Companion Planting Series: Part 4 - The Aster Family

 

          In today’s post we’re going to talk about the Aster family and this is going to be a pretty big article so you might want to get some refreshments. The Aster Family is scientifically known as Asteraceae, however in older publications it was known as the Compositae. The species was first described in 1740 and given its original name because of how the flowers were essentially made of a composite numerous parts. The core aspect of identifying a member of the aster family is that the flowers have petals, but at the center of the flower is a tightly packed array of tiny flowers called florets. Each of the florets is a flower by itself producing its own pollen, nectar and eventually a seed. Basically when it comes to sexual reproduction Asters operate on producing a larger quantity of seeds to ensure species survival. The family as a whole has more than 32,000 known species spread across about 1,900 genera. The number of species in the genera is only rivaled by the Orchids. Common names for the family also include referring to is as the Daisy, and Sunflower Family. Biologically speaking an aster come in all life cycle types and may be annual, biennial or, perennial or some type in between. Generally asters are considered herbaceous meaning that if they are perennial or biennial they die back to the ground and return from their roots each year. With a species this massive and diverse however it would be impossible to cover them all so in terms of companion planting below is a list of the Aster family members you are most likely to encounter and their uses in your garden.

 

Artichokes

          There are three a types of Artichoke that are generally sold in the nursery trade. The Common Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)  is the one you see sold at the store in a variety of forms, but the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthis tuberosus)  is almost exclusively found in the produce aisle in the form of a bag of tubers. Cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) are sold as plants at some garden centers but can be found in some seed racks in the spring. In general Artichokes and Cardoons both pair well with Peas, Beans, Borage, Arugula, Kale and Onions. Just keep in mind that Artichoke and Cardoon Plants can get pretty big in a season and give them a foot or more of space on all sides. Jerusalem Artichokes are a different animal as it is best to keep them confined to containers as their tuberous roots can rapidly spread and become invasive. They do however pair well with plants that can climb up their stalks which can be up to eight feet tall so things like Field Peas, Pole Beans and, Cucumbers can grow in the same large containers with them.

 

Aster, New England

          New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novaeo-angilae) has a few herbal and medicinal uses but isn’t noted to pair well with the common garden plants that you would expect. This Aster is noted to work best in a sort of Cottage/wild garden role with things like Golden Rod and Joe Pye Weed as well as with other asters such as Echinacea and Rudbeckia.

 

Black-Eye Susan

          The Rudbeckia Family is a very important group of flowering asters that help pollinator populations as they provide pollen, nectar and foliage for specific species of insects’ larvae. Generally speaking you can plant them anywhere and at worst you might have to do a little bit of culling to keep them in their area, but they pair well with most things.

 

Burdock

          Burdock (Arctium lappa) is one of those old-school medicinal herbs that generally is grown by folks in the know about it’s useful properties such as managing Diabetes. It pairs well with Legumes because of their Nitrogen-fixing ability, but all the primary aromatic herbs and Garlic.

 

Chamomile

          The two Chamomiles are garden essentials for anyone planning to have a functional herb garden though they are a bit sensitive in our climate due to our heat. Chamomile is available in two forms, German (Matricaria chamomilla) which is annual, and Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) which is perennial. Interestingly the two have different aromas and flavors, the German Chamomile has more herbal and grassy, Roman Chamomile is sweeter and more apple-like in flavor and scent. Roman Chamomile should be considered a short-lived perennial in our climate as it lasts an up to three years before it finally falls apart. Chamomile as a companion plant pairs well with the cabbage family Onions and Fruit trees.

 

Chicory

          Chicory (Chichorium intybus) is a big deal when you’re talking about the Aster Family because many people have ate or drank chicory and had no idea it was happening. The most famous use of Chicory is in Luzianne Coffee which uses about 33% Chicory. But Chicory has a strong foothold in the produce aisle and in every salad you eat. The most common forms are Raddichio (Chichorium intybus var. foliosum), Endive (Chichorium endivia), Escarole (Chichorium endivia var. latifolium) and, Frisee (Chichorium endivia var. crispum). For companion planting purposes Chicory does well when paired with Peas, Beans and Root vegetables. Chicory has a taproot and will not do well if transplanted a lot but also will handle drought and nutrient deficiencies in the soil better than most herbs and leaf greens will.

 

Coneflower

          In general on the seed rack and at the garden center you will only find one species of Coneflower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). However it might not look very purple because with serious levels of cultivation we’ve brought out an array of colors that decidedly are not purple. At a high end garden center you might find Narrow-Leaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), Giant Coneflower (Rudbeckia maxima), Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata) or even Pale Coneflower (Echinacea pallida). Coneflowers are generally used on Companion Planting because they bring in the pollinators but they also pair up with almost anything just as long as there isn’t a soil type mismatch.

 

Cosmos

          Cosmos (Cosmos species) is generally broken down into two groupings, (Cosmos bipinnatus) and (Cosmos sulphureus). The former produces flowers that tend to be in the range of White, Pink and Red, while the latter produces colors in the Yellow-Orange spectrum with some varieties sporting bright red-orange. It is worth mentioning a third species called Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) produces intensely dark red-brown flowers that take the range of colors for this genus of flowers even further. As far as Companion planting is concerned Cosmos are generally used for their ability to attract pollinators and as a cut flower. In of that they can be planted between Tomatoes or Peppers to bring in predatory insects to counter pests that would otherwise cause you problems.

 

Daisy, Gerber

          Gerber Daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) are generally bought, sold and grown as a pure ornamental, but the big showy flowers still attract pollinators. They generally pair well with other flowering plants such as Petunias, Dwarf Zinnias, or Purselane/Portulaca which forms a flowering block of plants that no pollinator can resist.

 

 

Dandelion

          Dandelions are often considered the bane of the lawn care industry’s existence and while the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is not native to North America, it is here and isn’t going anywhere. It’s equally non-native cousins the Pink (Taraxacum pseudoroseum) and White (Taraxacum albidum) Dandelions give us new color options. The Cat’s Ear Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata) is also not native but similarly useful. However the False Dandelion which is also called Carolina Desert-Chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) is native and has all the same uses. Dandelions are useful because they still support the pollinator population and the False Dandelion is geared towards the native pollinators making it especially useful. The main use of a Dandelion is its foliage first and it’s taproot second. As such Dandelions are strong accumulators of soil nutrients and as such will pair well with Nightshade crops, Apple trees and other leafy greens.

 

Fall Mums

          Fall Mums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) have had a name change in the last ten years, they used to be Dendranthema morifolium and before that they were just a chrysanthemum and now they’re back to being a chrysanthemum. Fall mums specifically refer to the Chrysanthemums that are typically sold in September through November. If planted in the ground or in a much larger pot then they came in and, cared for there is a chance they will return the next year as a solid perennial. The main advantage of these plants is that they do bring in Pollinators as far as companion plants go chrysanthemums do not have a specific pairing noted and should be considered just for their pollinator support use.

 

Feverfew & Tansy

          Some books and online guides confuse Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) for Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) probably because of their Latin names. The difference is that Feverfew is used herbal-medicinally for migraine-headaches, nausea, and arthritis and fever reduction. Feverfew pairs well with other conventional herbs such as Basil. Chives and Thyme. Tansy is used herbal-medicinal for a different set of problems; intestinal parasites, digestive issues and, rheumatism. The issue with Tansy is that it has a high Thujone content which means it should be used externally only. Tansy is known as a good companion plant for Peaches, Roses, Raspberries, Blackberries, Grapes and other Cane fruits.

 

Lettuce

          I bet some of you were not expecting to see Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in this list. The lettuce you buy at the store is actually a daisy it’s just rare anyone ever gets to see it bloom so the point can be solidly proven. Lettuce’s wild cousins include Tall Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) and Bitter Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). All of the aforementioned wild lettuces are edible if the leaves are picked before they mature and the entire thing gets bitter. Lettuce in general pairs well with the entire Onion family, Radishes, Carrots, Beets, Swiss Chard and any tall plant that can cast a little shade to help keep the lettuces cool.

 

Marigold

          Much like with Lettuce some folks forget that Marigolds are Asters. It might be because the cup-like base of the flowers and the way the petals sit while the center is packed tightly and doesn’t quite look like your conventional Daisy. Regardless Marigolds are one of the America’s biggest contributions to what it means to be and aster. There are three plants that are commonly called a Marigold; the American Marigold (Tagetes erecta), the French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and the Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) which is a Marigold in common name only. The African and French Marigolds have a reputation for repelling pests which makes them useful around food crops such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Potatoes, and Cabbage Crops. Since both the American and French Marigolds are annuals, there are a few Perennial options such as Lemmon’s Marigold (Tagetes lemmonii) and Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida). The Calendula or Pot Marigold has the same pairing preferences but is something you are most likely going to have to grow from seed.

