Gardening

I'm probably going to drop some things that either don't succeed or I don't really use.

Probably won't try to grow sweet potatoes anymore, I love them but have gotten terrible crops the past few years because 1) our weather is too wacky, we've had several cold summers which they don't like and worse 2) every herbivore loves them -- deer, rabbits, and the 'chuck keep decimating the tops, and voles chew into the potatoes. Probably won't grow luffa, bitter melon or mustard again because I don't like the flavor and don't end up using them, although the bitter melon might still garner a spot as an ornamental vine.

I try to grow something new and different every year -- last year, it was Achocha aka Slipper Cucumber. The vines did well, but the fruit was only so-so, basically kind of bland and boring, slight cucumber flavor but really more summer-squash like in terms of its usefulness, and summer squash is easy. So, probably not that again. The other new thing I did last year that was a winner was Tromocino aka Zuchetta rampicante summer squash -- I was really impressed with both the culinary quality and the productivity of this squash.

One thing I'd like to try but haven't had good luck finding a source for is a rare root crop called skirret, which is a perennial related to parsley and parsnips, and said to have a parsnip to carrot like flavor. I may end up ordering seeds from Magic Garden Seeds in Germany since its the only source I've found currently. I also might give 'Long of Naples' squash a whirl again, tried it in 2009 but was a cold droughty year and didn't get anything.