Planted Lazy Housewife Beans today

I had to pull the cucumbers because they got bacterial wilt so in their place I planted Lazy housewife beans.  I already had a trellis in place (wishful cucumber thinking) so it just made sense to replace them with more beans.  These are seeds I was given for my birthday and my friend purchased them from Seed Savers Exchange.  Can't wait to see how they produce.

Planted Organic Haricot Vert Maxibel Bush Beans Today

It's supposed to rain today so I went out and planted 50 Organic Haricot Vert Maxibel Bush Bean seeds in the main garden bed.  I hope we get a nice long rain to water them in well and get them growing!

Pencil thin, gourmet stringless beans that grow to 7" with an excellent delicate sweet flavor.  Excellent source of beta carotene, moderate source of protein and dietary fiber.

PLANTING:  Sow seeds in early spring after danger of frost has passed.  Plant at 2-week intervals for extended harvest.  Bush beans prefer rich, well drained soil and full sun.  Plant the seeds 3/4 to 1.5 inches deep and 1-2 inches apart in rows 24 to 36 inches apart.  Germination should take place in 6-12 days.

CARE:  Mulch to reduce weeds.  Water soil well during dry weather.  After seedlings grow 4-6 inches tall, thin so plants are 6 inches apart. Cultivate until blossoms appear.  Don't cultivate or harvest when plants are wet since this can spread disease.  Bush beans don't need staking.

HARVEST:  Hand pick beans anytime from slender to full size depending on your preference.

DAYS TO MATURITY:  65

Growing Garlic in Warmer Climates

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/garlic/how-to-grow-garlic-in-warmer-climates.htm

When to plant Hubbard Squash

Note to self:  Plant Hubbard Squash in August & September here in zone 9b.

Seed Savers Exchange

A friend of mine got me these seeds from Seed Savers Exchange for my birthday.  I am SO excited, as any gardener would be.  :)

Seed Savers Exchange is yet another gardening catalog I've drooled over for years, but my income wouldn't allow such an extravagant splurge for myself.  Thank God for friends!  

Here's a detailed list of the seeds I got.

BEAN Lazy Housewife

(Phaseolus vulgaris) Introduced around 1810, this is one of our oldest documented beans. Named Lazy Housewife because it was the first snap bean that did not need to have the string removed. Vines bear heavily and continuously until frost. Straight 5-6" long pods with distinctive shiny white seeds. Pole habit, snap or shell, 75-80 days.

	DIRECT SEED 2" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1"	SUPPORT Trellis, tepee or fencing	LIGHT Full Sun

(Phaseolus vulgaris) Introduced around 1810, this is one of our oldest documented beans. Named Lazy Housewife because it was the first snap bean that did not need to have the string removed. Vines bear heavily and continuously until frost. Straight 5-6" long pods with distinctive shiny white seeds. Pole habit, snap or shell, 75-80 days.

DIRECT SEED
2" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1"

SUPPORT
Trellis, tepee or fencing

LIGHT
Full Sun

 

BROCCOLI Calabrese

(Brassica oleracea) Popular market variety that was brought to America by Italian immigrants in the 1880s. Tight heads can grow up to 8" in diameter. After the central head is harvested, side shoots will form. 58-90 days from transplant.

	START INDOORS 6 weeks before last frost	GERMINATION 3-10 days	PLANT OUTDOORS 24" Apart	LIGHT Full Sun

(Brassica oleracea) Popular market variety that was brought to America by Italian immigrants in the 1880s. Tight heads can grow up to 8" in diameter. After the central head is harvested, side shoots will form. 58-90 days from transplant.

 

START INDOORS
6 weeks before last frost

GERMINATION
3-10 days

PLANT OUTDOORS
24" Apart

LIGHT
Full Sun

 

CARROT Dragon

(Daucus carota) The most refined purple carrot available; bred by John Navazio. Sure to be the best selling carrot at specialty and farmers’ markets. Beautiful red-purple exterior provides an amazing contrast with the yellow-orange interior when sliced. Sweet, almost spicy flavor. 90 days.

	DIRECT SEED 1/2" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1/4"	ROWS APART 16-24"	THIN 2-4" Apart

(Daucus carota) The most refined purple carrot available; bred by John Navazio. Sure to be the best selling carrot at specialty and farmers’ markets. Beautiful red-purple exterior provides an amazing contrast with the yellow-orange interior when sliced. Sweet, almost spicy flavor. 90 days.

 

DIRECT SEED
1/2" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1/4"

ROWS APART
16-24"

THIN
2-4" Apart

 

COLLARD Vates

(Brassica oleracea) (aka Blue Stem, Vates Non-Heading) Dark green leaves on upright 24-inch plants. Known for lack of purpling in veins and leaves. Excellent variety for boiling. Bolt and frost resistant. 60-80 days.

	DIRECT SEED 3 seeds every 8"	SEED DEPTH 1/4"-1/2"	ROWS APART 18"-30"	THIN To 1 plant per group

(Brassica oleracea) (aka Blue Stem, Vates Non-Heading) Dark green leaves on upright 24-inch plants. Known for lack of purpling in veins and leaves. Excellent variety for boiling. Bolt and frost resistant. 60-80 days.

DIRECT SEED
3 seeds every 8"

SEED DEPTH
1/4"-1/2"

ROWS APART
18"-30"

THIN
To 1 plant per group

EGGPLANT Florida High Bush

(Solanum melongena) Standard market variety bred in Florida in the 1940s for the commercial trade. Vigorous, upright, wellbranched plants bear continuously throughout the season. Large purple-black pear-shaped fruits with white flesh are held high off the ground. Disease and drought resistant. 75-85 days from transplant.

