Vegetables
Cabbage
Cabbage is a nutritious food with a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and fibre. Cabbage can be eaten fresh, as a stir-fry, or made into sauerkraut, stews, and cabbage rolls.
Here are some of the different varieties of cabbage that can grow in Saskatchewan.
The dense cabbage head in the middle of this plant will be great to store.
- Early:
These cabbages are planted earlier in order to be harvested earlier and are typically smaller in size. They do not have a long storage period, so must be eaten shortly after harvesting. - Mid-season:
These cabbages mature at a slower rate than early cabbages. They form medium-sized cabbage heads. - Late-season:
These cabbages form the largest heads and take the longest to mature. They are great for storing in a cool, dark place. - Red:
These cabbages have a longer growing season. They are great for salads.
Onions
Onions vary in shape, size, and colour. The green tops of onions that can be eaten are called green onions. They are a good source of vitamin C, other vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants. Onions add flavour to many kinds of food. They can be eaten raw, baked, sautéed, or fried.
Green, white, red, and yellow sweet Spanish onions are great to eat raw. Yellow cooking onions are more pungent, and are best cooked.
Did You Know?
There are three main types of onion crops.
Sets
These are produced when onions are planted very close together. The set onion will be smaller than a dry onion because it does not have as much room to grow. They can be replanted by home gardeners to get big onions early in the year.
Dry Bulb
Dry is the most popular kind of onions that are grown. They have many different shapes including oval, round, and flat on the top and bottom.
Bunching
Bunching occurs when onions are planted close together and eaten before they are mature. They are very small compared to a dry onion and are called scallions or green onions (although there is a difference between scallions and green onions, they can be used interchangeably in recipes).
Potatoes
Potatoes come in many different shapes, colours, and sizes depending on what they will be used for. Potato plants should be ‘hilled,’ which means to pile dirt on top of the seed potato. This prevents the potatoes from being sun burnt and protects them from frost. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and carbohydrates.
These potato plants have been hilled.
This farmer is harvesting potatoes.
Did You Know?
There are three main markets of potatoes.
Table Stock
These potatoes are grown for eating. You can boil, mash, or bake these potatoes.
Seed Potatoes
These are grown to be sold as the seed for the next gardening year. The seeds are potatoes that you can cut into pieces and plant. They have an ‘eye’ that will grow a new potato plant.
Processing
These potatoes are used to make french fries and potato chips. French fries are made from long potatoes.
This video shows the interesting process of harvesting potatoes on a Saskatchewan farm.
Greenhouses
Greenhouses allow vegetables to grow all year round in Saskatchewan. The greenhouse allows the sunlight in while keeping the temperature warm and the humidity high. Many different types of vegetables can be grown in greenhouses as they have ideal growing conditions. Some popular vegetables grown in greenhouses include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, and beans.
Greenhouses allow vegetables to grow all year round in Saskatchewan!
Find out how greenhouses can be used in Canada’s harsh climate.
