“Before the seed there comes the thought of bloom.”
E.B. White
With 2010 seed selections becoming available it’s not too soon to begin planning the summer garden. If you’re considering planting a garden for the first time (or know someone who is and need gift ideas), this list of easy-to grow vegetables will get you started. While not completely “fail-proof” they are quite forgiving and produce well throughout the season.
The list (with sample heirloom varieties) includes:
- Radishes: “Early Scarlett”, ‘French Breakfast”, “White Icicle”
- Peas: “Little Marvel” (dwarf shelling pea), “Dwarf Gray Sugar” (snow pea),”Super Sugar Snap” (snap pea)
- Lettuce, mesclun mix, spinach: “Black Seeded Simpson”, “Lolla Rossa”, “Merlot”, “Brune d’Hiver”
- Beans: “Bountiful” (green bush bean), “Brittle Wax” (yellow wax bean), “Royal Burgundy” (purple bush bean)
- Summer squash: “Ronde de Nice”, “Cocozelle” (zucchini), “Early Summer Crookneck” (yellow squash)
- Winter Squash: “Delicata” (short vines) “Table Queen” (acorn), “Waltham Butternut”
- Carrots: “Chantenay”, “Danvers Half Long”
- Tomatoes: “Amish Paste”, “Brandywine”, “Earliana”, “Beefsteak”
- Peppers: “Hungarian Yellow (wax pepper), “Giant Marconi” (sweet bell), “Joe’s Long Cayenne” (hot)
No garden is complete without flowers to attract bees and other beneficial pollinators. These annuals are easily grown from seed and provide food for bees and butterflies:
- Sunflower
- Zinnia
- Marigold
- Bachelor Button
- Cosmo
- Calendula
- Morning Glory ( climbing vine)
- Sweet Pea ( climbing vine)
- Nasturtium (trailing vine)
Finally, herbs are easy to grow from seed and it’s much more economical than buying single plants. Most do well grown in pots as well as the garden:
- Basil
- Sage
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Chives
- Oregano
- Anise
Not on a mailing list? Shop online (seed sources) where many sites offer web-only specials. You’ll get the choice of 1000’s of organic heirloom seeds and stop paper waste. Check back here every Tuesday and Thursday in December, too, I’ll highlight different vegetables each day and offer tips for successful growing.
