burying the Then again, ‘Tuscan Blue’, about which nobody has made any plant in organic mulches, a common method for protecting hardiness claims, has survived mild winters (about 10°F) here in deciduous shrubs may also help, but can foster fungus diseases pots above the ground, something that wouldn’t be expected of on evergreens such as rosemary. even the hardiest rosemary. Rosemary plants are evergreen and if spring finds them There are many factors that influence hardiness: soil without leaves, they are probably dead. It’s prudent to wait well drainage, wind, severity of cold. One of the most important may after spring’s warm weather has commenced before making a be planting before June 1 so plants have time to get firmly final judgment about your rosemary. established. Our gardens are located in a border area of hardiness for rosemary and individual locations vary so it’s worth ROSEMaRy 17 unique rosemary extend from thick, rigidly delightfully upright variety without the stems have not been pruned and winter is upright stems blushed with a reddish rigidity or swagger of ‘Tuscan Blue’. It kind. Height to five feet and as wide. This brown. Its leaves are fat and long, double sparkles with tightly spaced foliage that and ‘Arp’ appear to be the hardiest the size of more ordinary varieties. Light produces a good clear scent. This cultivar varieties. blue flowers, often in the summer, cluster is sometimes sold as ‘Foresteri’. hill hardy Rosemary. along tall, unpruned stems. While the R. officinalis aroma of the leaves is not overpowering, it ‘Madalene Hill’. Winter hardy below zero in Q & a is gentle, sweet, and a bit gingery. This most areas, this variety has superior form plant, unique in its coarse vigor, is hardy and color. Its stiff, dark green foliage is growing Rosemary to about 15°F. Mature plants may grow to held thickly on semi upright stems and is 5 feet tall and as broad. herb Cottage Rosemary. more compact than ‘Arp’. The foliage indoors R. aroma is soft but assertive. Plants bloom officinalis ‘Herb Cottage’. This is a light blue in late fall and in spring when The leaves on my rosemary are Q turning brown and drying out even though I watered it regularly. growing Rosemary in Containers What is wrong?

Containers are likely to be home to many of the rosemaries in your collection The short answer is that the plant because so many varieties are not winter hardy. Fortunately, rosemary performs well in a has been over watered and the pots. If you must bring your rosemary inside during winter, grow it in containers year- roots have rotted. During the short, often round rather than dig a plant from the garden and pot it for indoors. sunless days of late fall thru early spring, Pots made of clay or plastic are appropriate; the choice of which material depends on plants in general just do not require the the season. Clay’s porosity permits more rapid drying of the growing medium in the same amount of water as they did in the pot. This choice may have an advantage during low-light periods when successful summer. Watering your herbs by a set watering becomes difficult. However, plastic’s ability to prevent rapid moisture loss is schedule is the surest way to kill them. an asset in hot, sunny weather. Allow your esthetic sensibilities to make the final Read the section on growing rosemary in choice. containers for more information. Almost any disease-free growing medium with a good supply of perlite or similar aggregate is suitable. My own favorite is a standard commercial mix called Pro-Mix; it When should I bring my potted is often available at garden centers. This mix contains perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, Q rosemary in for the winter? lime and a small amount of fertilizer. If you mix your own, add equal parts of sphagnum peat and perlite and a tablespoon of lime for each quart of mix. Time-release fertilizers To avoid double shocking your work well with this type of medium or you may choose to use a liquid nutrient solution. a plant, it should be brought in when Either way, use a formula that is similar to 20-20-20 or 20-10-20. Apply liquid fertilizers the outside temperature is beginning to after every five to ten times you water. Rosemary does best in full sun so try to put approach the temperature inside your your plants in the sunniest window you have or in a spot outside flooded with direct house. This is not the time to repot into a sunlight. larger pot. A plant with well-developed Rosemary plants are particular about how they are watered. More plants are lost roots will be better able to get rid of from over watering than from under watering. When grown indoors or during the short, excess water. (See above) sunless days of winter, allow plants to dry nearly to the point where they wilt. However, if you permit the plant to stay in a wilted, droopy condition for too long it will not revive Shortly after I brought my when watered. Q rosemary indoors it began to Here are some warning signs for which to watch: turn white. What happened? • Yellowing leaves at the base of the plant often mean the rosemary is root bound. If the condition is allowed to continue the yellow leaves drop, the plant’s growth What you see is powdery mildew. slows and eventually most of the leaves are shed before it dies. Check the root a Although it is natural and may fit ball when you notice yellowing leaves. If the root ball is covered with tightly the holiday season, powdery mildew left circling roots, it should be repotted to a container three or four inches larger. untreated may eventually kill your entire • During winter do not water on heavily overcast days, unless the plant will wilt plant. Detected early, powdery mildew otherwise. Watering at such times could cause the plant to die within a few days can be effectively controlled by spraying from its inability to get rid of the water that is filling the tiny air pockets in the the entire plant with a solution of 1 growing medium. tablespoon baking soda dissolved in 1 • When leaf-tips or whole leaves turn brown and fall off, the plant is suffocating from quart of water. A second application the too much water. Hold off on watering immediately. Leaves do not turn brown and following day may be necessary. If the fall off because of too bright sun or too little water; lack of humidity does not cause problem still persists, you may need to this condition, either. use garden sulfur or all season • There is no need to mist rosemary plants. In fact, too much humidity may cause horticultural oil, both available for sale at fungal diseases. the greenhouse. 18 ROSEMaRy Miss Jessopp’s upright Pink-flowered Majorca with thick stems, this rosemary can reach Rosemary. Rosemary. R. officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp’s R. officinalis ‘Majorca Pink’. heights of 7 feet or more where it can Upright’. Delicate, dark green leaves are Tender perennial. Although it has flowers grow unencumbered by winter winds. Its pointed and thin with a pleasant, fresh something less than pink (technically they columnar shape is noble, while its aroma. growth is open and upright on are described as amethyst violet), it is a uniquely wide and stubby leaves shine fairly thin stems. The plant was introduced delightful counter to the traditional with a mild, fresh scent. It is hardy to at by E.A. Bowles in England and named rosemary blue. The plant has stiff, upright least 15°F and some enthusiasts insist it after Euphemia Jessopp. Light blue stems along which small, dull green is hardy for them in our climate, although flowers. Tender. Available late season. leaves loosely cluster. The fragrance is it never has been for us. Mrs. howard’s Creeping white-flowered Rosemary. clean and slightly fruity. Available late R. Rosemary. officinalis ‘Nancy Howard’. Unique white R. officinalis ‘Mrs. Howard’s season. Prostrate Rosemary. flowers cover the stems of this semi- Creeping’. The large, wide, medium-green R. officinalis ‘Prostratus’. In its native , a upright plant in late summer and fall (even leaves on thick trailing stems, and its occasionally in spring). Large, deep taller stature separate this variety from the rosemary like this would twine around rocks, its long, thin stems with their bright green leaves contrast with its stiff, almost well-known ‘Prostratus’. Light blue white stems. Plants carry a pleasant blossoms are produced several times blue flowers, would dangle over a precipice and delight your eye. As an rosemary aroma. As a garden showpiece, during the year. The aroma is more this rosemary has few equals. A mature traditional than other creeping varieties. ornamental ‘Prostratus’ has few equals, and its multiple blooming cycles add specimen may reach five to six feet in Hardy to about 20°F. and may grow 1-2 height and diameter. Hardy to below 0°F. feet tall and infinitely wide. infectious charm to hanging baskets, in Mrs. Reed’s dark blue which it excels. Height to 10 inches; Available late season Rosemary. winter hardy to 20°F. R. officinalis ‘Mrs. Reed’s Salem Rosemary. Rue. R. officinalis Ruta graveolens . Perennial. Grow Dark Blue’. Its bushy growth habit and ‘Salem’. This rosemary variety is hardy this plant in the herb garden for its dark green foliage make this variety one through most of our winters but not as ornamental value only. This beautiful semi- of the most attractive of all rosemary tough as ‘Arp’ or ‘Hill Hardy’. Its strong evergreen grows to about 2 feet tall and plants. Dark blue flowers are carried on resinous aroma, upright growth, and dark has blue-green leaves with greenish- year-old wood. The dark green leaves are blue flowers are reminiscent of common yellow flowers. Wash hands thoroughly a kitchen favorite. This fast growing rosemary. Height four to five feet. after contact or use gloves while handling. tender perennial is hardy to about 15°F tuscan blue Rosemary. Warning: Contact with foliage followed by R. and grows 5 to 6 feet tall and as wide. exposure to sun may cause rash. Should officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’. Strongly upright Available late season. not be taken internally. Ranking Rosemary varieties for Use

Although many gardeners think of rosemary as a single deepest blues, whites, and pinks. There are differences, also, in plant, there are numerous named varieties- more than three seasonal flowering. Frequent pruning for use often leads to dozen and growing. Many of the differences between these plants barren of flowers. Climate and day length play important varieties rest on subtleties that sometimes escape the untrained roles in when rosemary blooms as well. Little research has eye or nose, but they are important and are worth cataloging. been done on what triggers rosemary flowers. Not much can be The typical growth trait of rosemary is unintentionally said for certain about what makes a rosemary bloom except that sprawling, often wildly windswept and twisted. Horticulturally, it some plants can be counted on to bloom regularly while others is tagged as semi-upright. Yet, there are varieties that are quite need some stress and woodiness to their stems before bursting procumbent (‘Prostratus’ and ‘Mrs. Howard’s Creeping’) and forth. others that are rigidly upright on thick stems (‘Gorizia’ and The plant’s aroma, the most important characteristic when it ‘Tuscan Blue’). Other varieties are open with leaves spaced far comes to using the leaves in the kitchen, almost defies apart on their stems (‘Lottie DeBaggio’ and Miss Jessopp’s categorization. The depth and subtlety of the fragrances of Upright’). Still others are compact with crammed leaves (‘Herb rosemary varieties are difficult to describe. Cottage’ and ‘Blue Boy’). Yet others have large, flat leaves that Some are robust and nose clearing ('Joyce DeBaggio' and hardly resemble the typical rosemary (‘Gorizia’). 'Arp'), while others are mild and filled with subtle, flowery, spicy Leaf color and aroma differ among varieties, as well. Most undertones ('Tuscan Blue' and 'Gorizia'). In the kitchen, these rosemary leaves are green (‘Joyce DeBaggio’ sports variegated aromatic differences may alter how much of a particular green and gold leaves), but even amongst the green there is rosemary will be used. More subtle varieties may be much variation in hue. appropriate for use with vegetables, while the more assertive Little attention has been paid to rosemary’s ornamental types can stand up to a beef roast. qualities in our area because so few varieties are winter hardy. The combination of shape, color, and aroma make each Flower color is a major ornamental difference. Small blossoms variety enchanting and worth possessing. cluster along stems, but the colors range from the lightest to HERbS : R-S 19 Sage Salvia ssp. although sages vary in height from a foot to five or six feet, even the smallest specimen adds dimension and texture to the herb garden, as well as color and mystery. while their landscape potential is important, it is in the kitchen that their culinary value is burnished. nearly everyone knows the unexciting power of sage over poultry. instead of the cliche, try sage to flavor cornbread, polenta, tomatoes, peas, liver, pork, rabbit--even eggs. and try a little minced pineapple sage in a salad or fruit cup. you will discover a new sage, one of the most versatile herbs in your garden, as well as the pantry. Sage is cultivated best on a site that has at least 4 hours of full, bright sun and boasts soil that is fertile, loose, and well-drained; a ph range of 4.9 to 8.2 is welcome. as spring beckons, remove the top half of each branch to encourage new growth from the base of the plant as well as from its branches. lower leaves on sages, especially those closest to the ground and inside the plant, often die during summer. when dead leaves are noticed remove them at once. Plants may be trimmed to encourage open dense foliage to dry in air circulation. using organic mulch under the foliage is not recommended. use sand instead.

berggarten Sage . Salvia officinalis high and 18 inches in diameter. Hardy to rarely flowers. It is serviceable in the ‘Berggarten’. This pleasantly mounded, below 0°F when planted in the ground. kitchen and especially handy as a garnish. Space on 15 to 20 inch centers. Hardy to somewhere between 10°F and compact sage has unusual rounded golden Variegated Sage leaves and is of high ornamental value . S. 0°F, it grows 18 inches tall and about 2 feet in diameter. with a superb fragrance. It was introduced officinalis ‘Icterina’. Frequently listed in tricolor Sage. to the U.S. by Allen Bush at his late, books and catalogs as ‘Aurea’ which is S. officinalis ‘Tricolor’. lamented Holbrook Farm in North another cultivar characterized by lime This is another colorful variegated sage, Carolina. It came from the collection of the green leaves. ‘Icterina’ is a dazzling unusual for its three colors-white, green, famous Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, shrublet with light green leaves marked and purple all on the same leaf. It can be Hanover, Germany. It produces infrequent with gold margins that rarely flowers. used in cooking, but it is essentially a flowers. Expect growth to top at about 16 Serviceable in the kitchen. About 18 decorative plant. Mature plants are about inches and up to 24 inches wide. Space inches tall and 2 feet wide, this variety is 18 inches high and 24 inches in diameter. on 20 to 24-inch centers. It is hardy well not reliably winter hardy but will withstand Space on 24 to 30-inch centers. Hardy to below 0°F. temperatures down to 10°F. Space on 24- about 10° F. Common Sage white Sage. inch centers. . S. officinalis . Sage Pineapple Sage. S. apiana . Also called is neither as common nor as simple as S. elegans bee sage. The silver leaves release a many of us thought. This is the well- ‘Scarlet Pineapple’. The light green leaves distinctive aroma during the heat of known, blue-flowered garden sage, a of this sage have a strong pineapple summer that is difficult to describe. It is not centuries old stalwart of the herb garden. aroma, making it an intriguing novelty. The decidedly sweet or musky, but something Gray-green pointed leaves have a leaves are commonly used in salads and in between. Native Americans burned wonderful aroma, perfect for cooking. fruit cups, and a delightful flavored butter smudge sticks made from this sage. Plants reach 30 to 36 inches high and 24 is made by mixing in minced foliage. Santolina. to 30 inches wide, and should be spaced Bright red flower spikes are the plant’s Santolina ssp. Santolina is on 24 to 36-inch centers. They are hardy contribution to fall color. Mature plants sometimes called lavender cotton. It is one to -20°F. may grow 4 to 5 feet high and are 20 to 30 dwarf Sage of a class of small shrubs used to edge inches in diameter. It is hardy to about . S. officinalis ‘Nana’. herb gardens and from which knot 20°F. Space on 30-inch centers. With a short, compact growth habit, this Purple Sage gardens are made. Historically, santolina small-leaved sage is excellent where . S. officinalis was used medicinally and as a moth space is at a premium, either in the ‘Purpurascens’. An abundance of striking repellent. Mature plants with their dainty, garden or in pots on a patio or balcony. purple foliage sets this sage apart, making yellow flowers may reach 2 feet tall and Flavorful and good in a wide range of it a must for the ornamental herb garden. may be as wide, if plants are not pruned recipes. Mature plants are about 12 inches While it is a heavy producer of foliage, it regularly. Plants should be pruned hard in 20 HERbS : S-T the spring. Plants need excellent drainage the flower stems, and with ample water not to let the plant’s small yellow flowers and air circulation. Santolina can also be and fertilizer, plants will produce leaves make seed or its progeny may become used in tussie mussies and in potpourri. until late fall. Sorrel does not spread but it weed problems. Height to 10 feet. gray Santolina . S. clumps and may be divided every three or chamaecyparissus. Often paired with four years to renew the bed. Site a sorrel tarragon, french. Artemisia germander’s deep green foliage, creating bed where plants will receive at least 3 a stunning contrast. hours of full sun with a pH around 6.0; dracunculus ‘Sativa’. French tarragon is a green Santolina. kitchen legend and an epicure’s delight. S. pinnata. Green moderately fertile, well-drained soil is essential. Plants in their vegetative stage The anise-flavored, narrow, green leaves foliage contrasts well with the gray form. are about 12 inches tall; flower stems may are good used fresh in salads or with Savory. reach 3 feet. Clumps are usually not more spinach; the leaves are also chopped and spp. Known as the than 10 inches in diameter. cooked in sauces and with fish and bean herb because of the way in which it chicken. For many, tarragon made vinegar Red-Veined Sorrel. dresses up the common legume. Savory Rumex palatable. Plants with true flavor can be may be substituted for sage in poultry and grown only from cuttings and crown sanguineus. Unusual, purple-veined, oregano in most things. Both the annual divisions; seeds produce an inferior plant, green leaves make a statement in the and perennial savories are commonly vigorous but flavorless. Tarragon is a plant border, and it is edible too. Grows up to 3 mistaken for oregano. Dried and that thrives on dryness (its native habitat feet tall in full sun to partial shade. Tender powdered, it may be mixed with cracker receives about a foot of rain a year) and young leaves can be used in salads. crumbs and flour to bread fish, especially its cultivation is not difficult, but it is not a trout. Savories perform well when planted Southernwood plant that flourishes on neglect in our wet, in full sun for at least 4 hours, where the . Artemisia abrotanum. humid climate. The best site for tarragon is soil is fertile and well-drained, and the pH With a history of medicinal and other uses, in full sun all day, although 4 hours will do ranges from 5.6 to 8. this aromatic, ornamental Artemisia has in a pinch. Soil should be fertile and well- winter Savory. S. montana . The feathery foliage and a lemony aroma. It drained with a pH between 4.5 and 8. perennial of our culinary duo, is low was one of the colonial “strewing” herbs Keeping your tarragon dry will provide growing when kept pruned, otherwise it that scented rustic cabins and courtrooms many years of pleasure from the plant. may grow to 18 to 24 inches tall and when walked upon. It was also a favorite Here are five ways to foster dryness: nearly as wide. Its small, green, lance- in Victorian gardens. Today southernwood prune foliage often so air can circulate shaped leaves are glossy and aromatic. is a substantial ornamental, widely through the leaves; mulch with sand; allow The plant can become woody and adapted to making wreaths and dried plenty of space between tarragon and sprawling if left unpruned; it is wise to start arrangements. Hardy to -20°F. Plants may everything else; don’t water in a way that the spring by removing the top one-third to reach 3 to 4 feet and are about 3 feet in wets foliage; remove any dying or dead one-half of each stem to encourage new diameter. foliage immediately. A mature tarragon might reach 18 inches tall in a garden growth and keep the plant from sprawling. Stevia. This semi-evergreen is hardy to -10°F. Stevia rebaudiana . Tender where it grew for its ragged beauty instead . of culinary desirability. A good crown can S. hortensis. A perennial. Slender upright plant with sweet be as much as a foot wide. Space plants bushy annual that grows best with regular leaves, hundreds of times sweeter than for the future, not the present; 18 to 24- use. Cutting stems frequently during the sugar, with no calories. It can be used as inch centers are about right, although you summer will keep the plant vegetative and an alternative sweetener for diabetics, may think it is a bit far apart after you useful. although, making a powdered sugar have just transplanted a plant from a 2 substitute from the leaves requires Sorrel. 1/2-inch pot. Plants are hardy to -20°F. Rumex acetosa. Described by technology that is well beyond the capability of most gardeners. Use of the gourmets as having a “refreshing acidity”, plant as a sweetener is limited to tea or this pot herb enhances a variety of meat, other beverages and some baking recipes. fish, poultry, egg, and vegetable dishes. Stevia powder is available in health food Very large green leaves are produced by stores and is now found in commercial the plant and harvested to be eaten fresh sweeteners. or cooked. Sorrel is best known for its use in a creamy French soup that is pleasingly Sweet annie. habit forming. Its long, broad arrow Artemisia annua . shaped leaves are also tasty chopped and Annual, hardy to 30°F. This large annual mixed with salad greens. It is often the may grow four to five feet high. Its foliage first perennial herb to break the spring soil, is overpoweringly aromatic and is used to as early as mid February. As summer form the base of herb wreaths. Indoors, approaches, flower stalks emerge and Sweet Annie’s fragrance perfumes the foliage production declines. By removing house for months. Care should be taken HERbS : T HyME 21 Thyme ne of the most famous of the french herbs and indispensable in the kitchen. its sweet, Owarm, spicy flavor complements a variety of meats, soups, stews, vegetables, breads, and desserts. as a small landscape specimen in the perennial border, it adds interest and, in variegated forms, pleasing color. it makes an acceptable low hedge for either formal or informal uses and its soft pastel flowers herald the warmth of spring. Most thyme varieties are hardy to -20°. a full day of sun is desirable, but plants require at least 4 hours of sun for growth and health. a fertile, well-drained loam with a ph range between 4.5 and 8 should produce healthy plants. although there is no sight as pleasant as a thick thyme plant taking over a small part of the garden, especially where it may be rocky, our humid climate often tests the disease resistance of the species. it is wise to remove dead stems and cut back upright plants where they meet the soil in a spring pruning that invigorates the vegetation and helps to reduce future disease problems. Culinary Thyme

