Seed Library at Milwaukee Area Technical College: Examples of Past Seeds

BE-53 Bill Jump’s Soup Pea

Item Details: This vigorous, highly productive, and versatile variety tastes delicious whether eaten dried in soup or fresh right off the vine. Vines grow 5-6' in height and bear ornate, purple-blue flowers, while the straight, green pods average 2.5-3" long and contain 4-5 wrinkled seeds. This late-maturing heirloom pea was donated to Seed Savers Exchange by Dennis Miller, whose great-grandfather, Bill Jump, grew the peas in eastern Washington since at least the 1930s.

Instructions: Peas thrive in cool weather. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Double rows of peas can be planted on each side of a trellis.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 7-14
Planting Depth: 1/2-1”
Spacing in Row: 2-3"
Spacing Between Rows: 24"
Days to Maturity: 80-90
Height at Maturity: 5-6’
Support: Trellis
 

BE-24 Red Swan Bush Bean
 

Item Details: Extraordinary color and deep, earthy flavor. Dedicated life-long bean breeder Robert Lobitz once said, "Beans are a poor man's jewels." You may have experienced that heart-felt sentiment when admiring a handful of beans. Look closely: each one is different, and some are reflective, colorful, fit to be set as a pendant. The dusty pink color ranges from pale rose to deep magenta, with a bit of green in the background, giving them an iridescent appearance. The plants are quite striking, having bi-colored flowers that pop over the foliage, making Red Swan a great choice for edible landscaping, as well as a unique offering at the market booth. Perhaps Lobitz bred this bean to be a jewel as elegant as a swan./br>/br> The flavor is deep and earthy, similar to that of a Romano type. More than just pretty, these beans have an added value that no gemstone can provide: eating them makes your heart healthy. Red Swan is a newer variety, an open-pollinated bean that was bred out of a cross between a pinto and a purple podded bean, and makes for delicious fresh eating.

Instructions: Bush snap beans can be directly sown outdoors at recommended spacing after the last spring frost. It makes sense to inoculate beans before sowing, which boosts the nitrogen levels of your garden soil. Inoculant is available at garden centers. Sow bean seeds 3-4" apart in the row around the third week of May. Thinning is not necessary, but do keep the plants weeded, especially when young. Bush beans begin to bear in about 50 days, and their crop is produced in one brief burst lasting about 2 weeks. Once beans appear on plants, harvest every 1-2 days. Harvest when they are taut and filled out, but before the beans become discernible in the pods. Succession sow every 2-3 weeks for the first half of the season for a steady crop.

Sun Preference: Full sun

Days to Germination: 7-10

Planting Depth: 3/4-1”

Spacing in Row: 4-6"

Spacing Between Rows: 36"

Days to Maturity: 55

Height at Maturity: 16-20”

Width at Maturity: 18"

COL-24 Romanesco Cauliflower

Item Details: As beautiful in the garden as on the table, Romanesco produces stunning apple-green whorled heads with a highly refined taste and texture. Dense florets in a fractal form. Widely grown and prized in Italy, it grows exceptionally well in cool northern areas of the country.

Instructions: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant out just before the last frost. This brassica prefers cool temperatures and a regular supply of water. In many regions it can be grown as both a spring and fall crop.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 3-10. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing: 24"
Days to Maturity: 75-100 from transplant

CU-25 A&C Pickling Cucumber 

Item Details: Also known as Ace. Uniformly straight 10" fruits hold their dark-green color for a long time. Very productive and a good choice for pickling, as the name suggests. Excellent variety for home or market gardens. Best picked when 4-6" long. Introduced in 1928 by Abbott & Cobb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Instructions: When growing plants on a trellis, space seed 6-8" apart and thin plants as necessary; train plants to climb the trellis with an initial guidance. Alternatively, make 12" hills at least 6' apart. Plant 6-8 cucumber seeds per hill 1" deep. After germination, thin to 3-4 plants per hill. Can also be started indoors 2-4 weeks before last frost. Cucumbers benefit from steady moisture.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1” in 12” diameter hills
Spacing: 6’ apart in all directions
Plant/Thin: 6-8 seeds per hill. Thin to 3-4 plants
Days to Maturity: 50-65
Length at Maturity: Best when picked 4-6” long

