Hard to believe the old year is ending and another one is about to begin. Seed catalogs are already pouring into my mailbox--yay! I love reading them on dreary winter days, when there's nothing to do outside. Recently I've gotten catalogs from Tomato Growers Supply, Landreth Seeds (the oldest seed seller in America), Territorial Seed Company, The Cook's Garden (a fantastic source for European garden veggies), and Burpee.
My list of gotta-grow heirlooms for 2008 includes:
Green Zebra tomatoes -
these beauties, from The Cook's Garden, are golden-green with darker green stripes. I've eaten them sliced with fresh, whole-milk mozzarella and a sprinkle of basil, and they are delicious.
I also want to try Caspian Pink, a Russia heirloom also from Cook's. The fruits are rosy-pink, with thick, meaty flesh. From Landreth, I'll order 'Pineapple' tomato seeds. Who could resist this description: "a deep orange-scarlet with gold and yellow shoulders...the flesh has a sweet, fruity flavor." It's an heirloom, too, although little is known of its history.
Lettuces I plan to grow: 'Oakleaf,' from the 1800s, which holds up well as the weather warms, staying sweet and tender; and 'Limestone Bibb,' an old Kentucky butterhead(I'll have to start it early, because it doesn't like the heat).
That's not the end of my list, of course; it's just as far as I've gotten! If you aren't getting seed catalogs, check out the seed sellers' sites listed to order online or request a copy via US Mail.
Then, while you're making up your seed lists, please join me on Sun., Jan. 6, at 10:30 am EST (that's 7:30 am PST) on KSFO 560 am--that's http://www.bobtanem.com/index.html. I'll be talking to gardening show host Bob Tanem about heirlooms and how to plan your spring garden.
Watch this space for more seed suggestions to come. Happy New Year!
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com
My list of gotta-grow heirlooms for 2008 includes:
Green Zebra tomatoes -
these beauties, from The Cook's Garden, are golden-green with darker green stripes. I've eaten them sliced with fresh, whole-milk mozzarella and a sprinkle of basil, and they are delicious. I also want to try Caspian Pink, a Russia heirloom also from Cook's. The fruits are rosy-pink, with thick, meaty flesh. From Landreth, I'll order 'Pineapple' tomato seeds. Who could resist this description: "a deep orange-scarlet with gold and yellow shoulders...the flesh has a sweet, fruity flavor." It's an heirloom, too, although little is known of its history.
Lettuces I plan to grow: 'Oakleaf,' from the 1800s, which holds up well as the weather warms, staying sweet and tender; and 'Limestone Bibb,' an old Kentucky butterhead(I'll have to start it early, because it doesn't like the heat).
That's not the end of my list, of course; it's just as far as I've gotten! If you aren't getting seed catalogs, check out the seed sellers' sites listed to order online or request a copy via US Mail.
Then, while you're making up your seed lists, please join me on Sun., Jan. 6, at 10:30 am EST (that's 7:30 am PST) on KSFO 560 am--that's http://www.bobtanem.com/index.html. I'll be talking to gardening show host Bob Tanem about heirlooms and how to plan your spring garden.
Watch this space for more seed suggestions to come. Happy New Year!
Lynn
www.LynnCoulter.com
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