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As an evergreen perennial accented with masses of tiny flowers, thyme is a welcome addition to an ornamental garden as a shrub or groundcover, but its scented leaves make it indispensable in a collection of culinary herbs. In any location, only a few requirements are needed for thyme to thrive.
Lonicera, commonly known as honeysuckle, is a member of the large and varied Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family. The nearly 200 Lonicera species are all vines or shrubs. Named cultivars offer diverse growth habits and blossom colors.
A simple description of tomatillos as green tomatoes in a husk is only partially accurate. Tomatillos are definitely enclosed in a papery husk, and are closely related to tomatoes in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family.
Endive and radicchio are closely related Mediterranean natives of the chicory (Chicorium) genus. Both have an appealing bitter flavor, some varieties milder than others. Leafy types are grown similarly to lettuce and are valued in raw or cooked cuisines.
Of more than 4,000 known varieties of potatoes, only about 100 are commercially marketed and sold in produce markets. While it is impossible for home gardeners to explore all the rest, nurseries and seed catalogs offer dozens of quality possibilities for growing in home gardens.
In produce markets, sweet potatoes are often labeled as yams, but the two are not the same and have very different tastes and textures. In general, sweet potatoes have a moist, sweet interior whereas yams are starchier, more like true potatoes.
Sonoma County is a great place to live. If we are so inclined, we can food garden all year. Each month there are vegetables that can be planted along with many hardy herbs.
Onions vary considerably in several ways, prompting gardeners to make selections carefully. There are differences in color, pungency or sweetness, bulb size and shape, and suitability for storage.
When annual herbs disappear from garden beds and perennials are cut back for a rest, indoor herb gardens bring freshness and flavor to the kitchen. Making a few adjustments to their care is all it takes to keep favorite herbs at hand for clipping.
Somewhat surprisingly, rhubarb is a member of the buckwheat (Polygonaceae) family, rhubarb’s perennial, fleshy rhizomes and thick, succulent stalks grow best in cool microclimates where the average summer temperature is less than 75 degrees.
