Inyo-Mono Favorite Vegetable Varieties - 2010

By Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteers

This article summarizes the results of the vegetable variety trials conducted by the Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners in 2009 and 2010.

The following list is not comprehensive, but it's a good place to start with some basic information, especially related to tomatoes.

General Note

Home gardeners should:

• Read seed packets carefully for pest and disease resistance.

• Avoid planting susceptible crops in areas with known pest histories.

Beans

• Contender – Early, prolific, good flavor and texture

• Blue Lake – Heat tolerant, prolific, tender, freezes well, good raw

• Kentucky Wonder – Heat tolerant, classic bean flavor

• Filet types (e.g., Vernandon) – Tender, delicious, not widely available at markets

• Romano – Unusual flavor, meaty texture, not widely available at markets

Beets

• Chiogga – Delicious and visually attractive

Carrots

• Danvers 126 – Performs well locally

• Nantes – Sweet, juicy, tender

Sweet Corn

• Sugar Pearl – Very sweet, holds flavor after picking, easy to grow

• Silver Queen – Late maturing, high quality

• Indian Popcorn – Ornamental and edible

Cucumbers

• Armenian – Large, prolific, no peeling required

• Lemon – Unique flavor, color, and shape

• Orient Express – Thin skin, good flavor

• Straight Eight – Prolific and reliable

Eggplants

• Ichiban – Heat tolerant, performs well locally

• Black Beauty – Heat tolerant, performs well locally

• Neon – Lavender color, good texture and flavor

• Purple Rain – Large purple fruit with white stripes, good texture and flavor

Greens

• Chard (Rhubarb) – Hardier than yellow chard, overwinters

• Chard (Bright Lights) – Colorful stems, long season

• Kale (Dinosaur) – Hardy, ornamental, useful for poultry

• Spinach (Bloomsdale) – Thick leaves, moderately heat tolerant

Lettuces

• Buttercrunch – Succulent texture

• Romaine (Parris Island) – Bolt resistant

• Four Seasons – Vigorous, attractive, tender

• Royal Oak Leaf – Lobed leaves, relatively bolt resistant

Melons

• Casaba – Excellent flavor

• Crenshaw – Reliable performance, great flavor

• Haogen – Small, sweet, aromatic, performs well locally

• Crimson Sweet – Round red watermelon, disease resistant, performs well locally

Peas

• Oregon Sugar Pod II – Semi-mildew resistant, productive in short cool season

• Super Sugar Snap – Sweet, productive, some mildew resistance

Peppers

Sweet

• Bell Boy – Green, ripens red, good for salads and grilling

• Valencia – Ripens orange, sweet, sturdy fruit

• Golden Giant II – Large, thick-walled, sweet, ripens golden yellow

Hot

• Ancho San Luis – Medium size, good flavor, excellent for rellenos

• Chileno – Local favorite, prolific, excellent pickled

• Jalapeño – Suitable for salsa, grilling, stuffing, productive

• Serrano – Attractive plants, productive, hot

Radishes

• Cherry Belle – Round, red, sharp flavor, performs well locally

• French Breakfast – Red and white, sharp flavor, performs well locally

• White Icicle – Spicy flavor, performs well locally

Squash

Summer

• Black Eel zucchini – Prolific and easy

• Gold Rush zucchini – Golden skin, firm texture, reliable

• Bennings Green Tint – Pattypan type, mild flavor

• Yellow crookneck – Crunchy skin, distinct flavor

Winter

• Acorn – Stores well through fall

• Spaghetti – Easy to grow, stores well, pasta substitute

Tomatoes

Due to the large number of varieties tested, these results are reported in tabular form.

Full-Size Tomatoes

Small-Fruited Tomatoes

* Disease resistance varies. Hybrids typically show stronger resistance than heirlooms. Refer to seed catalogs and plant labels for specific resistance information.