Dirt debuts: Vegetable and petunia you don't dead-head

It's a little different up here in Alaska. Not much of what I get is even applicable. Plus we are pretty sophisticated gardeners and not just any new zinnia or petunia will do for us.

Still, there are new things that I have come across while doing my daily Web search routine and every now and then someone on one of the garden writer list serves will mention a plant and know the information isn't from a P.R. firm.

Take, for example, the 'Flower Sprout.' This is a totally brand new vegetable. Well, not totally new. It is a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts. Hey! Don't back away so fast. It isn't every day someone invents a whole new vegetable. This one, introduced Jan. 25 by England's largest seed company, Tozer Seeds, has been 10 years in development. Purple kale leaves grow up the traditional Brussels sprout stalk. The sprouts are said to be much milder than their cousins, though there is no word on the edibility of the leaves. 'Flower Sprouts' (bad name, fellows) are definitely hardy here, but unfortunately, not available in the U.S. as of this writing. Next year, for sure.

I am not much of a Brussels sprout guy, myself, but my daughter loves them and, were she around, I would try Nichols Nursery's (nicholsnursery.com) "Red Ruben" Brussels sprouts -- open pollinated with deep purple sprouts.

OK, you take the sprouts, I am enjoying a new-found taste for kale these days. That is why I stopped to look at Territorial Seed's (territorialseed.com) new and very pretty 'Fizz' kale. It matures in only 40 days. It has a very interesting lobed leaf and doesn't appear to be one of those cabbage-leather-skinned kales. In fact, it is suggested for salads and stir frying.

Next, Burpee (burpee.com) has a new pea called 'RSVpea.' What is with these names? It is said to be "Specially adapted for the cooler climates of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic." These folks start their peas outdoors really early when it is very cool. So do we; this pea is ready in 56 days. It only grows to a very manageable 40 inches. Each pod is supposed to have seven or eight peas. I counted the peas in the pod in Burpee's picture and there were nine, so who do I believe? The photographer who is trying to sell me on the variety or the writer who is doing the same? Still, they may be worth a try.

I am on the fence regarding 'Pretty Much Picasso' petunias which are not for the home garden to grow from seed. They will be sold as plants, however, and probably will be available locally since they are a Proven Winners hybrid. This one, which does not need dead-heading, has a lime green edge to a purple center. Sounds like a new kind of candy and not something I would want in my garden, but the Proven Winners gang know what they are doing. I am not sure I am going to like it, but hey, who says you have to like every new plant that comes along?

Speaking of color, I am a bit curious to try some "Purple Pak" carrots from Johnnys Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com). If ever an answer to the question of whether carrots get their taste from the orange in them will be had, this is it. Do kids who eat too many turn purple? By the same token, I might try 'Golden' beet from Renee's Garden (reneesgarden.com) to see if beets taste different when they are not red.

Next, I see Wayside Gardens (waysidegardens.com) has a Hydrangea called 'Mini Limelight.' The flowers appear on three-to-five foot plants in the middle of the summer and they have a nice creamy green color. When it gets cool, the flowers fade to pinks. OK, that sounds interesting, but what caught my eye: hardy zone 3-8. If it grows in zone 3, it might make a great hedge here. It also might make great moose food. Wayside charges $20 per order for shipping to Alaska.

Ah, there is a lot of new stuff out there. It is fun to dream they would all do well here in Alaska.

Jeff Lowenfels is a member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame. You can reach him at teamingwithmicrobes.com or by calling 274-5297 during "The Garden Party" radio show from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays on KBYR AM-700.