english thyme. fRenCh VaRietieS spring with small lilac blossoms. It grows ‘Broad- 12 to 16 inches tall. What we call French thyme is much more Orange balsam thyme. leaf English’. Thanks to the ground complex than we ever realized, according Thymus breaking work of Harriet Flannery Phillips, to the latest research. The name is more vulgaris ‘Orange Balsam’. The narrow, we know a lot more about thyme than we an umbrella under which reside a number sharply pointed dark green leaves pack a did before she completed her study of the of thyme varieties with distinct wallop with an intense aroma of balsam genus Thymus in 1982. What we called characteristics. One trait they all share is and oranges. Plants are dense, about 12 English Thyme may have been one of the leaf-margins that curl under. In recent inches high and 15 inches wide. Plant on biggest surprises: it is unable to reproduce years, we have made an effort to 12 to 15 inch centers. Supplies are limited. itself from seed because it is a single sex, Available late season. (female) and seedling offspring would distinguish some of the subtleties of Provençal thyme. aroma and shape that seem valuable and Thymus vulgaris have to be hybrids. This is the true English separate them from the generic for you to ‘Provençal’. Tom DeBaggio selected this thyme which makes those soft, round 12 enjoy for their unique beauty and aroma. variety for its strong aroma. It has a inch high mounds. It is softly aromatic and narrow-leaf french thyme . woody, upright growth habit, becoming winter hardy with delicate spring blooms. It can be reproduced only from cuttings. An Thymus vulgaris ‘Narrow-leaf French’. somewhat gnarled after several years. easy way to distinguish English thyme is (German Winter, Common, Garden). We Leaves are tiny, gray-green arrowheads, to look at the leaves. The leaf-margins of have often grown this variety from seed, held throughout the year. Mature plants this thyme are flat, without the slightest but notice from time to time differences in are 12 to 16 inches tall and may spread to curl. aroma and leaf shape. We selected a 24 to 36 inches if left unpruned. golden lemon thyme. plant with aroma and upright stature and Thymus x now propagate it from cuttings to assure citriodorus ‘Aureus’. A variegated form of uniformity. It has medium-sized leaves and lemon thyme with golden-edged leaves, it an aroma without harshness. It flowers in is colorful and surprisingly fragrant of 22 THyME lemons. The variegation is less skin with lemon thyme turns a simple mark on each leaf that looks like a pronounced during the hot, sunny days of roasted bird into a gourmet treat. Semi- Wedgewood china pattern, increasing its summer. Space on 18 to 24-inch centers. upright plants are about 12 inches tall. ornamental value. This variety is a green lemon thyme wedgewood english thyme . Thymus x . discovery of Cyrus Hyde at Well-Sweep citriodorus. This rapidly growing thyme has Thymus ‘Wedgewood English’. This is Herb Farm in New Jersey. Space 18 to 24 deep green leaves imbued with a sweet much the same as flat-leafed English inches. lemony fragrance. Rubbing a chicken’s thyme, except for a small, light-colored Ornamental Thyme

These varieties have limited use in the kitchen, but provide interest in the garden with unusual growth habit, scent or flower color. uPRight VaRietieS many years. They creep not in the way of experience some winter kill. A mounding, Pinewood thyme. mints, via stolons, but because their prostrate variety with golden variegation Thymus stems root as they lie on the earth’s appearing in the early spring and fall, ‘Pinewood’. Formerly, Lavender Thyme. surface. disappearing in mid-summer. Lemon Perennial. This semi-upright variety forms archer’s gold thyme. Thymus scented, with -pink flowers. a dense green mat. Makes good low elfin thyme. 'Archer’s Gold'. Only 2 1/2 inches tall, this Thymus praecox border plant. Height to 4-6 inches. Space vigorous dense creeper has lovely green- subsp. britannicus 'Elfin'. Perennial, hardy 8 inches apart. Silver thyme. gold leaves that will leave you breathless to about 0ºF. Lovely creeping habit forming Thymus ‘Argenteus’. as they tumble over the edge of a hanging a tight mound. Magenta flowers. Height 2 The leaves of this time have a unique basket. Excellent between pavers on a to 3 inches. Good groundcover for a silver glow created by gray-green leaves walkway. sunny, well drained area between stepping edged with silver, a wonderful contrast Creeping (Mother of thyme). stones. Will take light foot traffic. Edible with the traditional green leaves in the but better suited as an ornamental. thyme bed. It forms an aromatic mound. A Thymus pulegioides. Usually sold Minor thyme. Thymus praecox border edged with this thyme will prove erroneously as T. serpyllum (which is subsp. britannicus 'Minor'. (Minus) eye-catching. virtually unknown in this country, despite its ubiquity in herb catalogs). With its Perennial, hardy to below 0ºF. Sometimes CReePing and medium-size, bright green leaves and called ‘Minus’. Dwarf, slow growing. Height to 4 inches. MOunding thyMe colorful pink flowers, this vigorous Spicy Orange thyme procumbent thyme will charm the bees . Thymus . Most creeping thymes offer little in the way and your heart. Broadly spreading mounds Perennial. Hardy to about 10º F. Low, of aroma; of course it is there albeit subtle. usually reach a maximum height of 6 spreading mound with slightly hairy leaves inches. and pungent orange scent. Height to 4 Their charm is in the way they hug the Crimson thyme earth and spread a subtle rug of many . Thymus praecox inches but usually stays lower. Tough to textures and colors. Creeping thymes and subsp. britannicus 'Coccineus'. Perennial. keep going through the summer without good drainage and a nice dry spot. hanging baskets have an affinity for each Hardy to -25ºF. Striking red-purple flowers transparent yellow thyme. other that an artist would admire. A mulch on a low creeping plant. Height to 4 of sand or small stones 1 inch deep inches. Blooms early summer. Thymus ‘Clear Gold’. (Golden Dwarf doone Valley thyme. spread across the prepared soil will warm Thymus thyme or Creeping Golden thyme). the roots and help dry the dense foliage of ‘Doone Valley’. Perennial, hardy to 0ºF, Perennial, hardy to 0ºF. Low, spreading these beauties, extending their lives for although the central crown may mound with slightly hairy golden leaves. During mid summer, leaves are more of a pale-green. Height to 6 inches. gift Certificates white flowered Creeping thyme. Thymus praecox subsp. always in style and make perfect britannicus 'Albus'. Perennial. Hardy to - 25ºF. White flowers appear in early gifts for green-thumbed family summer. A low creeping plant growing to 3 inches tall. Good for between pavers and and friends. stepping stones. Like all thymes, requires excellent drainage and full sun. woolly thyme. Available in any amount. Thymus praecox Purchase on-line or in-store subsp. britannicus ‘Lanuginosus’. Perennial, hardy to -20ºF. The fuzzy gray leaves of the dainty creeper provide its HERbS : W 23 common name “Woolly”. It makes a soft and huggable ground cover. Height to 2 debaggio herbs t-Shirts and hats inches. Perfect for growing over a stone wall. woodruff, Sweet . Galium odoratum. Hardy to -35°F. Woodruff’s practical application as a quickly spreading ground hats $19.99 each cover for shady locations, hides its former (colors: Charcoal, Green, Khaki Green) life as a sexual stimulant used in aphrodisiacs. Today its stiff green leaves, held aloft in whorls, are most often found flavoring May wine, tea, and scenting potpourri. Its leaves’ distinctive aroma deepens when dried. Plants reach 8 to 12 inches when flowering in May.

Shirts $19.99 each Hardening Off: Wise Transplanting Ensures Health and bountiful Harvest

Your plants have been carefully grown in my O’ Water is an excellent choice) are effective. These greenhouses and selected for form and vigor. Before may be purchased commercially, but effective, home- you transplant them to the garden they should be made devices can be constructed from old plastic conditioned to ready them for outdoor survival by a milk containers or styrofoam cups with the bottoms process horticulturists call ‘hardening off”. When you removed. bring your plants home, place them outside in a Although no special equipment is necessary to partly sunny spot (direct sun can sometimes burn harden off your plants, a cold frame will be helpful. A tender plant tissue) protected from wind. Bring the cold frame is nothing more than a protective plants inside at night and then put them outside the structure with a glass or plastic top that will open and next day if temperatures are expected to remain shut. Sides may be of wood, masonry, straw, above 40ºF. After four to seven days of this regimen, bundled newspapers, or poly sheeting stapled to a the plants should be hardened enough to transplant wooden frame. The cold frame top is usually slanted outside. so that it will catch the sun and drain rain water away Less water should be given to the plants during from the structure. Cold frames should face south. this treatment, but care should be taken to keep the The cold frame protects young seedlings and plants from wilting. A weak solution of liquid fertilizer, transplants from the ravages of spring wind and applied to the plant at the time of transplanting, will unsettled cold weather. Seedlings are hardened off also help get it off to a good start. for a week or two in such a structure to stiffen their Early transplanting calls for vigilance by the stems and adjust them to temperature fluctuations gardener and attention to weather forecast. Danger that did not exist indoors on your window sill, under of freezes should bring protective measures to the your grow lights, or inside the greenhouse, where young transplants in the form of covers. Aside from conditions are ideal and encourage soft growth. poly spun row covers (like Reemay), hot caps (Wall 24 ORnaMEnTalS angelonia. Angelonia angustifolia. Tender perennial. Also called summer snapdragon. These vigorous, heat tolerant plants are a “must have” for the summer garden. Carefree plants bloom all summer. Good for cut flowers. ‘Angelface Blue', 'Angelface Wedgewood Blue', ‘Perfectly Pink’ agastache 'Tutti Frutti'. Perennial. Hardy to -30ºF. This plant has fragrant gray-green foliage. Flowers spikes are Calibrachoa Kona Neon Angelonia Wedgewood Blue * lavender-pink, and 12” inches long. May be a short lived perennial in our area. Height 24” inches tall. alyssum Lobularia hybrid . Snow Princess® represents a unique breakthrough in the genus for heat tolerance and extended season performance. This sterile Lobularia is extremely vigorous, and because it puts no energy into setting seed it has an incredibly long bloom time. Creates a Calibrachoa Superbells® Saffron * Callibrachoa Callie Pink Morn great hanging basket or window box and is a perfect filler in combinations or in the garden. Very fragrant! blushing Princess . Similar to ‘Snow Princess’, but flowers have lavender tinged flowers that intesify during cooler night temperatures. bacopa . Sutera cordata. Vigorous grower with white blooms all season. Low growing, trailing habit make this ideal for Calibrachoa Chameleon baskets. Deadheading Not Necessary. Sunshine Berry Snowstorm® giant Snowflake® Supertunia® Limoncello* with white flowers. baptisia/wild indigo . Baptisia spp. Perennial. Hardy to -40º. This incredible native plant is a “must have”. Plants take two or three years to reach their full potential so don’t be fooled by the fragile, somewhat spindly appearance of young potted plants. Baptisia are long- lived. Once established, you will be amazed at how quickly they re-grow in the spring after dying completely to the ground each winter. You can almost watch them grow! Spikes of lupine-like flowers begin to Calibrachoa Superbells® Evening Star* Nasturtium ‘Milkmaid’ appear in mid spring before the plant reaches its full height and continue to develop as the plant stretches its legs. * Photos courtesy of Proven Winners Baptisia has a very deep tap root, giving it www.provenwinners.com the ability to survive long dry periods and ORnaMEnTalS 25 making it a challenge to move once it is established. Grow in full sun. baptisia australis. The straight species. Indigo blue flowers above silver- green foliage. Height 3 to 5 feet with similar spread. butterfly weed, Red flowered.

