Waltham Broccoli

The standard open-polinated broccoli. Nicely formed stocky plants 20 inches in height yield dark blue-green mid-sized heads. Also produces a large number of side shoots after harvest. A fine choice for a late fall/winter harvest. (85 Days)

Special Directions for Short Season Climates

SOWING: Start seed indoors from early spring in pots, or sow directly into the garden after danger of serious frost has passed. Cover seeds with 1/8 inch of fine soil.

SPACING: Space plants l8 to 24 inches apart in rows spaced 2 to 3 feet apart depending upon available room.

THINNING AND TRANSPLATING: Thin or transplant seedlings when 2 inches tall. Transplant indoor started seedlings, after hardening off and danger of serious frost has passed.

GERMINATION: 7 to 10 days. Keep soil moderately moist during germination.

Ed's Special Advice

Broccoli grows best in a mostly sunny location during the cooler parts of the growing season. Prefers fairly rich soil kept somewhat moist. Cut the main head when buds are still tight. Continue to harvest side shoots for small heads ideal for salads or stir-fry. Broccoli can be sown mid to late summer for a fall or winter crop in mild weather areas.

Lime Basil

These varieties of Basil are freshly citrus scented and are mild enough for flavoring grilled fish or shrimp salad. Pasta dishes with vegetables and chicken are delicious with the citrus basils. The plants will grow to about 2' tall and around.

To grow Lime Basil, the daytime temperatures must be warm but not too hot (around 80-95 degrees) and it must get at least 3-4 hours of sunlight a day. It can be grown with filtered light all day such as under a tree or in a bright window indoors. If it gets too hot this plant will not grow well although it is a bit more tolerant of heat than Sweet Basil. It is important to keep the soil moist and grow it in a large pot. These basil flowers do not need to be pinched constantly but the plant will produce more leaves if the flowers are removed frequently.

To harvest Lime Basil, cut off the top one third of the branches at the next intersection with more leaves growing. This will allow the new leaves to begin growing and become your next harvest. Never harvest more than one third of any herb plant so that it can recover from the pruning.

San Marzano Tomato

A little later than Roma, with superb flavor in slightly rectangular-shaped fruits, 3-1/2" x 1-1/2", that are bright red and hang in large clusters. Holds well on the vine and in storage. Extra-high solid content is perfect for canning. Indeterminate. Maturity: 80

Golden Sweet Snow Peas

67 Days. HEIRLOOM from India. This heirloom variety produces vigorous vines 6' long. The very attractive two toned purple blossoms yield lemon-yellow pods that are best picked when small. Flavor is sweet and nutty.

Mache

Also known as Cornsalad this member of the Valarian family is very popular in France. Its fine, nutty taste enhances salads. It is very cold tolerant, so it's a great early or late season green.

Spacemaster Cucumber

59 days.
A full sized 7 1/2 inch cuke, primarily a slicer, on a short 3 foot vine; good for trellising in a tight spot or in a container. Its nice flavor and appearance is enhanced by its resistance to mosaic and scab.

This very compact bushy plant won’t take over your garden. Spacemaster’s 2’-3’ vines make it an ideal choice for small growing areas. It can even be grown in a large container! The full-sized fruits are great for pickles when small and for slicing when mature. Regular picking will help the plant produce prolifically throughout the season. It is resistant to cucumber mosaic virus and scab and also somewhat resistant to downy and powdery mildew. This packet plants: 4 mounds of 3 plants per mound.

When to plant outside: Spring after average last frost date AND when soil temperatures are warm, at least 65 degrees.

When to start inside: 4-6 weeks before average last frost.

Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Plant in mounds or rows, as you prefer. If rows, plant every 4”, thinning to 1 plant per foot. Mounds should be 1’ to 2’ apart with 6 seedlings on each mound thinned to 3 per mound. Another HIGHLY recommended method is to plant with a trellis. Cucumbers grow straighter and are easier to see when harvesting with this method. Use recommended row spacing and tie the main stem to the trellis with string or twist ties. (If growing in a container, you can place the container next to a tall trellis, or insert a 2’-3’ trellis inside the container.)

