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Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds eOur 22nd Annual Pure Seed Book!

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Welcome To The Whole Seed Catalog!

Dear Gardening Friends, (13) and Cyan William Gettle (3). These children we saw the Bayer takeover of Monsanto, com- have blessed our lives beyond measure and are bining two of the world’s biggest producers of We are excited to share our 22nd annual listing gentle spirits who face life with smiles and a dangerous chemical products and corporately of rare seeds. We hope you enjoy reading the big sense of humor that delight our hearts and controlled GMO seed. Their products not only incredible stories of the world’s heirloom seed make us so thankful we were able to bring them include seeds and farm chemicals but many treasures. Seeds that not only grow amazing home on Christmas Day 2017. Sasha and Malia personal products like aspirin and sunscreen. produce and but also tell the story of our their new and love teaching and Please remember these combined companies’ food, and how it has traversed the globe, from learning new words in both languages. Please past role in Nazi Germany and in products like neighbor to neighbor and is still bringing people support adoption; it is a wonderful life changing Agent . together both in the garden and at the kitchen experience! Please support your local farms and busi- table. Be part of this long tradition and save some Of course while we were in China, I had to nesses and make sure your food dollars are seeds to pass on to your family and friends! keep my eye out for new seed varieties. So ex- supporting the good, fair, and healthy. We are happy to offer free shipping. That is pect new selections from this ancient country in right--no shipping or handling charges! And future catalogs, as well as from the dozen or so Please stop by for a visit or attend one of no minimum order, either! We want to make countries that our team travels to each year. This our festivals. We love meeting fellow gardeners! heirloom seeds available to all--any time you need year we are so excited to introduce varieties like Thank you for supporting our seed dreams, and them--and we will strive to ship most orders with- a true celery and goji berries from we hope you have an incredible gardening year! in hours after we receive them! Thank you so much China, pearly bitter melons and 2-foot- for supporting our family business. We will strive long carrots from Japan, loads of new peppers, God Bless! to offer you the most exciting seeds we can find. and so much more! Jere, Emilee, Ella (13), Sasha (11), Malia (5), This last year has been incredibly busy for It is our passion and mission to continue to & Cyan (3) Gettle our family. Not only did we discover many “new” save and share these treasures that are endan- selections for this catalog, but we also expanded gered thanks to mega-farming and continued PS, please “Like” us on facebook for all the our family with the adoption of two wonderful consolidation of our food supply. This last year latest varieties, recipes and cool photos! children from China. Meet Ella May Ying Zhi Gettle 2 About Our Seed Company Visit Our Stores Jere with the 1982 harvest

MANSFIELD, MISSOURI HEADQUARTERS WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT JERE GETTLE always had a passion for growing things, Come enjoy the beautiful Ozark hills and our HEIRLOOM MARKET AT COMSTOCK FERRE and at age 3 he planted his first garden. Ever since, farm and pioneer village; shop seeds, see The historic Comstock Seed property is he wanted to be involved in the seed industry. So in gardens, animals and the village. Eat at our owned and being restored by the Gettle 1998, at the age of 17, he printed the first Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalog. The company has grown to restaurant that is open for lunch, Monday - family. It is now being transformed into not offer nearly 2,000 varieties of vegetables, flowers and Friday. Learn firsthand about what we do. only a seed store but also a natural foods herbs—the largest selection of heirloom varieties in Directions: We are located 45 miles east of market and cafe by our friends, Spiro and the USA. Springfield, Missouri. Take Hwy 60 to Mans- Julia Koulouris, who own the business and Baker Creek carries one of the largest selections of currently operate the entire property. seeds from the 19th century, including many Asian and field, and at the 2nd exit, turn north on Hwy European varieties. The company has become a tool to 5. Go 1½ miles to London Road. Turn left on Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre is promote and our agricultural and culinary heri- London Road, then follow signs. Hours: Mon- located at 263 Main St. Wethersfield. Phone: tage. Our company and seeds have been featured in The day-Friday, 8 am - 4 pm. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 860-257-2790 www.ComstockFerre.com New York Times, The Associated Press, Oprah Magazine, NPR, Martha Stewart, The Wall Street Journal, and many p.m. Closed Saturdays & major holidays. Come others. Gardeners can request a free catalog. Our enjoy all that the Ozarks region has to offer! catalogs now distribute to over 700,000 gardeners na- Phone: 417-924-8917 Join us on tionally. Baker Creek started hosting festivals in 2000 as a way to bring gardeners, homesteaders and natural food en- Facebook thusiasts together to exchange ideas and seeds, to listen We now have 630,000 to speakers and to enjoy vendors, old-time and much more. These festivals gave birth to the idea for our “Likes” on facebook! Like us for pioneer village, Bakersville. Other projects include our recipes, special offers, & cool photos! trial gardens that we grow each year, seed collecting ex- peditions, and educational produce exhibits. Over the last several years, Jere Gettle and his wife Emilee have branched out into other related projects, as well. They have also expanded into a lo- cation in Sonoma County, CA, in the beautiful town of Petaluma and are continuing with the restoration and preservation of the landmark Wethersfield, CT, Comstock, Ferre & Company, the oldest continuously operating seed company in New England. The Gettles have published two books with Hy- perion. These books feature heirloom vegetables and PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA their work with seeds and food. After publishing The New Location at : 110 Petaluma Blvd. Heirloom Life Gardener in 2011, they released The Baker North. (One block away from old location) Creek Vegan Cookbook in 2012. We look forward to seeing you at our new Jere and Emilee also work extensively to supply location where we will be offering a full se- free seeds to many of the world’s poorest countries, as well as here at home in school gardens and other lection of our seeds and gardening supplies Also Follow Us On educational projects. It is their goal to educate located still in beautiful and historic Petalu- Instagram and Twitter! everyone about a better, safer food supply and fight ma, California. We are in beautiful Sonoma gene-altered Frankenfood and the companies that County, and just 45 minutes north of San Printed on recycled paper: support it. Fransisco. We also host the National Heir- please recycle and pass this loom Expo in nearby Santa Rosa, California book on to friends! BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEED CO. each September. Come visit us! 2278 Baker Creek Rd. Mansfield, MO 65704 Open: Sunday-Friday. Closed Saturdays & Phone: 417-924-8917 [email protected] major holidays. Phone: 707-773-1336 LOVEJoin our SEEDS? Team! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter! Send your resume to [email protected] More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 3 traditional corn is a true superfood OUR STUDY SHOWS GMO’S ARE GREATLY LACKING IN Heirloom Corn Versus, GMO Corn By Shannon McCabe Corn is an ancient and sacred crop of the . This We tested 46 heirloom We tested 4 GMO/ has taken root across the globe, influencing and cuisines hybrid corn samples worldwide. A richly diverse crop, corn has been bred to display corn samples with an a of in an array of sizes and shapes. Corn, also average 9.91% Protein. with an average only referred to as maize, has become a staple agricultural crop with 7.10% Protein. an abundance of uses. For thousands of years, Meso-American cultures have considered Traditional corn has 28% more protein than the average corn a sacred crop and a pillar of civilization. Sadly, agricultural GMO food/feed corn in our study, meaning you have to eat 28% industrialization is threatening much of its diversity. more on average to get the same nutrition. Modern GMO food is full The richly diverse and nutritious crop that sustained the Americas of empty carbs and calories, but greatly lacking in real nutrients. has become a homogenized commodity crop. Corn is a crop that exemplifies the strength and importance of diversity, it has GMO Corn Is Hard To Study: universities are been hijacked for mass production. The thousands of uniquely colorful, nutrient-dense, Native American varieties are now funded by the GMO Lobby considered rare and arcane. Meanwhile a few select genetically We encountered more challenges than we expected as we sought to compare the nutritional modified varieties are grown across the country on millions of content of our heirloom corn varieties with GMO corn. After making connections with several acres across the heartland. This mega production of maize is laboratories and universities, we were dismayed to find that most of them wanted nothing to mostly transformed into ethanol, and other non food products do with comparing traditional corns with GMO varieties. The labs that were willing to test our and much is used to support the massive confined animal feeding corn would not allow us to use their names in the study. One university, after many prior con- operations across the country. versations, stopped communicating with us completely upon finding out we intended to test GMO varieties. Throughout the years we have seen many scientists “discredited” by corporate With the advent of genetic modification, corn has been forced interests that don’t approve of the results of their research. Many universities rely on funding into an arranged marriage with pesticides and other harsh from corporate interests for their science departments. The idea of corporate-influenced lab chemicals. Much work has been put into creating GMO corn results is now an absolute reality that is making it increasingly difficult for scientists to conduct varieties that can tolerate exposure to massive amounts of real research. We were eventually able to find a lab that would let us use their name and would pesticides. Millions of acres of GMO corn are sprayed with the test the corn. So after lots of work and dead ends we are very happy to present to you the herbicide Roundup each year. Corn has become weaponized in results of our 2018 corn study! order to wage war on pests and weeds. O America has seen a decline in the diversity of heirloom, traditional corn varieties. This is mostly due to GMO contamination. At Baker Creek, we have tested each and every heirloom corn variety that we offer for the presence GMO contamination. We have seen beautiful, ancient varieties lost to this pollen drift and we have worked to keep our supply GMO free. A GROWING LEGACY SINCE 1816 We have seen first hand a deterioration of the abundance of colorful, nutritious varieties that once sustained the Americas. The USDA CertifieD OrgAniC treeS Baker Creek team decided to have the protein and antioxidant levels of our favorite colorful heirlooms tested in a lab. This study Introducing can help us understand what humanity is in danger of losing as Over 200 years ago, we grew ... these varieties fade into obscurity. We also tested several GMO organically because there was no go organic samples, to compare the nutrition levels of heirloom vs GMO. other way. Now we’ve come full The results of this study were astounding! It is clear why these circle — Stark Bro’s is now offering traditional corn varieties have been celebrated for thousands of years. The heirloom varieties were impressively rich in protein; USDA Certified Organic fruit trees! some of them showed double the amount of protein as the GMO These pampered trees undergo sample. We also compared our results to university studies for rigorous protocols to meet high GMO corn protein levels, and the heirloom varieties handily beat 100% NON-GMO those averages as well. USDA standards, and are grown We also tested for the presence of , which is a on their own pure pastureland. = powerful antioxidant. Many of the colorful varieties that were No artificial anything, just purity. tested showed impressive amounts of anthocyanin. Anthocyanin For your health ... for freshness ... has been shown to enhance heart health and to help in the prevention of some cancers. for the good of the environment, While GMO corn is transformed into the calorie-rich, nutrient- and the well-being of your family ... poor processed foods that are partly to blame for America’s go organic and grow organic! diet-related health crisis, traditional heirloom corns of yesteryear can be made into healthy, nutritious foods. Perhaps the answer Purely grown, from the roots up — ... to what presently ails us requires reaching into the past and just like Mother Nature intended grow organic! revisiting the varieties that sustained and nourished humanity in To get your FREE catalog, visit the Americas for thousands of years. StarkBrosOrganic.com Exact Scientific Services, Inc. produced our scientific analysis. StarkBrosOrganic.com or call 800.325.4180 & mention promo code Read the full story at www.rareseeds.com 4 19RB0001 The Ozark’s premier event of local food , gardening and food freedom. Join guests from across America and beyond as we celebrate two days of good seed and food. The Spring Planting Festival Join over 10,000 gardeners from across America! Learn from Amazing Speakers!

Come & Enjoy Our 19th Annual Festival, May 5 & 6, 2019 Sunday and Monday, 10 am to 7 pm both days. Held at our Mansfield, Missouri Farm and Seed Company Celebrate spring with 170 vendors, 75 old time musicians, and more than 50 craftsmen. Browse through thousands of varieties of and learn how to grow them with our acclaimed guest speakers. Come and join us and more than 10,000 gardeners at America’s premier event of seeds, plants, music, culture and the celebration of historic foods. Join gardeners from across the country. Bring the kids, who will be admitted free, for 2 full days of children’s fun and educational activities. Area schools are invited to bring their classes. Enjoy a sense of community with fascinating seed collectors, renowned musicians, international speakers, historic demonstrators, food activists, home schoolers, western re-enactors, organic growers, gourmet chefs, free thinkers, Ozarkian crafters, trendy vendors and herbal hippies! read more at www.rareseeds.com

The Spring Planting Festival is held at our village and seed farm, near Mansfield, Missouri. Simply take Highway 5 north from Mansfield for 1.5 miles, and follow signs. We offer free tent and RV camping without hookups; there is no need to register. There are also hotels in the local area but book early. Food is available at the festival. Admission is $5.00 per adult, payable at the event. In keeping with our philosophy of educating about food and gardening, children 17 and under are free. All over 20 pounds must be pre-approved. No weapons are allowed. Vendors are welcome! Bring your products to one of the largest heritage garden events. Vendors and crafters, call for info: 417-924-8917. (Spaces are limited.) Bring your friends and family to enjoy the festivities. More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 5 THE NATIONAL HEIRLOOM EXPO SEPT 10-12, SANTA ROSA, CA - TheHeirloomExpo.com

The World’s Heirloom Fair!

The 9th annual National Heirloom Exposition will be the center of attention in Santa Rosa, California, on September 10, 11, & 12. What began in 2011 as a celebration of pure food and sustainable living Located at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa on September has developed into an impressive event that annually draws about 15,000 10, 11 & 12, the event has become known as the “World’s Fair of Pure Food.” participants. Featuring the largest display of heritage produce, the Expo The fairground streets and pavilion aisles are filled with pure food enthusi- now focuses on the preservation of heirloom foods without genetic mod- asts, talented home gardeners, farmers, garden artists, school groups, and ification. Many individual and commercial growers supply an abundance leaders in the food industry throughout this magnificent event. of and vegetables for exhibiting and tasting.

Join hundreds of vendors and exhibitors for all World-class garden art Three days of kids activities and garden games, things garden, seeds, farm and organic! from across America! bring your kids or school class for a food education Become a vendor! Spaces are limited, call us today! Calling all seedy artists! they won’t forget!

Enjoy stunning heirloom tomatoes from across Dazzling Dahlia Show! National and international speakers fill 3 halls with California and beyond. Be part of the giant three Enjoy the beauty of hun- garden and farm know-how. Learn to grow, save day tastings and find your new favorites! dreds of stunning dahlias. and sell your harvest and much more! 6 THE NATIONAL HEIRLOOM EXPO 100 AMAZING EXPO SPEAKERS, INCLUDING...

Ocean Robbins, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Joseph Simcox Doug and Stacy CEO & Co-Host of the Food A global pure food activist and The Botanical Explorer and lead- Homesteading Stars on Youtube Revolution Network India’s leading seed saver. ing expert on rare food plants “OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY “ The World’s Heirloom Fair! More than 100 renowned garden and food speakers fill threepresenta - tion halls with back-to-back talks. An impressive line up of nationally and Take Part! internationally recognized speakers have included Vandana Shiva, Jeffrey Be an attendee, exhibitor, vendor, speaker or volunteer! Smith, Carlo Petrini, Ronnie Cummins, Dave Murphy, Percy Schmeiser, Join seed savers, farmers and gardeners from across the planet! Joseph Mercola, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Rachel Parent, and many more. Save these Dates, Sept 10-12, 2019, Santa Rosa, CA The National Heirloom Exposition continues to grow and attract www.theheirloomexpo.com interest around the world as like-minded people come together to share information about pure foods, sustainable living, organic growing, and so 1-417-924-8917 or [email protected] many other topics relevant to adults, children, and future generations.

Learn from record breaking giant vegetable grow- Learn homesteading, The exhibit halls allow for hours of pleasant brows- ers and compete for cash in the giant cooking & country lifestyle ing among the displays of thousands of contest! Come and enjoy the world class giants! skills from the masters! varieties of heirloom fruits, vegetables & flowers!

Rare fruit displays and fruit experts teach you how Meet America’s historic Share seeds and stories with gardeners from across to have a great orchard in backyard, farm or - birds at our poultry show. the globe at America’s largest seed swap! The seed house. Also taste samples of tropical favorites. Learn from the experts. swap is getting a large area all three days in 2019. More varietiesSEPT of seed 10-12, available atSANTA www.rareseeds.com ROSA, CA - TheHeirloomExpo.com7 THESE PLANTS ARE VERY SMALL “TISSUE-CULTURED” PLANTS THAT ARE DISEASE FREE. PLEASE READ LIVE PLANT INFO BEFORE PURCHASING Live Plants Please Read: We are super excited to offer a selection of small, live plants. These are produced for us by tissue culture, a natural technique that produces plants that are generally high-quality and disease free. With some stunning new food crops in our plant listing, we hope you will try some of the exciting rare plants we offer this year. Pre-order now, as supplies on some of these will be limited. The plants we ship are small but sturdy, and we offer a 30-day guarantee on live plants.

Please consider these terms before ordering live plants: Most plants will be 3”-7” in height. Plants will ship as available after the first of March to the end of May. We will try to ship orders to southern zones first. No guaranteed exact delivery dates. Plants may HARDY KIWI COLLECTION​ #PL128 arrive too early and have to be kept inside until the weather warms. Plants may arrive late, as well. (Actinidia arguta) This kiwi is a good producer of bite- Due to the sensitive nature of small plants, there is the possibility of a crop failure. If such a situation sized kiwis. It has a tremendous cold hardiness and is occurs, we will do our best to issue you a refund in a timely manner. Last minute losses can occur at easy to grow. Besides its rock-solid hardiness, one key any point in our shipping time-line, and we may have to issue a refund even late in the season. No element that makes this kiwi so special is its pineap- orders shipped outside of the USA. ple-like flavor! Use Actinidia agruta ‘Hardy Male’ as a pollinator. For zones 5-9. We offer 3 assorted plants (1 male & 2 female) plants for $16.00 ARONIA VIKING #PL101 (Aronia melancarpa) Viking is a beautiful small shrub with a very flavorful fruit when used in juices, jams, and wines. Aronia is high in flavonoid/antioxidants, as well as high in vita- mins and minerals. The fall foliage is incred- ibly striking. Aronia is a , DWARF EVERBEARING #PL105 staple in Eastern Europe (Morus nigra) Morus nigra is a medium size black backyard gardens and mulberry with a sweet tasty flavor. In pot culture it has great potential in can be maintained as a dwarf with minor pruning. the US. We offer 2 small This ever-bearing mulberry will produce continuously plants that have been in pots under warm and bright conditions. Mulber- propagated through tis- ries have many health benefits: they strengthen the sue culture, a simple way immune system and are good for eyesight. We offer 2 to make small cuttings small plants that have been propagated through tissue disease free. 2 plants for culture, a simple way to make small cuttings disease $14.00 free. 2 plants for $15.00

CLASSIC FIG ASSORTMENT #PL121 (Ficus) An assortment of some of the world’s most delicious fig varieties, with flavorful pink, green, or POSSUM PASSION FRUIT #PL107 red flesh. Fruit will vary in size, depending on variety. (Passiflora edulis) Self-fertile passion fruit that can be Figs are super easy to grow and most thrive outside LONGEVITY SPINACH #PL103 grown in containers, in the greenhouse, or outdoors in zones 7-11. Many people grow them farther north (Gynura procumbens) Related to Okinawan Spinach, in warmest zones. Prefers full sun and ample with protection. We get massive amounts of fruit but lower-growing and more spreading. Reputed to water. The delicious purple fruit is fine for eating out each year in our small Missouri greenhouse. Figs are have anti-viral and anti-cancer properties, and to be of hand, or processing into jellies, juices or desserts. delicious for fresh eating but also make incredible beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and numerous The classic white, purple and cream-colored Passion jams, jellies, desserts, and are delicious in and other conditions. Cultivated throughout southern and flowers are stunning, especially when grown where main dishes, as well! fig plants may need some eastern Asia. Can be used raw, juiced or cooked. Also they can be seen and appreciated close-up. Bees and protection, even in zones 7-8 if the is harsh, until frequently made into a tea. Grows in frost-free, warm butterflies love them as well. Climbing plants will they are well developed, but this can be easily done by conditions. Easy to propagate from cuttings. 2 plants require staking. 2 plants for $15.00 either bringing them inside or wrapping them in cloth for $12.00 or landscape fabric. We offer 3 assorted small plants for $16.50 8 THESE PLANTS ARE VERY SMALL “TISSUE-CULTURED” PLANTS THAT ARE DISEASE FREE. PLEASE READ LIVE PLANT INFO BEFORE PURCHASING

