Offered here are only open-pollinated, non-F-l hybrid, non-patented vegetable seeds. I stress traditional and heirloom varieties, and have noted in the descriptions how long many kinds have been cultivated. The test of quality is time. You can be certain these time-honored varieties, many of which have been continuously grown for a century or more, and are still successfully competing with the modern hybrids, have proven themselves reliable and productive in a wide variety of climates and soils.
We do not distribute GMOs.
PUBLIC DOMAIN SEEDS.
All seeds in this catalog are Public Domain seeds.
ABOUT HEIRLOOMS.
There has been a lot of attention in the press in recent years to 'heirloom' or 'traditional' varieties, yet many people are unclear as to just what these terms mean. Since I find no universally accepted definitions among seedsmen and preservation workers, here are the meanings of the terms as I use them:
TRADITIONAL VARIETIES: Any variety developed more than 50 years ago. Includes many commercially developed and distributed varieties.
HEIRLOOM VARIETIES: Any variety that owes its existence to its preservation by home gardeners or private individuals, rather than the seed trade. This includes old varieties whose origin is unknown which have been passed down from generation to generation, as well as old varieties developed by seedsmen which at some point were dropped by the seed trade and would have been lost had they not been maintained by home gardeners.
GSI = Garden Seed Inventory.
OG = Organically Grown.
AMARANTH
—Amaranth Elephant Head (=Amaranth Greek). (a,h) VAMA-EH. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
Click for photo »
Amaranthus gangeticus. Huge maroon flowerheads with a long, trunk-like spike, resembling an elephant head. Robust 1 - 4 foot plants. Brought by German immigrants in the 1880s. Seed organically grown by Shoulder to Shoulder Farm. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks.
—Amaranth Grain D'Or. (1000) VAMA-GG. Packet: $3.00
5 grams: $7.50
A. hypochondriacus. Very early maturing, with golden yellow seedheads, to 6 feet. Good ground into flour, toasted and mixed with honey, or popped.
—Amaranth Hopi Red Dye. (a,g) VAMA-HO. Packet: $2.50
Deep purple-red plants to 4 - 6 feet tall, large and vigorous. Leaves are good greens when young, and the black seeds as grain. The Hopi use the plants to make a ceremonial red dye. Germinates in 1 - 2 weeks, GA-3 helps.
—Amaranth Lotus Purple. (a!,g) VAMA-LP. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $16.00
Robust heavy yielder with thick red-purple heads full of purple-black seeds. To 6 - 8 feet tall. Leaves good for cooked greens or salads, seeds for grain.
OTHER AMARANTH: see: Amaranthus in Seedlist Al-An.
ARUGULA: See Specialty Vegetables
BASIL
Ocimum Basilicum. Aromatic tender annuals grown in the herb garden for their value as seasoning and fragrance. The leaves are widely used in sauces and soups, the flavor blending particularly well with tomatoes. The clove-like fragrance has been considered soothing, and a cure for nervous headaches. Basil tea is said to calm an upset stomach. Start seed indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and plant out after all danger of frost is past. Thin to 6" apart. Basil likes full sun, and all types do well in pots. Harvest fresh leaves anytime. For drying, cut just before it reaches full bloom. Seed viable 8 - 10 years. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
—Basil, Cinnamon. (1000) OCIM-1C. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $9.00, 1/4 lb: $27.00
'CINNAMON BASIL'. Spicy aroma, purple flowers, to 30". A fine variety. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks.
NEW—Basil Dwarf Greek. (1000) OCIM-1DG. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $9.00
Compact bushy plants with small, intensely fragrant leaves. Perfect for window-boxes and borders. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Basil, Large Sweet. (a!,h) OCIM-1S. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $9.00
The most popular and widely grown variety. Sweet and aromatic 2 - 3" leaves. To 1 - 2 feet tall.
NEW—Basil 'Siam Queen'.(500) OCIM-1SQ. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $7.50
Info and photos: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/48849/
Flavorful Thai basil with an anise-clove flavor. To 14", with attractive dark flower spikes. AAS 1997. Germinates in 1 - 3 weeks.
