Arugula - Rocket (Eruca sativa)
Musky greens that will add spice your salad.
Hint: For a longer shelf life, harvest in the evening, not in the morning.
Seeds and growing:
Growing days: 47
Sun: Full
Sow directly outside as early in spring as possible at 1/8" deep, 30 seeds per foot. You can also plant succession crops every two weeks through to early fall.
Stringless Green Pod Bush Bean (Heirloom) (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Seeds and growing:
Meaty, juicy, and round 6” green beans that stay totally stringless and tender even when big. Great for canning, freezing, and fresh eating. Light brown seed.
Sow 1" deep
Germination: 4-10 days
Growing days: 51
Sun: Full
Grow in light, well-drained soil; provide adequate, even moisture, especially at flowering time as dry soil can result in low yields and fibrous pods. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen which results in a surplus of foliage and low, delayed pod growth. Harvest before the seeds bulge and beans snap easily. Pick continually every 2-3 days to prolong production.
Detroit Dark Red Short Top Beet (Beta vulgaris)
Sweet and delicious vibrantly golden beets with delicious greens. Exceptional 3" diameter dark red globes that are suited for boiling, pickling, canning, baking, and freezing.
Seeds and growing:
Growing days: 60
Sun: Full
Sow outside, 1/2" deep almost as soon as ground can be worked. Thin to (or plant) seedlings 3" apart.
Little Finger Carrot (Daucus carota)
The Little Finger Carrot is an excellent choice for succession plantings. Carrots are about the size of your index finger (about 3 1/2” long) and not tapered much at all, like a Nantes. Plant quite densely, 20-25 seeds per square foot. The Little Finger Carrot also does great in containers.
Growing days: 65
Sun: Full
Their small size makes them great for compact soils and suitable for growing in containers that are at least 12” deep. ‘Little Finger’ Carrots can be planted every 2-3 weeks from mid-April through August for a steady supply all summer and fall. They are cold hardy and can remain in the ground even after the first fall frosts.
Photo Credit: CC by missellyrh
National Pickling Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Introduced in 1929, the result of a between the our own Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and the National Pickle Packers Association [See MSC AES Circular 191 Vegetable Varieties for Commercial Production in Michigan By Keith Barrons (1944)]. It is suitable for both small and dill pickles. .
Growing days: 52
Sun: Full
Begin seeds indoors and transplant outside after last frost. Can also direct seed 2-3 seeds 1" deep, 3" apart in late spring.