SCARLET STRAWBERRY #PL132 CHICAGO HARDY FIG #PL184 This ancient strawberry was popular in colonial Amer- This is an exciting fig for cooler ! Chicago Hardy DRAGON FRUIT COLLECTION #PL123 ica as well as 17th century Europe. Fruit has bright red fig originates from Sicily, but became popular in Chica- Grow outdoors in a sub-tropical climate or grow as an skin and pure white flesh. These bear in June and are go. It is productive, easy to grow, and bears dark mahog- amazing greenhouse plant. It may take a few years to best eaten right out of the garden; they have superb any medium-size figs. Amazingly it is drought, heat AND start producing, but when it does, be prepared for super flavor, not shipping quality. The amazing little berries cold tolerant. In colder climates, the fig will die back and delicious, pink fleshed fruit; yields year-round where are very different from other strawberries. Smaller than resume growth in spring. Fruit produced on the older conditions are right! Plants need little water and produce a hybrid garden berry, yet larger than an alpine variety, wood will appear in early summer, and fruit on new lovely blooms, too. (Most varieties are night-blooming; the berries are far more flavorful than anything we’ve growth will appear in early fall. It is self-pollinating and ever tried. The crazy bubblegum-pineapple flavor is fine-grained. Grow in pots or in the ground, in partial be prepared to hand-pollinate indoor-grown speci- definitely kid approved--Sasha loves them! Almost shade to full sun from zone 5 - 10. 2 plants for $16.50 mens.) We offer 2 assorted small plants for $15.00 unheard of today, but is the best for flavor. 3 plants for $13.50

SNOWBANK “WHITE” BLACKBERRY #PL166 Extra sweet berries dazzle like diamonds on vigorous . These sparkling white berries were developed by OLD NORTH SEA STRAWBERRY #PL133 the great Luther Burbank, legendary plant of the This is a cold hardy old variety from Denmark; it was early 20th Century. Burbank, who was also responsible found growing in an ancient Viking village site. Plants for the Russet Burbank and the Shasta Daisy, took DWARF BANANA COLLECTION #PL127 are low growing which makes them harder to spot by a chance mutation white blackberry that was found Dwarf types with fruit ranging from dessert types to birds and also protects the delicate fruit from frost. growing in the wild in New Jersey and bred a more plantain (cooking) types. Height ranges from 6-14 feet These are a medium sized June bearer with a great bright white berry. The result, introduced in 1916, was in most cases, making these suitable for large container flavor; fruit sets early. Very rare and hard to find. a stunning alabaster fruit with exceptional sweet flavor. culture. This crop is easy to grow in the south and 3 plants for $13.50 This variety never transcended its reputation as a garden produces fruit rather quickly. Some varieties have green novelty and for that reason the Snowbank completely fruit and some red. You can grow these as far north as disappeared from the commercial market. We are zone 8 with protection or in heated greenhouses or delighted to offer the Snowbank Blackberry after many sun-rooms farther north. We love growing bananas in years of anticipation! It almost went extinct, one of the our Missouri greenhouse and get a crop in about a year. most exciting rediscoveries ever! 2 plants for $16.50 We offer 2 assorted small plants for $15.00

FALL GOLD #PL130 This is one fruit that has won the hearts of all the Baker Creek staff. With so many scrumptious fruit, we just couldn’t resist gleaning. Hotly debated around the Bakersville watering hole, it was decided that the golden raspberries taste even better than the red ones! These are super hardy and thrive in zones 3-9. GOJI BERRY #PL104 The plants are ever-bearing and bear (Lycium barbarum) Chinese native also known as fruit only on first year wood; it is Wolfberry. The red fruit is sweet and packed full of recommended to prune back canes antioxidants and other nutrients--rightly called a that have finished fruiting, to make “superfood!” This relative of peppers and tomatoes is room for more fruiting canes. You will hardy to 15 degrees F, prefers full sun and somewhat enjoy fruit all the way from June until dry, well-drained soil. Plants reach to 6 feet tall and look October. Introduced 1967, by E.M. stunning with their silvery, laurel-like foliage and small Meader of NH. 3 plants for $16.50 flowers like purple stars. Goji Berry should fruit starting in the second year after planting. 2 plants for $13.50

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 9 THESE PLANTS ARE VERY SMALL “TISSUE-CULTURED” PLANTS THAT ARE DISEASE FREE. PLEASE READ LIVE PLANT INFO BEFORE PURCHASING. Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas) The sweet potato is a drought and heat tolerant, warm season vegetable that it is actually related to the morning glory. Although sweet potatoes are usually thought of as a southern staple, they can be grown in the north. Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, which are shoots from last season’s tubers. Plant in well-drained soil with plenty of composted manure. Sweet potatoes are a nutritionally-dense root crop with a wide breadth of culinary uses. A tasty heirloom sweet potato crop will be the cornerstone of your winter pantry, filling pies and lending carotene-rich, orange to soups and breads. Try a purple sweet potato variety to take advantage of a sweet, natural source of , a nutrient shown to reduce cardiovascular disease. A superbly sustainable choice, sweet potato tubers can be saved for next season’s slips. We use tissue culture to propagate our sweet potatoes in order to ensure that you have a disease free crop. This is a more expensive process, but well worth the cost because in the future you can save your own plants easily if you like.

OKINAWAN PURPLE, SWEET POTATO #PL117 (Ipomoea batatas) Descended from the first sweet potatoes to reach Japan prior to 1500. The purple coloration is connected with the high anthocyanin content. This one is documented to contain more of the potent antioxidant than even blueberries! -colored skin, brilliant purple flesh. This is our favorite, but it takes a long season. Recommended for Zone 6b or warmer. 3 plants for $12.00

MOLOKAI PURPLE, SWEET POTATO #PL115 Customer Favorite! (I. batatas) Purple-fleshed type that is a Hawaiian locally-developed, signature type on the islands, but seldom offered elsewhere. Much higher in antioxidants than orange-fleshed types. Very sweet-fleshed and creamy, with overtones of chestnut. Perfect as-is when baked or roast- ed, needing no further adornment. Deep purple flesh and skins. 3 plants for $12.00

MYANMAR PURPLE SWEET POTATO #PL138 (Ipomoea batatas) Delicious!!! Early production of stunning skinned tubers that have flavorful, butter- flesh that is blushed with pretty pink streaks. You will adore this wonderful heirloom from beautiful Myanmar. This variety makes a stunning addition to any sweet potato dish! 3 plants for $12.00

JERSEY YELLOW, SWEET POTATO #PL116 (Ipomoea batatas) Plump, drier-fleshed type is medium creamy-golden skinned with cream-colored flesh. Remains firm and solid, even when cooked. PUMPKIN YAM, SWEET POTATO #PL137 (Ipomoea batatas) A delicious type for curries, A delicious old-fashioned sweet potato that has golden-red skin and moist, flavorful bright stews and perfect as orange flesh. The short bush-like vines produce good sized “clusters” of these earthly sweet potato fries; an old jewels. Easy to dig and grows well in our gardens. This variety was common for about 75 fashioned favorite that has years and the first known mention was in 1868, but in modern times it has disappeared. appeared on the tables of So we are happy to bring it back into circulation and back to America’s dinner tables. A New Jersey families since tasty treat that is part of our country’s history, although it may have been introduced here 1780. 3 plants for $12.00 from Brazil. Very rare and hard to find! 3 plants for $12.00 10 AMARANTH THE ANCIENT GRAIN CROP OF THE AZTECS

100-200 seeds per packet. Warm-season, New World native adds lots of color to the garden. This crop is easy to grow and makes delicious and grain. A good ornamental plant for landscaping. Amaranth seed is one of the most complete available from any plant. Direct-sow the tiny seeds when soil is warm, barely covering, and thin to 1-2 feet apart. Can also be started indoors and transplanted.

AURELIA’S VERDE ELENA’S ROJO GREEN CALALOO #AM141 #AM142 #AM126 Native amaranth from Red-flowering Guatemalan amaranth from , A popular green Guatemala that flowers green; primarily where amaranth has been vegetable in many a staple crop for many used for grain which is countries, including centuries. This grain type many islands of the rich in B, vitamin

John Brazaitis, General Manager General John Brazaitis, amaranth has recently Caribbean where this A, vitamin E and iron; this been revived in the Mayan plant is famous for variety has been revived in communities of Baja DREADLOCKS #AM144 Calaloo Seafood Soup. the Mayan communities of Verapaz after almost being A fountain of eye-catching magenta- blooms! Here’s a Light green are Baja Verapaz after almost lost during the civil war. different amaranth—curious -heads in a weeping , with great in stews, stir-fries being lost during the civil Named after Elena, an indigenous farmer who “tassels” sometimes reaching down to the ground. Plants seldom and soups, having a war; named after Aurelia, was primarily responsible exceed 3 feet in height. A form of Love-Lies-Bleeding, so the seeds tangy, spinach-like flavor. the woman whose family for the recovery of this rare and young leaves are edible. Combine with Spider Flower or Easy to grow in warm revived and saved seeds of local variety. Pkt $3.00 flowering tobacco for some serious drama! Pkt $3.00 weather. Pkt $2.50 this amaranth. Pkt $3.00

LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING RED #AM103 60 days. Tall, 3’- 4’ plants are covered with very long rope-like flowers that are a deep, brilliant red color. One of the most striking plants for any garden and so easy to grow. Amaranth is one of our favorite crops! A good seed producer, too. This is a very old heirloom, a pre-1700 variety, that was very popular. Leaves are tasty as cooked greens. Pkt $3.00

CHINESE MULTICOLOR SPINACH #AM105 New! A heat and drought tolerant green in spectacular splashes of color! amaranth is popular GOLDEN GIANT #AM117 in Asia, eaten raw, stir fried or steamed. This is by far the most tender and sweetest amaranth Attractive golden-colored flower heads produce up to 1 for edible greens, making for vibrant and delicious . The young leaves make a perfect pound of white seed per plant, making this a very heavy spinach substitute; intricately colored leaves are juicy and succulent. The go-to “green” for producer. Plants grow to about 6’ and are easy to grow. mid-summer when all others have bolted, harvested in just 30-40 days from sowing. Pkt $3.50 Pkt $3.00

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 11 ASPARAGUS ARTICHOKE & CARDOON BEANS Beloved early-spring crop in Europe since ancient Originated in the Mediterranean region. Long- times, asparagus is a that starts season plants won’t overwinter reliably north slow but yields for many years. The best way to of Zone 7. To get a crop of artichokes in one grow from seed is to start indoors 2-3 months year, start seeds indoors in pots 2-3 months before last frost. Be sure that the young seedlings before last frost date in spring. Move the pots receive bright light to make strong growth. Set outdoors when four leaves have developed, young plants outdoors when weather is warm, when temperatures are occasionally freezing, growing them in a nursery bed of your finest soil, protecting them if temps fall below 29 degrees. where they will receive attentive care. In fall, or 2-4 weeks of exposure to cool temps “vernalizes” the following spring, set the plants into their final young seedlings, preparing them to bloom later garden location—spacing them 2 feet or more in the season after plants have grown large. from their neighbors. Modest yield may be taken Cardoon may also be started early indoors, but the third year, and a full harvest every spring vernalizing isn’t necessary. Both kinds are then thereafter. grown in very rich soil, in full sun. They need excellent drainage but ample moisture. They VIOLET DE PROVENCE #AR107 may benefit from some mid-afternoon shade in This French heirloom is noted for its fine flavor hot-summer areas. and pretty purple buds that are lovely on the big, ornamental plants, especially when the buds open. Rare outside Europe. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 MARY WASHINGTON #AS101 Popular variety, long green spears. Great taste and has been the most popular asparagus in American gardens for the last century. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75 or 800 seeds $7.00

GOBBO DI NIZZIA CARDOON #AR103 A rare cardoon from Italy, its broad white stalks are eaten fried, sauteed, pickled and in soups. Italians eat it raw, dipped in oil. PURPLE OF ROMAGNA #AR105 The root is also edible, tasty, and can be used Large, round-headed purple chokes, tender and like parsnips. The plant is similar in culture and tasty, perfect for warm season areas, or grow PRECOCE D’ARGENTEUIL #AS102 appearance to artichokes. Cardoons have been An old traditional heirloom, this gourmet variety is with shelter. So popular with chefs, and is a popular in Europe since ancient Rome. Beautiful sure seller at the finer markets. We are proud to highly esteemed in Europe for its delicious stems ornamental plants. Pkt (25 seeds) $2.75 with -colored buds that can be blanched introduce this regional Italian favorite. white. Italian Seed. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (25 seeds) $2.75

CONNOVERS COLOSSAL #AS103 New! A 19th century heirloom that is still beloved by ROUGE D’ALGER #AR106 market farmers and home gardeners. Developed This exciting heirloom Cardoon was developed in the 1860s by S.B Conover of New York City. in Algeria, hence the name. It has big, edible and Conover was a merchant, which explains why he ornamental stalks that are blushed in pale red, selected for massive spears and super high yields, GREEN GLOBE #AR101 which is so striking against the -green leaves. as he was breeding for superior market qualities. Tasty; needs a fairly long, mild growing season, The flowers are also beautiful and can be cooked This superb variety has been praised by the likes or grow as an annual. A colorful plant that before the buds open, like a small artichoke. One of famous 19th century market gardener Peter makes a great ornamental. Pkt (75 seeds) $2.75 of the prettiest historic varieties you can plant. Henderson as well as the Royal Horticultural or 200 seeds $7.50 Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 Society. Pkt (40 seeds) $3.50 12 BEANS THIS NATIVE AMERICAN CROP IS EASY TO GROW! (Phaseolus vulgaris) 40-60 seeds per packet. An ancient staple crop grown throughout North and South America. Plant in spring after danger of frost and again in early summer for a fall crop. Plant in rows, and space seeds 2”-4” apart. Pole types do better with trellising. Easy to grow!

BLUE LAKE BUSH 274 #BN119 60 days. This dark-green bean has been a standard for over 40 years. The bush plants set heavy yields of flavorful pods that are tender and crisp. Developed in 1961 from the Pole Blue Lake. Pkt $3.00 or 1/2 lb $6.50

BLAUHILDE #BN165 Pole. 65 days. Spectacular climbing type makes enormous purple pods! Pods stay tender and stringless, even at 10 inches long! Plants are gorgeous in the garden as well, with the rose-purple of the blooms contrasting nicely with the rich, deep purple of the developing pods. Vigorous, productive vines reach a moderate 9 feet in height. The richly-flavored pods are best appreciated when used fresh off the vines. This heirloom from Germany is tolerant to mosaic virus, too. Pkt $3.00 BEURRE DE ROCQUENCOURT #BN128 Bush. A productive heirloom wax bean named for Rocquencourt, France, a town in France’s rich farming country. Wax beans were introduced to France in the 1840s from Algeria, and this CANTARE #BN153 variety is surely a descendant of Bush, 50-55 days. Superior producer of nice those early beans. The bush plants straight dark-green pods for snaps. The slim set good yields early and produce 4-5-inch pods are stringless and the flavor is well in most climates. These beans every bit as outstanding as the yield! This French are favored by cooks for their variety makes a fine crop for market growers fine-flavored pods that are a bright or home gardeners. Excellent tolerance to bean waxy-yellow in color. This variety mosaic virus. Pkt $2.50 was listed in News as a favorite of well-known writer William Woys Weaver. Pkt $3.00

CONTENDER (BUFF VALENTINE) #BN102 Bush, 50 days. A superb CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS #BN134 bush bean with huge Pole, 65 days. This heirloom was brought from yields of excellent- Tennessee by the Cherokee people as they were quality pods. Earlier than marched to Oklahoma by the Federal Government most others & perfect for in 1839 over the infamous “Trail of Tears” that left market. Intro. 1949. so many dead and suffering. This prolific variety Pkt $3.00 is good as a snap or dry bean and has shiny, black beans. Vigorous, vining plants. Pkt $3.00

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 13 BORLOTTO DI VIGEVANO NANO #BN191 Bush, 60 days. These beautiful beans are a at the farmers market and with local-food chefs. Grown primarily for the stunning pink and white seeds, which make superior shell beans. Can be used as a snap bean, as well. Straight, round pods splashed in red. Pkt $3.00

DRAGON TONGUE #BN126 Our Favorite! Bush. This famous Dutch heirloom bean has an incomparable flavor. The tender and superbly delicious 7” pods are yellow with amazing purple streaks! Also makes a tasty shelled bean. CALIMA #BN144 Popular with chefs and gourmets. Compact plants set high Bush, 50-55 days. yields. Pkt $3.00 French filet type pods of dark green color, slim straight shape, and superior flavor! Pods are held conveniently at the top of the stocky bushes; pick them when no thicker than a pencil. Fine for fresh use, canning and freezing. Pkt $3.00 BLACK TURTLE #BN169 Bush. 95 days. Splendid dark purple-black bean that is widely grown throughout Latin America, and known there by nu- merous common names. The compact bush plants are very productive and yield reliably even in the north! Flavor is rich and texture is meaty—try these in vegetarian chili or as frijoles refritos in burritos. Due to the coloration, this variety offers the bonus of high anthocyanin content, too! Pkt $3.00

1500 YEAR OLD CAVE BEAN #BN177 The amazing native bean believed to have been found in a clay pot sealed with pitch in a cave in New . When carbon dated, the tests showed it to be 1500 years old! Long vines climb to 10’ and produce tasty pods. Beans RED SWAN #BN181 are large and kidney-shaped, Bush, 55 days. Here’s another beautiful selection from the late Robert white with mottling. Lobitz, the Minnesota bean man. This is the most uniquely-colored bean we have A very rare collector’s bean. seen, nearly a true red shade on the thick, flavorful pods. Lovely pink flowers, too! A Pkt (20 seeds) $3.50 wonderful variety that is so pleasing to the senses and yields well. Pkt $3.50

14 BEANS CAN BE PLANTED IN BOTH SPRING AND SUMMER FOR A LONG HARVEST OF PODS!

GOOD MOTHER STALLARD #BN148 Pole. 85-90 days. Gorgeous, plump maroon- PURPLE DOVE BUSH #BN150 and-white beans are great in soups, where their Bush, 55 days. Here’s a spectacular offering from plant creamy texture and hearty, nutty flavor really breeder, the late Robert Lobitz. Gorgeous violet-purple, shine. Generations of gardeners have grown flat to slightly round pods are very well flavored. Bush this pole variety that yields 5-6 beans per pod— plants show a slight tendency to run; staking is not outstandingly productive! Originally introduced required but this trait makes them super productive over a by our friend Drowns. Superior in baked long season. Seeds are a lovely violet-color, too! Pkt $3.50 beans, and also makes a fine shell bean. Pkt $3.00

HIDATSA RED INDIAN #BN146 Half-runner. 85 days. Here’s another Dakota variety, so you know it’s rugged! This one comes from the Hidatsa people of the upper Missouri River Valley; was introduced MBOMBO GREEN #BN200 in Oscar Will’s Pioneer Bright emerald green dry beans and are delicious Indian Collection of in soups or eaten as a green bean. Drought and seeds in 1915. Plump heat tolerant, the bean originated in Kenya where its name, Mbombo, is an African tribal association rose-red beans for dry to the Creator God of the same name. Pole to semi- GOLDEN BUTTERWAX BEAN #BN190 use; plants climb only Bush. 50 days. An old favorite that has been pole bean brought to us by Stephen Smith from 3 feet or so. Pkt $3.50 his colorful bean collection. Pkt (25 seeds) $4.50 praised by gardeners for superior flavor, impressive yield and natural disease resistance since the 1800s. Golden butterwax bean was originally introduced by D.M and Co. in 1876. Oodles of 5 inch long, bright yellow beans are produced on compact 16-18 inch tall plants that remain upright and sturdy. Excellent choice FORT PORTAL JADE #BN186 for canning and freezing. Pkt $3.00 Pole. Amazing jewel-toned green beauties! Dried beans are a glassy blue-green color--unlike anything we have seen before, so stunning! Plants are extremely productive— they flourished both in the greenhouse and outdoors in the gar- den. Color will not fully develop until the beans are com- pletely dried. Intoduced several years ago by our Canadian friends at Richters Seeds, and collected by Joseph Simcox in a market at Fort Portal, Uganda. Pkt $4.50

