What's in your garden?

[Prospero]

I'll probably plant tomatoes and peppers as usual, as I don't have a good space for anything else, and maybe some pole limas or green beans at the back where they won't shade everything else.

I doubt that selection for flavor will work very well outside of a hybridization program, as most of the commercially available varieties are 100% stable (i.e., clones) and the only variation will be environmental. Vegetable varieties for home gardens tend to be bred for eating quality, as well as good yield and adaptability to various climates. Those used by the food processing industry (and generally for fresh produce also) are bred for a high yield that is well concentrated timewise, resistance to bruising by mechanical harvesting equipment, and a pleasing appearance (as distinct from flavor).

I worked in an agribusiness industry for a number of years in the early 60's, when growers were trying to develop a bush variety of the Oregon Blue Lake green bean, which at that time was a pole variety harvested mechanically (mostly by teenagers earning next year's school wardrobe). I haven't followed up on this, but I suspect that most green beans are now harvested mechanically, and that they are inferior in eating quality to the older varieties. Maybe not. :roll: