Plants in Early American Gardens - Long Green Improved Cucumber

Long Green Improved Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumbers have been cultivated for centuries in India and China and were part of the diet of Greeks and Romans. They were introduced into the New World by 15th-century Spanish explorers who brought fruits to Haiti. Thomas Jefferson included “early long green cucumber” in his list of “objects for the garden” in 1794. Long Green Improved Cucumber was introduced in 1842. This is a popular cucumber for pickling and slicing, growing to 12 inches long and 3 inches in diameter. Flesh is crisp and very white.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Sesame

 Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

Thomas Jefferson planted Sesame, or “Benni,” for many years at Monticello in order to press a salad oil from the seeds. He wrote in 1811, “I did not believe there existed so perfect a substitute for olive oil.” Sesame has been cultivated for centuries as a food in India and tropical Africa, but in European countries it has been used primarily for the oil. Jefferson also planted Sesame as a border plant because of its ornamental qualities.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Sage

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Sage was a standard in kitchen gardens from colonial times, and Thomas Jefferson listed it for the Monticello garden in 1794. This culinary Mediterranean shrub, grown since the 13th century, was thought to prolong life. Its soft, gray-green foliage and spikes of lavender flowers, beloved by pollinators, make it an attractive ornamental. Deer resistant.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Blue-podded Capucijner Pea

Blue-podded Capucijner Pea (Pisum sativum cv.)

The Blue-podded Capucijner (cap-ou-SIGH-nah) is a hardy pea first grown by the Franciscan Capuchin monks in Holland and Germany during the early 1600s. Its particularly beautiful, bi-colored flowers are lilac-pink and wine-red, fading to blue as they wilt; pods are deep maroon to inky purple, fading to blue and leathery brown when mature. It is best used as a soup pea by picking when the pods are full; but it can also be grown as an edible-podded sugar pea by harvesting before peas have developed.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Early Scarlet Globe Radish

Early Scarlet Globe Radish (Raphanus sativus cv.)

Radishes, like lettuces, were regularly grown in the Monticello vegetable garden for use in salads. The two crops were often sown together beginning in early March. Jefferson preferred the scarlet radish, although his garden also included salmon, rose, violet, and white types. The Early Scarlet Globe Radish is a 19th-century variety noted for its bright scarlet skin, crisp white flesh, and mild flavor.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - White Eggplant

White Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

White Eggplant was listed along with a purple variety in several eastern United States seed catalogues by 1825 and Thomas Jefferson was growing both types at Monticello as early as 1812. Also known as melongena, eggplant originated in Asia, where it has been grown for centuries. White Eggplant yields delicious, egg-shaped fruits up to 6 inches long.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Bull Nose Pepper

Bull Nose Pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum)

The sweet bell pepper was grown as early as 1681 by enslaved Africans in Panama. It was introduced to North America most likely from the West Indies by the early 1700s. Bernard McMahon included “Bell” peppers in The American Gardener’s Calendar (1806), and Thomas Jefferson recorded Bull Nose Pepper in his 1812 garden calendar. Jefferson’s Bull Nose likely resembled the heavily lobed, 3-4”, sweet pepper we know today.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Nutmeg Plant

Nutmeg Plant (Nigella sativa)

Thomas Jefferson sowed seeds of "Nutmeg Plant" in a Monticello oval bed in 1810. Also called Black Cumin, Black Seed, and Fennel Flower, this hardy annual has been grown for centuries for the aromatic seed, which has many culinary and medicinal uses. Nutmeg Plant bears feathery, finely cut leaves and delicate white to pale blue flowers.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Canada Crookneck Squash

Canada Crookneck Squash (Cucurbita moschata cv.)

Canada Crookneck Squash has curved, bottle-shaped, thin-skinned fruits up to 12” long with nutty and sweet-flavored flesh. It is said to have originated from the Iroquois Nations and was first offered commercially in the 1830s. In Field and Garden Vegetables of America (1863) Fearing Burr wrote: “The Canada is unquestionably the best of the Crooknecked sorts.”

