‘Aji Largo’ is a Capsicum pubescens chili that originates from Ecuador. Fruits have fleshy walls, ripen to a deep red, and have a nice hot punch (30,000-100,000 on the Scoville scale). The latin name refers to the hairy leaves of this pepper and, along with the black seeds, is what marks them out from the other Capsicum species. This type of chili are also often referred to as ‘Bolivian Hairy’ or ‘Rocoto’ chilies.
Plants have a relatively open growth habit and have a reach of up to a meter. The fruits are about 70mm in length and conical with deep wrinkles. It can be used like any chili – fresh, made into a paste or dried. The flesh is thicker than other chilies and has a higher moisture content.
As Capsicum pubescens grows at higher elevations than other species it is relatively cold tolerant and hardier than other chilis. It still won’t survive frost but it is possible to overwinter them in Ireland if they are brought in and protected for the winter months.
Start seeds as early as possible with supplementary heat and light if necessary. The plants should have as much vegetative growth as possible before flowering and producing chilis. They can be grown in pots but large pots are needed to allow the plants to reach their full potential.
Also known as ‘Rose de Bern’, a heirloom pink beefsteak tomato with excellent flavour. Has a tangy and slightly acidic taste. Fruits are between 5 and 7cm in diameter.
This tomato variety bears lots of pear shaped bright yellow tomatoes. They are mildly sweet and not very acidic tasting. Cherry tomato size – fruits are around 3cm long. An indeterminate potato leaf variety so needs the usual supporting and side shooting.
An easy to grow salad green with serrated leaves and a mild peppery flavour. Milder in flavour than rocket and mustard salads. Mizuna greens (Brassica rapa var. nipposinica) can be sown successionally to provide greens all year round. They are particularly useful for sowing early or late in the season as they are very cold hardy and can bolt in the longer summer days.
A variety native to Ethiopia and Eritrea. A descendant from chillies that were first brought to east Africa from South America by Portuguese explorers during the 15th century. Plants get to about 1m in height and produce a good amount of 10-15cm fruits. The chillies are medium hot and their relatively large size make them much easier to process than smaller chillies. They ripen from dark green to a chocolatey brown colour and become folded and wrinkled.
It is also known as the ‘Berbere’ pepper as it is commonly used to prepare the east African spice blend of that name. Very versatile chili which can be used for making sauces, cooking fresh, smoking, drying and making a powder from.
Take care when sowing as the capsaicinoid chemicals which give chillies their heat is abundant on the seeds.
A heirloom Italian radish (Raphanus sativus) with bright red tapered roots that have a firm white flesh. ‘Candela di fuoco’ translates to ‘fire candle’. Quick to mature and can be harvested after 3-5 weeks.
Though in appearance like a winter daikon radish, it is a summer radish so for eating quality they are best grown and eaten fresh. However, for seed saving it is useful to overwinter them from a late summer/early autumn sowing. That way, the roots will flower early and should be ripening seed during the summer when conditions are, in theory, optimal.
‘White Icicle’ is a summer radish (Raphanus sativus) which produces medium sized pure white tapered roots. Quick to mature and can be harvested after 3-5 weeks. Can be sown indoors from March and outdoors from April. Sow in a row with seeds 1.5cm apart and 25cm apart. Thin out as necessary after a couple of weeks. It is good to sow a small row every few weeks of the season to keep a steady supply.
Though in appearance like a winter daikon radish, it is a summer radish so for eating quality they are best grown and eaten fresh. However, for seed saving it is useful to overwinter them from a late summer/early autumn sowing. That way, the roots will flower early and should be ripening seed during the summer when conditions are, in theory, optimal.
Annual Rocket (Eruca sativa) is a spicy salad leaf which is very easy to grow. Added to salads and sandwiches for a peppery kick and often lashed onto pizzas for some reason. It is best to sow larger amounts early or late in the season as the long days of summer cause it to bolt very quickly. The flowers make a nice edible garnish though and provide food for pollinators so how bad. During the summer it could be planted little and often. Very cold hardy.
Madeline gave me some of this seed from her stash. I found it just as she describes – good sized beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) which mature early and are good for drying. They were unaffected by the regular rain during their last few weeks of ripening. Can be eaten as a green bean. Noted as a French heirloom variety.
‘Globo’ is a very large white onion which stores well. The typical weight is 250-350g but show(off!) growers can get them up to 1kg. Good sweet onion – a kitchen staple.
White mustard seed (Sinapis alba), also called yellow mustard, is used to make the common table mustard condiment. The leaves are also used for salad and the plant’s rapid establishment has led to it being widely used as a green manure.
A striking tomato which was very productive in the poor summer of 2024 when other tomatoes struggled to ripen. ‘Black Strawberry’ produces a large amount of cherry fruits (30-50mm) over a long period of time. Indeterminate so will need stringing and side shooting.
Said to have high levels of anthocyanins, which is believable when you see how the richly marbled skins display a wide spectrum of colours including yellow, purple, strawberry red and near black. The variety was created as a cross of ‘Bosque Blue’ with ‘Strawberry Tiger’.
Leave to ripen as long as possible on the vine to insure they get sweet. Flesh is firm and a little grainy. A good all round tomato but for me best cooked in a sauce.
A robust winter hardy leek with blue green shimmery leaves. I think leeks are an indispensable crop if you are trying to be self sufficient in vegetables. Ready to be harvested from October but can be left in the ground all winter and used as needed right through the hungry gap.
Aji Ethipian Fire is a Capsicum baccatum variety. This pepper species create large upright growing plants which can reach 2 meters in height. They are high yielding and grow very well in polytunnels or glasshouses in Ireland. Pods are 3″ long, slightly fruity and moderately hot.
Take care when sowing as the capsaicinoid chemicals which give chillies their heat is abundant on the seeds.
‘Rosemarry’ is a butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa) which produces large heads with blistered burgundy tinged soft green leaves. Can be grown outside in Ireland from a September sowing. A relatively quick growing variety good for early crops and successional sowing.
A tasty and very decorative large cherry tomato. Yellow skin streaked with purple mottling, the extent of which depends on the sun exposure at time of ripening. Nice variety of size from large cherry to medium. Robust skins which allow the fruit to keep well.
Bred by Tom Wagner in the United States with a line from Indigo Rose.
