In this column, I present to you some vegetable plants newly introduced to the North American horticultural market that will add a touch of color to your garden and to the dishes you cook this summer. Most of these edible plants can be easily grown in the ground or in containers, on a terrace or balcony.
Cucumber ‘Quick Snack’
Courtesy, Ball Seeds
This small cultivar was specially developed for growing in containers. ‘Quick Snack’ is small enough that it can be grown in a container on a balcony or terrace. It can also be grown in a hanging basket or in a balcony box hung from a railing. The fruits produced by this variety have a crunchy and sweet flesh.
The ‘Quick Snack’ cucumber is parthenocarpic, meaning that it produces fruit without pollination by insects. It can therefore be grown in a greenhouse or under an agrotextile – to avoid attacks by leaf beetles – without worrying about the fact that bees will not be able to access the flowers.
Sowing depth: 15mm
Sowing period: indoors, 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting to the garden
Number of days from transplant to harvest: 45
Sunshine: sun
Ground: rich and well drained
Eggplant ‘Ensoro Ewia’
Courtesy, Call to Nature Heirloom Seeds
This tasty eggplant is a variety from Ghana, cultivated by the Ashanti people for almost two centuries. The name ensoro ewia refers to the great resistance to drought and heat of this plant. This variety hardly reaches more than 45 cm in height and produces an abundance of small, bright red fruits that look almost like tomatoes!
Sowing depth: 6mm
Sowing period: indoors, 6 to 7 weeks before transplanting to the garden
Number of days from transplant to harvest: 50
Sunshine: sun
Ground: rich and well drained
Peppers ‘Peppers from Heaven’
Courtesy, Ball Seeds
Pepper cultivars in the ‘Peppers from Heaven’ series produce attractive, sweet, elongated yellow, orange or red fruits. Reaching no more than 30 cm in height and approximately 45 cm in width, these small pepper cultivars are ideal for growing in containers, on a very sunny terrace or patio. Since they have a slightly drooping habit, these peppers can also be grown in flower boxes, hanging baskets and green walls.
Sowing depth: 15mm
Sowing period: indoors, 7 to 8 weeks before transplanting to the garden
Number of days from transplant to harvest: 75
Sunshine: sun
Ground: rich, loose and well drained
Tomato ‘Homeslice’
Courtesy, PanAm Seeds
This determinate tomato variety produces an abundance of fruits weighing between 150 and 200 grams. Ideal for growing in containers on a terrace or balcony, the ‘Homeslice’ cultivar reaches no more than 80cm in height and produces fruit around 65 days after transplanting.
Sowing depth: 15mm
Sowing period: indoors, 5 to 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden
Number of days from transplant to harvest: 65
Sunshine: sun
Ground: rich and well drained
You can obtain the seeds of the vegetable plants presented in this column from these seed merchants: