I placed my seed order. I'm very excited about all of the varieties that I ordered. All are heirloom so I am hoping that I don't have to purchase seeds again. I am going to attempt to save seeds every season and put them up to plant the following year. I will take seeds from the largest plants and fruits that seem to be doing the best. Each season, my plants will become better adapted to my area and more tolerant to parasites and diseases that are common here. I also ordered two types of garlic bulbs from a separate company. I plan to order asparagus from another company, as well. I hope that I get my order soon! Many of the seeds that I ordered are cool weather varieties, so it is the perfect time to get them in the ground, if I hurry!
I ordered from http://www.heirloomseeds.com/ which is a small family run business.
Beans:
- FLORIDA SPECKLED BUTTER POLE LIMA
BEAN 85 days - This very popular butter bean was first
introduced in the 1840's. The tall, 10 foot vines bear pods in
clusters. A wonderful buff colored bean with maroon speckles.
Does well in hot, humid weather!
- RATTLESNAKE POLE BEAN 65 days - This heirloom has unusual,
dark-green pods streaked with purple. This vigorous grower often grows to 10
feet tall, and is filled with 7 inch, great tasting pods. Beautiful,
light buff seeds splashed with dark-brown markings. An old favorite!
Lettuce:
- PREMIUM LETTUCE BLEND 43-70 days – A delightful mix of our
best selling varieties, especially blended for unique color, texture and flavor
qualities. A wonderful selection for the salad bowl.
Spinach:
- BLOOMSDALE LONG STANDING 46
days - This heirloom variety was first introduced in 1908 and still remains
very popular! The thick-textured leaves are of fine quality, very
crinkled and dark green in color. A slow bolting spinach that is heavy
yielding. Excellent variety for either fresh or canned!
Swiss Chard:
- ORIOLE 60 days - The
decorative coloring makes this variety a real stand-out in your garden. The
green leaves have a beautiful orange stem contrast. Harvest the baby leaves for
salads, or let mature for use in braising, stir-frys or cooking greens.
Pumpkins:
- JACK BE LITTLE (Cucurbita pepo) 90 days -
These miniature pumpkins are great for decorating! The 2"x 3"
pumpkins are dark orange in color, and tiny enough to fit in the palm of your
hand! Grow your own unique Thanksgiving decorations this year!
CONNECTICUT FIELD (Cucurbita
pepo) 110 days - This old heirloom variety weights 25 pounds or more,
and is perfect for Halloween decorating! A terrific choice for
Thanksgiving pies!
Squash:
- SPAGHETTI (Cucurbita pepo) 100 days- This
unusual variety is filled with strands of squash similar to
spaghetti! To serve, simply bake, then scoop the strands out, and
serve just like pasta. Unique!
-WINTER HARVEST MIX 80-110
days - This nice mixture of winter squashes will provide you with the variety
you crave. Whether they're steamed, sautéed, or roasted, this selection is sure
to please your palate. A great way to have a wonderful selection of winter
squashes to choose from this season.
-BLACK BEAUTY SQUASH 60 days - This heirloom variety
was first introduced to U.S. markets in the 1920's. The semi-upright plants
produce a heavy crop of blocky, dark green/black fruits, with a creamy, white
interior. Excellent all purpose zucchini.
Tomatoes:
-AMISH PASTE 82
days - Originally from the Amish of Wisconsin, we acquired our
seed from the Amish farms in Lancaster, PA. The deep red, 8 ounce fruit
resembles an acorn, with thick flesh and few seeds. Makes an excellent canning
tomato! Indeterminate vines.
-CHEROKEE PURPLE 82 days -
Originally grown by the Cherokee Indians, this has been a popular tomato for
over 100 years! This relatively disease free tomato has pink-purple
flesh, with a smoky, sweet flavor, and grows 10 to 12 ounces, while the
vines provide dense foliage. Very unusual! Indeterminate
vines.
-STRIPED GERMAN 80-90 days - A West Virginia variety that
produces very large (up to 2½ pounds), red and yellow skinned fruits. The
bi-colored flesh has a nice, slightly tart flavor and looks very attractive
when sliced. Indeterminate vines.
Peppers:
-YOLO WONDER 75 days - A larger and more mosaic resistant variety
than the California Wonder pepper. The 2 foot plants grow thick walled
peppers that mature to a beautiful red color, with dense foliage to help
protect against sun scald. A good choice!
-JALAPENO 70 days -
A very popular hot pepper, used often in Mexican cuisine. The green, sausage
shaped fruits are abundant on these 24-36 inch plants. Excellent
variety for pickling!
-PEPPERONCINI (Italian) 72 days – These small, very mild
peppers are 2-3 inches long and ½ inch wide. Pick the fruit when green
and use either fresh or pickled. These small, bush type plants are
originally from southern Italy, and are very fine flavored! A
gourmet's delight!
Eggplant:
-LONG PURPLE 80 days - This Italian favorite has plants
that grow 25 to 35 inches, and bear 4 or more fruits per plant, each growing 8
to 10 inches. A productive variety, with dark purple fruit. A
delight to eat!
Broccoli:
-DE CICCO 50-60
days - An old reliable European variety first introduced in 1890.
The small, blue/green heads are delicious, and deliver lots of side shoots once
the central head is harvested. Excellent flavor!
Brussel Sprouts:
-LONG ISLAND IMPROVED
80-115 days – Was formerly the most widely grown brussels sprout in the United
States! The 20-24 inch plants produce a heavy set (50 to 100) of small
dark green, 1½ inch diameter heads over an extended season. Excellent
choice for freezing. More flavorful than the hybrid varieties!
Cabbage:
-CHARLESTON WAKEFIELD 70-74 days - This Southern favorite produces very
uniform, dark green, 4-6 pound, conical heads. Crisp and crunchy for cole slaw,
but equally tasty cooked. Delicious when sauteed with bacon and onions.
Cauliflower:
-ALL THE YEAR ROUND 70
days - A good choice for cold frame planting. The large, tight heads are
wrapped in dark-green leaves, and keep longer than many other varieties. Nice,
delicious taste eaten raw or cooked. Excellent choice for freezing.
Beets:
-BULL'S BLOOD 55 days - This remarkably sweet variety looks as
good as it tastes! The beautiful, dark red-purple tops make delicious baby
greens, while the tasty roots are a good choice either fresh or canned!
Carrots:
-TENDERSWEET 75
days - This variety delivers a very uniform crop of 8-10 inch, red/orange carrots. A very
sweet and nearly coreless carrot, that has finely grained, crisp
flesh. A good choice for freezing!
Onions:
-RED
CREOLE 95-190 days -
This medium sized onion has flat, red colored bulbs with red-purple
flesh. A short day variety of onion for growing in the south.
An excellent storage onion for warm climate areas!
-CRYSTAL WAX 90 - 185 days - This is a short day, white
bermuda type onion for southern growers! Use this medium-
large sized onion for fresh use, as it does not store well. The
white, coarse flesh is delicious and mild tasting. An excellent
choice for pearl onions!
Rutabaga:
-AMERICAN PURPLE TOP 80
-120 days - This variety has long been the standard for both home and
market! The nearly globe shaped roots grow 4 to 6 inches in diameter, and
have a light yellow skin with a purple top. The flesh is a light yellow
color, finely grained and sweet tasting. A great choice for winter storage!
Peas:
- SUGAR SNAP 65 days – The original sugar snap pea! An "All
American Selection" winner in 1979. The long
growing vines can reach up to 6 feet and need support. Use the 2½ to 3½
inch pods just like snap beans. A very good producer that freezes
well!
Kale:
- EARLY SIBERIAN 65 days - This hardy and fast growing
variety grows 14 inches tall, and has huge, slightly curled, blue/green
leaves. An excellent choice for southern states.
- RUSSIAN RED 55 days - An heirloom favorite of many! The
red, frilly leaves with purple veins are oak-leafed shaped and are very tender
and tasty. An old, rare variety that dates back to 1885.
Melons:
- SWEET SUMMER MIX 80 - 110 days - A wonderful
selection of our best selling varieties. All sweet and juicy, this nice
assortment will produce a crop of varying sizes, colors and flavors. A
delicious taste of summer!
- LOUISIANA SWEET 90 days – This fine melon is known for its
outstanding flavor. The flesh is crisp, red and has a high sugar level,
while the rind is green with darker green stripes. The melons average
20–25 pounds each, and have some tolerance to Fusarium wilt and Anthracnose.
Very sweet!
Corn:
- LADY FINGER 105 days - An Amish
heirloom that produces short, stalky plants with multiple long, slender, 6½
inch ears of deep yellow kernels, with an occasional red and purple sprinkled
in. A very good flavored popper that also can be used for autumn
decorating.
- TRUCKER'S FAVORITE YELLOW 100
days - Yellow dent corn that can be eaten fresh as roasting ears. The stalks
grow 8 to 9 feet, and have 8-10 inch ears with 14-18 rows of kernels. The dried
kernels can be ground for flour or used as livestock feed.
Herbs:
- BASIL, SWEET (Ocimum basilicum) - A very popular herb, sweet basil can be
used in tomato dishes, as well as soups, meat, vegetable and fish dishes.
Sow the seeds directly in the garden after the soil has warmed, or to get an
early start, the seeds may be started inside 3 to 4 weeks before the last
spring frost. Basil grows rapidly and is a heavy feeder, so plenty of
compost should be worked in the soil before planting. Harvest often to
ensure a continuous supply all summer long. Basil loves a hot, sunny
location in the garden, with a regular watering routine. The delicious leaves
can be used either fresh or dried. Height - 2 feet. Annual.
- CHIVES, GARLIC (Allium tuberosum) – The thin, flat
leaves of this variety have a mild, garlic flavor. An easy-to-grow herb
for either a sunny or partially shaded location. Height-12".
Perennial.
- CORIANDER/CILANTRO (Coriandrum sativum) - The seeds of this herb can be used in
flavoring candies, beverages, sauces and soups, while the crushed seeds are
often used in cakes, custards and jellies. The fresh leaves are delightful
additions in both Asian and Mexican cuisine. Sow the seeds outside early
spring, in a sunny location (the plants can withstand cold weather).
Harvest the leaves at any time for fresh use, as drying the leaves will
diminish their flavor. Height - 1 to 3 feet.
Annual.
- DILL (Anethum graveolens) -
The flower heads of the
dill plant add a delicious flavor to pickles, or use the leaves of the plant to
add zip to sauces, coleslaw, potato salad, or even fish! Sow the seeds
outside in early spring, around the time of the last frost, in a sunny, well
drained location. Gather the leaves while still young; pick the flowering
tops just as fruits begin to form. Height - 2 to 3
feet. Annual.
- OREGANO, GREEK (Origanum vulgare hirtum) - The leaves of this delectable herb are a must
in tomato sauces, pizza and other Italian dishes. Europeans often used it
medicinally to treat coughs and bronchitis. Prefers rich,
well drained soil in a sunny location. Sow directly into the garden after the
last spring frost; germination can be slow. Can be dried for longer
storage. Height - 18 inches. Semi hardy
perennial.
- PARSLEY, ITALIAN (Petroselinum crispum) – Dark green, flat leaf variety. This
parsley has a stronger flavor than the curled variety, and is used for more
intense flavoring. Excellent choice for drying and storing. Soaking the
seeds overnight prior to planting will help speed germination, which is
otherwise slow, taking up to 3 weeks to sprout. Choose a sunny or partially
shaded location, with rich, well drained soil. Will regrow after it is
cut. Height - 15 inches. Biennial, but grow as an
annual.
- SAGE (Salvia officinalis) -The traditional herb used to season poultry, pork, and tasty
stuffings! The leaves can also be used to make a tea which may help relieve
colds and sore throats. Start the seeds inside 8 to 10 weeks before the last
spring frost, transplanting outside in a sunny, well drained location. The
leaves can be used either fresh, or dried for longer storage.
Height - 18 inches. Perennial.
Cucumbers:
- DELIKATESSE (Cucumis
sativus) 60 days – A German favorite that bears an abundant supply
of delicious, pale green, 10 inch fruits. The medium sized, rounded cukes
have excellent taste and make great pickles when small, or use as slicers when
larger.
Sunflowers:
- SKYSCRAPER SUNFLOWER
Strong, 12 foot stalks with
cheerful, 14", bright yellow flowers. Shows some heat and drought
tolerance. Large, edible seeds! Annual. Sun.