LANDRETH STRINGLESS #BN151 Bush. 55 days. This meaty variety debuted in 1885. It is a flavorful, stringless bean and boasts heavy yields. The pods are medium green in color and a little over 5” long. The seeds are a rich chocolate or coffee . D. Landreth Seed Co., one of the oldest surviving American seed houses, proudly proclaimed it as a favorite; “one of the finest pod varieties for the home garden, market garden and canner.” Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 15 OLD HOMESTEAD (KENTUCKY WONDER POLE) #BN105 65 days. This homesteaders’ RATTLESNAKE POLE #BN109 ROMA II #BN107 heirloom was first mentioned in The Country This pole bean is easy to grow and produces lots Bush, 55 days. This is an improved Romano, bush- Gentleman magazine in 1864 under the name of green pods that have purple streaks. Good type, green bean that produces loads of 6” to of Texas Pole. It was not until 1877 that it was flavor and very tender; the speckled seeds are 7”-wide pods that are very flavorful. Pkt $3.00or introduced as Kentucky Wonder by James J.H. popular in soup. This variety is great for hot, 1/2 lb $6.50 Gregory & Sons and has been popular ever humid areas. Pkt $3.00 since. It is a pole bean with 6”- 8” green pods that are very tender when cooked and have a Delicious fruit tastes like green beans, only better! great flavor. In 1896 Peter Henderson & Co. said, SNAKE BEAN “This we regard as far ahead of any other green Pole Bean.” They also said it was 10 days earlier. Pkt $2.75 or 1/2 lb $6.50

PURPLE PODDED POLE #BN114 This delicious heirloom was discovered in the Ozark mountains by Henry Fields in the 1930s and is still requested by many old-timers of this region. The pods are bright purple, stringless, and tender. Plants grow to 6’ and produce heavy yields. Pkt $3.00

CHINESE PYTHON SNAKE BEAN #SM106 New! Our new favorite vegetable! (AKA Snake Melon or Snake Gourd) (Trichosanthes cucumerina) Unusual and delicious gourd relative that is referred to and used as a bean in its native China. Its fruit tastes much like green beans, except even more delicious and tender. We could give up a lot of other vegetables before we would not grow this queen of garden crops, known for its divine taste and snake-like beauty. So snake-like, in fact, that the beans terrify more than a few visitors to our PURPLE TEEPEE #BN162 garden each summer! Snake bean is almost completely absent in U.S. markets. Its long, delicate Bush, 60 days. Super-productive bush type, fruit doesn’t ship easily. Chinese Green Python snake bean is the largest snake bean variety, grow- yielding straight, purple pods. These are held ing up to 60 inches long and 1.5 inches thick! As it matures, it develops light green color and a thin above the foliage--a great advantage that makes layer of wax on the skin. When harvested at 12-30 inches long, it can be used like green beans or the pods easier to see and harvest, and keeps . Traditionally stir fried with peppers and onions, this vegetable has many culinary them from contact with the ground. Pick them uses. In Africa the inside of fully mature fruit can be scraped out and used like tomato paste. This young, at 4-5 inches, for flavorful, tender snaps.. variety will need a sturdy trellis; pinching lateral branches under 30 inches will encourage climbing. Pkt $3.00 Fun to grow in kids’ gardens, an absolutely unique new vegetable! Pkt (5 seeds) $3.00 16 FAVA BEANS BEANS OTHER (Vicia faba) Mediterranean native that is quite AQUADULCE FAVA different from ordinary beans. Prefers cool weather. #FB103 85 days. This 19th- century Spanish heirloom produces large, white beans, extra early in the season; a great protein source for cool climate areas. Pkt (25 HYACINTH BEAN “MOONSHADOW “ #AB106 seeds) $3.25 (Dolichos lablab) Beautiful purple pods are used SWEET LORANE FAVA in Asia as a curry and stir-fry vegetable. Pick when #FB102 An exceptional small and tender, as old pods and dry beans may feat in natural plant - be poisonous! The long, rambling is also very BROAD WINDSOR FAVA #FB101 ing, this small-seeded fava ornamental with lilac-colored blossoms and purple 75 days. Yields gourmet high-protein beans on is extremely cold hardy and stems. Thomas Jefferson planted this fine bean at upright non-branching plants. An old English well adapted to being grown Monticello. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.25 favorite. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.25 as a winter cover crop but boasts the flavor and size of an eating fava. A perfect combination-- especially for the home gardener, now we can have our cover crops and eat them too! The flavor is JICAMA OR YAM BEAN #AB105 much less tannic than cover ( erosus) 120 days. Long vines can grow crop favas and tastes like a twenty feet long and produce delicious tubers. These chickpea when eaten fresh! have become very popular in the last few years. Very Pkt (25 seeds) $3.25 long season; these must be started very early in all areas except the deep South. Caution: The seeds and pods are poisonous, but the small pods are cooked in the Philippines. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00

IANTOS FAVA #FB104 Massive beans borne on impressive 6-foot tall plants. Originally introduced by renowned plant breeder Alan Kaupler of Peace Seeds, this large KABOULI BLACK GARBANZO BEAN #AB111 seeded variety was selected from seeds of Guate- New! An improvement on an ancient garbanzo malan origin. Greens are tender and tasty when EXTRA PRECOCE A GRANO VIOLETTO bean variety from Afghanistan. A tolerance to cooler picked young. Beans can be harvested green as a soil temperatures, perfect for early spring planting. #FB105 This extra early variety produces long fresh bean or left on the plant to mature as a dry Beautiful bi-colored purple-pink flowers cover 2 foot pods that are filled with 6 large beans that are a bean. This variety also produces masses of organic tall plants. Very reliable and medium productive plants pretty purple color and are sweet tasting. A unique matter and makes a top choice for soil improve- will yield more if you pick often to encourage new and colorful variety from Italy. Pkt (25 seeds) $4.00 ment as a green manure. Pkt (20 seeds) $4.00 blooms. (25 seeds) $3.00

URIZUN JAPANESE WINGED BEAN #AB125 New! An early maturing and supremely delicious winged bean from WINGED BEANS Japan. This highly adaptable winged bean variety is not day length sensitive, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of growing areas. Winged beans are native to Equatorial Asia. Baker Creek’s founder, Jere Gettle, first encountered winged beans on a trip to . Being a tropical crop from the equator, the winged bean typically takes a long season to flower, only setting pods just before frost in our Missouri climate. For years Jere searched for a winged bean variety that will bear pods earlier in order to enjoy a longer harvest season. Urizun is just the variety that Jere had been searching for; this variety is not day length sensitive and will begin to produce pods in August. Heavy production continues until frost. Especially popular on the island of Okinawa, Japan, where this heat loving vegetable takes center stage during the warm summer months. Vines are lush and tropical looking, with large, flowers and unique pods. The vines will readily climb a trellis or fence, making this an exotic edible ornamental. Traditionally blanched and stir fried with ume (pickled Japanese ), we love to toss them into the wok with just about anything; also great in Our Favorite, superb flavor! soups or steamed. Sliced beans resemble little stars; fun way to introduce kids to this nutritious vegetable. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 17 LIMA BEANS TRY THE AMAZING FLAVOR OF FRESH LIMAS! (Phaseolus lunatus) Originally grown in South America. Grown and harvested the same as common beans. Limas love warm weather, but won’t thrive in extreme heat. ALABAMA BLACKEYE BUTTERBEAN #LB107 A delicious Alabama heirloom butterbean. We received this seed from a customer whose family has passed the seeds down for many generations. This bean is quite vigorous and KING OF THE GARDEN LIMA will need trellising. Does well #LB105 90 days. Large 8’-10’ in extreme heat and drought vines yield very LARGE white conditions. Technically a lima lima beans and give huge yields bean, this creamy white bean is over a long season. An heirloom CHRISTMAS- POLE LIMA #LB104 traditionally grown in Alabama from 1883, introduced by Frank S. 95 days. Very large white beans with beautiful, dark and referred to there as butter- Platt. An old-fashioned favorite, red splashes, rich flavor; heavy yields even in very hot bean. Pkt (20 seeds) $3.00 excellent for home gardeners. Pkt weather; long vines. Heirloom. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 (25 seeds) $3.00

DIXIE SPECKLED HENDERSON’S BUSH LIMA #LB101 BUTTERPEA #LB103 70 days. Introduced in 1888 by Peter Henderson & Co. 75 days. Very productive. and one of their most famous varieties; still popular to Beans are about the size this day. In 1888 Henderson offered $100 cash for plants of peas; red-speckled bearing the most pods and proclaimed it “A VEGETABLE with a deep purple-rust WONDER!!!” “Can and should be grown in every garden,” color and grow well in and also said “of all the Novelties...ever sent out, there hot weather. A delicious is nothing so entirely distinct and valuable as this New baby lima. Bush plants. Vegetable.” Dwarf bush plants can be grown like regular Pkt (40 seeds) $3.00 bush beans. Very tasty, tender beans, and very early too! Pkt (40 seeds) $3.00

RUNNER BEAN DELICIOUS, GIANT GREEN PODS! (Phaseolus coccineus) Another New World native. Grown like ordinary green beans with one major difference: they prefer cooler temperatures. BENCHMASTER #RB115 New! British bred, competition length runner bean with culinary pizazz. Giant vegetable competitions are a serious business in Great Britain. This record breaker can grow up to 16 inches while maintaining excellent flavor. Produces clusters of beautiful red flowers that give way to uniform, tasty pods. Benchmaster received an RHS Award of Garden Merit for performance and reliability. Competitive growers will thin to just one flower per cluster to achieve a record breaker! Pkt (20 seeds) $3.50

BLACK COAT RUNNER BEAN #RB103 An ancient heirloom runner bean dating as far back as the mid-1600s and first recorded by German botanist Michael Titus in his Catalogues Plantarum. This rare runner bean produces masses of gorgeous blooms ranging in color from tangerine to cherry red, making this edi- ble ornamental pole bean irresistible to hum- GOLDEN SUNSHINE #RB108 mingbirds! Pods are much shorter than other 85 days. Here is something really runner beans; immature pods can be eaten unusual: it’s a runner bean, but the just like snap peas. The stout pods yield #RB109 65-70 days. Runner beans are all attractive flowers are displayed above just 2-3 beans per shell. Pretty, plump beans enough for flower gardens or patios, but this one is in a class brilliant chartreuse foliage! The striking that change from pink to purple, and then to a by itself: luminous to shell-pink blossoms are absolutely 5-6 foot vines really crank out the 6-8 pure ebony-black. Fantastic used like a kidney unique in our experience. Vines to 6 feet or so are covered in due inch, hefty pods, so good for fresh use or bean, cooking down to a creamy texture. Pkt (25 course with cascades of runner bean pods, equally wonderful preserving. Like all runner beans, prefers seeds) $3.75 whether used as fresh snaps, canned or frozen, or as shell beans. mild weather. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 Lovely! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 18 SOYA BEANS TASTY EDAMAME! (Glycine max) One of the world’s oldest crops. Grown in Asia for thousands of years where it is a staple protein source, making it one of the world’s largest protein sources for over 1000 years. GMO TESTED: GMOs were NOT found in any of the soy varieties listed in our catalog.

CHIBA GREEN (EDAMAME) #SY113 70-80 days. An even earlier edamame MIDORI GIANT (EDAMAME) #SY112 soybean, this one was bred to mature a 80-95 days. The quintessential edamame soybean! full 10 days before Midori Giant. While Midori giant is appreciated for heavy yields and this variety is hailed for its productivity early maturity. The large, bright green beans are and large beans, the flavor and quality considered one of the best for fresh edamame. are not compromised. Beans taste Beans dry to a yellow color. Plants reach two feet amazing fresh, steamed or dried. Plants tall and are highly branched and sturdy, requiring reach 2 feet tall but remain compact. no staking. This variety is very well suited to all Beans mature uniformly on the plant for climates in the U.S. and considered a very depend- an easier harvest. Pkt (30 seeds) $4.00 able variety perfect for both large scale and small scale . Pkt (30 seeds) $4.00

LONG BEANS NO STRINGS! TENDER, SUPER-SIZED PODS! (Vigna unguiculata) A staple crop of East Asia, where they have been grown for centuries. Delicious young pods are very tender, crisp and nearly never have “strings”. Easy to grow in all but the coldest climates. 25-35 seeds per packet. CHINESE MOSAIC LONG BEAN #LG110 Lovely, lavender-pink- shaded pods measure 12”-18” long and are crisp and flavorful. The vigorous vines produce loads of tender Chinese beans. Very popular here at Baker Creek and sure to become a favorite of gourmets everywhere! A real standout that is quick to come into production. Pkt $3.00 THAI PURPLE PODDED YARD LONG #LG117 Vigorous, high-yielding Thai variety. The lovely, deep- purple pods have green tips, are crisp and stay tender to amazing lengths, often reaching 20 inches! The productive variety is a local favorite in Thailand where long beans are appreciated as a very important staple crop. Pkt $3.00

CHINESE LIGHT GREEN #LG104 New! CHINESE RED BEAN This noodle bean reaches 20-30 inches long! #LG109 80 days. This is the most Fun for kids’ gardens or dramatic effect in edible stunning and unique bean I have grown yet. landscaping. The impossibly long pods make a Fantastic, deep red, 18” pods are so delicious statement in the garden, dripping chandelier-like and full of nutrition, and they even keep from lush vines and seemingly growing inches a most of their color when sautéed! Long THAI SOLDIER #LG122 day! Beyond its ornamental value, the beans are vines produce all summer and do well under Vigorous bush habit for those who want to grow long tender, flavorful and highly nutritious- high in many conditions. This incredible variety will beans but prefer not to trellis. Foot-long pods are firm and vitamin B, C, and protein. The plants love the intense draw lots of attention in your home garden very flavorful. Pods are strikingly different in appearance, heat of summer, producing profusions of pods as or at market. We are so excited to offer this having tiger-stripes in dark red-brown. Superior variety from the temperatures creeps into the high 90s. unique, Chinese ethnic variety that produces Thailand, where long beans are a staple crop. Unusual and Pkt $3.00 fairly early. Small red seeds. Pkt $3.00 very choice! Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 19 BEETS DELICIOUS LEAVES AND ROOTS, HIGH IN NUTRITION (Beta vulgaris) 250 seeds per packet. An Old World crop known to the Romans but not cultivated for roots until much later. A delicious and easy-to-grow crop, sown in early spring or late summer in most areas, succession-planted spring through fall in cooler summer climates. Forage types yield amazing quantities of large roots for livestock but may also be harvested for table use, both for greens and roots, when taken young. The “seeds” are actually capsules containing several seeds, so thin plantings adequately; be sure to use the thinnings as baby greens.

MAMMOTH RED MANGEL #BT107 ALBINO #BT108 100 days. Huge, up to 40 lbs each; large yields per acre. Highly used for livestock 55 days. A pure white, fairly smooth round feed in the 1800s or picked small for table use. Pkt $4.00 or 800 seeds $9.00 heirloom beet from Holland. Its super sweet white flesh is unusual and tasty. The greens are CRAPAUDINE #BT114 also good. This beet can be used for making In 1885, the French book The sugar. Pkt (100 seeds) $3.00 Vegetable Garden stated this is one of the oldest varieties. Today some experts feel this may be the oldest beet still in existence, possibly dating back 1000 years. This unique variety is one of the most flavorful, with carrot-shaped roots that have rough, dark colored skin which looks like tree bark. Inside, the roots are very dark, with almost black flesh that is of superior quality and sought after by chefs who want real flavor. We are proud to offer this rare old selection. Pkt $3.00

SUGAR BEET #BT120 95 days. White-fleshed conical roots are larger BULL’S BLOOD #BT101 than our Albino Beet, and have a very high sucrose 50 days. This beautiful beet has deep reddish- content. May be grown for sugar production or as a purple leaves! Very sweet and delicious, the baby higher-calorie stock fodder. Roots frequently exceed leaves are a rage in salads. The beets are tasty two pounds in weight, and under ideal conditions are too, and have pretty pink rings inside. Pkt $2.75 as much as 20 percent sucrose! We sell only GMO-free or 800 seeds $5.50 seed. Pkt $3.00

20 PRODUCED ALMOST YEAR-ROUND ON OUR MISSOURI FARM

CHIOGGIA (BASSANO) #BT104 60 days. A pre-1840 Italian heirloom beet, this variety arrived in the USA prior to 1865. They have light red skin and beautiful rings inside, like red and white candy stripes. The flesh is very tender, mild, and sweet. Named after a town in Italy; a favorite here. Pkt $2.75 or 800 seeds $5.50

DETROIT DARK RED #BT110 55 days. The most popular, old standard, all-purpose red beet; uniform and smooth, flesh that is sweet and tasty. 14” tops make good greens. Heirloom variety introduced 1892. Pkt $2.75 or 800 seeds $5.50

EARLY WONDER #BT103 50 days. An old heirloom, pre-1811 CROSBY’S EGYPTIAN #BT105 variety. Early, smooth, round beet 55 days. Introduced to this country in 1869 and trialled by makes lots of tall tender greens, Peter Henderson, who recommended it in 1871. This improved too! Perfect pickled, fresh, cooked, “Crosby’s” strain was first offered by J. H. Gregory. This beet is early, tender, & fine flavored. Pkt $2.75 or in borscht. Pkt $2.75 or 800 seeds $5.50

GOLDEN BEET #BT102 55 days. This variety dates back to the 1820s or before. The beets are a rich, golden-yellow and very sweet. A beautiful beet that won’t bleed like red beets. CYLINDRA OR FORMANOVA #BT111 The greens are also very 55 days. A wonderful heirloom from Denmark, this one is tasty. The most popular famous for slicing with its long, cylindrical roots. Produces variety with our staff. much more uniform slices than round beets. This tender and Pkt $3.00 or 800 seeds sweet variety is also known as “Butter Slicer” because of its $8.00 wonderful texture. Pkt $2.75 or 800 seeds $5.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 21 BRUSSELS SPROUTS THRIVES IN COOL WEATHER (B. oleracea) 150 seeds per packet. Old World cabbage relatives that are grown for succulent flower heads or buds. Brussels sprouts originated in the Mediterranean but were perfected in Belgium, possibly as early as 1200 AD. Brussels sprouts are a cool season biennial, so they thrive in places with long, cool growing seasons. For growers with mild winters, Brussels sprouts grow best as a winter crop; they can tolerate cold much better than heat. Try to grow when temperatures range between 30 to 75 degrees. RED RUBINE #BS106 A hard-to-find heirloom variety that really is colorful in cool late fall weather. Easily one of the most exciting additions to our catalog in years, red Brussels sprouts stand out in the garden and on the plate. The stunning purple red sprouts are filled with antioxi- dants. These have a really nice, sweet flavor when grown in cool weather. Pkt $3.00

GRONINGER #BS105 Groninger is an easy to grow, steady producing variety. These medium to small sprouts are an ideal choice for first timers. Sprouts form a tight head and LONG ISLAND IMPROVED maintain a delicate flavor even #BS101 in variable weather. Groninger 100 days. The standard Brussels can handle a light frost open-pollinated variety since and will improve in flavor with the 1890’s. Heavy yields of the cold weather. This variety delicious sprouts. Pkt $2.75 has received the RHS Award of or 3,000 seeds $6.00 Garden Merit. Pkt $2.75

BROCCOLI ENJOY REAL HOME-GROWN FLAVOR! (B. oleracea) 300 seeds per packet. Old World cabbage relatives that are grown for succulent flower heads or buds. Needs rich soil, abundant moisture, and cool weather (but avoid prolonged exposure to temps below 50 degrees). Broccoli is harvested when the tiny buds are full-sized, but before they begin to open.

