SOWING IN APRIL
Fruits and Vegetables
CORN
Who hasn’t eaten popcorn, out of a big cardboard box, while watching a cinema movie?
Corn derives from Mexico, where it has been used as food for humans since ancient times.
Today it is cultivated all over the world, with the largest production in America.
It is a tall annual plant that reaches up to the height of 3 meters!
It has long narrow green leaves and is cultivated for its yellow seeds, that form rows in a characteristic elongated shape.
Corn is used to make a type of dough that is further makes the tortilla, a flat pie used as bread.
Corn oil is also known. It is lighter and less nutritious than olive oil.
Plant label: common name Corn
Type (herbs, bushes, trees): Herb
Maximum height Up to: 300 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): The soil must be moist
Soil preferences (type): Plump and rich in nutrients
Flower color: Blue and violet
Sowed in (month of the year): During springtime
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low tolerance in cold
Heat tolerance (low – high): High tolerance in heat
THE CORN’S SECRETS
· In his diary, Christopher Columbus wrote that in 1492 he saw a strange new plant in Cuba. He brought this to Spain. It turned out the strange plant was… corn!
· In Greek, corn is called “aravositos”, which means the wheat of the Arabs, because it entered our country from North Africa, around 1600 AD.
· Popcorn is corn that has popped after being heated too much. Corn can pop because unlike other grains, it has a kernel with a husk that protects it from moisture and has a thick starch filling. This allows the pressure to build up inside it until it finally “pops”.
…and the corn’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and glue this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the corn you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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TOMATO
Red, delicious, and juicy, tomato is the queen of the vegetable garden!
It is used in all cuisines, either raw in salads, with our favorite Greek salad (called Horiatiki), or cooked with fish, legumes, and pizzas or as a sauce for meats, risotto, and pasta! Tomato matches with almost everything!
It is rich in vitamins and nutrients and it is very good for our health!
Plant label: common name TOMATO
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: Up to 3 meters when well supported
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Its roots must be moist
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: Yellow
Sowed in (month of the year): Mid-February to late April
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low – it is damaged below 12οC
Heat tolerance (low – high): High
Tomato’s secrets:
· It belongs to the same family as potato, eggplant, and pepper.
· It is a fruit, not a vegetable! Aztecs were the first to cultivate it in South America. Tomato arrived in Europe much later, around 1500 AD.
· The Italians called it Pomo d’oro, which means golden apple, and the French pomme d’amour, which in Greek was translated as apple of love. We only have the name tomato since 1835.
· In the past it was thought to as a poisonous fruit because it resembles the poisonous belladonna plant, but the only toxic part of it is the leaf.
· There are many different varieties in size (from small cherry tomatoes to large ones, often baked stuffed with rice herbs and spices) and color (red, pink, yellow and green).
….and tomato’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the potato you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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CARROT
This is the food of many herbivorous animals, especially hares.
One can see many bunnies, Bugs Bunny being the famous one gnawing it!
Carrot is considered as one the most favorite vegetables of young and old, with a bright orange color, crunchy in its bite and sweet in taste!
It is eaten raw, in salads, in juices, together with fruit, cooked in dishes like bean salad, and even in desserts like carrot cake!
Plant label: common name Carrot
Type (herbs, bushes, trees): Herb
Maximum height: Up to 150 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): The soil must be moist
Soil preferences (type): Plump and rich in nutrients
Flower color: White, pink and yellow
Sowed in (month of the year): February to April
Cold tolerance (low- high): High tolerance in cold
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low tolerance in heat
The Carrot’S Secrets…
· It is one of the few tasty roots that humans can eat.
· Carrot is known all over the world since ancient times.
· It belongs to the same family as dill, celery, fennel and parsley.
· While the orange color has prevailed, there are carrots in several other colors, including purple, white, green, and yellow.
· It is one of the most nutritious vegetables: it is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants and is very good for our health.
….and carrot’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the carrot you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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BEETROOT
“You’ve blushed like a beetroot” we say to someone when their cheeks are all red!
One of the most beloved and delicious vegetables, is the red beetroot, that paints our tongue and teeth red when we eat it! This is the reason we use the juice of boiled beetroots to dye eggs during Easter!
We eat beetroots raw, but mostly boiled in salads, both its bulbs and leaves, while some people make beetroot juice!
Plant label: common name Beetroot
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 150 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Quite a lot, so that the soil remains moist
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: Green, reddish
Sowed in (month of the year): February to April
Cold tolerance (low- high): Quite high, but not in frost
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low, (ideally 15 – 25˚C)
The beetroot’s secrets:
. We also call it “reddish”
· It is rich in vitamins, fiber, proteins and is very good for our health
· Its juice helps lower our blood pressure, but also lowers the fatigue
· It has been cultivated since ancient times
· Known varieties are chard and sugar beetroot, from which we get sugar!
