GenAcres Homestead

Mustard greens are fast growing, nutritious leafy greens. They're perfect for gardens and containers in both spring and fall.  They are a  high biomass, nitrogen lifter for growing over the summer. It is one of the quickest growing, green manuring species and is very good at suppressing weeds. Used for creating short term green cover and game cover. Mustard Greens aka Mizuna, Mustard Spinach, Indian Mustard Annual plant Height:  6"       Width:  Up to 2' Mustard Greens are a leafy plant with a zesty mustard flavor that is a fiber and nutrient-rich addition to salads and stir-fries. Types: Curly Leaf.  Curled or frilled leaf edges resembling Kale.  It's a very spicy tender green used in salads. Flat Leaf.  Broad delicately flavored leaves are good for steaming or in soups. Mustard Spinach.  Smooth leaves.  This plant is more tolerant of heat, making it a good choice in warmer climates. Starting Seeds of Mustard Greens Seed Depth:      

aka Frisee Annual Plant related to Chickory Height:  6-12"       Width:  6-12" Endive and Escarole are different forms of the same plant.  Endive has curly or crinkly-edged leaves and a sharp, somewhat bitter taste.  Escarole is a type of Endive which is hardier with flat, somewhat thicker leaves and a less bitter flavor. Types: - Curled Endive with pointy leaves. - Smoother-leafed Escarole Starting Seeds of Endive/Escarole Seed Depth:                   1/4" deep. Seed Spacing:                3 seeds per inch. Days to Germinate:         5-7 days. Days to Harvest:             45 days as baby greens.  60-100 days as mature heads. Seed Longevity:              4-6 years. Sowing Indoors: Spring:  Sow 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sowing Outdoors: Spring:  Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked. Fall:  Direct sow 15 weeks before the first expected frost date. Salad Spinner Winter Sowi

Growing Pumpkins for Fall Decor If you've priced the cost of buying pumpkins and other winter squash for your Fall display lately, you've probably discovered that growing them from seed would definitely be worth your time. 

Swiss Chard aka  Spinach Beet, Leaf Beet                                Annual, Perennial in warmer climates. Height:  1-3'   Width:  Up to 2' Swiss Chard is both edible and beautiful as an ornamental plant.  It has colorful stems and bright green leaves making it as glamorous as it is nutritious.  It is high in vitamins A and C and a good source of calcium.  Swiss Chard will keep growing long after other greens have bolted. Types: Reddish, creamy white or colorful stalks, all of which taste mostly the same. Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks   Starting Seeds of Swiss Chard Seed Depth:                    1/2" to 3/4" deep. Seed Spacing:                 4", or thin seedlings later to 4" apart. Germination Temp:          50+ degrees.  Optimum 85 degrees. Days to Germinate:          5-7 days. Days to Harvest:              40 - 60 days, depending on the variety. Seed Longevity:               4 years. Sowing Indo

Rosemary is a hardy evergreen shrub that is a staple in any herb garden.  Perennial in Zones 7 – 10 (and borderline Zone 6), Rosemary is one of the most aromatic and pungent of all of the woody herbs.  The leaves have a lemony flavor that pairs well with lamb, garlic and olive oil.  The flowers can be blue, pink, purple or white. Starting Rosemary from Seed Rosemary can be difficult to grow from seed and often does not grow true to their parent plant.  Taking cuttings is recommended as opposed to seed sowing, but here's the information in case you prefer to try. Seed Longevity:                               1 year. Seed Sowing Depth:                        Just cover.  Needs some light to germinate. Best Soil Temp for Germination:      70 degrees.  Heat mat will help. Days to Germination:                       14-21+ days. Spring Sowing Sow indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date to plant out after the last frost date. Don't transplant