Food Plants From the Ark of Taste We Can Grow In Southern California

In our Mediterranean climate, we can grow a lot of different food plants – in fact, almost all of them. The only time we find difficulty in growing plants that thrive elsewhere is with the perennials and fruit trees. 

The Ark of Taste is a living catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. By identifying and championing these foods we keep them in production and on our plates.

Since 1996, more than 2,500 products from over 50 countries have been added to the International Ark of Taste. Over 200 of these foods are from the USA, and we are always seeking more edible treasures to include.

The Ark of Taste is a tool for farmers, ranchers, fishers, chefs, grocers, seed libraries, educators and consumers to seek out and celebrate our country's diverse biological, cultural and culinary heritage.

More information about discovering, nominating, tasting and championing Ark of Taste varieties can be found at: https://www.slowfoodusa.org/ark-of-taste-in-the-usa

Here are a list of many of the Ark of Taste plants we can grow in our SoCal gardens:

Algonquian Squash (Cucurbita pepo)

Amish Paste Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) – this is one of my favorites

Amish Pie Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Arikara Yellow Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa)

Aunt Ruby’s German Green Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Beaver Dam Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Bodega Red Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Bolita Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Boston Marrow Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Bradford Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus v. Bradford 1)

Brown and White Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) 

Burbank Tomato (I know it as “Burbank Slicing Tomato) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Canada Crookneck Squash (Cucurbita moschata) 

Candy Roaster Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Chalk’s Early Jewel Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Chapalote Corn (Zea mays)

Cherokee Purple Tomato (Lycopersicon Lycopersicum)

Cherokee Trail of Tears Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Chiltepin Pepper (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum)

Christmas Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus)

Crane Melon (Cucumis melo)

Datil Pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Djena Lee’s Golden Girl Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Early Blood Turnip-Rooted Beet (Beta vulgaris)

Early Rose Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Fish Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Four Corners Gold Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Garnet Chili Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

German Pink Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Gilfeather Turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa)

Green Mountain Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Hanson Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Hayman Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas v. Hayman)

Hidatsa Red Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Hidatsa Shield Figure Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Hinkelhatz Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Hopi Mottled Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

Hussli Tomato Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

I'Itoi Onion (Allium cepa var. aggregatum)

Inchelium Red Garlic (Allium sativum)

Inciardi Paste Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Ivan Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Ivis White Cream Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Jacob’s Cattle Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Jimmy Nardello’s Sweet Italian Frying pepper (Capiscum annuum)

Jimmy Red Corn (Zea mays indentata)

Kentucky Limestone Bibb Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

King Philip Corn (Zea mays)

Kleckley Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Landrace Red Creole Onion (Allium cepa)

Lina Cisco’s Bird Egg Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Livingston’s Globe Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Livingston’s Golden Queen Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata)

Makah Ozette Potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena)

Marrowfat Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Martin's Carrot Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

Mayflower Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Mississippi Silver Hull Bean-Crowder Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata)

Moon & Stars Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Nancy Hall Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

New Mexican Native Chile Pepper (Capiscum annuum)

New Mexico Native Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)

O'odham Pink Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Orange Oxheart Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Pantin Mamey Sapote (Pouteria sapota)

Purple Straw Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Red McClure Potato

Rio Zape Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Rockwell Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Roy’s Calais Flint Corn (Zea mays)

Santa Maria Pinquitos Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Sea Island White Flint Corn (Zea mays)

Seashore Black Rye (Secale cereale)

Seminole Pumpkin (chassa howitska) (Cucurbita moschata)

Seven Top Turnip (Brassica rapa)

Sheboygan Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Sheepnose Pimiento (Capiscum annuum)

Sibley Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Spanish Roja Garlic (Allium sativum)

Speckled Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Stowell's Evergreen Sweet Corn (Zea mays)

Sudduth Strain Brandywine Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Hubbard Squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Tennis Ball Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Thelma Sanders Squash (Cucurbita pepo)

True Red Cranberry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Turkey Craw Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Turkey Hard Red Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Tuscarora White Corn (Zea mays)

Valencia Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Wenk’s Yellow Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

White African Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

White Cap Flint Corn (Zea mays)

White Sonora Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

White Velvet Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Yellow Cabbage Collard (Brassica oleracea)

Yellow-Meated Watermelon (Citrillus lanatus)

The beans, lettuces, peppers, tomatoes and wheats are very easy for saving seeds

The many okras, sorghums and squashes are a little harder but totally do-able.

Watermelons are hard to grow here, but if you can get it to grow, the good news is that no one will have a watermelon to cross pollinate your watermelon.

david