DuPage Nation Garden Club - Sponsor Acknowledgements

• This completely heat-free jalapeno is an improved version of the popular Fooled You Hybrid. Get jalapeno flavor without the heat or mix with hot jalapeno varieties to create the exact heat level you want in hot sauces and salsas. Improvements include disease resistance to Bacterial Spot, races 0-3, 7, and 8. Expect large harvests of these peppers that are 4½ inches long and 1½ inches wide. 90 days.

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• This completely heat-free jalapeno is an improved version of the popular Fooled You Hybrid. Get jalapeno flavor without the heat or mix with hot jalapeno varieties to create the exact heat level you want in hot sauces and salsas. Improvements include disease resistance to Bacterial Spot, races 0-3, 7, and 8. Expect large harvests of these peppers that are 4½ inches long and 1½ inches wide. 90 days.

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• Light:  Full, Partial sun

• Plant time:  Spring

• Spacing: 4" in rows 18" apart

• Days to Harvest: 90

• Variegated green and white leaves and green and white stripes on the peppers stand out in every garden. Perfect for small-space and container gardening. Snack-shaped peppers are often striped, ripening from green/white to chocolate/red. Fruit has thick walls and is exceptionally sweet when fully ripe.

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• Spacing: 12 - 18" (30 - 46cm)

• Height: 12 - 18" (30 - 46cm)

• Width: 12 - 18" (30 - 46cm)

• Exposure: Sun Full

The perfect jalapeno for bite-sized jalapeno poppers! Bambino has a strong upright plant with exceptional yields of uniform medium-sized fruit that are blocky and thick walled.

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• Maturation Days: 85 Days

• Spacing in Row: 12-24"

• Spacing Between Rows: 2-3'

Huge, 8-10" peppers are glossy golden-yellow, thick walled and crispy sweet. Strong plants hold the hefty fruits high for easy picking.

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• Light:  Full sun

• Plant time:  Spring

• Spacing: 12" apart

• Water:  Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Height: 18"-24"

• Days to Harvest: 73

These beautiful large bell peppers are bright red, thick walled, crispy and sweet. Great for salads, fajitas and much more.

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• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 12" apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Height: 18"-24"

• Days to Harvest: 73

These beautiful large bell peppers are bright red, thick walled, crispy and sweet. Great for salads, fajitas and much more.

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• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 12" apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Height: 18"-24"

• Days to Harvest: 73

This variety is extremely dense and meaty with very few seeds and a unique no-gel texture, making it the ideal tomato for dicing into salsas or slicing for salads. The sweet, tangy flesh cooks down into the richest, most succulent sauce you've ever tasted. Excellent garden performance. This variety sprawls and will benefit from staking.

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• Type: Determinate

• Light: Full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 3-4' apart

• Water: Water well during dry weather

• Days to Harvest: 65

The classic sauce tomato. Perfect for saucing, this classic Italian variety is juicy yet meaty. The flavor is complex, and you will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it, because this tomato arises freely on very vigorous plants that continue setting fruit all summer. Prefers moist well-drained soil.

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• Type: Indeterminate

• Light: Full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 3-4' apart

• Water: Water well during dry weather

• Days to Harvest: 95

Black Krim tomato plants are a type of heirloom tomato that originated in Crimea. Black Krim tomatoes have a dark purple-red color and a rich, smoky flavor. They are suitable for growing in warm climates and have a short growing season. Prune and stake these prolific growers for best results.

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• Tip: Prefers rich, loamy soil

• Light: Must have full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 3-5' apart

• Water: Never let the soil dry out

• Days to Harvest: 70-90

The big challenge growing Mortgage Lifter is managing the giant, prolific fruits and extremely tall vines. This heirloom tomato is pretty easy to care for, with above average disease and drought resistance. The plants produce large pinkish-red fruits that are similar in size, texture, and shape to other beefsteak varieties of tomatoes. The plants are massive, producing vines up to 9-feet long. As indeterminate tomatoes, they'll set fruit throughout the growing season. They're legendary plants that can produce fruits up to 4 pounds in weight, though the average is closer to 2½ pounds.

