Vegetable Directory

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/wsquash.cfm 

From A:

Asparagus

Asparagus is a hardy perennial. It is the only common vegetable that grows wild along roadsides and railroad tracks over a large part of the country. Although establishing a good asparagus bed requires considerable work, your efforts will be rewarded. A well-planned bed can last from 20 to 30 years. For this reason, asparagus should be planted at the side or end of the garden, where it will not be disturbed by normal garden cultivation. Asparagus is one of the first vegetables ready to harvest in the spring. Asparagus is native to the Mediterranean and was eaten by the ancient Greeks.

Recommended Varieties

The list of commonly available varieties has significantly changed in recent years. Standard varieties like Mary Washington, Martha Washington and Waltham Washington are still being offered; but a number of new varieties that are either predominantly or all male recently have been introduced in to common usage. Asparagus plants are naturally either male or female. The female plants bear seeds, which take considerable energy from the plant and sprout new seedlings, which cause overcrowding in the bed. Male plants produce thicker, larger spears because they put no energy into seeds and have no weedy seedling problem. A line that produces only male plants was discovered and has been incorporated into some truly amazing varieties. Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, Jersey Prince, Syn 53, Syn 4-362, UC 157 and Viking KBC are new hybrids with larger yields. It is advisable to plant the best variety available, as an asparagus bed should remain productive for at least 15 to 20 years. If you are starting a new bed, you may never get to choose a variety again if your bed produces that long. All the newer varieties are cold tolerant and are resistant to rust and fusarium.

When to Plant

Asparagus should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. One-year-old crowns or plants are preferred. Seeds are sown in a production bed and allowed to grow for a year. The young plants have compact buds in the center (crown), with numerous dangling, pencil-sized roots. Adventurous gardeners can start their own plants from seed. Although this adds a year to the process of establishing the bed, it does ensure fresh plants and the widest possible variety selection.

Spacing & Depth

Place the plants in a trench 12 to 18 inches wide and a full six inches deep. The crowns should be spaced 9 to 12 inches apart. Spread the roots out uniformly, with the crown bud side up, in an upright, centered position, slightly higher than the roots.
Cover the crown with two inches of soil. Gradually fill the remaining portion of the trench during the first summer as the plants grow taller. Asparagus has a tendency to "rise" as the plants mature, the crowns gradually growing closer to the soil surface. Many gardeners apply an additional 1 to 2 inches of soil from between the rows in later years.

Care.......

to Z...well, W at least :)

Winter Squash

Winter squash is a warm-season vegetable that can be grown in most of the country. It differs from summer squash in that it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage, when the seeds within have matured fully and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. When ripened to this stage, fruits of most varieties can be stored for use throughout the winter.

Recommended Varieties

The following varieties of squash are adapted to a wide variety of conditions. They are vining types unless otherwise indicated. Vining squash plants require considerable growing space and are best suited for large gardens. The bush and semi-vining types can be grown in smaller gardens. Occasionally, some of these varieties may be listed as pumpkins by certain seed companies. The distinction between squash and pumpkins is mainly in what you choose to call them. Here, open-pollinated varieties are identified as OP.
Acorn (C. Pepo)—80 to 100 days to harvest.

Cream of the Crop (hybrid - All America Selection winner; uniform white acorn type; creamy smooth, tasty flesh)
Ebony (early; glossy dark green; flaky flesh texture)
Swan White (OP-creamy white skin; pale yellow flesh; smooth, delicate, sweet flesh)
Table Ace (hybrid-semi-bush; uniform, near black fruit; excellent, low-fiber flesh)
Table Gold (OP-compact bush habit, attractive bright golden yellow, may also be harvested as summer squash when light yellow)
Table King (OP-compact bush; dark green, color holds well)
Table Queen (OP-standard dark green acorn type)
Tay-Belle (OP-semi-bush, dark green)

Delicata (C. Pepo)

Delicata (also known as sweet potato squash; long cylindrical shape; cream color with dark green stripes)
Honey Boat (shaped like Delicata, tan background with dark green stripes, very sweet flesh)
Sugar Loaf (tan background, dark green stripes, elongated oval, very sweet)
Sweet Dumpling (flattened round, fluted; light cream to white background, with dark green stripes)

Spaghetti (C. Pepo)

Orangetti (hybrid-semi-bush plant, orange version of spaghetti, high in carotene)
Pasta (yellowish cream fruit, improved flavor)
Stripetti (hybrid of Spaghetti and Delicata, great taste, stores better)
Tivoli (hybrid-bush habit; All America Selection winner; light yellow, uniform fruit, 3 to 4 pounds)
Vegetable Spaghetti (OP-good keeper; light yellow, oblong fruit)

Butternut (C. Mopschata)

Butterbush (bush habit; early, 1 to 2 pound fruit)
Early Butternut (hybrid-All America Selection winner, early, medium size, high yield)
Ponca (extra early, small seed cavity, stores well)
Puritan (OP-uniform, blocky, smooth, slightly smaller than Waltham)
Supreme (hybrid-thick neck; early, uniform, sweet)
Ultra (largest fruit 6 to 10 pounds; good leaf canopy)
Waltham (OP-uniform, thick-necked, 10 to 12 inch fruits)
Zenith (hybrid; smooth, attractive fruit; high yield)

True Winter Squash (C. Maxima)

All Season (bush; orange skin, flesh; 8 or more small fruit per plant)
Banana (pink, blue or gray; long, slim, pointed at the ends; 10 to 30 pounds)
Buttercup (dark green fruit with distinct gray cap at blossom end; the standard for fine-grained, sweet flesh; 3 to 4 pounds)
Delicious (5 to 12 pounds; large, top-shaped, green or gold fruit, smoother than Hubbard)
Emerald Bush Buttercup (bush habit)
Honey Delight (hybrid 3 to 4 pounds; buttonless buttercup type; excellent flesh quality)
Gold Nuggett (5 inch, flattened round; 1 to 2 pounds; orange skin, flesh; bush habit)
Baby, Blue, Chicago, Golden, Green and Warted Hubbard (large teardrop shape, pointed at ends; warted skin; 8 to 25 pounds)
Mooregold (bright orange skin, flesh; excellent keeper with tough rind; buttercup type; 2 to 3 pounds)
Sweet Mama (hybrid-All America Selection winner; semi-vining, buttercup type; uniform; tasty; 2 to 3 pounds)
Sweet Meat (OP-old time favorite; flattened; slate gray skin; 10 to 15 pounds)
Red Kuri (OP-bright red- orange; teardrop-shaped; smooth-textured flesh; 3 to 5 pounds)

For giant varieties, see pumpkin.

When to Plant

Squash is a tender vegetable. The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Do not plant until all danger of frost is past and soil is thoroughly warmed.