	START INDOORS 8 weeks before last frost	GERMINATION 14 Days	PLANT OUTDOORS 18-24" Apart	LIGHT Full Sun

(Solanum melongena) Standard market variety bred in Florida in the 1940s for the commercial trade. Vigorous, upright, wellbranched plants bear continuously throughout the season. Large purple-black pear-shaped fruits with white flesh are held high off the ground. Disease and drought resistant. 75-85 days from transplant.

START INDOORS
8 weeks before last frost

GERMINATION
14 Days

PLANT OUTDOORS
18-24" Apart

LIGHT
Full Sun

HERB Globe Basil

(Ocimum basilicum) (aka Greek Basil) Forms a perfect 12-18" globe bush with very small, thin leaves. Intense sweet basil scent with spicy flavor, slow to go to seed. Ideal for pots or as borders in gardens. Very uniform strain. Annual.

	DIRECT SEED 1/8" Deep	GERMINATION 5-30 Days	THIN 4-6" Apart	LIGHT Full Sun

(Ocimum basilicum) (aka Greek Basil) Forms a perfect 12-18" globe bush with very small, thin leaves. Intense sweet basil scent with spicy flavor, slow to go to seed. Ideal for pots or as borders in gardens. Very uniform strain. Annual.

DIRECT SEED
1/8" Deep

GERMINATION
5-30 Days

THIN
4-6" Apart

LIGHT
Full Sun

LETTUCE Slobolt

(Latuca sativa) A garden standard since 1946. Large thick clusters of light green frilled leaves are produced all summer. As its name suggests, this variety is very slow to bolt. Pleasing flavor, never bitter. Looseleaf, 45-55 days.

	DIRECT SEED 1" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1/4"	GERMINATION 7-14 Days	THIN 6-8" Apart

(Latuca sativa) A garden standard since 1946. Large thick clusters of light green frilled leaves are produced all summer. As its name suggests, this variety is very slow to bolt. Pleasing flavor, never bitter. Looseleaf, 45-55 days.

DIRECT SEED
1" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1/4"

GERMINATION
7-14 Days

THIN
6-8" Apart

SOYBEAN Fiskeby
 (Glycine max) Swedish variety bred by Sven Holmberg. Use fresh or dried. Highly nutritious—up to 40% protein, high in calcium, iron, and vitamins (particularly A, B1, B12, and C). Thrives in northern climates. 75-80 days.

	DIRECT SEED 2" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1"	ROWS APART 36-48"	LIGHT Full Sun

DIRECT SEED
2" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1"

ROWS APART
36-48"

LIGHT
Full Sun

SPINACH Bloomsdale

(Spinacia oleracea) Introduced by D. Landreth Seed Company in 1826. Vigorous upright plants with dark green, glossy, savoyed leaves. Fine quality, very tender, excellent flavor. Quick growing variety with heavy yields. Well adapted for late spring or summer plantings, slow to bolt. 39-60 days.

	DIRECT SEED 1" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1/2"	GERMINATION 7-14 Days	THIN 6-8" Apart

(Spinacia oleracea) Introduced by D. Landreth Seed Company in 1826. Vigorous upright plants with dark green, glossy, savoyed leaves. Fine quality, very tender, excellent flavor. Quick growing variety with heavy yields. Well adapted for late spring or summer plantings, slow to bolt. 39-60 days.

DIRECT SEED
1" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1/2"

GERMINATION
7-14 Days

THIN
6-8" Apart

SQUASH Anna Swartz Hubbard

(Cucurbita maxima) Family heirloom given to Anna Swartz by a friend in the 1950s; introduced commercially by SSE in 1999. Anna loved this variety because of its extremely hard shell and excellent storage ability. High quality flesh is the color of a sweet potato and has similar flavor. Fruits weigh 5-8 pounds. 90-100 days.

	DIRECT SEED 1" Deep	SEEDS TO HILL 6-8 Seeds	THIN To 3-4 Plants	LIGHT Full Sun

(Cucurbita maxima) Family heirloom given to Anna Swartz by a friend in the 1950s; introduced commercially by SSE in 1999. Anna loved this variety because of its extremely hard shell and excellent storage ability. High quality flesh is the color of a sweet potato and has similar flavor. Fruits weigh 5-8 pounds. 90-100 days.

DIRECT SEED
1" Deep

SEEDS TO HILL
6-8 Seeds

THIN
To 3-4 Plants

LIGHT
Full Sun

SWISS CHARD Fordhook Giant

(Beta vulgaris) Introduced in 1934 by W. Atlee Burpee and Co. Broad, dark green, heavily crumpled leaves with white veins and stalks. Plants grow 28" high with 2½" wide stalks. Abundant crops all season. 50-60 days.

	DIRECT SEED 4" Apart	SEED DEPTH 1/2"	ROWS APART 20-24"	THIN 12" Apart

(Beta vulgaris) Introduced in 1934 by W. Atlee Burpee and Co. Broad, dark green, heavily crumpled leaves with white veins and stalks. Plants grow 28" high with 2½" wide stalks. Abundant crops all season. 50-60 days.

DIRECT SEED
4" Apart

SEED DEPTH
1/2"

ROWS APART
20-24"

THIN
12" Apart

I will be planting many seeds in my seed starting tray tomorrow.  I can't wait!