 

Thistle, Milk

          Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is a biennial plant with a bunch of herbal and medicinal uses. It has deep reaching roots that can help break up compacted soil but it needs a little space as it can get as big as an artichoke in about the same amount of time. It’s best companions are the aromatic herbs such as Sage, Rosemary, Lavender or Thyme.

 

Safflower

          You don’t see many gardeners growing Safflower (Cathamus tinctorius) these days, but the flowers are worth it. Safflower pairs best with other plants that love full sun and dry conditions such as Zinnias, Cosmos, Lavender, Sage, Rosemary and Garlic. Safflower is used to make natural pigments, and its petals and seeds are used medicinally.

 

Sweet Leaf

          The miracle sweetener (Stevia rebaudiana) is a tender perennial and if you look very closely at its tiny white flowers its membership in the Aster family is without doubt. We all know Stevia because its leaves contain a sugar-like substitute and thus dried leaves can be used to sweeten things without causing diabetic issues. In companion planting, Stevia pairs well with Nasturtiums, Thyme, Oregano and Basil.

 

Sunflower, Common

          Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are one of those plants that everyone tries to grow at some point in their gardening journey because if you’ve ever seen a field full of them they look amazing. Sunflowers come in a variety of heights, color and now you can even get cousins of the annual sunflower that are perennial.  Sunflowers pair well with Melons, Cucumbers, vining Beans, Peas, Squash and large gourds. Some sources suggest they produce more seeds when paired with the Nightshade family.

 

Sunflower, Mexican

          Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) are not like their cousin; they get tall and bushy over the course of a summer and may need support. Despite this Mexican Sunflowers also produce a lot of flowers and come in a range of yellow, Orange and red blooming options. Tithonia pairs well with the same things regular Sunflowers do, but need more room horizontally.

 

Wormwood, Common

          Wormwood (Atemisia absinthium) is an herb with a long history which I suggest you look into because it won’t fit here. I will say that it is a critical ingredient in Absinthe, and apparently it repels critters, flea beetls and cabbage moths which makes it a great companion for your Cabbage family crops. A solution of it can be used as a spray to get fleas off your pets and furry farm animals which makes it super-useful. Wormwood’s cousin Santonica (Artemisia cina) is used medicinally to expel worms from the intestine. Another cousin known as Southern Wormwood (Artimisia abrotanum) has a more pleasant lemony aroma but all the same uses as traditional wormwood plus when used as a medicinal tonic it can help digestive and liver health.

 

Yarrow, Common

          Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a well-known medicinal herb that has a bunch of uses including as a forage food. I have to specify that the type I am talking about here is the white-flowering type that has a propensity via underground stolons to get loose. Yarrow as a whole has been heavily cultivated to a point that the ones at the Nursery have different colored flowers but may have lost their chief value as a herbal-medicinal plant. Yarrow is noted in a few places as being more of a giver in that it helps improve nearby plant’s resistance to insects and their ability to survive adverse conditions.

 

Zinnia

          Zinnias (Zinnia species) are a genus of flowering plants that are typically grown from seed but may also be purchased as plants at nurseries and garden centers. They come in a wide range of flower colors such as green, white, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple and even bi or tri-color types. The flower shapes can range from single to semi-single, double and even triple petal forms making them especially versatile in the garden. Zinnias are a powerful attractor of Pollinators but also pair well with the Nightshade family, Cucumbers, Melons and other annual vine fruit.

 

 

          With all of this said I am certain that there are some asters that didn’t make the cut due to oversight or as part of the effort to keep this article short. As I write this final part here, this article is five pages long and has almost thirteen-thousand characters not counting spaces and that’s well over the character limit for Nextdoor and the other places I’d normally post this information. The discussion of the Mint Family which is up next will be longer and might need to be broken up into parts for the sake of easy reading. I hope all of you out there find this post interesting and useful, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for reading.

Heavenly Bamboo

 Note from the Author: This was supposed to be posted last week and something went wrong so here it is.

 

 

This 'mini forest' is how Nandina can crowd out native species.

This was what was on the other side of that cement walk in the picture above, a Nandina Jail break.

A closeup of the bark on the plant's trunk, only the foliage makes it look passingly like Bamboo.

The bright berries are pretty but dangerous.

