Dehyrated Tomatoes Also called “sun-dried” tomatoes; almost no one lives in a climate that makes that the best method. According to the USDA, few, if any store-bought “sun dried” tomatoes are actually sun dried (but the regulations allow them to call them that!). Ingredients Tomatoes – any quantity, ripe, but not over ripe, still firm. The yield varies considerably depending …

If you like serious smoky sweet heat, step right up Chocolate habaneros are even spicier than the Red Savina with unique earthy and smoky undertones that complement their typical habanero sweetness. Chocolate habaneros are hotter than regular habaneros? They are. In terms of the Scoville scale, chocolate habaneros tend to hit around 425,000 – 577,000 Scoville heat units. That can …

Pincushion flower is still blooming in winter in Sunnyvale. Scabiosa caucasica (Caucasian scabious) is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Caucasus, north eastern Turkey, and northern Iran. Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall and broad, it is a clump-forming perennial with divided leaves. Pincushion-shaped buds, borne on erect stems, open to pale blue …

The YOLO WONDER bell pepper was developed in Yolo County just west of Sacramento in Northern California. YOLO WONDER – sweet; Bell Elongated Type; 3.5 to 4 inches long by 3 to 3.75 inches wide; thick flesh; matures from dark green to red; pendant pods; green leaves; 24 to 30 inches tall; Mid Season (70-80 days); dependable producer; C.annuum. Sweet …

Corno de Toros are a beautiful, long, dark-red heirloom Italian pepper. 6-10 inches long, twisted or curved and pointed on the end. These deep crimson beauties are very sweet and intensely ‘peppery’. They’re a perfect roasting pepper-their skins blacken nicely, and shed easily–and are also good raw in salads. In my opinion the flavor of Corno de Toros is superior …

Serrano chiles look like slender jalapenos. They are typically eaten raw and have a bright and biting flavor that is notably hotter than the jalapeño pepper. Serrano peppers are commonly used in making pico de gallo, and salsa, as the chili is particularly fleshy compared to others, making it ideal for such dishes. The Scoville rating of the serrano pepper …

The “Moon and Stars” melon is a century-old heirloom from Tennessee/Missouri.  It is a large-fruited melon whose dark-green rind is speckled with tiny yellow dots (the stars) surrounding one or more larger yellow spots (the moon). It is cool that the leaves have the same pattern. Another cool thing is that this is an heirloom melon, not a hybrid, so …

American natives, sunflowers are grow for beauty as well as harvested for seed. An annual plant, sunflowers have big, daisylike flower faces of bright yellow petals (and occasionally red) and brown centers that ripen into heavy heads filled with seeds. Tall and course, the plants have creeping or tuberous roots and large, bristly leaves. Some sunflowers grow to over 16 …

Bush cucumbers have been bred to take up very little space with their extremely short vines — most varieties only require 2 to 3 square feet per plant. They have the same cultural requirements as vining cucumbers and ripen in about the same amount of time. Cultivars include “Bush Champion,” “Parks Bush Whopper,” “Pickle Bush,” “Pot Luck,” “Salad Bush” and …

A large coast live oak.