Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way: 18th-Century Methods for Today's Organic Gardeners

About this book

Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg Way From the nations foremost historical preservation site comes a guide to traditionaland still relevantmethods and advice for planting and tending a productive vegetable garden In a colonial-style garden the broccoli is purple and "turkey" cucumbers grow to three feet long; oiled paper predates plastic for sheltering spring plants; and fermenting manure warms the seedlings. Finding inspiration and value in 18th-century plants tools and techniques the gardeners at Colonial Williamsburg have discovered that these traditional vegetable-growing methods are perfectly at home in todays modern organic gardens. After all in the 18th century organic gardening was the only type of gardening and local produce the only produce available. Author Wesley Greene founded the Colonial Garden in Colonial Williamsburgs Historic Area in 1996. He and his colleagues have painstakingly researched the ways the colonists planted and tended their vegetable and herb beds most of which are more relevant than ever. Along with historical commentary and complete growing instructions for 50 delicious vegetables including colonial varieties still available today gardeners and folklorists will find weather-watching guidelines planting techniques and seedsaving advice for legumes brassicas alliums root crops nightshades melons squash greens and other curious and tender produce.