How to Grow ‘Polish Hardneck’ Garlic Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Polish Hardneck’
07.09.2023 - 06:23 / gardeningknowhow.com / Amy Grant
Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables, likely because of their versatility. Not only can you prepare potatoes in a myriad of ways, but there are so many unusual potato varieties to try. From russet to fingerling in hues of red, yellow, white and even purple, there’s a unique potato variety out there you will enjoy. Some unusual potatoes might be considered gourmet potato varieties, while still others are de rigueur, but all of them are delicious. Keep reading to learn about unusual potato varieties and which ones you should grow.
Potatoes get rather a bad rap. Much is made about tomatoes, related in the family Solanaceae, but no one makes a big deal about tomatoes despite the fact that they can be fried, sauteed, broiled, boiled, baked, roasted and of course mashed.
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are an annual, cool season crop. There are seven types of potatoes: red, russet, white, yellow, purple/blue, fingerling and petite. Each has that earthy aroma and flavor but some seem almost buttery, while others are extra starchy, nutty or even somewhat sweet.
The cool growing season of the northern United States is perfect for growing potatoes, but with so many varieties even those in the South can enjoy a spud fresh from the garden.
Everyone that’s ever eaten a baked potato knows what a russet potato is. Red potato salad? Roasted Yukon golds? You know them. So what constitutes an unusual potato? Unusual or rare or even gourmet potatoes are those you won’t usually find at your standard grocery store or supermarket. They are often not even heirlooms, but rather more likely to be new incarnations of potato, bred for specific qualities.
Rare potato varieties are more likely to be found at the Farmer’s Market or specialty
How to Grow ‘Polish Hardneck’ Garlic Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Polish Hardneck’
Good things in life take time. Most of us recognize the truth in this statement, especially when it comes to our gardens. Not only are the best designs often those refined with incremental changes over years, but the juiciest, most umami-rich tomatoes are often those that develop slowly in the garden. The same is true for one of the quirkiest edible crops I grow, which takes a full nine months from planting to harvest: garlic (Allium sativum). It’s worth the wait, even if just to see how it grows. Growing garlic in the Rocky Mountains isn’t much different from growing it in other places, but certain varieties do better here. Learn more below.
Ever watched a praying mantis silently stalk its prey, blending seamlessly into its environment like a ninja in the wild? These insects are masters of disguise, acrobats of the insect world, and each species carries its own set of jaw-dropping traits. You might be surprised to learn that there are hundreds of different types, each with its own unique behaviors, hunting tactics, and stunning coloration. Get ready to venture into the captivating realm ofDifferent Types of Praying Mantises—where mystery, beauty, and predation coalesce into one incredible insect world.
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How to Grow Plumcots and Pluots Prunus hybrids
Trilliums (also known as wood lily and wake robin) are herbaceous, clump-forming perennials with large leaves and gently nodding, solitary flowers which stand on tall stems, above the foliage. Trillium flowers tend to be white or shades of burgundy, with the darker-flowered varieties known as ‘wake robin’ after the robin’s red breast. Native to North American woodlands, they thrive in full shade to partial shade. They are commonly used as ground cover and as underplanting for shrubs and roses.
Dennis Leupold | Design: Better Homes & Gardens
Helianthus annus ‘Sonja’
Just over a week ago I spent a couple of hours at the Eden Project, so I thought I would show you some of the more unusual edible plants I came across while I was there.
There can’t be a more iconic symbol of Halloween than a witch riding a broomstick. In olden times it wouldn’t have been a problem to wander out into the woodland and cut a stout pole and then find sticks to make the sweeping end, and then you’d have yourself a fine broom, or besom. I suspect most of them were used for more mundane purposes – they are jolly useful things to have to hand.
One of the nerdy things I enjoy doing in my spare time is researching the first seeds to have made it into space. This is what I have found so far:
From the moment humans started to reach for the skies, we have used other species from Earth to test what’s safe and what happens to life away from its natural habitat on the planet’s surface.