GR-10 Golden Giant Amaranth
 
Item Details: Over time, humans have selected and reselected Amaranthus genus plants for edible grains, nutritious leaves, and colorful flowering heads. Whether grown for its massive, golden-bronze plumes or high yields of plentiful, nutrient-dense seeds (or both!). The vigorous plants can grow as high as 8' and are truly stunning to behold.

Instructions: Direct sow in the spring after threat of frost has passed in a sunny, well-drained spot. Thin seedlings to 6-10 inches apart. Amaranth tolerates fair fertility and dry conditions, but more fertility and moderate water will yield lusher and taller plants. Taller plants (up to 8'!) may require a bit of staking to keep them from flopping over. To harvest seed for grain, wait until the seeds are visible and the foliage begins to yellow slightly; then shake the seed heads into a container, or clip entire heads and hang to dry before threshing, cleaning and storing.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 5-10
Planting Depth: barely cover
Spacing in Row: 12"
Spacing Between Rows: 12"
Days to Maturity: 100
Height at Maturity: 72”
Width at Maturity: 15"
Support: Stake

GRE-15 Tatsoi Asian Greens

Item Details: Mild, fast-growing Asian green. Over the centuries, East Asian gardeners have selected dozens of varieties of unique and highly useful brassicas. From bulging Chinese cabbages to bulbous Bok Choys to frilly Mizunas, it's hard to believe that all these diverse habits and colors are part of the same species. Tatsoi is one of our favorites. The lovely low-growing rosettes of deep green leaves proclaim this plant's nutrient density. Raw or cooked, its delicate flavor and tender texture belie an inner resilience: it heartily survives the cold, thriving into late fall and winter. On top of all that, Tatsoi grows quickly. Once you've discovered its charms, your garden will never be without it.

Instructions: Sow indoors beginning 8-10 weeks before last frost, or direct sow beginning 3-4 weeks before last frost. Can be sown straight through until September, though spring sowings can bolt early and be taken by flea beetles; consider using row cover. Sow more densely than indicated for baby clippings. Harvest whole head—not an ideal cut-and-come-again green. Superb in fall and winter. It lasts well into the colder months and can be grown successfully all winter with protection. 

Sun Preference: Full to little Sun
Days to Germination: 5-14
Planting Depth: 1/4-1/2”
Spacing in Row: 6"
Spacing Between Rows: 18"
Days to Maturity: 50
Height at Maturity: 8-12”
Width at Maturity: 8-16"
Days to Maturity: 21-28 for baby greens; 45 to full maturity

GRE-73 Ruby Streaks Mustard Green
 

Item Details: Essential salad leaf. Spicy flavor. Deeply-lobed, lacy baby leaves with deep purple highlights. Green leaves with purple veining add loft, spice and rosy elegance to any salad plate or stir-fry. Color is darkest when sown summer through fall. Open-Pollinated.
 

Instructions: Most Brassica greens are moderately hardy annuals that can be sown from early spring through midsummer. Commonly grown as baby leaf for salad mixes in the US, and also traditionally grown for full size leaves in ethnic cuisine or stir-fry and pickled. Light cooking dispels mustard heat to reveal a very sweet and full flavor. Direct seed as soon as soil can be worked. Sow every 3 weeks into fall for a continuous harvest. Harvest leaves as desired. Use floating row cover when planting to protect from flea beetles. Can also be planted in late summer for a fall crop. Harvest outer leaves, or the whole plant at any stage. 

