2015 GARDEN RESOURCE PROGRAM
HOT CROP VARIETIES
“Hot weather crops” are plants that enjoy the long hot days of summer. These plants
are not likely to survive a frost, so if there is a threat of freezing temperatures you
should cover your hot crops temporarily with plastic or row cover.
TRANSPLANTS
A FEW NOTES ON PLANTING
HARDENING OFF: Hardening off is the process of letting your plants slowly get accustomed to the outdoor conditions.
To harden off set them outside for a few hours on the first day and then bring them back inside. Repeat this process on following days adding a few hours each day. They should be ready to plant after 5-7 days.
PLANTING: When you plant, make a small hole about the same size and shape as the soil bottom of the transplant. Place
the plant in the hole, and gently firm in the soil around it. Plant at the existing soil level of the transplant. Cloudy days are best
for planting, but if the day you have to plant is sunny, do it then. Plants will always benefit from adding compost at planting.
SPACING: Pay attention to the plant spacing in the directions below. Plants that are placed too closely together will tend
to be stunted, more prone to problems with pests and diseases, and will produce less fruit.
WATERING: Water in immediately after transplanting. Apply a generous amount of water to the soil just around the base
of the plant. TIP: To ensure that you watered enough: 1. Water the plant until you see the water puddle at the top of the soil.
2. Water the next plant the same way. 3. Repeat process on first plant and repeat for second, etc.
Brandywine
TOMATOES - PART 1
Big Beef
VARIETIES: Big Beef (F1) (70 days) Classic tomato with a nice combination of
size, taste, and earliness. Green Zebra (72 days) Small, striped green heirloom
variety with a tangy flavor. Striped German (72 days) Medium to large tomatoes
are shaded yellow and red. The marbled interior looks beautiful when sliced.
German Johnson
Fruity flavor and smooth texture. Cherokee Purple (72 days) Large dark red/
purple color, wonderful sweet flavor, an old heirloom variety. German Johnson
(75 days) Highly productive Brandywine-type tomato, slightly acidic tast.
Green Zebra
SPACING: 24-36 inches between plants. 4 plants will fill a 4 foot by 6 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: These are all indeterminate varieties, which means they will
produce fruit all season long until the frost. These varieties all require staking
or caging. Over watering once fruit has set can cause the tomatoes to crack.
Inconsistent watering can lead to blossom end rot (sunken dark spots on the
underside of tomatoes). Two waterings a week should strike a good balance.
Discourage fungus and disease by watering directly onto the ground, keep the
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple
TOMATOES - PART 2
VARIETIES: Black Cherry (64 days) Sweet, robust, high yielding, and dynamic
flavor with small, almost black fruits. German Johnson (Brandywine type)
(78 days) One of the best tasting and most popular heirloom varieties with
large, pinkish red fruit. Amish Paste (76 days) A small Roma paste tomato that
is excellent for cooking and canning. Cosmonaut Volkov (72 days). Rich, deep,
balanced, sweet and tangy flavor. Determinate plants set generously sized, 2–3
inch, slightly squat, deep orange/red fruit with green-tinged shoulders, and
bright red interiors.
SPACING: 24-36 inches between plants. 4 plants will fill a 4 foot by 6 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: See tips in tomato instructions above.
Striped German
Paste Style
Cosmonaut Volkov
The Garden Resource Program supports over 1,400 gardens and farms across our community and is made possible through the
collaboration of hundreds of community-based organizations and residents. The 2015 Garden Resource Program is coordinated by
Keep Growing Detroit. For more information, please contact 313-757-2635, email [email protected], or visit
www.detroitagriculture.net.
Flat Parsley
HERBS
VARIETIES: Parsley Gigante d’Italia (30-40 days) Flat leaf parsley, great flavor, good fresh or dried.
SPACING: Plant 12 inches apart. 4 plants will fill a 2 foot by 2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: Harvest parsley stems from the outside of the plant first and allow the small leaves in
the center to continue growing. If you do this, you should have parsley to harvest all season!
Basil
Bell Pepper
Mild Chile Pepper
VARIETIES: Basil Genovese (30 days) A heavy yielding basil variety, great for fresh or dry use.
SPACING: Plant 6-8 inches apart. 4 plants will fill a 2 foot by 2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: Harvest basil continuously. Pinch off flowers as they form to avoid a bitter flavor
and to encourage continual production. Keep the leaves dry by watering close to the ground in order
to discourage fungus and disease. Air circulation will also help prevent disease, so when you harvest
branches think about harvesting from the bushiest areas of the plant first.
MILD PEPPERS
VARIETIES: Bell Pepper Yankee Bell (60 days green, 80 days red ripe) Medium-large, green-to-red
bells. Jimmy Nardello (75 days) This long, thin-skinned frying pepper dries easily and has a rich
flavor. Ripens a deep red, is very prolific, and does well in most areas.
SPACING: 18 inches between plants. 6 plants will fill a 3 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: When fruit gets to mature size, harvest often (1-3 times per week) in order to
encourage the plant to keep producing more peppers. Peppers can be eaten green but will be
sweetest when they are red. However, sometimes fruit can rot or succumb to pests while you are
waiting for them to turn red. You can harvest when they have just begun to have streaks of red and
store in a dark place at room temperature to finish ripening, which takes a few days. Be careful when
harvesting because it is easy to accidentally rip off whole branches when you pull the peppers off.
Hold the branch steady with one hand and pull the pepper with the other in order to keep the plant
intact or use pruners to cut stems. Water the base of the plant to avoid getting the leaves wet.
Cayenne Hot
Pepper
EGGPLANT, GROUND CHERRIES & HOT PEPPERS
Jalapeno Pepper
VARIETY: Joe’s Long Cayenne (58 days pale yellow, 85 days red ripe) A widely adapted and
productive hot pepper that ripens from yellow to orange to red. Early Jalapeño (60 days green, 80
days red) Traditional early variety. Habenero (80 days green, 100 days orange ripe)
SPACING: 12 inches between plants. 6 plants will fill a 3 foot by 2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: When fruit gets to mature size, Harvest often (1-3 times per week) in order to
encourage the plant to keep producing more peppers. Jalapeños are often harvested and used green
or just like other peppers, they will redden if you let them stay on the plant until maturity. Habeneros
are significantly hotter than the other peppers - give them a try and compare flavors. Avoid touching
your face or eyes after harvesting because plants contain oils that can irritate skin. Wash your hands
to remove oils.
Hot Peppers
Eggplant
Eggplant
VARIETY: Black King (F1) (79 days) Classic large Italian-style eggplant.
SPACING: 18 inches between plants. 6 plants will fill a 3 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: Harvest regularly (1-2 times per week) in order to encourage plants to keep
producing. Harvest when fruits are very dark and shiny. Yellowing skin or dulling of the fruit means
that it is overripe and the seeds will be well-formed making them slightly less delicious to eat. Use
clippers or scissors to cut stem cleanly when you harvest.
Ground Cherry
VARIETY: Goldie (F1) (75 days) Sweet, tropical-tasting gold berries wrapped in paper husks add
magic to your garden. Bushy plants grow 2.5-3’ tall and spread their branches widely.
SPACING: 18 inches between plants. 6 plants will fill a 3 1/2 foot by 2 1/2 foot area.
GROWING TIPS: When ripe, the husk around the fruit becomes papery dry and the fruit falls off the
plant to pick picked up from the ground. Remove the husk and feast on the golden fruits. Ground
cherries will prolifically re-seed in your garden if fruit remains on the ground.
