AMERICAN GARDENER

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a perennial aquatic plant in the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as the mustard or cabbage family, alongside relatives like broccoli, kale, and radishes. It’s classified under the genus Nasturtium, distinct from the ornamental nasturtium (Tropaeolum), with N. officinale being the primary edible species. As a dicot, it features broad leaves and … Read more

Pepinos, scientifically classified as Solanum muricatum, belong to the Solanaceae family, commonly known as the nightshade family, which includes relatives like tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), eggplants (Solanum melongena), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). This evergreen shrub produces a berry—technically a fruit, not a vegetable—despite its cucumber-like name in Spanish (“pepino” means cucumber). It’s a diploid species (2n … Read more

Peas (Pisum sativum) belong to the Fabaceae family, or legume family, alongside beans and lentils. They’re annual herbaceous plants in the genus Pisum, with P. sativum encompassing garden, snow, and snap peas. As dicots, they produce seeds in pods, with varieties differing in pod edibility. Note: Field peas like black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata) are a … Read more

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, or buckthorn family, within the genus Ziziphus. It’s a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically thorny, and classified as a drupe-producing species. The fruit contains a single hard pit, akin to olives or dates, and the plant is closely related to species like Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube). … Read more

Dates belong to the Arecaceae family, commonly known as the palm family, under the genus Phoenix. The species Phoenix dactylifera is the cultivated date palm, distinguished from wild relatives like Phoenix sylvestris. It’s a dioecious monocot, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees, requiring pollination (often manual) for fruit production. The fruit, a … Read more

Corn, scientifically known as Zea mays, belongs to the Poaceae family, commonly called the grass family, which includes wheat, rice, and barley. It’s classified under the subfamily Panicoideae and the tribe Andropogoneae, closely related to sorghum and sugarcane. As an annual monocot, it features a single seed leaf and a fibrous root system. The genus … Read more

Originating from Central and South America, they were domesticated thousands of years ago before spreading across the globe through exploration and trade. Today, they thrive in warm climates and are cultivated in countless regions of the world. They come in a variety of vibrant colors and are known for their crisp texture and mild, sweet … Read more

The Sharwil avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, a species within the Lauraceae family, which includes plants like cinnamon and laurel. Botanically, it’s classified as a berry, featuring a single large seed surrounded by fleshy pulp, though it’s commonly treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts. Sharwil is a hybrid of Guatemalan and Mexican … Read more

The Lamb Hass avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, part of the Lauraceae family, which includes species like bay laurel and cinnamon. Botanically, it’s a berry, characterized by its single large seed and fleshy pulp, though it’s typically used as a vegetable in culinary applications. Lamb Hass is a hybrid derived from the Hass … Read more

The Zutano avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, classified within the Lauraceae family alongside species like laurel and cinnamon. Botanically, it’s a berry, defined by its single large seed and fleshy pulp, though it’s typically used as a vegetable in culinary settings. Zutano is predominantly of Mexican ancestry (around 90%), with a minor Guatemalan … Read more