This will be the Second year the Library will have their Plant Sale. As we did last year, we are offering those varieties that are not the usual types of plants available. We look for varieties that would grow well in our area and climate, are heirloom or rare, and those that are just unique and fun for adults and kids to grow.
For those who have never had a garden, but would like to start one, we will have plants for small spaces, for containers, and those which are easier to grow.
The varieties we will offer are old and rare. Some are on the point of extinction. Chances are that our ancestors have planted some of these varieties in days gone by.
For those of you who gave your suggestions in the garden suggestion box, we thank you for your help. We have tried to use them.
The following list gives a description of the plants that will be offered for sale. Some crucial words in the description will be underlined or in bold letters to help make choosing easier. At the end of each type of plant will be pictures of what the plants look like. (there may be a some varieties where pictures were not available).
Included in the description is the number of days to maturity. This is a relative number and can be changed by Mother Nature.
We have started seeds at different times so that there will be a variety of sizes for you to chose from. If you would really like a certain variety or size, get there early so you are not disappointed.
There will be some surprises of last minute plants for sale. Come and see what shows up!
There will be geraniums! For the cemetary or to brighten your home.
There will be some surprises of last minute plants for sale. Come and see what shows up!
There will be geraniums! For the cemetary or to brighten your home.
The Library Sale Will be on Saturday May 28 9 am - 1 pm
and Monday May 30 8:00 am -12 pm
You can read about the different plants and see which ones are best for your garden needs.
Thank you for showing your support to the library attending the plant sale. We have taken every step possible to grow organically. We will have some surprises on the day of the sale.
There will be a number of plants that will be in a raffle. Your name will be entered in the drawing with a $10.00 purchase and a free gift will be given with each purchase.
Thank you for showing your support to the library attending the plant sale. We have taken every step possible to grow organically. We will have some surprises on the day of the sale.
There will be a number of plants that will be in a raffle. Your name will be entered in the drawing with a $10.00 purchase and a free gift will be given with each purchase.
Come join us!
All plants require Full Sun unless other wise indicated.
General planting directions for all plants:
You will need well-drained, rich soil. Adding compost, well-rotted manure and/or organic fertilizer will help. It is good to test the soil. Most vegetable plants need about 1 inch of water a week. An easy way to do this is to dig in an empty gallon milk container, that has some holes made in the bottom, on the sides of the plants as you are planting. Fill the gallon jug once a week, take into consideration rainfall. Once the ground is warm, mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds.
You will need well-drained, rich soil. Adding compost, well-rotted manure and/or organic fertilizer will help. It is good to test the soil. Most vegetable plants need about 1 inch of water a week. An easy way to do this is to dig in an empty gallon milk container, that has some holes made in the bottom, on the sides of the plants as you are planting. Fill the gallon jug once a week, take into consideration rainfall. Once the ground is warm, mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds.
Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants are susceptible to cut worms. Place a cardboard or paper collar around each stem to deter them.
Container gardening: Plants will need more watering if grown in pots. They will also need to be fertilized more often. Read directions on label of your fertilizer bottle.
(There will be more tips and hints coming later. We are working on a new blog)
Cucumber
General directions for growing cucumbers: Cucumbers need heat every step of their growing process. Choose a sunny location, though they can have a bit of afternoon shade. They can be grown vertically by tying to fencing or anything solid. They are heavy feeders. Plant 3-4 plants per hill. Spacing of hills is 4-6 feet. Set vining varieties 2 to 3 feet apart. Fertilize monthly. Moderately easy to grow. pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Armenian Yard Long - This unique cucumber has long, slender, light green fruits, distinctly ribbed and often curved into a banana shape. Flesh can be easily digested by those who have trouble with other cucumbers. Vines grow up to 3 ft. long. Harvest at any size, up to 6”-8” ;pick before fruit turns yellow. Pick regularly for continuous crop. 65 days to mature.
Boothby’s Blond - This heirloom has been grown by the Boothby family of Livermore, Maine for generations. This strain of white cucumber is in the Salad family; alhough it is smaller than the Salad variety. It is one of the very best for cooler climates. Flesh is sweet. Harvest: It is best picked when fruit is about 3" long. The fruit has black spines and turned bright orange yellow when ripe. Pick regularly for continuous crop. 60 days to mature.
Early Russian - Introduced in 1854, it produces loads of short, medium green fruit over a very long season. The flavor is mild and sweet. Vines are quite hardy. Good for northern areas where we live. Great in salads and for pickles. Harvest at any size, up to 6”-8” pick before fruit turns yellow. Pick regularly for continuous crop. 55 days to mature.
Marketmore - This dark green cucumber is ready to pick at 8-9 inches long. Vines are 4-6 feet long. Good yields and excellent flavor. Harvest when fruit are 6” - 8” long, pick before fruit turns yellow. Pick regularly for continuous crop. 70 days to mature.
Dragon Egg - Cream colored fruit about the size and shape of a large egg. Mild, sweet tasting (bitter-free). They set massive yields. Fun to grow and very unique looking. Great for kids to grow. Originated in Croatia. Harvest when fruit is cream color and the size of a large egg.
*This variety was offered last year.*
Japanese Long - Long and slim, green, crisp and mild. Easy to digest with few seeds. Very productive. Harvest when fruit is 10”-12” long, pick before fruit turns yellow. Pick regularly for continuous crop. 68 days to mature. *This variety was offered last year.*
Lemon Cuke - This heirloom was introduced in 1894. It is the shape, size and color of a lemon. Flavor is sweet and mild. Harvest when fruit is the size shape and color of a lemon. 60 days to mature.
Eggplant
General directions for growing eggplant: Choose a sunny location. Eggplant also needs a lot of calcium, so add lime before planting or bone meal while you plant.
