I have approx. 80 of 'Commercial Mixed Color' bulbs planted in the bed out front that is home to my mailbox, 'Teasing Georgia' climbing rose and perennials and bulbs where as I'd hoped, nasturtiums are pushing up through my first ever use of rose prunings as a "chop and drop" mulch. I bet this long slow soaking rain will have them emerging in a few weeks. By March this bed should look stunning!

http://www.nagelglads.com/

My 'Windsor' fava beans are coming up now in a 1/3 barrel Water Wise Container Garden, and Mike Johnson recently planted 100 in his plot at Big Small Farms near Bushnell. I think this is just the second time I've grown them my 12 years back from Denver, might be the first time. This edible Vetch grew like CRAZY in my Denver gardens and was not fazed by late hard freezes or snow, so I think they will like this damp cooler winter we are having. Very good nitrogen fixer and I love eating them dry and cooked like pintos, or like edamames when the pods are green and plump.

http://www.everwilde.com/store/Fava-Broad-Windsor-Fava-Bean-Seeds.html

Space Farming!

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Russian_Space_Farmers_Harvest_Wheat_Peas_and_Greens_999.html

I just ate my first Hong Vit radish ROOT after enjoying the leaves for weeks now...like a mild sweet tender normal radish. It is grown mainly for the leaves.

http://www.kitazawaseed.com/seed_425-116.html

For years I've relied on Water Hyacinths for compost, mulch and chicken food. And now that the ducks are gone I'll stock all ponds and large rain barrels with the EXCELLENT aquatic plant for Florida, Hot Water Cabomba. It is a native, clarifies and oxygenates water wonderfully, and chickens love to scarf it down.

http://www.feedipedia.org/node/160

Jon Butts and Debbie at EcoFarm grow two types of mystery replicating onions....one the tops die back in late spring, which makes me think it is likely a "Potato Onion" (sub-species of shallot). I just checked the other one out front in a rose bed...they are definitely dividing underground and I THINK they said it grows year round. This is the odd one that Jon says that maybe 1 of every 12 sends up a viviparous stalk, kind of like Allium canadense. The plants are quite petite, DWARFED by my Allium fistulosum and "Eliska's Bunching Onion" which I am about 95% sure is a form of A. fistulosum, both of which grow year round and bloom in the spring and never make a viviparous stalk. Here is a pic of the clump that I bought from Jon and Debbie that night at the Twilight Market.They reminded me of slightly swollen scallions.....I will be curious if it grows year round.

On the way to the Imagine Peace art show in Ft. Meyers Maria mentioned to me eating a green for the first time, could not quite remember the name but after she described the taste and texture I asked "mache?" and she said YES! Mild,tender, nutty and SUPER COLD HARDY...in Denver, self sown seedlings would pop up in my gardens when there were easily two more months of snow likely. They were NEVER damaged by late freezes or snows. I've grown it here in south Tampa in mid winter. I wish that more gardeners in snowy climate regions grew it.

http://www.everwilde.com/store/Dutch-Corn-Salad-Herb-Seeds.html