by Tamara Galbraith

The best-loved and most common fig grown in the U.S. has to be the Brown Turkey. And no, the Turkey referenced in the name isn't the Thanksgiving bird, it's the country of origin...although there are vicious rumors that the Brown Turkey Fig (Ficus carica) is actually French. Gardeners across the country might also know this variety as Lee's Perpetual, Eastern Brown Turkey, Brunswick, Ramsey, Harrison, Texas Everbearing, or the Everbearing Fig.

Lovers of Mediterranean climates, figs will thrive in the hottest and sunniest part of your garden, will usually fruit the first year, and typically produce two crops of the tasty, brownish-purple fruit in the summer and again in the fall. The Brown Turkey's fruit has a short, plump stem, few seeds and a mild sweet flavor. Early crop fruit is very large, sometimes 2 inches in diameter.

Brown Turkey fig trees are generally hardy from Zone 7a and warmer, (although some gardeners report success up into Zone 5). Until the plant is well-established, it must have a constant supply of water to fruit properly. Soil dryness will result in fruit drop. Don't keep it soggy either, however. And remember that an organic fungicide spraying program will control rust, one of the few problems fig trees experience.

Brown Turkeys, in particular, are good both fresh or made into preserves.

By Tamara Galbraith

Until newer heat-tolerant cultivars were discovered over the past few decades, gardeners in the southern USDA Zones could only dream of growing peaches, plums and apples, due to the fruit trees' commonly required "chill hours" for proper growth.

Dreams can come true, as evidenced by one of the more popular new southern-friendly apple cultivars called 'Anna.' Obtained from Israel in 1967 along with another low chill type called 'Ein Shemer,' 'Anna' prefers cool winters but will produce a nice crop even if temperatures are warmer.

The period from late December through February is the optimal time for apple tree planting. Choose a site with fertile, sandy loam soil and good drainage or amend your site with Nurseryman's Bumper Crop before planting. Make sure the plant gets adequate water. Do not fertilize the tree at planting time.

Topping out at around 12' tall, 'Anna' is categorized as a semi-dwarf size, making it ideal for the residential garden. Considered a "tropical" apple, 'Anna' produces a large (2-2½ inches in diameter) sweet, crisp fruit with a skin of light green and a pink blush, and is delicious whether eaten fresh or cooked.

Although 'Anna' is self-fruitful, to get the best output of fruit you should plant another apple variety for cross-pollination. Plant them side by side and watch them go to town.

Over the past twenty years, commercial growers have produced tomato varieties that valued shelf-life and unblemished prettiness over taste. When you add the forced ripening that many also practice, the result has been an almost tasteless tomato at your local supermarket (those baskets above might taste as good). Put taste back on top with heirloom varieties!

Heirlooms vary in their production time, so you can sequence your varieties over the summer. A vine-ripened tomato salad can be yours for the picking! These tomatoes may not look as pretty as the ones in the local supermarket — but the taste more than makes up for it. If you've been eating store-bought tomatoes, your taste buds are in for a treat.

Planting and growing directions:

The one disadvantage to heirloom varieties is that they tend to be less disease-resistant than the hybrids. Choose the healthiest plants you can find, buy a few extras in case, and especially keep any smokers far away (if you smoke yourself, don't even think about tending them with a cigarette in your mouth — that's just asking for mosaic virus, even with a resistant hybrid). If you've grown a few extra, your non-gardening neighbors will be happy to take some of your great-tasting tomatoes off your hands - and your gardening neighbors will be happy to trade for other food they are growing.

Once you get your plants, harden them off for a week or so before transplanting (leave them outside for just a couple of hours the first day, then gradually increase the length of time, watering as needed). Before you transplant, amend your soil with a good planting mix; we recommend planting with Nurseryman's Bumper Crop, or use Gardener's Gold for tomatoes in pots. Plant them in the evening or on a cloudy day, and they will be less likely to droop. To make for a stronger plant, bury tomato stems up to the plant's second true set of leaves (they'll develop roots all along the buried stem).

Stake or cage as needed (our Texas tomato cages are on the way), water as necessary, and fertilize with a good organic fertilizer and you'll have a tomato crop that can't be beat!

Tuberous begonias are a garden favorite because of their bright and lovely flowers, in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Since they are small, and shade lovers, they are a great choice for perking up areas around shade trees and larger plants, or planting in areas under eaves.

• How it's done:
• Plant in well-drained acid soil in pots, hanging baskets, or the ground under an eave or noninvasive tree — preferably facing east.
• Wait until growth is 3 or 4 inches high, then start feeding the plants every time you water; tuberous begonias are big eaters. Feed with Dr. Earth bulb food.
• Control mildew with a fungicide; we recommend an organic non-toxic formula containing neem oils.
• Always allow plants to dry out a little between waterings. Begonias are far more drought resistant than they appear.