Lutz Beet

80 days. HEIRLOOM This old time variety remains the best for both storage and beet greens harvested at any time. The roots are half long, deep purple and will retain their sweetness if properly stored throughout the winter.

Special Directions for Short Season Climates

SOWING: Sow seed from early spring through late summer. Cover seed with 1/2 inch of fine soil firmed down.

SPACING: Space rows 12 to 16 inches apart or plant seeds 4 inches apart in all directions.

THINNING: Thin 3 to 4 inches apart when seedlings are a few inches tall. Enjoy the removed young greens in a salad.

GERMINATION: 2 to 3 weeks depending upon weather and soil temperature, Keep soil moderately moist during germination.

Ed's Special Advice

Sow seed In July and August for Fall and Winter crops. Beets prefer fairly rich yet light sandy loam type soil. Add lime and fertilize soil prior to planting for best growth, flavor and texture. Space sowing times several weeks apart for longer harvest season.

Crosby Egyptian Beets

45-60 days — One of the largest early varieties that will keep shape until fall. Tops can reach 16 inches. Roots are uniform shape, smooth skinned, and flattened heart shaped.

"Egyptian" beet varieties were developed in Germany in the 1860s. The "Crosby" strain originated from the efforts of Josiah Crosby, an Arlington, Massachusetts market gardener who selected to retain the earliness, increase the depth, and remove the roughness of 'Flat Egyptian.' It was introduced commercially in 1885 by James J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Massachusetts. This heirloom beet originated in Germany and is reputed to be the most widely grown beet in the world. The large, flattened beets are grown primarily above the soil but the skins don't get the toughness of the upper portions of some beets. Beets are very sweet and early without any "earthy" taste.

Windsor Fava Bean

5-6" pods each contain 3-5 large, 1", fresh green shell beans. Favas prefer cool, mild conditions and are suitable for spring and fall sowings. Avoid hot weather. Excellent sautÈed with garlic. Dry beans are light brown. Packet: 50 seeds.

Plant Cycle: (A) Days to Maturity or Bloom: 75

Growing Information:
CULTURE: Plant at pea planting time, as early as the soil can be worked in spring, 1" deep, 4-6" apart, in rows 18-36" apart. Where winter lows stay above 10°F (-12°C) sow in September. Pick for green shelling when beans are plump inside the large pods. DISEASES and PESTS: Control aphids, responsible for the spread of viral diseases that cause leaf blackening, especially apparent during hot weather. AVG. SEEDING RATE: 90'/lb., 11 lb./1,000', 160 lb./acre at 3' row spacing. SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB.: AVG. 275. PACKET: 3 oz. (avg. 50 seeds.)

Fava beans (Vicia faba) are not in the same genus as other garden beans (Phaseolus). Their origin is reportedly the Mediterranean region and their history dates back to at least Biblical times. Favas are commonly used in Middle Eastern, Greek and Italian cooking.

They can be used small (just as the pods begin to fill) as you would green or snap beans. They are primarily used as a green shelled bean and cooked in salted water. As a dry bean, they can be harvested as the pods begin to turn black.

Favas prefer well drained, fertile soil and do not do well in hot weather. They are typically planted in fall or winter and finished by early summer. As a rule of thumb, plant them and grow in the same time period as you would English or garden peas. Plant in blocks, or two to three rows together, to help prevent the plants from falling over.

Some people cook the upper leaves of the plant like spinach. It should be noted that some people may have an allergic reaction to uncooked fava beans. The presumed toxins are eliminated by cooking.

Although they have been in cultivation in many parts of the world for centuries, favas are relatively new to the North American farm, garden and market.

