The garden's living archive

Queen of the summer vegetable garden, the tomato loves warmth, a rich soil, and watering at the base. Self-pollinating: each flower can fertilise itself, but its pollen comes out better when the flower vibrates, in the wind or when bumblebees and other buzzing bees visit; those visits can give heavier fruit (Cooley and Vallejo-Marín, 2021). Under glass, where the air moves little, the trusses may need to be vibrated.

A vigorous and productive cucurbit, whose fruit is eaten while still young.

Native to India (grown for 3000 years), the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) belongs to the great Cucurbitaceae family along with squash, courgette, and melon. Varieties to choose: for the greenhouse (long Dutch types), for open ground (Marketmore, Tanja), for gherkins (Vert petit de Paris). Harvest 60-80 days after sowing, continuously to stimulate production.

A sweet root of the Apiaceae family (Daucus carota), the cultivated carrot descends from wild forms of Central Asia; its orange colour was fixed by Dutch market gardeners in the 16th-17th centuries. It needs a loose, deep soil without fresh manure to form straight roots, and is sown in place as it tolerates transplanting poorly.

Allium porrum (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum), a leek grown everywhere, of uncertain homeland, for its long white shaft: it is blanched by planting it deep, then earthing it up. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Allium porrum L.” (Coste's flora; Baseflor); Plants For A Future, “Allium porrum”.

Allium cepa, one of the oldest domesticated plants (Sumerians 4000 years ago). Grown as yellow onions (Auxonne, Tropea), red (Brunswick), or white. Two possible methods: sowing (April-May, harvest October, long keeping) or planting sets (March, harvest July-August, simpler). Keeps 6-9 months in a cool cellar after drying on a rack.

A thousand-year-old seasoning of the Alliaceae, now placed in the Amaryllidaceae (Allium sativum), garlic has been grown since antiquity, from Egypt to Central Asia, its likely cradle. Rich in sulphur compounds, including allicin, released when the clove is crushed, it is planted as cloves in autumn or late winter and enjoys a drained soil in full sun.

A legume native to Mesoamerica (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae family), the bean was domesticated several thousand years ago and brought back to Europe after 1492. Cold-sensitive, it's sown after the last frosts.

A cereal emblematic of the Americas (Zea mays, Poaceae), maize comes from a wild Mexican grass, teosinte, patiently selected by Mesoamerican peoples. It is a warmth-loving plant.

Solanum tuberosum, domesticated in the Andes, around Lake Titicaca, about 8,000 years ago. The Spanish brought it from Peru to Europe in the 16th century; it is now grown almost everywhere. Sources: FAO, “The potato's travel through ages and continents” (2024); Tela Botanica, “Solanum tuberosum L.” (Coste's flora).

Beta vulgaris, selected from wild sea beet since antiquity. Round varieties (Détroit, Crapaudine, a very elongated heritage type), long (Cylindra), yellow (Burpees Golden), or striped (Italian Chioggia). Sow March-May, harvest June to October. Keeps excellently in a cellar (4-5 months). Rich in betalains (antioxidant pigments).

Spinacia oleracea, native to Persia (Iran), introduced to Europe in the 9th century by the Arabs. Varieties: Géant d'hiver (hardy), Matador (spring), Monstrueux de Viroflay (large-leaved). Sow February-April and August-September, harvest 6-8 weeks later. Rich in folates, iron, vitamin K. Contains oxalates (to eat in moderation in case of kidney stones).

Lactuca sativa, a lettuce of garden origin, probably derived from wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola). It quickly runs to seed in dry weather: in summer it is sown in partial shade, and staggered sowings prolong the harvest. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Lactuca sativa L.” (Coste's flora); Plants For A Future, “Lactuca sativa”.

Raphanus sativus, domesticated in China and the Near East 4000 years ago. Three main categories: round spring radishes (18 jours, National 2), long summer radishes (Glaçon, Rose de Pâques), winter/black radishes (Noir gros rond, Japanese Daikon). Staggered sowings March to September. Rich in glucosinolates.

Brassica oleracea var. capitata, one of the many forms that gardeners have drawn from the wild cabbage of coastal cliffs (Channel, Atlantic, Mediterranean), like cauliflower, broccoli or Brussels sprouts. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Brassica oleracea L.” (Coste's flora); Plants For A Future, “Brassica oleracea”.

Apium graveolens, selected from wild marsh smallage by the Italians in the Renaissance. Three cultivated forms: celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum), the swollen root; stalk celery (var. dulce), the stems; leaf celery (var. secalinum), the aromatic leaves. Sow in a nursery bed in March-April, plant out in May-June, harvest October-November. Cellar keeping 3-4 months for celeriac.

A sweet, mild nightshade at maturity. Sow in the warmth (February-March), plant out after the Ice Saints, full sun. Fruits harvested green or coloured (red, yellow, orange), sweeter at full ripeness. Thick, crunchy flesh.

The hot cousin of the sweet pepper: same growing but needs more warmth and a longer season. Smaller fruits, often harvested red/orange at full ripeness (hotter). The capsaicin concentrated in the seeds and the white partitions gives the heat.

Solanum melongena, a Solanaceae from southern Asia, grown for its fruit, which is eaten cooked and never raw. Frost-tender, it goes out into the garden only once all risk of frost has passed. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Solanum melongena L.” (Baseflor); Plants For A Future, “Solanum melongena”.

A trailing cucurbit grown for its flesh (butternut, musquée, spaghetti…). Sow in pots in the warmth or in place after the frosts, on a mound or in a well-mulched pocket, spacing 1 to 1.5 m. Harvest at the end of the season before the frosts, hard skin and woody stalk, keeping a long stem for storage.

A cucurbit close to the squash (same family, same growing), distinguished by its species (Cucurbita maxima): larger, rounder fruits, a soft spongy stalk, sweet orange flesh (Rouge vif d'Étampes, potimarron). Harvest before the first frosts, keeping the stem intact.

Allium schoenoprasum, a wild species of the damp meadows of Eurasia, grown as a herb since ancient China (3000 BC). All parts are edible: leaves snipped (fresh herb), flowers as a salad garnish, bulbils pickled. Harvest from March to November, cutting 2-3 cm from the ground to trigger regrowth. Source: Couplan, Le régal végétal.

A Mediterranean apiaceae (Foeniculum vulgare) with feathery aniseed foliage and yellow umbels rich in nectar. A distinction is made between bulb fennel (var. azoricum), grown in the vegetable garden for its fleshy 'bulb' harvested in autumn, and the aromatic common fennel, perennial, from which leaves and seeds are harvested. A host plant for the swallowtail caterpillar.

An old root apiaceae, long central in Europe before the potato supplanted it. Sow April-May in place (only fresh seed of the year, slow to emerge, 3 weeks), loose deep soil, no fresh manure. Autumn harvest, sweeter after the first frosts, which convert part of the starch into sugars.