Set plants 18 to 24 inches apart; compact and dwarf kinds can be a little closer together. Stake tall varieties to keep the fruits off the ground.
Harvest - start picking eggplants as soon as they're big enough to use, and keep picking them till the fruits lose their gloss. If they're brown and hard, you've waited too long. Moderately easy to grow. pH of 5.8 to 6.8.
Louisiana Long Green - This eggplant is an American heirloom probably developed during the mid-nineteenth century in Louisiana. The plant is distinctive because it can tolerate mild frost. Harvest when the fruit is banana-shaped and about 8” long. It is light green with yellowish green stripes at the blossom end. The flesh is sweet and mild.
Brazilian Oval Orange - Very tall erect plants with small oval fruits that are shiny green and ripen through orange to bright red at full maturity. Delicious in antipastos, grilled or fried. Very ornamental. Harvest when fruit is bright red. *This variety was offered last year.*
Japanese White Egg - Full rich flavor, lovely white fruit. Plants give heavy yields all season. Good in stir frying. Harvest when fruit is 2”-3” long and white. 65 days to maturity.
Kazakhstan - Seed collected at a state run market in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan, by A.T. Whittemore, and donated to the USDA Germplasm Repository in 1991. The plant is rather compact reaching 24”-30”. Produce early and in abundance. Probably never offered before in the North America. Harvest when fruit is dark purple black, tear shaped and 6” long. Container (A Photo of this plant could not be located)
Little Fingers - Small purple black fruit are produced in clusters on sturdy, compact plants. May be allowed to grow long with no sacrifice of their mild, sweet taste and tender texture. Harvest when finger-size and deep purple. 65 days to maturity. Container
SALAD INGREDIENTS (Lettuce & Spinach)
General directions for growing beetberry: Plant beetberry 8-12 inches apart. Easy to grow.
BEETBERRY: Also know as “Strawberry Spinach” These unique, edible, mildly sweet 1/2” red berries are nestled among thick, dark green leaves. Sprawling stems are 12”-16”. Berries are used in salads. Leaves are used in salads and for braising. Plant is a Hardy Annual. Loves cool weather, but will tolerate heat. Harvest leaves and berries as needed. Needs sun and constant moisture for succulent leaves. 40-60 days to maturity.
General directions to grow lettuce: Choose a site that gets full sun in cool-weather areas, partial sun in warmer climates or for summer plantings. Moderately easy to grow. pH is 6.0 to 7.0
LETTUCE: Lettuce (assorted) - This lettuce will be sold in flats of 4, or 6 assorted plants of different varieties of lettuce which could be any of the following: Royal Oak Leaf, Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl, Ashley, Black Seeded Simpson, or Green Oak Leaf. Harvest as needed. Take side leaves and plant will keep producing.
Green Ice - This lettuce is a superb hot weather type. Glossy, dark green leaves. Slow to bolt. Extra crisp flavor. Harvest as needed take side leaves and plant will keep producing.
Ashley -
Black Seeded Simpson -
Green Oak Leaf -
Red Salad Bowl -
Royal Oak Leaf -
Salad Bowl -
SPINACH
General directions for growing New Zealand Spinach: Plant needs an open sunny space; it can have afternoon shade. It does well in many kind of soils, even poor soil. It is also drought resistant. Plants should be about 18" apart. Plants grow 1’ tall and several feet wide. Leaves are 2”- 4”. Pinch the ends off the plant tops to make bushier. Easy to grow. Harvest as needed.
New Zealand - also known as Warrigal Cabbage is not the same species as common spinach. New Zealand spinach is a cooking green that taste like spinach. It can tolerate hot, dry weather, and is less likely to bolt. Many pests don't bother it and it needs very little care. Listed by Fearing Burr in 1863 in his book, Field and Garden Vegetables of America. Not frost hardy 60 days to maturity Harvest leaves through the season. Taking leaves will keep plant producing.
Peppers
General Directions for growing peppers: Peppers need full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.0 They need warm soil, as well as warm air, to thrive.
Work a moderate amount of compost or manure into the soil. Then dust the planting surface with a fine layer of Epsom salts and work it into the soil. It will provide magnesium which peppers need for good development.
Work a moderate amount of compost or manure into the soil. Then dust the planting surface with a fine layer of Epsom salts and work it into the soil. It will provide magnesium which peppers need for good development.
When the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit, set normal-size varieties 14 to 16 inches apart and smaller ones an inch or two closer.
Provide support for varieties that grow over a foot tall.
Keep the soil evenly moist; especially when the fruits are developing. Peppers need about an inch of water a week.
After the ground has warmed thoroughly, mulch with organic matter to conserve moisture and deter weeds.
Spread compost or a balanced organic fertilizer around the plants when they flower and again three weeks later.
Harvest peppers early and often - the more you pick, the more the plants will produce. Easy to grow.
Hot Peppers
(Use caution when handling hot peppers)
Ancho (Hot Poblano) - May be the sweetest of the Mexican chili peppers - mild heat and fruity flavor. Ancho means wide referring to its broad, flat pod. About 4” long and 2” wide. The flavor of the pepper’s thick flesh is enhanced with slow cooking. Space plants 18-24 inches. Spacing between rows 24-30 inches. Harvest when peppers are dark rust red. Use caution when handling hot peppers.
Loads of mildly pungent, 4" heart-shaped fruits that ripen from dark green to deep red.
Loads of mildly pungent, 4" heart-shaped fruits that ripen from dark green to deep red.
Called Ancho when dried, Poblano when fresh. Loads of mildly pungent, 4" heart-shaped fruits that ripen from dark green to deep red. 2½ ft tall.
