Author: Jim

Bean

Dragon Langerie Bush Bean

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Phaseolus vulgaris

Dragon Langerie Bush Bean Dragon Langerie Bush Bean

60 Days

25 seeds

Originally from the Netherlands in the late 1700’s and then spread across Europe as the Merveille de Piemonte. Sought after by chefs and restaurants, this stringless, bush variety produces delicious, tender,juicy, nutty flavoured 6-7″ cream coloured beans with bright redish purple stripes. One of the most versatile beans there is, as a fresh pod or a dry soup bean. Dry beans are a light to medium brown with purplish blue brown markings if left to mature on plant.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1″ deep, 12-16″ apart in full sun when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Requires sufficient spacing for colours to be more pronounced. Fresh beans are ready for harvest when the bean turns from green to cream coloured with bright red purple markings.For dry beans, wait for pod to dry on plant. Benefits from compost amended soil.

Pumpkin , ,

New England Sugar Pie Pumpkin

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Cucurbita pepo

New England Sugar Pie Pumpkin 

105 Days

10 seeds

These pumpkins originated in New England and date back to pre 1863.Described as buttery, smooth, savoury, stringless and sweet, these will produce 3-4 pumpkins on each plant averaging 4-5 lbs. each. These pumpkins are the best for making pumpkin pie, there is no comparison.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1″ deep, in hills spaced 4-6′ apart when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Make sure to leave lots of room for these grow. Pumpkins are heavy nitrogen feeders, so be sure to amend your soil with compost and manure.

Kale , , ,

Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch Kale

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Brassica oleracea

60 Days

40 Seeds

Dating back to the 1800’s, the Scottish grew Kale because of its hardiness in their climate. Greyish blue curled leaves are packed with Vitamin A and are fantastic fresh, steamed, or in smoothies. This variety is well adapted to colder climates and is very frost tolerant. In fact, mild frosts will improve tenderness and sweeten the leaves. Heavy producer if harvested often, with care given to not cut the terminal bud in the centre.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1/4-1/2” deep, 4” apart in full sun when ground is workable in early spring as Kale germinates easily at cooler temperatures. Thin to 8-12”. Plants will benefit from organic compost or manure in soil. Second crop may be started mid summer for harvesting through fall.

Lettuce ,

Tennis Ball Lettuce

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Lactuca sativa

 

55 Days

50 Seeds

This lettuce is documented to have been a favorite of the avid horticulturist and 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson at his home in Monticello, Virginia in the late 1700’s. This true black seeded strain of Butterhead type lettuce, produces 6-8″ heads of delicious, buttery, silky loose leaves that will keep you coming back for more and more. Fantastic for small spaces or container gardening.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1/4″ deep, 3″ apart in full sun or partial shade, when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Thin to 6-8″ apart. Plants will benefit from a manure or organic compost and continual watering. Harvest small leaves often or wait and harvest whole head. Extreme heat may turn leaves bitter.

Chard , ,

Ruby Red Chard

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Beta vulgaris

Ruby Red Chard seed Ruby Red Chard seeds

60 Days

40 Seeds

First reported in 1753, by renowned botanist Carl von Linne, this bright red veined, tender chard grows 18-22” high. Popular at Farmer’s Market for eating fresh, steamed or freezes well for using later warmed up with butter on it.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds in spring, 1/2” deep, 4-6” apart in full sun, when ground is workable and heavy frosts have past. Harvesting will bring new growth continually 3-4 times. Will benefit from compost or manure amended soil.

 

Zucchini ,

Black Zucchini

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Cucurbita pepo

 

50 Days

25 Seeds

Originally bred in California in 1931 by the J. Rice Seed Co. of New York. This zucchini grows to a dark green (not black) and the flesh is a light green, white and is superior in taste to most. Best harvested at 6″ for crisp firm flesh. The flowers have become somewhat of a delicacy at some high end restaurants.

Growing Directions

Sow seed directly outdoors 1″ deep in 12″ hills with 6 seeds per hill, in full sun, when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Thin to 3 plants per hill. Harvest often for more fruits.

Tomato , ,

San Marzano Tomato (Short)

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Solanum lycopersicum

 San Marzano Tomato seed

80 Days

25 Seeds

Originally from the town of San Marzano sul Sarno, Italy, and grown in volcanic soil below Mount Vesuvius. These paste tomatoes grow plum shaped 4-6 oz. tomatoes and are the only choice of Italian farmers for canning to make their famed tomato sauce. San Marzano’s have firm walls, few seeds and minimal juice and are sweeter, stronger and less acidic then the hybrid Roma created from San Marzanos. This determinate, short variety is not only easy to harvest because of its height but is also resistant to cracking, the skin is easily removed and they store very well.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1/4″ deep indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Transplant or sow directly outdoors 12-18″ apart in full sun when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Plants will benefit from compost or manure soil amendment. Support with stake or cage.

Pea ,

Extra Early Pedigree Pea

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Pisum sativum

50 Days

25 Seeds

Originally developed by the Kenney Seed Co. in 1893, and then introduced to the public in 1903. These peas are extra sweet when harvested while still young and tender and will produce an abundance of fruits. A uniform bush type, plants will grow to 20-24″ high and only need a little support to keep them off the ground. These peas seldom make it into the house as harvesters can’t resist to shell and eat them on the spot.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 3/4″ deep in early spring, in full sun, when ground is workable and heavy frosts have past, as peas prefer cooler temperatures. Plants will benefit from adding compost to soil. Support with trellis or bamboo poles to climb to keep peas off ground and for more sun.

Bean , ,

Pencil Pod Golden Wax Bean

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Phaseolus vulgaris

50 Days

25 Seeds

Originally introduced in 1900 from a cross between Black Eyed Wax and Improved Black Wax, this stringless bush variety is one of the best wax beans there is. Resistant to rust and Mosaic Virus and more fungal resistant than most other wax varieties. Plants grow to 2′ tall and produce an abundant crop of buttery tasting yellow 5-6″ beans, that are great fresh or frozen.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1″ deep 16-20″ apart in full sun, when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Harvest often for continual new fruit growth. Plants will benefit from compost amended soil.

Tomato ,

Amana Orange Tomato

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Solanum lycopersicum

80 Days

25 Seeds

The German Pietists first homesteaded the Amana Villages in Iowa back in 1856 and have been growing tomatoes from their homeland since immigrating. This big bright orange Indeterminate Beefsteak tomato is a deliciously sweet and has a milder flavour and has a slight citrus finish. Looks great in any salad and makes a good slicer with salt and pepper.

Growing Directions

Sow seeds 1/4″ deep, inside 6-8 weeks before last frost. Transplant or sow directly 18″-24″ apart outside when ground is warm and all chance of frost has past. Plants will benefit from an organic fish fertilizer. Support with stake or cage.