An increasingly diverse number of minor acreage specialty crops are grown in this region every year. Managing some of these crops can be difficult without local experience. It is helpful to at least know what botanical family they belong to because crops in the same family often have similar growth habits, pest problems and fertility requirements. There are almost no pesticides registered for some of these crops because of the limited acreage, but response to pesticides is often, but not always, similar to that of other crops in the same family. Knowing the family they are in can often give you an idea of what to expect. Kerb, for instance, is generally safe to crops in the Composite family (Lettuce, artichokes, radicchio) but is harmful to crops in the brassica family (Broccoli, cabbage, bok choy). The following chart lists crops by botanical family.

Crop Families

Botanical name	Common name	Crops
Asteraceae	Composite or Sunflower	Lettuce, endive, radicchio, artichokes, echina, sunflower, salsify, chrysanthemum, stevia, scorzonera, romaine, cardoon, burdock
Cruciferae	Brassica or mustard	Broccoli, arugula, mizuna, horseradish, cress, bok choy, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, radish, rapini, tot soi, cabbage, rutabaga, brussel sprouts, canola, Chinese cabbage, mustard greens, rape, turnip
Umbelliferae	Carrot	Carrot, dill, celery, cilantro, fennel, parsley, parsnip, celeriac, angelica
Chenopodium or Amaranthus	Goosefoot	Spinach, chard, beets, amaranth, epazoloe, sugar beets
Allaceae	Lily or onion	Asparagus, garlic, onion, leek, shallots ,scallion, cipollini
Cucubitacea	Melon	Melons, pumpkin, cucumber, squash, gourd, zucchini
Solanaceae	Nightshade	Tomato, potato, peppers, eggplant, tobacco, tomatillo, petunia
Malvaceae	Mallow	Okra, cacoa, jute, hibiscus
Polygonacea	Knotweed	Rhubarb, sorrel, buckwheat, dock
Lamiaceae	Mint	Basil, mint, shiso, sage, marjoram, oregano, hyssop, savoy, thyme, stachsy
Leguminosae	Bean	Peas, beans, lentils, alfalfa, clover, lupin, soy beans, peanut, garbanzo, cowpea, vetch
Gramineae	Grass	Wheat, barley, corn, rice, sugar cane, oats, sorghum, lemon grass, sudan, millet, rye

To contact Barry Tickes go to: btickes@ag.arizona.edu.

For questions or comments on any of the topics please contact Marco Pena at the Yuma Agricultural Center.
College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.