—Basil, Lime (=Ocimum americanum). (a,h) OCIM-1L. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
'LIME BASIL'. Has a zesty lime flavor.
—Basil, Kapuri Tulsi (=Ocimum kilimandscharicum). (250) OCIM-14. Packet: $2.50
'KAPURI TULSHI', 'CAMPHOR BASIL'. White to light purple flowers. Tender shrub to 6 feet, with grey-green leaves with a strong camphor scent. E. Africa. Attracts bees. Used as a tea and medicinally in Africa and India. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks.
Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation in Kenya.
—Basil, Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum). (a!,h) OCIM-24. Packet: $2.50 OTC ORGANIC SEED
1/4 Oz: $8.00
'HOLY BASIL', 'TULSI'. Sweetly fragrant bushy perennial to 1 - 3 feet, grown as an annual in cold climates. Profuse purple or white bloom, and sometimes purplish-tinted foliage. Tropical Asia. Held sacred by the Hindus and grown around temples. Sections of the stem-bases are used in rosaries. The leaves are used in salads, and the oil is an effective antibiotic, and the leaves are used medicinally. Nice, distinctive clove-like flavor, good in cooking, salads, or for tea. Good in herb breads and herb butters. Good bee plant. Germinates in 1 - 4 weeks. Organically grown.
BEANS
USDA Germination Standard: 70%.
Pole Bean Varieties:
Sow in hills 3 feet apart, planting 6 or 7 seeds per hill, 1" deep. Stake with 6 foot poles set in a tripod over each hill. When seedlings are 2 - 3" high, thin to the 3 or 4 best plants. Pole beans bear later than bush types, but give a higher yield over a longer period. Most can be picked continually until frost.
—Bean Blue Lake Stringless. (c,g) VBEA-BLS. Packet: $2.50
lb: $10.00
60 days. Outstanding, long bearing variety with long, green tender rounded pods produced throughout the summer. Sweet, delightful taste makes this a favorite for fresh eating, canning or freezing. Early and prolific.
NEW—Bean Missouri Wonder Pole. (50) VBEA-MW. Packet: $2.50
1/4 lb: $6.00
Big vigorous vines producing an abundant crop of medium-green stringless pods. An old cornfield type, once grown with corn and allowed to twine up the stalks. Tolerates poor conditions.
—Bean Romano Pole. (d,h) VBEA-RO. Packet: $2.50
Broad flat green pods with a distinctive rich flavor, hearty and very tasty. Popular in Italy, and good for home and market gardens.
Bush Bean Varieties:
After all danger of frost is past, sow in rows 15 - 18" apart, 4 - 6" apart in the row. Seed does not germinate well in cold soil, so it is best to wait for warm weather to plant.
—Bean Dragon Tongue Wax. (40) VBEA-DT. Packet: $2.50
1/4 lb: $6.00
Pretty wax bean from Holland, with slender 6 - 8" creamy yellow beans marked with delicate purple stripes. Tender snap beans when young, or use for shell beans when the stripes turn red. Ripe dry beans good for soups.
—Bean Royalty Purple Pod. (b,g) VBEA-RP. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
lb: $7.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK
Bushy purple plants with purple flowers and 5" bright purple pods. Very tender and tasty, turning green when cooked. Germinates fine in cold wet soil. Introduced in 1957.
Other Types of Beans:
—Bean Christmas Lima. (d,h) VBEA-CL. Packet: $2.50
1/4 lb: $6.00
Huge flat beans beautifully marked with maroon. Their rich flavor has been likened to chestnuts. Pole type from the 1840s. Vigorous vines bear even in the hottest weather. USDA Germination Standard: 70%.
—Bean Cowpea Rattlesnake. VBEA-CR. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $4.00, 1/4 lb: $7.00
Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata. Nice small brown and tan beans, tender and flavorful eaten fresh or dried. USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
—Bean Cowpea Whippoorwill. (d,h) VBEA-CW. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $8.00, lb: $20.00
Prolific, continuously producing heirloom with tasty, grey-speckled brown or tan seeds. Harvest fresh green or let dry to store and use over winter. Good in adverse conditions, a favorite since 1850. USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
NEW—Bean Garbanzo Green Channa. (50) VBEA-GG. Packet: $1.00
1/4 lb: $3.00, lb: $6.00
Cicer arietinum. An unusual garbanzo from India, with small, moss-green beans. They turn brown when cooked, with lots of flavor.
