Carrot, one of the most delicious and nutritious vegetables that we plant in the spring and autumn season. Famous for the sweet, crunchy and aromatic taste of its fleshy root, the carrot is a favorite food for young and old. It grows in the ground with its leaves protruding above the soil, as is the case with beetroot, radish, onion and garlic. The carrot is eaten fresh in winter salads along with cabbage and lettuce, but also cooked in various recipes, such as in the traditional bean salad. We can also make carrot cake, thanks to its sweet taste. Carrots need relatively cool conditions to grow and perform well, as well as plenty of sunlight. Ideal temperature conditions for carrot cultivation are between 16-18°C. Carrot cultivation is relatively resistant to winter frost, while at high temperatures that exceed 25°C the growth of the carrot root stops, it becomes woody and its color fades.

Strawberry, the favorite fruit of young and old with its unique juicy taste. The best way to enjoy the most delicious strawberries, full of rich aroma, is to grow our own strawberries in the garden or on the balcony. Strawberries are very healthy and have significant nutritional value. They are rich in vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus and calcium, while at the same time they offer significant antioxidant activity. Strawberries are the ideal fruit for novice gardeners of all ages, as they don’t require too much care, can be grown in a pot or in a flower bed, and each plant gives us enough fruit. The strawberry plant is a perennial and herbaceous that spreads on the ground and climbs. The strawberry has a central stem, of low height, from which the leaves, flowers and fruits that are formed in spring and summer emerge. Strawberry cultivation lasts about 3-4 years before the productivity of the plants starts to decrease significantly and we will have to replace the crop by planting new strawberry plants to ensure new strawberry plants.

Eggplant, the summer’s favorite vegetable! Eggplant is one of the main ingredients of the Mediterranean cuisine that we enjoy in unique summer recipes, from the world-famous moussaka, to the wonderful shoes and the Asia Minor imam baildi. Eggplant is a vegetable with high nutritional value that contains many antioxidants and vitamins. It is eaten mainly grilled, fried but also stewed. We avoid eating eggplant raw, because of its bitter taste, as well as the solanine, a toxic substance it contains when harvested prematurely.

The eggplant crop grows to a height of about 80-90 centimeters and usually does not need subtiling. Eggplant leaves have a smooth upper surface and are smooth while the underside is relatively fluffy. It is planted in the spring and forms characteristic purple flowers that give us the fruits in the summer.

There are many known varieties and hybrids of eggplant to grow. It is important to choose eggplant varieties from our own seed that we keep, so that we know the special characteristics of each variety and how it adapts to the conditions of our region. Among the traditional and local eggplant varieties, we distinguish the Lagada eggplant variety with its long, narrow purple fruits, the purple flask eggplant used in stuffed foods, as well as the teardrop eggplant with its characteristic shape. The two-colored Tsakonian eggplant with its white and purple stripes is also unique and particularly popular and does not taste bitter. Also, the Santorini eggplant is a very distinctive variety with impressive white round fruits and a delicious sweet taste that is not bitter.

Eggplant cultivation grows best in areas with a warm climate. It is worth mentioning that the eggplant needs more heat than the tomato crop and the pepper crop, as well as being much more sensitive to low temperatures and frost. Eggplant planting takes place from April onwards, when the temperature has risen noticeably. Eggplant grows in loose, fertile soils that have good drainage to remove excess water. When preparing the soil for cultivation and before planting the eggplant, we plow the garden and incorporate enough organic matter into the planting pits in the form of compost and digested manure, as well as complete organic fertilizer.

The chard, the beet’s cousin! Swiss chard is not grown for its underground part, the root like beetroot, but for its tasty leaves, which we eat cooked or boiled in various recipes. A fall planting vegetable, Swiss chard is an easy crop with no particular requirements, and very healthy as it helps regulate sugar. It is grown as an annual vegetable, as it blooms in the second year. There are many varieties of chard, with light green to dark green leaf color and red or white stems and veins, depending on the variety.
Varieties of Swiss chard with red veins make them visually similar to beets. Note that due to its impressive foliage, the chard also adds decorative value to our autumn vegetable garden. The chard prefers cool weather. Although it does not tolerate high temperatures, the chard seeks sunny or semi-dark places, while it is also relatively resistant to light frost. It wants deep fertile soils, enriched in organic matter that also have good drainage.

Rocket Salad, one of the most aromatic and spicy herbs in the garden, with the unique taste that we enjoy in green salads and in cold sandwiches together with lettuce, spinach and Italian parmesan! In recent years, arugula has been particularly popular and is planted in many gardens during autumn and winter, as its cultivation presents no difficulties. And if we don’t have a garden, it doesn’t matter! Growing arugula in a pot is so easy that it’s an ideal starter for novice gardeners, as well as young children taking their first steps into gardening. There are many varieties of arugula to choose from, with more aromatic or spicier flavors. We will also find broad-leaved varieties of arugula with lush vegetation, as well as varieties with a special red-green foliage.

Hyssop is a low shrub that reaches 60 cm in height. Its leaves are lanceolate without a stem and its flowers are dark blue with purple stamens. It has a strong clean and sweet smell with touches of honey aroma. The top note of its essential oil is camphorous and in its middle notes, a warm spice scent lingers as an impression. The color of the essential oil is yellow-green.