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Reading about Gardening

Mrs. Burpee's book gives you not only useful information on how to grow things (for example: plant dill in clumps so the wind won't blow it over), she gives recipes for each of the dozens of vegetables she covers in the book. Other growing tips include these:

Beets: Soak seeds overnight before planting. Hill up soil over beets as they grow to keep the tops covered - thus avoiding loss of color and taste.

Broccoli: Mrs. B. explains that they are shallow rooted, and suggests planting seedlings deep, covering part of the stem and the first two sets of leaves - just not the uppermost leaves.

Parsnips: Her husband's favorite side dish was candied parsnips, so she grew plenty (see recipe below). In order to get better germination she placed a board over the row of seeds, and kept it in place until they germinated - about 2 weeks for parsnips. That keeps the soil from drying out - which is fatal for them. After germination she kept the board in place, but sitting on bricks, for a few days to provide shade before removing. I've germinated carrots under boards in dry times.

Swiss Chard: She liked to plant 3 seed together in a bunch, then kept only the most vigorous when 2 inches tall. She harvested mature leaves individually with a knife, but always left the outer leaves and in the innermost leaves "to keep them healthy and growing". Fordhook chard, one of the better varieties available, was named after the farm she and her husband lived on in Pennsylvania for 50 years or more.

Tomatoes: Obviously, she had to promote Burpee brand tomatoes, but I believe her when she said that her two favorites were Burpee's "Delicious" and "Golden Jubilee". I went to Burpee's website, and found neither is still for sale. But a Google search sent me to www.tomatoseeds.net where Golden Jubilee seeds are available from Tasty Tomato Heirloom Seeds Co.

I love plants with stories, and the story of the Golden Jubilee tomato catches my fancy. It was first marketed in 1943 to celebrate the golden jubilee of King George and Queen Mary of England. Mrs. Burpee describes is as "a large, beautiful golden-orange fruit with a flavor and texture different from red tomatoes." She adds that "there are times when I just don't want that red tomato color on the dish."

Another vegetable Mrs. Burpee liked - but I'd never even heard of - is celtuce. Celtuce is an Asian vegetable that tastes much like celery, but has leaves like lettuce. Young leaves are good in a salad, while stalks are an inch thick and can be stir fried. Burpee Seeds no longer sells celtuce, so I Googled it and found a seed company that specializes in www.kitazawaseed.com ).

Kitazawa Seed Company is the oldest Asian seed company in America, started in 1917. Aside from the shameful period during WWII when the owners were locked up in an interment camp, it has been in business ever since. If you like Asian foods, check out their website or call for a catalog - they have over 250 specialty items.

Since parsnip season is coming up soon - we leave them in the ground all winter, and harvest them early in the spring when the ground thaws - I'm sharing Mrs. Burpee's recipe:

• 1 pound parsnips
• three quarters cup brown sugar
• one quarter teaspoon nutmeg
• one quarter teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons butter

Rub an ovenproof dish with butter. Mix sugar and spices, and layer over parsnips.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Remove foil, baste the parsnips, and bake uncovered for 15 minutes more, basting twice.

Mrs. Burpee was born in Palestine and lived there as a girl, which may account for her interest in uncommon flavors. She prepared vegetarian meals when America's idea of dinner was steak - with baked potatoes as the vegetable. She shares recipes for celtuce and green tomato pie and carrot drop cookies. I'll make her Borscht Concentrate for the freezer next summer- for use now, when we are longing for fresh vegetables.

So go find a used bookstore and explore. You may not find Mrs. Burpee, but you'll find something worth reading, and we can't work in the garden now anyhow.

Henry Homeyer is the VT/NH associate editor of People, Places and Plants magazine. His website is www.gardening-guy.com. He may be contacted at gardening.guy@valley.net, or P.O. Box 364, Cornish Flat, NH 03746.