2020 Virtual Home Gardeners’ Exhibit

Best Heirloom

Green Striped Cushaw Squash

Grown by: Joanna Lepper of Dudley, MA

Judge’s Comments:

This squash is well-proportioned with a defined crookneck. The distinct striping and vibrant colors make it stick out!

Entrant’s Comments:

The combined weight of these Cushaw is over 28 lbs! I grew them in my first garden which I planted as part of my 8th-grade Health class during remote learning. The seeds came from Baker Creek, but I’ll be saving the seeds from these giants so I can grow more Cushaw for years to come. My mom has a great Cranberry Cushaw Bread recipe that I’m going to learn how to make once we cut into these.

Best Non-Heirloom

Zucchini

Grown by Hannah Kelley of Leicester, MA

Judge’s Comments:

This zucchini is large with smooth flesh, making it the perfect fruit. The proportion of length to thickness is ideal for a zucchini.

Best Overall

Cayenne Peppers

Grown by Linda Canty of MA; Grown from OSV seed

Judge’s Comments:

These peppers are a vibrant red and evenly ripened. The large, but proportional caps, are distinctive.

Best Heirloom Runner Up

Red-Seeded Citron Melon

Grown by Lori Elliot of Burlington, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

This melon is a bit on the small side but still large enough to make plenty of candied citron for fruitcake.

Best Non-Heirloom Runner Up

Sweet Mama Squash

Grown by Rita Borovicka of Coventry, CT

Best Overall Runner Up

Mixed Gourds

Grown by Heather Panico of Monson, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

These were grown from seeds that I saved from gourds I purchased last fall at an area farm stand.

Honorable Mention

Fresh Pressed Cider

Made by Paul Gleason of Spencer, MA

Judge’s Comments:

The cider-making process is well documented in these photos and we are impressed by the effort.

Entrant’s Comments:

Homegrown [Charden] apples pressed for cider

Heirloom Brandywine Tomato

Grown by Elizabeth Andrews of Ashford, CT

Heirloom Green Striped Cushaw Squash

Grown by Elizabeth Andrews of Ashford, CT

Heirloom White Bush Scallop Summer Squash

Grown by Elizabeth Andrews of Ashford, CT

Heirloom Green Mountain Potato

Grown by Elizabeth Andrews of Ashford, CT

Heirloom Waltham Squash

Grown by Rita Borovicka  of Coventry, CT

Zinnia and fennel flowers

Grown by Rita Borovicka  of Coventry, CT

Heirloom Sugar pie pumpkins

Grown by Rita Borovicka  of Coventry, CT

Teddybear Sunflower

Grown by Jammie L Bruni of West Brookfield, MA

White Lilac

Grown by Jammie L Bruni of West Brookfield, MA

Sugar Pumpkin Bloom

Grown by Jammie L Bruni of West Brookfield, MA

Opal, Purple Basil

Grown by Linda Canty of MA; Grown from OSV seed

Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry Tomato

Grown by Lori Elliot of Burlington, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

According to William Woys Weaver, this is believed to be the same yellow cherry tomato mentioned by Lindley in 1831 and by Burr in 1865. The plant is very productive, and the flavor is sweet and delicious!

White Peachblow Potato

Grown by Lori Elliot of Burlington, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

According to William Woys Weaver, this potato was developed by Thorburn in Monmouth County, New Jersey and introduced in 1863. It was listed in the American Agriculturist in 1864 as a “new variety” and described as “a white skinned potato, with a pink eye, of good size, white fleshed, cooks dry and mealy, very much resembling the Buckeye in outward appearance, but is a late grower, and is said to yield equal to the common Peach Blow.”

Garnet Chile Potato

Grown by Lori Elliot of Burlington, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

According to William Woys Weaver, this potato was introduced by the Reverend Chauncy E. Goodrich of Utica, New York in 1853. After the potato blight, he selected this potato, originally from Chile, and it later became the parent to many 19th century potato varieties. It is descried by Fearing Burr in 1863 as “garnet-colored, very large, roundish, and comparatively smooth and regular; flesh white, dry, mealy, and, the size of the tuber considered, remarkably well flavored.” William Woys Weaver describes the potatoes as small, round, and pink, and mine seem to fit Weaver’s description better than Burr’s as far as size is concerned.

Miscellaneous Herbs

Grown by Paul Gleason of Spencer, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

Home grown small Herb garden ready to be moved and transplanted inside for winter use.