….and beetroot’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the beetroot you planted!
This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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LEEK
A very tasty vegetable, complimenting many Greek dishes. The most
distinctive characteristic of the leek is its green and oblong leaves!
It can be sautéed in a pan and consumed plain or paired with bread, or even
in an omelet! It is also included in several Greek dishes cooked with olive oil,
such as spinach – rice, leek – rice, peas or green beans…
Leek is a perfect ingredient for winter soups, tarts and pies – it’s smoothly
combined with minced meat, chicken and bacon!
It is rich in vitamins A, B , C and K and has many health benefits!
Leek’s secrets
- It’s closely related to onions, scallions and garlic
- It was one of the main components of Egyptian and Mesopotamian diet
since 2.000 BC, as well as the ancient Greek and Roman diet. - Ancient Greeks used leeks as medicine for sore throat. Τhey also
believed that it made their voices stronger! - Leeks are a great source of iron and are beneficial for the heart. Τheir
juice can lower blood pressure!
….and this is the leek’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the leek you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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SPRING ONION
One of the most popular vegetables of our kitchen, spring onion can be used in many different dishes and recipes, adding flavor to our food!
It has a pleasant taste, so it is often eaten raw in salads!
It is rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins, but low in calories, so it is ideal for those who watch their diet!
Plant label: common name Spring onion
Type (herbs, bushes, trees): Herbs
Maximum height: 40 – 50 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Some, small quantities every 4 – 5 days
Soil preferences (type): Soft, with a good drainage
Flower color: White, white – greenish and purple
Sowed in (month of the year): Year round
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low
Heat tolerance (low – high): Low, ideally it needs 15˚ C
Fresh onion’s secrets:
· It belongs to the same family as garlic and leek
· The underground part of the spring onion is called the bulb and it is basically the dry onion that we put very often in our food!
· It is very popular in Asia, where it is used in almost all recipes!
….and the spring onion’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and glue this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the spring onion you planted!
This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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Egglpant
Known since ancient times, it is said eggplant’s origin is Indian. Its fruit occurs
in various shades of purple, from very dark ones (called flaska), to white (the
Santorini ones). Eggplant has an oblong shape and a fleshy texture with many
seeds. It is very tasty- it is used in many Mediterranean dishes. Especially
during summer, greek tavernas serve several traditional dishes, from eggplant
salad and fried eggplants, to the world famous moussaka!
China has the largest world production of eggplant, followed by India and
Turkey. In Europe, the first country in eggplant production is Italy, followed by
Spain and Greece.
Half of Greek eggplant is grown in Crete!
THE SECRETS OF EGGPLANT
- “Tsakonian” eggplants (grown in the Peloponese) are particularly well-known in Greece: they are long-shaped, narrow,purple with whitestripes and very tasty
- Because eggplants are long and narrow, when we fill it with minced meatand cover it with béchamel sauce, we call it a “small shoe”(papoutsaki)
- In Greece, an eggplant festival is organized during summer in Leonidio,
where visitors can try many eggplant recipes! - In the Peloponese, one can even try sweet eggplant in syrup!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the eggplant you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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GREEN BEANS
One of the most popular summer vegetables, not only in our diet, but also in
literature and life! Jack and the Beanstalk is a well known fairy tale, and
you’ ve certainly heard the saying "a bean fills a bean bag!"
Green beans are eaten in salads but also as an oily tomato based vegetarian
dish!
They are rich in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals and proteins and are
ideal for those who watch their diet, as they are low in calories (90% water)!
THE SECRETS OF GREEN BEANS
• Its origins are from America and “travelled” to Greece in the middle of the
17th century
• Some varieties of beans give us dry beans, such as “giant beans” (called
gigantes in Greek) and black-eyed beans!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the beans you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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ZUCCHINI
Zucchini is one of the most famous summer vegetables in Greece! Zucchinis are eaten boiled, as a salad, roasted and fried and are a key ingredient in many delicious summer dishes such as zucchini pie, backed zucchinis with potatoes, eggplants, and other summer vegetables (called briami) and stuffed zucchinis (with rice, or minced meat)
Plant label: common name Zucchini
Type (herb, bush, tree): Herb
Maximum height: 30 – 50 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A lot, so that the soil remains moist
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: Yellow
Sowed in (month of the year): April – May
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low, it is sensitive to cold
Heat tolerance (low – high): High, as long as there is efficient water
Zucchini’s secrets…
· It belongs to the same family as cucumber, watermelon, melon, and pumpkin
· It is rich in vitamins and nutrients, but has few calories
. In Kefalonia and Zakynthos islands zucchinis are called “baby birds”
. It derives from America
….and Zucchini’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the pumpkin you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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Melon
The melon Cucumis melo, is one of the most well-known and beloved
summer fruits. The word melon can refer to either the plant or specifically to
the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The fruit
of the melon plant is related to cucumber, zucchini, squash and watermelon,
belonging to the very large family of Cucurbitaceae
There are many varieties of melons, which differ in:
• shape: round or oval,
• skin: thick or thin,
• color of the skin: yellow or greenish,
• skin surface: smooth or striated,
• fleshy part: solid, juicy, soft or hard
• color of the flesh: off-white, yellow, or orange.