Sun Preference: Full sun to partial shade
Days to Germination: 4-7
Planting Depth: 1/4-1/2”
Spacing in Row: 1"
Spacing between Rows: 18”
Thin to: 6-12" apart, for mature heads
Harvest: when leaves are ~3” tall by cutting 1” from ground or pick individual leaves for cut and come again
Days to Maturity: 20 baby. 45 full size

GRE-16 Backlund Bly Orach

Item Details: Green Orach.grows up to 5' tall with light green leaves. Slow to bolt heirloom from Norway. In family 4 generations. This variety comes from Mark Walker and Kathy Kapitan, seed savers who have listed in the SSE Yearbook Exchange since 1996. They received this orach from Marks uncle, Gib Backlund, who obtained it from his father-in-law, George Bly. George's parents, Haldor and Ingeliv (Sekse) Bly, brought the orach to the U.S. when they emigrated from Norway to Minnesota in 1888. Heritage Farm Collection Variety in 2017.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors 2-3 weeks after the last frost. Harvest leaves that are 4-6" tall, harvest continually and make successive plantings. Best harvested when plant is between 6" and 2' tall. Self-sows in the garden.

Days to Germination: 7-10
Planting Depth: 1/2”
Spacing in Row: 2", thin to 6-8” apart
Days to Maturity: 50-55
Height at Maturity: Up to 5’
 

GRE-88 Purple Orach from Alice's Garden Patch - Kindly donated by Victoria

Item Details: Also known as Mountain spinach, French spinach, Giant Lambs quarters. Touted as a warm-season alternative to spinach, orach is actually a cool-season plant that just doesn't go to seed (bolt) as quickly as spinach. Harvest leaves that are less-bitter than spinach into the summer. Purple varieties in particular make good ornamental plants, though can reach 4 to 6 feet tall.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors 2-3 weeks after the last frost. Harvest leaves that are 4-6" tall, harvest continually and make successive plantings. Best harvested when plant is between 6" and 2' tall. Self-sows in the garden.

Days to Germination: 7-10
Planting Depth: 1/2”
Spacing in Row: 2", thin to 6-8” apart
Days to Maturity: 45-50
Height at Maturity: 4-6’
 

GRE-84 Watercress

Item Details: This refreshing green crop has deep, peppery undertones. Serves as a lovely spring tonic. Perennial. Excels in containers. Direct sow. 

Instructions: Surface sow in spring when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees F. Once plants are established, thin to indicated spacing. For home growers, watercress is most easily grown in containers filled with quality compost, in a shady spot, with a deep tray filled with water under. Change water weekly and harvest frequently.

Sun Preference: Full to partial sun
Days to Germination: 5-15
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing in Row: 4"
Spacing Between Rows: 4"
Days to Maturity: 45
Height at Maturity: 18”

GRE-33 Wild Arugula

Item Details: If you already like arugula, you'll like wild arugula even more. If you already dislike arugula, well, steer clear. Wild arugula has an amplified arugula flavor, while its smaller leaves and pretty color make for a refined impression. Grab a small handful and toss chopped into a salad for a terrific arugula bite, or steam older leaves for use as a side green.

Instructions: Wild arugula can be direct sown as soon as soil can be worked. If transplanting, transplant promptly; the fast-growing seedlings resent checked growth, which can cause them to bolt prematurely. Harvest when young for fresh use, when slightly older for braising. The cool-loving green doesn't particularly like mid-summer, but it will do well most of the season: keep on sowing! Very hardy and will grow through winter with the protection of a cold frame or low tunnel.
 

Days to Maturity: 45
Planting Depth: 0-1/4"
Spacing in Row: 6"
Spacing Between Rows: 12"
Width at Maturity: 6-12"

NAT-01 Little Bluestem

These seeds are sustainably sourced at Mequon Nature Preserve. We thank them for their community partnership in spreading local growing throughout our area.