Ground Cherry
HOT CROP SEEDS
A FEW NOTES ON PLANTING
PREPARING A PROPER SEED BED: Make sure the soil is free of weeds and rocks that could compete with
slower growing vegetables. Use a rake to smooth out soil before planting breaking up clods of soil. Seeds perform best when
planted in a soil that is loosened and a texture that would easily fall through your fingers. This fine texture and smooth seed
bed insures that when planted all seeds have access to the same amount of water, soil and sunlight.
WATERING: Seeds need to be kept consistently moist until they germinate. You will know they have germinated when
you see the baby leaves popped out of the ground. Once they have germinated, water one thorough time weekly. TIP: To
ensure that you watered enough do these steps: 1. Water the plant until you see the water puddle at the top of the soil. 2.
Water the next plant the same way. 3. Repeat process on first plant and repeat for second, etc.
DON’T GIVE UP! Some crops can take a long time to germinate. Carrots and parsnips are famous for taking as long as
three weeks. Don’t give up and replant too soon. If you have done everything else right, it just a matter of waiting.
THIN CROPS THAT NEED TO BE THINNED: Plants need room to grow! For some plants it is a good idea to
plant too many seeds (see instructions below for each to know if you need to thin), in case not all of them germinate. When they
are baby sized, the extras need to be removed (thinned) so that the others have room to mature.
Slicing Cucumber
Pickling Cucumber
Watermelon
Canteloupe
VARIETY: Marketmore 76 (58 days) Long, dark, slender slicing cucumbers. National (52 days) Short,
vigorous pickling cucumber.
SOWING: Cucumbers should not be planted until all danger of frost is over, and soil has warmed up to
70 degrees (around early June).
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 2 inches, ½ inch deep. Thin to 1 plant every 8 inches. Use scissors or a
knife to thin the plants you don’t want to avoid disturbing the roots of the plant you’ll keep. Give each
row at least 12 inches on either side for the vine to spread, or trellis the vines on a fence or a string. A
packet will sow about a 4 foot by 10 foot area. or about 10 plants.
NOTES: Pick fruits every couple of days after they start bearing to keep a steady crop and to keep
fruits from becoming over-mature. Over-mature cucumbers are yellowish with well-formed seeds
that aren’t as tasty. Remove over-mature fruits from the plants so that your plants will continue to
grow and produce fruit.
VARIETY: Canteloupe (80 days) Donated Seed mixed varieties. Unfortunately we forgot to order
and pack a new variety for the GRP this year! Canteloupe seed will return in 2016. Watermelon
Sugar Baby (75 days) Excellent short-season variety with reliable yields of sweet, juicy melons. The
standard for small watermelons!
SOWING: Melons should not be planted until all danger of frost is over, and soil has warmed up to
70 degrees (around early June).
SPACING: Sow 3 seeds every 2 feet, 1/2 inch deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot. These vines need a lot
of space. You can try smaller spacing if you trellis the plants on a fence or structure. A packet will
sow approximately a 4 foot by 15 foot area or 8-10 plants.
GROWING TIPS: Make sure that melons have plenty of air circulation and sun, especially morning
sun, as they are prone to fungal disease. To harvest a canteloupe, gently pull on the stem, where
it meets the fruit. If it is ripe it should pop off easily. If it resists, let it stay on the vine a little longer.
Check the spot where it rests on the ground to make sure that it doesn’t rot. Prop the melon up off
the ground if it is looking too wet. There are 3 ways to tell when a watermelon is ripe: 1) the tendril
(the curly part of the stem that helps the plant climb) that is closest to the melon is browning or
dead, 2) the spot on the fruit that rests on the ground is yellow, and 3) the classic mystery - you
hear a hollow sounding “plunk” as opposed to “pink” or “pank” when you flick the melon with your
fingers. A ripe watermelon will also have well-developed black seeds inside. Remember that ripe
melons can crack easily after harvest so be careful!
Yellow Crookneck
Black Zucchini
Butternut Squash
Delicata Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Okra
Crowder Peas
Pole Beans
VARIETY: Yellow Crookneck summer squash (58 days) or Black Zucchini (50-60 days)
SOWING: Sow in late spring after danger of frost has passed and soil temperature has risen to 70
degrees (usually around June). Sowing in cool wet soils can cause seed to rot.
SPACING: Sow 2-3 seeds every 12 inches, 1 inch deep. Thin to 1 plant every foot. Use scissors or a hoe
to thin the plants you don’t want to avoid disturbing the roots of the plant you want. A packet will
sow approximately a 4 foot by 15 foot area or 8-10 plants.
NOTES: Harvest squash regularly to keep plant producing. Harvest when small, as older fruits tend to
get tough. Male squash flowers (those that do NOT have a small fruit growing below the base of the
blossom) are also a great product to bring to market, or experiment with in your kitchen (try stuffing
with goat cheese)! Squash vine borer and powdery mildew can be problems. Planting twice (an early
planting and then another planting as late as mid-July) can keep a pest-free crop throughout the
season as most plants are not affected until they are older. Another strategy that works well for borers
is frequent hilling of soil up around the bottom of the vine where the borer enters the stem. Like
winter squash, the foliage can irritate your arms when you harvest, so consider wearing long sleeves
and gloves.
VARIETY: Waltham Butternut (105 days) A standard Butternut squash, average 9 inches long and 4-5
pounds. Average yield is 4-5 fruits per plant. Delicata (85-100 days) Compact, tidy plants with sweet,
oblong fruits. Delicious smooth, nutty flesh with hints of butter and brown sugar. Skin starts creamy
white with green stripes and flecks, curing to striped light yellow. Spaghetti (88 days) skin is pale
yellow at maturity. Bake like squash or boil and fork out the flesh, topping the “spaghetti” with your
favorite sauce. 3-5 lb. oblong fruit. SOWING: Winter squash and pumpkins are best planted when the
soil warms up to around 70 degrees, late spring/early summer.
SPACING: Sow 2-3 seeds every 18 inches, ½ inch deep, Thin to one plant every 18 inches. Use scissors
or a knife to thin the plants you don’t want to avoid disturbing the roots of the plant you want. Winter
squash take up a lot of space; give them plenty of room to sprawl or train them up a sturdy trellis. A
packet will sow approximately a 4 foot by 15 foot area OR about 8-10 plants.
NOTES: Harvest fruits before heavy frost, cutting stems about inch from the fruit. Winter squash
and pumpkins taste sweeter after a light frost. Handle gently, as any cut can bring rot which will
reduce storage time. Winter squash and pumpkins taste best when they have been stored (“cured”)
for a couple of months. Like summer squash, the foliage can irritate your arms when you harvest, so
consider wearing long sleeves and gloves.
VARIETY: Clemson Spineless (65 days) Dark green, slightly grooved, straight, pointed pods without
spines. This is a dwarf plant that should grow 3-4 feet tall.
SOWING: Okra should not be planted until all danger of frost is over, and soil has warmed up to 70
degrees (around early June). Soak seeds in warm water overnight to speed germination.
SPACING: Sow 2-3 seeds every 12 inches, ½ inch deep. Thin to 1 plant every 12 inches. A packet will
sow a 4 foot by 10 foot area or about 10 plants.
NOTES: Harvest regularly when fruit is 3 inches long to keep plants producing and to avoid large tough
fruit. Okra is excellent fried or used in soups, stews and relishes.
VARIETY: Mississippi Silver (80 days) High yields. This is a bush type plant that does not need to be
trellised, but may vine and grow up one if given the opportunity.
SOWING: Sow once soil has warmed in late May to Mid-June.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 3 inches, 1 inch deep, in rows about 18 inches apart. A packet sows a 13
foot row or about 15-20 plants.
NOTES: Crowder peas are harvested either fresh or dry once seed pods are plump. Must be shelled
before cooking whether eaten fresh or dry. The dry ones can be stored for a long time in a cool dark
place. For dry beans, wait until the pods are dry and withered to harvest.