EARLY PURPLE SPROUTING WALTHAM 29 #BR105 #BR102 An English heirloom variety, Standard type, produces 4-8” green bred for overwintering. Produces lots heads that are nicely flavored. Compact of purple broccoli sprouts in the spring. plants also produce some side shoots. Grows slowly through the winter; very Introduced in 1954. A favorite here at frost hardy. A great variety that is very the farm. Pkt $2.75 hard to find in this country; delicious! Pkt $2.75

CALABRESE GREEN SPROUTING #BR101 An Italian heirloom brought #BR103 ROMANESCO ITALIA #BR104 The true and popular Italian to America in the 1880s; 5”-8” heads and (B. rapa) An Italian non-heading broccoli heirloom with spiraling, apple-green heads that are so superbly many side shoots. Pkt $2.75 or 3,000 grown for flavorful, asparagus-like spring flavored. This variety is widely grown in northern Italy. A must with many seeds $8.00 shoots and leaves. Great to cook or in salads. of the finest chefs. Pkt $3.00 or 3,000 seeds $8.50 Pkt $2.50 22 LIKE A CLOUD OF SMALL BUCKWHEAT CHERRY BLOSSOMS! BURDOCK ROSE RED (BUCK- DELICIOUS ROOTS CAN GROW OVER 3’ LONG! 赤 ) #GS111 Grown for incredible flowers, tasty buck- wheat seeds and for feeding ソ beneficial ! In 1987, the very rare pink buckwheat was taken to Japan from the Hima- バ layan Mountains by Professor Emeritus Akio Ujihara of Shinshu University. We are told that Takano の and Mr. Ujihara further developed this to suit the Japanese climate. Clouds of rose-pink flowers cover 花 this low maintenance perennial buckwheat. The drought-tolerant flowers are fantastic to attract 畑 beneficial pollinators in abun- dance and add an amazing pop to long-lasting bouquets. Planted en masse is as stunning as a field of lavender. Easy to grow, deer resistant, drought-tolerant and hardy in much of the U.S. Pkt (75 seeds) $4.00

WHITE BUCKWHEAT #GS104 (Fagopyrum esculentum) Tender plant used as a warm-season cover crop. Plant anytime in warm weather; incorporate into soil when flowering begins (4-6 weeks). Well known for adding organic matter to the soil. Can be planted and tilled under several times in a summer. Produces delicious and nutritious, edible seeds! Pretty white TAKINOGAWA #HB179 New! flowers. Pkt (500 seeds) $3.00 This is a very special late variety that is known for flavor and length. Grown in traditional Japanese burdock boxes, BUCKWHEAT, TAKANE this root is known to reach 3 feet! With a thin outer skin TAKANE RUBY BUCKWHEAT RUBY #GS115 New! and crisp flesh, it cooks beautifully and is a must for many A brilliant, ruby-red flowering Japanese dishes. The winter-hardy first year root can be superfood from Japan. Pink dug late in the fall and even into winter for cooking. Tak- and red flowering buck- inogawa burdock was bred and improved by Suzuki Gengo wheat is a rare and wondrous at Takinogawa village (Tokyo) in the Genroku era during pseudo-grain. A Japanese the Edo period (1688-1704). More than 90% of burdock are professor selected and per- descendants of this variety. Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00 fected this variety, and the signature red blanketed fields can now be found in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Japanese farmers quickly embraced this as a stunning cover crop, much more beautiful than white buckwheat. The seeds are ground into a flour for soba and can also be sprouted for a highly nu- tritious microgreen. In Japan, buckwheat is also brewed into tea and made into cookies. Honey from bees who fed on ruby buckwheat was analyzed BURDOCK LEAF #HB181 New! by Shinshu University and An extraordinary selection from the seed artisans in Japan shown to contain 100 times who selected this open-pollinated variety for its extra large the antioxidant effect of regu- leaves. Burdock leaves are used in Japan, and the world- lar honey. Pkt (75 seeds) $4.00 over for culinary and medicinal purposes. Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 23 CABBAGE A STAPLE FOOD SUPPLY! (B. oleracea) 300 seeds per packet. Cabbage does best in a long season of mild weather, but it is also very hardy and may be grown to maturity in the cool weather of late autumn. Spring plantings are best started indoors and transplanted out about the time of last frost; summer plantings may be seeded right in the garden. We recommend early varieties for spring planting and longer-season, large-heading varieties for a fall crop.

BRUNSWICK #CB102 A large drumhead cabbage, very cold hardy. A fall/winter type cabbage, stores very well. Introduced in 1924, it is an excellent market variety that is becoming rare. Pkt $2.50

COUR DI BUE AUBERVILLIERS #CB117 #CB108 70 days. Gorgeously crinkled, savoy-type leaves Tender, 3 to 4-lb, are produced within dense heads. These are pointed, oxheart- round to slightly flattened, and often weigh 3 type heads; very pounds or more. This European heirloom variety good for home use is seldom available in the US. Mainly grown for or specialty markets. fresh use, and has been since the turn of the We offer quality 20th century, when it was a favorite at Paris Italian seed for markets. Usually grown for a fall crop, where its this old European earliness, mild flavor and tolerance to cold are heirloom. This type especially valued. Pkt $2.50 of cabbage was very popular 150 years ago. Fairly early and of superb quality. KALIBOS #CB119 Pkt $2.50 85 days. Incredibly graceful appearance would qualify Kalibos for the flower garden! But this European variety is eminently useful, as well. The conical, long, heart-shaped, 2-pound heads of deep red are on the small side, ideal for a single dish. The color is so beautiful when the leaves are shredded into slaw. Flavor is mild and very sweet. They’re good keepers, as well, allowing you to MAMMOTH RED ROCK #CB105 enjoy your fall harvest well into winter. Pkt $3.00 90 days. A large heirloom cabbage from 1889 with deep red heads that have good flavor and are very EARLY JERSEY WAKEFIELD #CB103 colorful. Pkt $2.75 70 days. Introduced in the 1840’s, with tasty, 2-lb, sweet and flavorful, conical heads. This very early variety was sold commercially by Peter Henderson in the late 1860’s. Pkt $2.75 or 3,000 seeds $6.00

VIOLACEO DI VERONA #CB107 A vintage heirloom cabbage that originated in the region of Verona in Northern Italy, with stunning, lightly savoyed violet and green leaves that get more vibrant as the cool fall and winter weather set in. Thanks to an appreciation for traditional cuisine, Italians have preserved this variety from antiquity. Perhaps it is the impressive heat and cool tolerance of these hardy plants, or the RED EXPRESS #CB114 beautiful violet leaves that have kept this treasured Newly released open-pollinated red cabbage, the heirloom alive despite general downsizing of seed first in many years! Specifically bred for Canada GLORY OF ENKHUIZEN #CB104 diversity. Medium sized round heads mature 120 and northern tier of USA. Compact plants, extra 90 days. Introduced in 1899 by Sluis & Groot in days from seeding. With violet colored wrapper Enkhuizen, Holland. Medium-large, hard round early production of solid, split-resistant oval leaves and yellow-green inside leaves, they are heads. An early, excellent-keeping variety that is a an ideal choice for a fall/winter harvest. It is frost heads to only 2-3 pounds. Pkt $3.00 good producer and good for kraut. Pkt $2.50 hardy, and in warmer areas can be harvested until New Year. Pkt $3.00 24 CAULIFLOWER OUR FAVORITE SPRING CROP!

(Brassicae. oleracea) Old World cabbage relatives that are grown for succulent DURGESH 41 #CA110 flower heads or buds. All Here is a seriously vigorous need rich soil, abundant cauliflower from India. moisture, and cool weather Durgesh 41 is super reli- (but avoid prolonged able. The tough plants can exposure to temps below withstand more heat than 50 degrees). Cauliflower is other varieties and will harvested when the heads produce high quality heads reach full size, but before that have excellent ship- the tiny buds (called the ping and storage quality. curd) begin to develop This self blanching variety and open. Cauliflower is highly recommended for succeeds best where home or market gardening spring or autumn weather is uniformly cool. Some for shipping quality, taste varieties are blanched (the and reliability. Pkt (200 large outer leaves drawn seeds) $3.00 up and tied to shade the developing bud) to produce a milder flavored curd.

ROBER CAULIFLOWER #CA111 Easy to grow, massive heads! This is by far the most productive and adaptable cauliflower we have ever grown. Rober will produce large, 12” heads with tight curds, despite fluctuations in temperature that would ruin most other varieties. We harvested perfect heads in the punishing Missouri early summer. This is a very reliable and tasty variety from . Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00

AMAZING CAULIFLOWER #CA112 If you’ve had trouble growing cauliflower, try this amazing variety. It can be PURPLE OF SICILY #CA103 harvested either at the “baby head” size Beautiful, brilliant purple heads weigh 2-3 lbs and are GREEN MACERATA #CA105 or when fully mature at 10”. Easy to grow in the North or South. It keeps well in of a fine, sweet flavor. The heads cook to bright green. A delicious Italian variety with 2-lb, bright apple- the field and is heavy bearing, so pick as -resistant variety that is easier to grow than many green heads that are superb cooked or raw in needed and prepare for a large harvest. white varieties; rich in minerals. A colorful heirloom. Select salads. Very attractive, vigorous plants, fairly Does well in wet, clay soil too! Italian seed. Our favorite purple cauliflower every year! early. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 About 75 days. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 25 CELERY & CHINESE PINK CELERY CHINESE PINK CELERY CELERIAC #CE108 New! A stunning bright pink celery from China. (Apium graveolens) 200 seeds per packet. Moisture- An easy-to-grow variety to loving Old World crop grown since antiquity. complete the nutritional rainbow! Pink celery is popular in northern China, especially Beijing, where the attractive pink stalks are served in high-end restaurants. This tasty Asian type celery is a great choice for beginner gardeners, as it is much easier to grow than European- type celery. Flavor is a yummy and lightly sweet, texture is light and crunchy and eye appeal is unstoppable. The color is a CELERIAC- GIANT PRAGUE #CE103 brilliant bubblegum pink, a truly 110 days. Root celery, this variety is grown for delightful addition to the veggie its large, white roots that are superb fried, or in patch and market display. This soup. Taste and texture are much like regular vibrantly colored veggie is sure celery. Introduced in 1871, popular in parts of to be a hit in kids’ gardens, Europe. Pkt $2.50 as well as farmers market. Sure to be the next exciting colorful crop for fresh vegetable marketing. We are excited about the culinary potential of this nutritious and fun variety. It is quite easy to grow, and even the baby plants are stunning, neon pink. We love this! Pkt $4.00 Our Favorite! Chinese Celery: The World’s Most Beautiful! UTAH TALL CELERY #CE107 A beloved crop with ancient origins, celery has been cultivated in China since 110 days. Thick, crisp, medium-dark green stalks the Han Dynasty- about 2,000 years. Chinese celery is known to be a preferable reach a foot or more when well grown, high quality. celery type for U.S. growers, as it is typically more adaptable and much easier to Introduced in 1953. Pkt $2.75 grow than the large, European type that is commonly found in the grocery store. CHINESE WHITE CELERY CHINESE WHITE CELERY #CE111 New! Easy to grow! A delicate and delicious Chinese variety with snow white stalks. White celery has been cultivated in the Chinese town of Liyang for over 800 years. Stems are long, slender and hollow, with strong celery flavor, GIANT RED CELERY #CE112 New! ideal for Asian soups and A traditional red celery variety, tried and trusted stews, but equally suitable by generations of gardeners in England. Stalks for mirepoix and other are a striking purple, turning pink when cooked. recipes calling for celery. Quite cold hardy with a full, old-fashioned celery This variety is known to be flavor that just improves as the weather cools. easy to grow and more heat Very reliable grower. Pkt $4.00 tolerant than other celery varieties. Pkt $3.00

26 CARROTS A RAINBOW OF NUTRITIOUS ROOTS! (Daucus carota) 800 seeds per packet. Carrots are originally from central Asia and they come in so many colors besides orange—purple and red types are actually the original ones! The tiny seed must be sown very shallow. To avoid drying out, especially when sown in hot weather, shade the seed bed or row with boards, paper, or something to exclude the hot sun and hold in moisture. Long-rooted types need a deep, mellow soil; in heavier soils, grow half-long or round types.

BLACK NEBULA #CR137 Customer Favorite! 75 days. One of the darkest carrots available from skin to core. A delicious raw or cooked carrot that is so dark and beautiful. It’s also used as a dye. Makes a stunning, dark purple drink when juiced, and when a squeeze of is added, turns bright pink. Amazingly, it retains its color after cooking and is incredibly high in anthocyanins. If left in the garden, it makes an exquisite white flower-umbel tinged with lavender. One of the healthiest foods in the garden! Pkt (300 seeds) $3.50 or 3,000 seeds $8.00

JAUNE OBTUSE DU DOUBS #CR120 MANPUKUJI #CR138 A delicious, lemon-yellow variety introduced New! A super long carrot in 1946 in the Vilmorin-Andrieux catalog as an from Japan. Manpukuji improvement in flavor compared to most yellow is descended from the carrots. It was named after the Doubs River that ancient Japanese long flows through the Jura Mountains of France and Our Favorite! carrot types of the Edo Switzerland. It is a robust, slow growing carrot period. This variety is with a uniform yellow color, suitable for harvest sweet, especially when in the fall. The shape is cylindrical with an ob- harvested after fall frost. tuse end and is excellent for storage. Pkt $3.50 Traditionally served as ‘Namasu’ (grated carrot salad) for Japanese New Year celebrations. Also an incredible snacking carrot, ideal for fresh eating. Roots easily reach over 2 feet in length when grown in the right soil. A fantastic choice for market or giant vegetable growers; sure to be a hit at your county fair! Pkt (300 seeds) $4.00 BLACK SPANISH #CR136 65-75 day. A rich dark purple carrot, reminiscent of the ancient carrots of the Middle East. Purple/ Black carrots were originally brought to Andalu- sia, Spain, from North Africa in the 14th century along the silk road. Black carrots are still popular in the Malaga region; often sliced extra thin, eaten raw or baked into a stunning purple carrot cake. In Mallorca, the Black Carrot is cooked with stock and olive oil and creamed. Earthy PUSA RUDHIRA RED CARROT #CR127 and spicy as opposed to sweet, it’s delicious Tasty and nutritious red variety from India, extra rich in the antioxidants. This particular variety is very roasted with other root veggies, making a nice high in beta-carotene and . Red carrots have been cultivated in India since antiquity, where color contrast of deep purple outside with white they are used in a range of recipes, especially in jams and chutneys. Lycopene is an antioxidant that is inside. It likes cooler weather, so plant early; in most nutritionally effective when cooked with a , consequently many traditional red carrot recipes Zone 8 and warmer, plant in fall or winter. Pkt combine red carrot with oils or . Great for juicing! Sweeter grown in autumn. Pkt (200 seeds) $4.50 (300 seeds) $4.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 27 GNIFF CARROT #CR133 A very rare landrace from the Tessin region of Switzerland. These amethyst colored carrots were re-discovered in the 1950s in the picturesque Alps village of Bre being grown by local women who sold them at farmers markets. “Gniff” is translated to purple in the local dialect. CHANTENAY RED CORE #CR111 Being a landrace, there is a range of 75 days. One of the sweetest, this variety was expression of colors in this carrot, always introduced in 1929 and is a large stump-rooted a purple exterior with a various amount carrot with a deep red-orange center, great for of violet inside. This is a slow-growing juicing or fresh eating. A good market variety storage carrot that is traditionally pickled; that is smooth and refined in shape. Pkt $2.25 locals will steam, slice and preserve in olive oil, parsley and garlic. A similar type was last described by Vilmorin in the year 1856 as “sweet, purple carrot with a pale yellow heart”. Pkt (200 seeds) $4.00

KURODA LONG 8” #CR107 75 days. Popular variety for Oriental markets; deep orange, stubby roots are mild and sweet. Excellent for juicing. Grows well in many climate conditions; good for home or market. Pkt $2.50

KYOTO RED CARROT #CR132 (Our Favorite! Amazing for Fall and Winter Gardening) This is a Japanese kintoki type (sweet red) carrot. These silky red carrots are grown near Kyoto, DANVERS 126 HALF LONG #CR102 Japan, where they are traditionally eaten on the Japanese New Year, often carved into the shape of 70 days. The original Danvers Half Long dates back a plum blossom to represent fertility in the coming year. These carrots have an exceptional texture to the 1870s. This strain “126” was improved in the and sweet flavor. A perfect variety for late summer, fall or winter gardening, the bright red color 1940s. The old standard American carrot, adapt- becomes much darker when grown in the winter. (This variety may not do well if planted in the able and dependable. Thick 7” roots have good Spring) Long tapered roots grow to 10” to 12” inches long. Pkt (300 seeds) $4.00 flavor. Productive. Pkt $2.50 or 10,000 seeds $8.00

PURPLE DRAGON #CR129 70 days. Gorgeous red- dish-purple exterior is smooth and very attractive—unusually MUSCADE #CR118 ST. VALERY #CR101 refined appearance. The purple outside makes a nice contrast A delicious North African carrot with the brilliant orange interior, especially when served as slic- 70 days. The Vilmorins of France mentioned this that produces blocky, 7” orange es on relish trays, platters and more. Roots typically reach 7-8” variety in 1885 and said it had been grown a roots that have exceptional fla- in length; half-long root habit means you can get well-formed vor and a crisp, crunchy texture. “long time” then. A large handsome variety with roots even in somewhat tight or heavy soil. Flavor is spicy- bright red-orange roots; smooth, 10”-12” long They hold up well at market and sweet and wonderfully complex—wonderful for snacking, and are late bolting. Rare and almost and 2”-3” in diameter. Sweet & tender. Rare. Our kids really seem to love them! The anthocyanin-rich purple impossible to find! Pkt $2.50 favorite! Pkt $2.50 or 10,000 seeds $8.00 coloration is a valuable bonus, and the roots contain lots of ly- copene as well. Bred by Dr. John Navazio. Pkt (300 seeds) $3.00

28 COSMIC PURPLE #CR112 LUNAR WHITE #CR113 This one is causing excitement in home gardens and at farmers’ markets. 75 days. Here is a vigorous producer with creamy white roots that are Carrots have bright purple skin and flesh that comes in and very mild, delicious, and have a fine flavor; very small core. White carrots orange. Spicy and sweet-tasting roots are great for marketing. Pkt (300 seeds) were grown in the Middle Ages, but now they have become very rare. We $3.00 or 3,000 seeds $6.00 are glad to offer this productive variety. Pkt (300 seeds) $3.00

NANTES SCARLET #CR122 DARA FLOWERING CARROT #FL134 65-75 days. Half-long type reaching 6-7 AMARILLO #CR114 Queen Anne’s Lace is the familiar wild form inches in length, about 1 ½ inches in PARISIENNE #CR115 75 days. Lovely, lemon-yellow of carrot, and the white-flowered version diameter. Sweet, brilliant orange, blunt, Small, round carrots that are roots have sweet, bright yellow has been appreciated for years as a deli- cylindrical roots are very delicate and so popular in France. Tender, cate filler in beds and flower arrangements. flesh. Good for a summer to fall fine-grained, containing almost no core. orange globes are superb But ‘Dara’ is a spectacular, vividly-colored crop, large 8” roots and strong lightly steamed. Easy to grow variety! Flowers open chaste white, change High moisture content makes this a nat- tops. Yellow carrots always ural for juicing; fine for bunching or stor- even in heavy soils. This little to soft pink and finally deep, rich rose- carrot is great for home and taste the best to me; they are so red; the lacy flower heads reach to 4 ft age. Originally from France but grown in market gardens, as this vari- crunchy and full of juice. Pkt (300 tall. Large amount of flowers over a long this country for many decades. A good ety is fairly uniform. Pkt $2.50 seeds) $3.00 or 3,000 seeds $6.00 season. Pkt (20 seeds) $3.50 sort to try on heavier soils. Pkt $2.50

PUSA ASITA BLACK CARROT #CR130 Amazing color and flavor, potentially the world’s richest plant-based source of anthocyanin. So rich in the dark pigmented an- tioxidant that the roots are practically black! It is especially well suited for the south and performs better than other carrots in extreme heat, though it tastes better when OXHEART #CR126 harvested in the fall 90 days. Massive heart-shaped roots to one or winter. Richer and pound each. Can be a shy seed producer and sweeter flavor than a seed is sometimes scarce, so we are excited to regular “orange” carrot be able to offer this old French variety! Despite and the color deepens their large size, the brilliant orange roots are as carrots mature, even crisp, sweet and mild. Their blunt shape makes bleeding like a beet them superior for heavy or shallow soils. Known when cut. An amazing as “Guerande” in France, it was first introduced in carrot from India. Pkt the US in the late 19th century. Excellent storage (200 seeds) $4.50 type. Pkt (300 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 29 CORN OUR NATIVE FOOD! PLEASE BOYCOTT GMO CORN! (Zea mays) The quintessential Native American crop, corn was a staple of indigenous peoples from South America to the Great Lakes. It’s believed to have been domesticated in Mexico and may be one of the world’s oldest agricultural crops. It’s best if seeded directly into the garden, in good, rich, well- drained soil, right about the time of the last spring frost. Plant in blocks rather than long narrow rows to improve . Corn can be very drought tolerant, but ears fill best when there is good soil moisture when tassels and silks first emerge. Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are full of milky- colored juice; allow other types to remain on the stalks until fully dry. 75-125 seeds per packet. GMO TESTED: Genetically Modified Organisms were NOT found in any of the corn varieties listed in our catalog.

