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New in the Garden for 2012

February 16th, 2012

Each year I try a few new things that I’ve never grown before. Usually they’re vegetables that I’ve purchased at the farmer’s market and liked. When I saw what new things Renee’s Garden was introducing this year I decided to try a few of them out. Here’s what’s new in the garden for the 2012 growing season:



I can’t wait to see how the Pak Choi and Napa cabbage grows. We’re big fans of kimchi here at Chiot’s Run, eating through a half gallon a week when I make it. As a result I’m hoping to grow lots of napa cabbage and some peppers too. I’m also pretty excited about the container zucchini which should be nice since it won’t take up much space. Since my edible gardening space is a bit limited, smaller varieties of plants help maximize that space and since I can’t seem to grow a zucchini to save my life, the less space I give it the better.

What new and exciting things have you added to your edible garden for the 2012 season?

26 Comments to “New in the Garden for 2012”
  1. Victoria on February 16, 2012 at 8:11 am

    Kimchi is a fav here too. In fact – it’s on the menu tonight!

    This year I’m expanding my garden to include tomatillos & an additional butternut squash. Now that I’ve got tomatoes, okra, hot/sweet peppers, cucumbers & eggplant down…it’s time to try out a few new plants. I’m really looking forward to getting the seeds sown this weekend!

    Reply to Victoria's comment

  2. Stone Soup on February 16, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Okay, if you’re consdering moving to Maine, I must warn you. Every gardener in Maine trys to GIVE AWAY zucchini because it grows so prolifically here! Along every back road there is a makeshift stand with a big sign that says “Free For The Taking” with a mountain of over sized zucchini next to it! It’s okay, there are many delicious uses for zucchini! lol

    Reply to Stone Soup's comment

    • Susy on February 16, 2012 at 8:50 am

      That’s good to know as we LOVE zucchini. I buy it at the farmer’s market all the time and often pick it up from roadside stands when I see free tables.

      Reply to Susy's comment

    • deedee on February 16, 2012 at 10:15 pm

      I’m cracking up laughing at this because we have the same situation here! I could not plant any zucchini and still harvest a ton:)

      Reply to deedee's comment

    • Joy Giles on February 17, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      Zucchini are the rabbits of the veggie world. I don’t dare plant more than two plants and pick them when they are quite small.

      Reply to Joy Giles's comment

  3. Liz J on February 16, 2012 at 9:25 am

    I’m adding a couple of new items to the garden this year that include Hakurei turnip, Savoy and Nappa cabbage, Jersey Giant tomato, and Zephyr yellow with green Summer squash. The only other new item I have to pick up is black radishes, and we’ll be all set.

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  4. daisy on February 16, 2012 at 9:33 am

    That zucchini sounds like a good idea!
    We are just happy when things come up in the garden, so I haven’t ventured into trying anything too exotic.
    Hope you have a bountiful harvest!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  5. Allison on February 16, 2012 at 9:42 am

    Oh goodness my first of three seed orders came yesterday and my husband was in shock when he saw how many seed packets were in the envelope :) I am excited for all of them, most new varieties, but my Long Island cheese squash I am very excited to try this year.

    Reply to Allison's comment

  6. Melissa on February 16, 2012 at 9:44 am

    I’m trying that same zucchini! Hoping that maybe it will work this year since I can’t seem to grow it either! Stupid squash vine borers– maybe this year it will be better! Although with this warm winter, I’m not counting on anything!

    Reply to Melissa's comment

  7. K.B. on February 16, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Celery, leeks and okra are new here this year. And 15+ varieties of dried beans.

    Sigh.

    Yes, I am crazy.

    Reply to K.B.'s comment

  8. Donna B. on February 16, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Heehee, making me hungry cuz’ tonight I’m making Korean bulgogi with cucumber kimchi. It’s the only reason I grow daikon radish and cucumber – they’re my favorite type of kimchi~
    Gah, “new” in the garden is making me a bit crazy planning – I’m trying out so many new things; quinoa, yard bean, acorn squash, hubbard squash, corn, marjoram, and I’m going to attempt to create a habitat for mushrooms! With that and almost tripling my growing space from last year, 2012 is going to be busy.
    [@ Zucchini: My favorite fruit too! You know, 2010 I was swimming with zucchini, and in 2011 I only one one pitiful yellow crookneck – and I grew five varities! It was a weird spring…]

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  9. Linda G on February 16, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Doing square-foot gardening this season for the first time! Would you possibly post the recipe that you use for your kimchi?

    Reply to Linda G's comment

  10. Ashley on February 16, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    A brave endeavor growing members of the cabbage family! Do you have a trick so they don’t get attacked by cabbage butterflies & worms?

    Reply to Ashley's comment

    • K.B. on February 16, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      I’m trying row cover this year. And since they don’t need pollination, the cover *shouldn’t* have any downsides.

      Reply to K.B.'s comment

  11. Corrie on February 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Multiplier onions!

    Reply to Corrie's comment

  12. Meighan on February 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    Ooohh! I ordered that zucchini too! Can’t wait to try it.

    Reply to Meighan's comment

  13. Marcia on February 16, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    I`ll be trying a few varieties of winter squash like Turk’s Turban and some yellow and white carrots. I want to try Okra and if it does not produce in my northern climate, I might still get to enjoy it`s pretty flowers.

    Reply to Marcia's comment

  14. Texan on February 16, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Kimchi? Recipe :O). Usually my Zuch’s doe really well, last year they were a bust I have no idea why.

    Reply to Texan's comment

  15. Texan on February 16, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    oops that was suppose to be Kimchi! Not? LOL

    Reply to Texan's comment

  16. Angela on February 16, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    I bought Renee’s Garden Astia zuke too. I do all my veggie growing in pots and was very excited to find a seed specially designed for containers. I’m also growing ground cherries for the first time. I bought those seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and hope they’ll do well in a container.

    Reply to Angela's comment

  17. Jess on February 16, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    We’ll be trying to grow kale this summer along with a new variety of cantaloupe… very exciting stuff!

    Reply to Jess's comment

  18. val on February 16, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    I’m mostly trying new varieties of things that I’ve grown before, but some completely new things include pak choi, fenugreek, cumin, and caraway.
    I’m glad I am not the only one who struggles with squashes. I had a paltry harvest of summer squash last year, but I did manage to defeat the squash vine borers on my winter squash–by digging them out with w knife and burying the stems–and the 5 mammoth squash I ended up with have lasted all winter!

    Reply to val's comment

  19. MAYBELLINE on February 16, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    More boysenberries. Not very new or exciting; but we’ve increased the number of plants to create a hedge/fence.

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  20. Joy Giles on February 17, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I planted the baby bok choy last year. It did very well in spite of our really host Austin, Texas, weather.

    Reply to Joy Giles's comment

  21. Sofie Dittmann on February 19, 2012 at 9:50 am

    For now I’ll just be happy to stick w/ the basics… LOL

    Reply to Sofie Dittmann's comment

  22. genevieve wensley on March 24, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Never mind about the vegetables, I love the cat!!!

    Reply to genevieve wensley's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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