Item Details: Perennial. A clump-forming shorter prairie grass that is good for erosion control. At one time grew in 45 states and was the most abundant grass in mid-America. Thick plants with slightly blue foliage, turn a striking copper/orange-red in the fall and are topped by fluffy silvery-white seed heads. Provides cover and food for birds. Little Blue Stem seedlings are incredibly resilient, so you’ll have plenty of newly established plantings in no time!

Instructions: Sow seeds indoors in warm soil in late winter or spring. Plant out after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds can also be directly sown into a weed-free seedbed in May or June. Plants grow best in well-drained sand and loam. Not recommended for clay soils. Don’t add fertilizer to your soil the first year. Especially fertilizer with nitrogen– it will encourage weeds to grow too!

Sun Preference: Sun/Partial Shade
Days to Germination: 14-20
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing between Plants: 24-36"
Days to Maturity: 75
Height at Maturity: 2-3’
Width at Maturity: 10"

NAT-05 Purple Prairie Clover
These seeds are sustainably sourced at Mequon Nature Preserve. We thank them for their community partnership in spreading local growing throughout our area.

Item Details: Perennial. Attracts butterflies. Herbaceous plant is unbranched. A dense cylindrical spike of flowers top the plant. Flower spike is 1-2″ long and about half as wide. Each purple flower is about ¼” across, with 5 small petals and 5 golden anthers that protrude outward. These flowers bloom together as a flowery wreath at the bottom of the spike, which gradually moves upward at the season progresses. The blooming period occurs from early to mid-summer, and lasts about 1–1½ months. The root system consists of a stout taproot that runs deep into the ground. The seeds travel only a short distance from the mother plant when the cylindrical spikes are shaken by the wind. Excellent in a variety of plantings including rock gardens, sunny perennial borders, native plant gardens or naturalized prairie areas.

Instructions: Sow seeds indoors just beneath surface of soil. Transplant outdoors no later than August 1 to ensure good root development. Also easy to grow when direct seeded into a weed- free seedbed in mid-spring to early summer. Very drought tolerant once established.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 10-20
Planting Depth: Just below surface
Spacing Between Rows: 12”
Height at Maturity: 1-3’
Plant Width at Maturity: 1’
Bloom Length/Width: 2”/1”

mequonnaturepreserve.org

NAT-17 Rosinweed

These seeds are sustainably sourced at Mequon Nature Preserve. We thank them for their community partnership in spreading local growing throughout our area.

Item Details: Perennial. Pollinator. Coarse and sunflower-like. Derives its common name from the resinous gummy sap exuded by broken/cut plant stems. Usually a shorter silphiums. Likes rocky or dry open woods, prairies and glades. It grows on erect, hairy stems sparsely clad with pairs of rough, stalkless, bristly, hairless to woolly, toothed to toothless, medium green leaves. Flowers resemble small sunflowers. Appear in mid-summer. The root system consists of a taproot and short rhizomes, which enable this plant to form clumps. Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Also tolerates some drought once established. Will grow in a variety of soils including sandy, loamy or clay ones. Plants may be slow to establish in the garden, particularly when grown from seed. 

Instructions: Seeds can be direct sown in the Fall, pressing into the surface of the soil since this plant needs light to germinate.. Otherwise best results come from a 30 day cold-moist stratification prior to planting. This is because native wildflowers, have a hard coating that helps protect the outer shell from breaking and sprouting too early.

Cold Stratification: 1) Soak your seeds for 1-2 hours. 2) Use a paper towel or coffee filter to drain the water. 3) Spread seeds out in a single layer on the paper towel. 3) Wrap a dry paper towel around the damp paper towel to help keep things moist but not too wet (which could become moldy). 4) Place in a ziploc bag and seal. 5) Label the variety and date clearly on the bag. 6) Place in the refrigerator for 30 days before planting. If seedlings start to sprout in the bag in the refrigerator, remove immediately and either plant in the ground or in pots until it’s time to plant outdoors. After the seeds have been stratified, plant them into the soil by gently sprinkling them on the surface of soil and pressing them in firmly.  Then, lightly sprinkle soil on top of them so they are partially covered.

