Hardiness Zone: 3-11Soil Type: Slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: AnnualType: Vegetable History: Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that when fertilized … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 4-10Soil Type: NeutralSun Exposure: Full to partial sunAnnual or Perennial: BiennialType: Vegetable History: Wild celery is native to the Mediterranean area, according to Davis, though archaeological remains from Switzerland have suggested that humans were transporting celery seeds as early as 4,000 B.C. Another variety of celery called “smallage” was present in China as … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 2-11Soil Type: Slight acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: AnnualType: Vegetable History: Cauliflower was originally grown in Asia around the Mediterranean Sea. Cauliflower has been grown and eaten across Europe since the 1500s but did not start growing in the United States until the 1900s. Today, California produces more cauliflower than … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 3-10Soil Type: NeutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: BiennialType: Vegetable History: The best estimate is that carrots originated as a root crop in Central Asia — Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan — about 1,100 years ago, although there is some evidence for carrots in the Roman Empire several hundred years earlier. The carrot symbolizes … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 1-10Soil Type: NeutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: AnnualType: Vegetable History: Cabbage was most likely domesticated somewhere in Europe in Ancient history before 1000 BC. Cabbage in the cuisine has been documented since Antiquity. It was described as a table luxury in the Roman Empire. Cabbage is an exceptionally healthy food. It has … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 3-10Soil Type: Neutral to slightly alkaline, slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: BiennialType: Vegetable History: Brussels sprouts are believed to originate from the city which they get their name from- Brussels, Belgium. Records trace them back to the 13th century in the Brussels area. The French coined the name in … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 2-11Soil Type: Slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: AnnualType: Vegetable History: Native to the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, sprouting broccoli was cultivated in Italy in ancient Roman times and was introduced to England and America in the 1700’s.
Hardiness Zone: 9-11Soil Type: Slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: PerennialType: Vegetable History: Bell peppers originated in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Peppers were named by Christopher Columbus and Spanish explorers who were searching for peppercorn plants to produce black pepper. Columbus took samples of a wide variety of peppers back … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 2-11Soil Type: Slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full to partial sunAnnual or Perennial: AnnualType: Vegetable History: Beets are believed to originate along the coasts of the Mediterranean (sea beets) and were first cultivated for their edible leaves. The Greeks, like the Romans, cultivated beets for their leaves, but ate them as food and … Read more
Hardiness Zone: 4-9Soil Type: Neutral to slightly alkaline, slightly acidic to neutralSun Exposure: Full sunAnnual or Perennial: PerennialType: Vegetable History: The history of asparagus goes back as far as that of the leek and has been consumed for over 2000 years. This garden plant originated in the eastern Mediterranean countries and traces of wild varieties … Read more