‘Chef’s Choice Yellow’ Tomato (photo from AAS)

‘Antares’ fennel

For 2017 All-America Selections (AAS) has selected these winners in the vegetable category. Each is an outstanding garden performer compared to other varieties that it tested against. Three are national winners and one is a regional winner.

Fennel ‘Antares’ (Bejo Seed) is a national winner. AAS had never before trialed fennel previously. This beautiful plant has multiple uses: as an edible bulb; for its ornamental fronds; as a seed producer; and as a favorite food of pollinators, particularly swallowtail caterpillars. Antares fennel grows very uniform, pure white, and a much improved, almost sweet, licorice/anise flavor compared to other market varieties. It was also 7-10 days slower to bolt compared to other fennel varieties.

Pepper ‘Mad Hatter’ (PanAmerican Seed) is a national winner, chosen for the plant’s vigor, earliness, high yields, large size and fabulous sweet taste.  Mad Hatter has a novel three-sided shape. Fruits display a refreshing, citrusy floral flavor and are only occasionally mildly hot near the seeds. Plants grow vigorously with good yields in most areas of the U.S. and Canada. Add to salads raw, pickled or stuffed with cheese.

Tomato ‘Chef’s Choice Yellow’ (Seeds by Design) is a Southeast region winner, the fourth addition to the popular Chef’s Choice tomato series. It produces hearty beefsteak type tomatoes in a beautiful yellow color. Fruits are large and meaty with a sweet, citrus-like flavor, mildly acidic and a perfect tomato texture. The 10-ounce fruits grow on 5 foot high indeterminate vines that are resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, mosiac virus, fruit cracking, and scab.

Tomato ‘Patio Choice Yellow’ (Seeds by Design) is a new compact, determinate tomato developed specifically for small garden spaces, including container gardens and hanging baskets. It produces very large yields of 1/2 ounce bright yellow cherry tomatoes on short vines that grow only 18 inches tall. Each compact plant produces over 100 fruits.