VEGETABLES & VARIETIES FOR THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS

Roland E. Roberts
Extension Horticulturist

 

Introduction

Unique climate and topography of the Texas High Plains present exciting challenges and great opportunities to vegetable gardeners. Most vegetables grow very well in their season here as long as they are protected from 15 to 30 mph gusty winds, especially in spring. Here we have a high elevation of 3,000 to 5,000 feet, intense sunlight (result of clear, cloudless skies), and low relative humidity. Most well water is high quality. Many towns use water from Lake Meredith which has elevated soluble salts. Thirty-degree swings between day and night temperature make for warm to hot days and cool nights all through the growing season of over 200 days. Drying winds and temperatures reaching mid to high 80s in April and May make survival of newly transplanted vegetables and successful greens growers heavily dependent on windbreaks. Winds moderate during summer and fall days are relatively calm and very sunny. It has been said that fall seems to just go on forever here. Here, successful gardeners are mulchers, drip irrigators, windbreak makers, and eternal optimists. Vegetables listed here have stood the tests of climate and time. I have grown all of these vegetables successfully here. The varieties excelled in demonstrations and research spanning 29 seasons on the Texas High Plains.

Common Name

Genus species

Horticultural Varieties
Asparagus: Asparagus officinalis Jersey Giant, UC157
Bean, field, dry, black turtle: Phaseolus vulgaris Black Turtle T39, Midnight
Bean, field, dry, cranberry: Phaseolus vulgaris Dwarf Horticultural Green Pod
Bean, field, dry, pinto: Phaseolus vulgaris Arapaho, Othello, Pinray, Fiesta, #84350, Olathe
Bean, field, dry, white: Phaseolus vulgaris Great Northern, Navy
Bean, horticultural: Phaseolus vulgaris French Horticultural, Dwarf Horticultural Green Pod
Bean, lima, bush: Phaseolus lunatus Dixie Speckled, Dixie White, Henderson Bush, Baby Fordhook
Bean, lima, pole: Phaseolus lunatus Florida Speckled, Sieva, King of Garden
Bean, mung: Vigna radiata TexSprout, Berkin
Bean, snap, flat pod: Phaseolus vulgaris Greencrop Bush, Jumbo, Romano, Roma II
Bean, snap, bush, green oval pod: Phaseolus vulgaris Bush Blue Lake 274, Contender, Tenderpod, Earliserve
Bean, snap, bush, yellow: Phaseolus vulgaris Slenderwax, Goldkist, Dorabel
Bean, snap, pole: Phaseolus vulgaris Blue Lake Pole, Kentucky Blue, Romano Italian Pole
Beet, greens: Beta vulgaris Crosby Green Top, Avenger F1, Lutz Green Leaf
Beet, roots: Beta vulgaris Pacemaker III, Avenger, Cylindra, Lutz Green Leaf
Broccoli: Brassica oleracea var. italica Green Comet, Mariner, Packman
Brussels Sprouts: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Prince Marvel, Jade Cross
Cabbage, Chinese, heading type: Brassica oleracea var. pekinensis Jade Pagoda, China Express
Cabbage, Chinese, lei choi type: Brassica oleracea var. chinensis Joy Choi
Cabbage, heading green: Brassica oleracea var. capitata Early Jersey Wakefield, Market Prize, Blue Dynasty
Cabbage, heading red: Brassica oleracea var. capitata Cardinal, Red Rock, Red Dynasty
Cabbage, savoy: Brassica oleracea var. sabauda Savoy Ace, Savoy King
Cantaloupe (Muskmelon): Cucumis melo Reticulatus group Ambrosia, Israeli (Ogen), TAM Uvalde, Rocky Sweet, Don Carlos
Carrot: Daucus carota subsp. sativus Gold King, Texas Gold Spike, BetaSweet, Scarlet Nantes, Snakpak
Cauliflower: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis Snow Crown, Stardust
Celeriac: Apium graveolens var. rapaceum Large Smooth Prague, Marble Ball
 Celery: Apium graveolens var. dulce Florida 683
Chives, Common: Allium shoenoprasum plant divisions
Chives, Garlic: Allium tuberosum plant divisions
Collards: Brassica oleracea var. acephala Blue Max, Georgia Southern, Vates
Corn, Ornamental: Zea mays Indian, Rainbow, Seedway Elite, Strawberry
Corn, Pop: Zea mays Robust 21-82W (replaces White Cloud), Japanese Hulless, Yellow
Sweet Corn, Early: Zea mays Early Sunglow (yellow su, cold soil tolerant), Seneca Daybreak (yellow se, smut/rust/cold soil tolerant), Seneca Arrowhead (bicolor se, blight/rust/wilt/cold soil tolerant) Spring Snow (white se, cold soil tolerant)
Sweet Corn, Mid-Season: Zea mays Bodacious (yellow se, not smut tolerant), Terrific (bicolor se, smut/wilt tolerant), Brilliance (white se, maize dwarf mosaic/rust/smut/wilt tolerant)
