Spring is pretty exciting here in Central Texas. But I don't live in Central Texas anymore. Lots of wildflowers decorate our roadways and there's a lot of planting going on. Plans for this year's garden include 17 varieties of tomatoes, at least 8 varieties of hot peppers, 5 kinds of basil, and 3 different colors of eggplants and lots of herbs, melons, cucumbers, squash, beans, and corn. As an experiment, I'm gloing to try my hand at growing artichoke this year.
Herbs and vegtables are my primary interests but I still have a few flowers blooming in the front yard. Having recently moved to a much larger space, my interest in flowers is expanding to match.
I grow almost everything from seed and I have a fondness for the odd-ball and eccentric varieties. This choice isn't merely ęsthetic; it stems from a concern for preserving genetic biodiversity as well. Many of my strangely-shaped and strangely-colored vegetables are heirloom varieties, not widely available and in great need of preservation. Further on down the page, I list some of my favorite seed suppliers.
| Photo | Name | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Pear | Indeterminate, sets small fruit consistently through the heat of the summer, heirloom. A favorite. | Seeds of Change | |
| Marvel Striped | Golden fruit with orange streaks | Seeds of Change | |
| Brandywine | Heirloom, reputed to have best flavor of any tomato, potato-leaf | Seeds of Change | |
| OG 50 (Park's Improved Whopper) | Lots of disease resistance | Park's Seeds | |
| Olympia hybrid | Standard red tomato | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Libra hybrid | Standard red tomato | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Black Krim | Russian variety only recently available in US | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Micro-Tom | Barbie Tomatoes!! Pea-sized fruits set on 8 to 10 in plants. Great flavor and just as cute as can be. | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Green Zebra | Two-toned green stripes even when dead ripe | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Double Rich | Twice the Vitamin C of average tomatoes | Seeds of Change | |
| Peacevine Cherry | Indeterminate, sets small fruit through the heat of the summer, outstanding flavor | Seeds of Change | |
| Arkansas Traveler | Variety well-suited to hot climates. | Seed Savers Exchange | |
| Black Plum | Amish heirloom variety. | Seeds of Change | |
| White Beauty | Pale-fleshed, mild flavor. | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Mayo Hybrid | Generally, I don't grow sterile hybrids, but I got the seeds for free. | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Kada Hybrid | Another free hybrid from the good folks at | Totally Tomatoes | |
| Giant Oxheart | Large, slightly-pointed fruits, deep mahogany color. | Totally Tomatoes |
"In the garden of thy heart, plant naught but the rose of love."
--Baha'u'llah
I'm happy to share seeds with anyone who'd like to grow some of my odd veggies. If you're interested, just fill out this handy form.
Some of my favorite gardening sites:
Aggie Horticulture An online agricultural extension service sponsored by Texas A&M University
Wildseed Farms Largest working wildflower farm in the world, located in Fredricksburg, TX
Apart from the garden, my interests include:
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