—Bean Garbanzo Kala Channa. (c,h) VBEA-GK. Packet: $2.00
lb: $6.00
Cicer arietinum. A small, brown-seeded chick pea from India. Excellent for home gardens, good in dry, short-season areas. Not suited to cool coastal zones. Widely eaten in India fresh or dried, parched for snacks, ground into flour for sauces, pancakes, noodles, etc. An ancient snack food: Xenophanes, in the 6th century BC, spoke of "...drinking sweet wine and crunching chickpeas..."
NEW—Bean Scarlet Runner. (25) VBEA-SR. Packet: $2.50
1/2 lb: $6.00
Well-loved fast-growing vines with beautiful red-orange flowers that attract hummingbirds. Young green pods eaten as snap beans, later for green shell beans. One of the oldest runner beans, known since 1750. USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
BEETS
Beets are a good cool weather crop, and can be sown as early as soil can be worked. Sow 1/2" deep in rows 1 foot apart. Thin to 4", using the tender seedlings as early greens. A rich, light sandy loam, kept moist, is best for growing crisp, tender beets.
USDA Germination Standard: 65%.
—Beet Albino. (c,h) VBEE-AL. Packet: $2.50
Pure white, round sweet beets. Never messy, no stains. Absolutely delicious.
—Beet Bull's Blood. (b,h) VBEE-BB. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $7.50 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Strikingly beautiful deep blood-red-purple leaves with a wonderful sweet flavor. Dark red round roots are sweet and tasty, and the juice is used to make the only legal red food coloring in Sweden.
—Beet Chioggia. (c,h) VBEE-C. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Round, flattened beets have striking red and white rings inside, and a sweet mild flavor. One of the finest beets for fresh eating or pickling. Italian heirloom, introduced to America in the 1840s.
—Beet Golden Detroit. VBEE-GD. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $7.50 - NEW PRICE
Round orange-gold beets stay sweet even when large. Tender, mild- flavored, and good for pickling.
—Beet, Sugar Beet. (b,h) VBEE-SU. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $7.50, 1/4 lb: $22.50, lb: $48.00
Grown for the abundant leaves and the sweet whitish roots with a high sugar content. Roots about 8" long, weighing 2 - 5 pounds. Delicious cooked half and half with potatoes, and the leaves are excellent cooked like other beet greens.
BROCCOLI
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Sow in early spring for summer harvest, or in early fall for late fall or winter crop. Broccoli is a cool weather crop, and seeds may be started early indoors, setting out 2 - 3 weeks before last spring frost. Space 1 1/2 feet apart, in rows 2 feet apart. Likes full sun and a rich, moist well drained soil. Broccoli in the diet helps protect the body from damage due to high doses of X-rays.
USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
—Broccoli Calabrese. (a,h) VBRO-C. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
(=Early Italian Green Sprouting) 80 days. Introduced to the U.S. by Italian gardeners around the turn of the century, this variety produces 4 - 6" central heads of a deep blue-green color. Once the center head is cut, tender side shoots are produced in abundance for several months. In areas with a cool, mild climate year-round it may become perennial, giving an almost constant crop of sprouts of excellent flavor. "The Broccoli Early Italian made it through the drought and I was munching on it in December till a heavy ice killed it. It was a pretty big bush!"—D. Gyula, NJ, 1/96.
—Broccoli De Ciccio. (800) VBRO-DC. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $5.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
European type from 1890, producing many side shoots over a long season after the large central head is cut. Less uniform and more productive than hybrids, this is great for home gardens.
—Broccoli De Rapa. (a,h) VBRO-DR. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Non-heading variety originating in Europe. Produces an abundant crop of leaves and slender flower stalks that are eaten as greens or cooked with butter or olive oil and garlic, and tossed with pasta. Quick growing vegetable for early spring or fall sowing. Pick just as flower-buds start to open. Favorite winter greens in Italy. (=Spring Raab)
—Broccoli Early Purple Sprouting. (150) VBRO-PS. Packet: $2.50
Oz: $5.00 - NEW PRICE
Bushy purple plants bred to grow slowly over winter to produce in spring a loose central head and abundant tender side-shoots. Purple shoots great in salads, raw with dip, or lightly cooked. Sow in fall for a spring harvest. Extremely hardy—with some protection it may overwinter in the Midwest.
