All in the Family

It sounds daunting, choosing what to plant in your garden or buy at the farmers market--there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of types of vegetables, all with different needs and uses. For me, I found it particularly fascinating when I learned that the majority of vegetables exist as part of vegetable families. Family members have similar planting and feeding needs, flowering and fruiting patterns, common pests, and even similar culinary uses. Here are the major families and a little first-hand observation about each:

Cucurbits: Cucumbers, Gourds, Melons, Squash. These are vining crops that require bee pollination between male and female flowers. Want to teach your kids about "the birds and the bees"? Here you go. When these things flower, it's like a nightclub out there. But make plenty of room because this group likes to sprawl or climb.

Goosefoot: Beets, Chard, Spinach. My newly beloved lamb's quarters is in this family. The name refers to the shape of the leaves. You can steam the leaves of all these family members and toss them in omelettes, quiches, and pasta dishes, or serve as a side dish, or you can chop them and eat them raw in salads.

Grasses: Rye, Sweet Corn, Popcorn. These crops are important in the small kitchen garden for providing cover for wildlife and for adding movement and interest as a backdrop to the garden. I also plant sorghum, which I think is stunning, especially if you mix a few sunflowers in with them.

Legumes: All Peas and Beans. These are your best friends in the garden. They are easy to grow, they yield a delicious and abundant harvest, and they improve your soil by adding nitrogen.

Lily: Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Chives. Interesting that these would all be in the lily family, isn't it? These are what I call the Dr. Seussian crops when they flower because of their long stalks and round flowers. They would make great settings for Horton Hears a Who! They also serve to keep certain pests away and attract beneficial insects. Onions are the first thing into my garden in late January. I put the little babies around the edges of all my beds and harvest them right through the summer. And there's nothing like chives when they flower in the spring.

Mallow: Okra. Now, if you have not had fresh okra, you're missing something. Okra comes in green and purple, it is quite pretty, and my kids eat them raw as a snack. The slime doesn't kick in until you cook them, and then it serves as a thickener in rice dishes.

Mustards: Cabbage, Collards, Brussels Sprouts, Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Turnips, Cress, Radish, Horseradish. This is the famous brassica family, and you're either on board with this gang or you're not. I have one child who can't get enough kale and who eats rolled-up steamed cabbage leaves as a treat. For the other one, I chop up these crops and add them to muffins. She'll eat anything as long as there are a few chocolate chips.

Parsley: Carrots, Parsley, Celery, Parsnips. I love this family because of the swallowtail caterpillars they host. Beautiful and fascinating to watch (and photograph). Interestingly, the wild flower, Queen Anne's lace, is part of this family. I couldn't believe it until I noticed this flowering carrot (photo above) hidden behind the hollyhocks. It looks exactly like Queen Anne's lace!

Solanaceous /Nightshades: Eggplant, Peppers, Potatoes, Tomatoes. Ah, the famous nightshades. In past times, these crops were considered poisonous, and currently there are some concerns for certain people regarding too much of these family members. However, Heaven help the person who stands between a farmers market shopper and the tomato stand! And eggplants are particularly glamorous plants as they grow. They spread out their large, elegant arms and frankly, I believe I've heard them singing. They sound like Ethel Merman.

So, I hope this helps a bit. When you are planning your garden, choose a member or two from each family so that you get the benefits from each. Mix it up out there so you confuse the pests, stagger harvest times and enjoy the "living laboratory" that results.

All in the Family