Asclepias curassavica. Also known as Blood Flower. Tender perennial, hardy to about 32ºF. This 3 foot tall milkweed produces orange and red flowers all Superbena Royal Cherryburst* summer; elongated seed pods in the fall. Milkweed is the only food for the Monarch caterpillar. Bacopa Snowstorm® Giant Snowflake® Calendula. Calendula officinalis. This hardy annual produces large, edible, blossoms with both light and dark centers. Dead heading will help extend the already long booming period and prevent unwanted seedlings. All varieties tolerate part shade. And reach a height of about 24”. Supertunia® Resina’. Vista Bubblegum * ‘ Yellow flowers with light centers have high resin content. ‘deja Vu’. Large blossoms in a mix Regal Geranium Elegance Imperial of pink, orange, yellow, cream; some with contrasting lower petals and darker tips. Calibrachoa

Hardy to 15ºF. Grow as an annual. These “Miniature Petunias” are terrific in pots and in the landscape. Mounding to spreading habit depending on the variety. aloha Kona neon Callie Pink Morn Chameleon Sunshine berry Lobelia Techno Heat Upright Dark Blue Supertunia® Pretty Much Picasso® * Superbells® Series. Performs well in a pot or in the garden. Low maintenance, long blooming and heat tolerant. Available varieties: evening Star hollywood Star Cherry Red Cherry Star dreamsicle lemon Slice Pomegranate Punch Saffron

Johnny Jump Up Supertunia® Royal Velvet® * Viola tricolor ‘Helen Mount’ 26 ORnaMEnTalS Chocolate daisy. Berlanderia lyrata. fragrance flowers that start out white and butterflies dancing above the narrow green change to pink. Deadhead to prolong foliage. Height to 3’ feet. Perennial, hardy to 10ºF. U. S. Native. 'whirling butterflies'. bloom period. Small, yellow, sunflower-like flowers have White flowers. a maroon-orange center. New flowers dichondra. ‘Siskiyou Pink'. smell strongly of chocolate! Likes a dry 'Silver Falls'. Tender Spikes of pink spot in full sun. Butterflies like this one Perennial. Hardy to 20ºF. This soft silvery- blooms. too. green foliage plant is the perfect accent for all your planters and hanging baskets. heliotrope. Coleus. arborescens . Solenostemon scutellarioides. Dichondra needs full sun and well-drained soil. Height 3” inches tall, cascading 3’ to Tender perennial. The unbelievable sweet These ornamental, tender perennials do 6’ feet long!! scent produced by the fully open flowers well in full sun or partial shade. This year can easily overpower an entire room, the number of varieties of this under euphorbia, diamond greenhouse or garden. Good container appreciated garden stalwart includes plant. intriguingly named cultivars such as: delight®. ‘Marine’. ‘inky fingers’, Euphorbia . Annual, hardy This fragrant pot plant ‘Kiwi fern’ to 40ºF. Terrific ornamental for landscape produces blue flower clusters that rise or container. Snow white blooms are held ’defiance’ from large green-purple leaves. Richly above mounds of green all season long, fragrant of spice and vanilla. ‘Main Street River walk’ white flowered. from planting to frost. Height to 18 inches. Extremely fragrant ‘Main Street wall Street’ Full sun to part shade. Heat and drought white flowering heliotrope. tolerant, deer resistant, and self cleaning. and more. fuchsia. hollyhock dahlia, bishop’s Children. Tender perennial, hardy to . Alcea rosea. The following about 20ºF. Grow in a sheltered, partly varieties available this year will produce Dahlia pinnata ‘Bishop’s Children’. flowers next year. shady spot. black hollyhock. Perennial, hardy to 10ºF. Almost black 'Pink Marshmallow'. Alcea rosea foliage really sets off the 3 to 4 inch, single Medium ‘Nigra’. Biennial or short-lived perennial. and semi-double, peony- flowered blooms. sized, double, soft pink and white flowers Very dark purple, single flowers appear Flowers are single or double bi-color, red, from late spring until frost. Trailing in habit, black. Flowers appear the second year on orange, yellow, pink, or purple. this variety grows to 12 inches tall and up 6 foot tall spikes. I have found that they Descendent of classic ‘Bishop of Llandaff’. to 12 inches wide. 'Swingtime'. need some type of support while flowering After the first frost of the season, cut the Medium sized red and to keep them from toppling after a hard stems about six inches from the ground. white flowers from late spring until frost. rain. Dig up the tubers and gently brush off the Trailing in habit, this variety grows 4 to 12 Chater’s double Mix. Old- clinging soil. Allow them to dry in a frost inches tall and up to 2 feet wide. free area and then place in a container fashioned, frilly, double, apricot colored and cover with dry sand, vermiculite, or geraniums, Regal/ Martha blooms appear the second year. peat moss for winter storage. Many books washington lobelia, annual. techno® recommend that a fungicide be applied to Pelargonium the tubers before storing them. xdomesticum . Tender Perennial. Regals heat Series. Excellent for landscape, Periodically check and cut out any rotten prefer cool temperatures and bloom best spots or discard tubers that are soft and when under some water stress. Be careful mixed containers, and hanging baskets. mushy. not to allow plants to become Good heat tolerance. Available in white, waterlogged. Can be wintered indoors in a light blue or dark blue flowered. dianthus / Pinks. Dianthus ssp. cool, well-lighted area. Colors offered: lobelia, Perennial. All parts of The ancient Greeks called pinks dios elegance imperial these U.S. natives are poisonous if anthos (Zeus’ flower). The more modern elegance Rose bicolor name, “pinks”, refers to the serrated edges ingested. Both prefer moist locations and of the flower, as if “pinked” with shears, elegance appleblossom tolerate part to full shade. These short- lived perennials may reseed. not as a description of the color. Most lobelia, Cardinal. Lobelia varieties are perennials, hardy to -15ºF, gaura. and very fragrant. Grow them in full sun. Gaura lindheimeri. Perennial. cardinalis. This moisture-loving, shade- Mowing after flowering will encourage Hardy to 0ºF. Gaura tends to be short- tolerant plant has brilliant red spikes that new, stockier growth. Use flowers in lived in our area. Like all tap-rooted plants, bloom July-September. Height 3’-4’ feet potpourri, beverages, or as a garnish. tall. 'first love' Gaura should be sited carefully as it is lobelia siphilitica. . Beautiful green mounds difficult to relocate once established. Blue flowers in all season long. In late spring/early Flowers, appearing in May and lasting late summer. Height to 3 feet. Once used summer, plants produce intensely until October, look almost like small to treat venereal disease. ORnaMEnTalS 27

Marigold, french fact high levels of nitrogen will produce compact (9 inches tall). ‘whirlybird Mix’. little hero Series. lots of foliage at the expense of flowers. This mixture Plants stay Some dappled shade during the middle of contains plants with semi-double blooms dwarf even in hot weather. 6 to 8 inch tall the day may also be beneficial, as plants that may be rose, orange, gold, or plants provide large 2 inch flowers. Three can suffer leaf burn in the most intense mahogany. Flowers stand above the 6 colors available: Fire, with red and orange sunlight. These fast growers are frost inch tall plants. bi-color flowers, Orange, and Yellow. sensitive. available after mid april. nemesia Marigold, Signet. ‘alaska Mixed’. Creamy white and Opal innocence Tagetes tenuifolia . Sweetly scented green foliage provides an unusual Petite flowers smother small mounds of flowers all season. Good for early spring background for red or orange flowers. lacy, citrus-scented foliage. Height to 10”. ‘apricot trifle’ planting. Edible flowers . . This English variety tangerine gem’ ‘ has orange has frilly blooms of apricot salmon, Petunia. Tender perennials, hardy to flowers. seemingly semi-double, which contrasts ‘lemon gem’ 30ºF. Petunias are heavy feeders and has yellow flowers. with its dark green foliage. Plants are 10 inches tall. need lots of sun and plenty of water to ‘black Velvet keep going all summer long until frost. Mexican Petunia. ’. Deep, red-black Ruellia brittania Supertunia® Pretty Much flowers on a compact mounding plant. 'Purple Showers'. Tender Perennial. Hardy 'Caribbean Crush'. Picasso® Pink-orange Unique flowers sporting violet to 25ºF. Plants have dark green flowers. purple flowers edged in lime green. This lanceolate foliage with purple flowers that ‘empress of india’. vigorous plants is great for mixing in Cascading are very similar to a petunia. Blooms from combination with other vigorous plants. clumps of single dark scarlet flowers on 10 July until Frost. A wonderful plant to use in Self cleaning. mass plantings. Height to 3’ feet tall. inch tall plants. Supertunia® Priscilla®. ‘Jewel Mix’. Petunia This is a special color 'Kerprilcomp'. Semi-double, fragrant Mexican Sunflower. mix, containing plants that may have Tithonia flowers with purple veins, blooms all yellow, red, orange, pink, rose, and bi- rotundifolia 'Torch'. Annual. Huge plants season. As with all petunias, needs colored flowers. Plants are 12 inches tall. produce beautiful, orange, daisy-like Milkmaid’. frequent fertilizing for best performance. flowers. Can grow up to 8 feet tall and 3 ‘ Creamy, light yellow Attractive to butterflies, birds, and feet in diameter under the right conditions. blooms nearly smother the foliage on this hummingbirds. Heat tolerant. Self- 12 inch tall plant. Its claimed height range is 4 to 6 feet tall. ‘Strawberries and Cream’. cleaning. Plant in full sun and poor soil as excessive This Supertunia® Royal Velvet. nitrogen produces few flowers, lots of variety has stunning bi-colored blooms Fragrant, deep, dark purple-blue, velvety leaves. that offer a rich, peachy cream base flowers all summer. Good trailing habit bushed with four large strawberry nasturtium ideal for hanging baskets. Up to 4 foot . Tropaelolum majus. blotches. Plants are 9 to 12 inches tall. spread. Height: 6 to 10 inches. ‘Strawberry ice’ Supertunia® Vista bubblegum®. These annuals are grown for their . A showcase of splendor and use in the kitchen. Both the bright butter-colored blossoms with Vigorous, mounding/cascading habit with leaves and flowers are eaten. Nasturtiums maroon blotches and held above gray- pink flowers. 16 to 24 inches tall with a 2 do very well in soil that has poor fertility, in green foliage. Plants are uniform and foot spread. Good disease resistance, self-cleaning. TOUCH OF gREECE Supertunia® daybreak Charm You can go out to eat anytime, and there are lots of places Supertunia® white. to buy some grub. For me there is no place as special as Supertunia® Vista fuchsia. The Greek Taverna. My friends Chris and Poppi Supertunia® Vista Silverberry. Karamanos who own the place have the optimism of the Supertunia® limoncello. Greek sunshine and perfectionist tastes, a combination that has created an elegant white-washed dining room Supertunia® Mini blue Vein and properly prepared food. Supertunia® black Cherry 6828-C Old Dominion Drive, McLean Supertunia® latte Open 7 days a week (703-556-0788). Surfinia® Sky blue It’s a good idea to call for reservations because the McLean Knife and Fork Society has discovered this fantastic place and they’re packing Surfinia® Summer double it for lunch and dinner. Salmon 28 ORnaMEnTalS Phlox, Creeping. for the front of a shady border. They retain their compact mounding habit Phlox subulata. ‘blue Moon’ -blue flowers. during extreme heat. Excellent for borders. Perennial, hardy to -40ºF. Evergreen ‘May breeze’ reaching 6 inches tall and spreading up to -white flowers. SunPatiens®. 3 feet. Great for colorful ground cover, Impatiens hawkeri Russian Sage. especially to spill over a rock wall. Perovskia atriplicifolia. Robust, sun–loving, heat–loving impatiens Available in two colors: ‘Emerald Blue’ and that thrive in full sun or part shade and This deciduous, hardy perennial explodes ‘Emerald Pink’. deliver continuous color from spring with violet-blue flowers in summer and through frost. These low-maintenance lasts well in to late fall. Prune to 3 or 4 plants flourish almost anywhere. Phlox, intensia® blueberry branches close to the ground in early . Variegated leaves spring, just as buds begin to swell along Annual. Heat tolerant North American 'Spreading Salmon'. the bare stems. Native. Attractive to butterflies. Plant 'Spreading white'. matures into a 12 inch mound, and Snapdragon. produces blue-purple flowers until frost. Rocket Mix. Verbena, annual. Long, strong spikes of Phlox, woodland. Superbena® Series. Phlox divaricata beautifully colored blooms. Colors include Broad leaf, red, white, pink, yellow and rose. Staking upright, spreading plants have good var laphamii . Also called Wild Sweet may be necessary in windy areas. Makes mildew resistance. Larger flowers than William. Native from Canada to the South an excellent cut flower. other varieties. Available varieties: Central U.S., this low growing, spreading, floral Showers Mix. Superbena® Royale Cherry burst woodland perennial is hardy to -30ºF. Extra dwarf Superbena® Royale Red Fragrant, flowers in early spring. Perfect plants are perfect for small, 4 inch pots. Ornamental Salvia/ Sage white flowers. Ornamental. Also With so many species and cultivars in my collection, I cannot list or available in an all purple-flowered propagate large quantities of all. Including the culinary sages, I usually have version called ‘Midnight’ and a dwarf version: ’Santa Barbara’. about 50 cultivars in production. Otahal Sage. andean Sage. ‘furman’s Red’. Salvia ‘Otahal’. Salvia discolor . Crimson to scarlet Perennial, hardy to at least 10ºF. RARE! Tender perennial. The leaves of this rare red flowers on a two foot tall plant. ‘hot lips’ An apparent hybrid between S. farinacea plant are white underneath, green on top (S. microphylla) . White and S. reptans or S.azurea. Grey-green and sparsely held along white, hairy flowers with red lip. Flowers emerging foliage is a perfect backdrop for the stems. Black flowers erupt from when night temperatures are warm may flowers. Prominent silver-white calyces inflorescences atop sticky stems. The be all red. and blue-violet corollas create amazing Sierra San antonio Sage. plant may attain a height of up to three Salvia bi-color flower spikes. Plants grow to feet. However, flowering stems become xjamensis 'Sierra San Antonio'. Tender about 2 feet tall. Hummingbirds seem to droopy and may need support. This is perennial, hardy to about 20ºF. In 1988, a like it as well. Supplies are limited. one of my favorite plants. An ideal texas Sage. group of naturally occurring hybrids was specimen or collector’s plant. Supplies Salvia coccineus. discovered near the Mexican town of are limited. Available late season. Annual. Heat loving sage that blooms anise-Scented Sage, black and Jame. This selection with peach and until frost. Height to 2 feet and as wide. blue cream bicolored flowers will bloom all 'Coral Nymph' . Brilliant salmon- . Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'. summer long if kept lightly pruned. Height coral and white bi-color flowers . Perennial, hardy to about 20ºF. AKA is 18 to 24 inches. Will tolerate light 'Snow Nymph' . All white flowers. Hummingbird Sage. Violet-blue flowers shade. ‘Lady in Red’ . Red flowers Mealy Sage. woodland Sage. erupt from dark calyces in late spring. Salvia farinacea . Salvia xsylvestris. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall in full sun or part Perennial, hardy to 25ºF. The common Perennial. Hardy to -30ºF. Nice accent in shade. Drought tolerant. Ornamental. autumn Sage name, Mealy or Mealy Cup Sage, refers the front of the border or planted en . Salvia greggii to the mealy dusting on the inflorescence masse. Intial blooms last about three Flowers appear, not in the fall as the (farinacea means flour). Lots of colorful weeks. Most varieties need to be dead common name indicates, but from early spikes are produced from May to frost. headed to encourage a second flush of spring to frost. Although generally Makes a good container plant, growing to blooms. considered tender in our area, the red only 18 inches. Grow in full sun or part ‘Caradonna’ Blue-violet flowers. 18 flowering varieties appear to be slightly shade. inch spires above 12 inch tall plants. hardier than the species and survive all ‘Victoria Blue’ with blue flowers,, Mexican bush Sage. ‘Blue Hill’ . Light blue flowers. Often but the most severe winters. Native to Salvia reblooms without deadheading. mountainous regions of Mexico and leucantha. Tender perennial growing to 5 ‘Rosenwein’. Rose pink spires rise Arizona. feet tall. During late summer, the bush is 12 inches above a compact rosette. covered with soft, velvety, purple and ORnaMEnTalS 29 Superbena® Royale Plum wine true Johnny Jump-up. Flowers are yellow, Zinnia. Superbena® Purple blue, and violet. benary’s giant Mix. Superbena® dark blue Zinnia white almond bush. elegans. Annual. Fully double, 4-6 inch Superbena® Stormburst Aloysia diameter, dahlia-like blooms on sturdy virgata . Tender Perennial. Hardy to 20ºF. stems. Excellent cut flower with good vase Viola/Johnny Jump-up. This fast growing relative of lemon life. Low susceptibility to powdery mildew. These verbena has highly fragrant flowers in late Height to 50 inches. State fair Mix. frost hardy plants are usually grown as spring lasting until frost. Zinnia elegans . Old- annuals in our area. Many are perennial, wormwood. fashioned, single and double blooms span but suffer so in our hot summers that they Artemisia x 'Powis the color range between scarlet, rose, virtually disappear from the garden. New Castle'. Perennial, hardy to 0ºF. This salmon, orange, yellow and white. giant Cactus flowered Mix. plants, born from scattered, self-sown vigorous English hybrid forms a dense, seed, pop up in unexpected places all three foot tall, mound of lacy silver foliage. Zinnia elegans. Annual. Extra large, fully over the yard and garden the following Prune hard in spring to keep well- double and semi-double flowers up to 4 spring. Although usually enjoyed as a branched and bushy. Space 2 feet apart. 1/2 inches in diameter. Height to 3 feet. colorful accent in the garden, the edible Short Stuff hybrid Mix. Semi-evergreen. One of my favorite Zinnia flowers are used in salads and as a ornamental plants. elegans. Short, stocky plants in a miz of garnish on top of desserts. viola tricolor ‘helen Mount’ colors . The Proven winners.

ach year the folks at Proven Winners® test hundreds of Enew plant introductions at university field trials throughout the country. Less than 5 percent become Proven Winners®. To pass muster, plants must thrive in a range of conditions, and have exceptional color, habit, and disease resistance. In short they choose the best of the best. Here are a few of the standouts we are growing for you this year. New varieties are marked with *.

