Plant Sale April 22, 2012

Super Starts is having a plant sale this Sunday. This will be our last sale for the next few weeks as we gear up for De Anza Flea Market! Come get your spring veggie and herb starts before they are gone.

This sale is over.
Available varieties:
Collard Greens 'Georgia'

Romanesco
Sprouting Broccoli
Broccoli 'Gypsy'
Cabbage 'Famosa'
Green Cabbage 'Capture'
Purple Cabbage 'Red Acre'
Cabbage 'Filderkraut' (1 quart containers)
Red Romaine Lettuce
Radicchio 'Palla Rossa'
Mustard 'Ruby Streaks'
Oriental Spinach
Italian Parsley
Dill
Chives
Catnip (1 quart containers)
Sugar Snap Peas 'Super Sugar Snap'
Shelling Peas 'Spring

Plant Sale April 15, 2012

This sale is over.
Varieties will include:
Dinosaur Kale 'Lacinato'
Kale 'Russian Red'
Collard Greens 'Georgia'

Romanesco
Purple Cauliflower 'Graffiti'
Sprouting Broccoli
Broccoli 'Gypsy'
Cabbage 'Famosa'
Green Cabbage 'Capture'
Napa Cabbage 'Kaboko'
Purple Cabbage 'Red Acre'
French Bib Lettuce 'Merveille des Quatre Saisons'
Red Romaine Lettuce
Radicchio 'Palla Rossa'
Escarole
Mustard 'Ruby Streaks'
Oriental Spinach
Snow Peas 'Goliath'
Sugar Snap Peas 'Super Sugar Snap'
Sugar Snap Pea 'Super Snappy'
Shelling Peas 'Spring'
Italian Parsley
Dill
Cilantro
Chives
Catnip (1 quart containers)
Calendula 'Sunset Buff'
Sweet Pea 'Spencer Mix'

Romanesco

romanesco

Romanesco, also known as Roman cauliflower or broccoflower has lime green heads with many spiraled points. It has a wonderful taste, similar to broccoli. The large plants will grow to 24-36 inches wide. Plant in full sun in soil amended with compost. Romanesco needs fertilizer that is high in phosphorus and potassium. Water regularly for best head formation.

Planting: Space seedlings 24-36 inches apart. Water in after planting.

Harvest when heads look fully filled out and have nice color. Romanesco may be cooked in the same way as broccoli or cauliflower. It is excellent baked tossed with a little olive oil and bread crumbs, or simply steamed or sauteed. Romanesco is also delicious raw, the texture is more tender than cauliflower, making it suited for raw use as crudites.

Purple & Green Kohlrabi

purple & green kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is a cool season variety that produces an edible globe shaped stems. The taste and texture of kohlrabi is similar to that of a broccoli stem or cabbage heart, but milder and sweeter. The young stem in particular can be as crisp and juicy as an apple, although much less sweet. The plants grow to 10-12 inches tall. Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost, and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer for sweet, tender stems. Water regularly.

Planting your 6 pack: Separate each seedling by carefully teasing apart the roots and plant each seedling 8 inches apart, and water immediately after.

Harvest when the rounded stem is about 2-3 inches in diameter. They can be eaten with the skin on, or if the stems are harvested older, they are best peeled. Kohlrabi are delicious grated or sliced up in salads or eaten with dips. They may also be steamed or used in stir fries.

Dill

Dill

Dill is a fast growing herb that produces finely textured leaves. Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost, and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Dill will also grow very well in containers. If growing in a container, we recommend using Gardener and Bloom organic potting soil or Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil.

Planting your 6 pack: Plant each cluster of seedlings 6 inches apart, and water in after planting.

Harvest by picking off individual leaves, and plants will regrow from the center. Or, you may shear the entire plant off at the top leaving about 3 inches from the base to re-grow. Dill tastes great on oven roasted potatoes or even fresh on salads. It can also be used to make delicious homemade pickles.

Dinosaur Kale 'Lacinato'

Dinosaur Kale 'Lacinato'

Dinosaur Kale 'Lacinato' is a cool season variety that produces large blue/green leaves on plants that reach 18-24 inches tall. Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer for tender leaves.

Planting your 6 pack: Either separate each seedling by carefully teasing apart the roots and plant each seedling 10 inches apart, and water immediately after. Or, plant the whole cluster of seedlings 12-18 inches apart and water in after planting.

Harvest by picking off the lower leaves and plants will continue to grow from the top. Young leaves are great raw in salads. Older leaves are best steamed or sauteed and in soups.

Mini Iceberg Lettuce

Mini Iceberg Lettuce

Mini Iceberg Lettuce is a cool season variety that produces miniature heads of sweet lettuce perfect for a single serving. Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Water regularly for optimal growth. Have patience for this variety is slow growing, but worth the wait!

Planting your 6 pack: Plant each seedlings 8 inches apart, and water in after planting.

Harvest when the heads are filled out and dense to the touch. Mini Iceberg Lettuce can be served simply sliced in half and drizzled with your favorite dressing. Their petite size makes for a very special treat.

Gai Lan

Gai Lan

Gai Lan, also known as Chinese broccoli, is a cool season variety that produces glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems and a small number of tiny flower heads similar to those of broccoli. Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer for tender leaves and stems.

Planting your 6 pack: Either separate each seedling by carefully teasing apart the roots and plant each seedling 6-8 inches apart and water immediately after. Or, plant the whole cluster of seedlings 10 inches apart and water in after planting.

Harvest by cutting off the entire plant at the base when it just begins to flower. Gai Lan is eaten widely in Chinese Cuisine, especially in Cantonese Cuisine. A common preparation is Gai Lan stir fried with ginger and garlic. Gai lan is also common in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.

Chives

Chive in Blossom 2

Easy to grow, chives are a perennial plants that will live year after year. Plant in full sun, in soil that is well amended with compost. Feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer for nice sweet, long leaves. Regular water is best. Chives can also be planted in containers.

Planting: Plant the each cluster of seedlings about 6 inches apart.

Harvest when chives are about 4-6 inches long, shearing them off very close to the base. They will regrow quickly. Clusters of chives plants can be divided and replanted if they get too large. When sauteed they become very sweet and they are a great addition to rice, omelets, and soups. They are also great raw in salads. The purple flowers are also edible. Use them raw in salads like any other edible flowers. Or add flowers to bottles of white vinegar to infuse it with flavor and give it a nice color.

Lettuce 'Merveille des Quatre Saisons'

Lettuce 'Merveille des Quatre Saisons' is a fast growing butterhead variety that produces very large, flavorful heads of red tinted leaves. "Quatre Saisons" translates literally to four seasons - meaning this hearty lettuce grows very well all year round! Plant in full sun or partial shade in soil amended with plenty of compost, and feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer.

Planting your 6 pack: Either separate each seedling by carefully teasing apart the roots and plant each seedling 8-10 inches apart, and water immediately after. Or, plant the cluster of seedlings 12 inches apart, and water in after planting.

Harvest by cutting off the entire head at the base when they are well filled out and firm to the touch. The sweet leaves add a striking color to salads.