Sowing History

What is the 1500 Year Old Cave Bean actually? Also, garden or farm planning update and a quick primer on why its important to water perennials in dry weather.

Every wonder if old seeds are still good? I give a little background on seed biology and how to care for seeds to make them last as long as possible. The variety highlight is the Scottish Yellow Tomato and go down a path of mystery genetics and breeding. A garden update and a seed saving tip round out the podcast.

In this episode I talk about Maple Sugar, the oldest gardens, crops and other cool topics, review the Giant Musselburgh Leek, and a quick reminder to start your winter garden prep now.

Heirlooms, open-pollinated and hybrid seeds - what is the difference? Also, what I am harvesting in the seed garden, the Stupice Tomato takes center stage in the Variety Highlight, and in the Garden Tip of the Week - how to avoid future weed seeds in your garden.

Spinach is such a versatile and...green vegetable. Did you know it came from modern Iraq and was once known as the "Spanish Vegetable"? Want to be popular at parties with more random spinach facts? This is your podcast then.

Join me as I check out three heirloom or historic varieties growing in my garden, The pride of New Mexico - the Big Jim Pepper, the beautiful Double Red Corn from Oregon, and the historic Itialian Fagiolina del Trasimeno cowpeas

Did you know a Roman Emperor and the need for medicinal cucumbers lead to todays greenhouses? And there is actually a difference between greenhouses and hot houses? Have you heard of an orangery or pinery? Tune in and learn all about these.

Why was the kitchen garden such an important part of our history? Plus a garden tip that is more motivation that an actual tip.

Did you buy a green pepper plant and get a jalapeno? How about buying a jalapeno plant and getting a hot hungarian wax pepper? Pepper-gate started in 2023 and is still continuing on. There are a lot of maybes and unknowns, but I attempt to figure out why it happened. Also, I talk about peppers and stuff.

Starting in the 1800s commercial asparagus seed from England started appearing in seed catalogs. Then in the 1900's the war on asparagus rust developed the ever loved Mary Washington asparagus. These varieties became the foundation of todays hybrids.