PROVEN WINNERS/ PROVEN SELECTIONS

angelonia ‘angelface blue’ Supertunia® limoncello angelonia ‘angelface wedgewood blue’ Supertunia® white angelonia 'Perfectly Pink'. Supertunia® Vista fuchsia. bacopa Snowstorm® giant Snowflake Supertunia® Vista Silverberry lantana 'luscious Citrus blend' *Supertunia® daybreak Charm *lantana bandana Cherry Sunrise *Supertunia® Mini blue Vein lobularia 'Snow Princess' Supertunia® black Cherry lobularia 'blushing Princess' *Surfinia® Summer double Salmon Superbells® Cherry Star Surfinia® Sky blue Superbells® evening Star Verbena Superbena® dark blue Superbells® hollywood Star Verbena Superbena® Purple Supertunia® latte *Verbena Superbena® Stormburst Supertunia® Pretty Much Picasso Verbena Superbena® Royale Cherry burst Supertunia® Priscilla Verbena Superbena® Royale Plum wine Supertunia® Vista bubblegum Verbena Superbena® Royale Red 30 SCEnTED gERaniUMS Scented leaf geraniums Have Many Uses . no table in the greenhouse creates more excitement than the one containing scented-leaf geraniums. these pelargoniums with leaves that have the aroma of lemons, apples, roses, oranges, even coconuts also give rise to many questions and the most common query is: "how'd they get that way?" well, they grew that way naturally; nobody injected them with scent. these lovely plants, many of which are native to africa, are blessed with the same ability as aromatic herbs to manufacture chemicals in their leaves that have evocative scents. Over the years breeders have done their part to mix things up gloriously and present us with living potpourri that is just waiting for a hand to brush the leaves to release the unique fragrance of each plant. Scented-leaf geraniums can be grown in good, well-drained, moderately fertile garden soil, or in containers with a soil-less growing medium; the optimum ph is between 5 and 7. Scented geraniums grow rapidly and lushly and most of them are considerably larger and less floriferous than their more petite cousins, the bedding geraniums that are commonly seen. they are cold hardy to 30ºf and may be grown indoors through the winter. at least three hours of sun after 10 a.m. is sufficient for good growth, but full sun all day is best. Pruning stems encourages branching and controls plant height. leaves are used in potpourri, jellies, salads, baking, and in tea. apple . Pelargonium odoratissimum . fragrance with a cinnamon undertone. its strong nutmeg fragrance. Strong stems Deep rose purple flowers. rise from a rosette to form a bushy This geranium’s rounded leaves hold a Citronella scent that evokes a rich apple cider on a . Pelargonium ‘Citronella’. specimen a little over a foot high that is warm fall day. A unique growth habit Large citrus-scented leaves on a robust excellent for pots and hanging baskets. creates 12 inch high growth with most of plant. Lavender flowers. Good container Small white blooms appear often throughout the summer. the leaves rising from a central crown. plant. Prune to shape this somewhat Copthorne. Eventually, long nearly horizontal flower sprawling variety. Does not repel insects! Pelargonium Clorinda stems appear carrying small clusters of . Pelargonium ‘Clorinda’. ‘Copthorne’. Cedar scented foliage. small white flowers. Excellent hanging This is the best flowering scented Unusually large, pink flowers with upper basket plant. geranium, and what a show it puts on with petals marked maroon. apricot. frensham lemon. Pelargonium. Tender its large, orange-flushed cerise blooms. Pelargonium perennial. Bright crimson flowers on an Leaves are eucalyptus-scented. Vigorous 'Frensham Lemon'. The small, maple- upright plant with dark green leaves. Slight plants. Coconut. shaped leaves have an intense lemon apricot scent. Use in potpourri, jellies, and Pelargonium parviflorum . scent when stroked. Delightful pink flowers tea. It's amazing to find a geranium with on a 2 foot high plant. attar of Roses. ginger. Pelargonium coconut-scented leaves. In appearance, Pelargonium 'Torento'. capitatum 'Attar of Roses'. This is an it's a bit like Apple, but with darker green Round leaves with a light citrus-ginger essential variety for any collection; the leaves. At a bit over 1 foot high, this is a scent. Pinkish-purple flowers. lavender lad essence of rose-scented geraniums. perfect plant for pots and hanging baskets. . Pelargonium Vigorous upright plants to 2 or more feet in The plant is accented with tiny, but ‘Lavender Lad’. Lavender flowers atop a single season. Orchid-colored flowers. frequent magenta flowers. Cinnamon Cody's nutmeg. small, trailing, moss-green leaves. . Pelargonium Pelargonium lemon Meringue. Pelargonium ‘Limoneum’. Tender perennial. Small saw fragrans . This gray, soft-leaved plant has ‘Lemon Meringue’. This may be a sport of toothed leaves have a sweet lemon always been a favorite of mine because of ‘Mabel Grey’. Nice, sharp lemon scent on SCEnTED gERaniUMS 31

Rober’s lemon Rose. an upright plant that grows well in a Pelargonium single summer. Purple-spotted lavender container. flowers. lime ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’. The scalloped Strawberry. . Pelargonium nervosum . leaves of this variety resemble tomato Pelargonium x Strong, upright stems hold small, toothed, leaves but their scent is sweet lemon-rose. scarboroviae . Small leafed, compact plant green, lime-scented leaves. Compact plant Ultimate height to three feet. Pruning will with strawberry scent. Slight trailing habit. Variegated Prince Rupert. is excellent for containers. Flowers are keep height manageable and encourage Tightly darkly marked lavender. branching. Brush-marked lavender Mabel grey. ruffled leaves edged in cream and white, Pelargonium flowers. with a light lemon scent. Compact and Skeleton Rose. citronellum ‘Mabel Grey’. An amazing Pelargonium radens slow growing Velvet Rose. lemon aroma; possibly the most fragrant ‘Dr. Livingston’. Rose scented. Large, but Pelargonium of any scented-leafed geranium. Upright minimalist green leaves that are reduced graveolens ‘Velvet Rose’. Fuzzy, deeply growth to nearly four feet. Keep plants to a skeleton have a heavenly rose scent. notched leaves are rose scented. Height pruned to encourage branching and to Robust grower reaches nearly 3 feet in a to 3 feet. A real knockout! control height. A perfect variety to train to a single stem topiary. Mint Peacock . Pelargonium 'Mint tips on growing Scented Peacock'. Tender perennial. Light-green foliage splashed with creamy accents has Pelargoniums indoors a mint fragrance. Use in potpourri, jellies, and tea. Mrs. taylor. Scented pelargoniums adapt quite well to indoor Pelargonium 'Mrs. Taylor'. Tender perennial. Mildly scented conditions. The acclimatization period, however, can variety produces unusual, deep red cause concern for “newbies”. Plants purchased at the flowers in early spring. Old fashioned Rose. Pelargonium greenhouse are accustomed to full sun, all day long. This graveolens ‘Old Fashioned Rose’. An old is difficult to replicate on even the sunniest windowsill. standard with a fine rose scent. If you’re The leaves at the bottom or interior of the plant often going to cook with any geranium, this is the one with which to start. Excellent in begin turning yellow shortly after being brought into the potpourri. Height to 3 feet. Purple veined comparatively gloomy interior of the winter home. This orchid flowers. Orange-Scented. Pelargonium ssp . reaction is entirely normal, although some varieties are Compact, small leafed plant with free- affected more than others. Yellow foliage should be blooming pale orchid flowers. Quite showy. removed as soon as possible so that new leaves can Peach. Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum'. Peach, aka gooseberry, is a compact quickly begin growing to fill in thin areas. Do not respond geranium with small crisped, green and to yellow leaves by watering. This is the surest way to kill cream leaves with a light peach scent. Excellent pot plant. Flowers are small and your plant. In fact, do not water your plant until the soil is lavender colored. Peppermint Rose. dry. Pelargonium Poor light will also cause scented pelargoniums to graveolens ‘Peppermint Rose’. An old favorite that is a must for any collection. stretch or become “leggy”. Prune leggy stems before they Unique minty-rose fragrance makes it a get too long (about 3 inches). This will also stimulate new great cooking geranium. Deeply cut leaves. Height to 3 feet. Lavender flowers. branches and leaves to begin growing and filling out the Peppermint tom . Pelargonium plant. Although not necessary to successfully grow tomentosum. Large fuzzy leaves have a scented pelargoniums indoors, lights can be used to well-formed peppermint aroma. One of the few scented geraniums thaet does best in reduce stretching and the severity of leaf yellowing. Mount ur shade. Its prostrate haaiblit make it good F or hang cool-white florescent lights no more than 4 inches basket plant as owpell as an annual ground cover. PurpleC-vreined flowers. above the plant and leave them on for 14 hours a day. If Pineapple. Pelargonium. Tender perennial. you don’t have a light bench, put the plants in the Slight pineapple scent; heart-shaped, dark green leaves. sunniest window in the house. 32 vEgETablES he strength of the vegetable garden is its ability to yield the spring. Soil pH should be maintained to at freshest produce from superior varieties that are unobtainable in least 7.0. Do not cut fern-like foliage until it dies back naturally. the supermarket. That philosophy carries over into what i select beet, bull's blood. t 21 days for baby to offer you. The way my plants are grown also offers you benefits. all vegetable plants are sold in individual pots to permit you to select just leaf, 44 days for root. Deep burgundy colored leaves provide color to salad mix. the number you need when you need them. Plants in individual pots Roots show striped rings when sliced. tend to be more vigorous, grow faster, and produce a larger harvest. For , green Magic you this means better vegetables sooner. (F1). 59 days. High quality plants produce in hot artichoke. and cold weather. Dark green, foliage it possesses a peppery, smoky taste that provides protection for the plant’s fine green globe will enliven any salad. It is especially good beaded heads. Slender, smooth stems. Cynara scolymus on a cheese sandwich. Like other greens, ‘Imperial Star’. 85 days. This is the first its flavor is best in cooler weather, and will broccoli Raab. 32 days. Traditional artichoke developed for the home often become bitter when summer turns gardener. Easy to grow, typically on the heat. Frequent harvests provide Italian specialty combines the flavor of producing 6 to 8 mature edible buds. Allow more leaves. Plants will self-seed. mustard greens and broccoli. Buds are plenty of space for each plant as a single harvested as they appear, just before specimen may reach 3 to 4 feet tall. asparagus, Jersey Knight flowering. Ready arugula/Rucola. for moderate harvest second spring after broccoli, Romanesco Minaret. 40 days. An Italian planting. Maintain plants with rich compost 75 days. Unlike regular broccoli (some green sometimes called rocket or arugola, or aged manure applied every fall or early classify this as a cauliflower), this Italian Cucumbers, Squash and Zucchini love the Plants are vigorous, hardy, and productive. heat. Along with okra, these should be the last to be planted in the Crookneck ‘gold Star' garden. They all will suffer when air temperatures drop below 60ºF. The . 50 days. soil should also be warm. Once temperatures are in the mid to upper Smooth-skinned, yellow crookneck. Very 70’s, they grow very fast. When trasplanting, ensure that the roots are uniform, and high yielding. Reduced spines make for fewer blemishes. Harvest not disturbed. Cucumbers and vining Zucchini will need a trellis to climb at 4-6". Intermediate resistance to and keep fruit off the ground and straight. Bush Squash and Zucchini cucumber mosaic virus and powdery rarely need any support. Keep these summer lovers well-watered and mildew. fertilized. yellow Patty Pan. due to temperature requirements and rapid qrowth, 'Sunburst F1'. 52 plants will not be available until early May. days. 1985 All-America Selections winner. Prolific producer of tender, rounded Cucumbers. squash with a scalloped profile. Vigorous Cucumis sativa Harvest from 8-18". Delicious and plant. amiga f1 different. Zucchini. 'black beauty' . Prolific, disease resistant tasty green. . 55 days. Plants do well in our plants. Dark-green fruit is dark green, Dwarf, bushy vines produce cylindrical, hot, humid area and has strong tolerance seedless, and spineless. long, smooth, dark-green fruit with to Mosaic Virus. Slim fruits are 10 inches greenish white flesh. Pick at 6” long. Zucchini. 'Cocozelle'. diva long by 2 in diameter with dark green skin 42-56 days. . 2002 AAS winner. Diva and small white spines. Bitter-free and Bush type. Long, cylindrical fruit is dark produces distinctly tender, crisp, sweet, burpless. Very prolific. green with light green stripes. bitter-free, and seedless fruit. Foliage is Zucchini, ‘Costata Romanesco'. not as attractive to cucumber beetles as Squash/Zucchini some varieties. Best when harvested at 5- Cucurbita pepo 52 days to harvest. A traditional Italian 7 inch length. Intermediate resistance to Most varieties need plenty of space (2 heirloom. This distinctive zucchini is cucumber vein yellowing virus, downy to 3 feet) and plenty of water and fertilizer medium gray-green, with pale green mildew, and powdery mildew. during the growing season. Do not disturb flecks and prominent ribs. Big, large- Striped armenian roots when transplanting. . Also known as 'Prolific Straightneck'. leafed, trailing vines produce only half the Painted Serpent. Unusual, slightly fuzzy, 50 days. yield of hybrids, but much have a flavor, "S"-shaped fruits are slightly ridged with 1938 AAS Winner. Uniform lemon-yellow, nutty, and delicious, raw or cooked. Also a alternating dark and light green stripes. club-shaped fruit. Firm flesh is of excellent good producer of heavy male blossom quality. Harvest when 3 to 7 inches long. buds for cooking. vEgETablES 33 endive. variety produces minaret shaped heads. 35 days to harvest. Refined, individual leaves or cut the head as with Provide fertile conditions and irrigation for endive, and allow it to regrow. curly green leaves are produced in best crop. abundance on this heat tolerant plant. finocchio. Cabbage, Chinese lettucy Take a few leaves or cut the head 3 Foeniculum vulgare 'Zefa inches above the soil and watch it regrow. type Fino'. Annual bulbing fennel produces . 45 days to harvest. Thin, lettuce- escarole. remarkably thick, rounded, heavy bulbs like leaves are mild and tasty. Large 48 days. This broad-leaved with a refreshing anise flavor. Grow in romaine-type heads weighing up to 3 lbs. plant has a light-colored, open heart. loose, fertile soil (slow release nutrient Chinese cabbage does very well in hot or Partially self-blanching, further blanching pellets work well). When bulbs begins cool weather, however, a week of sub can be achieved by placing a paper plate swelling, pull soil over it to keep it white. 50ºF temperatures may cause the plant to on top of the heart. While it is heat Harvest before flower stalks form. bolt prematurely. tolerant, shade is needed to produce sweet leaves through the summer. Use Cabbage, farao f1. 60 days. Good ggplant . This is one of the last of the spring crops to plant. Eggplants grow looking, round, deep green heads have short cores and are densely filled with best when temperatures are settled and nights are in the 60’s with afternoons thin, crispy peppery-sweet leaves. This is eas high as 95°F. They are so sensitive that temperatures in the 40s are likely to one of the earliest, sweetest . set back plant growth and may permanently retard fruit production. A minimum of 4 hours of direct sun is necessary. pH range 5.5 to 6.8. Space on 3 foot centers. Cardoon. Staking may be necessary. Row covers are helpful to warm plants and protect against Cynara cardunculus . insects. Flea beetles which eat tiny holes in eggplant leaves can be controlled with Perennial. Hardy to 0º F. The size and pyrethrum. labor required to harvest the fleshy, inner little fingers. Plants are available after mid April. leaf-stalks have resigned the cardoon to black beauty 68 days. Dark obscurity relative to its smaller, and better . 80 days. Heirloom. purple fruit can be picked when about 2 Large, glossy fruit. Traditional shape. inches long. Good plant for containers. known cousin, the artichoke. Gardeners Casper (dourga) white. Ophelia. with lots of space will better appreciate the 70 days. 55 Days. Mini oval fruits statuesque nature of the cardoon and may Large white fruits that measure up to 7 reach only 2 ounces Perfect for single want to treat it as a dramatic centerpiece inches long and 2 inches in diameter are seving.Tastes best when fruits are instead of a vegetable. The blanched produced on medium-sized plants. A harvested young. Plants are bushy but inner leaf-stalks and the base of the stalk French gourmet variety with a mild flavor. not quite as tall as regular eggplant. epic/ dusky Orient express. can be used in soups stews and salads. . 56 days. An 58 days. Blanching should be done on a dry day American hybrid that produces excellent, Attractive, slender 8-10" glossy black when any trapped moisture has early, medium-sized fruit, Dusky is a fruits in the long Oriental style. Tender, evaporated from the center of the plant. perfect main crop variety. delicately flavored, and quick cooking. fairy tale. thai green. Bundle the stems/leaf-stalks together and 50 days. Elongated 75 days. If you’ve wrap twine around the plant from the purple fruit with white stripes. Best when been looking for an eggplant to use in bottom to approximately 12 inches from picked at 4 inches long. Dwarf plants are Thai cuisine, you must grow Thai Green. the top of the plant. Wrap the bundled good for containers. Slender, light-green, 12 inch long fruit stalks with cardboard and leave alone for fengyuan Purple. has skin so tender that peeling is not about 4 weeks. Harvest by cutting the 65 days. Asian necessary. The white fleshed interior is entire plant off at ground level. type. Foot-long purple fruit. Thin skin also tender with a mild pleasant flavor. makes pealing unnecessary. Non-bitter Ping tung long Celeriac. flesh. . 65 days. Named 100 days. Sometimes called ichiban. 60 days. Oriental variety after its town of origin in Taiwan, this root celery, this European specialty has a with slender 12-inch long, purple fruits. slender violet-purple eggplant reaches at strong celery flavor in its leaves and One of our most popular varieties due to least 12 inches long and has an excellent bulbous root. Planted in the spring after its outstanding flavor. The name ‘Ichiban’ mild flavor and tender white flesh. temperatures have settled (10 days below means number 1 in Japanese. Plants Produces continuous, large harvests 55º F will cause the plants to bolt), reach 36 inches tall. even in summer heat and humidity. Great celeriac bulbs weighing as much as a italian Pink bicolor. for slicing and using in Oriental or other 75 days to pound will be ready for a fall harvest. Do cuisine. first ripe fruit. Round, 8 inch fruit matures turkish Orange. not allow soil to dry out. Keep well 85-90 days. watered and fertilized throughout the rosy pink with faint streaks of cream. Unique, brilliant orange fruits are great growing season. Use in soups and stews. Kermit. 60 days to harvest. for stuffing. The tennis ball sized fruits Leaves may be cut during the summer to Compact, plant produces lots of small, are best eaten when slightly orange with flavor salads. round green and white fruits. green striping. Once fruits turn red the skins will be bitter. 34 vEgETablES italian dandelion/Chicory. Red Russian. 40 60 days to full container and dunk them in a pail of water and swish them around to loosen the soil. days. Not related to the ubiquitous lawn maturity. Red Russian has tender flat, They are then easy to separate. Plant in a weed. In Italy this plant goes under deep gray-green leaves with purple veins. wide, 4 to 5-inch deep trench. As the leeks several names: ‘Cicoria Asparagio’, Stems are also purple. toscano. grow, gradually fill the trench, eventually ‘Puntarella’, and ‘Cicoria Catalogna’. 65 days to full maturity. mounding soil around them. The part of Leaves are dark green, deeply cut, and Dark green blistered leaves. Heat and cold the leek that is underground produces the have thick white ribs. It has a palate tolerant. Siberian. tender, long, white edible stem. Leeks are cleaning, slightly astringent character and 50 days to harvest. Tender, a wonderful crop for fall and winter and is useful with mixed greens or steamed blue-green, curly leaves with a mildly bring a special flavor to soups and stews. with a little olive oil and raisins. Harvest sweet flavor. Vigorous, high yielding They will winter over in our area, but greens when they are small or allow them plants. should be harvested before weather to grow their full 18 inches high. It is cut warms. and come again with this slow to bolt Kohlrabi. 31 days to harvest. Crisp, variety. Green and Red Rib types Mache. available. apple-like flesh is perfect for salads or light 50 days. Called “lamb’s lettuce” cooking. Best growth during mild or cool and “corn salad”, this salad green is a Kale. weather. Kale is one of the first vegetables gourmet treat. Small compact heads filled with tiny leaves are formed and may be to plant in the spring and one of the last in leeks. 100 days. Extra cold hardy with 7 cut to regrow, or the plants may be pulled the fall, since its sweet flavor is and eaten. Self-seeds and germinates in heightened by frost and cool weather. It is to 8-inch edible stems and 2 inches thick. winter. a vegetable to cook or have fresh in These elongated, mild onions need a long salads. Harvests can begin when plants growing season and soft, rich soil that has Mizuna. are small, as soon as 30 days after been deeply dug. A steady supply of water Unique Japanese mustard transplanting. Harvesting encourages during dry summer periods is essential. green. Mild-flavored, pencil-thin stalks with branching as the kale grows for Our seedlings are grown in small pots deeply cut, fringed leaves. Very successive harvests. Cook it with olive oil, and must be separated before planting. productive. garlic, and a little white wine. Slip the mass of plants out of their