Chinese 5 Color - Screaming hot little peppers turn a rainbow of vibrant colors, from purple, cream, yellow, orange to red as they ripen. Harvest when any of the vibrant colors.The plants are great for containers. Use caution when handling hot peppers.
Lemon Pimento - Heirloom pepper from Ecuador. Very Hot. Wrinkled 3-4" fruit. Best used in sauces or for drying. Use caution when handling hot peppers. Plant 18-24 inches apart.
Long Purple Cayenne - Very long spicy pods are lovely bright purple in color, making them quite unique and colorful. The tall plants are just covered with dark fruit. Great for hot sauce, chili and soups. Harvest when fruit is bright purple. Use caution when handling hot peppers. Nice enough for a flower bed.
Sweet Peppers
Albino Bullnose - Blocky 3”-4” peppers are a very beautiful cream color. They have a nice mild, sweet flavor and ripen to a beautiful reddish orange. It produces loads of fruit from early summer until frost. They are very compact, dwarf plants. Harvest when fruit is 3-4 inches and color is reddish orange. Container
Purple Beauty- Purple peppers are always a favorite, as they are so colorful. This variety produces loads of beautiful bells, on compact bush plants. Crisp texture and mild sweet flavor makes this very popular. Harvest when peppers are purple. 75 days to maturity. Container
Golden Marconi - A late Italian pepper with beautiful, big, yellow 7” tapering fruit. Very sweet and mild, great fresh or for stir frying. Harvest when peppers are yellow and about 7”. 80 days to maturity.
Squash & Pumpkins
General directions for growing squash : Choose a site that has moderately fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8. Soil temperature should reached at least 60 degrees F before planting. Plant in hills spaced 3 to 4 feet apart, two plants per hill. Set the plants into the ground at the same depth they were growing in their pots. Mulch established plants with organic matter to deter weeds and conserve moisture. Give plants an inch of water each week, and feed every two weeks. Bush types can be grown in containers.
Harvest Zucchini, and Yellow Squash as soon as they're large enough to be used - usually about 6 inches, depending on the variety.
Harvest scalloped varieties when they're about 4 inches in diameter and before they turn cream-colored. Easy to grow.
Summer Squash
Cocozelle - This Italian heirloom Zucchini, is long and dark green with light green stripes. It is a compact bush type. Can be grown in the garden or a Container.
Early Prolific Yellow Crookneck - Introduced around 1700, this variety is still very popular today. 8”-10” fruit are smooth-skinned, pale yellow, which turn orange and warted when overripe, but are still very edible. Flesh is cream colored, sweet and mild. Semi-open bush plant. Height is 24-36 inches.
pH 6.0-7.0 41-50 days to maturity. Container
Zucchini Black - Introduced in 1931, fruits are so deep green that they appear to be black. Fruits are long, straight and best picked at 6” - 8” but will remain tender and flavorful when large. Plants are more vigorous than other zucchinis and ever-bearing. Bush plant. Container
Lemon Squash - This squash has the shape, size and color of a lemon. It has high yields and has the best resistance to insects of all the summer squashes. It is very tasty and great fried. A very popular squash.
Odessa - The vining plants produces delicious,white zucchini-type fruit that is very tasty fried. It originated in the fertile valleys near Odessa in the Ukraine. It is very rare.
Yellow Scallop (Golden Custard) - Beautiful, bright yellow fruit with a rich mellow flavor. Likely pre-dates Colombian times; a rare native American squash. Bush plant with good yields. Container
Winter Squash
Growing Winter Squash: Winter squash, contrary to the name, is a warm-season vegetable. The difference is in the skin of the squash. Summer squash has thin skin and may be eaten raw or cooked. Winter squashes have thick, hard skins. The most common winter squash is the pumpkin. Other types would be the acorn or buttercup, and hubbard squashes. Growing winter squash is easy. Squash is very sensitive to frost.
Soil temperatures need to be 70 - 90 degrees. Winter squashes usually take more space than summer squashes. Set 1-3 plants per hill and space the hills 4 to 5 feet apart. Make the hills by mounding topsoil, compost and well-rotted manure. Harvest squash when the stem to the plant starts to shrivel.
Harvest your Acorn Squash in the fall before the first frost. Acorn squash is ripe and ready for picking when the skin become hard enough to resist being punctured by your fingernail. Cut the fruit from the vine, leaving a stem about an inch long attached to the squash. Wipe the squash clean with a damp cloth and store in cool dark place to prevent spoilage. Easy to grow.
Galeux D ‘ Eyslines - A very beautiful heirloom squash. 15-20 lb fruit has gorgeous, salmon/peach color skin covered with large warts. The deep orange flesh is flavorful, smooth and sweet. It is good for baking. This French heirloom is also popular for making soup. This squash is very tasty. 95-100 days to mature.
Gill’s Golden Pippin (Acorn) - This is an heirloom from the Gill Brothers Seed Company in Oregon. It is probably the best tasting of all the acorns. It is bright yellow and has a small acorn shape. The fruit is sweet and very flavorful. Uniquely colored. 95 days to mature.
Greek Sweet Red (Hubbard) - This is one delicious squash. The long-necked, reddish-tan fruits are filled with sweet, deep orange flesh that’s richly flavored. Attractive, long vines are highly prolific. It tends to be very resistant to squash beetles. This variety is super rare.
Pumpkins
Small Sugar - Also know as “New England Pie”, this pumpkin was introduced before 1860 and is still regarded as the standard for pumpkin pies and canning. Fruits are round, small, 5-8 lbs.
