Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Plant catalog terms – another language
I’ve talked about cuddling up with your plant catalogs but to some, the terms used could sound like a foreign language!
If you’re looking up lettuce and see the term “slow to bolt” – that’s a good thing. It means that your lettuce won’t flower early. Lettuce is best harvested and eaten BEFORE it flowers. Once that process begins, the lettuce leaves can be bitter. I would suggest trying a mesclun mix. Leaf lettuces last longer into the season and never bolt. Once they’re stems have a milky sap, it’s time to quit harvesting.
In most descriptions of tomatoes and some squash, you’ll find the terms determinate and indeterminate. This is important. Indeterminate plants will continue to grow and produce. That means you’ll need space. Generally speaking these plants need at LEAST 4 feet from other plants. In our climate you’ll also end up with a lot more green tomatoes. You can decide if that’s good or bad. Determinate plants grow to a certain point and stop. They produce less but require less room.
The term “bareroot” means the plant is shipped without soil around the roots. Shrubs, fruits, trees and many perennials are shipped this way and are generally much cheaper. You’ll want to get them in the ground as soon as possible.
“Field grown” refers to a more mature plant that’s developed in the ground for a full season or more. These are stronger plants but more expensive.
If there’s a term you don’t understand, please send me an email tkgardenbite@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to decipher it for you!
And don’t forget “Days to maturity”!… when will your fruits and vegetables be ready to eat?