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• Type: Indeterminate

• Light: Full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 3-4' apart

• Water: Water well during dry weather

• Days to Harvest: 75-85

All squashes are prolific, vining growers. Mulch to discourage weeds, retain moisture, and protect shallow roots. Squash plants thrive in moist soil. Water thoroughly, frequently, and consistently, with at least 1 inch per week. Water diligently when fruit form and throughout their growth cycle. The soil needs to be moist 4 inches down, so long soakings are best. Misshapen squash results from inadequate water or fertilization.

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• Light: Full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Spacing: 3-6' apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 55-60

Cayenne peppers are red hot peppers that gardeners harvest for their spicy and flavorful qualities. Cayenne pepper is a cultivar of the Capsicum annuum plant species (from the same family as jalapeños, serrano peppers, and bell peppers) and a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The mature form of the cayenne plant yields long, waxy-skinned red peppers with green stems. Cayenne peppers grow to about six inches long at maturity. They are thinner peppers, with only about half an inch in diameter.

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• Tip: 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville HU scale

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 3-4' tall

• Spacing: 14-18" apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 70-100

Cauliflower has a very distinct nuttiness and is similar to broccoli in flavor. All varieties, but especially white cauliflower, need to be blanched, by covering the head with its leaves. It has a moderately slow growth rate and is ready to harvest in two to three months after planting. Choose a location in full sun or with some afternoon shade. The soil should be rich, fertile, and well-draining.

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• Tips: The traditional way to blanch is to fold some of the larger leaves over the head and tuck or secure them on the other side. Hold them in place with a clothespin, rubber band or string. Don't fit the leaves too tightly; block the light but leave room for the head to expand. Once the leaves are in place, try not to get them wet and check under them periodically to make sure insects aren't using them as a hideout.

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• Light: Full sun

• Height: 3-4' tall

• Spacing: 2-3' apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 70-100

Delicious herb for meats and soups. Dries easily for storage and use all winter long. Cut back and dry the leaves when flowers form. Thyme will grow back until fall.

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• Light: Full sun

• Plant time: Spring

• Height: 10-14"

• Spacing: 6-8" apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 14-21

Sage is not only good for adding complex savory notes to meats, stews and fall vegetables – it is very good for you too. It is well known as a domestic herbal remedy for issues with the digestive system. For example, it has antiseptic properties, which make it ideal for helping to heal sore throats, mouth ulcers and aching teeth.

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• Tips: Sage can be cut back in midsummer for drying; it will grow back.

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 10-12"

• Spacing: 2' apart

• Water: Requires well drained soil; keep the soil slightly moist for best growth

Dill is an annual herb, so to create a permanent patch of dill, allow some of the plants to flower and go to seed each year—you'll have plenty of early dill to start the next growing season. Dill attracts beneficial insects such as wasps and other predatory insects to your garden and is a host plant for the caterpillar of the black swallowtail butterfly.

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• Tips: Plant dill near collards, cabbage and other Brassicas; it's thought to improve their growth and protect them from pests.

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 3-5'

• Spacing: 10-12" apart

• Water: Keep the soil moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 14-21

Basil is a wonderful herb with aromatic leaves. This compact plant is incredibly versatile, growing outside in the ground, in containers, or on a bright kitchen windowsill. If you're planning on making pesto, grow several plants. For other uses, one or two basil plants yield plenty.

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• Tips: When a branch has six to eight leaves, you can harvest the branches back to their first set of leaves. Basil will keep regrowing until late summer.

• Light: Full or partial sun

• Height: 12-24"

• Spacing: 10-12" apart

• Water: Keep the soil slightly moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 60-70

Rosemary is one of those wonderful herbs that makes a beautiful ornamental plant as well as a versatile culinary seasoning. Its Latin name, Rosmarinus officinalis, means "dew of the sea," and rosemary is most closely associated with the cooking of the Mediterranean region. Rosemary grows slowly but will overwinter if brought inside.

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• Tips: Don't over water, Rosemary likes soil on the dry side.

