Do you remember from year-to-year what you plant? At the end of each gardening season, I’m sure I’ll remember the carrot variety that tasted sweeter than the others, so I can plant it again next spring.
Usually, though, when the next spring arrives, I’m asking my wife, Mary, “What was the name of that carrot we liked so well?” I’ve learned to write things down, or at least save the tag or seed packet so I’ve got a record. When I’m so certain I’ll remember, I usually forget.
Does it really matter which varieties of vegetables we plant? Are they that different? Should I care whether I plant Nantes carrots or Danvers?
Named varieties of vegetables are more correctly called “cultivars “, a term you see when reading gardening articles, which is an abbreviation for “cultivated varieties.” Usually, though, we simply call them “varieties,” as in “Which tomato variety is your favorite?”
It really does matter which variety of vegetables we plant. Named varieties differ in many characteristics, including flavor, yield, size, days to maturity and disease resistance.
Key advantages of varieties are usually listed on the descriptions located in seed catalogs, or on seed packets and plant tags. There are several key characteristics to especially watch for. Flavor is always a top motivator. Check for disease resistance in vegetables like tomatoes. Look for the number of days to maturity, which is extremely important for longer season crops like melons, tomatoes and peppers. Potato varieties differ in usage, as russets are better for baking, reds are great for mashing, and some are all-purpose.
When maximizing yield in a limited space, raised garden, or square foot garden, look for types that specifically mention small-space or container garden variety. Descriptions of vegetable varieties are brief, so if a characteristic isn’t mentioned, that trait probably isn’t a highlight. For example, if a cucumber variety doesn’t mention having a bush-form that’s non-vining for small-space gardening, then it most likely has long vines that require large space. If a tomato doesn’t list good disease resistance, then it probably has only average disease-fighting ability.
What about varieties listed as hybrids versus heirloom types. The term “heirloom” is loosely used to denote older varieties that were grown before hybrids became popular, which was the period between about 1945 and 1960.
Hybrid varieties are developed by taking two parents, each having desirable characteristics you want to combine, and cross-pollinating them, to get the best of both in one new variety. Hybrids occur in nature also, when bees fly between two different plants. In man-made hybrids, humans are simply doing the job that bees do in nature, by hand-pollinating plants.
Some gardeners prefer hybrids for their vigor, disease resistance, space saving, flavor or other traits. Other gardeners prefer heirlooms that might have a special flavor, appearance or other factor. Seed can be collected from heirloom types for future planting, but hybrid types usually don’t “come true” from seed collected.
How do we begin to choose between the thousands of vegetable varieties available? North Dakota State University publishes a wonderful list each year of vegetable types that have proven best for our region, called “Vegetable Cultivars for North Dakota.” The publication begins “The finest cultivars will lead to the finest gardens. NDSU and its team of over 200 gardeners evaluate promising cultivars every summer. The following cultivars have excelled in these and other trials in the Midwest.”
This valuable list can be found at the following site. Check for updates each spring: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/homegardenvarietytrials/documents/recommendations2020.pdf
While our growing season is still fresh in mind, we can begin planning next year’s gardens. Until next time, Happy Gardening!