Kosovo Tomato

Grown by Timothy Hertel of Fitchburg, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

[This tomato] is a wonderful eating or sauce tomato.

Kosovo Tomato (still on the vine)

Grown by Timothy Hertel of Fitchburg, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

[This tomato] is a wonderful eating or sauce tomato.

Organic Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Grown by Sarah Jordan Usher of Tolland, CT

Organic Giant Coral Zinnia

Grown by Sarah Jordan Usher of Tolland, CT

Organic Rattlesnake Pole Bean

Grown by Sarah Jordan Usher of Tolland, CT

Brussel Sprouts

Grown by Karen Kamp of Pompton Plains, NJ

Entrant’s Comments:

I planted them very early this season, very early April. They have grown well, the leaves are in great shape. Most years the leaves are eaten by pests. The sprouts are a good size already. I usually harvest for Thanksgiving but will be able to harvest earlier this year.

Heirloom Rouge Vif D'Etampe (Cinderella) Pumpkin

Grown by Lanette Lepper of Dudley, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

This variety of pumpkin is said to have been the inspiration for Cinderella’s carriage! The name is French for “Vivid red from Etampes”, the medieval town south of Paris where it was grown for market. It was first introduced to the US by W. Atlee Burpee in 1883.

Heirloom Cherokee Purple Tomato

Grown by Lanette Lepper of Dudley, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

Cherokee Purple Tomato seeds were first introduced to the general public in the 1990s by tomato connoisseur Craig LeHoullier. He was given seeds by a gentleman from TN who claimed they had been passed down through the Cherokee Indians since before 1890.

Heirloom Blue Hubbard Squash

Grown by Lanette Lepper of Dudley, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

This is the first Blue Hubbard Squash I’ve ever grown. Seeds from this squash are said to have first arrived in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1854 in the holds of a ship from the West Indies, and it has been a staple in New England gardens ever since.

Heirloom Hillbilly Tomatoes

Grown by Lanette Lepper of Dudley, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

The Hillbilly tomato hails from W. Virginia, long about 1880 and is known for producing large tomatoes. These giants were harvested on 10/2/2020, weeks after many of my other varieties had succumbed to disease.

Heirloom Nantes Carrots

Grown by Joan Muller of Woodstock, CT

Entrant’s Comments:

Successive years of de-stoning raised beds has improved the size and shape of root crops grown in them. There were very few forked carrots this year!

 

Variety of Plants

Grown by Elizabeth Putnam of North Grafton, MA

Entrant’s Comments:

We planted the items received from the Members’ Only Plant Giveaway in containers alongside some wildflowers we received at the Boston Flower show a few years back, sunflowers, marigolds, and chives.

Heirloom Crookneck Squash

Grown by Patricia Thibeault-Ram of Cherry Valley, MA, grown from OSV seed.

Entrant’s Comments:

Growing the crookneck squash from OSV seed went well. Harvested many and it was delicious to eat.

 

 

Heirloom Grandpa Ott Morning Glory

Grown by Patricia Thibeault-Ram of Cherry Valley, MA, grown from OSV seed.

Entrant’s Comments:

Been growing Grandpa Ott morning glory for many years. I collect the seeds at the end of the season. Original seeds came from OSV.

Heirloom Rosemary

Grown by Patricia Thibeault-Ram of Cherry Valley, MA, grown from OSV seed.

Entrant’s Comments:

This is an heirloom variety of rosemary. It’s an upright variety and has blue flowers. I grow it in one of my raise beds but at this time of year I pot it up to spend the winter in the pantry window. Love the smell.

Heirloom Herbs

Grown by Patricia Thibeault-Ram of Cherry Valley, MA, grown from OSV seed.

Entrant’s Comments:

I gathered calendula (yellow & orange blossoms), thyme, skirret (white blossoms) lemon balm, and lavender. Tied it with a green ribbon and place it in a glass. Smells wonderful.

Heirloom Rouge Vif D'Etampes Pumpkin

Grown by Alexander Werner of Sturbridge, MA

 

Heirloom Green Striped Cushaw Squash

Grown by Alexander Werner of Sturbridge, MA, from OSV seed.

Heirloom Green Mountain Potato

Grown by Alexander Werner of Sturbridge, MA

Speckled Roman Tomato

Grown by Alexander Werner of Sturbridge, MA