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 2-6'

• Spacing: 2' apart

• Water: Requires well drained soil; tolerant of dry weather

• Days to Harvest: 90-100

The lemon balm plant (Melissa officinalis) is actually a member of the mint family and is a perennial herb. It grows as a bushy, leafy herb with a pleasant lemon smell and small white flowers. Growing lemon balm is very easy. The plants aren't picky about where they grow, and will grow in almost any soil, but prefer rich, well drained soil. Lemon balm plants will grow in part shade to full sun.

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• Tip: It isn't recommended that you fertilize lemon balm, as this can cause the strength of its scent to be reduced.

• Light: Partial to full sun

• Height: 10-12"

• Spacing: 12-18" apart

• Water: Keep the soil slightly moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 30-45

Cilantro and Coriander are different parts of the same plant. Cilantro is an essential part of TexMex cooking and grows easily in Zone 5/6. Harvest the leaves while they are young. Once the flowers form let them go to seed. The dried seeds are Coriander.

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• Tips: Harvest Cilantro while it is cool. How weather encourages it to bolt (grow longer stalks and flower).

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 10-12"

• Spacing: 2-6" apart

• Water: Keep the soil slightly moist for best growth

• Days to Harvest: 30-55

A cruciferous vegetable (like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage), kale is super low in calories--a cup of raw kale has about 35 calories. It's also loaded with vitamins A, K, B6 and C, minerals and antioxidants.

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• Tips: Harvest at the baby greens stage for salads.

• Light: Full sun but tolerant of partial shade

• Height: 10-12"

• Spacing: 2' apart

• Days to Harvest: 50-65

Jalapeno plants are native to Mexico and Central America. These plants thrive in warm temperatures and require lots of sunlight to grow well. Jalapenos are typically small bushes that can grow up to three feet tall. The flesh of the jalapeno is green, but as it matures, it turns a deep red color.

• Tips: Jalapeños are known for their moderate spiciness. On the Scoville Heat Scale, which measures the heat of chili peppers, jalapeños typically fall in the range of 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This is milder than a serrano pepper (which can range from 10,000 to 23,000 SHU).

• Light: Full sun

• Height: 14-24"

• Spacing: 14-16" apart

• Water: Do not overwater but keep the soil slightly moist for best growth

Easy and versatile collard greens thrive in cooler weather, but these nutritious, leafy greens grow well all summer. They are a cousin to kale and cabbage; collard greens are the same species as kale (Brassica oleracea) but are differentiated by their smoother, thicker leaves and slightly milder flavor.

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• Tips: Nitrogen heavy fertilizer helps grow large leaves. Harvest the bottom leaves first.

• Light: Partial shade to full sun

• Height: 24-36"

• Spacing: 18" apart

• Days to Harvest: 30-50

Zucchini is a tender summer squash that you plant once and harvest all summer long. These fast-growing plants are perfect for beginners. Each plant is ultra-vigorous and capable of producing dozens and dozens of tasty squash throughout the season. Plus, they have large leaves to outcompete weeds and big flowers that are very popular with the bees.

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• Tips: Zucchini grows fast! Harvest at 6-8" long for a tender squash.

• Light: Full sun

• Height: This plant vines!

• Spacing: 3-5' apart

• Water: Moderate water

• Days to Harvest: 40-60

The edible part of the broccoli plant is the unopened flower. Ideally, the central head should be harvested when it's fully developed, but before the individual buds open into small, yellow flowers. Signs which indicate broccoli is ready to harvest include a 4- to 7-inch (10 to 18 cm.) tight head with large, dense flower buds. If the buds begin to open, harvest immediately. If the plant has bolted (is flowering), it's too late to pick it. To harvest, use a sharp knife to remove the central flower head. Leaving the broccoli plant in the ground encourages side shoots (flower heads) to develop. Although smaller than the central head, these side shoots allow gardeners to continue harvesting broccoli for a longer period of time.

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• Spacing: 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm.) apart

• Light: Full sun (minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily)

• Storage: Harvest during cool morning hours; refrigerate unwashed heads for 3-5 days; blanched broccoli freezes well for up to 12 months

The California Wonder pepper is an heirloom variety of sweet bell pepper. It is renowned for its outstanding qualities, including versatility, adaptability, and ease of cultivation. They produce upright plants that are 18 to 24 inches tall. The fruits begin as glossy green, three- to four-lobed globes and then mature to a bright red. They are sweet, non-spicy bell peppers with a Scoville Scale score of 0 SHUs. The average California Wonder pepper is heavy, 4-lobed, blocky-shaped, and about four inches long.

