Vegetables And Herbs For A Culinary Garden At Woldhuis Farms

Kitchen gardeners take note: Woldhuis Farms, the area's best source for edible garden fodder, has opened for the season.

And this year's selection of heirloom and hybrid vegetables and herbs is as vast as ever. The family-run farm, located an hour south of Chicago in Kankakee County, grows plants (100,000 flats' worth) on-site from seed, including more than 60 varietals of tomatoes, 30-plus types of peppers, and a staggering number of herbs.

Many of the lesser-known vegetables–like sweet, ivory-fleshed Great White beefsteak tomatoes, cucumber-shaped Green Sausage tomatoes and famously hot Indian Naga Jolokia peppers–are sold in 3-inch pots. Others, including chocolate- and purple-toned bell peppers, are sold by the four-pack ($1). Those with the yard space can build custom 48-plant flats from the various four-packs ($11).

In the herb greenhouse, pick up cucumber-flavored borage to sprinkle in summer salads, lovage to stuff in Bloody Marys, and root beer plant (aka hoja santa) for making tamales and mole verde.

Woldhuis delivers to the Chicago area, but we suggest making a day of it with a detour to Three Floyds brewery just across the Indiana line (tours are offered on Saturdays at 3 p.m.).

Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, 10300 E. 9000 N. Rd., Grant Park; 815-465-6310 or woldhuisfarms.com