PAPA’S RED, WHITE & BLUE CORN #CN187 Uniform 8- to 12-inch ears, within beautiful , white and blue—very unique and beau- tiful! Compact plants about 4 feet tall, take heat, cool weather and drought in stride. Excellent, very MONTANA CUDU #CN188 NEW! early new flour type. Bred to tolerate Montana’s cool summers and scanty rainfall. A decorative A beautiful spotted variety that is descended from and delicious new flour corn that is sure to please in most areas of the country. Pkt $4.00 a historic Native American variety. Ed Shultz, re- nowned corn breeder from Montana, has worked HOPI TURQUOISE to adapt a blended corn as a tribute to a sacred #CN172 Truly breath- Native American variety. Cudu corn is said to be taking blue corn from the an ancient native American variety used for sacred Hopi people of the South- ritual. A sample of seeds was donated to the USDA west. This variety yields seed bank by Oscar Will in 1958. This original lovely ears with colors donated seed may have been accidentally inbred ranging from slate blue or crossed as the cobs were stunted and short, to brilliant turquoise with HOPI PINK #CN132 and kernels had begun to lose their signature blue some surprise . A truly lovely native variety that has kernels eagle marking. Ed is a far northern grower who Used locally in an atole in , and on 8” has worked to create beautiful and early maturing and ground for cornmeal, ears. Drought-tolerant and great for making corns like Atomic Orange and the Papa’s corn. He kernels are both flour and flour; one of the best varieties for farming received a sample of seeds from the USDA and has dent types, both often on in dry conditions. This is a rare variety that worked for over 5 years to adapt it to his northern the same ear. Ears typical- was bred by the Hopi nation, their incredible region and to create longer cobs. He reports that ly run 6” to 12” long, and work has produced one of the toughest and this variety has long, slender ears and beautiful are produced usually one most beautiful flour corns available! Flour is impressively high in protein and the fine blue spotted kernels. To achieve this variety, he per 4 to 5-foot stalk. texture lends itself to super soft tortillas and bred true Cudu corn with a small percentage of Pkt (30 seeds) $5.00 tamales. Pkt (50 seeds) $4.00 Papas White corn. Pkt $5.00 COUNTRY GENTLEMAN #CN105 90 days. Introduced in 1890 by S.D. Woodruff & Sons. Sweet, delicious and milky with tender white kernels on 8” ears. The ears have no rows, as this is a shoepeg type, and kernels are packed in a zigzag . GOLDEN BANTAM 12-ROW One of the best heirloom sweet #CN143 Released in 1922 by the corns. Pkt $3.50 Clark Seed Company of Milford, Con- necticut. Although developed from the original Golden Bantam, this is definitely an improved type—larger ears mean higher yields, and the golden yellow corn stays tender longer. Equally suitable for freezing and fresh eating, this variety was for decades the standard for home and market gardeners. Pkt $3.50 30 MAIZ MORADO MAKES AN EXCELLENT “BLACK” SWEET CORN WHEN HARVESTED YOUNG ANCIENT HEALTH FOOD OF THE INCAN EMPIRE!

MAIZ MORADO OR KULLI CORN #CN183 The darkest colored corn known, it has a most delicious flavor and is believed to have the highest amount of healthy anthocyanins of any corn! The ancient Maiz Morado, also known as Kulli, orig- inated in Peru in the Andes High- lands. This is a special selection that has been bred for the past 20+ years in New Mexico to adapt to our North American latitudes and will grow and produce ears easily in most American gardens. This ancient corn is excellent as both a flour corn or picked young, as a flavorful sweet corn. It is also used in South America to brew a special and highly revered drink known as chicha morado. This drink was an important ceremonial aspect to the Incan Empire and civilizations before them. We love to make pur- ple corn juice with cinnamon, clove and pineapple--a refreshing elixir bursting with antioxidants! Locals also use it to dye fabrics and cloth, as well as grinding into a beautiful flour/meal. Eight feet ortaller and 100 days or so to maturity. Pkt $5.00

MAIZ MORADO: THE SUPERFOOD CORN, THE DARKEST OF ALL! AMAZING FLAVOR AND IS #1 IN SUPER HEALTHY ANTHOCYANINS!

BUHL SWEET CORN #CN179 FISHER’S EARLIEST SWEET CORN A delicious, 75-day yellow sweet corn #CN180 Developed and selected 60 years borne on sturdy 7 foot stalks bearing 2 ago by Ken Fisher of Belgrade, Montana, to ears per stalk. Kernels are a rich golden grow in the cool and harsh conditions of the and carry that old-fashioned sweet state. This sweet corn is sure to please almost corn taste--which has nearly been lost anywhere! Vigorous, multi-colored 5-6’ stalks due to sweet corn hybrids. One of the bear one ear per plant and have 10-12 rows sweetest and best yielding corns. with a golden hue. The ears have an excellent Pkt $4.00 fill to the and husk coverage. Pkt $4.00 DORINNY SWEET #CN153 75 days. Early season sweet corn that yields well in cool STOWELL’S EVER- climates. Dorinny was originally a Canadian cross between GREEN #CN130 Golden Bantam and Pickaninny. Received a Market Gar- This is among the deners’ Award of Merit in 1936. Reliable even where soils oldest sweet corn that are cool. Yellow kernels on 6-7” cobs offer old-fashioned is still in production, sweet corn flavor. Vigorous plants reach 4-5 feet in height, predating 1949. It is usually yield two ears per plant. Grown in northern Maine still a favorite of many, by our friend, activist-farmer Jim Gerritsen. Pkt $3.50 producing tasty white kernels. The plants CHEROKEE WHITE EAGLE #CN144 used to be pulled Beautiful white and blue kernels on 8”- up when complete- 10” ears make superb corn meal or can ly ripe, and hung upside-down in a cool be used as roasting ears if picked young. pantry; the ears would This great Cherokee variety gives good last well into the yields on sturdy stalks. Some kernels winter, in a semi-fresh have eagle-like markings on them, state. In 1873, the hence the name. Very rare and hard to seeds sold for 25 cents find. Pkt $4.00 per pint. Pkt $3.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 31 To the early settlers of , corn was so valuable that it was used as money. GLASS GEM #CN162 The World’s Most Beautiful Corn! 105 days. Amazing color! Indescribably beautiful flint or popcorn comes in an endless range of colors. Translucent kernels really do shine brilliantly like glass—on the cob they resemble strands of glass beads! The 3-8” ears are consummately decorative, but edible and delicious as well. Makes firm little morsels when popped; can also be parched, ground into meal, and more. Sturdy plants reach to 9’ in height and throw numerous sideshoots where the season is long enough. Bred from a number of Native varieties by Carl “White Eagle” Barnes, the famous Cherokee corn collector to whom we owe our gratitude for his life’s work of collecting, pre- serving and sharing so many native corn varieties. Pkt $5.00

DAKOTA BLACK POPCORN #CN136 Dark reddish-black ears are quite attractive for fall decorations or popping into tasty popcorn! This variety is easy to grow and does well in almost all growing climates. Fun for children’s gardens. Perfect Popcorn!!! Pkt $4.00

SEHSAPSING DELAWARE BLACK FLINT CORN #WW118 Sehsapsing produces 6 to 8 foot plants, with 1 to 2 cobs low on the stalks. Each ear is 7 to 8 inches in length with 8 rows per cob. This was a classic ceremonial corn of the Lenape/Delaware peoples recorded as early as the 1640s. When young, in the milk stage, the corn was eaten raw as sweet corn or roasted to caramelize it for winter dishes. In the mature stage it makes extraordinary corn- meal for grits. Extremely rare. Grown in genetic isolation for the Roughwood Seed Collection at Field’s Edge Farm, Litiz, Pennsylvania. Pkt $5.00

ATOMIC ORANGE CORN #CN186 60 to 80 days. Amazing- ly orange ears are produced super early! We were thrilled to introduce this open pollinated variety from the gifted corn breeder Ed Schultz of Bozeman, Montana. Although newly released, the variety is nothing new; Ed spent 30 years de- veloping this fantastic soft flint corn. This lovely variety sports a range of orange color from brilliant sunburst orange to pumpkin orange to russet orange....even the cobs are orange! For an added surprise, it will throw an occasional all-white ear. Three to STRAWBERRY POPCORN #CN119 five foot-tall stalks produce 1 to 2 The popular, cute little ears look just like big ten-inch ears with 8 rows of kernels strawberries, just 2”-3” long. The 4’ plants produce in about 60 days. Pkt $5.00 2-4 ears each; great for fall decorations or making delicious popcorn. Pkt $3.50

32 GMO TESTED: Genetically Modified Organisms were NOT found in any of the corn varieties listed in our catalog.

OAXACAN GREEN #CN147 85-100 days. The stunningly PO’SUWAEGEH BLUE #CN157 beautiful ears come in a range of 110 days. This Native American heirloom corn from greens, from yellow-green through Pueblo Pojoaque, pronounced P ō ‘hwä k a, in northern emerald, with every imaginable New Mexico, is traditionally grown to make blue corn shade in between. The deeply atole. Po’suwaegeh is the Tewa name for “Place where dented kernels have been used for there is abundant water.” There is actually such a place, centuries by the Zapotec people to about 20 miles north of Santa Fe, in a valley running into make a regional favorite, green- the Rio Grande, where an ancient pueblo, which had flour tamales. Also makes excellent almost disappeared, found its place of rebirth. Grow- cornbread! The 6- to 10-inch ears ing Po’suwaegeh Blue corn played a pivotal role in the are superb in arrangements and for revival of this community. The Pueblo at Pojoaque and fall decoration. Plants reach 7 feet, Baker Creek Seeds are proud to share this treasure with are very drought-tolerant, and per- gardeners and farmers. Deep blue kernels on a 10” - 12” form well even at higher latitudes. ear. Strong and tall stalks. If you like the idea of growing Amazing and cool! Pkt $4.00 Baker Creek’s Oaxacan Green dent corn, then including Po’suwaegeh Blue corn in your order is a must! Pkt $4.00 COWPEAS (Vigna unguiculata) 30-75 seeds per pkt. Very easy to grow, colorful, and tasty.

CALIFORNIA BLACKEYE PEA #CW108 70 days. An old standard variety; vigorous, high- yielding vines. Thomas Jefferson grew Blackeye Peas in the 1770s. Originating in Africa, cowpeas are easy to grow and are very popular in the South. A STRIPED JAPONICA #CN178 very ancient crop. Pkt $2.50 85 days. The World’s Most Beautiful Corn Plant! Invite this vibrant ornamental flint corn into your edible landscape design and you won’t regret it. Plants reach 6 feet in height; foliage develops a brilliant, multi-colored striping in colors of green, white, pink and yellow. Some stalks will be mostly all green, others will be striped with all four colors. It has colored tassels and -black kernels--adding a tropical touch to borders or container plantings. The sturdy stalks make a fantastic trellis for climbing ornamentals like sweet pea. When dried, the kernels grind into a tasty meal. This variety was bred in Japan and was introduced to America in the 1870s. During this period, called the Meiji Period, corn was just becoming a popular staple in the Japanese diet, despite the fact that the crop had been introduced to the country centuries prior. Native American flint corn was first brought to Japan by the Portuguese in the 1500s; flint corn at the time was considered primarily a fodder crop to feed to livestock. During the Edo Period in Japan (1603-1867) the centralized government (who were mostly vegetarian due to religious reasons) discouraged the consumption of meat and the need for corn to feed livestock plummeted--relegating the newly introduced corn crop to relative obscurity. With the Meiji Period (1868-1912) meat was reintroduced to the Japanese diet, and the need for corn as fodder rose. Along the way, it was discovered that corn could be a tasty crop for humans as well. Striped PURPLE HULL PINKEYE #CW109 Japonica was developed during this resurgence of interest in corn in Japan. We have worked for A preferred variety of many Southerners; years to find a pure strain, as most of what is offered on the market was badly contaminated with delicious flavor. Hulls are purple; an old favorite. GMO corn, but after much effort, we present to you a strain that tested Non-GMO! Please enjoy Pkt $2.50 this stunning treasure from historic Japan! Pkt (50 seeds) $4.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 33 EASY TO GROW - QUICK TO HARVEST (Cucumis sativus) 25-35 seeds per packet. originated in India or western Asia, and have been known to gardeners for at least 3,000 years. Their diverse forms and flavors are now appreciated and utilized in local cuisines around the world. Warm growers, they are best sown in place after the last frost of spring. Very rich soil, well-drained yet moist, suits them best. Full sun exposure is usually preferred, except that in hot-summer areas, the plants might benefit from some mid-afternoon shade. Vines vary. in length. To save space, grow them on a trellis.

ARMENIAN YARD-LONG #CU169 (Cucumis melo) Light-green, mild-tasting, deeply ribbed fruit. The elongated fruit yields uniform, easily digestible, fluted slices. They are apt to twist and coil growing on the ground, but develop nice and straight when hanging from a trellis. Fruit reaches over 24 inches long, best harvested at about 15 inches. The classic Armenian “Cucumber” which is actually a melon genetically. Pkt $2.75

BEIT ALPHA #CU150 A delicious, very sweet cucumber that is usually picked small and does not need peeling as the skin is very tender. This va- riety is very popular in the Mediterranean, having been devel- oped in Israel at a kibbutz farm. Now becoming popular with Americans because of the fruit’s fine flavor and high yields. They are also burpless and have great shelf life. Pkt $2.75

CHICAGO PICKLING CUCUMBER #CU181 55 days. Originally bred for the mar- kets of the Chicago area. Released in 1888, this has been the go to pickling cuke for generations of home gardeners and canners, and we are DRAGON’S EGG #CU147 so pleased to be able to offer it! The Beautiful cream-colored fruit is about the size and shape of thin skins take up pickling solutions a large egg! Mild, bitter-free and sweet-tasting, this little cu- readily. Black-spined fruit can be cumber set massive yields in our gardens. So fun to grow, and BOSTON PICKLING #CU105 allowed to reach 7” without sacrific- very unique-looking; great for children and all who like deli- An old heirloom dating back to 1880. Vigorous ing quality, but is often harvested cious cucumbers. We were sent this new favorite by Reinhard vines give large yields of smooth green fruit. It is much smaller. Amazingly prolific, and Kraft, a German seed collector, but this heirloom originated excellent for pickles; very crisp and good quality. disease-resistant, too. Pkt $2.75 in Croatia. Pkt (12 seeds) $3.50 A very popular variety at the turn of the 20th century. Pkt $2.50 or 500 seeds $8.00

DAR #CU182 60 days. Here’s a gorgeous new all-purpose slicing/pickling type. The plants are of bush habit, usually running no more than 18” or so, making them superior for small gardens, containers, or anywhere space is tight. Fruit holds well on the plants, avoiding the need for constant picking. Plants are also tolerant to Downy Mildew, which DELIKATESSE #CU109 is so often a in humid-summer climates. 60 days. 10”long, unique fruit is pale green with The bumpy, brightly-striped exterior is particular- small warts. Superb taste, excellent for slicing or ly attractive as well. A superb new Polish variety! pickling; bears abundantly. A rare variety from Pkt $2.75 Germany. Pkt $2.50

34 “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” -Booker T. Washington JIBAI SHIMOSHIRAZU #CU102 NEW! Delectable variety from Ja- pan. The sweetest cucumber we have tasted, a perfect snacking cucumber with no bitter flavor! Produces shorter, slightly thicker fruit than other Japanese vari- eties. Can be grown on the ground or on poles and are vigorous. Deep green fruit is about 7-8” long. Adapted to CRYSTAL APPLE #CU149 high temperature, humidity, and are disease and pow- Small 3” oval fruit is a bright, creamy white, about dery mildew resistant. the size of a small apple; sweet, mild and very Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50 tender. This variety has become almost extinct in America after being introduced here around the year 1930 from Arthur Yates and Co. But this type SIKKIM CUCUMBER of cucumber is likely to have originated in China. #CU124 The historic cucumber The small fruits are so tender you can eat them of Sikkim. Fat, large fruit can skin and all. Pkt $2.75 reach several pounds in size. The ripe fruit is a unique rusty red color and is good eaten cooked or raw. In Asia, cucumbers are of- TELEGRAPH IMPROVED ten stir-fried and are quite tasty. #CU110 This variety is grown in the Hi- 60 days. Smooth, straight, malayas of Sikkim and Nepal. Sir dark-green fruit, 18” long. Joseph Hooker first discovered it Flesh is very crisp, tender in the eastern Himalayas in 1848. and mild; superb flavor. Here is part of what he wrote Very few seeds, vigorous about it: “So abundant were the high-yielding vines, great fruits, that for days together I for greenhouse production; saw gnawed fruits lying by the also good cultured out- natives’ paths by the thousands, doors. This is an excellent and every man, woman and English heirloom variety, introduced around 1897. child seemed engaged through- Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00 out the day in devouring them.” Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 EARLY FORTUNE #CU176 55 days. (Also called Special Dark Green) A super dependable garden cucumber, sweet and almost never bitter. Slicing-type fruit grows 7 to 8 inches long, 2 inches in diameter. Originally selected out of Davis Perfect (now believed extinct) by George Starr in Royal Oak Michigan in 1906. Upon its release it was described as “the earliest and best white spine cucumber ever offered.” Pkt $2.75

MUNCHER #CU174 TOKIWA “TOKYO GREEN” CUCUMBER #CU114 60 days. Very tender, dual-purpose An old Japanese variety, also known as “Tokyo Green” that came variety makes great pickles and from China in the Meiji era, then became the dominant variety is excellent for fresh eating right sold around Tokyo. A supremely sweet, bitter free 9” cuke with out of the garden! Nearly spineless tender skin and few seeds. Mentioned in the 1932 edition of the fruit is 6 to 8 inches long, reaching Oriental Seed Company, “The vines attain twice the length of a plump 3 inches wide. Produces common varieties.” They do well on fences and trellises, saving abundantly on strong vigorous MARKETMORE 76 #CU101 space in the gardens. Vines are almost mildew proof and well vines. Non-bitter, burpless variety, 70 days. Dark green, 8”-9” fruit; great slicer! Good adapted to hot dry summers. Small fruits make excellent pickles can be eaten at any stage of growth. yields! Excellent flavor. A real standard for su- and set the standard for slicing cucumbers; buttery soft and For pickling, harvest the fruits at 4 perb eating cukes. Pkt $2.50 or 500 seeds $8.00 sweet, never bitter. (15 seeds) Pkt $3.50 to 6 inches long. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 35 MEXICAN SOUR GHERKIN #CU125 (Melothria scabra) 75 days. Incredible, small cucumber-like fruit is shaped like baby water- AONAGA JIBAI CUCUMBER #CU120 melons. They are good added to salads or can Exceptionally sweet, tender, and above all-- tough. Aonaga Jibai is one of our finds from a be pickled. They have a cucumber-like taste with recent expedition to Japan. Known a touch of lemon. The ornamental vines have in the southern islands of Japan, the seeds have tiny leaves and flowers and are perfect for the been preserved over generations by an old cottage garden. Very unique and fun for kids. family in Beppu City in Kyushu Island. The long, Huge yields. Pkt $2.75 slender 8-inch fruit is bitter free and super sweet with inconspicuous seeds, making it a perfect marketing cucumber with flavor that stands out from the rest! From the 1939 seed catalog of Tanaka & Co. “Hardiness and prolific bearing character are meritorious features of Japanese varieties of cucumber. They withstand drought, moisture and attack of fungoid disease to a remarkable degree.” Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50

MINIATURE WHITE #CU167 50 days. White-skinned, black-spined little pick- ling cukes. Production is high and begins very early on almost-bush plants that seldom run over three feet making great container plants. HMONG RED #CU152 Delicious for fresh use as well—this strain has SUYO LONG #CU132 The fruit is white to pale green, turning gold- none of the bitterness that has unfortunately 65 days. Long, ribbed, dark green fruit can grow en-orange as it ripens. A very productive and come to be associated with the white-fruited to 18”. They are very mild, sweet and burpless. tasty variety that stays mild even when large. This types. Pkt $2.75 heirloom was collected from a Hmong immigrant. One of my personal favorites for fresh eating. Millions of the Hmong tribe live on the borders This productive heirloom comes from northern of Thailand, China, Burma, Laos and Vietnam, and China and is very attractive. Pkt $3.00 are a very ancient people. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00

TENDERGREEN BURPLESS #CU173 55 days. Burpless slicing type, free from bitterness, that has been popular for over 80 years! Fruit is medium-dark green, 7-12 inches in length, and quite plump and smooth com- YAMATO EXTRA LONG CUCUMBER pared to Japanese long slicing types. Excels #CU134 NEW! A big variety from Japan. This LEMON CUKE #CU103 60 days. as a slicer, because each fruit yields so many long, slender variety is an excellent variety for su- The shape, size, and color of a lemon, but the slices of uniform diameter, but the tender skin shi or snacking. Japanese cucumbers are among flavor is sweet and mild! This heirloom was intro- makes great pickles as well. Tolerates cool soil the most best in the world, with sweet, nutty fla- vor and thin skin with few seeds. Fruit can reach duced in 1894 and is still a favorite today. and excessive moisture better than many, as up to 2 feet long; grow up a trellis for straight, Pkt $2.75 or 500 seeds $8.00 well as downy mildew and mosaic virus. An altogether superior sort! Pkt $2.50 uniform fruit. Plants are notably disease and resistant and bear an impressive abundance of Seed is not just of life. It is the very foundation of our being. -Vandana Shiva high-quality fruit. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50

36 ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE FOOD CROPS! ( melongena and others) 25-35 seeds per packet. We offer the best selection of quality heirloom eggplants in the USA. This is Jere’s favorite crop, as it is easy to grow, and the fruit is nutritious and incredibly delicious. Another of the great staple agricultural crops of India, eggplant varieties have long been appreciated in traditional communities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Mediterranean coast, and, more recently, the Americas. With their often large and showy purple or white blooms and velvety leaves, eggplants are ornamental enough to grow in the border or even in the front yard! Heat-loving plants, eggplants are best started indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost date of spring. Be sure to set out transplants only after carefully hardening them to outdoor conditions and only after warm weather has really arrived.

