Newsletter Update

October 2007 (Our newsletters are all copyright The Tasteful Garden 2003-2007 if you would like to reprint any of this information please let us know by email.)

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Fall has arrived here in the South, although it doesn't feel much like it yet, the nights are slightly cooler and the days are definitely shorter. Gardeners are always optimistic and here at The Tasteful Garden, we are busy planning for next Spring. One way we do that is to get together with friends for a tomato tasting. We try all the new varieties and discuss which ones grew well for us. This is a fun way to celebrate the harvest and use up lots of those tomatoes. Some of our favorites were Yellow Taxi, a new one called Russian 117, and Rose de Berne along with Green Zebra which are sliced, Persimmon, Stump of the World and Gold Medal along with Cherokee Purples of course.

The results of our first annual Tomato Survey are listed below and we were very pleased with the response. So many people shared their experiences with growing heirlooms it was very helpful for our selection process for next season. Our tomato varieties are always chosen primarily for taste, secondly for production and reliability. We try to keep most of your favorites from year to year but also add a few new ones to give them a try.

For us, some projects can be done only during this time of year. We are excited to be expanding our shipping building and rearranging everything to be more efficient as well as to accommodate more packing staff. Because we are limited to shipping on Mondays and Tuesdays, orders that have come in during the busiest time of year in May generally have to be shipped the following week or even up to two weeks later. More staff and more efficiency will help us get more orders out every week which makes your plants able to ship almost as soon as you order. We hope to be able to keep this lag time to a minimum and ship your plants when you need them.

Thinking about the holidays? We can help! Our herbs will ship through the holiday season and our wonderful indoor herb kits are a lovely gift for anyone to enjoy during colder weather. Hostess gifts are a great way to say thank you for your hospitality. Shop with us and know that your gift will arrive safe and sound and smelling like a rose (or herbs). We will also have a new gift planter which features a poinsettia surrounded by fragrant prostrate rosemary. Rosemary symbolizes remembrance and is a nice way to say you are thinking of someone during the Holidays when you cannot be together. Visit our catalog for all your holiday shopping needs. Also, we are always able to customize your gift, just call us for help at 866-855-6344. Coming Soon: new Kitchen gadgets, Cookbooks, and Garden gifts too.

Announcing our new Blog! Technology is our favorite business tool as it allows us to keep in touch with you and let you know when something is new or an idea comes our way that we think will be helpful. Our new Swiss Chard plants

Blog is up and running and we hope you will subscribe to it and post comments when they can be helpful to other gardeners. It is easy to use and we promise to keep it fresh and useful.

Garlic and Shallots are still available and should be planted in October in most areas. These are going fast so order now. They are very easy to grow and perfect to stay in the garden through the winter with harvest ready in June. Read more about growing garlic in our catalog. Try something new from The Tasteful Garden...where its all about the flavor.

Herbs & Spices, The Cooks Reference is the ultimate reference book for chefs and good cooks that want to learn more about the spices and herbs that flavor the cuisines of the world. Absolutely nothing is left out and the descriptions are detailed and photography is superb. Every spice and herb used for cooking is grouped by flavor, meticulously photographed, and shown in all its glory in every form it is used. The flavor grouping is very nice to help you with designing just the right combinations. Jill Norman has done a wonderful job and you will love having this hardbound book in your kitchen for years to come.

Lasagna Gardening is a treat for the Gardener, not the cook because it uses basic organic principles of adding nutrition to the soil naturally and slowly over time which results in a constant rejuvenation of the soil. It provides food for the microorganisms and tiny creatures that break down soil into a form that plants can then use for food. The concept behind "Lasagna" gardening is to add something different each layer which will add diversity to the soil and all the nutrients your plants need. With this technique you can have fantastic soil, with very few weeds within just a year or so.