Top 3 New Edibles for 2019
By Chris Edmunds
With a new year comes fresh new vegetable varieties to add to your garden (and your plate!)
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With a new year comes fresh new vegetable varieties to add to your garden (and your plate!) Our top three new edibles for 2019 are easier than ever to grow and maintain in Kansas, and they’re all bursting with exceptional flavor!
Novelty Pepper, ‘Mad Hatter’
When it comes to peppers, you won’t find anything more unique than the three-sided, flying-saucer-shaped ‘Mad Hatter’! It’s extra-crunchy and sweeter than other peppers, making them perfect additions for your salads. With refreshing citrus and floral notes, and a tiny bit of heat if grown hot and dry, one bite of the ‘Mad Hatter’, and you’ll have new favorite pepper to snack on!
Although native to Peru and Bolivia, this novelty pepper was actually bred for the growing conditions here. This makes them super easy to grow right here in the Midwest.
When the ground has warmed up in the spring and night temperatures are over 60°F, they can be planted in the ground. ‘Mad Hatter’ has a much bigger habit than most peppers, so it might be a good idea to stake them to prevent damage in wind and rain storms.
Plant peppers in full sun in moist, but well-drained, soil. Their vigorous growth habit needs to be supported with fertilizer. Apply a starter fertilizer after planting and feed with complete fertilizer regularly throughout the season.
Cherry Tomato, ‘Little Bing’
Another one of our favorite new edibles for this year is the new super dwarf variety of cherry tomatoes, ‘Little Bing’. You’ll be impressed by the number of tomatoes this tidy little plant can produce! These cherry tomatoes are flavorful and sweet - the perfect treat straight from the vine!
Unlike many other cherry tomatoes, ‘Little Bing’ is a determinate variety of tomato. Determinate varieties are known for being well-behaved, and ‘Little Bing’ is no exception! They grow in a compact, bushy habit and stop getting bigger once the fruits set on. These tasty tomatoes ripen during the peak of summer, providing continuous tasty treats. Because of their small size and abundance of fruit, these dwarf tomatoes are perfect for patio planters. These cherry tomatoes grow best in 10-12” pots, and are well-suited for Topsy Turvy tomato planters.
Cherry tomatoes love to grow in the heat of full sunshine and warm soils. Soil in a container is much warmer than the ground - yet another reason why patio planters are a great idea! Grow them in fertile soil with good drainage for the best results. Keep the soil moist, allowing it to dry on top before watering again. Fertilize them when they’re about 6” tall, and again near the middle of the summer. If planted in a relatively small (10” – 12”) pot or basket, they’ll need water frequently in the heat. These tough little tomatoes are disease-resistant, so you shouldn’t need to fret about losing them!
Jalapeño Pepper, ‘Emerald Fire’
‘Emerald Fire’ is a hybrid jalapeño pepper, and it is large and in charge this year! It’s longer and fatter than other jalapeños, replacing the ‘Mucho Nacho’ variety that previously set the bar for hefty jalapeños. Although ‘Emerald Fire’ peppers may be similar in size to ‘Mucho Nacho’, they’re definitely new and improved! They’re more resistant to disease and also visibly cleaner with less scarring. Their jumbo size makes them ideal for stuffing, grilling, or dicing up for a scrumptious salsa. These hot peppers are sure to add some sizzle to your cuisine!
Jalapeños need warm conditions to grow, so make sure evening temperatures are at least 60 degrees with higher daytime temperatures before you plant.
You can harvest ‘Emerald Fire’ before they fully change color and use them green, or you can wait until they change color to bright red when they’re a bit sweeter (but still hot!). They take about 90 days to mature.
These new, delicious, and low-maintenance edibles are all must-haves for your vegetable garden this year. You won’t be disappointed in their improved performance and exquisite taste!
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