Emerald Naked-seeded Pumpkin

I grew out the Emerald Naked-Seeded Pumpkin from the Experimental Farm Network this last summer. They did fairly well until August, then succumb quickly to Powdery Mildew. I didn’t take a lot of pictures of them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I love eating Pumpkin seeds, saving these for seed can be quite difficult. The primary issue is that the seeds don’t dry very well and will quickly mold, if there is any humidity. I lost some of my very best seed to mold, despite working to dry them well. I would love to grow this variety again, but am not sure how I would better dry the seed for future planting.

Growing the Goldini 2 Zucchini

Since reading the The Resilient Gardener, I have been looking forward to growing more of Carol Deppe’s vegetable varieties. One of the more recent varieties, called Goldini zucchini, was released in 2016. I had heard of it previously, but had never had a chance to grow it until this last year. However, it was not Goldini I purchased, but an improved line of Goldini, called Goldini 2, which was just recently released.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The most important thing for me about zucchini is texture and flavor. Remaining tender until very large is highly important, as is having a pleasing flavor too. Those of us who home garden are not as concerned about ability to ship the product as we are in having strong healthy plants that produce tender delicious fruit.

 

 

 

 

Goldini was a result of crossing an F2 Gold Rush Hybrid with Costata Romanesco, with the Romanesco as the pollen receiver and female parent for Goldini. Goldini has the flavor reminissent of a Costata Romanesco with the easy-to-find yellow color of the Gold Rush.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another aspect of this variety that makes it really worth growing is its adaptability to be consumed raw, cooked, or dried to later provide an ingredient in soups and stews. 

 

 

 

 

 

My experience with the Goldini 2 was very positive. In relation to other open-pollinated varieties, it was highly productive and very good. I would definitely recommend this variety to anyone else who would like to produce a heavy crop of delicious yellow summer squash.

Preserving Squash by Air Drying

I know that this is in Italian, but here's an idea that Carol Deppe mentioned in one of her books that she borrowed from Native Americans to preserve and use their squash for longer. It is really nice to see pictures of the process and know that people are still using this same technique today as demonstrated by an Italian Heritage Food Association. So to those of you who have grown your summer squash for too long or your winter squash for not long enough, here is another option to preserve your harvest for later.

Consuming the Entire Zucchini Plant

Do you think that you would ever eat the entire zucchini plant? Here's a little more "how to" from an organization that works to promote regional agriculture and agricultural practices in Southern Italy. From my understanding, before consuming the stem and leaves, it helps to remove the stringy fibers. So next time you think about tossing that zucchini plant, try eating it instead!

Squash in the Chicken Garden

During the 2020 shutdown, I grew out Costata Romenesco Squash in the chicken garden. Due to how much people were purchasing seed, it was a bit hard to get my hands on – but I eventually found a source that would work. I grew out only a few plants at the Chicken garden.

 

 

 

 

One of the main issues I encountered in growing out this variety is that my friend’s wife also grew out some other squash varieties. If you know anything about me, I am a big seed saver, so this situation didn’t work particularly well for me.

 

On the positive side, I was able to observe the growth of Costata Romenesco both in this garden as well as in my own garden in my backyard. It was enjoyable to watch and know that it was being enjoyed by friends, even if I couldn’t save any good seed.

Spring Garden Visits

Before the end of the school year, I appreciated some small gardens at local schools and neighbors. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did.

The first garden is located in the middle of the school grounds. The halls of the school go around it on 3 sides. As staff and students walk around the halls, they can see the garden in the middle. For me, walking by the garden is quite a rejuvenating experience.

Flowering Fava Beans

Onion Flower

Borage

Borage and Nasturtium

Orange Nasturtiums

Sprouting Cauliflower with Aphids

More sprouting Cauliflower

Interesting shape of the Cauliflower as it blossoms

One last look

A bed of onions.

Peas

Black eyed Susan?

Favas with seed pods.

A close look at the fava beans

This bean is sideways - or is it a sideways picture?

Fava beans are prolific!

Another look at the prolific fava beans

One last last fava picture

These strawberry plants are doing quite well.

A closer look at some mouth-watering strawberries

I'm resisting the urge to pick these

One last look at the strawberry plants

The second garden is located on the west side of a school, near the younger grades. There are plenty of interesting things to see here as well.

An assortment of winter vegetables

Flowering Kale

Swiss Chard anyone?

The sign says it all.

Potato Plants

Flowering Carrots

Another bed of assorted veggies.

Some sweet pea flowers

Some radishes

Some kind of celery plant sprouting up from the roots.

Another celery plant sprouting up from the walkway

Celery again.

Celery and assorted veggies.

Swiss Chard and other veggies.

Cale and flowering parsley or fennel

Chard

Now the strawberry patch is being infested by the celery.

Some strawberries are growing.

Ripening strawberries

One last look at this garden

Not all gardens are kept up. Here is one that could really use a little more attention.

A neighbor of mine always has a very well planned-out garden. Here are some pictures from his front yard.

Zucchini of some sort.

The color is just exceptional.

The zucchini continues to grow.

My neighbor's tomato plants.

Some wildflowers in a lawn in the front of a school.

Things are not always as they seem. In the next garden I was really impressed with the beautiful color of the lettuce pictured here. However, once I tasted one of the leaves, I regretted my decision. This variety is apparently very sensitive to the heat and becomes very bitter.

A mix of spinach, lettuce and carrots

As you walk around your neighborhood, I hope that you will be able to encounter some beautiful gardens like these. Even if we are not enthusiastic about getting our hands dirty in the soil, vegetable gardening is good for all of us in so many ways.

 

One last look at the purple kale from the second school garden