VARIETY: Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean (68 days) Excellent for freezing, distinctive flavor.
SOWING: Warm weather crop; only plant after all danger of frost has passed.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 3 inches, 1 inch deep. It is recommended to trellis on string or fence. A
pack sows 15 feet or about 20 plants.
NOTES: Continuously harvest beans to encourage them to continue producing pods. Can be
harvested young as green beans, when pods are tender and swollen, OR as dry beans when seeds
have fully formed, and pods are dry and withered.
Bush Beans
VARIETY: Provider Bush Beans (50 days) Smaller pods that don’t need support of a trellis. Yields a lot
of beans all at once.
SOWING: Warm weather crop; only plant them after all danger of frost has passed. For continuous yield
plant new area every 2 weeks until mid-July.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 2 inches, 1 inch deep, in rows about 18 inches apart. A pack sows 15 feet or
about 20 plants.
NOTES: Continuously harvest beans to encourage them to continue producing pods. Avoid pest problems
by rotating where you plant beans from year to year. See Pole Bean information for harvest notes.
Nasturtium
VARIETY: Jewel Mix (55-65 days) Beautiful, edible flowers.
SOWING: Sow outdoors after threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
SPACING: Sow 6 inches apart, ½ inch deep.
NOTES: Harvest by gently pulling whole blossoms off of stems. Harvest continually for more blooms.
Flowers and leaves are edible and make a spicy addition to salads.
Sunflower
VARIETY: Lemon Queen (75 days for flower, 120 days for seed) Multi-stem with 8 inch blooms with
lemon-yellow petals surrounding striking solid brown centers. It can grow up to 10 feet tall in rich soils.
SOWING: Sow outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 4 inches, ¾ inch deep. Thin to 1 plant per 8-12 inches.
NOTES: This variety blooms somewhat later (late August) than other sunflowers. Great-tasting seeds
for can be roasted and snacking.
Calendula
VARIETY: Flashback Mix (55 days) A beautiful mix of colors in yellows and whites. Plants grow 1½ - 2
feet tall.
SOWING: Sow outside after last frost, when soil is warm. Sow 2-3 times, with 2-3 weeks between each
sowing, for continuous blooms from summer to frost.
SPACING: Sow 2-3 seeds every 6 inches, ¼ inch deep. Thin to 1 plant every 6 inches.
NOTES: For use as cut flowers, harvest when flowers are half open. Flowers are also edible!
Zinnia
Marigold
Cosmos
QUESTIONS?
VARIETY: Gold Medal Mix (80 days) A brilliant mix, good for cutting with a beautiful mix of colorful,
ruffled flowers. Plants should grow 3-4 feet tall.
SOWING: Sow after danger of frost has passed.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 2 inches, ½ inch deep. Thin to 1 plant every 9 inches.
NOTES: Blooms will last the longest on your table if you harvest when blossoms are about half open.
VARIETY: Brocade Mix (70-90 days) Ruffled double flowers in rust, yellow, orange, red.
SOWING: Sow outside after last frost or start inside in a warm place 3 weeks before last frost.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 6 inches, ½ inch deep. Thin or transplant to 1 plant every 12 inches.
NOTES: Clip off faded and dead flower heads to keep plant flowering regularly.
VARIETY: Sensation Mix (75-90 days) Lavender, pink, magenta, and white flowers that grow 4-5 feet
tall with 3-4 inch blossoms.
SOWING: Sow outside after last frost, when soil has begun to warm.
SPACING: Sow 1 seed every 3 inches. Thin to one plant every 6-9 inches.
NOTES: Clip off or ‘deadhead’ spent flower heads to keep plants flowering regularly. If you harvest a
stem with closed buds, the buds will open in a few days.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions. Keep Growing Detroit’s staff is available during office hours
(Wednesdays 4-6PM or Fridays 10-12PM at 76 E. Forest) or by phone at 313-757-2635.