is the spring garden’s great treasure. It flourishes in cool matures to a heavy, compact bunch. Pirat. lettuce weather, especially when temperatures are between 32 days. An excellent warn 45°F and 75°F. A site with rich, loose soil and a minimum of 4 hours of direct weather butterhead lettuce with unusually sun is needed. Eight to 12 inch spacing is usually adequate. Grow greens fast thick, crisp leaves and good disease and lush with plenty of manure and side-dressings of liquid fertilizer. Don’t resistance. The gently savoyed medium stint on the water when it is dry. Pick leaves when you want them; there is no green leaves are overlaid with a soft brick red. need to wait for heads to form, in fact the leaves are tastiest when they are Red Saladbowl. young. 41 days. This wine Harvest plantswhen they are about 4 to 6 inches tall by cutting the entire red version of Saladbowl is radiantly plant to about one inch above the soil level. Expect 4 or 5 harvests from each burgundy with deeply lobed leaves. Its color is most spectacular in cool weather. plant this way. Saladbowl. 39 days. An All America Extend the lettuce season by using some shade-cloth over your plants. Winner, this oakleaf variety produces The number of days following each variety indicates the approximate length of delicate lime green rosettes. It is heat time from transplant to full maturity during mild weather. Available through tolerant and resists bolting. Simpson elite. mid-April. 43 days. An extra buttercrunch. galactic. 38 days. This dark 48 days. Broad, frilly, red slow-bolting lettuce with a fine flavor. Ruffled, pale green leaves. green bibb type lettuce is crisp and leaf lettuce. Specifically bred for baby leaf Victoria flavorful. Leaves are produced in a tightly harvest; full heads are relatively small and . 45 days. A rich green bunched, 6 inch rosette. Plants have lightweight. butterhead type that forms an amazingly green forest. some heat tolerance and are slow to bolt. heavy, upright, open, 10 inch diameter Carmona. 56 days. Green 40 days. A distinctive, romaine type. Smooth ribbed, thick, crispy head. Its fleshy, rumpled leaves are crisp, brilliant, red butterhead lettuce that will and sweet leaves. juicy, and sweet. loma. Vulcan. enliven any salad. It has good disease 36 days. Three words 52 days. Ruffled, slightly and heat tolerance. frilly leaves are brilliantly colored, an apple freckles. describe this lettuce: frilly, compact, and 41 days. Red romaine crisp. It is tender and crunchy with a mild red over green. Produces a large, full type. Green leaves freckled with red spots flavor, and resists tip burn and bolting. It head that stays open. which darken with maturity. starts out resembling a leaf lettuce and vEgETablES 35 Mustard greens, Red giant. through summer crop. treviso Red. Medium-green leaves with purple-red 60 to 65 days. Treviso veins. Mild flavor for light cooking and Red is an upright plant with a romaine-like salads. Plants mature 12 to 14 inches tall head stuffed with red and white leaves. Good for year-round production. with 1 inch wide succulent stems. Rhubarb, Red . Perennial, hardy to Okra. One of the most cold sensitive -40ºF. Harvest lightly second year. After summer crops. Night-time low third year, remove up to 1/2 to 2/3 of temperatures need to be settled above 60- leaves. Harvest for 8 to 10 weeks then 65ºF before being set outside. For this allow plant to grow unmolested. Remove reason, we generally are unable to offer all flower stalks immediately. Leaf blades okra any earlier than mid-May. are poisonous. Only stalks are edible. Clemson Spineless. 60 days. Light 'Valentine'. Red stalks. green pods have from 5 to 8 points. The standard variety in the south. Cream- Shungiku (edible colored flowers are also edible and may Chrysanthemum). be stuffed or used as garnish. An attractive Makes a flavorful ornamental. addition to salads, vegetables, pickles, and sushi. Harvest when plants are 4 to 8 Pac Choi. This very tender Pac Choi inches tall. Unharvested plants will have small orange yellow chrysanthemum has a hearty, wild plant-like quality. Thick, flowers. glossy leaves and flattened, pale green, crisp stems. Strawberry, alpine. The small, Strawberry, everbearing. Radicchio. conical, deep red berries have delicate, An Italian vegetable of Fragaria 'Ozark Beauty'. Hardy to -30ºF. soft flesh that is perfume-sweet when fully large gastronomic wealth that is gaining Vigorous plants produce excellent quality ripe. These modern offspring of fraises popularity in the U.S. This colorful chicory berries. Fruit is a deep red color externally des bois bear the royal breeding of the is eaten raw in salads and is sometimes and red throughout when mature, very originals; they are refined, well-mannered, cooked with olive oil and raisins, a method sweet with excellent strawberry flavor. For everbearing plants that are compact and that sweetens its bitter taste. In my new plantings, pinch off early blooms to runnerless. Fruit is produced from June garden, I cut this colorful plant often and promote larger, later harvest. Remove all until frost. They are best enjoyed right off don’t let it form a head. Radicchio will but 2 or three runners the first year. the vine, since they do not store well. regrow until summer’s heat becomes too Remaining runners can be lifted and Crowns may be divided every three years much for plants to tolerate. replanted once rooted, but will typically not Chioggia Red to produce additional plants. When set fruit in their first year. Ideal pH range: . 60 days. Chioggia transplanting, be sure the crown of the 5.3 to Red has a round head tightly packed with plant is above soil level. colorful red and white leaves. Early spring Swiss Chard. 22-25 days baby. 50-55 losing My Mind: an intimate look days full size. Sometimes called Perpetual at life with alzheimer’s Spinach. Swiss chard is a large, crisp- by thomas debaggio leaved green vegetable with succulent stems ideal to use fresh or cooked. Best growth is achieved with a temperature To tell the story of the disease that haunted range between 45°F and 75°F. Exposure to even a light frost will cause the plant to him was quick and easy. He sat every day in a bolt. chair and typed, describing daily stumbles and ‘fordhook giant’ has medium- shaking night awakenings, trying to understand green, crinkled leaves with white veins and the way Alzheimer’s acted. Anger and broad white stems. ‘bright lights’ bewilderment exploded as the words poured out is a mix of colored day by day. A literary agent was enlisted and he stems, including red, yellow, pink, white, quickly found a publisher, in this case one of and purple, with green or bronze leaves. ‘Ruby Red’. America’s finest, The Free Press, a branch of the Apple red stems with well known New York house of Simon & Schuster. 256 page hardcover. $24.00 each dark green, red-veined leaves. . 36 PEPPERS early a s popular as the tomato in home gardens, peppers should not be transplanted to the garden as early. nPepper transplants may be placed in the garden after night temperatures are reliably 50°F or above; plants subjected to cold nights often become stunted, reducing pepper production. A temperature range of 60°F to 80°F provides the best growth and fruiting. Site plants in full sun (minimum 4 hours) and in soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.8. Space 2 to 3 feet apart. Support is usually needed to prevent fruit laden plants from toppling under their own weight or in a strong wind. Notations in our listing about the number of days indicate approximate time from transplanting to first harvest. Green peppers are immature fruits that ripen in an array of colors, but most commonly red or yellow. Plants are typically available about the third week in april. Visit www.debaggioherbs.com to view availability. Peppers are quite sensitive to cold. growth may be stunted and/or yields may suffer if planted too early.

