Grillers Garden

Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash(Cucurbita pepo)

Easy-to-grow and deliciously tender, this yellow summer squash has been an heirloom favorite for over 150 years. An abundant producer of yellow-skinned, white-fleshed fruit, they are perfect lightly steamed, with a little olive oil or butter and shredded basil leaves. Yum!
To get a head start on the season, Yellow Crookneck can be sown indoors in pots, 2-4 weeks before the last frost, then transplanted very carefully. Pick them young, when 6-8 inches long and harvest every other day when plant is producing heavily.

• Planting depth: 1″
• Soil temp for Germ.: 65-90°F
• Days to germ.: 3-7
• Plant Spacing: 3′
• Days to maturity: 55
• Conditions: Full sun.
• Moderate water.

Cocozelle Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)

Zucchini is such an amazingly versatile vegetable, and this ancient Italian favorite is both easy to grow and prolific for several months. Cocozelle’s soft flesh, with contrasting green stripes, has a slightly nutty flavor. The fruit, seeds and flowers are all edible, but what I like about this variety is that the fruits stay slender even at 12″.
These little beauties will be one of the first things you can harvest from your baby food garden and like all zucchinis, taste best when harvested young.

• Planting depth: 1″
• Soil temp for Germ.: 65-90°F
• Days to germ.: 3-7
• Plant Spacing: 3′
• Days to maturity: 55
• Conditions: Full Sun
• Moderate Water

Black Seeded Blue Lake Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

I grew bushels of this super productive climber last year. Besides being delicious and easy to grow, green beans are an excellent source of vitamins A-B6 , thiamin (vitamin B-1) and vitamin-C.
The lush, tender pods of the Blue Lake are exceptional for fresh eating as well as freezing and canning, and the vigorous vines produce abundant yields of straight beans.  Far more productive than any bush bean I know.

• Planting Depth: 1″
• Soil Temp. for Germ.: 60-80°F
• Days to Germ.: 7-15
• Plant Spacing: 6-10″
• Days to Maturity: 55-65
• Conditions: Partial Shade
• Moderate Water

Tangerine Pimiento Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

These gorgeous orange fruits look just like like tangerines against the foliage when ripening. Round to slightly flattened 2-3″ pimiento fruits are very thick walled of sweet and juicy flesh. Ripens to a lovely tangerine hue. Vigorous, productive and early maturing on a 16-24″ plant. Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frosts. Transplant after danger of frosts into rows 12-18″ apart. Needs warm conditions day and night to germinate, grow and fruit well. Pick fruit at peak of color upon maturity.
Peppers are rich in vitamins, A, C, K B6, beta-carotene, and folic acid.

• Planting Depth: 1/4″
• Soil Temp. for Germ.: 70-90°F
• Days to Germ.: 8-14
• Plant Spacing: 18″
• Days to Maturity: 75-85
• Conditions: Full Sun
• Moderate Water

Purple Beauty (Capsicum annuum)

This lovely, purple hued, stocky bell pepper is one of my favorites. The plants are very compact yet amazingly productive. Unlike most peppers which start out green, this one starts out purple, and yields an abundance of crisp, succulent, 4-lobed, thick walled fruit.
The peppers grow to 3.5″ X 3.5″ wide with 3 to 4 lobes. has a subtle, sweet flavor that’s great in salads, stir fry’s and Salsa’s. They also pickle well and make a great addition to grilled kabobs.
Peppers are rich in vitamins, A, C, K B6, beta-carotene, and folic acid.

• Planting Depth: 1/4″
• Soil Temp. for Germ.: 70-90°F
• Days to Germ.: 8-14
• Plant Spacing: 12″-18″
• Days to Maturity: 70-80
• Conditions: Full Sun
• Moderate Water