THAI LONG GREEN (GREEN ELEPHANT TUSK) #EG119 85 days. Very mild and sweet, the 10” to 12” long, very slender fruit is a beautiful light- green. One of the best-tasting eggplants; superb flavor and very tender. Good yields on 2’ to 3’ tall plants. This heirloom from Thailand is becoming popular with gourmet chefs. Pkt $2.75

SNAKE OF MUGLA #EG212 New! This highly gour- met variety hails from Mugla, Turkey. Slender, serpentine fruit has exceptionally tender and bitter-free flesh. Plants produce an abundance of ASWAD #EG175 impressively long This incredibly delicious Iraqi variety comes from our friend Nael fruit. This is quickly Aziz. Satiny, dark purple-black fruits get very large—to 3 pounds becoming one of our or more. Shaped like a squat teardrop, the flesh is sweet and favorites at the Baker tender, perfect for grilling or baking. The fruit is abundantly pro- Creek restaurant for duced. Very heat tolerant and productive in our trials. Pkt $3.00 its highly refined clas- sic eggplant flavor. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00

DIAMOND #EG102 70 days. Mild, dark purple, 6-9” x 2-3” slender fruit; superb flavor and ASTRAKOM #EG174 firm flesh. Becoming popular with market growers and home garden- Compact plants reached barely two feet in our trials. Each plant ers. This variety from the Ukraine yielded several 4-inch, teardrop-shaped fruits, of a rich, glossy was collected by Seed Savers purple-black. Grown from seed provided by our Belorussian Exchange in 1993. Pkt $2.75 friend Andrey Baranovsky. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 37 COOKSTOWN ORANGE #EG173 75 days. Tomato-shaped fruit starts out green, eventually turning a gor- geous red-orange with intriguing, two-toned green striping. Sweet, yellow flesh is non-bitter when harvested young. Very attrac- tive—pretty enough to grow in the border! Pkt $2.50

JAPANESE WHITE EGG #EG110 65 days. Full, rich flavor; lovely 2”-3” white fruit is perfect for stir-frying. The plants give heavy yields all season. Pkt $2.50 LISTADA DE GANDIA #EG137 90 days. One of the most popular heir- loom types, this one has 7” long fruit that is white with lovely bright purple stripes. They are so beautiful and have fabulous flavor with sweet, tender flesh. This excel- lent variety hails from Spain, a country that is renowned for fine food. Pkt $3.00

MALAYSIAN DARK RED #EG148 Tender and delicious, violet-colored LITTLE FINGERS #EG169 fruit is long and slender. 65 days. Small, purple-black fruit is pro- This productive and tasty duced in clusters on sturdy, compact variety comes from the Southeast Asian country plants. The blunt-ended fruits may be of . A hard-to-find harvested when finger-sized, but may but very good variety that also be allowed to grow larger with no is perfect for frying. sacrifice of their mild, sweet taste and Pkt $3.00 tender texture. Pkt $2.25

MITOYO #EG201 Large fruit is oval to teardrop-shaped and nearly black. Flesh is very tender and sweet. It is even highly recom- mended for use without cooking! Fruit is also excellent baked or roasted, and is often used in pickling as well in their native Japan, where the variety was originally collected at a local market. Traditionally grown in the Mitoyo and Kanonji areas. One of the best tasting eggplants we have ever tried. Pkt $3.50

PING TUNG #EG109 Our Most Popular Eggplant! 70 days. A wonderful eggplant from Ping Tung, . Fruit is purple and up to 18” long and 2” in diameter. This variety is so sweet and tender, superbly delicious! One of the best Chinese egg- plants on the market. Pkt $3.00 38 ENDIVE & ESCAROLE (Cichorium endivia) A long appreciated European delicacy, these crops add a lightly bitter piquancy to salads. All are best grown in rich soil and cooler weather; in most of the country, CASPER #EG101 this makes them best-suited to the fall garden. 75 days. Medium size, very attractive, smooth Grown in about the same way as lettuce. ivory-white fruit that has a very mild mushroom-like flavor. Prolific plant. Fruit ripens early. An excellent variety for specialty growers & gardeners. Pkt $2.75 ROSITA #EG179 Lovely 8”x4” neon, lavender-pink fruit has a mild, sweet, white flesh. The skin is tender and not bitter. Produces excellent yields. This incredible heirloom was developed in Puerto Rico in the 1940’s by the Puerto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station, Rio Piedras. One of our favorites every season. Pkt $3.00

ROSA BIANCA #EG105 80 days. Colorful, light pink-lavender fruits BATAVIAN FULL HEART #EE101 with white shading. AAS Winner 1934. Broad, thick, curled leaves; BLACK BEAUTY #EG113 Rich, mild flesh is very heart blanches white. A superb salad plant; 90 days. Standard old type, large black fruit of popular with chefs tasty. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50 excellent quality. Very tasty but is lower yielding and gardeners alike! and much later than many types and needs a No bitterness. A great long season. Pkt $2.50 variety for heirloom market growers. Grow the color that sells! Pkt $2.75

THAI LAVENDER FROG EGG #EG186 80 days. DE LOUVIERS #EE104 Collected by the Gettles in central Thailand, where Leaves are very finely curled and deeply notched. the natives refer to many colors of these small egg- Produces a good blanched and curled, yellow plant as “frog eggs.” Tiny fruit is the size and form of heart. This heirloom is high quality and tasty. In a , lavender splashed with cream. Very 1885 Vilmorin said, “Bulk for bulk, it yields a larger robust flavor, and super high yielding! Pkt $3.00 amount of useful produce.” Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50

THAI PURPLE RIBBED #EG211 FRISÉE ENDIVE OR CURLY ENDIVE #EE106 An exciting eggplant that we recently collected PANDORA STRIPED ROSE #EG129 A great market variety, teardrop-shaped fruit is a Finely cut leaves add beauty and body to salads. in Thailand. This variety produces lovely, highly lovely lilac-rose color with thin white stripes. Strong, Blanching (by tying the heads with a broad rub- ribbed, plum-purple fruit that has a delicious, thornless plants give heavy yields; tender and deli- ber band) yields a milder-tasting green. Lends strong eggplant flavor. Very productive and cious. Eye catcher. Pkt $2.75 a refined slightly bitter pop to salads. Pkt (300 unique! Pkt $2.75 seeds) $2.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 39 FRUIT & BERRIES QUICK, DELICIOUS FRUIT FROM SEED! Garden berries comprise a wide range of fruiting plants. The common (and the second, and the third—it could take as long as five years before thread is that they are distinct from tree fruits (more or less), don’t take fruit trees would reach maturity!) much space, and are quick to yield. Most are grown as annuals and yield The garden berries can be used fresh or made into sauces, pies or a delicious harvest in only a few months from planting! preserves. A typical old-time recipe for preserves couldn’t be simpler, calling For this reason, seeds of many of these varieties were prized by as it does for 2 pounds of ground cherries, a quart of sugar dissolved in a tiny settlers travelling to new homes. The treasured seeds would be sown bit of water, and the juice and rind of a lemon, all simmered together until the into the very first gardens, usually even before a house had been proper consistency is reached. Other garden berries could just as well be used. finished! would then have at least some fruit that first season Solanum Berries Here’s a type of fruit that has long been useful, especially on new homesteads. The small black berries are a wonderful substitute for blueberries in muffins, pancakes, etc., and make superb sauces and pies as well. Though collectively known as garden huckleberries, they aren’t true huckleberries (which are similar to blueberries). Instead, they are all relatives of the deadly nightshade, and confusion between poisonous and edible varieties has induced gardeners to be very reluctant to try eating them. However, the ones we offer are edible and are considered safe so long as the fruit has ripened to the point where all traces of green are absent. The plants are attractive, looking similar to pepper plants, and never need staking. They are grown like tomatoes or peppers (nightshade relatives--all!) and yield delicious berries very quickly from seed.

GARDEN HUCKLEBERRY #GR103 (Solanum melanocerasum) OTRICOLI ORANGE BERRY #GR131 75 days. Large, purple ber- (Solanum nigrum) 70 days. Here’s a most unusual nightshade plant, collected ries that are cooked and originally by the Gettles in Umbria, Italy, in the ancient Roman site of Ocricu- sweetened (do not eat lum. It was found growing along the Tiber River, growing with the common raw); great in pies. Huge black nightshade, (S. nigrum). Plants reach 2-3 feet tall, having typical night- yields of fruit all summer shade leaves and white flowers. The small berries have a lot of visual interest long. Plant 14” apart. being a bright orange—not at all the dark purple that you might expect. At Strong tall plants do not maturity the plants are positively covered in clusters of brilliant orange! This have to be staked. Grow has been used as food for millenia, and we eat them here. Since this plants like peppers. Great is a wild variety, we suggest eating them with caution until you are positive for anyone wanting quick, you do not have sensitivities to them. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 easy berries and a huge yield. Originated in Africa. Pkt (35 seeds) $2.50

SCHWARTZENBEEREN “BLACKBERRIES” GR133 Also called “blauberren.” Attractive 2- to 3-foot plants yield clusters of pea sized black berries. Brought to Kansas by Volga German immigrants about 1875, and still appreciated by their descendants, who grow and WONDERBERRY #GR105 use them in such traditional recipes as Kuchen, Maultaschen, Klump and (Solanum burbankii) 75 days. Developed by Luther Burbank; tasty, small, Knebel . (Eat only fully ripe, dark blue-black berries showing no green.) blue-purple fruit; good fresh or cooked. Small plants produce good yields in Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 about 75 days. An historic heirloom that is easy to grow. Pkt (25 seeds)$3.00 40 South American Solanum Fruit These varieties all hail from South America, where they enjoy a long growing season or even a completely frost-free environment, so they should be started early indoors, like tomatoes. (All are, in fact, closely related to eggplants and tomatoes!) Litchi Tomato is the quickest grown from seed and is at its best in hot summer conditions. The remainder prefer cooler summer conditions, although we have ripened pepino and naranjilla outdoors here in Missouri. The plants are also very striking and attractive and would be well worth growing for their ornamental appearance alone! All have been subjects for at least local markets, and are very useful and delicious.

TZIMBALO MELON PEAR #GR135 () Fruit is small, comparable in LITCHI TOMATO OR MORELLE DE BALBIS size to , but shaped and marked similar DWARF TAMARILLO #GR136 #GR112 to Pepino. The delicious little fruit ripens yellow (Cyphomandra abutiloides) Miniature version of (S. sisymbriifolium) This was a favorite with or pale green, with similar longitudinal striping the regular Tamarillo, and a close relative. But customers who saw and sampled it in front of to Pepino, but they’re much more juicy. Flavor is this one ripens smaller fruit in clusters. When our store last summer. Large plants grow to 5’, similar to Pepino but is often described as tangier fully ripe, each fruit is a deep golden-orange. and are covered with thorns; sweet red fruit and and more complex. Tart, with subtle overtones Very sweet, fruity, tropical flavor, with overtones large white flowers. Lovely to look at, but be of cucumber, melon and other fruit flavors. This of pineapple—dwarf tamarillos are superb for careful with the thorns! We enjoyed the fruit all South American native is suited for both green- juicing, whipped into smoothies, or eaten out house and garden cultivation in most of the summer right from the plant. They’re about the of hand. The foliage is very fragrant and at all country, and plants may be overwintered indoors size of a cherry and taste like a cherry crossed stages the plants are very lovely and ornamen- in pots. This is a very rare plant that is started in- tal! This South American native produced well in with a tomato. A very pretty and attractive plant doors like tomatoes and bears a heavy yield from that originated in South America, but has been our Missouri garden, but may need greenhouse early August until frost in our Missouri gardens. cultivation in the North. In frost-free conditions, naturalized in many countries. Start plants as you Harvest when fruit starts to soften. Very exciting, it eventually grows into a small tree. Super deli- would a tomato. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 fun and SO delicious. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 cious and easy to grow! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50

COCONA #GR230 () An easy-to-grow fruit from the Amazon Jungle! A distant relative of PEPINO MELON #GR117 eggplant, Cocona is commonly found growing in (Solanum muricatum) One of our all time favor- the Peruvian Amazon. Baker Creek Seed hunters ite fruit! This eggplant relative produces fruit Shannon McCabe and Deb Vlietstra found these at NARANJILLA #GR104 that ranges in size from a chicken egg to a large (Solanum quitoense) A very unique fruit from the a jungle market in Iquitos, Peru. The fruit averages goose egg, with a cream-colored rind that often 2 inches across with a vivid yellow to red color. Andes; delicious sweet-and-sour taste, orange has beautiful purple stripes. It has a sweet, mild flavor; 2” fruit is round and yellow-orange in col- The flesh is totally unique, sour and sweet with a flesh that is very melon-like. Use fresh or cooked. distinctly creamy texture. Locals use them to add a or, perfect for making delicious juice. In 1760, Mr. Beautiful, glossy ornamental plants require a tangy kick to sweet juice blends. Fruit is also diced J. de Santa Gertrudis Siera called it “nectar of the fairly long season and are grown like eggplants. into relishes and served with yucca empanadas. gods” and “the most delicious that I have tasted We had an abundant crop of these delectable Locals tout the fruit as a healthy diabetic friendly in the world.” This plant takes at least 6 months fruits this past season here in Missouri. This food. Cocona performed very well at Baker Creek to bear and is quite attractive as a potted plant. fun plant can be grown indoors. Pepinos are this season. Growers in zone 6 and warmer should This year we started plants indoors about Feb. 1 popular in Peru, New Zealand and Australia and get fruit to mature in one season. These make and started to harvest fruit by mid-Sept. in the have just recently started to become common an excellent greenhouse plant in cooler climates. in US markets. This plant is native to the Andes garden. Pkt (25 seeds) $4.00 We start seeds indoors Feb. 1 and harvest fruit by Mountain region. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.50 Sept. in our Missouri gardens. Pkt (25 seeds) $4.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 41 Husk Berries Amazing All the Physalis types yield fruit loosely enclosed in papery husks (including the Tomatillo, which we list separately), and nearly all come from the New World. All are started just like tomatoes and are super easy to grow; they do not need to be staked! Few people realize that the Physalis varieties store ex- Rare Fruit tremely well when kept in their protective husks, lasting for quite some time under refrigeration. They These are fascinating, beautiful and just plain fun! are used fresh or cooked and are very juicy and sweet.

ORANGE MASTER POMEGRANATE #GR113 Here is an extra-dwarf pomegranate that’s perfect for small containers. Early-flowering plants are good for bonsai. Small, ornamental fruit. Will take light frosts, but should be grown indoors in cool climates. We have had a plant for years and are always amazed at the amount of flowers and fruit it produces. Easy to care for and requires less water than most plants. Pkt (10 seeds) $6.00 AUNT MOLLY’S GROUND CHERRY #GR132 65 days. Polish heirloom variety has an unusually fine flavor—very sweet with a nice hint of tartness. 1/2”-3/4” fruit is enclosed in a papery husk which drop to the ground when fully ripe. High pectin content makes this one an excellent choice for pies and preserves. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00

CHINESE LANTERN GIGANTEA #GR125 (Physalis franchetii) This lovely 2’ perennial PINK BANANA #GR124 GROUND CHERRY (STRAWBERRY HUSK produces pretty seed pods, which are bright TOMATO) #GR101 (Musa velutina) Lovely, small banana plants produce red-orange and look like glowing Chinese the most stunning, glowing, brilliant pink banana 70 days. Huge yields of tart-sweet berries. This is lanterns. Great as a fresh cut flower or dried for you will ever see. They are edible, but very seedy. the common type used by the Pilgrims; excellent craft projects. So popular at farmers’ markets, as Plants have large leaves that grow up to 24” long for pies, jams, and preserves of all kinds; also de- everyone just loves these. This variety is extra and add a wonderful tropical effect to your yard or licious fresh. The fruit grows inside a paper-like large, and the berries inside the husk are edible patio. This species is relatively hardy, taking a few husk (the same as Tomatillos). Grow it the same when fully ripe; cook similar to a regular ground degrees of frost fairly well. Ripe fruit will start to split as you would tomatoes. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 cherry. Fun to grow. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 open when ready to eat. Showy and fun to grow! Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. ­­­ ­ Can be hard to germinate, but is then easy to grow. Pkt (10 seeds) $6.00 –Benjamin Franklin 42 GOJI BERRY #GR109 (Scarlet Wolfberry) is a Chinese native perennial shrub with slender stems growing up to 6.5-13 feet high if not pruned. From June to September, the shrub is decorated with pale violet, fragrant flowers. The fruits will then appear till the first frost and are rich in , trace elements, antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Tradi- tionally, these super-fruits have been used to help improve eyesight, inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol, regulate the digestive system, to reduce inflammation, and are said to slow the aging process. Naturally drought tolerant, highly disease & insect resistant, and tolerates temps down to -18 F. The tender fruit appears in two years, and a mature plant can produce almost 7 lbs of berries under good conditions by the third year. Add the fruit to tonic soups, or herb- al tea. The tender shoots and leaves are used as a leaf veg- etable and are cooked 15 minutes in soup. May interfere with blood thinners and other medications metabolized by the liver. Pkt (50 seeds) $4.00 BLACK GOJI BERRY #GR159 NEW! PAWPAW, PREMIUM GIANT MIX #GR232 (Black Wolfberry) This spectacular super food Grow a champion pawpaw! Once a staple in Native American and early is native throughout Central Asia. The black settler’s diets, the pawpaw is now considered a rare delicacy. This tropical goji berry is very rarely found in Western flavored treat is the largest fruit native to North America. Most available cuisine but has long been celebrated in the pawpaw seed is obtained from wild, small, random seedling sources of Himalayan region as a powerful medicinal greatly mixed and questionable genetic quality. Not our seeds! Offered and health food. The black goji is known to is a mix of domesticated pawpaw genetic lines for optimal cross pollina- be more healthful and potent than the more tion that result in large size (average 8-16+ ounces), excellent flavor, and widely known red goji, and we find the flavor premium quality. Peaceful Heritage Nursery is a rare fruit tree nursery and sweeter. The tasty, inky black berries are mini-farm located in Stanford, KY. Seeds are shipped in special controlled exceptionally high in antioxidants and are said conditions for easier . Includes detailed growing tips. to boost the immune system and improve Available online only in Feb. 2019 circulation. Thanks to their ability to fight free radicals, they have been hailed as a food to MANGO MELON OR VINE promote healthy, graceful aging. The potent PEACH #OML115 berries create an outstanding blue color when Grow your own delicious fruit steeped or added to foods. These tasty berries for pies in 70 days! Fruit tastes are quickly becoming a popular super fruit of honeydew melon and peach added to smoothies and brewed into tea. The when cooked in desserts. dried berries are great in granola and muffins The 3” fruit is the size of a or snacked on alone; you can also eat the ber- peach, with a yellow rind and ries fresh off the plant. Steep the berries into a fruity-tasting white flesh. This beautiful blue tea; adding a few drops of lem- on will turn the tea a lovely purple/pink color. variety was very popular in Gardeners will be pleased to know this exciting Victorian times for making berry is highly prolific and easy to grow! Plants sweet pickles, pies, and pre- thrive in zones 5-10. It grows as a shrub reach- serves. Developed in China and ing 4-6 feet in height, and the plants are self introduced into America in the fertile. The fruit ripens from summer through 1880s. You can find easy recipes early fall. Pkt (50 seeds) $5.00 for melon pie online. Pkt $3.00 Garden Strawberry We are very pleased to offer Fragaria x anansassa. A delicious, larger fruiting, everbearing type. The garden strawberry is the most commonly cultivated species worldwide. The species itself dates back to early 18th century Europe where Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry), a flavorful Eastern North American species, was accidentally crossed with Fragaria chiloensis (Chilean Strawberry), a large fruiting species from Chile. TRESCA STRAWBERRY #GR106 TEMPTATION STRAWBERRY You will be pleasantly surprised to see these #GR162 NEW! This British beauties ripening in their first year planted from variety bears medium-large, super seed. Tresca is a super early, garden strawberry scrumptious berries in abundance. This variety from Poland that can be planted from compact plant will produce berries in seed and harvested in the first year! Fruit is the first year from seed. Fruit is much picture perfect; shining bright red and bursting larger than alpine varieties. These tidy with flavor. This is not a particularly aggressive plants are perfect in beds and contain- variety, so you do not need to worry about ers; they do not readily set runners and the plant sending runners to the far reaches of remain tame, not prone to taking over your garden; an excellent choice for containers. the garden. Berries are more firm than Said to be naturally disease resistant. We love alpine varieties, the flavor however, is this naturally sweet fruit for a filling in perogi, a better than many other large, commer- traditional Polish treat! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 cial varieties. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 43 Alpine Strawberries Wild or alpine strawberries are native to Europe. The fruits are small compared to modern cultivated types, but the intense flavor tends to be very rich, and they are extremely sweet. Germination of the tiny seeds is actually easy in proper conditions.