SWEET POTATO
General directions for planting Sweet Potatoes: Plant Spacing: 12-18 in. Row Spacing: 3 ft
pH Level - 4.5-7.0 Plant the slips in the garden when the soil is at least 70 degrees and there is no danger of frost. Lay the slips on their sides with most of the slip buried a half inch under the soil. Average soils will require plenty of compost or well-rotted manure, as well as bone meal (for potassium) and wood ashes (for potash). Avoid nitrogen fertilizers unless your soil really needs them, because too much of this element will produce plants with enormous tops and spindly little potatoes.
pH Level - 4.5-7.0 Plant the slips in the garden when the soil is at least 70 degrees and there is no danger of frost. Lay the slips on their sides with most of the slip buried a half inch under the soil. Average soils will require plenty of compost or well-rotted manure, as well as bone meal (for potassium) and wood ashes (for potash). Avoid nitrogen fertilizers unless your soil really needs them, because too much of this element will produce plants with enormous tops and spindly little potatoes.
Once the plants are in the ground, just give 'em a deep watering once a week (especially if your area's rainfall is unpredictable) and keep the weeds down. Then, you can simply let these hearty vegetables take care of themselves! Harvest sweet potatoes before the first frost. Sweet potatoes are ready to be harvested after four months in the ground, no later than five months. Dry the sweet potatoes on the ground two or three hours after harvesting. Then allow them another 10 to 14 days of curing in a warm room with moderate humidity. They should be placed in a cool room for storage till you are ready to use. Leaves are edible and can be harvested through the summer. Easy to grow.
Vardaman Mississippi is the “Sweet Potato Capital of the World.”
Vardaman Sweet Potatoes - originates from that area of the country. This Sweet Potato grows on a compact bush-type plant and is ideal for growing in limited space. It does not send out runners, yet has a prolific yield. The foliage of the Vardaman sweet potato plant will add a touch of unusual purple color to your garden-scape while providing you with a mildly-flavored, nutritious and versatile addition to your annual harvest (the leaves are edible). It boasts a golden-colored skin and deep orange flesh. Vardaman matures in about 110 days and grows equally well in northern and southern gardens.
TOMATOES
General directions for Planting Tomatoes: Plant several varieties rather than all of one type. This ensures a steady harvest. Place tomato plants in a site receiving full sun (7 hours or more daily). They also need a growing medium rich in organic matter. Bury tomato plants deeper than they come in the pot. Tomatoes are able to develop roots all along their stems. Bury about 75% of the plant. A new transplant needs to focus on root production. You can either dig a deeper hole or simply dig a shallow tunnel and lay the plant sideways. It will straighten up and grow toward the sun. Be careful not to drive your pole or cage into the stem.
If plant is larger than a foot, bury plant 3-5 inches in a deep hole so that the thicker stem is not broken. Give each plant about 1 gallon of warm water (about 80 degrees within ten minutes of transplanting to avoid transplant shock.
Space tomato plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant 36 inches if plants are allowed to bush out hugely on the ground. Planting closer together in cages allows the plants to shade each other's fruit, helping prevent burn and allowing a sweeter flavor. Consider using a tomato cage or a stake to support the tomato.
Don't forget to leave yourself enough space to get in between the plants to water, weed, and harvest. Those cute, little seedlings may not remain that way for long.
Once the tomato plants are about 2’- 3' tall, remove the leaves from the bottom 6 -12 inches of stem. These are usually the first leaves to develop fungus problems. They get the least amount of sun and soil born pathogens can be unintentionally splashed up onto them.
Pinch and remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches. They won’t bear fruit and will take energy away from the rest of the plant. But go easy on pruning the rest of the plant. It’s the leaves that are photosynthesizing and creating the sugars that give flavor to your tomatoes.
Water deeply and regularly. Irregular watering (missing a week and trying to make up for it) leads to blossom end rot and cracking. The tomato plant should be watered weekly. Water each plant with 1 gallon of water each time. It's okay in hot or dry weather to water even more frequently with larger volumes.
Wait a week or two after transplanting,and then place a mulch of straw, dried grass, or pine needles to control weeds and keep the soil moist during dry weather. The mulch should be about an inch thick and surround at least a circle 12 inches in diameter around the stem. Pine needles are especially good for helping raise the acidity of the soil.
Tomato plants usually have small, green fruit to start. Wait until the fruit is of good size with a bright, deep coloring. This means that the fruit is ripe and ready to pick. The texture of the fruit can also determine if it is ready to pick. Ripeness is usually determined by a slight softness. Be careful not to squeeze too hard and bruise the fruit. Be careful not to allow them to become overly ripe, which results in a very soft tomato. Fairly easy to grow.
Maturity Information: When you see the reference to day of maturity, it is a reference to the number of days when you will pick your tomatoes from the time you plant it in the ground. The number is a relative estimate. A number of things can change the growing of any plant. Weather, the date the seeds were started, and Mother Nature.
There are two types of tomatoes, Determinate and Indeterminate.
Determinate: Determinates have vines that grow to a determined point and stop, making them more compact and bushy. They are sometimes listed as bush tomatoes. Once they are done producing, they are done for the season. Tomatoes tend to mature all at once. They can be grown in containers. They tend to be early varieties, but not always.
Indeterminate: Plants that continue to grow in length through the season and produce until frost. They are more viney than Determinates. Their vines continue to grow and need support. They need lots of space for they can grow up to 20 feet. They take up less space if they are staked. Indeterminates are a good bet for later fruit.
ID indicates - Indeterminate & D indicates - Determinate
Abraham Lincoln - Abraham Lincoln was introduced in 1923 by the W. H. Buckbee seed company of Rockford, Ill., which named the tomato in honor of the state’s favorite son. It was released without much fanfare, but over the years it has proved itself to be one of the great tomato classics that happily survived the big shift to hybrids during the 1940s. After the demise of the Buckbee firm, the tomato was continued by R. H. Shumway of Randolph, WI. Abraham Lincoln tops the list of “big red” beefsteak tomatoes for flavor and its appearance of dark red color and bronzy-green leaves, its production, and its pest and disease resistance.
