Native and heirloom vegetables for West Virginia gardeners

West Virginia ’ s diverse climate , topography and soil types give West Virginia gardeners the opportunity to grow many types of vegetables and small fruit crops . For generations , gardeners have selected vegetables and fruits that possess superior traits to pass on to neighbors and family members . These treasured varieties are heirloom , or heritage genetic material , which must be preserved for the future .

As agriculture becomes more consolidated , we are rapidly losing genetic material ; therefore , our future food supply depends on preserving our heirloom vegetables and fruits . When propagated , these

Table 1 . Suggested heirloom vegetables for the West Virginia gardener .

Crop Variety Comments

By Lewis W . Jett , WVU Extension Specialist – Commercial Horticulture open pollinated varieties possess the same characteristics as their parents . Heirloom varieties have superior taste and flavor , and in some instances , superior tolerance to stress such as drought or pests .

The following is an abridged list of suggested heirloom varieties for West Virginia gardeners .

Asparagus	Purple Passion , Mary Washington ,	Purple Passion and Mary Washington will produce small berries ;
	Wild Asparagus	Wild Asparagus can be harvested in early spring .
Beans	Pole : Brown Cut Short , Red Cut	Potential suppliers for heirloom beans are :
Short , Preacher Bean , Rattlesnake Pole , October Tender Hull , Logan Giant , Fat Man , Nobel Bean Half Runner : Volunteer , Josephine Jackson Broadbean : Windsor		Betty Flanagan 467 Ritchie Farm Road Summersville , WV 26651	Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center 1033 Pilot Knob Cemetery Road Berea , KY 40403 859-986-3204
Beets	Bull ’ s Blood , Crosby ’ s Egyptian ,	Bull ’ s Blood is well suited to beet greens ; Chioggia is candy-cane striped
	Chioggia , Golden Beet	and sweet .
Cabbage	Savoy Ace , Jersey Wakefield	Savoy cabbage is very cold tolerant .
Cantaloupe	Charentais	Excellent flavor ; may split when vine-ripe .
Garlic	German Extra Hardy , Wild Garlic	German Extra Hardy is a “ hardneck ” variety ; Wild Garlic can be harvested in early spring .
Lettuce	Deer Tongue , Tom Thumb ,	Add heirloom types to complement flavor and color of salad mixes .
	Buttercrunch
Onion	Wild Onion	Wild Onions can be harvested in early spring .
Peas	Lincoln	Does well in hot weather .
Peppers	Corno di Toro , Bulgarian Sweet ,	Excellent sweet , non-bell peppers with great color .
	Aconagua
Potato	Russian Banana , French Fingerling ,	There is a great diversity of skin and flesh color with heirloom
	Irish Cobbler	potatoes .
Squash	Cushaw ( green or orange striped ),	Excellent for pies and baking .
	Neck Pumpkins
Tomatoes	Brandywine , Black Krim , Orange	Wide assortment of sizes , colors and shapes with many heirloom
	Oxheart , Cherokee Purple	tomatoes ; market should be determined for appearance or taste .
Watermelon	Moon and Stars	Excellent quality and storage .

Insert provided by WVU Extension Service and Davis College of Ag ., Natural Resources , and Design Spring 2016

West Virginia Farm Bureau News 17

WV Farm Bureau Magazine May 2016 | Page 17

Native and heirloom vegetables for West Virginia gardeners