RED WONDER WILD STRAWBERRY BARON SOLEMACHER STRAWBERRY WHITE SOUL ALPINE STRAWBERRY #GR110 This variety was selected to produce #GR222 #GR129 (Fragaria vesca) An improved form of large, elongated, red fruit that is sweet and (Fragaria vesca) Antique German variety yields species Alpine Strawberry, White Soul reaches aromatic. Perfect for growing in flower gardens dainty clusters of berries that are very deep only to about 6 inches in height and yields small and containers as the plants, flowers and berries red, and incredibly fragrant! The berries are white to cream colored, aromatic fruit over a are ornamental. So delicious, the fruit won’t last good-sized for an alpine type, and very sweet very long season. Similar to “Yellow Wonder”. long! Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 and juicy. Makes a superb edible ground cover Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 when planted on 6” spacing, and wonderful in containers and baskets. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00

REGINA STRAWBERRY #GR223 YELLOW WONDER WILD STRAWBERRY (Fragaria vesca) (Also known as Reine des #GR122 This creamy yellow-fruited variety is a Vallees) Intensely red, sweet and very richly favorite of many in Europe. The small fruit is very flavored. Fruit is wide-shouldered and much larger than most alpine types. Heavy cropper tasty and unique looking. Many prefer the taste that yields all summer. This standard European of this yellow-fruited type to the more common variety is seldom seen in America, but deserves red strawberry. These are served in only the finest much wider recognition here. Sumptuous! restaurants and are easy to grow from seed! Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 ALEXANDRIA STRAWBERRY #GR221 (Fragaria vesca) Deep scarlet, egg-shaped fruit weighs two to three grams each. Everbearer that yields the first season from an early planting. A very productive alpine sort, sweet and flavorful. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.50

ATTILA STRAWBERRY #GR220 (Fragaria vesca) It’s an alpine strawberry that makes runners! Ever-bearing type, yielding fruit on mother plant and runners in as little as 4 months from sowing. The ability to increase and rejuvenate a planting from runners is a great ad- vantage, and the potential multiplication is very quick. Aromatic fruit is small but very sweet. GOLDEN ALEXANDRIA #GR224 NEW! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 The perfect patio strawberry, looks amazing in mixed plantings. The high contrast of gilded foliage against scarlet red berries makes this regal alpine type strawberry a superb edible ornamental. The “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, golden foliage looks excellent planted in the border, especially against traditional green alpine for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. varieties. These tidy plants are a uniform size and do not produce runners. A heavy producer of super Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient sweet fruit. Everbearing variety, often fruits in the first year, hardy from zones 5-10 and reseeds easily. for the day.” -Jesus Christ Pkt (25 seeds) $3.50 44 GOURDS EASY TO GROW, PERFECT FOR MAKING CONTAINERS (Lagenaria siceraria unless stated otherwise) 20 BIRDHOUSE GOURD #GD108 seeds per pkt. Whether True Gourds, Angled The popular gourd for making bottles, birdhouses Gourds or Edible Gourds, all of these squash-rel- atives are from the Old World originally, and all and many other useful items. Fun to grow. Pkt $3.00 need similar conditions: a long season of hot weather and abundant moisture in a rich soil. May be direct-sown into warm soil or started indoors a few weeks early. The fruit will be straighter and more symmetrical if the long vines are trained up a trellis, but all may be allowed to sprawl along the ground; some may run 20 feet! The edible sorts are best harvested when young, tender, and mild-tasting.

BIG APPLE #GD115 The 8” fruit look just like giant apples! Very popu- lar as crafts and fall displays; can be painted red or made into birdhouses. Unique and fun to grow; a sure sell at fall markets. Pkt $3.50

KIKINDA COMPETITION STRAIN #ED109 Grow mammoth 7’ long gourds and amaze your family. Super tasty fruit is tender up to 4’ long. BUSHEL BASKET #GD111 The tenderness and Huge, round gourds, up to 24” across, can be great flavor made used for all kinds of art work and as storage them a favorite in containers. Night flowering plants attract huge our kitchen. Fun for moths; very long vines. Fruit has a thick, hard craft projects and shell. A best seller! Pkt $4.50 entering garden fairs. The Kikin- THAI BOTTLE GOURD da comes from a #ED101 Delicious small village in East and easy to grow, bot- TENNESSEE DANCING OR SPINNING Serbia. This town tle-shaped gourds are GOURDS #GD101 is famed for their great picked small, 4-6 (C. pepo) A tiny gourd just 2” long! It is bot- pumpkin festivals. inches and stir-fried, cur- tle-shaped and green-and-white striped—turn- We grew ours in a ried, boiled and in soup. ing tan when dry. This unique heirloom was “gourd tunnel,” and They are used much like sent to us by Mr. Junior G., of Primm Springs, it is important to common . These Tennessee. They used to be popular there, and are very easy to grow his Ma said that when she was going to school, trellis if you want and have good disease kids would bring ‘em to play with. Dancing straight fruit. Pkt (8 resistance. Pkt $3.00 gourds spin just like a top. Pkt $2.75 seeds) $4.50

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 45 ZUCCA MELON - GIANT GOURD #GD137 You can’t miss this gourd growing in your garden. With a weight of 30 to 100 pounds, these are the largest gourds in the world! It is not only big but also very delicious. Pick them young and cook like zucchini! This was a real show stopper at the National Heirloom Expo. Everyone wanted to know how we grew this monstrosity. Unbelievably, there are no trade secrets to growing this whopper. It’s extremely easy to grow; it thrives with little care. Start early and keep warm. Seeds require soil that is 70-85 degrees F, and can take from 7 to 48 days to sprout. If you do not have night pollinators, hand pollinate the evening blooms. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.50

TASTY FRUIT IS USED for food, fun & bathing LIKE ZUCCHINI LUFFA GOURD THAI EXTRA LONG SPONGE GOURD #AG109 (Luffa aegyptiaca) We collected this massive, long fruited Luffa in Thailand and are so excited to finally offer this show-stopping, 4’ long variety! A fast-growing, long-season, warm-climate vine that can climb over 15 feet on a strong trellis and is extremely prolific. This amazing plant was a stunner in our gourd tunnel. The fruit is edible and delicious when immature at about 2’ long and is tasty cooked like CUCUZZI, SERPENTE DI SICILIA zucchini. The mature fruit #ED102 The popular Italian edible gourd. has sponge-like fibers that DISHCLOTH or LUFFA #AG103 Long, slender fruit is a brilliant, light green are famous for being used as (Luffa aegyptiaca) Burpee’s 1888 catalogue said, bath and cleaning spong- color; very tender and delicious with a “A natural dishcloth, and a most admirable one. es. After the fruit matures, rich flavor. The Italians eat these steamed, Many ladies prefer this dishcloth. The fruit grows sautéed, or stuffed and baked. Perfect for bang the gourds around to loosen the seeds, peel, about 2’, and the vine is very ornamental, pro- specialty markets. Fun and so useful as squeeze and rinse the gourd ducing clusters of yellow blossoms, in pleasing zucchini! Pkt (20 seeds) $3.00 until all that remains is a contrast with the silvery-shaded, dark green fo- clean sponge. Cut them into liage. In the North, this variety requires starting He that oppresseth the poor re- different shapes depending in a hotbed. The dried interiors of these gourds proacheth his Maker: but he that on how they will be used have already become an article of commerce; honoureth him hath mercy on the and they make great gifts. grown in Florida, they are sold by Philadelphia poor. -Proverbs 14:31 Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 and NY druggists.” Pkt $3.00

46 GRAINS ORIENTAL GREENS & COVER CROPS 200 seeds per packet. As a group, these types tend to be fairly early and tolerant to cooler weather. customer favorite!

CRIMSON CLOVER #GS136 Annual. Also known as Italian Clover. Nitrogen-fix- ing often grown for livestock feed or wildlife forage, yet pretty enough for the flower garden! Crimson flower heads are great bee for- age. Planted thickly, also makes a superior cover or green manure crop, with its ability to smother out weeds and fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. This lovely, versatile plant should be much more widely grown! Pkt (1 oz) $3.00 BENI HOUSHI MIZUNA #OR153 Incredible Flavor! Benihoushi Mizuna is a new, vibrant twist on an ancient crop, Mizuna greens are used extensively in Japan, and we found a new appreciation for and the bright purple stems set it apart from any other mizuna. this delicious green in our travels there. It The succulent stems are rich in anthocyanin, the same pow- is now one of our favorite vegetables. This erful purple antioxidant present in blueberries. This recently delicately fine cut leaf is a great replacement developed open-pollinated variety has been making a splash on for lettuce, spinach, and cooking greens. the high-end culinary scene in Japan. The greens are excellent Slice mizuna and sprinkle in soups, use in raw in salads; the purple stems and dark greens make a lovely salads, as a garnish, and as a cooked green. contrast, and the delicate flavor is unparalleled. Mizuna is well It is slow to bolt, highly resistant to cold and adapted to both heat and cold extremes and is suitable for grown extensively during the winter months in Japan. We are proud to offer these select several harvests, in fact becoming more tasty and cool-adapted authentic Kyoto strains this year. , CHERRY VANILLA #GS133 with each successive cutting. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 (Chenopodium quinoa) 90-120 days. 3 to 5-foot tall plants are smothered in frothy masses of cream- to-pink flower heads. Dazzling enough for the most elegant border (or illicit, front-yard garden!) but eminently practical, like all quinoas, for greens or grain. Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00

WHEAT, EMMER #GS134 (Triticum dicoccum) We’re so excited to be able MIZUNA, EARLY #OR152 to offer this “ancient wheat.” Known only from A traditional variety from the mountainous Kyoto MIZUNA, 605 SUMMER #OR123 archaeological digs until the early 20th century, region of Japan. This variety boasts superb cold A taste of Kyoto’s culinary heritage, this heat emmer wheat was found growing in isolated areas tolerance, especially during the germination tolerant Mizuna variety was originally bred to of the Middle East, Italy and . The yields are stage, making Early Mizuna well adapted to an withstand the heat and intense humidity of lower than for modern, “improved” , but it’s early spring sowing. This variety will remain ten- Japan’s interior. Summer Mizuna is incredibly superior in homestead gardens because of its dis- der, even after several harvests and will not readily bolt resistant, even in the face of punishing heat ease resistance and its ability to yield in poor soils. go to seed. Harvest as micro, baby or mature Most importantly, the structure of this wheat’s and moisture. Mizuna is suitable for several har- greens, and cut-and-come-again up to five times vests and can be eaten at all stages. This variety gluten is different from that of modern types, so for a super high quality green. It has long stems it’s often digestible by people with gluten sensitiv- is traditionally sown for high summer harvest, that are tender, juicy and dark, as well as nutritious ity or wheat allergies! Sometimes called “Pharaoh’s when the juicy, watery stems make the most Wheat.” Pkt (1 oz) $3.00 greens. Pkt $2.75 refreshing mid-day snack. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 47 KATSUONA MUSTARD KOMATSUMA #OR114 Dramatic purple veining TENDERGREEN deeply incised into large, lavish fo- #OR102 liage. The tender leaves are pickled (B. rapa) Japanese whole and wrapped around perfect mustard greens. Tasty, balls of rice or chopped into stir slightly spicy, mild fla- fry. Distinctly different from the vor, great for stir-fry- pungent mustard greens of the ing or salads. Good for American South, this variety is not- hot or cold weather. ed for being exceptionally tender Pkt $2.50 and mild, super in salads or eaten raw. Pkt $3.00

CHINESE KALE, YOD FAH Full of Healthy Antioxidants! #OR132 A parent to broccolini, this tasty Chinese green is great for fresh eating or cooked, with a flavor reminiscent of broccoli. The succulent stems are extra thick and crisp. Endless versa- tility and ease of growing make this a top choice for market gardeners. Nothing goes to waste with this crop, as all parts of the plant are not only edible, but delicious, from the tender blue green glossy leaves, to the broccoli like inflorescence. 35- 50 days to maturity. Collected in Thailand. Pkt $2.25

SHANGHAI GREEN CHOY #OR126 A delicious baby type that is so much in demand with top Asian chefs. Compact plants are upright and have light green stems. They are extra tender and finely flavored. Pkt $2.75

amazing rich flavor! PURPLE LADY #OR156 New! An Incredible Variety From China! We love this eye-catching purple, baby bok choy, and we believe this is one of the best strains avail- SUZHOU BABY BOK CHOY #OR154 New! able. It is loaded with high levels of antioxidants with anti-aging properties as well as a sweet, rich A perfected medium-sized bok choy that is popular flavor that is perfect for the wok, grill or in salads. We love the highly refined, uniform heads, aver- with market gardeners in China for its fabulous flavor aging 6-7 inches tall. The neat little plants make a perfect presentation tucked into the tidy kitchen and high quality heads. A superior variety in every garden or displayed at the farmers market stand. A beautiful variety, the antioxidant-rich plum col- way, the crisp and tender heads are tightly packed ored leaves really pop against the lime green stems. Crunchy, juicy and flavorful, this is an excellent and remain scrumptious even as the leaves get large. culinary variety. Much work has been put into selecting for consistently attractive, delicious heads. Impressive and adaptable variety boasting bolt resis- A must have for market and home use. Pkt $3.50 tance, as well as heat and cold tolerance! Pkt $3.00 48 MILD, SPICY OR SWEET--THESE ASIAN LEAVES ADD HEALTHY FLAVOR TO THE DIET

TATSOI #OR103 (B. rapa) Superb mild flavor, a must for stir-frying and salads. Beautiful, small rosette heads; very popular at Asian markets. Plant after last frost to help prevent bolting. The MIIKE TAKANA MUSTARD #OR115 deep, green color is Unusually mild for a mustard, this variety has a extra flavorful and meaty, umami flavor that is quite flavorful! The nutritious. A favorite large chartreuse leaves have a prominent stalk crop on our farm! Pkt that is juicy and sweet. The beautiful, highly sa- $2.50 or 8,000 seeds voyed leaves are traditionally pickled, stir fried or $8.00 swirled into soup. Leaves reach about 12-14 inches tall and remain tender even when large. This vari- ety is ideally planted in early spring or early fall as the greens thrive in cooler weather. Pkt $3.00 YELLOW HEART WINTER CHOY #OR155 New! A Chinese edible ornamental, it’s also called “Golden Flower in the Snow” and is a nod to the incredible cold tolerance of this variety. Cool weather trig- gers leaves to turn a brilliant yellow color, making the cen- tral rosette of leaves look like a massive gilded flower. It is , CHIRIMEN HAKUSAI grown year round in China but #OR105 50 days. Here is an old Japanese especially in the cool months variety that is superbly adapted to cool weather. as a nutritious staple. Plants are An excellent loose leaf cabbage, the signature just 5-8 inches tall. The plants savoyed leaves are tender and sweet, perfect are super cold-loving, great for raw in salads, or try the leaves stir fried. They extra late season planting and retain their nutrients and beautiful chartreuse ornamental design. Extra ten- color even when cooked. Chirimen Hakusai tops der leaves are delicious cooked the list for cool season veggies with excellent or in salad. Pkt $3.00 cold hardiness and the ability to be harvested multiple times. Plants reach a foot in height at maturity. Pkt (100 seeds) $3.00 CHINESE CABBAGE, HILTON #OR140 70 days. Very easy to grow and made perfect heads in our Missouri gardens. Here’s a supe- rior Napa-type Chinese cabbage variety that has seldom been seen in the US. Medi- um-sized barrel-shaped heads are densely packed with crinkled, JAPANESE GIANT RED MUSTARD mild-tasting leaves. The #OR107 (B. juncea) Beautiful, large, Japanese preferred variety in the type. Purple-red leaves with a delicious, strong, UK. Great raw or stir- sharp, almost garlic-like, mustard flavor. Tasty fried, or in home-made stir-fried or boiled and makes a great pickling kimchi! Pkt $3.00 variety. Pkt $2.75 or 8,000 seeds $8.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 49 SALAD BLENDS SALAD GREENS Packets contain 1000 seeds. 200-600 seeds per pkt. A miscellany of crops is offered here. Each is unique; some are warm-growers, others revel in very cool weather. What they all have in common is their diversity of flavors and textures—too good to miss!

