Time to plan this year’s garden

by Michelle L. Dauberman

The time for planning this year’s garden is upon you yet during these cold days you may be finding it hard to get back into the swing of things so here’s an inspired plant list to get you started!  Happy Gardening!

Arugula, 'Roquette' (Eruca vesicaria subsp sativa)

Beans, 'Maxibel' (Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’)

Beans, 'Serengeti' (Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Serengeti’)

Beans, ‘Black Turtle’ (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Black Turtle’)

Beans, 'Soleil' (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Soleil Filet')

Beets, 'Golden Orange' (Beta vulgaris 'Golden')

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)

Cucumber, 'Mouse Melons' (Melothria scabra) 

Endive, 'Tres FIne' (Cichorium endiva ‘Tres Fine’)

Kale, 'Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch' (Brassica oleracea 'Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch')

Lettuce, 'Kweik' (Lactuca sativa)

Lima Bean, 'Big Mama' (Phaseolus lunatus)

Okra, 'Burgundy' (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Spinach, red stemmed Malabar (Basella alba 'Rubra')

Tomatoes, 'Black Cherry' (Lycopersicon lycopersicum ‘Black Cherry’)

Tomatoes, 'Black Vernissage' (Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Vernissage')

Tomatoes, 'Amish Paste' (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Amish Paste’)

Tomatoes, 'Sungold Select 11' (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Sungold Select’)

Basil, 'Holy' (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

Basil, 'Napoletano' (Ocimum basilicum ‘Napoletano’)

Rosemary, 'Barbecue' (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbeque')

Tarragon, 'Siberian' (Artemisia dracunculoides)

Looking for more inspiration?

Come join our Master Gardeners across the state to get ready for the new growing season at the “Master Gardener Spring Gardening Seminar.”  https://extension.psu.edu/spring-gardening-seminar?

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Penn State Extension is implied.

News from the Edible Landscape Demonstration Garden

Success can come in small packages or sometimes in small bottles filled with smelly liquids. The garlic concentrate diluted with water (one part concentrate to three parts water) has been effective in deterring those pesky Japanese beetles from completely denuding the grape vines. Most of the damaged leaves have been removed and, with luck, the plants will push new growth before the end of the season. Score one for our side! Hand picking the harlequin beetles off of the curly kale seems to be keeping those critters in check. The plants are looking quite perky for this point in the season.

The cucumber harvest is well under way. We planted 'Pickle Bush' hybrid along two small trellises back in May. The resulting plants are flowering well and have produced enough cukes to make a batch or two of bread and butter pickles. A later planting of 'Marketmore 97' cucumbers are almost a foot high and should provide us with even more crunchy additions to late summer and early fall salads.

Cardoon in bloom

The dozen or so different types of beans are now in their glory. The long, red Chinese noodle beans climbing high on their tepee supports look wonderful at the back of the garden. The various shelling bean plants -- Calypso, Great Northern, Black Turtle -- are filled with pods, ready for picking. The string beans including 'Soleil', 'Masai' and 'Kentucky Wonder' are in flower. What a wealth of delicious eating awaits!


The cardoons are in full bloom at the moment. Their thistle-like flowers are bold and beautiful. It is worth considering planting this perennial for its ornamental qualities alone.

Come visit us in the garden soon! We love company!