Fun, excitement, and enabling!

[julianna]

So apparently my husband has been talking about my garden and seeds to his family back home in Jordan. We have discussed before the fact that I plan on being back a veritable treasure-trove of seed with me (mail there is not reliable so sending it isn't really a possibility-- although importing it isn't illegal) and he was telling them about all the different kinds/colors of tomatoes, beans, etc. that are in existence.

He then asked me probably the silliest question of all time: would you mind trying to get some seed varieties so I can take them back home when I visit?

Durrr! Of course this is fantastic since it means I am now cleared for additional seed shopping!

Now, this is where you all come in. I know I have things i liked and you all have things you have experience with and know quite well. Let's see if we can put our heads together on OP seed/heirloom varieties and come up with a good list. :)

He says they are interested in the following kinds of plants:

Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Peppers (probably hot and sweet)
Eggplant
Garlic
Strawberries
Any other vegetables

They exist on basically the same mediterranian diet as they have for thousands of years-- olives, chickpeas, beans (fava), lentils, turnips, radishes, eggplant, etc. I'm thinking about the best combinations of colors/shapes plus taste. This is our chance to sell a new population on these plants!

They are basically a 9b climate-- rarely freeze and only freeze for a few hours at most, they have winter rains and cool, dry summers (cool being low 90s at the most, drops into the 70s at night).

[julianna]

So, I'll start out, talking to myself.

I know he is interested in carrying over Elephant garlic bulbs and maybe some shallots. I also know he's thinking about the different colors of tomatoes and eggplants as well as peppers. Some things that come to mind for me are Casper, Rosa Bianca, and LA Long green for eggplants. I am having the hardest time deciding on tomatoes... and peppers i want some of each color but specifics that come to mind are Jimmy Nardello, Purple Beauty, Sweet Chocolate...

And pumpkins/squash are also on my list. he hasn't said a thing about them but qho could not love pumpkins... lol... also melons.

[w8in4dave]

What about herbs?? Like basil and such?? Watermelon??

[TastyofHasty]

I think asparagus (winged) beans will grow in zone 9.

[Desert Rat]

Sounds like their climate may be similar to ours and this is some of what we grow that does well:

Armenian cucumbers, can be eaten fresh or stir fried and takes heat really well
Peppers, jalapeno and Train swears by Giant Red Marconi which I just ordered
Japanese eggplant withstands heat very well
Blackeyed peas does extremely well in heat and makes very good snap beans
Okra
Tomato, if I had to choose one from my garden this year it would be Nichols
Family tomato from Native Seed Search, a large pink cherry type that
produced really well in spite of the heat, really tasty and no cracking.
Sungold produced earlier but there was some cracking.
Swiss chard does well in fall and holds up really well to summer heat

[Applebutton]

My thoughts are go for the things that are different and are the cream of the crop....not just the ordinary...REALLY show them what we have!

Might I suggest Rampicante Zucchini.....might as well go for the BEST (in my opinion) Flavor is outstanding, meatier, less seeds, prolific...interesting shape like a long snake and lovely lime green color, great for zucchini breads, sautee's, pasta....delicious! Also, Lemon Squash.....beautiful bright yellow color...outstanding flavor, looks like a lemon...great for stuffing and sautee's! The two are completely different but equally yummy! BC sells both!

As for tomatoes.....I am NOT sure yet which ones to suggest, but I highly suggest going for one of each color! Yellow, Red, Black, Pink, White and orange.....makes such a unique presentation.....like a beautiful bright orange cherry tomato.....YUM.....or go for different shapes! Show them a real variety!

For peppers might I suggest a sweet one and a hot one! I HIGHLY suggest the Red Cheese sweet pepper.....an outstanding small (sweet like sugar) red pepper! Unbelievably delicious eaten right off the plant, GREAT in salads and absolutely adorably scrumptious to stuff for bite size deliciousness! Not sure yet which hot one...there are so many with unique flavors!

I would think of it as COOKING with everything. Pick the varieties that will make outstanding presentations...something in every catagory so you have all your bases covered and of course FLAVOR! What will make the BEST dishes! With the kind of food you said they eat, I bet they will LOVE the different colors too!

