Wendy Mayer’s garden in Medina has a few things rarely seen in North Dakota. Photo: Wendy Mayer
MEDINA, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – You’d be hard-pressed to find a garden in North Dakota that is as unique as Wendy Mayer’s in Medina.
Mayer has been gardening since she was a kid, catching the “gardening bug” from her father who often found solace and relaxation while planting. Now at 60, Mayer has found a fascination with growing unique varieties and heirlooms in her recently built raised beds.
“Heirlooms, unlike the commercial hybrid seeds, come with a story and have been handed down over time,” Mayer stated. “The quality and flavor is unmatched by hybrids. I think the unique thing about what I grow are the varieties.”
From mini white cucumbers and Pineapple tomatoes, to Sun Sugar cherries and Dragon Tongue beans, Mayer has continued to explore the delicious varieties that are not often seen in North Dakota.
“I discovered Baker Creek Seed and as I read over the listings for all these cool veggies that had fascinating histories and fell in love with heirlooms,” Mayer recalls. “It’s hard to choose what to plant each year as there are so many options when you raise your own plants from seed. I have experimented with many varieties here in ND. I am a southerner by birth and have learned in the past 17 years of being here which ones grow and which don’t. Most do okay because our summer days are so long.”
Other unique items found in her large garden include black cherry tomatoes, Cosmic Purple carrots, Collective Farm Woman honeydew and Haogen honeydew, Minnesota Midget cantaloupe, Boston Marrow winter squash, Fingerling potatoes, Golden Scallop summer squash, Buena Mulata hot peppers, and a variety of garlic.
After going into delicious detail on her different featured items, she added her hope is to increase the seed garlic each year to sell in the future.
Previously, Mayer built raised beds where they previously had a two acre market garden. That was before the elements took over.
“Thistle took over, deer, raccoons, cows, and gophers would eat us out of house and home. So here in town, I can fence it off easier, made the raised beds, added soaker hoses, get grass clippings for mulch, and began working on putting weed barrier and wood chips between beds. Its still work, but hopefully it pays off again,” she stated.
Mayer estimates in July, she should have a good looking garden and by early August, it’ll be producing. She hopes to get back into selling garlic in the future, along with possibly more varieties.
Below are some photos of what Mayer has produced in her gardens:
