Issue 12 · One essay
Crop Calendar & Varieties
Workbook timing, spacing notes, and heirloom corn and beet varieties from the Plants file.
Crop calendar and spacing notes from the garden workbook.
“Plant Height: 12 ft tall — impress your neighbors by growing a giant sunflower.”
Crop Calendar & Varieties
Crops: Carrots, Radishes, Peas, Beets, Onions, Corn, Peppers, Melons, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Broccoli, Beans, Lettuce, Eggplant.
When to plant (home garden sequence): - 1st week of March: Peas (frost tolerant) - 3rd–4th week of March: Radishes, carrots, onions (early season) - 2nd–4th week of April: Warm-season crops as soil warms
Spacing notes: - Peas: patch planting, "feed the birds" scatter method, ~14" wide patch - Early rows: about 21" apart - Corn and larger crops: wider spacing (15'–27" class rows depending on crop) - Tomatoes / peppers: transplants after frost risk passes
Yield notes from the plan: - Peas: May 1st harvest window for early types - Beets: around July 1st - Radishes: about 2 weeks after planting - Tomato types of interest: Super Fantastic, Beefsteak, Goliath - Potatoes: Pontiac - Peas: Little Marvels (fast) + slower second variety for staggered harvest - Corn: Salt and Pepper and other heirlooms
Seed varieties highlighted in Plants notes: - Black Aztec Corn (75 days, blue-black, popcorn/meal) - Blue Hopi Corn (105 days, tortillas and decoration) - Country Gentleman / Shoepeg Corn (83 days, irregular white kernels) - Japanese Hulless White Popcorn (83 days) - BT7-50 Sugar Beets (110 days) - Skyscraper Sunflowers (75 days, up to 12 ft)
Planting windows (temperate home plot)
Staggered crops spread harvest labor across the season.
Variety notes
Black Aztec Corn A75 days. Zea mays. Plant produces high yields of beautiful 7" long blue-black corn. Used for making popcorn. Kernels pop white and tender. It makes a half a bushel from one pound of kernels. Excellent variety for roasting and grinding into cornmeal. Also used for fall decorations. A heirloom variety dating back to the 1860's from South America. Excellent for home gardens and market growers. Plant Height: 6 ft tall. pk/50
Blue Hopi Corn 105 days. Zea mays. Plant produces good yields of 9" long ears of blue kernel corn. The Indian Blue corn is grown to make tortilla corn chips. It is an orginal American Indian variety. Also great for beautiful decorations. Plant Height: 12 ft tall. pk/50 (SE) Sugary Enhancer Hybrids The SE varieties have the highest sugar content. It also has superior tenderness. Usually last over a week in the fridge. No isolation needed.
Skycraper Sunflowers 75 days. Helianthus annuus. Annual. Tall plant produces heavy yields of sunflowers seeds. The yellow flowers are humongous. When the backs turn yellow, cut the flower, and let dry upside down. At the end of the season, watch for goldfinches, who love the seed! Impress your neighbors by growing a giant Sunflower! Easy for kids to grow. Great for school projects. A variety from the USA. Plant Height: 12 ft tall. pk/25
Japanese Hulless White Popcorn 83 days. Zea mays. Plant produces incredible yields of white corn. This is a great open pollinated variety suitable for making white popcorn. Great for school projects. It is extremely productive. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 219881. Plant Height: 5 ft tall. pk/50
Country Gentleman Corn 83 days. Zea mays. Plant produces heavy yields of delicious sweet white corn. Ears are 8" long and have white kernels. It is one of the most unusual sweet corn varieties because the white kernels are arranged irregularly, not in rows. It holds well much longer than most heirloom varieties. Also known as Shoepeg Corn. A heirloom variety developed around 1890 in Orange, Connecticut, USA. Disease Resistant: Stewart's Wilt. Plant Height: 8 ft tall. pk/50
BT7-50 Sugar Beets 110 days. Plant produces good yields of large 3 lb sugar beets. Roots have a sugar flavor. Shred the beets and add to other vegetables. Also used to make molasses and wine. A fun thing to grow in your home garden. pk/50