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In the year 1699 the Spaniard's introduced the
papago (present day Tohono O-Odham) to an onion known as the I-Itoi. This may have been
named after the spirit I-Itoi which resides at the top of the Babuquivari Peak, a sacred
mountain of the O-Odham people, near Ajo.
The I-Itoi onion has evolved over the last 300 years to accept
less than favorable conditions. More drought tolerant than other onions as it uses about
1/3 less water. But this extraordinary onion doesn't stop there.
I-Itoi is a very heavy producer and can often make 120 shallot
like onions from one bulb in a single season. If you so desire you could eat 119 of these
and return one to the ground and the process would start all over next season. With
minimal care you can have loads of onions for the rest of your life.
Happy Gardening .....
Frank Martin
Squash is one of the oldest domesticated crops along with corn and beans,
sometimes referred to as the three sisters. It seems that every year we have new hybrids,
especially in the areas of space savers, more color and prolific producers. Many seed
banks and garden catalogs now offer hundreds of different kinds of squash.
My favorite, though, will always be the "old timers", the old tried
and true non-hybrid heirloom squash. These old varieties have their drawbacks. Space
consideration is one of them, as these vines can travel 60-70 feet (about the length of a
tractor-trailer rig). Another disappointment to gardeners is that some varieties may
only produce 2-3 fruits per plant, which may make you wonder why you toiled all summer
long with this monster that took over your entire backyard like Godzilla took over New
York!
Heirloom and native squashes are more than just preserving history. They
have a very high nutrient value that was important to our indigenous people.
Varieties that make fewer fruit usually make larger fruit, sometimes up to 60 pounds
each! These can be cut up and frozen or dried for later use. Also the seed, which
will be many, can be toasted like pumpkin seeds and eaten.
Happy Gardening......
Frank Martin
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Tepary beans are hailed as the worlds most drought tolerant bean, in fact, if the plant
comes up my experience has been that it will make beans. In some places in Southern
Arizona and Northern Mexico it is completely "Dry Farmed", that is to say other
than good timing and rain fall it receives no other water source.
Tepary beans will mature in about 50 days with no more than 2 to 3 waterings and
probably should not be watered more than 3 times. An abundance of water will hinder the
bean production and cause all the energy to go into foliage or leaf production.
On cool and overcast days the leaves will "hinge" and track the sun to obtain
as much light and heat as possible, very hot days will have the opposite effect. The built
in biological thermometer will cause the plant to remain motionless with the leaves
curling under, this reduces the surface area and conserves moisture.
Teparies were favored among early Native Americans, especially the Pimas and Papagos.
They preferred these beans over Pintos and other beans on long trips because Teparies
contained twice the nutrients as Pintos did, This allows them to carry less weight, ten
pounds of Teparies, as opposed to twenty pounds of Pintos.
Tepary beans can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring around
the first of March until mid September. Mulch well, and remember, water sparingly.
Happy Gardening......
Frank Martin
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Most people speculate that Gourds originated in Africa, and from there they literally
floated to all other parts of the world. Scientists have simulated ocean like conditions
of up to about two months where Gourds have floated in "Salt Water" tanks and
the seeds still remain "viable" proving they could survive a journey across the
sea to another continent.
Gourds may also be responsible for early exploration as it made possible to carry water
to unknown parts, before it was fully understood how to make water carrying vessels out of
animal skins or wood.
Gourds are in every continent and culture in the world today, no other fruit, vegetable
or plant can hold to that claim. Gourds are the oldest domesticated crop and are even
mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Gourds were very highly regarded in Pima and Papago culture, so much that in times of
emergency such as drought, Gourds were the only thing they would carry water to. If a
Gourd became cracked or broken they would repair it with a type of glue, lace or animal
hide rather than just to replace it with another gourd even if they were plentiful. It was
acceptable in the native American culture for women of the household to trade off any item
but she would never trade or sell the "Drinking Gourd". I have never understood
this until I started growing gourds myself, nothing has ever had this spell on me.
Happy Gardening and "Foller the drinkin' gourd"....
Frank Martin
Founder: Southwest Gourd Association
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Gourds are usually thought of in two different groups. The hard shell gourds (lagenaria
siceraria) have white flowers that open at night until early morning. Their principal
pollinators are moths although bees do contribute. The other group soft shell
gourds(cucurbita pepo) or ornamental gourds have yellow to orange flowers which stay open
longer during the day and are mostly pollinated by bees. The biggest complaint I get about
growing gourds is pollination, so you may have to get out early in the morning with a
cotton swab and pollinate by hand. Other things to consider are fertilizer and space.
Gourds enjoy fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus as the high nitrogen
will only lead to more vigorous foliage and vine growth, which leads to the second
consideration space. Gourd vines can often travel 80 - 120 feet. Its best they have a
strong tree, fence or trellis to climb on. You will find that some native gourds such as
the Apache Dipper gourds can be planted as late as mid July and still produce 20 - 40
gourds per plant.
Happy Gardening
Frank Martin
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