THE SECRETS OF MELON
- Melons originated in Africa, or hot valleys of Asia, Iran and India. Melons were among the first crop species in ancient times. It is
known that melons have been grown by the ancient Egyptians
(with references from 2,400 BC)
Ancient Greeks and Romans cultivated melons in the whole
Mediterranean, while Columbus brought them to America, in
1492.
Melon is considered a luxury item and is usually offered as a gift
in Japan
The two most famous types of melon in Greece are: the banana
melon (with yellowish skin and round shape) and the one grown
in Argos – a place in the Peloponnese, hence its name Argo
melon (having a very long and narrow shape, with strong ridges)
When someone has a long and narrow skull, Greeks call him/her
Argo melon headed
One can roast its seeds and eat them as passatembo (pumpkin
seeds)
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the melon you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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Fresh Herbs
ROSEMARY
One of the most useful and popular aromatic plants one can grow in a mediterranean garden!
In addition to its beauty as a decorative plant, it is widely used in cooking, as it adds a unique taste in our food, since it is perfectly combined with lemon marinated meats and baked potatoes. It also flavors fish, vegetables, soups, even several sauces!
It is also a “miracle” herb, with many medical uses due to its oil!
Plant label: common name Rosemary
Type (herb, bush, tree): Bush
Maximum height: 1 – 2 meters
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Little, once or twice a week
Soil preferences (type): General purpose plant soil or a special one for aromatic plants
Flower color: Purple, white, pink, or blue
Sowed in (month of the year): February – early March
Cold tolerance (low- high): High
Heat tolerance (low – high): High
The Rosemary secrets:
· It belongs to the same family as peppermint.
· Its Latin name Rosmarinus means rose of the sea!
· Helps memory, heart, and eyes to function properly!
· Its oil is used for purposes of fragrant bodily perfumes or to emit an aroma into a room
· It is also used as a cosmetic for the face and hair, as it has beneficial properties for the skin and for hair growth!
…and the rosemary’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the rosemary you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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PARSLEY
Parsley is a herb that matches…with almost every dish, that’s why we call someone “parsley”, when one can be found and adapted in any environment!
Parsley is one of the most favorite herbs. We grow it in our garden, or our balcony. Its aromatic leaves are used in salads, pies and many more recipes, giving a special taste and aroma to a great number of dishes!
Plant label: common name Parsley
Type (herb, bush, tree): Herb
Maximum height: 40 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun (shade in the summer)
Water requirements (little, a lot): Frequently and in small amounts
Soil preferences (type): Enriched
Flower colour: Greenish – yellow
Sowed in (month of the year): January until September
Cold tolerance (low- high): High, resistant to frost
Heat tolerance (low – high): High, as long as the soil is moist
SECRETS OF PARSLEY:
. In ancient Greece it was called petroselino (stone celery)
· It is very high in iron (more than any other green vegetable) and contains vitamins A, B, C (3 times more vitamin C than an orange).
. It helps in the digestion process.
. The ancient Greeks used it as an aromatic herb but also as a medicine for various diseases, while the Roman gladiators always used it in their juices to gain strength.
…AND HERE IS THE PARSLEY LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, Cut the border with scissors and Glue this paper tag on an ice cream stick!Place the stick in the soil of the lavender you just planted!
Place the stick in the soil of the parsley you just planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially later when you will grow many plants at the same time!
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OREGANO
They say that oregano got its name from the Greek words mountain (oros) and splendor, (ganos). It is considered as the brilliant plant of the mountain.
Oregano is the best-known herb of Greece since ancient times, with a characteristic aroma and taste.
Greek oregano is considered one of the best in the world!
We rub its aromatic leaves – usually dried – and use them in many Greek dishes, mainly in grilled meats and in the well-known “village salad” (horiatiki)!
Plant label: common name Oregano
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: Up to 70 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A little, it is drought tolerant
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: White, light purple
Sowed in (month of the year): March – April
Cold tolerance (low- high): Cold resistant
Heat tolerance (low – high): Heat resistant
The Oregano secrets…
It can be cultivated even in stony soils – we find it everywhere in Greek nature.
