Pumpkin 'Knucklehead'

Hefty fruit average 12-16 pounds with a well-proportioned, slightly elongated shape, 12 inches high and 10 inches wide. Superb models for carving. 105 days to mature.

As they develop, their rind blisters up into an almost unbelievable, bumpy, warty terrain. The fruit ripen from forest green to a solid, deep orange. Carve a face and you've got the ultimate, special effects jack-o-lantern!

Plant these moderate sized vines in full sun, in soil amended with compost and a good vegetable fertilizer. Give them plenty of space, each plant needs about 3 feet between them. Each plant will yield about 3 pumpkins each.

Harvest when the skin is tough and they are fully deep orange. They are even great for making amazing pumpkin pie or roast and eat the seeds.

Heirloom Tomato 'Giant Belgium'

Huge, sweet fruits average 1 to 2 lbs. and have weighed in at nearly 5 lbs. Dark pink fruits have smooth blossom ends and a low-acid, mild flavor, so sweet that some growers use them to make wine. Solid meat and size means one slice per sandwich!

Plant in full sun in soil that has been amended with compost and a good organic vegetable fertilizer that is not too high in nitrogen. Support these heavily bearing plants with a tall, sturdy tomato cage. Multiple plants need at least 3 ft. space between them.

Harvest when fruit are a fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. The taste is so fantastic eaten fresh in salads or in slices on a sandwich.

Tomato 'Harzfeuer'

The name means Resin Fire in German; however, this refers to the mountainous and forested region of Harz that divides western Germany from eastern Germany. 'Harzfeuer' is thought to be the heirloom predecessor of a common German hybrid variety thought to be lost for many years.

2-4 oz round, bright red fruits held in clusters with a well-balanced, extremely sweet flavor for fresh eating. Plants grow to 5-6 feet tall. Early to produce in 55 days.

Plant in full sun in soil that has been amended with compost and a good organic fertilizer that is not too high in nitrogen. Support these heavily bearing plants with a sturdy tomato cage.

Harvest when fruit are bright red and slightly soft to the touch. It is excellent eaten fresh in salads or right off the vine. They can also be use to make a great pasta sauce.

Goji Berry 'Shanghai Express'

Goji is a shrubby plant that can, in time, grow 3-10' tall. Space Goji plants 24" apart. Goji is self pollinating, so even a single plant will produce fruit. Goji is unusual in that it prefers relatively infertile, slightly alkaline soil with a pH range of 6.8 to 8.1. Goji reacts poorly to fertilizer and manure, so if you're growing in a large container, use simple top soil with some perlite mixed in for drainage, and avoid peat-based soils. If severe winter weather is expected, it is wise to mulch around the bases of your Goji plants, or move container plants into a cool but frost free area such as a garage. Plants are extremely cold hardy to -4°F, but should be mulched if extreme weather is expected.


Goji berries have had lots of media attention in recent years, and are thought to be a "superfood." They are certainly rich in nutrients, being packed with vitamins and minerals as well as amino acids and essential fatty acids. Five carotenoids are found in Goji berries: beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, and cryptoxanthin. All of these are reputed to contribute to overall health and disease resistance in humans. Even the leaves of the Goji plant are edible and nutritious! In its third year of growth, a Goji plant can produce over 6½ lbs of fruit. Shanghai Express is a wonderful variety of Lycium barbarum that grows well in northern latitudes. The berries can be frozen or dried - drying seems to maintain the best flavour.

Soil Preparation for the Vegetable Garden

To grow the best vegetables you want the soil to be good and rich. Maybe your soil is lacking for optimal plant growth. The most important thing to do is amend the soil with with organic matter like compost.

Compost is important for adding nutrients to the soil as well as improving the soil texture. Compost acts like a sponge to absorb and hold onto water so that it can be used by the plants. It also lowers the pH of the soil, making it more acidic, which helps to make soil nutrients more available to the plants. You can make compost yourself or buy high quality compost in bags or bulk from a garden center.

Using an organic fertilizer will ensure your soil contains adequate nutrients and supports crops from year to year. Good organic fertilizers we recommend are Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb fertilizer or Down To Earth All Purpose Fertilizer.

To amend your soil, lay up to 6 inches of compost onto the existing soil. Sprinkle the fertilizer over the compost referring to the manufacturer's instructions for amounts. Turn the compost and fertilizer into the soil thoroughly so that it is about a ½ and ½ mixture. Do this in early spring and again in late summer for fall and winter harvests.