Rather than oblate (a flattened sphere) in shape like common beefsteak tomatoes, Abraham Lincoln is round, solid and firm, which is why it’s such a good slicer. And unlike some heirlooms, Abe Lincoln can tolerate rainy weather without splitting. Abraham Lincoln produces an abundance of fruit, so it requires a lot of support. If you want large fruit, pick the smaller ones in each cluster. Those little green tomatoes are wonderful for pickling and for use in chutneys and jams, so don’t waste them. You can tell when the ripe fruit is ready to pick by the dark red color and the soft feel of the fruit. The more you pick, the more Abe Lincoln produces.
The appearance of mature fruit depends a lot on the weather. Cool evenings and excessive rain will hold them back, and severe drought conditions can cause the flowers to drop so there may not be any fruit at all. Just take maturing times as averages, keeping in mind that tomatoes are heavy feeders, so good, rich soil will correct many deficiencies. ID Late - season 87-90 days to mature.
Amish Paste - This popular heirloom tomato was discovered in Wisconsin and thought to be of Amish decent. The vigorous plants are rarely affected by disease and remain productive until frost. They have a meaty interior and few seeds. Very productive they produces up to 12 oz, deep-red oxheart-shaped, meaty fruit. (Probably one of the largest paste tomatoes). Lots of sweet, tomatoey flavors from this coreless meaty fruit. A great slicing and sauce tomato. ID Late - Season
Amish Salad - An unusual Amish heirloom that is 2” round and pink, grape-shaped and very prolific. Flesh is very sweet and intensely flavored. ID Mid - season
Black Cherry - Beautiful black cherries look like large dusty purple-brown grapes. They have that rich flavor that makes black tomatoes famous. Large vines yield very well. They are very unique and delicious. ID Mid season 75 days to maturity.
Black Krim - Uniquely colored Russian heirloom tomato from the Crimean & Black Sea area. It is juicy, superbly rich with sweet flavor and an unusual brownish-purple thin skin.
Black Prince - An heirloom from Irkutsk, Siberia. The 5 oz tomatoes are round and very uniform. The color is a wonderful deep blackish-chocolate brown. The flavor is as deep, sweet and rich as the color. A unique salad tomato, the plants produce a large and early crop. ID Early - Season 70 days to maturity.
Bloody Butcher - A sensational and very popular variety. It is an early producing tomato variety. A good choice for a tomato as you wait for later varieties to harvest. The leaves resemble potato leaf, and the plants yield copious amounts of 2-4 oz fruits that are a deep-red color, inside and out. Five to nine fruits per cluster with a rich heirloom tomato flavor. Plant produces well until frost. A good tomato variety for cooler growing regions since fruits ripen quickly. A good canning tomato. ID Early - Season 55-68 days to mature. *Limited Supply*
Brandywine - 1885 Heirloom variety with beautiful 14oz pinkish-red fruit. ID
Dr. Wyche’s Yellow - This heirloom was introduced to Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche, who at one time owned the Cole Brothers Circus and used the manure of elephants to fertilize his heritage gardens. Undoubtedly one of the best tasting yellow tomatoes to be found. This glowing tangerine-orange beefsteak always stands out in the kitchen or on the vine. It's rich flavor and larger size sets this variety apart from other yellow heirlooms. A very good tomato with smooth texture and tropical, sweet taste. Heavy yields. ID Mid - Season 80 days to maturity
Kellogg’s Breakfast - The origin of this variety is West Virginia. A large deep orange beefsteak that is very prolific. This tomato has a rich intense flavor. ID Mid - Season 85 days to maturity.
Marglobe - This old heirloom variety has a natural disease resistance it is an ancestor of many hybrid varieties. Its name was derived from its ancestors the 'Globe' and 'Marvel' tomatoes. It produces a heavy yield of fruit with a typical size of 8-10 ounces but can produce larger fruit as well. This tomato is one of the most vigorous and disease resistant of the standard tomato varieties. It is resistant to Fusarium Wilt and is said to resist tomato blight well even in wet weather. The Marglobe has also been noted for resistance to blossom end rot. These tomatoes are globe-shaped, smooth and bright red right to the stem. The Marglobe plant is a determinate bushy vine that is very productive. Staking of determinate vines is optional but is still recommended in order to keep fruit off the ground. And because the vine is determinate, it means that Marglobe will produce all of its crop of tomatoes at one time, which makes it excellent as a canner. D 73 days to maturity Mid-Season Container *Limited supply*
Mortgage Lifter - Big Beefsteak 2.5-4 Lb fruits. Pink/Red tomatoes are meaty & flavorful with few seeds. ID Productive and disease-resistant plants bear until frost. 80 days
Mr. Stripey - Also know as Tigerella, was originally and English greenhouse variety. The 4 oz bi color fruit is striped red and yellow orange, with yellow flesh. Highly productive. Mild flavor. Low Acid ID 80 days to maturity.
Mr. Stripey - Also know as Tigerella, was originally and English greenhouse variety. The 4 oz bi color fruit is striped red and yellow orange, with yellow flesh. Highly productive. Mild flavor. Low Acid ID 80 days to maturity.
Red Siberian - A popular, cold tolerant variety. The red fruit average 4-5 oz and will set fruit when temperature is below 70 degrees. Fruit matures early. The flavor is mild and sweet. Good in colder climates. ID Early - Season * This variety was offered last year.