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• Light: Not specified

• Plant time: Not specified

• Spacing: Not specified

• Water: Not specified

• Days to Harvest: Not specified

Arugula provides you with peppery flavor and is an amazing source of vitamins A, C, and K. These tart-tasting leaves have become a signature part of cuisine. In a salad, bright green arugula leaves are a perfect addition for an added punch of flavor.

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This leafy annual stays around a foot to two feet tall, although it ranges anywhere from eight inches to nearly 40″. The leaves are pinnate and often two to three inches long, attached to slender stems. They’re described as a longer, narrower lettuce leaf. 

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• Does best in rich, well-drained soil with a covering of compost

• Regular watering is required to keep leaves tender and prevent wilting

• Keep plants well watered

• Frost tender, so plant seeds and seedlings after the last expected frost

These Brassicas can take up to five months from seed to harvest, depending on the variety. 

• When transplanting, provide each plant ample room to grow tall and wide. Space plants a minimum of 18 inches apart, ideally 24 inches. Many reach over three feet tall, so staking or other support is needed to prevent them from toppling over during heavy winds.

• Brussels sprouts require full sun, meaning they need at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily for optimal growth.

• Brussels sprouts like living in moist soil but never waterlogged or soggy. When watering Brussels sprouts, they need consistent moisture throughout the growing season.

• Brussel sprouts are known to be heavy feeders, which means they can take a lot of nutrients from the soil. Add a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen at the time of planting will help promote leafy growth.

• Harvest from the ground up. Start with ones at the bottom of the stem, as the upper sprouts will continue to develop and enlarge as you harvest the lower, older ones. 

• Next, remove any larger, yellowing leaves under the harvested area.

• Use a knife or your hands to pick the individual sprouts. You can either twist or snap the sprouts off the stalk with your hands or use a sharp knife to cut them off.

The Secret to Ensuring a Healthy Crop
Whichever harvesting method you choose, leave the leaf directly below the sprout attached. This allows the plant to continue producing sprouts and promotes a healthy, bountiful crop.

Give celery a spot in full sun for best growth. Celery needs a rich soil with lots of organic matter.

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• Plants have a small, shallow root system that's only 2" to 3" deep with a spread of 6" to 8".

• Transplant seedlings to the garden anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks after the last frost in spring.

• Keep the celery seeds moist by misting the surface of the soil to keep it damp.

• Celery won’t tolerate high temperatures, so it needs cool weather.

• Constant water is needed, otherwise stalks will be small, stringy, tough, and/or hollow.

To grow bok choy, follow these steps:

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• Soil: Bok choy likes fertile, nitrogen-rich soil. Add compost and organic matter.

• Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist. Bok choy needs about an inch of water per week.

• Temperature: Protect from cool night temperatures to prevent premature bolting.

• Planting: Direct seed in well-drained soil or start indoors and transplant.

• Harvest: Cut the base of the plant and replant it in water or soil.

Kohlrabi is a vegetable that’s related to the cabbage family. It’s widely consumed in Europe and Asia and has gained popularity around the world.

The health benefits and culinary uses of kohlrabi are numerous. It’s a good source of nutrients, such as vitamin C and fiber. Plus, you can enjoy kohlrabi raw or roasted and add it to salads, slaws, and stir-fries.
To grow kohlrabi: 

• Kohlrabi grows best in cool temperatures between 40°F and 75°F (4.4°C and 23.9°C). 

• Kohlrabi requires 45 to 60 days to reach maturity. 

• Kohlrabi can withstand an early autumn frost. 

• Plant kohlrabi 9 to 12 inches apart in an area with plenty of sun and rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8.  

• Keep soil evenly moist throughout the growing season to keep it from becoming woody. 

• Although kohlrabi grows best in cool weather, it does need full sun – at least 6 hours.