(Pumpkin)

The long, vigorous vines of 'Wolf' bear medium-sized pumpkins with exceptionally thick "handles." Wolf pumpkins are also notable for their thick flesh and rich deep-orange color. The round, moderately ribbed fruits weigh from 15 to 25 pounds (7 to 11 kg) when ripe. This variety grows from seed to harvest in about 120 days. It was developed by Chris Awald of North Collins, New York.

Like other true pumpkins, ‘Wolf’ is a member of the New World species Cucurbita pepo. These warm season,...

(Summer Squash, Yellow Crookneck Summer Squash)

Cultivated for centuries by native populations of North America, summer squash ‘Yellow Crookneck’ remains a popular favorite in the United States. The bumpy, bottle-shaped fruits of this classic heirloom are bent at the neck, and have glossy, golden-yellow skin surrounding firm, delicious, buttery flesh. They are best picked and eaten when very young and tender, and are ready for harvest approximately 65 days from sowing.

Like many summer squash, ‘Yellow Crookneck’ is a member of the New World...

(Summer Squash)

The distinctively patterned, yellow and green fruits of this F1 hybrid squash are also notable for their firm texture and delicious nutty flavor. The slender, club-shaped fruits are mostly yellow, but each has a pale green tip that appears "hand-dipped." This productive variety forms big, bushy, open plants which grow from seed to harvest in about 54 days. The fruits are best when 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long, and will be produced from summer to fall if regularly harvested.

Like most summer...

(Large-fruited Mix Gourd, Ornamental Gourd)

Seed mixtures sold under this name yield a crop of large decorative "gourds" in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Numerous cultivars from several species of Cucurbita (including C. pepo) are typically included.

Most "gourd" seed mixtures contain cultivars of Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, C. maxima, Lagenaria siceraria, and other members of the squash family (the Cucurbitaceae). These warm-season, trailing or...

(Ornamental Gourd, Small Formula Mix Gourd)

Seed mixtures sold under this name yield a crop of small decorative "gourds" in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Numerous cultivars from several species of Cucurbita (including C. pepo) are typically included.

Most "gourd" seed mixtures contain cultivars of Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, C. maxima, Lagenaria siceraria, and other members of the squash family (the Cucurbitaceae). These warm-season, trailing or...

(Cumin)

Mexican and Indian foods are renowned for their flavors of cumin, but surprisingly this annual herb originates from North Africa along the Mediterranean, most specifically Egypt. It is a fast-growing but short-lived plant that completes its life cycle in only three or four months. Cumin may be grown during the frost-free times of year when temperatures are comfortably cool, such as spring or fall. The cumin spice is the dried fruit and the seeds, which are typically ground.

An upright plant...

(Quince)

(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, this short-lived tender perennial from East Asia is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on calf- to knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small, bristly, bur-like fruits follow the flowers. Self-sowing often occurs, sometimes...

(Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Summer Forget-Me-Not)

Prized for its summer-long display of azure flowers, 'Blue Shower' is a tall, floriferous, seed-grown selection of Chinese forget-me-not, a short-lived tender perennial from East Asia. It is typically grown as an annual or biennial.

Dense clumps of felted, gray-green, lance-shaped to oval leaves give rise to one-sided sprays of small, five-lobed, sky-blue flowers on knee-high stems. Flowering begins in early spring or 2 months after sowing, continuing as long as temperatures remain mild. Small,...

(Nut Sedge, Yellow Nut Sedge)

Gardeners who have run across this noxious perennial or annual weed know just how obnoxious it is. Nut sedge spreads aggressively if allowed to take hold because it's tough as nails and spreads via fast-growing rhizomes (underground roots and stems). To make matters worse, it also produces tuberous nutlets that remain behind when the weed is pulled and grow into whole new plants. This pervasive weed can be found in North Temperate and subtropical regions across the globe, so most will meet up with...