Basil is a member of the mint family and comes in a number of varieties that range in flavor and color. With flavors ranging from sweet to spicy to zesty, this herb is popular for making pesto and seasoning vegetables and fish. It’s native to India and Asia and thought to aid in digestion.
There are more than 3,500 mint species, but peppermint and spearmint are most common. Be sure to contain mint plants or they can overtake your garden.
Pumpkin fruits range in size from miniatures weighing less than 1 pound to 1,000-pound giants. Choose thick-walled pie pumpkin varieties for cooking and baking, and varieties with thinner flesh for Halloween carving.
Cucumbers are prone to attacks from cucumber beetles, which transmit bacterial wilt. Choose resistant varieties whenever possible. Protect young plants with floating row covers but remove covers when plants come into flower to ensure ample pollination.
Butternut squash is a winter squash that is more resistant to vine borers than other squash varieties due to its thicker stem. The flesh is yellow with a sweet, nutty taste. It makes a great winter storage crop.
Acorn squash varieties have creamy, yellow flesh with a sweet, nutty flavor. It’s ideal for baking, roasting and pureeing for soup.
Campines are active and prefer to free range, but will tolerate confinement.
Young birds may take some time to develop the breed’s classic white face. White-faced Black Spanish chickens tolerate confinement well.
Andalusions are fairly quiet and tolerant of confinement, making them a good backyard chicken.
These large chickens require a lot of room in their coop. If provided enough space, they tolerate confinement.
The Alpine is a hardy goat known for its adaptability in different climates.
This medium-sized goat is known for being quiet and gentle.