It is best to water the area for one to two months after seeding. Seed may revert to dormancy if it does not receive rain or moisture within a certain number of days after planting. After established, prefers drier soil and tolerates drought well. Downy mildew, leaf spots and rust may occur. Plants develop taproots. Once established, division is not recommended.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Planting Depth: Pressed into surface of dirt
Spacing Between Rows: 2-3’
Height at Maturity: 2-6’
Plant Spread: 1-3’
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies

NAT-16 Showy Goldenrod

These seeds are sustainably sourced at Mequon Nature Preserve. We thank them for their community partnership in spreading local growing throughout our area.

Item Details: Perennial. Pollinator. Erect, usually unbranched, reddish stems occur singly or in clusters. Small, yellow flowers occur in a compact, erect, pyramidal column. A stout stem, smooth below and rough above, bearing a dense, pyramidal or club-shaped, terminal cluster of small yellow flower heads. Tends to bloom a little later than most Goldenrods. For cut flowers, choose stems with flowers that have just opened. Strip the foliage that will fall below the water level, and place in water immediately.
 
All Goldenrods are an important fall nectar source for many pollinators including the Monarch butterfly, so it is unfortunate that these fall blooming natives are mistakenly blamed for hayfever. The pollen of Goldenrods is large and sticky which sticks to the bodies of visiting insects. Because of this, goldenrod pollen cannot become airborne and can never make its way into your sinuses. The true cause of hayfever is the wind pollinated ragweeds, which broadcast copious amounts of lightweight pollen into the air.
 
Instructions: Seeds can be direct sown in the Fall, pressing into the surface of the soil since this plant needs light to germinate.. Otherwise best results come from a 30 day cold-moist stratification prior to planting. This is because native wildflowers, have a hard coating that helps protect the outer shell from breaking and sprouting too early.
 
Cold Stratification: 1) Soak your seeds for 1-2 hours. 2) Use a paper towel or coffee filter to drain the water. 3) Spread seeds out in a single layer on the paper towel. 3) Wrap a dry paper towel around the damp paper towel to help keep things moist but not too wet (which could become moldy). 4) Place in a ziploc bag and seal. 5) Label the variety and date clearly on the bag. 6) Place in the refrigerator for 60 days before planting. If seedlings start to sprout in the bag in the refrigerator, remove immediately and either plant in the ground or in pots until it’s time to plant outdoors.
 
After the seeds have been stratified, plant them into the soil by gently sprinkling them on the surface of soil and pressing them in firmly.  Then, lightly sprinkle soil on top of them so they are partially covered. It is best to water the area for one to two months after seeding. Seed may revert to dormancy if it does not receive rain or moisture within a certain number of days after planting. After established, prefers drier soil and tolerates drought well.
 

Sun Preference: Full to partial sun
Days to Germination: 45-60
Planting Depth: Pressed into surface of dirt
Spacing Between Rows: 2-3’
Height at Maturity: 1-5’

NAT-11 Yellow/Gray-headed Coneflower

These seeds are sustainably sourced at Mequon Nature Preserve. We thank them for their community partnership in spreading local growing throughout our area.

Item Details: Perennial. Attracts butterflies. Member of the daisy family. Summer-long bloomer with large yellow flowers that have drooping petals. Gray-head Coneflower flowers surround a brown seed head that birds eat from if plants are left standing. It is good for erosion control, looks good in mass plantings or in prairie plantings. Naturalizes easily.

Grows up right and may be a meter or more in height. The slender, grooved stems have fine, upward pointing hairs, and may branch with a flower on top of each stem. The flowers may have between 5 to 10 petals that droop down toward the stem with a distinct “cone” in the center. 