—Broccoli Fall Raab. (a!,h) VBRO-FR. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Non-heading European variety, sown in fall to winter over for leafy tops, shoots and flower stalks very early in spring. Nice tender early spring vegetable, somewhat like turnip greens.
—Broccoli Romanesco. (150) VBRO-RO. Packet: $3.00
Amazing apple-green spiral heads, often blushed violet. Unique flavor and appearance, delicious lightly braised with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. We call it 'Mandelbroccoli, the Fractal Vegetable', because each small part is a copy of the whole.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Brassica oleracea var. gemnifera. An excellent cold weather crop, Brussels Sprouts may be sown in spring as early as soil can be worked, or in late summer for fall harvest. Transplant in rows 3 feet apart, setting plants 1 1/2 feet apart in the row. Breaking off the lower leaves as the sprouts develop will encourage a heavier yield.
USDA Germination Standard: 70%.
—Brussels Sprouts Long Island Improved. (a,g) VBRU-L. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
90 days. An old favorite variety, early and very productive. Compact plants 20" tall, the stems tightly covered with round, firm, dark green sprouts. Well-known for its fine flavor, heavy yields and hardiness.
CABBAGE
Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Cabbage grows best in cool weather, in a deep, heavy, rich, loamy soil. Start indoors in early spring, planting out in 4 - 6 weeks, as soon as soil can be worked. Space plants 1 1/2 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. For fall or winter harvest, sow seed directly to the garden 2 - 3 months before first frost.
USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
NEW—Cabbage All Seasons. (1000) VCAB-AL. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
Large, broad, flattened heads, very solid, reaching 10 - 14 pounds. Tolerates hot dry weather. Stores well and great for sauerkraut. Origin about 1890.
—Cabbage Brunswick. (a!,h) VCAB-B. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Hard to find old-fashioned drumhead type, to 6 - 9 pounds. Very reliable even in cold summers. Broad flat heads store well. Makes good sauerkraut. "The Brunswick cabbages were so huge I couldn't cut the last few. Needed an axe."—A.G., Quebec.
—Cabbage Early Jersey Wakefield. (a!,h) VCAB-EJ. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
62 days from transplants, 95 - 100 days from seed. Early conical-headed variety, grown since 1885. Mild, sweet flavor, and compact, solid heads. Very hardy, can be grown through the winter for early spring harvest. Slow to bolt. The dark green heads weigh 2 - 3 pounds at maturity. Stores well. "I grew up on them, early, small and so sweet and good."—R.D., North Carolina, 1/96.
—Cabbage Red Acre. (500) VCAB-RA. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
Solid round red-purple heads weighing 2 - 4 pounds. Compact, sure-heading, good for storage.
NEW—Cabbage Savoy Perfection. (1000) VCAB-SP. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $12.00
Large heads of deep green crumpled leaves. Tender, sweet, mild-flavored. Keeps well. Since 1880.
CARROTS
Daucus carota var. sativa. For earliest crop, sow as soon as ground can be worked, in rows 1 - 1 1/2 feet apart, thinning to 2 - 4" apart in the row, according to variety. For succession, sow at intervals through mid-summer. A rich, sandy loam is best, but any good, well-cultivated soil will produce satisfactory crops.
USDA Germination Standard: 55%.
NEW—Carrot Atomic Red. (150) VCAR-AT. Packet: $2.50
1 Oz: $10.00 - NEW PRICE
Deep crimson 8" carrots, slender and tapered. Both the scarlet color and the flavor intensify when cooked. High in lycopene, which may help prevent cancer. Mom was right, carrots are good for you!
—Carrot Chantenay Red Cored. VCAR-CH. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Big blunt roots are deep orange-red with no lighter core. Good in heavy soil, gets sweeter in storage.
