Tag: Garden

According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest pumpkin ever grown weighed over 2,700 pounds. This remarkable achievement highlights the extreme sizes some vegetables can reach, with common examples of large vegetables including colossal cabbages, lengthy zucchinis, and massive onions.

While it might seem obvious to a botanist, a recent study from FoodStruct showed that a surprising number of people are unsure about the relationship between common vegetables. This uncertainty often applies to kale, with many asking, "Is kale cabbage?" The answer is that while they are not the same plant, they are indeed very close relatives.

While both are known for their deep green leaves, regular spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and Taiwan spinach (often a variety of Chinese spinach) come from different plant families and have notable distinctions in taste, texture, and cooking behavior. This makes them suited for different culinary applications, from delicate salads to hearty stir-fries.

Microgreens can contain up to 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts, making them a super-concentrated food source. For those seeking a refreshing, crisp flavor, several microgreens offer a distinct cucumber-like taste, providing a nutrient boost to salads, sandwiches, and garnishes.

Over 80% of vegetables consumed by humans are either roots, stems, or leaves. A plant whose roots can be eaten is known as a root vegetable, a category that includes a vast array of underground plant parts that store nutrients and energy. Many of these edible roots are staple foods worldwide, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates.

The cucamelon, a tiny fruit native to Mexico and Central America, is about the size of a grape but resembles a miniature watermelon. This unique produce item, known by several names including Mexican sour gherkin and mouse melon, offers a surprising cucumber-like flavor with a hint of citrus.

Though most people refer to it as a vegetable, butternut squash is technically a fruit from the gourd family. This familiar autumn staple, known for its sweet, nutty flavor and creamy texture, is botanically classified as a winter squash. Understanding its scientific family sheds light on its relationship to other common produce and its unique growing characteristics.

Green onions, also known as scallions, are a versatile member of the Allium family and are used in cuisines worldwide. The good news for home cooks and gardeners is that virtually all parts of the green onion are fully edible, offering a mild, fresh flavor distinct from their bulbous relatives.

While most fruits protect their seeds safely inside, a single exception boasts its seeds externally. The common strawberry is the fruit that has its seeds on the outside, a trait that makes it botanically unique among its kind. This sweet red delight holds a surprisingly complex biological story, and those tiny specks are actually its true fruits.

Diatomaceous earth is effective when dry, but many pest control and gardening experts use a wet application method to reach difficult areas or reduce dust. This slurry must completely dry for its insecticidal properties to become active.