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I may give up on this one. I've grown this scalloped variety at least three times now, seeds from various vendors, and every time they all turn out to be a smooth pale green. Unlike the pictures which always show them to be various colors and often two toned. Nope, just pale green. But they do produce well and taste pretty good.

A small watermelon, 3 to 4 lbs with light green skin and pink to salmon colored flesh is said to be an early, short season melon from Japan. Vining plants should produce sweet, delicious melons through the summer until frost. This is my first year growing and will report the results at the end of the season. Like other watermelons, harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit dries and turns brown.

Wasabina has serrated leaves with a sharp wasabi-like flavor, living up to its name. The leaf beetles (of the genus Disonycha) seem to show up just as the leaves mature, letting me know it's time to harvest or they will make lace out of the leaves!

Opal apples are a cross between Golden Delicious and Topaz apples. The yellow apples sometimes have a hint of blush and/or russet at the stem. They are seasonal so I really look forward to finding them at the local market around December through February. I would even say they are my favorite apple. They're good sized, really crisp, very juicy and have a unique flavor that is a little tropical. I usually eat them fresh from the frig but have also enjoyed adding them grated in slaw or made into a fresh apple sauce. They are worth looking for!

This is a bush sweet potato. It barely vines, which is great if you don't want to use much space growing sweet potatoes. With bright orange flesh, these are delicious with a meaty, creamy texture. No stringing. I usually transplant slips or sprouted cuttings in May and harvest at about 120 days. The foliage is really attractive too, deep purple and green. I'd go so far as to say these are the best sweet potatoes I've ever tasted.

Pipicha is a short lived perennial herb from southern Mexico and is used as a food seasoning. The flavor is said to be similar to cilantro but even more pungent, with overtones of lemon, anise, and even a touch of mint. It's also known to have medicinal value. I'm looking forward to growing this one next year.

Pipicha is also known as Chepiche, Pepicha, Thin Papalo, and Porophyllum tagetoides.

Very crunchy cucumbers with good flavor and thin, smooth skin with no bitterness. Leave the skins on. I've been harvesting at about six to eight inches so not sure if they develop bitterness with age. They also make good bread and butter pickles. Will definitely plan to grow these again next year. Vines grew about five feet long.

I grew these again in 2019 with even better results than last year. Picked them all summer long, every other day from about 6 plants. They're delicious too!

This is one of those plants that show up every year somewhere in the garden when the temps warm up from self-sown seed; but not in an aggressive way. A welcome sight.

At one time (or maybe still) this plant was used by Tarahumara Indians as a source of energy for marathon runners and hunters. The seeds were also used by Aztec Indian Warriors. Seeds can be harvested and used just like the more popular variety of chia (salvia hispanica). They are considered beneficial and medicinal food rich in antioxidants and high amounts of Omega 3 fatty acids as well as calcium, iron and fiber. Once harvested, the seeds are roasted and crushed then mixed with water, making a gel containing a concentrated source of energy.

Purchased this plant about 5 years ago (2013) from a local box store. Long blooming from spring (May) into the fall. The only downside for me is that I was hoping for a good nectar source for hummingbirds and other pollinators but they aren't interested at all. I've seen hummingbirds (and various insects) approach the flowers but they quickly move on. The plant must be sterile or it has nothing to offer by way of nectar or pollen. So, Shibori is just eye candy.

My favorite thing about this tomato is how pretty it looks. It made some really nice looking salads and looked elegant on a snack tray. The flavor was a little on the mild side, a little sweet and a little tang. It's going on my grow again list.

This is easily the most productive tomato I've grown. I mean it pumped out hundreds of yummy, sweet cherry sized tomatoes and didn't stop for months! We had a hard time keeping up! Definitely a keeper.

This is a slow growing bell pepper variety. Once it begins to fruit, it's also slow to ripen. But, it does produce a decent crop of flavorful, sweet and crispy peppers. I will save seeds and probably grow again.

We especially enjoyed this tomato low roasted in the oven with olive oil and a splash of Balsamic vinegar, then stored in olive oil in the fridge or in the freezer for long storage. Wonderful flavor. Amish Paste delivered a good harvest.

This was probably my most productive tomato growing this year, with tons of really large fruits. Unfortunately, the flavor wasn't all that impressive for us: kind of one-note sweet with none of the tang or acid that we like in tomatoes. They were juicy. Made most of the tomatoes into a canning sauce. These tomatoes also had very woody stems and large woody core; the fruits had to be cut from the bush. The best thing about this tomato is how pretty it is to look at.
Not on our favorite list.

I'm taking back what I said about not liking this tomato very much. It turned out to make a really delicious sauce that we enjoyed over winter and into 2017. Rethinking growing this one again for it's plentiful and juicy fruits.

I've tried growing this variety a couple of times before but they didn't produce much at all. Nothing like the plants growing this year! Two plants are pumping out so many huge fruits that we are sharing them with friends. Seeds from Trish and Dave in the "Beta Seed Swap." It sure makes a difference getting good quality seed! Juicy tomatoes are full of flavor.

This is hubby's new all around favorite tomato.

4/15/2022 update; after all these years, this is still the one tomato that my husband requests for me to grow.

My second year growing Scabiosaflora Mix. It has a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, making it a very fun annual to grow. Collect the seeds to grow again the following year for more surprises. Attracts lots of butterflies and other pollinators.

I've been enjoying Coral Nymph Salvia in my garden for many years. First planted from seed, I almost gave up on it because it was so slow to show up. Now it self seeds and comes back every year late spring or early summer, depending on warmth -- it likes it warm. Deadheading keeps the flowers coming all summer into fall, when you can leave some to go to seed. I also grow Coral Nymph in a pot that I put in the garage over winter (my pretend greenhouse), where it keeps like a perennial. Hummingbirds love it too.

This is a very productive and tasty hybrid tomato. One of the few hybrids I've grown, but I give it higher marks on flavor than the infamous Celebrity. I grew them both in 2013 (after losing most of my heirlooms to a late freeze) and although Celebrity outperformed in volume, Carnival had the best flavor! I'm surprised this one isn't more popular, but maybe it's the fact that it's a determinate or maybe it's just not available. Carnival is so good that I'm planning to grow it again next year, if I can find plants or seeds. It is a recommended variety for Texas and other hot southern areas.

This is a lovely yellow heirloom tomato that has been quite productive in my garden. A beefsteak that produced many large tomatoes but also many that are more medium sized. The best way for me to describe this tomato is sumptuous and de-luscious. It has a bright flavor, a little citrusy with a velvety texture. Makes a beautiful summer gazpacho. Finest yellow tomato I've tasted.

In its native range, India and Africa, and in tropical America, Vana Tulsi grows as a perennial up to 4 feet tall. Sow seeds in spring, just under the surface. The essential oil contains eugenol, which is also found in cloves, and chewing the plant can relieve toothaches. It has many other medicinal virtues, which have been verified through studies of the plant over the years, including strong antioxidants.