Sweet Corn, Late Maturing: Zea mays Merit (yellow su, smut tolerant), Seneca Dancer (bicolor se, rust/smut/wilt tolerant), Argent (white se, rust/smut/wilt/cold soil tolerant)
Cress, Upland: Barbarea verna Curly cress
Cucumber, Greenhouse: Cucumis sativus Bruneve, Brunex, Vetomil
Cucumber, Pickling: Cucumis sativus Calypso, Carolina
Cucumber, Slicing: Cucumis sativus Burpless, Dasher II, Sweet Slice, Sweet Success
Dill: Anethum graveolens Bouquet, Long Island Mammoth
Eggplant: Solanum melongena Black Magic, Classic, Black Bell
Eggplant, Oriental: Solanum melongena Millionaire, Ichibon, Tycoon
Endive, Broad Leaf: Cichorium endivia Florida Deep Heart
Endive, Curly Leaf: Cichorium endivia Green Curled, Salad King
Garlic: Allium sativum California Early, Elephant, French Mild, Mexican Pink, Texas White
Honeydew Melon: Cucumis melo Inodorus group TAM Dew (honeydew type)
Horseradish: Armoracia rusticana Maliner Kren
Jerusalem Artichoke: Helianthus tuberosa No variety; order tubers
Jicama: Pachyrhizus erosus de Agua
Kale: Brassica oleracea Dwarf Scotch
Kohlrabi: Brassica oleracea Early White Vienna, Grand Duke
Leek: Allium ampeloprasum American Flag, Electra, Titan
Lettuce, Butterhead: Lactuca sativa Buttercrunch, Salad Bibb
Lettuce, Head: Lactuca sativa Great Lakes 659 MT, Summertime MTO
Lettuce, Leaf: Lactuca sativa Salad Bowl, Raisa (red), Black Seeded Simpson, Green Ice
Mustard: Brassica juncea Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen
New Zealand Spinach: Tetragonia tetragonoides no varieties
Okra: Abelmoschus esculentus Annie Oakley, Emerald
Onion, Short Day: Allium cepa Texas Grano 1015Y, Red Burgundy, White Granex
Onion, Intermediate Day: Allium cepa Texas Grano 438, Cimarron, Riviera, Yula, Calred, Alabaster
Onion, Long Day: Allium cepa Candy, Yellow Sweet Spanish, Vega, Carmen, White Sweet Spanish, Sterling
Parsley: Petroselinum crispum Plain Italian, Moss Curled, Banquet
Parsnip: Pastinaca sativa Harris Model, Large Hollow Crown
Pea, Garden or English: Pisum sativum Little Marvel, Wando, Knight
Pea, Garden or English, Edible Podded Snowpea: Pisum sativum Mammoth Melting Sugar, Oregon Sugar Pod #2
Pea, Garden or English, Edible Podded Snap Pea: Pisum sativum Early Snap, Sugar Ann, Super Sugar Snap
Pepper, Bell, Sweet: Capsicum annuum TAMBELL-2 (green to red), Commandant (green to red), Admiral (green to orange), Yellow Bell and Golden Bell (green to yellow), King Arthur (green to red)
Pepper, Non Bell or Chile: Capsicum annuum TAMU Hidalgo (serrano), TAMU Mild Chile-2 and TAMU Sweet Chile (mild, sweet long chile), Big Jim (medium, big long chile), TAMU Mild Jalapeno II, Firenza (hot jalapeno), Tula (medium hot, jumbo jalapeno), Pecos (medium hot, jumbo jalapeno), Delicias (medium hot, jalapeno), Dulce (sweet jalapeno), TAMU Veracruz (hot jalapeno)
Pepper, Habanero: Capsicum chinense Habanero
Potato: Solanum tuberosum Texas Russet Norkotah 278, Atlantic, Yukon Gold, Red LaSoda
Pumpkin: Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita maxima Magic Lantern, Merlin, Fairytale, Prizewinner, Munchkin, Mystic, Oz, Snackjack
Radish: Raphanus sativus Champion, Cheriette, White Icicle
Rhubarb: Rheum rhabarbarum Texas High Plains Green, Valentine
Rutabaga: Brassica napus American Purple Top
Salsify: Tragopogon porrifuolius Mammoth Sandwich Island
Shallot: Allium cepa var. ascalonicum Shallot
Southern pea Vigna unguiculata Texas Pinkeye, Early Scarlet, California Blackeye #5, Arkansas #1, Zipper Cream, Cream 40
Spinach  Spinacia oleracea Melody, Fall Green, Ozarka II
Squash, Summer Cucurbita pepo Dixie, Supersett, Multipik, Superpik, Zucchini Elite, Seneca Zucchini, Gold Rush, Eight Ball
Squash, Winter Cucurbita maxima Sweet Meat, Waltham Butternut, Vegetable Spaghetti, Buttercup Burgess, Carnival, Ambercup, Table Ace
Sweet Potato Ipomoea batatas Hernandez, Vardaman
Swiss chard Beta vulgaris Large White Rib, Rhubarb Chard, Bright Lights, Silverado
Tomato Lycopersicon lycopersicum Carnival, Celebrity, Santiago, Sunmaster, Cherry Grande, Spitfire
Tomatillo Physalis ixocarpa Toma Verde
 Turnip, roots Brassica rapa Just Right, Purple Top White Globe, Shogoin
Turnip, greens Brassica rapa Seven Top, Tyfon
Watermelon, Seeded Citrullus lanatus Star & Stripes, Big Stripe, Pinata, Super Gold, Summer Gold
Watermelon, Seedless Citrullus lanatus Tri-X-Carousel, CS 4830, Gem Dandy, Triple Sweet, SummerSweet 5244

The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of all ages, regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts Cooperating.

southernpea grower guide 2-8-2000

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