The First Victory Gardens

March 25, 2017

During the World Wars, the US government encouraged back yard and community gardens so farmers could directly support the war.  I recently bought a Farmers's Bulletin Form 1044 from the United States Department of Agriculture called "The City Home Garden" published in 1919.

I find it interesting to see what was grown in gardens 100 years or more ago.  The veggies types are very similar to what we find in gardens today.  A few of the varieties are common; many I have never heard of.  

Here are the veggies and varieties recommended in this pamphlet:

Bean (Lima and snap)-Stringless Green-Pod, Currie's Rustproof Wax, Refugee Wax, Kentucky Wonder, colored dry beans

Beets-Crosby's Egyptian, Blood Turnip

Brussels Sprouts

Early Cabbage-Jersey Wakefield, Charleston Wakefield

Late Cabbage-Late Flat Dutch, Danish Baldhead, Copenhagen

Cantaloupes or Muskmelons-Rocky Ford, Tiptop, Hoodoo, Ohio Sugar

Carrot-Oxheart, Danvers Half-Long

Cauliflower

Celery-White Plume, Golden Self-Blanching, Boston Market

Chard-Lucullus

Collard

Cucumbers-White Spine

Eggplant

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce-Grand Rapids, Big Boston, Iceberg, California Cream Butter

Okra-White Velvet, Dwarf Green Prolific, Perkins Mammoth, Long-Podded, Lady Finger

Onion-from seed Yellow Globe, Yellow Danvers, Red Wethersfield, Silverskin, Crystal Wax, Red Bermuda

Parsley

Parsnip-Hollow Crown, Guernsey

Peas/English Peas (smooth and wrinkled)-Extra Early Alaska, Gradus, Thomas Laxton, Champion of England, Telephone

Peppers (sweet or mango)-Ruby King, Chinese Giant, Pimento

Potatoes (Irish and sweet)

Pumpkins

Radish-Scarlet Globe White-Tipped, French Breakfast, Icicle, Philadelphia White Box, Early Yellow Turnip

Salsify-Sandwich Island

Spinach

Squashes-Summer (Crookneck, Pattypan) and Winter (Hubbard, Boston Marrow)

Sweet Corn-Golden Bantam, Country Gentleman, Stowell's Evergreen, Mammoth Evergreen, Ohio Sugar

Sweet Potato-Porto Rico, Nancy Hall, Southern Queen, Big-Stem Jersey

Tomato-Bonnie Best, Early Jewel, Acme, Globe, Detroit, Improved Stone, Trophy

Turnip-Purple-Top Strap-Leaved

Watermelons-Kleckley Sweets, Florida Favorite, Tom Watson

Putting up for the winter was also encouraged.  There were many pamphlets also written to share with citizens on how to can and other preservation methods.