Family: Capsicum annuum

Mature Height: Fruit size 4 inches by 3 inches

Soil: Widely adaptable

Zones: 3-11

Growth Rate: 72 days to harvest

Sun exposures: Full Sun

In Season: Bell peppers are available year-round, but they’re at their best — and most abundant — from July through November.

How to Store: Store in a paper bag in the crisper up to five days.

Grow peppers in full sun (at least 6 hours per day) in soil that is rich in organic matter, moisture retentive but well draining.

Choose a site protected from wind.

Keep peppers evenly moist but not wet particularly when blossoms appear and fruit begin to form. Soil that goes too dry can result in flower drop. Keep the soil evenly moist just after transplanting peppers to the garden; avoid under or over watering peppers early on. Add aged compost to planting beds before planting and again at midseason.

Once hot pepper plants are established you can vary the watering. Hot peppers that are deprived of water and become slightly stressed will produce more pungent fruit.

Companion plants. Beets, garlic, onions, parsnips, radishes.

Pests. Peppers can be attacked by aphids, cutworms, flea beetles, and hornworms. Discourage cutworms by placing a collar around each transplant at the time of planting; hand pick hornworms off of plants. Flea beetles and aphids can be partially controlled by hosing them off the plants and pinching out infested foliage.

Diseases. Peppers are susceptible to rot, blossom end rot, anthracnose, tobacco mosaic virus, bacterial spot, and mildew. Plant disease-resistant varieties. Keep the garden clean and free of weeds where pests and diseases can shelter. Remove infected plants before disease can spread. If you smoke, wash your hands before working with the plants to avoid spreading tobacco mosaic virus.

Common name: Brussels sprout

Brussels sprouts are part of the Brassica plant family, including mustard, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale.

The plants produce edible green sprouts that resemble tiny sized cabbages on a thick stalk.

In the mild winter areas of Zones 7, 8, and 9, grow Brussels sprouts in the autumn or wintertime since the crops plants thrive most during cooler weather.

Set Brussels sprouts out as seedlings.

Sprouts need a long, cool weather season to grow into maturity.

In fact, their flavor improves considerably after experiencing a few frost bites from old man winter.

Latin Name:

Brassica oleracea

Common Name(s):

Brussels Sprouts

USDA Hardiness Zone

Annual

Size:

2-3′ (60 to 90 cm) tall x 8 – 12″ (20-30 cm) W. Sprouts are about 1- 1 ½” (25 to 40 mm) in diameter

Exposure:

Full sun to Partial Shade

Days to Harvest:

Begins about 3 months, from transplant

Description:

Named after the city of Brussels, Brussels sprouts were first made popular in Belgium, where they’ve been grown since about 1200.

I love gardening in the fall and winter. Our weather is usually wonderful, our bug population is not as
horrendous and our rain is much more regular. We don’t swelter in the summer heat and neither do the things we plant. Vegetable gardening is much more enjoyable in winter and there are lots of vegetables that like cooler weather. My personal favorite fall and winter veggie is lettuce. I absolutely  love growing lettuce from seed. The combination of types and varieties of lettuce seeds provide endless combinations of taste and color. No grocery store lettuce can compare with home grown lettuce. No bland, pale iceberg lettuce for me in the winter. My front and back flower beds, containers, and vegetable garden are brimming with greens. Lettuce also makes a great annual edible border. I even have a few neighbors jumping on the edible landscaping bandwagon.

After you have chosen your seed there a 3 tricks to growing lettuce. The first requirement for lettuce seed is light. Lettuce seeds are photosensitive which means they need light to germinate. Make sure that the soil where you plant your seed is smooth and loose. I put an inch or two of earthworm castings or germinating mix on top of my soil to make a good base for my seeds. Press the seeds in the dirt so that they make good contact with the soil. Lightly cover the seeds with about 1/4 an inch of soil. Because lettuce seeds are small, using a seed sower to help you place your seeds can speed up this process. The second trick to know about lettuce seed germination is that the seeds are also temperature sensitive. If temperatures are 80 degrees or above lettuce seeds will not germinate. This makes our fall and winter perfect for lettuce. These seeds will germinate even if the temperatures are in the 40 degree range. Last but not least, lettuce seed must stay moist. If the seeds dry out during sprouting they will not make it. Because I like to grow lettuce in containers, I plant my seed and mist them gently, then cover my pots with saran wrap. You can achieve the same effect in the garden by covering the seeds with clear plastic cups or tent saran over your seeds. With the right light, temperature and moisture you should have lettuce coming up in no time.

Harvesting lettuce is easy. Harvest crisphead and butterhead lettuce when the heads have formed. Cut the plant off at the soil line. If the head starts to elongate harvest immediately. Elongated heads means the lettuce is bolting and that will turn your harvest bitter. Looseleaf and romaine lettuce can be harvested completely or you can harvest a few outer leaves at a time. These leaves will grow back giving you a continual harvest. We have a large selection of lettuce seeds here at Maas. Come and see us and we will be happy to help you start your winter green garden.

                                                                                                             Article and photos by Kim Messer

Collard Greens, like Mustard Greens are loose leaf cultivates of Brassica Oleracea. They have large dark colored edible leaves. They can grow to 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall. They prefer cooler weather in a fall or winter garden. Collards and Mustard Greens like full sun and well drained soil. They are very easy to grow. Originally cultivated by the Ancient Greeks, they are a popular southern staple. Both are cruciferous vegetables with many healthful benefits. They both have Cholesterol lowering benefits and cancer preventative properties. Collards and Mustard Greens are a good source of soluble fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Both greens support the function of several bodily systems including the Detox System, the Antioxidant System and the Anti-inflammatory System. Greens are also a good source of Vitamins C, K, and A. Collards are best and most healthful when steamed for 5 minutes. Mustard Greens are best and most healthful when sautéed in some broth or olive oil. Two to three servings a week would be ideal. Eat your greens!

Plant Profile:

Annual
Full Sun
Well Drained Soil
2 feet x 2 feet