It is a relative of basil, rosemary, thyme, dittany, mint and sage.
In ancient Greece oregano was used as a decoction against swelling.
Its essential oil can help with toothache.
It has many more healing properties: in addition to swelling, it helps with coughs, rheumatism, and high blood pressure.
…AND HERE IS THE OREGANO LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, Cut the border with scissors and Glue this paper tag on an ice cream stick!Place the stick in the soil of the lavender you just planted! Place the stick in the soil of the oregano you just planted! This way you will know which plant it is, especially later when you will grow many plants at the same time!
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Dill
One of the most popular herbs of the Mediterranean cuisine, which flavors our food and gives them a special aroma in a minute!
It is used in salads, soups, pies, and various sauces.
It is rich in nutrients and is very beneficial for our health.
Plant label: common name Dill
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 40 to 60 cm
Light preferences: (shade, sun) Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): Quite often, in small quantities, in wintertime only when the soil is dry
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: Yellow and orange
Sowed in (month of the year): March to June
Cold tolerance (low- high): Quite low, but not below 0˚ C
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite high, not higher than 35ο C
THE SECRETS OF DILL….
• Its characteristic smell is reminiscent of aniseed.
• It belongs to the same family as other herbs, such as fennel, cumin, anise, etc.
• Ancient Greeks made perfume from its flowers and put it in various wines that named them “dill wines”.
• Also, ancient Greeks crowned the winners with flowering branches of dill and athletes anointed their bodies with the essential oil of the dill fruit to relax their muscles!
• It is used for colic pains that babies have, as a diuretic and enhances breathing.
….and the dill’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the dill you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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BASIL
“I’ll be the basil at the window!”, says a Greek song!
Basil is the most favorite plant pictured on every Greek postcard! You have seen it on balconies, all over Greece. And yet, it is said that basil travelled from India to Greece, at the time of Alexander the Great! Since then, it has become the most famous plant in our country and it smells great!
Plant label: common name Basil
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 30 to 50 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A lot, so that the soil doesn’t dry
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower color: White, light purple
Sowed in (month of the year): April – May
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite enough
The basil’s secrets…
· Basil repels mosquitoes
· Basil tea helps digestion and fights anxiety
….and the basil’s label!
Click the photo below, adjust its size, print it, use your scissors in order to cut the outline and stick this label on a wooden stick from an ice cream! Then put the stick in the soil next to the basil you planted! This way, you will know which plant it is, especially when you plant and grow different plants at the same time!
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Lavender – Lavandula
One of the most famous and favorite aromatic plants, is lavender.
In Greece, it can be found in every garden and every veranda! Its purple flowers beautify our home, protect our clothes inside closets and their scent calms and relaxes us!
Lavender’s secrets
· Lavender expels mosquitoes and moths from our closets
· Lavender essential oil helps fight stress & insomnia
. Lavender drink helps with headaches, stomach aches and insomnia and stress.
. Lavender oil helps with redness and burns.
…AND HERE IS THE LAVENDER LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, Cut the border with scissors and Glue this paper tag on an ice cream stick!Place the stick in the soil of the lavender you just planted!
Place the stick in the soil of the lavender you just planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially later when you will grow many plants at the same time!
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Flowering plants
Petunia
One of the most popular and beautiful ornamental plants with trumpet-shaped flowers and a huge variety of colors!
It is the easiest way to fill our gardens and balconies with color, since it blooms quickly and its flowering lasts from spring to autumn!
Plant label: common name Petunia
Type (herb, bush, tree): herb
Maximum height: 20 to 60 cm
Light preferences (shade, sun): Sun
Water requirements (little, a lot): A little (2 times a week/in hot weather every 2 days)
Soil preferences (type): Rich in nutrients
Flower colour: white, yellow, red, orange, pink, purple and black
Sowed in (month of the year): Late February to April
Cold tolerance (low- high): Low, up to 3ο C
Heat tolerance (low – high): Quite enough, up to 35ο
THE SECRETS OF THE PETUNIA
• It is a “cousin” of potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant and tobacco and is native to South America!
• Can be combined with other flowers such as pansy, violet and dogwood
• In order for the flowers to be full and its colors to be more vivid, it must always be exposed to the sun.
• We smell its aroma more strongly at dusk and more at night, while at noon it hardly smells at all!
…AND THE Petunia LABEL!
Click on the photo below, adjust the size, print, cut with scissors the border and glue that paper label on an ice cream stick! Then put the stick in the soil of the Petunia you planted!
This way you will know which plant it is, especially when you sow and grow several plants at the same time…!
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