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Tag: Seed of the Week (Page 126 of 142)

Seed of the Week: Chard

November 9, 2010 / / 4 Comments

The mystery seeds from last week

will grow into this plant:

which is called chard (Beta vulgaris subspecies cicla).

Chard and beets are closely related, as beets are Beta vulgaris subspecies vulgaris.

(According to the Ohio State University Seed Biology Program, if you scroll down to the Family Chenopodiaceae.)

The same species, but two different vegetables? Plants are funny that way.

Chard is fairly easy to grow and hardy. It makes a colorful addition to any garden. It can be used in stir fry, or any recipe that calls for beet greens.

Have you grown chard in your garden? What are your favorite uses for chard?

Seed of the Week: Peppers

November 2, 2010 / / 2 Comments

Perhaps if I had used this photograph, you might have been able to guess the mystery seeds from last week.

The seeds were from a chili pepper plant, Capsicum annuum. Varieties of this pepper include the bell, the jalapeno and the poblano pepper.

The plant originated in the New World, although now it popular almost everywhere.

The flowers are white. Peppers are self-pollinating plants.

The fruit, in this case a jalapeno, may contain capsaicin and some related compounds that burn the mouth when consumed.

Because they are self-pollinated, you can grow peppers from seeds you gather from the store or save from plants you grow yourself.

Peppers are warm season plants. Here in Arizona that means planting in the spring after the danger of frost has past.

What is your favorite kind of pepper plant?

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