Herbarium

Basil is a tender annual herb requiring warmth to thrive. It is used extensively in Mediterranean cooking and makes an excellent companion plant for tomatoes.

Beans are frost-tender legumes that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Climbing types need support structures; dwarf types are self-supporting. Both produce pods ready to pick within weeks of flowering.

The carrot is a biennial root vegetable grown as an annual in kitchen gardens. Cultivated forms are typically orange due to high beta-carotene content, though heirloom varieties range from white and yellow to red, purple, and black. In its first year it produces the edible taproot; in the second it bolts to flower and seed.

Cucumbers are warm-season crops highly sensitive to frost. They produce best with consistent heat and moisture. Indoor and outdoor types differ in pollination requirements.

Kale is a hardy brassica that improves in flavour after frost. It is one of the most cold-tolerant food crops, continuing to produce through winter in mild climates.

Lettuce is a fast-growing cool-season salad crop. It tolerates light frost but bolts quickly in heat. Cut-and-come-again types can provide continuous harvest over several weeks.

Potatoes are a staple root crop grown from seed tubers (sets). They are susceptible to late blight in wet summers and benefit from earthing-up as they grow.

Tomatoes are warm-season fruiting plants grown as annuals in temperate climates. They need consistent heat, moisture, and support to thrive, and are highly susceptible to frost at any stage.