—Carrot Cosmic Purple. (150) VCAR-CP. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $8.00
Striking dark purple skin and bright orange interior make this carrot a real eye-catcher. Good for farmer's markets. Slender, tapered 7" carrots. Sweet flavor and amazing color which remains after cooking. A favorite of children everywhere.
—Carrot Danvers Half Long. (a!,h) VCAR-D. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Bright orange almost coreless carrots, 8" long, tapering to a blunt end. Excellent high-yielding type for clay or heavy soils. Sweet and tender, stores for months. Introduced in 1871, has remained a popular variety for over a hundred years.
—Carrot Kuroda. VCAR-KU. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Deep orange Asian variety. Sweet, tender, and excellent for juicing. Heat tolerant, good in warm climates.
—Carrot Little Finger. (a!,g) VCAR-LF. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Gourmet baby carrot, developed in France for early harvest in 6 - 10 weeks. Slender 3" roots with almost no core, smooth skin, and dark orange color. Tender and sweet, used whole for dipping, stir frying, roasting, salads, etc. In France they are favorites for pickling or canning.
—Carrot Parisian. VCAR-PA. Packet: $2.00
Oz: 6.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Unusual French heirloom from the 1800s, with small round deep orange roots about the size of a golf ball. Great flavor and stores well.
—Carrot Scarlet Nantes. (a!,g) VCAR-SN. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Long, cylindrical roots to 7", with bright orange color and almost no core. An old favorite for its sweet flavor and fine grained flesh, one of the best for juicing. Colors early for baby carrots. Excellent keeper; can be harvested all winter if left in the ground with a good layer of mulch.
—Carrot Snow White. (200) VCAR-SW. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $8.00
Long slender tapered pure white carrots. Mild flavor, crunchy and tender. Looks great mixed with other carrot colors.
—Carrot Solar Yellow. (150) VCAR-SY. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $8.00
Thick, crunchy, tasty carrots are deep bright yellow, inside and out. Sweet and tender when harvested young for baby carrots, flavorful for soups and stews when large. Good color for farmer's markets.
CAULIFLOWER
Brassica oleracea var. botryis. Cauliflower is fairly hardy, best sown in summer for a fall or winter crop. Requires rich soil and constant moisture, and should be spaced 2 - 2 1/2 feet apart. When heads begin to form, wrap the leaves over the heads and tie together to blanch them.
USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
—Cauliflower Early Snowball. (a!,h) VCAU-ES. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00, 1/4 lb: $18.00
An old standard variety since 1888, with pure white, solid, medium-sized heads. Short, compact plants. Does well in mild, warm climates, and as a fall crop in short-season areas. About 65 days.
—Cauliflower Violetta Italia. (300) VCAU-VI. Packet: $3.00
1/4 Oz: $12.00
Large purple heads, turning green when cooked. Tender and mild flavored, big vigorous plants.
CELERY
Apium graveolens var. dulce. Prefers a cool, extended season for best growth. A good summer or fall crop for the North, spring and winter in the South. Likes a very moist rich soil with good drainage. Start seed in flats and transplant out when 2 - 3" tall. Space 6" apart in rows 1 foot apart. Keep constantly moist, in full sun. May be blanched by tying the leaves together and gradually covering with soil to within a few inches of the top.
USDA Germination Standard: 55%.
—Celery Tendercrisp. VCEL-TC. Packet: $2.50
1/4 Oz: $6.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Tall, compact heads of thick deep green stalks.
"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must approve the homage of Reason rather than that of blindfolded fear."—Thomas Jefferson.
CHERVIL
Anthriscus cerefolium. Hardy annual herb of the parsley family, with a caraway/cucumber flavor that blends well with fish, eggs, and meat. Good in soups, salads and herb butters. Cold hardy; sow in late summer or early spring, thin to 8" apart. Reaches 1 1/2 feet in height.
—Chervil Plain Leaf. (500) VCHE-PL. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Broad, flat, light green leaves with a distinctive parsley-anise flavor. Used as a spring herb in soups and salads, and as a garnish with fish, meats and eggs. Used extensively in Europe, it is blended with chives and marjoram in fines herbes mixes. To 1 1/2 feet. Good in pots.
