What is a blueberry? The blueberry is any one of several North American shrubs of the plant genus ‘Vaccinium’. Prized for their sweet edible fruits, in recent times the blueberry has been hailed as a “superfood”. It’s also known as an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin…
What is a Capsicum? Capsicum is a genus of plants that are derived from the nightshade family (Solanaceae), as are potatoes and tomatoes. The capsicum originated from the Americas but they are now grown worldwide. They produce a variety of fruits, that even in the English speaking world, have different names in different countries. The…
General Considerations Planting a tree in your garden can bring good all-round paybacks. As we all know, a tree is good for the environment and can also attract wildlife, as well as add colour and interest, to any garden. However, if you decide to plant a fruit tree it obviously has the added bonus of…
The origins of the tomato I would guess a good many of us know the answer to the age-old question surrounding the tomato on whether it’s a fruit or vegetable? Botanically speaking Botanically speaking, the tomato is classified as a fruit because it has seeds. As with…
The potato and its origins The potato is a type of root vegetable that is classified as an edible tuber. The plant itself is a herbaceous perennial variety of nightshade, with by far the most common species being the Solanum tuberosum. It is believed the potato was first cultivated…
What are Brassicas? Did you know Brassica is a genus of plants that belong to the mustard family (Brassicaceae)? The members of the genus are informally known as either cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, or mustard plants. The brassica genus is thought to have essentially originated from the Mediterranean region and some temperate parts of Asia….
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