Fudanso Umaina

[barefootgardener]

Ginny,

I bought the seed from::
http://www.kitazawaseed.com/

The seeds came from Japan. They have a great catalog and I am sure they will send one if you request it.

Jack

.Thank you for the link Jack..I ordered the catalogue. The company is in California..They have a lot of interesting oriental varieites. The Japanese variety of the Chinese Leek, Broad leaved Nira sounds interesting. Have you grown chinese kale or chinese leeks before?.

The chinese leek is acually a chinese chive..It takes low winter temps, (I wonder how low?), and long summers to grow..Everything is edible including the flowers! I could probably grow this in a pot and bring in house for winter.

Has anyone grown Poha Berry? Or tasted the fruit? It is grown in Hawaii, and the vining plants grow 2-3 feet, but with support, will reach up to six feet. The berries are made into jam. Has a beautiful tropical appearance. Wonder if i could grow this in a pot, and take out in summer to GH.. Sounds interesting..

I will go through the catalogue more when i receive it..

Ginny

 

[barefootgardener]

. . .I am also growing a number of melons from Asia and the orient, Sakata's Sweet . . .

That one is the only one on your entire list that I've grown, Ginny. I tried a couple of other Asian melons but don't remember there names . . . this late in the evening.

They mature more quickly than other melons. Or, did in my garden. And, what a big PLUS that is! However, Asian melons aren't what I am accustomed to and hoped for, I guess. It was simply a matter of personal taste.

Steve

Yes, they are not like regular melons..My little Sakata's Sweet Melons, did not get as sweet as the description said, but i might have picked them a bit to soon, to get that sweet flavor..I loved the crispness of the skin and fruit though..Late in the season,the leaves on the vines started to get mildew..Thats why i picked them..(grown in GH, seeds started early in pots). The ones grown outside, did not get mature fruit. That is because I stuck some seeds in the ground directly..Late June!!

I am growing it again, in GH, along with a new to me variety, Rich Sweetness. Going to grow both up a trellis.

What varieties are you growing this year Steve?

Ginny

 

[jackb]

Marshall,
Your comment about chard with brownish stems got me thinking of a heirloom lettuce I grow called Dutch Winter Brown. It looks awful, but tastes OK. It sort of resembles a cow patty.

Jack B

 

[thistlebloom]

It sort of resembles a cow patty.

Jack B

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp121/hydrogardener/dutchwinterbrown.jpg

 

[digitS']

. . .melons... What varieties are you growing this year Steve?

Ginny

Oh, you probably won't like mine, Ginny . Hybrids both: Goddess Muskmelon and Passport Galia. I'm definitely discourage on the melon front altho' I've grown Passport for years now and it always comes thru even when others fail . . . and die :/! Goddess was new last year and performed remarkably! Both of these are University of New Hampshire releases and I think they were developed in a very similar gardening climate - not very melon-friendly.

This was "eggplant seed sowing day" . Three of the varieties I have and have grown before are from Kitazawa Seed Company . Two of the Japanese eggplants, I like real well: Shoya purple and Roleks green. They are both hybrids. An open pollinated eggplant that I like to grow is another variety from New Hampshire -- Apple Green !

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

That Kitazawa seed company has some pretty cool stuff!