Rainbow Swiss Chard, Corno di Toro Peppers and Black Beauty Eggplant

Although Swiss Chard is a close relative to the beet, it has a small, inedible root.  It is the leafy greens of the plant that are enjoyed for their mild flavors and eaten like spinach and kale.

Swiss Chard has been cultivated for at least 2,000 years and is rich in vitamin A, as well as other vitamins and minerals. Plant produces good yields of flavorful burgundy and green leaves. The stems are full of rainbow colors of gold, orange, red, white, and yellow. A very beautiful plant. Plant Height: 20" tall
Rainbow Swiss Chard

Corno di Toro pepper is delicious heirloom Italian sweet frying pepper whose name means "bull's horn" for its distinctive twisted shape. The huge 8-inch fruits mature from glossy green to dark red, and have a taste both sweet and tangy. Try the pepper used in Italian sauces for generations by immigrants who introduced it to this country many decades ago. 75 days from seed to fruit.

Corno di Toro Pepper

Imperial Black Beauty', also known as 'Black Beauty' is an heirloom variety ofeggplant. Fruits are jet black and smooth skinned. The fruits are ready for harvest quite early compared to other varieties. Eggplants want much the same soil conditions as tomatoes, but they are also a little more sensitive, being generally susceptible to wilts, and fond of near-tropical weather,  they should do well in Florida.  Expect about 4 eggplants per plant. 80 days from seed to fruit

Black Beauty Eggplant

Happy Seedlings-3 weeks old

Happy seedlings enjoying the day

A happy seedling grows into a big strong plant

Birth of a seedling

I started my seeds in egg cartons

Then transfer to paper cups 

 cut holes in the bottom of cups

 

  

fill with dirt and water in sink

                                  make hole in dirt with finger

               

                 plant seedling deep, all most up to leaves

                                                           label paper cup

Happy Seedling

New Tomatoes

I am trying two new tomatoes, new to me, Mortgage Lifter and Costoluto Genovese . They are both heirloom and heat resistant. 

Mortgage Lifter was Developed in the 1930's by a gardener who planted the four biggest varieties he knew, and crossed one with pollen from the other three. He did this for six seasons and created a variety that produced immense, tasty fruit. He sold the plants for $1 apiece $1,000 a year - and paid off his mortgage in six years. Mortgage Lifters are 80 days  from seed to fruit.

Mortgage Lifter

The Costoluto Genovese tomato is an old Italian preserving tomato variety. It's heavily lobed and often convoluted shape is indicative of early nineteenth century tomato varieties. The Costoluto Genovese's stellar flavor is intense and acidic. Costoluto Genovese has been a Mediterranean favorite since at least the early eighteenth century. The key to this mid-season beefsteak's rich tomato flavor is heat, so I think this should do well in Florida. It is a midseason tomato, 70 days from seed to fruit.

Costoluto Genovese

My Garden

This is going to be a record of my Victory Garden.  Growing vegetables in  South Florida is tricky, we have poor soil in many places in South Florida, I know I do,. My soil appears to be fill from some place else as it full of sand and sea shells.  Plants have to be heat resistance  and  you have to be vigilant against all sorts of strange and bizarre pests, from snail and iguanas ( who have a taste for lettuce and swiss chard) to possums who once had a tomato party in my yard.
This is going to be my biggest garden I've had since I have been in Florida. All in  containers.
I will be growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, swiss chard, lemon grass, parsley, rosemary, catnip and
 2 tea tree plants


and maybe a mango tree