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The Edamame Green Soybean Tohya, ‘Glycine max’, is so high in protein, it is called “the meat without bones”. When boiled, the beans are popped out of the pod into your mouth for a culinary delight. Edamame means “beans on a brach” and has quickly become a favorite vegetable. They are 40% protien, high in vitamins A, B, calcium and iron. They are also very high in fiber and essential fatty acids. Soy products are credited with lowering cholesterol. Tohya is a short season variety that is perfect for growing anywhere in North America and it is currently the most popular variety in Japan. Plant after the last average frost date. Tohya prefers loamy, slightly acid, well drained soils. Harvest in the green shelling bean stage. Wait for the pods to get plump but while they are still green. If the foliage starts to turn yellow, pull up the whole plant and harvest.

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The Swiss Chard Italian White Ribbed, ‘Beta Vulgaris’, is almost the perfect vegetable. The Italian White Ribbed Swiss Chard will grow in heat and cold, is nutritious, and has a long harvest period. White Ribbed Swiss Chard can either be steamed, stir-fried, or eaten fresh. Swiss Chard is a green that many seasoned gardeners claim everyone must grow. The leaves can be harvested from late spring continuing all the way to the first frost. It will also tolerate partial shade. Swiss Chard is actually a beet without the beet. instead of growing beets, the plant grows wide, dark green, heavily crumpled leaves that are very tasty. Plant in early spring, 2 to 4 weeks before last frost or as late as 2 months before first fall frost. In warm climates, plant in late summer for fall/winter crop. Chard grows best in in well drained soil with lots of organic matter.

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The Kousa Dogwood tree, Cornus kousa, or Japanese Flowering Dogwood, is a handsome small specimen tree or shrub. The Kousa is not as susceptible to disease as the White Dogwood in spring. It is planted as a specimen, near a patio, or in groupings. Kousa Dogwood trees blooms later than the White Dogwood and with a softer petal flower than the White Flowering Dogwood. This deciduous tree has red fruits that look like a big round raspberry. The fall color is red to maroon. Because of its disease resistance, it is becoming the best replacement for the White Dogwood. The flowering tree, Kousa Dogwood, has low water requirements and displays a moderate tolerance for salt and alkali soils.

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The Sage Tricolor, ‘Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’, has green, white, and purple varigated leaves and the color intensifies in full sun. Tricolor Sage is beautiul in the garden. Salvia officinalis is the basic sage long famed for culinary and medicinal value, but it is also highly decorative in the garden. It one-ups the usual Purple Sage by mixing green, white, & purple foliage on a single pubescent-leafed plant. Tricolor Sage is an extremely drought-hardy evergreen groundcover, Tricolored Sage is a perfect plant for a low-maintenance sun-garden. Europeans believe sage helps digest rich foods, which might account for its association with duck and game recipes there. Today sage is familiar as an essential ingredient in turkey stuffing. Crush or grind leaves to release full flavor and use to season soups, dressings, teas, cooked vegetables, and fish. To encourage a plentiful supply of young red-purple foliage gather the leaves regularly and prune lightly in July after flowering. This eye-catching variegated sage makes a perfect evergreen edge for a sunny border.

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The Basil Italian Large Leaf, ‘Ocimum basilicum’, is a sweet basil that is particularly good for pesto and is also excellent for fresh use. There is nothing like the smell of basil, it is the smell of summer. There is no more useful herb. The Italian Large Leaf Basil has just that, a larger leaf than other basils. It is a good all “around basil” and it has very few pests. Basil is used in so many foods, it is hard to mention them all. It is used in Italian foods and pesto and pasta sauces. Fresh basil makes a nice tea, an excellent vinegar, and tastes great fresh with fish, poultry, rice, mild vegetables, eggplant and many others. Plant 1 to 2 weeks after the last average frost date. Place the Basil seeds in well drained soil with lots of organic matter.

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