Instructions: Seeds can be direct sown in the Fall. Otherwise best results come from a 30 day cold-moist stratification prior to planting. This is because native wildflowers have a hard coating that helps protect the outer shell from breaking and sprouting too early.

Cold Stratification: 1) Soak your seeds for 1-2 hours. 2) Use a paper towel or coffee filter to drain the water. 3) Spread the seeds out in a single layer on the paper towel. 3) Wrap a dry paper towel around the damp paper towel to help keep things moist but not too wet (which could become moldy). 4) Place in a ziploc bag and seal. 5) Label the variety and date clearly on the bag. 6) Place in the refrigerator for 1 month before planting. If seedlings start to sprout in the bag in the refrigerator, remove immediately and either plant in the ground or in pots until it’s time to plant outdoors.

After the seeds have been stratified, plant them into the soil by gently sprinkling them on the surface of soil and pressing them in firmly.  Then, lightly sprinkle soil on top of them so they are partially covered. It is best to water the area for one to two months after seeding. Seed may revert to dormancy if it does not receive rain or moisture within a certain number of days after planting.

Deadhead to prolong blooming. But be sure to leave some seed heads to ripen as Prairie Coneflower are good plants for naturalizing, and reseed themselves when happy. Leave them standing over the winter months to provide a source of seed for seed eating songbirds. 

Sun Preference: Full to partial sun
Days to Germination: 30
Planting Depth: Surface to light dusting of dirt on top
Height at Maturity: 36-60”
Plant Width at Maturity: 24-36" 
Bloom Width: 2-3”
Cut Back: Early Spring. 1-2” above the ground

CAR-32 Scarlet Nantes Carrots

Item Details: Also known as Early Coreless, this variety stores well and adapts well to different conditions. Its cylindrical roots are 7" long with blunt tips, and its fine-grained, bright red-orange flesh is nearly coreless, offering great flavor that’s sweet and crisp. Good when used as baby carrots, and excellent for freezing and juicing. Dating to the 1850s, the variety was developed in France by the seed company Vilmorin-Andrieux.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors 3-4 weeks before last spring frost, or as soon as soil can be worked. Keeping soil moist throughout the germination period is important to success. Misting the planted area daily or covering is recommended. Carrots are slow to germinate and need steady moisture until germination. Sow successively throughout the season for fresh carrots.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 3-4 weeks
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing in Row: 8"
Spacing Between Rows: 16-24”
Days to Maturity: 65-75
 

CAR-33 Student Parsnip

Item Details: The slightly sweet and shapely roots of this historic variety make it ideal for adding to your roasted vegetable mix. Its straight roots bear wide shoulders, a fairly acute taper, and smooth skin with little to no splitting. The variety was included in the 1865 edition of Fearing Burr’s classic tome Field and Garden Vegetables of America. Burr described it as “so recently brought to notice and so strongly commended, is of English origin, and was obtained from the wild Parsnip by Prof. Buckman, of the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester.” This variety, acquired by Seed Savers Exchange from member Dennis Sherwood, is a great addition to any garden.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked. Seeds will germinate in 3 weeks. Salsify prefers a deep friable soil and is most delicious after a frost. Dig roots in late fall.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 3-4 Weeks
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing in Row: 1"
Spacing Between Rows: 18-24”
Thin: 10-12”
Days to Maturity: 90
 

COR-17 Doug’s Poppin’ Good Popcorn

Item Details: This popcorn was grown right in Cedarburg, by great gardener - Doug. Enjoy this local popcorn!
 

Popcorn (Z. m. everta) is a type of flint corn with a soft starchy center inside the very hard, slightly translucent kernel. When heated, moisture inside the kernel produces steam that creates enough pressure to explode the kernel inside out, with the starchy center extruded into a cooked, fluffy white mass. Pops most consistently if you freeze the kernels first then throw them directly into a kettle with hot oil.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. For good pollination and full ears, plant in blocks of 3-6 rows instead of one long row. Thin seedlings to 8" apart. Corn is a heavy feeder and does best in well-drained fertile soil with plenty of water. 