CHICORY (including Radicchio)
Chicorium Intybus. Perennial plants grown for their tender leaves and roots. The crisp, bitter leaves add flavor and bite to salads, and can be braised or boiled. The roots of all types can be dried and roasted, then ground for a coffee flavoring or substitute, or can be cooked and eaten like carrots or parsnips. Called radicchio in Italy, where they are very popular, chicories come in a variety of types, from loose-leaf to forcing. Most are harvested as needed, like lettuce, but the forcing varieties require extra care. Sow in late spring to summer, thinning to 6" apart, for harvest from fall to early spring. Many need up to 5 months to mature, but the leaves may be used throughout the growing period. Forcing chicories are grown over the hot season, then cut back to within 1" of the root crown about 3 weeks before first frost. They will then regrow, producing the beautiful red and white heads which are used for winter salads. Freezing weather brings out the color. Once cut back, plants may be left in the ground and mulched, or lifted and stored in a cool dark place while second growth occurs. Left uncut, frost will kill the outer leaves, and the heads will appear later beneath the dead summer growth. Their color and unique tart, crisp tenderness make them worth the extra effort. All chicories prefer a rich, moist, well-drained soil and full sun.
USDA Germination Standard: 65%.
—Chicory Italian Dandelion Chicory (=Chiccoria Catalogna). (a!,g) VCHI-ID. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $6.00
Also called Ciccoria Catalogna. Deeply cut, long, wide leaves on quick growing plants which produce an abundance of young shoots in spring. The thick shoots and tender young leaves are eaten in salads or lightly steamed. They have a rich, delicate flavor that many prefer to asparagus. Sow in late summer after the peak of the hot season has passed. Thin to 1 foot apart, and allow the plants to develop over winter. 75 days.
—Chicory Rossa Di Treviso. VCHI-RT. Packet: $2.50
10 grams: $7.50
Long narrow leaves, green in summer, deep red in fall. May be cut back in fall to form tall tight heads of red leaves with white veins, crisp and tart. One of the oldest types, introduced in the 16th century.
—Chicory Variegata De Castelfranco. (b,h) VCHI-VC. Packet: $2.00
10 grams: $7.00 BULK OUT OF STOCK - PACKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Heirloom heading type, with beautiful rounded, crinkled leaves splashed red, yellow, and green. The loose heads color vividly during, cold weather.
CHIVES: See Specialty Vegetables
COLLARDS: See Specialty Vegetables
CORN (Maize)
Zea Mays. Excellent corn can be raised in any good garden soil, but rich loam is best. Keep moist. Sow seed after all danger of frost is past. Plant 4 - 6 seeds 2 - 3" deep in hills 3 - 4 feet apart each way. When seedlings are 4" tall thin to the 2 most vigorous plants. May also be planted in rows, 1 foot apart in the row. Corn does not pollinate fully if planted in a single row; best in blocks.
The three types of commonly grown corn are: Sweet Corn, Field Corn, and Popcorn.
USDA Germination Standard: 75%.
Sweet Corn Varieties:
Sweet corn has a higher sugar content and less starch than the others, and is generally eaten fresh after boiling or steaming the ears for a few minutes. Ears are harvested before full maturity, when the kernels are very tender.
—Corn Golden Bantam. (b,h) VCOR-GB. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $6.00, lb: $14.00
75 days. Early 8-rowed variety with plump, sweet golden kernels on 7 inch ears. To 6 feet. A favorite home garden variety since 1900.
Field Corn Varieties:
Field corn has more starch and is drier and less sweet than the other types, often with very large, flat, broad kernels. They are used after drying for meal, flour, hominy and fodder. Harvested when the ears are fully mature and the husks are dry. Most of the maize varieties grown by the American Indians were of this type. I have come to like field corn for on-the-cob eating, preferring its robust, hearty qualities. It is especially good Central American style, roasted over an open fire, and rubbed with a lime dipped in chili powder and salt.
—Corn Black Aztec. (d,h) VCOR-BZ. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $7.00, 1/2 lb $10.00
Said to be grown since pre-Columbian times, this variety has long, slender ears which turn deep blue-black at maturity. Good for fresh eating and roasting when the kernels are young and white, and makes excellent blue corn meal when mature. Considered a sweet corn, but probably not as sweet as the modern types.
