The Gothic Harvest: A Dark Harvest Guide for Your Garden (& Table)
Rich in colour and full of character, these naturally striking fruits and vegetables are worth making room for this growing season
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Gothic gardens aren't solely defined by gargoyles or iron gates (although we love those too). Sometimes, the most striking statement comes straight from the soil. With inky berries, blood-red roots and vegetables in shades of obsidian, plum, merlot and burgundy, these naturally dramatic varieties transform an ordinary harvest into something wonderfully ominous.
If you're looking to bring a little more theatre to your garden—and, eventually, your dinner table—these varieties are a beautiful place to begin.
Plant This Month
Black Spanish Radish
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: July–August
Harvest: September–November
Black Nebula Carrot
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–July
Harvest: July–October
Bull's Blood Beet
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–July
Harvest: June–October
Black Magic Kale
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–August
Harvest: June–November
Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–August
Harvest: June–November
Purple Vienna Kohlrabi
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–May or August
Harvest: June–July or September–October
Red Romaine Lettuce
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–August
Harvest: May–October
Plant Next Spring
Black Beauty Tomato
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: May–June
Harvest: August–September
Purple Majesty Potato
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–May
Harvest: August–September
Black Beauty Eggplant
Growing Difficulty: Medium
Plant: Late May–June
Harvest: August–October
Royal Burgundy Bean
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: May–June
Harvest: July–September
Black Pearl Raspberry
Growing Difficulty: Medium
Plant: April–May or September
Harvest: July
Black Diamond Blackberry
Growing Difficulty: Medium
Plant: April–May
Harvest: July–August
Black Tartarian Cherry
Growing Difficulty: Medium
Plant: Early spring (April–May) or fall (October)
Harvest: June–July
Elderberry
Growing Difficulty: Beginner
Plant: April–May or September–October
Harvest: August–September
Black Mulberry
Growing Difficulty: Medium
Plant: April–May or October
Harvest: June–July
The most beautiful gardens are a reflection of the people who grow them. If your style leans a little darker, cultivate a harvest that's just as memorable as your aesthetic.
What are you planting first?
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