We're in zone 6B. This is our first year to live here, so first year to garden in this different-from-what-we're-used-to climate and soil. In our old place our soil was clay. Solid clay. It took us 8 years of amending it every single year to turn it into decent soil. Here, we have good old Virginia red dirt. It is loose, drains extremely well. About 1/4 of our garden spot doesn't get any morning sun, and that's an issue, but not one we can do anything about, other than plant (next year) things that don't require so much sun on that end.
I brought seed from some of my favorites with me to try here. I'm happy to report the tomatoes are doing better here, than they ever have, (everything is, actually) and that's actually saying something, as these 2 varieties never fail us.
Our go-to slicer is an old heirloom called Crimson Cushion. We've been growing it for about 5 or 6 years now. I brought in a 1 lb 6.1 oz tomato the other day. Most of them average 14 to 16 oz. They are fleshy, sweet with large (but edible) cores and tender skins. I use them along with my Roma tomatoes in all of my sauces. My only issue with them is I get a lot of double blooms on them. On this particular tomato, that makes two tomatoes that grow together, making for a very, very deep core. I tend to pinch those blooms off, with the exception of a few. Excellent producer and large yields.
Our favorite Roma (paste tomato) is another heirloom called Mama Leone. Very large tomato with a perfect shape and exquisite flavor. Again, another great producer with high yields.
Our pole bean of choice for the last several years is one called Potomac. Heirloom bean that starts off pretty slow, with spindly vines. Once it starts blooming and producing, the vines thicken up and they become very full and lush. Beautiful vines. We've had them get in excess of 9 ft tall. Produces like crazy once it gets started and when it slows way down, if you'll just over water it a bit, it starts again. Beans are at their very best at about 8 inches, but I have picked them at up to 11 inches and they are still tender and without strings for the most part. Very tasty bean and cans up beautifully.
Black Beauty zucchini, Detroit Dark Red beets, Danvers carrots, Pontiac potatoes are favorites. All did really well this year, although for the first time in my life, I got potatoes with no blooms. I thought they were sick when the vines started dying back, because they never bloomed. We had potatoes a plenty!
Our peppers haven't done well this year. I think it was due to early planting. I went by the tables for this area, but should have gone by the neighbors.
I will next year.
Clemson spineless Okra is finally coming along. It is my go to okra for all my 40 plus years of gardening.
Trying an heirloom variety of corn this year, that is native to VA. It's called "Aunt Mary's". It is planted in the wrong spot and not getting enough sun, so I suspect we won't get a good yield. We plan to try it again next year in a better spot.
My all time favorite purple hull pea is called "Quick Pick". Another heirloom. Tall plants that get about hip high on me (I'm 5'2") and don't vine a lot. The plants are fairly erect, and most of the peas are found on the top of the plants. That doesn't mean one shouldn't dig down in the vines though. They are down there, too. Just not as profuse. Long, beautiful purple/red pods with about 11-15 large peas per pod. The peas have a nice, dark maroon eye. Wonderful flavor and they produce like crazy! Ours just started blooming.
I brought seed from some of my favorites with me to try here. I'm happy to report the tomatoes are doing better here, than they ever have, (everything is, actually) and that's actually saying something, as these 2 varieties never fail us.
Our go-to slicer is an old heirloom called Crimson Cushion. We've been growing it for about 5 or 6 years now. I brought in a 1 lb 6.1 oz tomato the other day. Most of them average 14 to 16 oz. They are fleshy, sweet with large (but edible) cores and tender skins. I use them along with my Roma tomatoes in all of my sauces. My only issue with them is I get a lot of double blooms on them. On this particular tomato, that makes two tomatoes that grow together, making for a very, very deep core. I tend to pinch those blooms off, with the exception of a few. Excellent producer and large yields.
Our favorite Roma (paste tomato) is another heirloom called Mama Leone. Very large tomato with a perfect shape and exquisite flavor. Again, another great producer with high yields.
Our pole bean of choice for the last several years is one called Potomac. Heirloom bean that starts off pretty slow, with spindly vines. Once it starts blooming and producing, the vines thicken up and they become very full and lush. Beautiful vines. We've had them get in excess of 9 ft tall. Produces like crazy once it gets started and when it slows way down, if you'll just over water it a bit, it starts again. Beans are at their very best at about 8 inches, but I have picked them at up to 11 inches and they are still tender and without strings for the most part. Very tasty bean and cans up beautifully.
Black Beauty zucchini, Detroit Dark Red beets, Danvers carrots, Pontiac potatoes are favorites. All did really well this year, although for the first time in my life, I got potatoes with no blooms. I thought they were sick when the vines started dying back, because they never bloomed. We had potatoes a plenty!
Our peppers haven't done well this year. I think it was due to early planting. I went by the tables for this area, but should have gone by the neighbors.
I will next year. Clemson spineless Okra is finally coming along. It is my go to okra for all my 40 plus years of gardening.
Trying an heirloom variety of corn this year, that is native to VA. It's called "Aunt Mary's". It is planted in the wrong spot and not getting enough sun, so I suspect we won't get a good yield. We plan to try it again next year in a better spot.
My all time favorite purple hull pea is called "Quick Pick". Another heirloom. Tall plants that get about hip high on me (I'm 5'2") and don't vine a lot. The plants are fairly erect, and most of the peas are found on the top of the plants. That doesn't mean one shouldn't dig down in the vines though. They are down there, too. Just not as profuse. Long, beautiful purple/red pods with about 11-15 large peas per pod. The peas have a nice, dark maroon eye. Wonderful flavor and they produce like crazy! Ours just started blooming.