—Corn Bloody Butcher. (c,h) VCOR-BB. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $7.00, 1/2 lb: $10.00
Graphic name for an old variety with dark red kernels. Heirloom from 1845, the color varied from light red with darker stripes, to pure dark red, even a white ear now and then. Great for fresh eating when young, or ground into flour or cornmeal when mature.
NEW—Corn Brown Tones. (50) VCOR-BT. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $6.00
Unusual dent corn with milk-chocolate-colored kernels. Beautiful ornamental, and delicious eaten young on the cob, or for cornmeal.
—Corn Earth Tones. (c,h) VCOR-ET. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $7.00, 1/2 lb: $10.00
Multicolored flour variety with kernels in dusky shades of gold, purple, bronze, rose, brown and green. Large ears to 10" long. Dent type, excellent for grinding into cornmeal or flour, and good eaten fresh as corn-on-the-cob when young.
—Corn Hopi Blue. (c,h) VCOR-HB. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $7.00, 1/2 lb: $10.00
Ancient flint corn traditionally grown by the Hopi people in what is now Arizona. Dark blue kernels on large ears, produced on bushy 5 foot tall plants. Extremely drought tolerant and hardy. Ground into flour for making piki bread, or parched for stews, etc.
—Corn Japonica Striped Maize. (e,h) VCOR-JS. Packet: $2.50 ORGANIC SEED
Incredibly lovely ornamental corn, with leaves striped white, yellow, bright pink, and green. Kernels are dark purple-red. Grows 5 - 6 feet tall, beautiful and unusual for borders or backgrounds. Originally from Japan in the 1890s. Space widely for best color. Organically grown.
—Corn Oaxacan Green. (d,h) VCOR-OX. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $7.00, 1/2 lb: $10.00
Heirloom Zapotec variety with deep emerald-green kernels on 8 - 10" ears. Sturdy, drought-tolerant plants to 7 feet. Grown for centuries in Oaxaca, México, usually ground into flour for making green tamales. Young ears, called 'elotes', are sold fresh-grilled in the marketplace, eaten rubbed with lime-juice, chile powder, and salt. The most beautiful and delicious fresh corn we have eaten.
—Corn Peruvian Morado. (c,h) VCOR-PM. Packet: $2.50
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Deep violet round kernels, dark purple cobs. The darkest purple corn we have ever seen. Short, plump ears to 2 1/2 - 6" long, 8 - 12 row, some dent. Grown primarily for making chicha, a corn drink.
Popcorn Varieties:
Popcorns are smaller than other types, and are harvested after the cobs have dried on the stalks. Valued for its ability to pop when heated, it has been regarded as a festive food since ancient times.
—Popcorn Brown Sugar. (b,h) VCOR-BR. Packet: $2.00
1/4 lb: $5.00, lb: $15.00
Rich chocolate-brown kernels on slender 4" ears. Unique color for fall decorations. Makes up to 10 ears per plant. Fluffy white popcorn. Popular at farmer's markets and roadside stands.
NEW—Popcorn Green Harvest. (100) VCOR-GH. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Striking ornamental with 4" ears with deep rich green kernels. Also great for popping.
—Popcorn Miniature Blue. (c,h) VCOR-MB. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $5.00, 1/4 lb: $10.00
Striking dusky steel-blue kernels on tiny 5" ears. Plants grow 5 - 6 feet tall. Great popping corn, and makes beautiful fall decorations.
CORN SALAD (also called Mache or Lamb's Lettuce)
Valerianella olitoria. A small, quick-growing annual for fall, winter and spring use. Forms rosettes of tender, deep green leaves which are delicious in salads or lightly cooked and served like spinach. Sow in early spring and again in fall. Treat like lettuce, spacing plants 3 - 4" apart. During very cold weather, a light covering of straw will preserve the plants for early salad greens.
USDA Germination Standard: 70%.
—Corn Salad. (a!,h) VCOS-CS. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Compact rosettes of delicate, glossy green leaves with a mild, nutty flavor.
