This year, I began my adventures in container gardening vegetables. Here is my introduction to everything I planted. I observed a wide spread in performance of each of the varieties I grew. Please enjoy my inaugural plant review!
Carwile’s Virginia Peanut Review
Garden Vegetable Review Score
Overall: 2.33/5
Ease of growing: 2/5
Harvest yield: 1/5
Harvest quality: 4/5
Would I grow it again? No.
Explanation
My peanut yield was incredibly low, but the nuts I did get were delicious. I am uncertain about what could have caused the low yield. Speculating only, it could be too much nitrogen in the potting mix plus no inoculant. Peanuts need bacteria to enter their roots so they can fix their own nitrogen. Normally, people inoculate their peanuts with a microbial mix. I did not. The peanuts I did get were extremely good. They were flavorful, excellent pan fried with salt.
Thai Red Roselle Review
Garden Vegetable Review Score
Overall: 3.67
Ease of growing: 3/5
Harvest yield: 3/5
Harvest quality: 5/5
Would I grow it again? Yes.
Explanation
Roselle, known by many names around the world, is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. People all over the globe love the stuff! Many parts of the plant are edible, including the leaves and the thick red calyxes that grow around the seed pod after the flower fades. Both have a tart, citrus-like flavor. The leaves taste vegetal and the calyxes floral. The leaves make an excellent addition to any dish that would benefit from citrus flavor. I enjoyed adding it to stir fries. The dried calyxes make a delicious sour, floral tea that I enjoy with added ginger root and sugar.
My only note is that I will need to start the plants indoors in late February. I did not get many calyxes before cold killed the plant here in USDA zone 7. This plant grows slowly, loves the heat, and despises the cold. Plan ahead to get a good harvest if you live in an area with cold winters.
Stewart Zeebest Okra Review
Garden Vegetable Review Score
Overall: 4/5
Ease of growing: 4/5
Harvest yield: 3/5
Harvest quality: 5/5
Would I grow it again? Yes.
Explanation
Stewart Zeebest Okra produced tender, slim, smooth pods for me during the hot months. They were very soft and silky, with no spines and mild flavor. The pods could have grown larger than I allowed while remaining tender.
In my opinion, they are the best simply sauteed with some caramelized shallots in butter. You don’t need much of a recipe. Just cook the shallots in butter until beginning to caramelize. Then add okra, so it cooks as the shallots finish. Salt to taste.
Like the roselle, okra is a member of the hibiscus family that thrives in hot weather. Also like the roselle, I would have gotten a much larger harvest if I planted it earlier! It only needs 65 days to begin producing, but mine only produced for a month or two before cold hit. They would have produced for longer and given me more okra if direct sown in early May. Some even begin theirs indoors, but I have limited space.
Moon and Stars Yellow Watermelon Review
Garden Vegetable Review Score
Overall: 2.33/5
Ease of growing: 2/5
Harvest yield: 2/5
Harvest quality: 3/5
Would I grow it again? No.
Explanation
Moon and stars yellow watermelon did turn out tasty. Yet again though, I had yield issues. The yellow fleshed, speckled-rind watermelons are striking to behold inside and out. The flesh is smooth with few strings. Even in a small melon, there was a lot of flesh without seeds. All had a clear fleshy core to the fruit. It is mildly sweet with a clear and refreshing watermelon flavor. It was lighter and more refreshing in my opinion than red watermelon. I haven’t had another melon like it.
My melons topped out around 5lb, and I did not get many. Some rotted. Some plants didn’t grow any fruit despite constant flowering. Each melon may need more space for its roots, and higher quality, more consistent fertilizer. Hand pollination could have helped.
