Sunday, December 28, 2008

A Gardener's Dream; A Cook's Reward




It may barely be January but when a catalog arrives filled with the seeds of the promise of summer, no one can blame you for dreaming of and planning for your next garden.

The Cook’s Garden from W. Atlee Burpee, a long-respected leader in garden plants and seeds, is brimming with seeds and starters for a range of vegetables, fruits and flowers guaranteed to keep the garden and kitchen humming. The 107- page catalog states it is the premier seed source for European Garden Vegetables and that seems to be an accurate description.

Some of the stand-outs include the new Pineapple Tomatillo, a golden-yellow blueberry-sized fruit that tastes like a pineapple. These are low-growing plants (always welcome) that produce huge yields of tomatillos encased in papery husks. Another new standout is the Carmelita Tomato—a hybrid of the most flavorful French heirloom varieties, these 8-ounce raspberry red fruits have superior flavor and texture. The Thai Purple Blush Eggplant is a miniature, round eggplant that is particularly well-suited for Thai cooking and curry dishes.

Salad greens include tangy Arugula, Lollo Rossa, a looseleaf lettuce and once-wild greens such as Lamb’s Lettuce. The Heatwave blend is a mixture that provides a prolific and dependable source of greens during even the hottest months.Colorful pepper collections such as hot Dancing Spirits and sweet Friggitello will add to the garden and the cuisine that follows.

Then there are the pages of intriguing edible flowers—Nasturtium, Calendula, Marigold, and others to add distinctive color to the garden and to meals.

Turning the pages of Burpee’s Cook’s Garden catalog will put anyone in the frame of mind of thinking about tilling the warmer earth and planning and planting. Even armchair gardeners can enjoy dreaming with this booklet.

Visit http://www.cooksgarden.com/ for more information, ideas and to request a catalog.