Some years corn needs very little attention, but in dry years it will need irrigating. It thrives during the summers when subtropical weather settles in for a couple months. Many critters love to munch on corn, including rodents and, most notoriously, raccoons. Avoid growing corn near chicken coops or pest attractants, and be sure to surround your garden with a good critter fence.

Allow ears to mature and dry on the stalk. When dry, husk and remove kernels from cob. For best popping results, freeze the dry kernels before popping the traditional way, on the stove top.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 4-21
Planting Depth: 1”
Spacing in Row: 4"
Spacing Between Rows: 36-48"
Days to Maturity: 70-80
Height at Maturity: 4-5’?
Support: Stake

HE-30 Dill Bouquet

Item Details: Early to flower with large seed heads. Excellent in pickles and used to flavor many other foods. Easy to grow.

Instructions: Prefers well drained, poor soil for best flavor. Harvest leaves as needed, or cut entire plant when seeds have formed at the tops of the 3-4 foot tall plants. Often reseeds itself.

Sun Preference: 8-12 hours sun
Ideal Temperature: 55-75 F
Frost Hardy: Yes
Days to Germination: 7-21
Planting Depth: 1/8-1/4”
Plant Spacing: 2-4"
Days to Maturity: 45-55 to leaf harvest, 70-90 to seed harvest.
Height at Maturity: 3-4’
Flower Width: 6”

HE-20 Garlic Chives

Item Details: Chives are easy to grow and thrive in a number of garden places, including borders and containers. Flowers are edible as well, but should be cut when soft and pink if you are planning on eating them.

Instructions: Start seeds indoors as early as March 1, keep watered but not wet. Transplant outdoors in clumps when chives are about 3", as soon as the soil can be worked.

Alternately, direct sow outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in a weed free area. Chives will grow slowly at first, but once established are extremely hearty and fast growing. For best culinary quality, cut chives, one established, every week or two.
 

Days to Germination: 7 to 14
Days to Maturity: 85
Planting Depth: 1/4" to 1/2"
Spacing in Row: 12"
Spacing Between Rows: 12"
Height at Maturity: 18"
Width at Maturity: 10" to 14"

OK-02 Star of David Okra

Item Details: aka Old Fashioned Okra. Purple coloration on leaves and thick pods. Cross-sections of pods look like the Star of David, giving this variety its name. Like many okra varieties, this plant bears beautiful flowers and foliage that could warrant a place in the ornamental border.

Instructions: Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields. Pods are best picked at about 3" long.

Days to Maturity: 60-75
Planting Depth: 1/2"
Spacing in Row: 2", thin to 6-8" apart
Height at Maturity: plants reach 7' tall
Pod Length at Maturity: 3”

PEP-02 Matchbox Pepper

Item Details: Tiny, spicy peppers are beautiful on the bush and dried. Just like its namesake, this little pepper can light a big fire—in your mouth. Small fruits in dark greens, light greens, yellow greens, and reds completely cover the sprawling, low-growing, bushy plants, which have attractive, deep green, semi-glossy leaves. It only takes one match to light a fire, and just one of these little peppers will lend a fruity and flavorful heat to any dish. Like it hot? Two will crackle, three will smoke, and four will blaze!

This compact and decorative plant is a terrific option for container gardens. The plants are unbelievably pretty; their dozens of bright red fruit look outstanding against the profusion of tiny, slightly waxy leaves. Its thicker skin means that Matchbox does not dry as easily as Cayenne, but it will do fine in a dehydrator. A couple plants will keep you in chilies all season—or all year.

Instructions: Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, then transplant 3 weeks after last frost. Requires heat for germination. Transplant once weather has settled, usually 2 weeks after tomatoes have been transplanted (peppers will tolerate earlier transplanting but won't grow much).