San Marzano - The story goes that the first seed of the San Marzano tomato came to Campania in 1770 as a gift from the Kingdom of Peru to the Kingdom of Naples and that it was planted in the area that corresponds to the present commune of San Marzano. They come from a small town of the same name near Naples, Italy and were first grown in volcanic soil in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Compared to the Roma Tomatoes with which most people are familiar, San Marzano tomatoes are thinner and pointier in shape. The flesh is much thicker with fewer seeds, and the taste is much stronger, more sweet and less acidic. Many people describe the taste as bittersweet, like high-quality chocolate. Plum tomatoes named after the region of San Marzano near Naples, Italy have traditionally been the tomatoes of choice for the best flavored tomato sauce.
This wonderful paste tomato has a red/pink color. Compact and prolific over the long season. The 3- to 4-inch tomatoes grow in small clusters that are ready to pick when they turn a deep, bright red.
San Marzano vines tend to start bearing fruit a bit later in the year than some of their rivals, but once they begin, they are prolific producers offering a bountiful harvest until the first hard frost. They are good for canning, paste and sauce. Also make a good sun-dried tomato. ID 85 days to maturity Mid to Late - Season
Silvery Fir Tree - This variety originates in Russia. Plants are about 24” good for a container. The foliage is very different from most tomatoes. It is feathery and carrot-like, silvery-gray in color. The plants are very compact, but produce heavy crops of 3-31/2 inch red fruit. D Early - Season 58 days to maturity. Good for container
Sungold Select 11 - This is on of the tastiest orange cherry tomatoes out there. This little cherry is a favorite of many. They are sweet and tangy. This is not a completely stable fruit. A few plants can still produce red fruit. ID/D unknown
Yellow Pear - Very sweet the fruit is 1 1/2 inches, yellow, and pear shaped. Plants can grow to 6 feet. They have a mild flavor and are great for fresh eating out of the garden, in salads or for making tomato preserves. Very highly productive plants are easy to grow. 78 days to mature. ID Early - Season *This variety was offered last year.
Tomatillo
General Directions for Growing Ground Cherries: Plant the seedlings in well-dug soil that has been amended with compost or animal manures. Ground cherries need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day, so plant in a sunny location. Water the ground cherries thoroughly before they dry out. If the soil has been amended with compost or manure, no other fertilizer will be needed during the growing season. The plants will reach approximately 2 feet high and will spread out, keeping the soil naturally moist.
Harvest when the fruit has fallen to the ground and the ground cherry papery husk pulls back from the cherry and it has turned yellow-orange color. Fairly easy to grow.
Tomatillo Ground Cherry - Known as early as 1837. A Relative of the tomatillo, ground cherries have a citrus flavor and are used in preserves, pies and fruit salads. The yellowish-orange fruit grow in a husk. Very prolific. Harvest ground cherries when they fall from the plants. They should be eaten when they are fully ripe and have turned from green to yellow. Give the plants well-drained soil without fertilizer. Culture is similar to tomatoes. Container Plant: 18-24 inches apart in full sun. The plant grows 18”- 24” tall.
Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry - Also known as Goldenberry or Husk Tomato. Recorded fruits are 1/2 to 3/4" in diameter and are encased in a papery husk that turns brown when the fruits are ripe.
Easy to grow, prolific and super sweet. Can be s. They are sweet and flavorful. eaten fresh, added to salads and stir fries,used for preserves, pies over ice cream, or in fresh fruit salads or dried like raisin Children love them. Productive plants have a sprawling habit. Foliage has a velvety fuzzy texture. Starts fruiting by the end of July and continues until frost and a little beyond, extremely productive. Stores 3-4 weeks in the husk. The blooms are pale yellow.
Harvest ground cherries when they fall from the plants. They should be eaten when they are fully ripe and have turned from green to yellow. Give the plants well-drained soil without fertilizer. Culture is similar to tomatoes. Can be grown in pots. Fairly easy to grow - 70 days to maturity Plant: 18-24 inches apart in full sun. The plant grows 18”- 24” tall.
Watermelon
General directions for planting watermelon: Choose a site that gets full sun, is protected from chilly winds - especially in spring and fall - and gets good air circulation. A gentle, south-facing slope is idea.
Dig plenty of organic matter into the soil to provide the conditions watermelons need: a light, sandy, fertile loam that is well-drained yet retains moisture. A near-neutral pH 7.0 is best, but watermelons will tolerate soil as acid as 5.5.
Plant watermelons after both air and soil temperatures have reached 65 degrees F (usually two to three weeks after the last frost). plant, dig a hole two feet in diameter and a foot deep, and add at least a shovelful of compost or well-cured manure and a trowel or two of bone meal. Set hardened-off transplants into the ground at the depth they were in the pot. Water thoroughly.
Allow plenty of space between plants. Depending on the variety, they should be anywhere from 3 feet (for small bush types) to 12 feet apart (for giant ramblers). Apply a thick organic mulch to hold in moisture, deter weeds and keep the melons clean as they grow. Give young plants an inch of water a week. As soon as flowers appear begin fertilizing every three weeks.
*Note when the plants are in full bloom: watermelons should be ready to pick about 35 days later. Easy to grow.
Sugar Baby (Ice Box) - This plant is ideal where space is limited. Compact plants produce many small round 10 lb. fruit Approximately 7 in. in diameter. The rind is greenish black. Flesh is red and very sweet.
Cream of Saskatchewan - A beautiful little melon with sweet, tasty, cream-color flesh. An excellent variety for the North. Fruit around 8-10 lbs. each with a striped, green rind. A favorite of those who grow it. An old heirloom. 80 days
Katanya - Dark green fruit have beautiful rosy red-color flesh that is extra flavorful, crisp and sweet. This is an icebox type melon with small to medium-size fruit that are produced in abundance on healthy vines. This is a variety from Katanya, Russia. Fairly early, and one of the best smaller melons. 60-70 days
Scarlett Runner Beans
Buyers will receive a free Scarlett Runner Bean with purchase!!