Chiles

Essential for so many popular Asian and Southwestern dishes, these peppers can be dried or frozen for keeping through winter. aji dulce. bolivian Rainbow 90 days. Looks like a . 80 days. A extremely hot in both its purple and small habanero or scotch bonnet but beautiful ornamental pepper with purple mature red phase. A bird’s eye type hot pepper. without the scorching heat. Retains the foliage and flowers,bearing a profusion of fatalii. aroma and taste typical of its C. chinense fruit in a rainbow of colors on 2 to 3 ft. tall 80 days. Originally from (habanero) brethren. Ripens red. Mildly plants. Very hot peppers are edible, but Africa, these wrinkled, yellow fruit, with a hot. are mainly grown for their striking citrus like flavor, rival the habanero for alma Paprika. 70-80 days. Ripens appearance. intense heat. Loads of 2 to 3 inch tapered from cream-white to orange to red. Thick Carolina Reaper. chiles are produced on plants reaching 3 70-90 days. walled, cherry-type fruit. Excellent for to 4 feet tall. VERY HOT. The hottest Carolina Reaper fish. drying and grinding. 75 days. Used to season fish anaheim. was measured at over 1,500,000 Scoville and shellfish in the Baltimore and 68 days. A California type units or 40+ times hotter than your Philadelphia African American chile that is mildly hot with fruits about 7 average Jalapeño. Fruits are red, gnarled communities during the 1930’s and inches long and about 2 inches in and lumpy with a tail on the blossom end. 1940’s. The small one to two inch long diameter. It was bred for heat and that is it. Those bhut Jalokia fruits are not only very hot but are . AKA Ghost Pepper. brave enough to try may experience a variegated, as are the plants that bear This chile from India is one of the hottest sweet fruity flavor just before the them. While the peppers eventually turn pepper in the world. A fruit in 2007 scorching pungency takes over. As with all orange-red the plants retain their measured over 1,000,000 Scoville units chiles, growing conditions will greatly ornamental creamy white stripes. making it more than twice as hot as its affect heat level of an individual fruit. fooled you Cayenne. . 65 Days. Ripens red.A cousin the habanero. Pungency can vary 75 days. Slender, long full flavored Jalapeño with no heat! Perfect considerably from year to year depending fruits are about 6 inches long and an inch for mild salsas. Fruit are 3 inches long on climate conditions. in diameter, maturing red and very hot. big Chile with thick walls. . 68 days. Gigantic yields Our Cayenne is very productive and good garden Salsa. of chiles in the mild Anaheim class. Huge for drying. 73 days. Medium hot Cherry bomb. pepper developed for salsa. Fruits are 1 4 oz fruits reach 8 to 10 inches long and 65 days. Round to have thick flesh and mature red. by 8 inches. Disease resistant hybrid. black Pearl top-shaped fruits are very hot and about 2 giant thai hot. . 110-125 days. 2006 inches in diameter. Hybrid plants are 42 days. Fruits are AAS Winner! This unique variety looks productive and tall. Fruit is easy to pick. twice the size of regular Thai hot peppers. marvelous in mixed containers and is the Nice fresh and good for pickling. Developed by R.E. Bernstrom of Chile de arbol. Richmond, Ky. Green fruit matures red. perfect backdrop in garden beds. Bushy, 80 days. A Fruits are about 1 inch long, and shaped upright plants have a well-branched habit, Cayenne type of pepper with pointed like a top. producing shiny black fruits that are very pods, 2 to 3 inches long and 3/8 inches golden Cayenne. hot. Fruits eventually mature dark red with wide. Thin flesh makes these ideal for 70 days to first a rounded, slightly pointed shape. drying and grinding into powder. fruit. Long, curved, slender peppers Vigorous, with a high tolerance to heat Chiltepin. mature yellow. Very hot. 90 days. Don’t let the habanero. and humidity. small size fool you. The pea sized fruit is 95 days. Habanero has a PEPPERS 37 Mirasol. reputation as one of the hottest of the hot hot, conical fruit with a citrus flavor. Ripens 100 days. Medium hot. Thin peppers, 1000 times hotter than the yellow. Needs long season to develop. 1/2 skinned, 3 to 5 inch conical red fruit have common Jalapeño. A native of the torrid inch X 2 1/2 inch long fruits are bright a hint of fruitiness. Mucho nacho hybrid. Yucatan peninsula, it has become a badge yellow and slightly crinkled. Peruvian 75 days. If of pepper courage. We offer four seasoning pepper. Mexibell. you ever wished jalapeños were bigger, Habanero varieties: 70 days. This is an then this is for you. These jumbos are also Orange Habanero , is the improvement on the Mexibell Hybrid, an hotter than the standard jalepeño. The 4 traditional pepper we have carried for ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS winner in inch long peppers ripen red at full maturity. several years, and plenty hot with a 1988. Large, bell shaped peppers are fiery numex big Jim. 80 days. Large Scoville rating between 100,000 and hot and wonderful for adding lots of heat 350,000 units. to cooked dishes. Peppers are green, but medium hot peppers, 12 inches long and up to 4 oz. Anaheim type. Good for Chiles Red Habanero has supreme heat; turn red upon maturity. Relleños. one of its brethren tested 577,000 Scoville units, the hottest in the world, according to Chile Pepper magazine. Hot, Hot, Hot White Habanero. The small Several factors play a large role in determining pungency or “heat” of a white pod is smaller than either the red or particular pepper. Aside from genetics, environment plays a major role in orange types but don’t let the size fool you, the heat can be blistering! Ours were determining chile pungency. The same variety can vary wildly from year to so hot that just a splinter sized piece was year or even plant to plant. According to Dave Dewitt, author of The Chile almost too much to handle. Pepper Encyclopedia, “soil, fertilizer, and stress from over or under watering; hot Paper lantern. 70 days lime excessive summer heat, winds, and solar radiation; excess or lack of green/90 days red ripe. Habanero type humidity; as well as ambient insecticides and air pollution” can all increase with larger, slightly elongated pods. Very the pungency level of fruits. This was proven to me by accident when Susan hot. More productive than regular Belsinger grew one of my white habanero peppers in her Maryland garden habanero. Fruits change from lime green while I tested one of its brethren in my own. She reported that her harvest through shades of orange to scarlet red as yielded fruits that were hot but nothing she couldn’t handle. Upon trying a they ripen. hungarian yellow wax. small piece of one from my garden she declared, with watery eyes, that they 67 days. were much hotter than hers. Spicy and fairly hot fruits 6 to 8 inches Attempting to rate and compare heat levels is therefore difficult at best long and 1 inch in diameter are produced. and at worst a little silly. But for comparison’s sake I have put together the Yellow peppers turn red at maturity. indian Jwala. following chart. As pointed out, your results will vary. From high to low Very hot! Jwala pungency: means volcano. The most popular chile used in India. Also called Indian Finger CAROLINA REAPER Hot. Slender, 4 inch long, wrinkled fruit TRINIDAD SCORPION ripens red. Plants are very productive italian Roaster. BHUT JOLOKIA/GHOST PEPPER 70 days. Mildly hot, RED HABANERO narrow fruits reach up to 8 inches in length WHITE HABANERO and ripen red. Thin walled and good for CHILTEPIN salads or grilling. Good, spicy flavor. Jalapeño. THAI HOT 65 days. This familiar hot SUPER CHILE HYBRID pepper, a regular work horse, producing CAYENNE very hot, small, green chiles that mature TABASCO red. Plants 3 feet high are loaded with CHERRY BOMB fruit. SERRANO Jaloro. 70 days. Virus resistant. This GARDEN SALSA is the first yellow jalapeño, the handiwork JALAPEñO of the Texas Agricultural Extension BIG JIM service. Fruits ripen orange and then red. MEXIBELL Plants are compact. HUNGARIAN HOT WAX Kung Pao hybrid . 85 days. POBLANO/ANCHO ANAHEIM Medium hot, 4 1/2 inch long fruits ripen PASILLA BAJIO red. Thin walls make this variety good for PIMIENTO drying and storing. lemon drop. PEPPERONCINI 100 days. Intensely SWEET PEPPER 38 PEPPERS numex twilight. 120 days. An New Mexico. Small, oblong, very hot fruit medium-hot chile is known in Mexico as ornamental piquin-type chili with green are produced on this four foot tall plant. Poblano when used fresh and as Ancho leaves and purple fruit that ripens to Good for drying. when dried. These heart-shaped peppers yellow, orange, and then red. This variety Pepperoncini, golden are about 2 inches in diameter and up to 4 has fruit in all four color states at the same greek. inches long. They are dark green and time. Very striking and great for 62 days. Mildly hot. This strain mature to a mahogany color. Plants can containers. from Greece is for those who want a more be tall and rangy. Padron Purple Jalapeño. . 60 days. Tapas pepper. For classic Pepperoncini. These are smaller 75 days. Larger and lighter in color than Robustini mostly mild fruit, pick when about 1 inch than regular jalapeño but as hot. Fruit Pepperoncini (which it replaces). Thin- long. If allowed to reach full mature size of stays purple before finally turning red. walled 3-4 inch long fruits have slightly Royal black 2 to 3 inches long, all fruit will be spicy lobed tips. Harvest when about 2-3 inches . 90 days. Very hot. hot! In Spain, these peppers are served long and fruits reach light yellowish green Compact, 2 foot tall plants with black sautéed in olive oil with a little sea salt, for the classic Pepperoncini. Pickle in stems and foliage. Small, oblong, pointed, and eaten as tapas (appetizer). Pasilla bajio. vinegar for 1 to 6 months. jet black fruit. 78 days. Chile Negro Peter Pepper. Serrano. 90 days. This ornery 60 days. Peppers twice the or chilaca. Sturdy plants produce very old heirloom is grown as much to shock size of traditional Serrano with prolific fruit mild, 8 to 10 inch long, fruity tasting the prudish as for its culinary value! Pods set. Green fruit matures red. Disease peppers with just a little zing. Usually used are 4 to 6’’ long, blunt-ended, and mature resistant. in the dry or powdered form when making Spanish Spice hybrid. to a deep red - excellent for chili powder. 68 days to mole sauce. Allow pods to dry on the plant Dense plants, 20-30” tall. Limited supply. before picking. Poblano/ancho. fruit. Technically a hot pepper, although Pequin. 68 days. This the dark green, elongated fruits are neither 120 days. From northern spicy nor sweet. Good for grilling or frying. AKA Italico Supporting Tomatoes and Peppers Super Chile hybrid. 75 days. 1988 Supporting tomato plants helps switched from poles to cages. My All-America Selection. Semi-compact plant control disease and makes it easier cages are an improvement on my bears very hot, 2 1/2 inch long fruits. to harvest the fruit. The support grandfather’s. I use re-mesh, but cut Peppers ripen from green to orange to red. This is a good variety to grow in a systems I have seen for sale at it into panels in order to form a container year-round. garden centers are generally triangle lashed together with zip ties. tabasco. 90 to 100 days. This laughably short; a contraption three This style allows me to fold and store exceptionally hot pepper produces small, feet high and a foot around is not the supports at season’s end. slender yellow-green fruits that mature going to provide much support for a My father started out with stakes red. Plants are vigorous and high-yielding. six-foot plant three feet in diameter. made of stout pieces of wood, but These will bring tears to your eyes. thai hot. We offer several types of tomato found they could be snapped easily 65 days. Short plants cages, in addition to peper cages. when a strong, wet wind blew against produce small, pointed, 1 inch long green Our tomato cages are suitably sized a mature plant. He used 1/2-inch peppers that mature red. One of the for indeterminate and determinate diameter by 10 foot long metal, hottest of the hot peppers and decorative, too. plants. They are well made and electrical conduit for a number of tri-color Variegated. sturdy, some even fold up for easier years and found it worked well for The storage and should last for many tomatoes as well as eggplant. I variegated foliage, exhibiting shades of years. usually cut the conduit into 8 foot white, green and purple, really makes this Making your own cages can be lengths. It’s light and easily pushed plant stand out. Purple stems and blooms add to the charm. Fruits are hot and turn an affordable, albeit, time consuming into garden soil, and is easily stored. from deep purple to bright red at maturity. alternative. My grandfather favored The metal conduit lasts for years with Thought to have originated in the rain large home designed tomato cages virtually no maintenance. forests of Central America. trinidad Scorpion made from concrete reinforcing wire To tie the stems of tomatoes and . 110 days. (re-mesh). The cages were 6 feet eggplants to the conduit, use plastic Habanero type pepper from Trinidad & high and nearly three feet in diameter stretch ties (available for sale at the Tobago. One of the world’s hottest chiles. and provided support for lush growth nursery). Old pantyhose or cheese Fruit ripens from the top down, creating a and heavy yields. The cages had cloth work well also. Avoid using tricolor effect (Orange, yellow and green), some drawbacks, however; they were twine or string as they have a before eventually turning completely red. heavy, hard to move, and they took tendancy to dig into the soft, supple Pods are mushroom shaped with the up a lot of storage space. I recently stems of the plants. bottom coming to a point, resembling a scorpion’s tail. PEPPERS 39 Sweet Peppers antohi Romanian. gourmet. crunchy. Competition sized fruit. 53 days. 65 Days. Large, blocky Super Sweet Cherry. Romanians typically fry this heirloom fruits ripen orange. Strong plants produce 75 days to pepper in a hot skillet in order to fully abundant colorful peppers. first fruit. Extra large cherry type, 1-3/4 islander. experience the sweet, full flavor. Plants 56 days to first green fruit. inch round peppers mature red. Good for produce lots of yellow 4” tapered fruits that pickling and stuffing. Medium sized bell ripens green to violet; Sweet banana eventually ripen red. yellow; orange, then to dark red. . 72 days. Profuse big bertha. italian fryer. 70 days. A giant in the 60 days. This slender, harvests of 5 1/2 to 6 inch long, tapered sweet pepper pantheon, this hybrid has tapered pepper is from Naples where it is fruit.Starts light green,then yellow, orange, fruits as large as 7 inches long and 4 and finally red. Compact plant. used for frying and for pickling. Peppers Sweet Cayenne. inches in diameter. Young green peppers are green, about 3 to 4 inches long, and 75 days. Cayenne mature red on plants that are easily 3 feet mature red. Imported Italian seed. shaped fruits up to 12 inches long ripen Marconi. high. Fruit is mostly 4 lobed, making it 65 days. A large, long, red but stay sweet. good for stuffing. Sweet Pickle blushing beauty. tapered Italian pepper, 6 to 9 inches long . 75 days. Red, orange, 72 days. Hybrid. and 3 to 4 inches wide at the stem end. yellow, and purple fruit at the same time. All-America Selection winner for 2000. Shiny deep green color with thick walls. Two inch long, chunky fruit grow upward. Blocky 4” fruit ripen ivory to gold to orange Both red and yellow versions are Compact plants. Sweet Sunrise f1. to red. available. Excellent pepper for grilling. California wonder. Miniature bell. 65 days to 75 days. Bell- 90 days. Short, green, 85 days to yellow ripe fruit. type. Blocky, 4 inch green fruits with thick stocky plants produce loads 2” fruits. Medium-large, 3 and 4-lobed fruits are walls ripen red. Chocolate beauty Great for stuffing! Red, yellow, and blocky to slightly elongated. The flavor is . 67 days to chocolate varieties available both fruity and sweet. Sweet Sunrise is a Pimiento elite hybrid green; 87 days to chocolate. Four-lobed, . 85 days. sturdy, medium-sized plant with good leaf medium-large sweet bell variety. Plants cover to help reduce sun scald. Prolific plants produce 3-1/2 inch oval tequila hybrid. are disease resistant and provide prolific fruits ripening green to red. 72 days. This Purple beauty. yields. The rich mahogany color on mature 70 days. Medium- beautiful amethyst pepper from Holland fruits turns green when cooked. Corno di toro. sized dark purple fruit is produced on produces early fruit that is a blocky 4 1/2 68 days. Italian bull’s compact plants. Fruits are thick walled and inches deep and 4 inches across. Peppers horn. Delicious in salads but more often blocky. begin as lavender, eventually turning red. Roumanian Rainbow. grilled or sautéed. Long, 8-10 inch, 60 days to curved, green fruit. We have two varieties; Tomato Tone first white fruit. Colorful bell matures one ripens brilliant red, the other, yellow. Formulated just for peppers, Cubanelle. orange, then red. 68 days to first lime- Shishito . 60 days to green, 80 days tomatoes, and eggplant. green fruit. Large, smoothly tapered with to red. Thin-walled fruit are heavily Helps dramatically increase slightly blunt ends. Matures red early Sunsation wrinkled; 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. Popular in yields. . 70 days to first Japan where its thin walls make it green fruit, 84 days to yellow. Big, blocky particularly suitable for tempura. Also very tomatillo bell pepper reach about 4 1/2 inches long good in stir fries or sautés. In Asia, fruits . A unique plant with papery and nearly as wide. Fruit is smooth and are cooked when green but they also may husks, this Mexican native is consistently well shaped. Extra sweet be used red. Thinly sliced, the red fruits indispensable in south-of-the-border and when fully yellow.. fat ‘n’ Sassy hybrid. are excellent in salads or cole slaw. Large, Southwestern cooking, especially for 65 days. upright plants produce good yields over an authentic salsa. Grown like tomatoes, Large, heavy, blocky, fruit matures green extended harvest period. Socrates X3R. plants are large and branches may be tip- to red and has excellent sweet flavor. AKA 68 days. Four-lobed pruned to control growth and encourage King Arthur. giant aconcagua blocky bell peppers become very large, at branching. Papery husks on these . 75 day. A pepper least 4 inches long and wide, with thick varieties are easily removed and the fruits with flavor as sweet as apples. Oblong walls and delicious taste. Wonderful for are of high quality and firm, not pithy. fruit grow up to a huge 12 inches long eating fresh, cooking, or making into Harvest when papery, green husk loosens. Purple. (ours didn’t get quite so large) and is stuffed peppers. Fruit turns from green to 65 days. Deep purple skin produced in great abundance. Delicious in red and is sweet at all stages. Vigorous, and flesh. Very decorative. Keep salads, stuffed, stir-fried or roasted and tall plants are resistant to 3 races of harvested fruits in the light to intensify the peeled. Can be enjoyed at the light green Bacterial Spot and Potato Y Virus. skin pigmentation. Super heavyweight hybrid. toma Verde stage, but is sweetest when fully ripened 77 . 60 days. Large fruits to red. days. Huge, bell-type, ripens green to ripen to a pale green-yellow. gold. Huge thick walled sweet and 40 TOMaTOES For many gardeners, tomatoes are the essential crop in the kitchen garden, the summer fruit eaten fresh that justifies spring’s earthy labors. The vast array of tomato varieties is a clear signal of their popularity and ease of cultivation. t Tomatoes require well-drained, loose soil of moderate fertility. Warm soil is also critical to getting transplants off to a quick start. To warm cold soil, lay black plastic over the tomato bed two weeks before the intended O planting date. Remove it at planting time or slit it to accommodate the transplants. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart, a distance that should help keep foliage dry and lessen the impact of water-borne diseases that turn green tomato leaves yellow and then brown. Transplant seedlings 2 to 6 inches deeper than they were growing M in their pots, either by putting them straight in the hole or in a shallow, long trench on their sides. Provide plant support at the time of transplanting. Side dress with nutrients after the first fruits appear. The best temperatures for tomato growth are between 65°F and 80°F. A site with a minimum of 4 hours of a direct sun is essential to harvest fruit. Plants that grow lushly, but provide no fruit often do not receive enough sun. t The initials after the tomato name indicate the types of disease resistance. The number of days is an estimated time to the first harvest. The terms “determinate” and “indeterminate” indicate the length of the fruit- bearing season and vine size. Indeterminate vines, often robust and in need of pruning, produce over the entire O season; determinate vines, frequently short and well-behaved, produce most of their bounty all at once, making them quite useful when canning tomatoes. e tomato plants are typically available beginning in mid to late april. Visit www.debaggioherbs.com to view availability. S Planting is generally best done after Mother’s day inside the beltway and as late as Memorial day in the colder suburbs. large fruited Varieties includes hybrid and heirloom varieties

