Over on the GardenWeb, someone posed this question, and it brought up a lot of different answers, and gave everyone something enjoyable to talk about now that it looks like we might get Spring after all (5" of snow here this week, calling for more tonight...but my daffodils are bravely poking their noses up!)

I haven't had a garden proper in many years, so there are always new things for me, and I rotate what I plant by what I can get anyone to eat around here -- that usually means the critters, since my mother seems afraid of organic produce from my garden. I don't know why that is -- her father grew the family's food in their back yard and that was almost entirely organic. Maybe it is just because she knows how much horse manure I hauled in there! She's awful funny about the word 'manure'.

Anyway, some of the new things I am trying this year: Desiree and All-Blue potatoes, Mizuna, Garland/Shungiku Chrysanthemum, collards (turns out the critters will eat them!), wild chicories, and I started some curly endive seedlings, but already killed them accidentally :-( Rats. Another item I'm toying with is something from Seeds of Change called Beetberries. Anyone tried those? They're supposed to be 1/2" diameter and sweet. I also bought seed for Lambsquarters, just in case the stuff I saved last year wasn't ripe enough.

Lots of people on GW seem to be growing yard-long beans this year. I wonder if those are the same as asparagas beans? Oh well, I'm arguing with myself whether to plant peas or scarlet runner beans again...so far, peas are winning the discussion. And instead of planting 12 different varieties of tomatoes this year, Im HOPING that I can make myself stick to my plan and just plant Tami-G and Fourth of July this year -- they proved themselves the winners last year. Of course, at the moment it doesn't seem like I'll ever get to plant a tomato outside, but I'm a gardener, and a gardener by definition must be an optimist.

Other ideas I'm toying with; Blueberries, Siberian Honeysuckle bushes (fruiting), Alpine strawberries as a permanent feature (maybe under the blueberries and Honeysuckle), and a dwarf Papaya. I forget if it was Sunset or Sunrise Solo seed that I ordered, but I'm going to try them in pots. One of my fig trees in containers that spent the winter in the garage with the rabbit is opening it's leaves in the green house right now, so that experiment continues!

What are you planting this year that is new and exciting?

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Head lettuce. It always get bitter out here in Kansas so I though I would start it in the greenhouse and try it with my new drip system. It's already bitter, though. I am also trying globe artichokes, which is different from Jerusalem artichokes. I like them, the plants are a beautiful silvery green, and they are 8" tall and doing well.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 24, 2002.

Our new items for the garden this year are Garden Huckleberries, Arulgula (salad green), Corn Salad (salad green) and Luffa. These are all heirloom seeds. I am also planting heirloom tomatoes this year - Brandywine and Amish Paste.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

Oh, to have so much self control (only plant ONE or TWO types of tomato!!!:) I have the old stand-bys : German Johnson, Brandywine, Rutger, Better Boys,& Whoppers and the new varieties are Mexican, Mule Team,Sweet Cluster, Beleive It or Not,Russian Rose and Champion! I have over 80 tomato plants in my greenhouse that are blooming and some have tomatoes on them!!And about ^0 more that I just started their seeds! Will plant our garden on Sat. (if it's not raining!)

We always plant the same 'old'--corn (Silver and Golden Queen) peas (Six Weeks, Purple Hull Crowders) Greenbeans ( Tenderettes and Half runners), watermelons( Crimson Sweets), and lots of Okra!!

Does anyone have the name of a Cantaloupe that taste good and doesn't get mushy????

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), April 25, 2002.

I'm trying Silver King corn, never heard of it before. Hope it's as good as Silver Queen.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 25, 2002.

Debbie -- we had a similar question on GW. 'Jenny Lind' got high praise and if I can find seed for it yet this year, I might just try it myself. 'Israel' is also supposed to be very fine -- it was voted as one of the best in the old Kitchen Garden magazine by many readers for flavor. I'm less certain on the mushy side ... I haven't grown cantaloup, but I thought it had to do with overwatering. I could be very mistaken on that count.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 25, 2002.

Neat julie!!! Don't ya just love trying new things in the garden? I ususally try to grow something I've never grown before, but this year Dave has gotten involved with "suggestions" on new plants and seeds!!!

I started some artichoke seeds and have set the plants out, (they take up alot of room!), sowed some fennel seeds, and planted a fig tree for the DH. For me, I planted some blueberry bushes and have finally gotten around to starting an herb garden. Ordered a bay tree and finally got it yesterday. It's about 5 inches tall!!! hee hee I hear they are really slow growing, so I might be 90 by the time I get any bay off of it! I'm trying some different heirloom tomatoes that are suppose to be better for the south (more disease resistant), so I'm really hoping that they pan out. We have pretty humid weather here in the Smokies in the summer and funguses are a big problem on the tomato leaves. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I can't hardly wait to see how well the new stuff does this year. Isn't it exciting!?

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), April 27, 2002.

We just planted fruit trees this year. I planted 2 fruit cocktail trees and a cherry and pear tree. The fruit cocktail tree has Stanley plums, Japanese plum, Wilson Apricots, Reliance peaches and Mericrest Nectarines. The Pear tree has Starkcrimson and Bartlett. Cherry tree has Stella sweet cherries and Stark Gold. That will take up half the garden space. Last year my garden was too big. I planted my lettuce and the rain beat it to a pulp the other day. Raining again today which stinks because we have to go into town for a wedding. Anyone else hate dressing up and going to weddings, etc? Why can't these people see the joy of getting married on a farm? My neice had the best wedding ever! They were all barefoot and played drums...

-- Cindy (ilovecajun@aol.com), April 27, 2002.

Annie, the bay is slow growing but not that slow. You will get some each year as they shed leaves fairly regularly. I miss mine and you remind me that I really would like another one. I want to order a lemon verbena also.....just loved it when I grew that. I had it in a place where I brushed against it fairly frequently and the smell was always so refreshing!!!

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 27, 2002.

Glad to hear it Diane! The most pitiful little Bay "tree" arrived and I thought there was no way I'd ever see it grow very tall. Sure glad to know they're not that slow growing. I ordered mine from Territorial Seed and the tree looks healthy, it's just small, although it is pretty cute! Is there a difference between lemon verbena and lemon balm? Is one in the mint family? I planted one of these (can't remember which) by my back door and I love to mess with it. It smells heavenly. It has spread some but not too out of control......yet. :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), April 27, 2002.

Diane,

Since we moved here I have not been able to find a Lemon Verbena plant locally. This year I ordered one form Jung's catalog. It smells so much stronger than Lemon Balm and makes the best tea!! Wish I had know you'd like one and I would have ordered one for you too.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), April 28, 2002.

Thanks Terry, I am glad to know that Jung's even have them since I have not seen it in years!!! Annie, Verbena and the lemon balm are different and I do believe that the lemon balm is in the mint family if I remember correctly. It can be very invasive, but easily pulled. The Verbena is the nicest lemon smell that I have found in a plant. Many of the herbs I grow more for the aromatic qualities than anything else. My own little aroma therapy :>)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 28, 2002.

I was surprised to find Lemon Verbena for sale at the NC farmers' market in Greensboro last month. Unfortunately, I didn't buy any since I had a limited amount of $$ I could buy plants with. Now I'm wishing I had got one... I did get a nice Lemon Thyme, though!

Yes, Lemon Balm (also known as Melissa) is in the mint family. Lemon Verbena is a woody plant that can grow to bush size. It's supposedly only hardy to zone 7 but can make it through zone 6 winters by cutting it back and adding a good layer of mulch. It roots well in water so you can take cuttings in the fall for back-up or grow it in a large pot and bring it indoors.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 28, 2002.