Beautiful to LOOK AT and to EAT & to USE
Scarlet Runner Beans have flaming red flowers that last throughout the summer. The blossoms grow in clusters and are less that an inch across, a real favorite of hummingbirds. The edible beans grow up to a foot long and are especially good when picked young.
General Directions for Planting: Prepare the area where you want to grow your scarlet runner bean seeds. Clear it of weeds and rocks. Scarlet runner beans prefer rich soil so you may need to add compost to your area.
Beans grow up to 10 feet tall so they need a trellis or other form of support to grow on.
Sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Beans cannot tolerate frost so if an unexpected frost is forecast you will need to cover your beans.
Plant your seeds 1" deep and 6” apart cover with loose soil. Germination takes 7-14 days. Keep moist during germination. Plants need full sun and plenty of water. Easy to grow.
Scarlet Runner Pole Bean - This bean comes under the classification of eating, decorative flower, and ornamental jewelry.
Eating - they must be picked young. They are said to have the best flavor of all the beans.
Flowers grow in clusters of beautiful scarlet and are very decorative. Blooms from July until frost.
If you let them go to seed you can use them to make jewelry as the Native Americans did. They also cooked the beans & they dried the and ground them into flour.
Plants grow to a height of 10 feet. They can also be useful for covering arbors, trellises, porches and tree stump.
Herbs:
Basil: General Directions for growing: Space plants about 10" apart. You’ll want to prevent your basil from blooming for as long as possible, by harvesting or pinching off the top sets of leaves as soon as the plant reaches about 6" in height. This will make them bushy. Harvest as long as there are leaves left on the plant to keep it going. Easy to grow. Container
Basil, Genovese - Annual 12-18 inch plant. Grown for its strongly flavored, fragrant leaves which make great pesto.
Garlic Chives: General Directions for Growing: Plant outdoors spacing 12 inches apart, or into a medium to large pot. Water two or three times a week until established. Garlic chives are very forgiving when it comes to watering, but be diligent to prevent them from completely drying out.
Harvest the leaves once they reach a height of 6 inches. Cut the leaves with a sharp implement to prevent tearing of the leaf. Cut them at about 2 inches from the ground. They produce edible white flowers. Flowers can be cut or left for the bees. Easy to grow. Container.
Garlic Chive - Perennial 12 inch plant. The stems are flat not hollow like regular chives. Both stems and flowers may be eaten. Both have a mild garlic flavor. Use like regular chives.
Chive: General directions to Grow: They are perhaps the easiest herbs to grow and, when kept under control, can provide a wispy, yet hardy and attractive edging for flower beds.
Plant seedlings from pot spacing 8-12 inches apart. Once grown, they reach approximately 8" to 12" across.
Provide sun and water. Chives prefer full sun, but will adjust to partial shade and require minimal watering. Fertilizer isn't necessary.
Hundreds of salad, soup and potato dishes call for chives, as the mild, oniony flavor provides an embellishment with just the right final touch of flavor. Save yourself the trips to the grocery store, as well as a few bucks, by growing your own chives at home. They are perhaps the easiest herbs to grow and, when kept under control, can provide a wispy, yet hardy and attractive edging for flower beds.
Harvest by cutting them as you need them. It is recommended that you cut them at about 2 inches from the ground. Flowers can be cut or left for the bees. Onion chives have purple flowers.
Parsley:
Parsley General Directions to Grow: Parsley grows best in a well-drained, alkaline soil in full sun or partial shade. pH 5.6-7.5 Parsley is a good plant for your kitchen windowsill. Just be sure to have good drainage in your pot and make sure it gets good sunlight. Set plants 12-18 inches apart. Parsley is considered a biennial but is treated as an annual in cold climates. Water your parsley deeply at least once a week and don't allow the soil to dry out between watering. Light mulch helps retain moisture and keeps weeds under control. Growing parsley also makes an attractive edging plant. Its curly, fern-like foliage is high in vitamins, and the plant is rarely affected by disease, though pests, such as aphids, can occasionally present a problem.
This herb can be grown out in the garden, but can also be grown in a container with 1-2 plants per pot. Fertilize the plants in the garden once during the growing season.
Harvest by clipping the stalks close to the base, starting with the larger ones. This encourages new growth all during the growing season. If you just pinch the leaves off, your parsley will be less productive. Dry or freeze the leaves and use them within a year for optimum color and freshness. Easy to grow.
Parsley - Moss Curled - Dense dwarf growth of curled clumping leaves of rich green color. Grows well in sun or shade. Usually grows for 2 years
Sage General Growing Directions: Sage grows to a height of 24-36 inches and will be about 24 inches wide. Sage can be grown outdoors or in a container. It will grow well in rich clay loam that is well draining and is rich in nitrogen. It prefers soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. When the plants are small, keep the soil moist, but afterwards, water only when the soil is dry. Sage plants should have full sun. Plant to about 2 feet apart.
Harvest leaves through the season. Dry for winter use.
Sage - Hardy perennial 18-24 inch plant. Grown for using fresh or dried leaves which can be used in cooking meats and vegetables. Fresh or dried leaves make an excellent tea and a finely flavored wine.
Flowers
Alyssum General planting Directions: Choose a site in full sun to light shade. Sweet alyssum likes average to poor, well-drained soil and moderate water. Plant seedlings in early spring, about two weeks before your region's last average frost date. They can also be planted Late May and June. Position 6 to 8 inches apart.
This small, delicate plant has many uses: It's wonderful for edging a flower bed, filling a container, beautifying a rock garden or cascading from a hanging basket.
