"Growing Together" columnist Don Kinzler explores how a mail-order seed company located right here in the state breeds, grows, packages and sells garden seed specially suited for growing in this region.
Dakota Gardener: Best Vegetable Varieties for North Dakota
Tom Kalb, Horticulturist
What’s the best way to find a great variety for us in North Dakota?
Ask your neighbor. Or better yet, ask hundreds of gardeners in North Dakota who test varieties for North Dakota State University. Last year alone, 320 families tested promising varieties in their backyard gardens. We’ve been doing these tests every summer since 2008.
We’ve discovered lots of great varieties through the years. The following are a few of the finest.
The best pea is ‘Lincoln.’ This heirloom produces high yields of delicious peas and is great for freezing. ‘Sugar Ann’ is our champion snap pea. This variety ripens early and produces big crops of sweet, crisp pods.