Common Name: Heavenly Bamboo

 

Other Common Names: Sacred Bamboo

 

Botanical Family: Berberidaeae (The Barberry Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Nandina domestica

 

Description & Habitat: Heavenly Bamboo is a nonnative evergreen perennial that was brought over to the United States in in the early 1800s. Since then as with a lot of plants that were not properly evaluated for invasive traits Heavenly bamboo has proven it is anything but heavenly. By the way, Heavenly Bamboo isn’t a true Bamboo it is in the Barberry Family and the word ‘nadina’ is the Latin form of the Japanese name for this plant ‘nanten’ while the specific epithet ‘domestica’ means domesticated or of a home site. Heavenly Bamboo is a non-native as its original range was central and southern China and Japan. Now if you know anything about Barberries, you know they can be literal and figurative pains in the rear end. Barberries are often best identified by the fact their roots once you scrape the skin off have a bright yellow coloration and this is due to high concentrations of Berberine which is a bright yellow nitrogen-containing compound that acts a natural defense against pests and disease. Heavenly Bamboo, if you scrape off the root bark has yellow roots for the same reason as other members of the Barberry Family. In general Heavenly Bamboo is well regarded for its evergreen foliage, interesting bark on its trunks and its flowers and berries. The use of Nandina fronds and berries in holiday dried arrangements is a common thing around the region and they definitely are a great alternative if you cannot get Holly.  Fortunately, the newer hybrids such as Obsession, Blush Pink, Flirt, Lemon-Lime, Cool Glow, Tuskin Flame and, Twilight have all been bred and selected to not have the two biggest problems with Nandina. This is where this article takes a turn, because I now have to talk about the bad side of Heavenly Bamboo. Firstly, a distinction has to be made, older varieties like the ones in the included photographs are of the old types, and may not even have a specific variety. Older Heavenly Bamboo installations can be found all over Fayetteville and some of them may even be wild types that were planted or escaped and formed their own colony. Older varieties can aggressively sucker and produce large numbers of offsets allowing them to crowd out competition. This problem alone is why Heavenly Bamboo is classified as an Invasive plant by numerous groups in North Carolina. The berries these Nadina’s produce are viable and their bright color makes them a tempting snack to animals, birds and small children. The problem is that they are highly toxic to birds, cats, dogs and livestock. Not even Pigs can eat the berries which should give you more than enough reason to not plant old school Nandinas nor allow existing stands of them to remain. The dangerous ingredient in question is Hydrogen Cyanide, and some of you who read this undoubtedly know how bad that is. Nandinas are responsible for killing a lot of North American Songbirds who mistook their berries for an easy meal and Cedar Waxwings were hit noticeably hard. The odd balance there is that when Heavenly Bamboo blooms in spring the pretty flowers are often crawling with various types of bees because the bees are immune to the poison or, the poison is not present in the nectar and pollen. I am not sure this is an acceptable tradeoff for a plant that can kill wild birds and also can easily escape captivity. The good news is that modern hybrids have been selected and bred not to produce berries however the stability of that breeding and selection under field conditions is still worthy of debate because; nature finds a way. Now personally, I have a few of the old school Nandinas that were planted on the property by my Great Grand Parents in the late 70’s if not early 80’s. Before any of you get the pitchforks and torches out over that revelation, I cut off and dispose of the berries so songbirds aren’t harmed and also the population of Nandinas has been reduced to two specimens that are managed. They haven’t gone colonial and honestly this works for me but I also understand not everyone will bother to undertake this kind of management which also includes making sure there are alternate food sources for wild birds that feed on berries in the property I own. It’s more work than you might expect but having a specimen or two to use as a cautionary tale is how we got this article. As a final note for this post, you will see Nandinas sold in nurseries and garden centers, these are usually hybrids selected to be less of a problem. Always check the tag to see what variety you are getting and if it’s not a cultivar you recognize or it just says Nandina domestica don’t buy it.

 

Special Toxicity Note:  All parts of this plant are inedible and toxic due to a compound called Hydrogen Cyanide.

 

 

When & What to Harvest: When the berries ripen and have a good red color you can harvest them for dried arrangements along with the foliage but you might have to spray them with something like Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane to preserve them. Do NOT eat any part of this plant.

 

Related Plants: There are many hybrids of this plant that have selectively bred out the bad traits…in theory.

 

Recipe:

-None, this plant is toxic if eaten.

 

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nandina-domestica/

 

Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:

Unfortunately you can still find hybrids of this plant at garden centers and nurseries.

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

Spring Plants:

Elephant Garlic

Soft Neck Garlic

Egyptian Walking Onion

Arugula, Astro

Salad Mix

Kale-ypso Mix

Lettuce, Romaine Parris Island

Corn, Glass Gem

 

Plants Coming Soon:

Yellow Onions

Spineless Prickly Pear

Formosa Lilies

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Black Rabbit’s Foot Fern

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is February 28^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. If you can’t make it to the City Market come on down to the North South Brewery Market which is at 304 Williams Street (Right off West Russel Street), between 1pm and 5pm every Saturday.