Alyssum - Annual 4 in. plant. Needs full sun. Blooms throughout the summer. Lovely for borders or rockgardens. They sometimes re-seed themselves. There will be two varieties: Carpet of Snow & Royal (purple) Carpet.
Carpet of Snow -
Balsam Camellia General Directions to Plant: The plants will cover 12 inches to 18 inches of space. The flowers grow nicely in well enriched sandy soil. They may be transplanted when in full bloom. Easy to grow.
Balsam Camellia - Annual 12-18 in. plant. This old fashioned favorite has double camellia-like flower of different colors. A native of Asia, by 1768 It was being grown in Chelsea. Plants must be well-watered. Can take full shade,partial shade, or sun. This plant is in the Impatiens family. *Supplies will be limited*
Moon Flower General Directions to Plant: Plant 12-inches apart. If you can, plant them in a place where their fragrance can be enjoyed. Also take into account that this is a climbing vine and will need something to climb on. It can be as simple as nailing one end of twine or floral wire to the outside of the house and securing the other end with a weight. Easy to grow.
Moon Flower - Annual Night Bloomer This relative of the morning glory perfumes the garden as its large 5-6 inch white flowers unfold. The large leaves are heart shaped. Growing moon flowers requires very little effort. Moon flowers requires full or partial sun. The plant will begin to bloom in late afternoon and into the early evening hours, and continue to remain open until sunrise. The vines are voracious climbers, and should be planted in a spot where they may spread as needed, such as near a trellis a patio support beam a porch or tree stump. Moon flowers will thrive in nearly any soil condition, from very poor to very rich, although they exhibit a preference for rich soil. They require very little care once started. Insect and pest damage is not usually a big problem, although ants may be attracted to the trumpet-shaped flowers.
Dead blooms should be removed in a process called deadheading, in which the spent bloom is removed from the plant. Deadheading ensures that the moon flower vine remains healthy and productive during its growing season.
SUNFLOWERS
Sunflowers General Directions to Plant: Plant 1 1/2 foot apart or one foot for the dwarf varieties. (In containers you can squeeze them closer)
Sunflowers will start out slowly. If you notice birds or other animals bothering the little seedlings you can tent a piece of chicken wire, a milk jug with the top and bottom cut off or something similar to protect them. They will pick up speed in their growing process, and the children can be responsible for watching them, watering them, and placing cut up leaves or another type of mulch carefully around the bottoms of each plant.
Many people harvest all of the sunflowers and don't allow the birds to feed. I think for children, a nice alternative is to cover some of the heads with cheesecloth, mesh bags or old pantyhose, so you can roast the seeds later, but leave the other flowers for the birds. The children can record which birds come to the plants and how many, as an extra project.
Harvest when the seed heads start to turn brown, they can be cut with 2 inches of the stem and hung to dry in a ventilated place such as a garage or attic. When they are dry, simply rub them together to loosen, soak over night in salted water and then drain. Spread them on baking sheets and roast for three hours at 200 degrees until dry. These can be stored in a container for eating. Be sure to save some seeds out before this process, place in envelopes and label for planting next year. Store them in a dry cool place until spring.
Growing sunflowers can be a unique, family project. So much can be learned about nature and the growing process, as well as teaching children patience. The end result will be something they will always remember and treasure.
Growing sunflowers is not as difficult as it might seem, with a few considerations taken into account. Importantly, you need to plan where you plant your sunflowers because they will need full use of the sun during the entire day to grow successfully. Plant where they will not shade other plants. Easy to grow
Sunflower Varieties:
Mexican Torch: Brilliant red-orange 2”-4” flowers. This is and excellent butterfly plant, blooms over a very long season. The plants produce masses of blooms. The 5’ plants are very beautiful. Allow 12-18 inches between plants. Require only ordinary soil and moisture, tolerates heat and some drought once established. Needs full sun.
Tarahumara White Seeded: Grown by the Tarahumara tribe for their mostly white seeds; the plants produce beautiful 8”-10” golden yellow flowers on tall plants. This is a rare heirloom. It may have originally been brought to Canada by Russian Mennonite farmers. Allow 12-18 inches between plants. Require only ordinary soil and moisture, tolerates heat and some drought once plants are established. Needs full sun.
Teddy Bear Dwarf: These 4-6 inch flowers resemble big gold chrysanthemums. Plants grow 18-24 inches tall.
Vanilla Ice: "Vanilla Ice" is an almost white flower with 4-inch blooms surounding a chocolate-colored center. Sow seeds in average soil with full sun after frost. Sow approximately 8-inches apart and colver with 1-inch of fine soil. Keep evenly moist and thin to stand 12-18 inches apart when seedlings are 1-inch high.
Velvet Queen: Elegant early bloomer. 6’ plant with multiple deep red blooms. Can be cut or left for the birds.
Zinnias
Zinnias General Growing Directions: Choose a site in full sun, although zinnias usually appreciate a little afternoon shade in especially hot regions. Zinnias like rich, well-drained soil. Plant seedlings 12 -24 inches, depending on the variety's mature height. Keep soil somewhat moist. Mulching is a good idea. Zinnias can survive in soil that's on the dry side but will wilt in very dry conditions. Trim faded flowers, or cut flowers often for bouquets, to promote more and longer blooming. Easy to grow.
Lilliput: Annual - Needs full sun. Small pompom flowers are good for cutting and border displays. 24” tall. Plant 18-24” apart
Lilliput: Annual - Needs full sun. Small pompom flowers are good for cutting and border displays. 24” tall. Plant 18-24” apart
Cut & Come Again: Annual - Needs full sun. A very popular cutting zinnia. Double flowers are 2 1/2 inches. Flowers freely produce on long stems from mid summer to frost. 24” tall. Plant 18-24” apart.
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