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 10-14
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing in Row: 18"
Spacing Between Rows: 36"
Days to Maturity: 75 from transplant
Height at Maturity: 30”
 

PEP-28 Bridge to Paris Pepper

Item Details: Plants are large (up to 36' in height) and loaded with big peppers. The flavor and texture are first-rate: extremely sweet when ripe, with thick bell pepper-like skin. A handful of plants will provide plenty of pepper flesh for fresh eating and freezing.

Instructions: Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost in very warm spot (80 degrees is ideal). Keep seedlings in a well-ventilated area at 70+ degrees and do not over water. Transplant outdoors into rich soil after threat of frost has passed. Grows to 30" high; may require staking to keep fruits off the ground. Harvest any time after pods begin to fill out; sweetest when deep red.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 10-14
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing in Row: 18"
Spacing Between Rows: 36"
Days to Maturity: 88 from transplant
Height at Maturity: 30-40”
Support: Stake
 

TOM-02 Gold Medal Tomato

Item Details: From Ohio tomato collector, Ben Quisenberry, who described it in his 1976 catalog: “The sweetest tomato you ever tasted. The yellow flesh with streaks of red makes them very attractive and a gourmet’s joy when sliced.” Winner of the 2008 SSE Tomato Tasting. Very flavorful. Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season.

Instructions: Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep, six weeks before last frost. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 7-14
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Spacing between Plants: 24-36"
Days to Maturity: 75-90
Support: Cage or stake

TOM-23 Tasty Evergreen Tomato

Item Details: One of the best green-when-ripe tomatoes we’ve tried. Introduced in northwest Ohio in 1958 by Gleckler’s. Beefsteak type tomato. Skin ripens to contrasting stripes of yellow on lime green. Flesh is a sea-foam green. Plants have medium vigor and benefit from extra organic matter added to the soil. Savory, rich flavor that balances salt and tart with a hint of smokiness. Very juicy, but holds together well when sliced. Great sliced on sandwiches, crackers, or tossed in a salad. When cooked, adds a rich, distinct flavor to dishes.

Instructions: Give the plants a little bit of TLC to prevent disease and cracking, and they will reward you with luscious fruit. Start tomato seeds inside at least 6 weeks before last frost. Ideal temperature for germination is 85°  (use a heating mat). Once leaves appear, grow plants at 72°. Plant seedlings outside late May into fertile garden soil (with lots of compost or decomposed manure). Tomatoes are susceptible to several fungal diseases (including Early and Late Blight and Verticillium Wilt). To prevent blight, keep foliage dry by 1) Pruning tomato plants to allow for good air circulation 2) Water with drip irrigation/soaker hoses. Crop rotation is also key to preventing tomato diseases. Ideally, plant tomato plants in a spot that has not had any Solanaceae crops (tomato, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) growing there for 4 years. Frequent watering will help to minimize cracking of tomatoes. Plants are potato-leaved. Harvest when fully pink-red and fruit is somewhat soft when squeezed but before they crack or begin to rot on the vine.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Days to Germination: 5-14
Planting Depth: 1/4”
Space Apart: 24-36"
Days to Maturity: 75 from transplant
Height at Maturity: Stake plants
Size at Maturity: 3-4” diameter
 

TOM-39 Toma Verde Tomatillo

Item Details: Early variety with tart flavor when young, becoming sweeter as it ripens. Medium to large size fruits are ready to harvest when husks split and fruit color changes from a yellow green to medium green. Perfect for Salsa Verde or as a special addition to any Mexican dish.

Instructions: Tomatoes yield best in clay or loam soils that are well drained and high in organic matter. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before planting date. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-85°F; seeds in colder situations will germinate very slowly. Do not start too early; transplants will suffer if allowed to become root bound and leggy. Harden off transplants by reducing water. Transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed.

Sun Preference: Full sun
Planting Depth: 1/8-1/4”
Spacing around Plant: 24-36"
Days to Maturity: 60 from transplant