We’ve decided to enlarge our gardens this year so my youngest son and I broke another garden this week. Its about 15′x10′ and is destined to have English Peas planted in it. I am hoping that we can finish tilling the garden this week and get the peas in too. By the time my husband got home, we had done the most time consuming part and he was able to hold the tiller down harder than we were and really dig into the soil.
Her is the list of seeds I have already purchased for this years garden:
West Indian Gherkin – This ia a very old varietyof cucumber that originated in India and has been used in making pickles for many years. I have never seen pickles made from them, so maybe they’ve fallen out of favor. I got them and most of my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.
Star Of David Okra – Another heirloom variety. Named for the shape of the pod cross-sections. I have my calendar marked to plant these seeds in late May, when the soil warms up thoroughly.
Blue Solaize Leek – Heirloom variety from France. These seeds are in peat pots right now.
Listada de Gandia Eggplant – This variety is from Italy and has had glowing reviews from Seed Savers. These seeds are also in peat pots.
Edmund’s Blood Turnip Beet – This is no longer listed on the Seed Savers site. It dates to 1825 and is supposed to produce beets with dark red flesh and be good for canning.
Green Arrow English Pea – These are just your ordinary green English peas but are supposed to be heavy producers.
October Bean - This is a Native American variety that dates back to the 1830′s. Its actually a bush variety which was surprising to me since most older bean varieties are vines.
La Ratte Potato – These are a french variety, fingerling potato. I really like cooking with them. I served them the other night and my family looked at them with raised eyebrows, as if perhaps they’d been dug too soon!
The main reason that I chose heirloom varieties fromthis particular seed producer is that we do a lot of reenacting for the years 1830-1865 and these vegetables will be useful for those events. But another reason I chose this producer is that their seeds are certified organic and organically grown. We try to have a completely organic garden and these wil help us continue that.
What are you growing this year?
About Sylvia
I’d share if I could
Hi, just checking again, can the laundry soap be used in a front load washer? If so, how were the results.?
Thanks for sharing!
As far as I know it can be used in front loading washers because it does not suds very much at all. I like the stuff, it cleans well and you can soak clothes in it like you can regular detergent. I guess you’d have to make up a batch to see if you like it. Let me know if you do!
What a neat variety of things you are planting this year. The gherkins look interesting. I’ve never tasted okra, it’s not really popular up here.
I have a little time, the seeds go in the 2nd or 3rd week of May and the bedding plants by the end of May. My garden is still covered in snow and water. 
I’m still organizing my thoughts about my garden.
I decided to do gardening this year, for the first time in my life. So far i have planted cilantro, parsley and dill. I am planning on planting tomatoes, bell peppers and egg-plants. I don’t know what else yet:)
Sofia, that sounds like a very good start! I should plant some cilantro too. We use a lot of it. I hope your garden does really well!
That’s was a fast reply, Sylvia, thanks for encouragement. I haven’t even left your website yet, haha:))) I just found it when i was googling ‘easy quilts’ then got hooked reading up on all sorts other things. It is great!! Please, come visit me at :
http://walker325.blogspot.com/
-Sofia,x
I will be sure to visit you. I’m doing a little house keeping on the site before bed tonight