Variety Highlights

Planting cover crops is a powerful way to improve your soil. Cover crops perform a host of valuable functions like increasing soil organic matter, fixing nitrogen, breaking up compaction, suppressing weeds and preventing erosion. In this guide we'll discuss your options for spring cover crops and the benefits of each, when and how to plant, and how to manage the...

Ever since potatoes in the grocery store came to be known simply as "red", "white" or "russet", knowledge of potato cookery has gone into decline. While potatoes are fantastically versatile, there are significant differences in the varieties that make them well suited for particular purposes. The simple spud, as it turns out, isn't so simple after all. But with just...

If you read our article from last week, you already learned about gathering your seed starting materials, including lights, soil, containers and more. You (hopefully) figured out your last frost date, and used it to determine when to start your first transplants (onions and leeks). This week we’ll talk about starting your next crop, artichokes, and how to “harden off”...

Comparing Potatoes in High Mowing Trials Here at High Mowing, we LOVE potatoes. They always appear at our monthly potluck lunches, they're endlessly versatile in the kitchen, and they store beautifully--an important feature in a state where the growing season is a mere 120 days (in a good year!) They make a great early crop for farmer's markets, and come...

WE believe that when farmers and public seed breeders get together, amazing things happen. We think it's essential that organic farmers be involved with breeding projects because they are the end users – they know what it takes to make a high quality variety, and their input helps shape these varieties so that they thrive in organic conditions. Being part...

Each year High Mowing attends the EcoFarm conference in Pacific Grove, California, and each year we are fascinated to hear about the diversity of climates that California growers work with. This year one farmer mentioned that his farm in Sebastopol had a mountain range behind it and consequently received two hours less daylight than surrounding farms, and had only about...

Whether you're growing on a rooftop, porch, patio or fire escape, it’s essential to choose the right tomato varieties when growing in containers. The ideal varieties to choose are either determinate or semi-determinate, meaning that they have a more concentrated fruit set and compact habit (unlike the indeterminate varieties, which will easily grow vines 10 feet long). It’s also best...

Pelleted lettuce seed (L), Raw lettuce seed (R) Plants have been doing a pretty good job developing strategies to move seeds around for a few hundred million years. The ranges of sizes, shapes, and packaging have clearly suited them well. There are some, particularly the round ones, that are pretty easily adapted to modern agriculture. But what about the really...

Bejo Carrot Field in Holland Bejo Seeds has been breeding organic seeds for over 20 years— longer than any large seed company—because of their dedication to organic agriculture. Based in Holland, Bejo Seeds is a family-owned company with a focus on breeding exceptional quality varieties. They are committed to non-GMO breeding techniques and supporting organic seed organizations including Seed Matters...

Honeynut Butternut Squash When Chef Robert Tobin heard about our Honeynut butternut squash, he knew he had to create a dish for it at TAMO Boston. He hunted down a local farm growing it, Siena Farms, and in no time at all it was on the menu in a recipe using honey from Seaport Hotel Boston’s own rooftop hives. We...