abraham lincoln black tula. . Indeterminate. light green skins at maturity and just a hint 80 days. Indeterminate. 87 days. Beautiful dark red fruits, sweet, of yellow. Flesh is green blushed with pink, Russian heirloom. Reddish-brown solid and meaty. Fruits are smooth, free meaty, and flavorful. Pick by feel , not beefsteak. Sweet fruit, smooth texture. boxcar willie. from cracks and seams, and - although look, when soft to the touch, they are 80 days. ready. large - ripen all the way through. Ideal for better boy Vfn. Indeterminate. Prolific yields of smooth, ketchup, juice or slicing. Sturdy plants, 75 days. reddish-orange fruits averaging a large 10 frequently have bronzy-green foliage. Indeterminate. Our most popular large, amish Paste. to 16 oz.! With an old-fashioned flavor 85 days. round, red tomato. Better boy maintains you'll remember from childhood, these Indeterminate heirloom. Large, oblong, ox good fruit production and has disease high-yielding, multi-use tomatoes will last resistance. heart shaped fruit is very sweet. Rated big beef VffntaSt. throughout the season and are ideal for highly in taste tests. 75 days. canning, freezing, or for home-cooked arkansas traveler. Indeterminate. All-American Winner Big meals. Crack-free and disease resistant. 85 days. brandywine. Indeterminate heirloom. Flavorful pink Beef has globe-shaped flavorful red fruit 90 days. fruits in the 6 to 8 ounce range are on a plant that has high tolerance for Indeterminate. An heirloom Amish variety adverse growing condition. produced in abundance on a plant known big brandy from 1885, Brandywine is considered by for its ability to withstand hot weather. . 75 days. Indeterminate. many to be the finest-flavored large aunt ginny’s Purple. 75 days. Brandywine hybrid produces pink, 12 to 16 tomato ever offered. Fruits, though not Indeterminate heirloom. This beefsteak oz fruit. Higher yield than its parent. abundant, are as large as 1.5 pounds with black Krim. a full, sweet tomato flavor. variety is considered by many experts to 75-90 days. brandywine, black. be superior to Brandywine in flavor. Deep Indeterminate, Heirloom from the Black 80 days. pink fruits up to 16 ounces are produced. Sea of Russia. Large, 10 to 12 oz., dark Indeterminate. This black version of aunt Ruby’s german green. 80 brown-red tomatoes are richly flavored Brandywine has fruit with the same days. Indeterminate. Heirloom green with just a hint of saltiness. Color is darker luscious flavor of Pink Brandywine beefsteak with a deliciously sweet flavor in hot weather, and fruit seems to set well combined with the richness of black that's enhanced by a spicy undertone. even in the heat. Interior is a deep, tomato taste. Same flattened beefsteak Globe-shaped large fruits are smooth with reddish-green color. Prone to cracking, but shape and size as Brandywine, but this a very heavy producer. fruit is more like the color of deep TOMaTOES 41 Cherokee Purple. mahogany. Tomatoes are 12 to 16 ounces 80 days. Similar flavor and color as Brandywine but and grow on vigorous plants. slightly smaller, more uniform, and more brandywine, Red. Indeterminate heirloom. Thin-skinned with 80 days. soft flesh, fruit is sweet and rich flavored. productive. Fruits have lots of deep, acidic tomato flavor and a rich, creamy texture. Indeterminate. This is a version of Very unusually colored, rose-purple fruit giant belgium Brandywine that offers red fruit with has a deep red interior. If you . Indeterminate. 90 luscious old-time, red tomato think a good tomato can days to harvest. Huge, dark pink fruit is so flavor. Plants have only be perfectly sweet it can be made into wine. goliath VffntaSt regularly-shaped leaves formed and red, . 65 days. and are extremely this one will Indeterminate. Tall, vigorous plants yield productive, bearing change your beautiful, blemish free red fruits in the 10 long harvests of mind. Winner to 15 oz. range. Gives Brandywine a run these 10 to 16 oz. of our for the money as the best tasting tomato fruit. summer of all time. hawaiian Pineapple. 1999 taste 90-95 days. brandywine, test. Indeterminate. Large beefsteak fruits ripen yellow. Copia. 78 days. golden-orange and have a pineapple-like 85 days. flavor when perfectly ripe. Vines produce Indeterminate. This 1 Indeterminate. 2 rich tasting old-timer lots of 1 to 1 ⁄ lb. fruits. This was a These beautiful produces memorable pleasant surprise at our taste trials several tomatoes are a orange fruit that is over 10 years ago, scoring in the top five. stunning combination of italian giant beefsteak. oz. 85 days to bush goliath. fine-lined golden yellow and red 68 days. stripes. Their gold flesh is streaked with first ripe fruit. Indeterminate. Plant Indeterminate. This tomato was created red and is juicy, flavorful, and sweet. Fruits produces lots of flattened fruits reaching for gardeners with limited space, 16 oz. weigh about one pound each. italian heirloom especially those who grow tomatoes in dr. wyche’s yellow. 80 days. . Indeterminate. containers. Attractive, compact plants only Indeterminate. Heirloom. Fruit is 70-80 days. Heirloom from Italy. Plants are 40 inches tall, produce 3-4 inch fruits unblemished and smooth, golden-yellow loaded with red fruits weighing over a packed with sweet tomato flavor. Carbon. varying from 10 ounces to 1 lb. The pound. Excellent full tomato flavor. Ideal 80 days. Indeterminate. shape is slightly flattened and the interior for slicing and canning‚ very little waste Medium to large, 8 to 12 oz, dark, and easy to peel is meaty and flavorful with few seeds. Very Kellogg’s breakfast. purplish-brown fruit with brick red interior. productive. 80-85 days. This is one of the darkest of the “black” florida 91 Vff. Indeterminate. Heirloom. Lovely, pale- 72 days. tomatoes and widley considered one of orange fruits are solid and meaty Determinate. Extra large, uniform fruit are the best tasting. Rich yet sweet flavor. throughout, packed with mild, superb- Caspian Pink. produced on disease resistant vines. As 80 days. tasting flesh. A long-season producer of the name implies, these plants are reputed large, beefsteak-type fruits, up to 16 oz., Indeterminate. Originally grown in Russia to do well in high heat and humidity and with solid centers that have just a few in the area between the Caspian and are resistant to two of our most prevalent seeds at the edges. Very desirable! Black Seas, this heirloom variety beat tomato diseases; alternaria and gray spot. legend. 68 days. Determinate. This Brandywine in California taste tests for genuwine. three straight years. Large, 10-12 ounce 70 days. early variety sets large fruit that are glossy fruits. Indeterminate. A hybrid cross between red and round. Flavor is a balance of Chef’s Choice Orange (f1) Brandywine and Costoluto Genovese. sugars and acids. Strong resistance . Higher yield and earlier to mature than against the late blight fungus, a problem 75 days. Indeterminate. Orange Brandywine, while retaining the size, that has thwarted many a tomato Beefsteak. 2013 AAS winner. 8-11 oz. shape, and legendary flavor from it’s much gardener. It sets fruit well under cool fruits are low in acid and have very good temperatures, and contains few seeds. lauded parent. Exhibits a hint of scalloping Moreton hybrid f1 flavor and texture. High yielding. Earlier in the shoulders, good production, and . 70 days. and more productive than most orange ability to set fruit in higher temperatures, Indeterminate. Rutgers University has beefsteaks. High resistance to tobacco traits from it’s Italian parent. Regular- reintroduced this old time favorite. Fruit mosaic virus. Cherokee green leaved plants produce delicious 10 to 12 are large, meaty and delicious. Verticilium . Indeterminate. 72 oz. red fruit Resistant plants. german giant. Mortgage lifter Vfn. days. A selection of Cherokee Purple, 77 days. 82 days. produces green tomatoes. The medium- Indeterminate. Heirloom. Huge, deep pink, Indeterminate. Special strain still retains sized, 8+ oz., green fruits acquire some sweet fruit. extra-large (2 pounds or more) fruits, but yellowish-orange color on the blossom end german Johnson. is smoother and more uniform. Better when ripe. Lots of bold, acidic, complex 75 days. disease resistance, too. tomato flavor. Indeterminate. Regular-leafed strain. 42 TOMaTOES

Mr. Stripey. and sweet tomatoes. One of my favorites. either stage. Low acid, sweet and juicy 80 days. Indeterminate. Prudens Purple Ridged-shouldered, large fruits, yellow . 75 days. tomatoes are typically 7 to 8 oz. Supersteak Vfn. with pinkish-red stripes. Quite mild, low Indeterminate. Large pink fruits up to 1 80 days. acid, with few seeds. Virginia favorite. pound are produced on potato-leaved Indeterminate. Very large red fruits are the Old Virginia. vines. Delicious flavor with surprising specialty of this variety and its reliability is 80 days. production. Very highly rated in taste tests. attested to by the number of county fair Indeterminate. Heirloom. An old, Southern Ramapo f1 . 75 days. Indeterminate. blue ribbons presented to it over the Virginia favorite. This tomato can take the First developed at Rutgers in 1968, the years. It may win some accolades at your heat and still yield a good crop. Vigorous Ramapo F1 hybrid tomato became a table, too. This is the kind of tomato that plants produce dark red, globe-shaped, 8 gardener's favorite due to its wonderful covers an entire piece of bread with a to 12 ounce fruit that are smooth and flavor combined with excellent fruit quality, single slice. crack resistant. tangerine. Omar’s lebanese reliability and production. The Ramapo 85 days. Indeterminate. . 80 days disappeared as seed companies began Heirloom. Heavy producer of large, deep Indeterminate. A meaty, rich, sweet tomato favoring varieties that produced higher yellow-orange fruit. from Lebanon. The luscious pink fruits white Queen. yields and firmer fruit for commercial 85 days. average between 1 and 2 pounds. growers. In 2008, the genuine Ramapo F1 Park’s whopper Vf1f2nt Indeterminate. Heirloom variety. . 65 hybrid seed was reintroduced. Beefsteak-type fruit weights 8 to 12 days. Indeterminate. This fine tasting Rose. 78 days. Indeterminate. This is ounces, and is smooth except for ribbed tomato, produces large yields of fruit an heirloom with taste rivaling Brandywine. shoulders. Some fruit have a pink blush or throughout the summer and is earlier than Smooth, large, meaty fruits are produced. streaks on their blossom ends and all other large-fruited varieties. It is crack and Rutgers VfaSt. 75 days. ripen to a pale creamy yellow with no disease resistant . Persimmon. Determinate. Thick-walled, 7 oz., bright cracking. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet 80 days. Indeterminate red fruits ripen evenly inside out. An old with a well-balanced flavor. yellow giant belgium (goldie) heirloom. Large, good flavored, golden- time favorite that is well suited for canning. . orange fruits weighing in at 1 to 2 pounds. Sioux. 70 days. Indeterminate. 90 days. Indeterminate. 150 years ago this Highly rated in taste tests. Pineapple. Sweet, tangy, 6 oz. fruits set well in hot heirloom variety was selected for its giant 85 days. Indeterminate. weather. sized, golden yellow fruit and mild flavor. This heirloom variety produces large Sunny goliath hybrid Vfn. bicolored, yellow fruit that is streaked with 70 red both inside and out. Strong vines Days. Indeterminate. Sunshine yellow fruit produce an abundant crop of rich, fruity ripen to brilliant gold and are edible at Preventing blossom end Rot

The dark soft spot that appears on the end is relatively easy through mulching and drip of a tomato (to a lesser degree eggplant or irrigating (overhead irrigation can foster pepper) opposite the stem, ruining the fruit, is bacterial and fungal diseases of the foliage). an annual problem that frustrates many Check beneath the mulch one or twice a week gardeners. The condition is not caused by a and irrigate if necessary. disease but a calcium deficiency that weakens If the soil is too acidic, the plant will not be the cell walls of tomatoes. able to efficiently use calcium or other nutrients The most common causes of this malady already in the soil. Lime, a chief source of are uneven periods of soil moisture (which can calcium, is used to raise the pH (your local also cause cracking) and improper soil pH. Both extension agent can help with soil samples and interfere with the plant’s ability to properly recommendations on the amount needed to transport calcium to the fruit. Overly wet soil is achieve the target pH of 7). A fertilizer which difficult to prevent in our unpredictable climate, obtains its nitrogen from calcium carbonate but raised beds will allow excess water to drain. rather than acid-forming ammonium is also Conservation of soil moisture during dry spells recommended. TOMaTOES 43 Small fruit / Cherry/ grape tomatoes.

black Cherry. 65 days. our favorite cherry tomatoes; its flavor is Indeterminate plants produce easy to incomparable. One inch fruits are pick, small, round, black cherry fruit. produced in clusters. It is a favorite of black Plum. children and adults. 82 days. Sweet baby girl. Indeterminate. Small, oval, mahogany 65 days. fruits are sweet and tasty. Compact, vigorous plants produce sweet, brandysweet Plum . flavorful cherry sized, red fruit until frost. Indeterminate plants are compact and Indeterminate. 75 days. This variety more manageable than other cherry types that has Brandywine crossed with a cherry good, tangy flavor that is somewhat spicy. Sweet Chelsea. Good plant for containers. 64 days. tomato is a winning combination with Matt’s wild Cherry. delicious, sweet taste. Slightly elongated 60 days. Indeterminate. The 1 to 1 1/2-inch red pink cherries appear in abundance on Indeterminate. This tomato from Mexico fruits are carried in clusters on this plant. potato-leaved plants. has produced a chorus of praise. The Excellent fruit set and flavor is very sweet. five Star grape f1 Plants grow five to six feet tall. . 62 days. tender, smooth fruit has is rich and full- tommy toe. Indeterminate. Excellent, sweet flavor and flavored with a sweetness that has few 70 days. Indeterminate. firm, meaty texture with few seeds and rivals. Red fruits are about 3/4-inch in Very prolific producer of flavorful small diameter. little juice. Healthy plants bear high yields Pink Ping Pong. fruit. This variety is frequently rated highly 75 days. in taste tastes throughout the country. of bright red crack resistant grape white Cherry. tomatoes. Indeterminate. Productive vines bear juicy, 59 days. Compact flammée delicious, ping pong ball sized, pink fruit. . 85 days. Indeterminate. Red grape. indeterminate. Pale, yellow fruit have good Heirloom. AKA Juane Flammée. Small, 2 60 day. Indeterminate and mild taste. yellow Canary. to 3 oz, sweet fruit has bright orange skin vines produce loads of firm meaty, sweet 55 days. fruits. Clusters have up to 20 tomatoes with red interior. Thick walls remain tender . Determinate. Miniature plants produce and flavorful. High yielding variety. Great each. Good shelf and vine life Red Pear Vf. small, golden yellow fruit. Yellow sister to salad type. 70 days. red robin. golden Sweet hybrid (f1). yellow Pear 60 Indeterminate. Pear-shaped tomatoes VF. 70 days. days. Indeterminate. Yellow grape type have a long history in the garden. Their Indeterminate. Pear-shaped tomatoes produces long trusses of firm, bite size unique shape, coupled with their small have a long history in the garden. Their fruit. size, create a tomato that kids and adults unique shape, coupled with their small grapette hybrid f love to eat out of hand or in salads. . 75 days. Red Robin. size, create a tomato that kids and adults 55 days. Determinate. love to eat out of hand or in salads. Indeterminate. Large clusters of grape yellow Ping Pong. sized, thin skinned, sweet, red fruit. Dwarf plants are 8 to 12 inches high, 75 days. green grape. 70 days. Determinate. perfect for hanging baskets or a six-inch Indeterminate. Yellow, juicy tomatoes Short compact plants produce lots of 3/4 pot. Sweet-flavored fruits are 1 1/2 inches about the size of a ping-pong ball are born to 1 inch yellow-green fruit. in diameter. in clusters. Deliciously sweet, juicy husky Cherry Red Vf. Sun gold. tomatoes with a refreshing lemon-like 65 days. 57 days. Indeterminate. finish. Indeterminate. Compact plants about 5 Cascading trusses are covered with feet tall and produce flavorful red fruits luscious bite-sized golden fruit. English gardeners voted this early, heavy cropper that are 1 inch in diameter. This is a space KiPOS botanicals™ saver that is also excellent for containers. the sweetest tomato ever. This is now our tomatoes a dark purple. Good flavor. most popular tomato.. herbal Skincare Juliet hybrid. Sun Cherry. 60 days. 58 days. Indeterminate. Indeterminate. 1999 All America Comparable to Sun Gold. Prolific producer of very sweet, quarter sized red fruit. Sharing the garden’s Selections winner. Elongated cherry beauty & power with tomatoes weighing 1 oz. are produced in Excellent for salads or eating right off the vine. all natural, handcrafted grape-like clusters. Expect high yields of Sun Sugar ft. herbal salves, balms & 62 days. crack resistant fruit. Tolerant to late blight more. and leaf spot. Indeterminate. Small, orange, fruit has thin lime-green Salad. 68 days. skin and some crack resistance. Almost as sweet as a cube of sugar. Great for kids of Determinate. Diminutive plants produce Arlington, Virginia 22207 all ages. loads of small 3 to 5 oz., lime-green Sweet 100 Vf. www.kiposbotanicals.com tomatoes that ripen further to amber. Fruit 65 days. is chartreuse inside and full of juice and Indeterminate. Sweet 100 remains one of 44 TOMaTOES tomatoes with Medium Sized fruit

black Zebra. Costoluto genovese. 75 days. 75 days. and flavor to salads. Average fruit is 6 to 8 Indeterminate. Vigorous plants produce 3 Indeterminate. This old Italian variety has ounces and out yields other golden tomatoes. to 4 oz. deep burgundy fruit with green a good tomato flavor. It produces light red new girl stripes. Rich complex flavor typical of medium-sized fruit with an unforgettable . 62 days. Indeterminate. black tomatoes. A cross between a black flattened shaped that is strongly ribbed. Medium sized, fruits have good full flavor. tomato and ‘Green Zebra’. A unique and This is a tomato that Europeans love to Good for sandwiches and salads. Better stunning variety. eat at the green shoulder stage; the flavor tasting and more disease resistant than bush early girl. is unique. Highly rated in taste tests. Early Girl. 54 days to fruit. early girl. Red Zebra. Compact 52 days. Indeterminate. 85 days. determinate. This extremely early variety produces a Indeterminate.Fruits are dark red inside, High large crop of medium-sized, red-fruited and fire engine red outside with golden yielding tomatoes. The rich, red, globular fruits of streaks. Produces large crops of 3 inch Early Girl are in the 4 to 6 oz. range. round fruit. One of the best tasting striped plant green Zebra. with 72 days to first green tomatoes. Patio hybrid VaSt. medium fruit. Indeterminate. Pick fruit when it 70 days. sized begins to show a yellow blush. Japanese black trifele. Determinate. Good producer of medium fruit. 74 days. sized, flavorful, red fruit. Compact plant is Good for Heirloom. Indeterminate. Heavy producer good for containers. thessaloniki. container. of 3 to 5 ounce, pear-shaped fruits that 68 days. are free of blemishes and cracks. Color Indeterminate. This Greek variety Celebrity ranges from intense black to dark gray produces beautifully smooth, crack- f1 Vffnt blushed with magenta. As delicious as it . 70 days. resistant, red fruits 3 to 4 inches in is unique. Excellent for canning. Harvest diameter. Fruits are juicy and flavorful. Determinate. This All-America Selection while shoulders are still green. award winner has vigorous vines that lemon boy Vfn. 72 days. produce flavorful 3 1/2-inch fruit under a Indeterminate. This hybrid produces wide range of growing conditions. round, bright yellow fruit that adds color