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme was first cultivated by the Assyrians and used to treat nightmares and short-windedness. Also long-cultivated for its culinary uses, it was brought to the American colonies at an early date, and Thomas Jefferson recorded it in his list of "Objects for the garden" at Monticello in 1794. This evergreen Mediterranean herb grows well in rock gardens, containers, and other well-drained garden locations, and the flowers attract pollinators.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Scarlet Runner Bean

Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

A Central American native that was popularized by the great 18th-century English garden writer, Philip Miller, Scarlet Runner Bean is still very popular in Europe for its edible beans. Jefferson planted this lovely annual vine with its showy scarlet flowers in 1812, noting: "Arbor beans white, crimson, scarlet, purple...on long walk of garden." In 1806 the Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon wrote that it was grown in America exclusively as an ornamental. Attractive to hummingbirds.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Costoluto Genovese Tomato

Costoluto Genovese Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv.)

Thomas Jefferson was a pioneer in tomato culture, planting the relatively unfamiliar tomato from 1809 until his death in 1826. He also noted that “tomatas” were grown in Virginia gardens in Notes on the State of Virginia (1782). Costoluto Genovese is an old, Italian preserving tomato. Although an oddity in today’s vegetable garden, this variety’s heavily-lobed and convoluted shape reflects the character of early 19th-century tomatoes. Its stellar flavor is intense and acidic.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Listada de Gandia Eggplant

Listada de Gandia Eggplant (Solanum melongena cv.)

The eggplant was long cultivated in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East before its introduction to Europe in the mid-1500s. Thomas Jefferson first planted eggplant at Monticello in 1809. The Listada de Gandia Eggplant is an heirloom from Southern France that was introduced in 1850. Its attractive fruits are white with bright purple stripes. When ripe, the 7-inch long fruits have thin skin and sweet and tender flesh.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Greek Oregano

Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum)

Greek Oregano, native to Greece and Turkey, bears especially flavorful leaves and has a long history of culinary use. Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon listed Winter Sweet Marjoram (O. heracleoticum), a synonym of Greek Oregano, in The American Gardener’s Calendar (1806). In 1820, George Divers sent Jefferson “Marjoram,” which was another name for Oregano at the time, instead of the “Sweet Marjoram” (Origanum hortensis) requested by Jefferson.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Red Fig Tomato

Red Fig Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv.)

Red Fig Tomato is an heirloom variety from Philadelphia dating to 1805. They were traditionally dried or made into a sweet preserve to be eaten in winter like figs, but they are also sugary sweet eaten fresh. The deep red fruits are pear-shaped and about 1½ inches long.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Globe Artichoke

 Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

Globe Artichoke was included on one of Jefferson's first lists of vegetables grown at Monticello in 1770. His Garden Book sporadically charted the first to "come to table" and the "last dish of artichokes" from 1794 to 1825. A native of southern Europe in cultivation since the 1500s, Globe Artichokes may require winter protection, or they can be grown as annuals.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Yellow Pear Tomato

Yellow Pear Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv.)

This very old tomato dates to at least the early 1600s. The indeterminate vine continues producing clusters of beautiful, 1-2 inch, pear-shaped, lemon to golden yellow fruits throughout the season. Like the red and yellow cherry and plum tomatoes, this variety was used by early Americans more for preserving and pickling. They are very popular today for salads as well.

Contact The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at
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Phone 434-984-9819

Plants in Early American Gardens - Caseknife Pole Bean

Caseknife Pole Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.)

The Caseknife Pole Bean is one of the oldest documented bean varieties in American gardens, dating to the 1820s. In 1863, Fearing Burr, in Field and Garden Vegetables of America, said Caseknife was “common to almost every garden.” The name refers to its wide, flattened, slightly curving mature pod – similar to a dinner knife or knife sheath. This vigorous climber has unusually large foliage and the white flowers yield 8-9”, fibrous pods full of plump shelling beans. Harvest immature pods for sweet string beans.

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Flowers & Plants in Early American Gardens - Red Russian Kale

Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus var. pabularia) cv.

Thomas Jefferson's vegetable garden commonly included various Kales such as German, Scotch, Delaware, Malta, and Russian types. Red Russian Kale, also called Ragged Jack, is an extremely cold-hardy variety that originated in Russia and was introduced to Canada around 1885. The highly attractive blue-green leaves have purple veins and stems, turn reddish-purple in cold weather, and have lightly-frilled edges.

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Plants in Early American Gardens - Long Island Cheese Winter Squash

Long Island Cheese Winter Squash (Cucurbita moschata)

This Long Island heirloom was known as the original “Cheese Wheel.” It has smooth, heavily ribbed, buff-colored skin with a deep orange, sweet flesh. This winter squash weighs 6-10 pounds, and is considered one of the best baking varieties and is excellent in pies. It also stores well.

Contact The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at
Email chp@monticello.org
Phone 434-984-9819