(also known as Habas, Broad Bean, Faba bean, Horse bean, English bean, Windsor bean, Tick bean, Cold bean, Silkworm bean)

Dash Spinach

This extra early hybrid also is very tollerant of cool weather so it is an ideal choice for both very early, and very late plantings. The upright, spade shaped, medium green leaves are both smooth and delicious. 39 days.

Space Spinach

Leaves are spoon-shaped and not at all savoyed for ease of cleaning. Color is a pleasant dark green and the flavor of the meaty leaves is excellent. With a high percentage of female plants, it is very resistant to bolting. In both our trials and those of the Dutch grower who developed it, Space was the highest yielder, primarily due to the long season over which harvest was possible.

Strata d'Italia Zucchini

HEIRLOOM A true beauty to behold. Appreciated for its earliness, this zucchini is cylindrical with a slight taper to it. The thin skin has mottled light and dark green stripes that adorn a fruit with excellent flavor and texture. Plants are bushy but open, which allows ease in harvest.

Principe BorgheseTomato

HEIRLOOM Determinate. This is the tomato used for sun drying in Italy. It is very small (1-2 ounces), plum shaped, and pointed at one end. Fruits are born in large clusters of several dozen, like grapes. They are meaty with little juice and branches can be hung to dry until leathery. In Italy they just throw the vines over a fence. We've had success in our cool, wet climate with slicing them in half and drying them in an oven with just the pilot light. Don't give this one too much water as you don't want juicy fruit for drying. 78 days.

Sorrel

Oseille in France, Sorrel is a popular vegetable there. In the US it is sometimes known as dock. The flavor is somewhat acidic, reminiscent of citrus fruit. In France, it is often pureed and served with a cream sauce or fresh in salads with a vinaigrette. It also makes a splendid soup. It is easy to grow and nutritious, providing ample harvests throughout the seasons.
Plant Type: Perennial (Hardy)
When to Sow Outside: Two weeks before last frost date.
When to Sow Inside: Four weeks before last frost date.
Seed Depth: 1/4"
Seed Spacing: 4"
Days to Emerge: 5 - 10
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 18" apart.

Pineapple Tomatillo

Physalis Pruinosa It really tastes like a pineapple! The large spreading plants are 3' across and covered with hundreds of fruit that are quite different from other tomatillos. They are only about 3/4" in diameter and soft so they are great for eating fresh. They tend to fall from the plant when ripe. Great for preserves and pies.

Tomatillo

The fruit of these plants resemble Chinese Lanterns. The tomato-like fruit grows to about 2" inside a papery husk. Harvest when the tomatillo is just turning yellow. They will be hard. Can be stored for 1 or 2 months in a cool dry place. Use partially or completely cooked in different Mexican sauces. Grow plants as you would tomatoes. Ultimate height will be 4', so provide good support. Very prolific producers.

Round Black Radish

HEIRLOOM 1824 in US, 1500s in Europe. A fine variation on the black Spanish radish that has been around since the 1500s. The large roots are 4" across with an attractive black skin while the flesh is a pure creamy white. It is mildly pungent and can be used for a variety of cooked dishes as well as fresh with beer. Round Black even stores well in a root cellar. 33 days.

Easter Egg Radish

HEIRLOOM This unique radish is a lot of fun. It includes a combination of red, white, and purple radishes and a number of intermediary shades that really dress up your relish tray. The flavor is good (mildly pungent), texture is crisp, and they hold their quality well after their 28 day maturity.

Corno di Toro Pepper

HEIRLOOM These bull's horn peppers, a deep green turning to a vivid bright red, are exceptionally sweet and tasty. Fruits are 6 to 8 inches in length. Great for both fresh use and frying.

Knight Peas

This is the largest-pod, highest yielding pea in the early maturing class. Vines are short, a little over 2 feet, and don't need staking. Pods are full sized, 4", with up to 10 peas. Easy to shell with sweet flavor. 56 days.
Pick regularly to promote continued production.