Paste/Cooking tomatoes

These varieties have been selected for Principe borghese. 75 days. type fruit are 4 to 6 inches long. Meaty their thick, meaty interiors, small Determinate heirloom. This plum-shaped and flavorful with brilliant yellow skin and seed cavities, and they have sufficient white flesh. Italian tomato is favored for drying, sauce. San Marzano. flavor to be eaten fresh or cooked into But it is also tasty to eat out of hand. 80 days. paste and sauces. Meaty fruits have little juice and few Indeterminate. This old favorite is more seeds. rectangular in shape and larger than golden Roma ii la Roma hybrid Vf. VF. 70 days. 62 days. Roma. A favorite with many of my Italian Determinate. Hybrid. Aka Golden Milano. Determinate. Very productive Roma type. customers because of its meaty interior. Imported seed. Roma type with excellent tast. Mild, non Slightly larger fruit than regular Roma Sausage. acidic. Makes great salsa, good for type. 78 days. Indeterminate. canning. Roma Vf health Kick hybrid VffaSt. . 75 days. Determinate. These are big-up to 6 inches long. They 72 Fruits are plum-shaped and 2 to 3 inches are meaty and perfect to mix with canning tomatoes. Prolific. days. Determinate, to 4 feet tall. Plum long. A well-known, reliable variety for Super italian Paste. shaped, 4 oz. fruit are great tasting and cooking and canning. 73 days. Roman Candle plentiful. Extra high levels of lycopene give . 80 days. Indeterminate heirloom. Six-inch long fruit this variety its name. Indeterminate. Elongated, yellow, paste- has lots of meat, little juice, few seeds. FRUiT 45 bluebeRRieS figS Add peat moss to the planting hole to help lower the pH. Use a fertilizer Self-pollinating. These plants are not formulated for acid-loving plants to help keep pH cold hardy beyond zones 7-10, but are in the desired range of 4.5 to 5.5. often grown in zones 4-7 with adequate Most variteies require another blueberry plant nearby for fruit production care and winter protection. Figs generally Chandler need moderate moisture and nutrition. dwaRf bluebeRRieS produces the world’s top hat. Choose a fertilzer low in nitrogen and Vaccinium angustifolium. largest blueberry. The long ripening season provides fresh fruit for up to six high in calcium and phosporous. Fruit Loved for its small, sweet fruit and weeks. Foliage turns burgundy and production and quality will suffer if plant exceptionally hardy growth. An early- orange in fall. Matures 5-7 feet. is subjected to drought stress. season, native species that spreads by duke is the most outstanding early- brown turkey. roots to provide a 12-18” colorful shrub. Also know as the This drought-resistant, trouble-free plant season variety in terms of fruit quality and English Brown Turkey, Black Spanish or grows well almost anywhere with care. taste. It reaches 5-6’ tall and produces Texas Ever-bearing. Most common, Often used in mass plantings or for uniquely tasty, large, firm fruit with a temperate variety. This mid-season variety restorations projects. Self-Pollinating . notable crisp texture. blue Crop has medium to large, sweet fruit with is perhaps the most brown-violet skin and pink flesh. SOutheRn highbuSh widely planted variety in the U.S. A true Chicago hardy. garden performer, it consistently As the name O'neal is considered by many to produces quantities of large, firm, sweet implies, this is one of the most prolific figs to grow in cold areas of the northern U.S. offer the best flavor of all Southern fruit. Matures 4-6 feet. Mid season. blue Ray The fall fruits are born on the new canes Highbush blueberries. This self-fertile is a hardy, upright, early that grow during the summer. A plant with bush bears attractive, large, very sweet to mid-season variety with large, tasty four new stems can produce up to 150 fruit, followed by orange and wine colored fruit in exceptionally tight clusters. A purplish-brown figs of excellent flavor. fall foliage and red stems. Berry quality production leader, with a very long fruiting Zones 6-10. does not deteriorate under high season, this classic variety will endure - italian honey. temperatures. Matures 4-6 feet. Hardy to 40ºF temperatures. Also known as Jersey, Lattarula. Light green/yellow fruits ripen zone 5. an original 1928 late-season earlier than other varieties. Dwarf tree is cross, remains popular because of its nORtheRn highbuSh good for growing in a pot. vigorous growth and large, dependable black Spanish. bluebeRRieS crops of small to medium sized sweet Large, dark purple to mahogany colored fruit with red center. Plants will produce nearly twice as fruit. Long a favorite of growers in zones Very sweet. much fruit when allowed to cross 4-7, it reaches 6-8’ with a very dense upright habit and attractive foliage. pollinate with another highbush Compact hedge blaCKbeRRieS blueberry plant regardless of season. Patriot Thornless! Remove old canes on the is a popular early-season Standard hedge Fall. Plants bear fruit on the following varieties reach 5- variety and is hardy to -40ºF. This year’s new growth. 6’ or higher, while producing large crops rounded, compact bush has dense, glossy foliage. Height to 4 feet. Medium apache of tasty fruit which last for two months has large, tasty fruit with sized fruit. when several varieties are grown. good eating and keeping characteristics. Upright plant, growing 4 to 5 feet in height. arapaho RaSPbeRRieS has large, glossy conical shaped fruit which are quite firm. Self- Remove old canes in the Fall. supporting 6-8’ upright canes establish Plants bear fruit on the following year’s new growth. fruits quickly. A vigorous, disease resistant, early-season variety. Zone 5-8. Self-fertile. triple Crown Red fruit which continues bearing through the fall. is an early-season Caroline Self-fertile and root rot resistant, the fruit variety. Its large crops of fruit with is an everbearing variety is high-quality, firm and excellent in unparalleled production of up to 30 producing large berries with a super- flavor. Zones 4-8. pounds per plant, outstanding vigor and strong raspberry flavor beginning two golden fruit cold hardiness. Fruit is glossy, black and weeks earlier than Heritage. anne large, with excellent flavor. Self-fertile plant heritage are everbearing like Heritage is an ever-bearing (small is a trailing variety, so should be trellised. but produce golden yellow berries. spring crop, larger fall crop) red variety Zone 4-8. 46 FRUiT eldeRbeRRy CuRRant gOOSebeRRy ‘Red lake’ Sambucus canadensis produces clusters of Small, roundish-oval, light green- Elderberry is a multi-stemmed shrub. large, red berries that possess a mild shaded red berries with juicy flesh. In spring, tiny, star-shaped, white flowers flavor. Hardy and vigorous, it is considered Wonderful for canning and wine-making. are arranged in showy sprays up to 10- by many to be the best red currant variety. inches across, nearly covering the plant. This glossy, green-leafed plant is suitable bOySenbeRRy In summer, it bears shiny, purple-black for hedging and is highly ornamental. Mid fruits used to make elderberry wine and to late season fruit. Matures 3 to 5 feet. Famous for their simultaneous sweet when cooked, made into pies and jams. Consort black. A product ive and and tart flavor when ripe. Probably the The berries are very high in vitamin C and self-fertile variety. Ripens late season. result of a cross between loganberry and a are a great source of vitamins A and B, as Black medium-sized fruits have a strong wild blackberry relative. antioxidants. Elderberry finishes the show flavor. Wonderful in jellies, jams and with a colorful autumn display of yellow, sauces. Leaves turn bright orange, yellow orange, and red foliage. Matures at 5 to or red in the fall. 12 feet. Zones 4-8.

HERbal SOaPS

Traditional soap-making involves triple-milling the ingredients, a process of removing impurities over the course of several days, thereby lépi de Provence eliminating the need for preservatives. The result is a pure, creamy, triple-milled long-lasting, non-alkaline bar soap. Good skin depends in no small part on good soap. Very often, Shea butter Soaps changing to a high-quality, triple-milled soap will clear skin problems, exquisitely packaged. imported from france. such as dryness, irritation, and blemishes. This is acheived by helping to restore the PH balance thrown off by the alkalinity in commercial soaps. And what works for facial skin holds true for the rest of your body--- a good bar of soap to cleanse and a loofah, bath puff or clean terry wash cloth to exfoliate dead skin cells encourages growth of new skin. Lépi de Provence soaps are rich in 100% shea butter, nature's amazing all-in- one skin conditioner, moisturizer, and sun screen. Let the dream of Provence infuse your daily routine. Each fragrance has been designed by the finest perfumers of Grasse, near France’s southern coast. Their triple milled shea butter soap is creamy and long lasting. Treat yourself or someone you love to this rich, yet affordable liquid Soaps. luxury. Enjoy all the quality that you've come to expect triple-Milled Shea butter bar Soaps are available in the following from the Lépi de Provence product line in the fragrances: convenience of a liquid soap. They are Blue Lotus Grapefruit Sage & Vanilla naturally mild with the moisturizing benefits of Shea Butter. An elegant accent to your Cassis & Pear Jasmine & Honeysuckle Tomato Vine Strawberry kitchen or bath. This long lasting soap comes Cedar & Sandalwood Lavender Vanilla Oatmilk in an oversized 16.9 oz. pump bottle. Available Citrus Bergamot Lychee Rose Verbena Flower in the following great scents: Blue Lavender, Cucumber Mint-leaf Linden Yuzu & Papaya Lemon Verbena, Green Tea Lemongrass, Ginger Orange Ocean & Seaweed Cotton Flower, Rose de Amour, and Ocean Green Tea Olive & Lavender Seagrass. 6.9 fl. Oz. $15.99 each 7 Oz/200 g. $6.29 each bar. SUPPliES 47 below are some of our favorite products available here at the nursery. this is just a small sample of what we have to offer. we have a great selection of organic fertilizers and pest and disease control products. atlaS® gloves. liquid ant baits nitrile touch. These lightweight, palm This is the only ant product I use in my house dipped gloves feature seamless nylon liners that because it really works. The bait station is allow exceptional breath-ability and all-day convenient and easy to use. Place a station comfort. The thin polyurethane palm coating in the ant’s travel path. Each box contains 6 offers tremendous dexterity and breath-ability, bait stations. while the nitrile palm coating fits like a second skin and has the strength needed for aggressive Pro-mix growing Medium projects. Available in S, M, L. Colors: Pink, Teal, This is the only stuff we Blue, Mango, Green, and Black have used for years for both seeding and potting. Used by Magid gloves professional growers throughout North America. The perfect balance of drainage and moisture retention makes this mix ideal bamboo Collection. With a 100% for growing herbs, vegetables, or anything else. When growing in pots it is vital that you provide your plants with supplemental bamboo shell, this glove is lighter, cooler nourishment (fertilizer). The 3.8 cubic feet compressed bale is the and more absorbent than cotton gloves. most economical size for when you've really got a lot of potting to Foam nitrile coated palm provides great do. It is early 3 times as much as the 2.8 cu. ft. loose fill bag grip, increased abrasion and puncture once properly "fluffed". resistance. Bamboo fiber contains a unique antibacterial agent that helps to reduce bacteria that thrive on clothing and cause earthbox unpleasant odors, even after multiple washings. The patented EarthBox was developed by commercial tomato Cages farmers and proven in the lab Most tomato cages you find are woefully undersized for all and on the farm.The but small, patio type tomatoes. We offer small cages as support maintenance-free, award- for peppers and eggplant. Full sized cages for tomatoes, winning, high-tech growing including some that fold up nice and flat at the end of the system controls soil season are what we offer. More traditional, round cages are conditions, eliminates also available and come in plain galvanized, red, green, yellow, guesswork and more than or blue. doubles the yield of a conventional garden-with less Containers fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort. We offer a large selection of planting containers from 4” to full Kit 24” diameter. Many styles, fancy to utilitarian, are available. Grow Includes: 1 EarthBox® container, 1 aeration screen, your favorite herbs, annuals, perennials, and vegetables. 1 water fill tube, 2 reversible Mulch Covers, 4 casters, 2.0 cu. ft. bag of potting mix, 16 oz. bag of 7-7-7 fertilizer, 16 oz. bag of espoma fertilizers and ammendments dolomite, and instruction sheet. All plastic components are durable, food-safe, and UV stabilized. Container holds 2.0 cu. ft. Tomato Tone, Plant Tone, Flower Tone, Garden Tone, Bat Guano, of potting mix, and reservoir holds 3 gallons of water, Product Blood Meal and more. Plant food for whatever you grow. dimensions: 29"L x 14"W x 11"H. Integrated caster sockets. insect Control Available colors:Terra Cotta, Green, Chocolate, Cobalt Blue, and Margarita Green. One-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. bonide all Seasons Oil Staking System Kit . Includes aluminum tubes and plastic Highly refined superior paraffinic oil kills insects by smothering connectors to create a trellis connected to your earthbox. Total them - pesticide free. Use as a dormant oil through growing height when assembled is 61 inches. Also available in Green. Organic Replant Kit. season. Spray to control overwintering eggs of red spiders, scale Includes: 16 oz. bag of organic 8-3-5 insects, , bud moths, leaf roller, red bug, codling moth, fertilizer, 16 oz. bag of dolomite, 2 reversible Mulch Covers, and blister mites, galls, whitefly, mealy bugs and other insects. Highly easy instructions. recommended for use on fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs, Replacement Mulch Covers ornamentals, roses and vegetables. Safe and pleasant to use. .Stops weeds and conserves Will not stain. Temperature tolerant to 90 degrees. water. No need for herbicides. Protects from rain or drought. Two sided for any climate. Good for an entire growing season. Sold per cover. Debaggio Herbs virginia Cooperative Presorted Standard 43494 Mountain View Drive U.S. Postage Paid Extension Chantilly, VA 20152 Dulles, VA 20101 Permit No. 163 Contact your local agent for information on testing your soil. They can tell you specifically what and how much to add to you soil so you can grow the best herbs and vegetables possible.

ARLINGTON ...... (703) 228-6400 FAIRFAX ...... (703) 324-5369 FAUQUIER ...... (540) 341-7930 LOUDOUN ...... (703) 777-0373 Postmaster: Please deliver to current resident if not PRINCE WILLIAM (703) 792-6285 forwardable

Need to renew your subsciption? Visit us at www.debaggioherbs.com. See page 2 for details. DiRECTiOnS TO THE gREEnHOUSE from the beltway : Take Route 66 West. You have two exit options from Route 66 westbound. Take the Route 50 exit towards Winchester (West) or take the Route 28 exit towards Dulles (North) then exit onto Route 50 West. Either way, you will end up on Route 50 westbound and should follow the next directions. from the intersection of Route 28 and Route 50 : Continue westbound on Route 50 1 for 3 ⁄2 miles. Turn left at the Sheetz gas station onto Poland Road (Rte 742). Go south 1 on Poland Road for ⁄2 mile and turn right onto Mountain View Drive. You’ll see our sign at the second driveway; turn right into the parking lot. from leesburg : Take Evergreen Mill Road (Rte 621) until it ends at Route 606 and turn right. You’ll only travel one or two miles before coming to a traffic light at Route 50. Turn left at the light, pass the housing development called South Riding and make the next right turn onto Poland Road (Rte. 742). Go south on Poland 1 Road for ⁄2 mile and turn right onto Mountain View Drive. You’ll see our sign at the second driveway; turn right into the parking lot.