[maggie c]

Julianna, I have Lebanese relatives, and I'm thinking of veggies that would be easily integrated into that cuisine. If I were you, I'd ask about squash/zuke varieties that was both tasty and stuffable. Different garlics are a great idea. So are different varieties of cukes, cause at least my family eats lots of them. For the tomatoes, I'd go with toms that are versatile - ones that you can make into sauce as well as ones that are good for salads and such. I'm not sure I'd go too far off the red/pinks, but if brandywines do well there the various varieties of brandywine would be great. A good paste tomato like Amish Paste would be good for sauces. You might want to get some tasty and pretty cherry tomatoes like sungolds or Black Cherrys for varieties in salads since I think salads are very popular.

Just some thoughts...if I was sending to my family!

[Silentmeow]

Nothing new to suggest but the rosa bianca's are wonderful and seem to have a longer shelf life than the usual purple eggplants. I planted then for the first time this year and being I'm the only one that eats eggplant I've given many away to the neighbors with rave reviews! I also planted the Amish paste tomatoes this year and will never plant anything else! I'm very impressed with the tomato. My neighbors are asking me for plants for their gardens next year! What a fun challenge you have before you. I'm sure they will love and appreciate anything you can send to them!

[julianna]

What about herbs?? Like basil and such?? Watermelon??

They love watermelon.. I was thinking about this as well. I think the colors would be fantastic. Herbs I am not sure about-- but worth a try!

[julianna]

I think asparagus (winged) beans will grow in zone 9.

I'll check into them-- thanks!

[julianna]

My thoughts are go for the things that are different and are the cream of the crop....not just the ordinary...REALLY show them what we have!

Might I suggest Rampicante Zucchini.....might as well go for the BEST (in my opinion) Flavor is outstanding, meatier, less seeds, prolific...interesting shape like a long snake and lovely lime green color, great for zucchini breads, sautee's, pasta....delicious! Also, Lemon Squash.....beautiful bright yellow color...outstanding flavor, looks like a lemon...great for stuffing and sautee's! The two are completely different but equally yummy! BC sells both!

As for tomatoes.....I am NOT sure yet which ones to suggest, but I highly suggest going for one of each color! Yellow, Red, Black, Pink, White and orange.....makes such a unique presentation.....like a beautiful bright orange cherry tomato.....YUM.....or go for different shapes! Show them a real variety!

For peppers might I suggest a sweet one and a hot one! I HIGHLY suggest the Red Cheese sweet pepper.....an outstanding small (sweet like sugar) red pepper! Unbelievably delicious eaten right off the plant, GREAT in salads and absolutely adorably scrumptious to stuff for bite size deliciousness! Not sure yet which hot one...there are so many with unique flavors!

I would think of it as COOKING with everything. Pick the varieties that will make outstanding presentations...something in every catagory so you have all your bases covered and of course FLAVOR! What will make the BEST dishes! With the kind of food you said they eat, I bet they will LOVE the different colors too!

Applebutton-- this is what I was basically thinking about! Thanks for the great ideas :)

[julianna]

Julianna, I have Lebanese relatives, and I'm thinking of veggies that would be easily integrated into that cuisine. If I were you, I'd ask about squash/zuke varieties that was both tasty and stuffable. Different garlics are a great idea. So are different varieties of cukes, cause at least my family eats lots of them. For the tomatoes, I'd go with toms that are versatile - ones that you can make into sauce as well as ones that are good for salads and such. I'm not sure I'd go too far off the red/pinks, but if brandywines do well there the various varieties of brandywine would be great. A good paste tomato like Amish Paste would be good for sauces. You might want to get some tasty and pretty cherry tomatoes like sungolds or Black Cherrys for varieties in salads since I think salads are very popular.

Just some thoughts...if I was sending to my family!

One of the things my husband was thinking about was the tomatoes from all the colors of the rainbow... his family seems kind of psyched about them. It's odd, i know (for there) but they are open to the idea. I think pattypan squash would be good as well because of the stuffability factor... they do a lot of raw consumption in his family so quite a bit more is open to them in addition to the regular stuff. i think i will also consider different types of okra-- red is uncommon there...

[julianna]

Nothing new to suggest but the rosa bianca's are wonderful and seem to have a longer shelf life than the usual purple eggplants. I planted then for the first time this year and being I'm the only one that eats eggplant I've given many away to the neighbors with rave reviews! I also planted the Amish paste tomatoes this year and will never plant anything else! I'm very impressed with the tomato. My neighbors are asking me for plants for their gardens next year! What a fun challenge you have before you. I'm sure they will love and appreciate anything you can send to them!

Thanks for the tip on the storage of rosa bianca! that's great to know.. i have seed but my seedlings died this year in inclimate weather and i had no back-ups ready. :(