Viewing comments posted by Bonehead

A happy-go-lucky little groundcover. Does well in sun to part-shade. Sends off shoots readily to multiply, and is easy to transplant. I like this at the front of beds, extending as far as they will go under shrubs and taller perennials. It makes a nice bright statement in full spring bloom, then continues to flower sporadically throughout summer. The teeny little berries are rather insipid, but the birds (and chickens) like them. Makes a nice pairing with Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) as a companion ground cover that is more shade tolerant and will stay farther back in the bed.

I don't detect any fragrance from this flower, but then I can't smell sarcococca either, so could be my nose. The flower stalks stand well above the grassy foliage with no staking needed. They don't last long, perhaps 2-3 weeks, after which I cut the flower stalks down to the ground and just let the foliage carry on. The foliage is a grassy soft gray-green and is evergreen, although it gets a bit ratty looking in the winter. I cut it back to about 3" in the fall. Spreads easily but not aggressively.

No staking required, and will grow in less than full sun. Mine gets full morning sun, but toward end of summer has afternoon shade.

Gets about 5' tall. Self seeds. May be cut completely to the ground after flowering but before setting seed, which will result in fresh new low growth. No further maintenance is needed for winter.

Very tall plant that needs elbow room, but is fairly good at self-supporting. I cut the flowering stalks back to about 3' as soon as each starts to lean, which extends the season a bit. Spreads to about a 2' clump in a year or so. Self-seeds.

Nice filler plant. Does not self-seed as readily as c. montana. Cut to basal growth after blooms fade and you may get a second bloom.

Good filler plant, will reseed readily but easy to control. Reblooms if first flush is cut to ground when ratty. Not fussy about care.

Grows quickly to a nice sized mound. Easy to divide. Brightens up any shady corner.

The white fruiting mulberry will produce seedless berries without a male tree close by. The berries are edible in either the green or white stage, and they are non-staining. This tree can also be maintained as a shrub because fruits are produced on new growth.

I got my young boys to eat squash by having them plant and harvest "flying saucers," which they were proud to do. It was helpful that this variety is also quite sweet and holds its flavor from baby size to 8" without losing tenderness. Vigorous 3-4' bush with high yields.

Open bush habit allows an easier harvest of this traditional dark green zucchini. Mellow flavor. The blossoms can be batter fried.

Great seeds for young children. Plant direct in the ground and harvest colorful radishes in about a month. The mix offered by Territorial Seed is an equal blend of Ruby, Plum Purple, and Snow Belle. Other seed companies may differ, but the idea is the same - a radish rainbow.

Tiny little pumpkins used for fall decorations. These sell at the grocery store for a buck apiece around Halloween. Why not grow your own, each vine produces 6-10 little pumpkins. Great kid project.

Part of the Super Freak (TM) series. Large (12") elongated pumpkins that develop blisters on the rind as they ripen. Very effective for jack-o-lantern carving or simply as a stand-alone decoration. Try pairing with the smaller Goosebumps (8"). I was somewhat disappointed in the relatively small amount of blistering, but it could have been my weather as other members have posted impressively blistered fruit.

This is a good variety to grow for fresh eating out of the garden, as the peas ripen over a longer period of time than most shelling peas. Resistent to enation and powdery mildew.

Heirloom seed, smooth 7" diameter pumpkins. The flesh is bright orange and thick, very sweet. Each vine will produce 3-4 pumpkins, and even the smaller ones can be used when it's pie making time.

Very pretty bi-color corn, sweet and crunchy. Ears are a bit short, but nicely filled out. I've never had any problems with disease. Have not tried freezing or canning this variety, have grown only enough for fresh eating.

Very reliable bush bean, heavy producer, and easy to pick off the vines. The pale green seeds stay tender longer into the season than other beans. Perfect size and straight shape for putting up beans in pint jars. Good for pickling as well.

Long thin roots with a real crisp snap for fresh eating, very sweet. Pulls out of the ground easily. Contains extra high beta-carotene. Resistant to alternaria, cercospora and pythium.

I have purchased this seed as "drunken woman frizzy headed" -- who can resist that name?? I have not, however, had the greatest luck with growing it, but that could be my own error as lettuce is typically an easy crop in the Pacific NW. This is a butterhead type of lettuce with a savoyed head and mint-green leaves tinged in red. Late to bolt. I will continue to try it just for the name alone.