 

Interlude: Rosemary

 Note from the Author: New plant…sort of.

 

This Rosemary in the Test Gardens has white flowers.

The woody stems of Rosemary are interesting on their own. Note all the little bumps, those are potential roots waiting to happen.

This years sky-blue flowers. They only seem to emerge in the cold season.

That glorious foliage, is what it's all about.

 

Common Name: Rosemary

 

Other Common Names: None

 

Botanical Family: Lamiaeae (The Mint Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Salvia rosmarinus

 

Description & Habitat: Rosemary is native to Africa, Europe, Western Asia and the Mediterranean. 

In its native region it is found in dry rocky areas however in our area it can be found in most gardens 

and few gardeners have trouble growing it. You might encounter it in the field in yards where the house 

is long gone but parts of the old garden persist. Generally speaking Rosemary prefers sunny locations 

but will tolerate partial shade. It is Salt and Deer resistant and is largely immune to droughts once 

established. Rosemary prefers a sandy slightly acidic soil but gets benefit from regular irrigation and 

fertilizer. Rosemary is a reliable perennial in zones 8 through 10 and can with care attain a height of 

five feet with a spread of four feet. You can identify Rosemary by its square stems which are 

extra-visible in older woody growth, its needle-like leaves which are in opposite arrangement. 

Rosemary in Zone 8 is considered an perennial evergreen herb that is primarily used for culinary 

purposes however the essential oils can help mask your scent from biting insects and it can be used in

 medicinal preparations and the production or flavoring of liquor. The flowers of Rosemary are typically

 a bright sky blue, but cultivars with white or pink flowers do exist. In terms of pests this plant is 

bothered by Mint Moths, Spittlebugs Spider Mites and Whiteflies, but is also one of the few that is not 

bothered by Snails or Slugs. 

Botanical Latin Note: In 2017, Rosemary’s Botanical Latin name was changed from (Rosmarinus 

officinalis) to (Salvia Rosmarinus). This change is because genetic testing of Rosemary revealed that it 

was very closely related to the Sage Genus enough so that it could not be considered its own genus.

 

Special Toxicity Note:  There are no known toxicity issues with this plant.

 

 

When & What to Harvest: Ideally with Rosemary you want to harvest sprigs of Rosemary before it flowers or after the flowering has ended and the plant has resumed growing normally. The needle-like leaves are what you are primarily after for use in a fresh state in your cooking. If the woody stems the needles come from are fairly straight they can be used like a shish kebob skewer. Additionally dried twigs of rosemary with the leaves removed can be burned as somewhat-effective inset-repellant incense.

 

Related Plants: Prostrate Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’).

 

Recipe: Rosemary Simple Syrup

 

1 Cup of water

1 Cup of Unbleached Sugar

¼ Cup of Rosemary leaves, packed

 

1. Gently wash the Rosemary using cold water and inspect for undesired debris like webbing or bugs.

2. Chop the Rosemary up as much as possible.

3. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.

4. Stir as needed until the sugar dissolves.

5. Simmer for about a minute after and then remove from heat and cover the pan.

6. Allow the mix to steep for about thirty minutes.

7. Strain out the rosemary bits.

8. Pour the mixture into an appropriate sized jar for display, gifting or for your own use.

9. Once the syrup is cool it is ready to use in drinks or to boost recipes.

         

If making this syrup for display, make sure to use a properly sterilized Mason jar with a new lid. Inspect the jar for any signs of unwanted growth before use and throw out if the safety lid on the jar shows signs of bulging or out-gassing.

         

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-rosmarinus/

 

Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:

https://www.botanicalinterests.com/collections/rosemary-heirloom-seeds

 

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

Spring Produce:

(This is the last week for the produce listed below, expect spring plants next week.)

Garlic, Softneck

Soup Kits, Parsnip

Soup Kits, Turnip

Carrots

Celery

Onions

Parsnips

Red Potatoes

Turnips

 

Plants Coming Soon:

Elephant Garlic

Soft neck Garlic

Yellow Onions

Formosa Lilies

 

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (2): The Common Onion, Elephant Garlic

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is February 14^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. If you can’t make it to the City Market come on down to the North South Brewery Market which is at 304 Williams Street (Right off West Russel Street), between 1pm and 5pm every Saturday.