—Corn Salad Vert de Cambrai. (a,h) VCOS-VC. Packet: $2.50
Deep green oval leaves with delicate flavor. Tender rosettes can be harvested young for 'baby mache'. Very cold tolerant, an old favorite for over-wintering in France and Germany. Best sown in October for harvest in February and March.
CRESS
Small-leaved succulent herbs with a spicy, peppery flavor that goes well in salads mixed with milder greens. Sow in spring, allowing close growth in rows 1 foot apart. Prefers moist soil. Seed sprouts quickly, and may be sown successively every few days until the beginning of hot weather, and again in late summer. Easily grown vitamin-rich greens.
NEW—Greek Cress. (100) VCRE-G. Packet: $2.50
5 grams: $7.50
Fast growing salad green with an unusual tangy, peppery flavor. Refreshing addition to baby greens.
—Cress Upland or Winter Cress. (a!,g) VCRE-U. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Barbarea verna. Round leaves similar to watercress, with a pleasantly warm flavor. Not aquatic, it grows well on dry land. Good pot herb. Does not require succession sowings. USDA Germination Standard: 60%.
—Cress Variegated Landcress. (b,g) VCRE-VL. Packet: $3.00
Gram: $7.50, 5 grams: $18.00
Barbarea vulgaris variegata. Beautiful green leaves with golden splashes and stripes. The spicy flavor makes them nice in baby salad mixes, and they are very ornamental in the garden.
—Cress Watercress. (a,f-g) VCRE-W. Packet: $2.50
Nasturtium officinale. Hardy perennial creeping aquatic plant. Does not need running water to succeed, but if grown in the garden it must be watered every day. May be grown in tubs or tanks with a few inches of rich soil on the bottom, and flooded with water. If water is not flowing, change it every 10 days or so. Try scattering the seed along the edge of a brook, or start in moist soil and transplant deep enough that the leaves are just submerged. Once established, it will give for up to 10 years. Cut frequently as it becomes bitter when seedstalks form.
USDA Germination Standard: 40%.
—Cress Wrinkled Crinkled. (1000) VCRE-WC. Packet: $2.00
Oz: $6.00
Crinkled, curled, and savoyed leaves add spice and body to salads and stir-fries. Holds up better than other cress, with the same peppery tang. Nice addition to salad and braising mixes.
CUCUMBERS
Cucumis sativus. Sow in late spring or early summer in hills 4 feet apart. Plant 8 - 10 seeds per hill. Thin to the 3 or 4 best plants. May be sown early in pots, 4 - 6 weeks before planting out. When transplanting, take care not to disturb the roots. Will produce all abundance of fruit in any good garden soil. Pick cucumbers when dark green, before fully ripened and yellow, or they will die back.
USDA Germination Standard: 80%.
—Cucumber Improved Long Green. (c,h) VCUC-IM. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Introduced in 1842, this fine variety has been a favorite in home gardens for over 150 years. Medium-green 10" fruits with few seeds, crisp and flavorful. Dependable and high yielding, good for both pickles and slicing.
—Cucumber Miniature White. (c,h) VCUC-MW. Packet: $3.00
Unusual small creamy-white fruits, some flushed with yellow. Best picked under 3" long. No need to peel, tender and mild-flavored. Compact vines, usually under 3 feet tall. Very productive, a popular seller at farmer's markets and roadside stands.
—Cucumber National Pickling. VCUC-NP. Packet: $1.50
Oz: $5.00
Developed by the National Pickle Packer's Association, this is one of the best pickling varieties. Short, thick, dark green 6 - 7" cucumbers. Also great fresh for salads.
NEW—Cucumber Suyo Long. (20) VCUC-SU. Packet: $3.00 ORGANIC SEED
1/4 Oz: $9.00 ORGANIC SEED
Chinese variety with slender, ribbed, dark green 10 - 18" cucumbers. Crisp, tender, not bitter. Great for salads, or sliced for bread and butter pickles.
—Cucumber White. (d,h) VCUC-WH. Packet: $2.50 OUT OF STOCK
Oz: $9.00 OUT OF STOCK
Introduced over 100 years ago, this has long been a favorite slicing cucumber for home gardeners. Medium-sized plump white fruits with black spines. Superb taste, crisp and tender. Excellent all-round eating quality.