ROCKY TOP LETTUCE SALAD #SB103 Very Popular! Our improved formula blend is now better than ever! With more brightly AURORA MIXED ORACH #OG124 colored and unique lettuces, it makes a flavorful A delicious mix of radiant colors, all the and brilliant salad. A top-selling item for us; our more beautiful because the plants reach customers just love it! Perfect for better markets or a nice size—very well suited to edible your home table. Pkt $3.50 or 5,000 seeds $7.50 landscaping beds. Colors include red, gold, green, pink, carmine, and pure purple. Who says greens have to be green? This Frank Morton/Wild Garden Seed original is just plain fun and tasty! Pkt (40 seeds) $3.00

ITALIKO ROSSO DANDELION #RC106 (Cichorium intybus) EUROPEAN MESCLUN SALAD #SB101 Beautiful, bright red Grow this mix of greens for one of the tastiest stems and deep green salads ever! Flavors range from sweet-mild to sour- leaves make this variety hot-tangy, and colors come in red, purple, yellow, a winner! Baby leaves and green. A favorite with market growers. Pkt add great tangy flavor $3.50 or 5,000 seeds $7.50 to salads, or good as a cooked green. We offer true Italian seeds for this delicious heirloom. Pkt $2.50 or 10,000 seeds $7.50

RED WING LETTUCE MIX #SB105 “The All Red Formula Mix.” At last a lettuce mix that contains a wide range of the best brilliant red (and red-splashed) specialty types! Our growers love RED ORACH this beautiful mix. Pkt $3.50 or 5,000 seeds $7.50 #OG103 (Atriplex hort- ensis) 4’-10’ tall and bright red. Beautiful and tasty addition to salads or cooked. Relat- ed to Lambs Quarters. ARUGULA #OG106 SIAMESE DRAGON STIR-FRY MIX Lovely! Super (Eruca sativa) Delicious salad green has a spicy flavor; a rage in salads. I just love #SB106 All the best Asian greens for stir-frying nutritious. Pkt this green sprinkled on pizza and sand- and steaming. The rich flavor of these greens is (150 seeds) incredible when lightly cooked and seasoned. $2.50 wiches. One of our most popular greens. Pkt $3.50 or 5,000 seeds $7.50 Pkt $2.25 or 8,000 seeds $7.00 50 GOLDEN PURSLANE #HB222 Delicious Golden Leaves! Annual. 35 days. The same upright habit and large, tender, succulent leaves as our green purslane, but this variety comes in a peppy, bright yellow green. So lovely in the garden or in your freshly picked salad! Purslane has the highest concentration of healthy omega-3 fats of any crop, and is rich in antioxidants as well. Leaves are sometimes pickled for storage. Pkt (500 seeds) $3.00 ROSSA DI TREVISO RADICCHIO #RC101 CASTELFRANCO RADICCHIO #RC102 (Chicorium intybus) A famous (Chicorium intybus) An improved selection of this beautiful, radicchio from Treviso, Italy. old Italian heirloom, the round heads are cream-colored and Turns deep brilliant red in splashed with wine red. This colorful variety is becoming a cool weather. Require cool rage in salads. A high-dollar crop for market growers. Require weather and shorter days of cool weather and shorter days of autumn to head up. Very autumn to head up. Pkt (250 seeds) $2.00 popular in Italy! Pkt (250 seeds) $2.50

MUSTARD GREENS, SOUTHERN GIANT CURLED #OG110 (B. juncea) Large, upright plants with crum- pled leaves that have a delicious mustard taste; slow to bolt, easy to grow. An old heirloom from the southern U.S.; makes a mighty swell mess of greens. Pkt $2.25 or 8,000 seeds $7.00

WATERCRESS, AQUA LG. LEAF #OG122 CORN SALAD OR , VERTE A COEUR (Nasturtium officinale) Large rounded leaves PLEIN 2 #OG116 1885 France’s Vilmorin said, “A very are succulent and pungent. A high-yielding distinct variety, with short, roundish, smooth, half- strain for professional production, or for erect, stiff leaves.” The compact plants tend to be less WILD ROCKET ARUGULA #OG107 anyone who cherishes this unique crop. Best (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) Has a more pungent productive than other types, but it is nicely flavored. for autumn or spring planting. Pkt (250 seeds) taste than regular arugula; leaves are deeply Pkt $2.25 $3.00 lobed. An Italian favorite. Pkt $2.75

FRENCH DANDELION #HB215 (Taraxacum officinale) Perennial—This is a cultivat- ed strain from a Dutch seedsman. Plants reach to 12 SALAD BURNET #OG105 inches in height. Use the young leaves in salads, older PEPPER CRESS #OG113 (Sanguisorba minor) Tasty in salads, great cu- leaves as boiled greens. Roots can be roasted and used (Lepidium sativum) Spicy, peppery taste, in place of coffee, or lifted and forced during winter, similar to watercress in flavor; ready for cumber-like flavor. An easy to grow green that like Belgian Endive. We’re proud to offer this European snacking in just 2 weeks. Can be grown on a has now become hard to find. Pkt $2.25 strain of a traditional old favorite! Pkt (150 seeds) $2.50 windowsill; perfect in salads. Pkt $2.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 51 BIG BULBS ARE CRUNCHY AND SWEET! ( oleracea) Here’s a cabbage relative with a difference: the main crop is the stem, which has been selected over the centuries to grow as an oblate sphere, about the size of an apple or larger. Well grown, this stem is juicy and crisp, and tastes similar to a cabbage heart. The leaves are edible too, especially when young. This crop tolerates heat better than most cabbage relatives, and can be grown straight through the summer in most areas of the country.

DELICACY WHITE #KL105 Beautiful, smooth globes are a lovely, light green. They are quite uniform, and the flesh is tender and of high quality. These stay tender even as they mature. Pkt (400 seeds) $2.75

EARLY PURPLE VIENNA #KL101 Delicious, cabbage-flavored bulbs that grow above ground. Purple skin and sweet, white flesh; good cooked or raw. Kohlrabi makes a real staple crop with high yields; cold hardy. A pre-1860 heirloom. Pkt (400 seeds) $2.50

BLAUER SPECK KOHLRABI #KL107 This old German heirloom produces gorgeous, violet-blue frosted globes. The name translates to “Blue Bacon Kohlrabi,” thanks to the hypnotic blue color and ultra fine-grained, buttery-flavored stems. Originally introduced in 1914, the large, flat- SUPERSCHMELZ OR GIANT WHITE #KL103 tened stems have an incredible storage life, which 60-70 days. Spectacular light green kohlrabi makes the largest bulb of any variety, up to 10 inches was of paramount importance before the advent of modern refrigeration. This old commercial across, and weighing up to 10 lbs! Yet the flesh is tender and never gets fibrous. Requires a very rich variety is perfect for small farmers and backyard soil and plenty of space to reach gigantic proportions. Pkt (400 seeds) $3.00 gardeners. Blauer Speck has small, sparse leaves, more conducive to a tight planting in order to save The time has come to reclaim the stolen harvest and celebrate the growing and giving of space in the garden. Pkt (400 seeds) $2.75 good food as the highest gift and the most revolutionary act. -VANDANA SHIVA 52 KALE & COLLARDS EAT MORE COLLARDS () 250 seeds per packet. Kale may be the hardiest of the cabbage kin. It excels in cold weather, tasting best after frost has kissed the tender, succulent leaves, and making moderate growth whenever there is even a slight warm spell. Start in containers indoors or direct seed in the garden in late June. May also be sown indoors for early spring planting. Kale thrives in rich soil, heavy in organic matter and is moisture-retentive but well drained.

BLUE CURLED SCOTCH KALE #KA101 Compact plants yield tender, blue-green, crinkled leaves that are quite delicious; very cold-hardy, and rich in vitamin A. Pkt $2.50 or 5,000 seeds RED URSA KALE #KA109 $7.00 From Portugal, Germany and China, kale has made traditional soups and provided people with their staple greens. While Red Ursa is a relatively new addition to the rainbow of kales, its roots run deep. The Red Russian and Siberian kales originate from northern Europe and northern Asia, and some of the varieties have been traced back to Russian traders migrating to Canada in the late 1800s. Kale is a crop that has evolved and cross-pollinated over the years, and Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seed in Corvalis, Oregon, has kept this tradition going with his kale breeding efforts. In the 90s he crossed a Siberian Kale with a Red Russian Kale to form what is now Red Ursa. In 1997, Red Ursa was entered into the National Variety trials and chosen as one of the top five vegetables of the year! This extra frilly version of a Red Russian kale with striking dark red to purple stems and rich green leaves, tastes like kale should with meaty leaves complemented by a sweet stem. A delight eaten raw or cooked. (65 days to maturity, 24in- tall and wide) Pkt $2.75 ORNAMENTAL FRINGED MIX COLLARDS, GEORGIA SOUTHERN (CREOLE) #OG109 #KA104 This lovely mix contains A great old Southern favorite, pre-1880 heirloom. Has a good resistance pretty shades of pink, purple, and to heat and cold. Sure, it’s great for the South, but also good up North. white. Contrasts nicely with the deep Huge yield, a real producer, very tasty and flavorful. Pkt $2.00 green outer leaves. Also known as Flowering Kale, the plants look like huge frilly flowers. The leaves make a superb garnish and are good as cooked greens. Best grown as a fall plant because colors are more intense in cool weather. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

NERO DI TOSCANA (Dinosaur or Lacinato Kale) #CB101 60 days. This loose-leafed “cabbage” dates back to the early 1800’s at least. SCARLET KALE #KA116 It has beautiful, deep black-green leaves that can be 24” long. They are A lovely curled “red” kale that produces lots of delicious, frilly leaves and heavily savoyed. This Italian heirloom is popular in Tuscany and central takes on the chill of winter with stride! Pretty in the flower garden or on Italy for making fabulous soups and stews. One of the most beautiful and the plate. Rich in nutrition and flavor. Pkt (150 seeds) $2.75 flavorful types you can grow. Pkt $2.75 or 3,000 seeds $6.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 53 GOURMET, MILD Kale: GROW AMERICA’S POPULAR SUPER FOOD! LEEK ONION FLAVOR! (Allium ampeloprasum) 400 seeds per pkt. Onion relative that does require a long season but is otherwise very easy to grow.

DWARF SIBERIAN KALE #KA102 This tasty Russian variety produces leaves that are only slightly frilled and of top quality. 16” plants are very hardy and productive. Pkt $2.50 MORRIS HEADING COLLARDS #OG112 This variety is called “cabbage collards” by Southern old-timers because it makes loose heads that are dark green and slow to bolt. Ten- der leaves are very delicious. A popular heirloom that is fast-growing and productive. Pkt $2.50

TRONCHUDA KALE #KA107 (Couve Tonchuda) or Portuguese Kale. A bit more heat tolerant than other kales, for a longer harvest period on either end of winter season. BULGARIAN GIANT #LK103 Leaves are large, flat, rounded, similar to , A long thin leek of the best quality; light green but very large and with very prominent white leaves. Fine autumn variety that is popular in veins, earning some strains a variety name of Europe. Pkt $2.25 or 5,000 seeds $7.00 “costata,” meaning “ribbed.” The leaves are more succulent and the flavor is more cabbage-like than other kales. The fleshy stems or petioles are enjoyed as well. Definitely an exciting addition to an already illustrious group! Pkt $2.75 RUSSIAN RED or RAGGED JACK #KA103 50 days. Very tender and mild, a pre-1885 heir- loom variety. Oak-type leaves have a red tinge, and stems are a purplish-red. One of our favorite CARENTAN #LK101 kales. Great flavor. Pkt $2.50 or Long, thick (2” across), vigorous, and fast growing; 5,000 seeds $7.00 delicate, deliciously mild flavor; great fresh or cooked. The Carentan leek was mentioned by Vilmorin in 1885. An old European favorite that is becoming rare. Very adaptable and yields are good. Pkt $2.50 or 5,000 seeds $7.00

THOUSANDHEAD KALE #KA111 NEW! Ancient variety from the UK. was men- tioned in Vilmorin’s ‘The Vegetable Garden’ in 1885 as a productive, multi-branching type that also goes by the name “branching borecole”. Vilmorin also mentions that the variety originally hailed from western France. Peter Miller of Kings Seed mentioned that Thousandhead kale was long appreciated in the UK as a fodder crop, but it has been rediscovered as a tasty culinary VATES COLLARDS #OG108 variety. Leaves are smooth with lightly curled 75 days. In the 1950s, this strain was praised as edges for easier pest management. Those who GIANT MUSSELBURGH #LK102 a “new, dwarf strain,” longstanding and heat-re- have struggled with cabbage worms understand An heirloom that was introduced in 1834 near sistant, like all collards. Winter-hardy to the how caterpillars love to hide in the folds of curly Edinburgh, Scotland. Large, very thick stems; mid-Atlantic, producing a crop into very cold kale leaves. This variety is just lightly curled at tasty mild flavor. Grows well in most locations; autumn weather. These make super healthy and the edges, making caterpillars easier to spot and perfect for home or market. This old favorite has delicious cooked greens. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 treat! This seed was sourced from Kings Seed of a huge size and is very winter hardy. Pkt $2.50 England; the King family has been in the seed business for centuries. Pkt $2.75 54 LETTUCE HEIRLOOM VARIETIES HAVE MORE FLAVOR (Lactuca sativa) An Old World crop, appreciated since ancient times, that requires cooler­ temperatures to grow really well. Sow in place in the garden as early in spring as soil may be worked—seeds sprout and grow whenever mild weather predominates. Or start indoors and set out acclimated seedlings 2-4 weeks before last frost date. Succession plant lettuce for a continual crop, but avoid long days and heat of early-mid summer. May be grown right through the winter where the weather is mild, or under row cover, cold frames, etc. Lettuce is healthy and rich in Vitamins A & C. 250 seeds per pkt.

PARRIS ISLAND COS #LT101 This variety boasts all the merits of a commer- cially bred variety, but the crisp and sweetly scrumptious leaves say heirloom. Parris Island Cos is a Romaine lettuce that is beloved by growers, especially on the Eastern Seaboard where it was originally introduced by Ferry Morse in 1951. Super uniform, upright leaves, observed disease tolerance and moderate bolt resistance were the growing traits selected at Clemson College Agriculture department when it was bred for their South Carolina climate. The tender crisp leaves with delicate white hearts and the perfectly folded centers for scooping dips or holding dressings have won the hearts of gardeners for generations. Pkt $2.50

ROUGE D’HIVER (RED ROMAINE) #LT105 60 days. Delicious, flavorful lettuce brings color and LANDIS WINTER #WW106 New! zest to salads. William Woys Weaver acquired this dark green, Heirloom, red Ro- classic Pennsylvania Dutch winter lettuce in 1994 maine-type from from the well-known lettuce collector Mary Schultz France. Listed in of Monroe, Washington. A Pennsylvania Dutch se- Vilmorin’s Vegeta- lection of the now-extinct late 1700s variety known ble Garden Book as White Tennisball, this is one of the hardiest, most from 1885. Red frost-resistant lettuces we have ever grown. It even and green leaves survived the Polar Vortex during the severe winter turn a deeper of 2013-2014. Each head reaches 11 to 12 inches in shade of red in diameter with a loose butterhead appearance. Plant cold weather. 14 inches apart in early September for salad greens Pkt $2.50 through December and January. Pkt (75 seeds) $4.00

BUTTER KING #LT154 MAY QUEEN #LT118 BUTTERCRUNCH #LT155 65 days. The pale green leaves are soft and, This delicate butterhead is the crowned jewel of the 65 days. Classic butterhead type was the yes, buttery; the heads are heavy and relatively heirloom garden. Tender, yellow hearts are gently standard for many years. Soft, buttery-textured compact, filled with tender inner leaves that blushed rose, and the leaves are ethereally soft leaves enclose a crisp, juicy, loose inner head of are mellow, sweet and succulent. Slower to bolt with the buttery sweet flavor signature of an old blanched, sweet-tasting leaves. Very heat-tol- and tolerates heat better than most butterhead fashioned European butterhead type. Manageable erant and slow to bolt, Buttercrunch stays mild (Bibb) types, making it especially valuable in the medium sized heads with early maturation and silky long after others have turned bitter. Developed South, or wherever summer heat comes early soft leaves made this a popular European heirloom by George Raleigh, Cornell University, and an All or unpredictably. All America Selection in 1966; during the early 19th Century. Plant early in spring or bred in Ottawa, Canada. Pkt $2.50 in fall for a treat that gourmet chefs love. Pkt $2.50 America Selection for 1963. Pkt $2.25 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 55 QUICK AND EASY TO GROW! TRY SOME OF OUR COLORFUL CHOICES!

HENDERSON’S BLACK-SEEDED SIMPSON ICE QUEEN #LT166 #LT108 60 days. Introduced in the 1870s by Pe- 80 days. (also known as Reine des Glaces) A ter Henderson & Co. Sweet and tender leaves, light wholly superior crisphead (iceberg) type, this MERVEILLE DES QUATRE SAISONS yellow-green; very popular. Pkt $2.50 or French heirloom shows excellent tolerance to #LT107 48 days. A pre-1885 French heirloom; 10,000 seeds $8.00 cold, and makes a great crop to plant extra early crisp and tender. The fine-flavored leaves have a or late! The frilled outer leaves are mild enough reddish color. It is becoming popular again. to use for leaf-lettuce, or harvest as baby greens. Pkt $2.50 or 10,000 seeds $8.00 With its darker green color and ever-so-slightly bitter interior, it’s widely regarded as the best crisphead type around! Pkt $2.25

LITTLE GEM #LT116 50 days. Very small, green, romaine-type. One of CRISP MINT #LT150 the very best-tasting lettuces. A superb heat-tol- 60-65 days. Romaine type. Large, succulent, erant variety that is sure to please! Pkt $2.25 or mint-green outer leaves surround crystal-white 10,000 seeds $8.00 hearts: mild, sweet and crunchy in flavor. Succu- lent heads to 10 inches in height are a standout in the salad garden. Pkt $2.50

CELTUCE #LT147 Delicious, cucumber-flavored, crisp stalks from ancient China! FLASHY BUTTER GEM #LT160 A very unique lettuce. Grown for its giant, 70 days. Nearly full-sized Romaine type dap- crunchy stems that are tasty raw or cooked, the LOLLO ROSSA #LT127 pled in a lovely, deep crimson. Another “Flashy” leaves can also be used as greens. This is a to- 60 days. Very curled leaves are light green with introduction from Frank Morton, Shoulder to tally new type of vegetable for most Americans, stunning bright red edges. Mild and tasty. A Shoulder Farm, this one is a high yielder, and also although it was introduced from China in the most beautiful lettuce, superb for market. makes a great early baby Romaine. Very tender 1840s. These are quite delicious and are high in Pkt $2.50 and delicious! Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00 ! Pkt $2.50 56 “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” -Hippocrates MERLOT #LT158 FORELLENSCHLUSS #LT104 TOM THUMB #LT102 55 days. (Also known as “Galactic.”) Reputed to be 60 days. Old Austrian heirloom; the name means 60 days. An heirloom lettuce that dates to the absolutely the darkest red lettuce in existence, “speckled like a trout.” A superb, gorgeous ro- 1850’s. It makes small cabbage-like green heads, which should make it tops for anthocyanin maine lettuce that is highly splashed in deep red. only 3”-4” across. Very tasty, a winner for classy (anti-oxidant) content as well! Leaf lettuce with Very beautiful and tasty. Pkt $2.75 or markets! Pkt $2.50 wavy to frilly leaf margins and very crisp, waxy leaves! Excellent bolt resistance, and good cold 10,000 seeds $8.00 tolerance for a late fall to winter crop. Rec- ommended as a cutting type for baby greens production or cut-and-come-again harvesting. Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00

SANGUINE AMELIORE OR STRAWBERRY CABBAGE LETTUCE #LT144 This unique 19th century French heirloom was introduced to America by C.C. Morse in 1906 under the name “Strawberry Cabbage Lettuce.” The small cabbage or butter-head type plants are quite charming with green leaves that are RED MOUNTAIN splashed in scarlet-red as if a red rain fell upon WINTER CELTUCE #LT183 them, glistening and beautiful. Leaves are ten- New! A rare and nutritious der, mild and of a high quality; yummy! Pkt $3.00 type of stem lettuce from China. Celtuce is relatively obscure in the U.S., but it is sure to become the next veggie craze. The plants are as easy as lettuce to cultivate, and the culinary possibilities are boundless as it is great cooked or raw; the extra high levels of vitamin C point to celtuce as a potent superfood. This cold-loving red-leaved celtuce is a gourmet treat; the crunchy stems have a LUNIX LETTUCE #LT114 refreshing cucumber flavor Oak-leaf type produces lustrous, deep red and crisp texture. The stems leaves. Very slow to bolt; the rich, red leaves are traditionally eaten raw in and upright symmetrical form commend this one for market gardens as well as home salads or stir fried. This variety gardeners who insist upon superior types. Also should be planted in the fall, highly recommended for hydroponics cultiva- about 50 days before the first tion and out-of-season low-tunnel production. frost. The red leaves are also Rare in this country, and very choice. Pkt $3.00 delicious in salads! Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 57 MELONS HARVEST THE QUEEN OF SUMMER FRUITS (Cucumis melo) We have heirloom melons that can mature in almost any climate. Try some of these sweet & juicy varieties this year and enjoy a taste trip into your past... enjoy the flavor! 25-50 seeds per pkt.

BANANA #AML113 90 days. Banana-shaped fruit with smooth, yellow skin; and sweet, spicy, salmon-colored flesh. 16”-24” long, 5-8 lbs. It was listed in 1885 by J. H. Gregory’s Catalogue, which said, “When ripe it reminds one of a large, overgrown banana... It smells like one, having a remarkably powerful and delicious fragrance.” This is one of my all-time favorites, being very sweet and great for specialty markets. Pkt $3.00 BATEEKH SAMARRA #OML142 Unique, sweet, citrus-like taste! 95 days. Oblong fruit is brownish-green and netted AMISH MELON #AML164 outside, lime green within. In our trials the flavor A flavorful old Amish heirloom that was collect- was an unusual, a very delicious, sweet-tart combi- ed by members of Seed Savers Exchange. It has nation with a distinct citrus taste. The name simply a rich, sweet muskmelon flavor that reminds you means “old melon from Samarra,” which is a city in of the way melons tasted long ago. Fruit is oval northern Iraq. Original seed was furnished by our and weighs 4-7 pounds each. The flesh color is friend, Iraqi seed collector Nael Aziz, who writes orange. A good producer! Pkt $3.00 that this variety is known to have been grown in the Abbasid Period over one thousand years ago! Endangered due to war and America’s aggressive promotion of patented seeds in Iraq. Pkt $5.00 CHARENTAIS #ML114 Our Favorite! 85 days. A famous superb heirloom French mel- on–super sweet and very fragrant. Light - green skin, smooth round 2-to 3-lb fruit, bright orange flesh. These are top sellers at high-dollar markets. This was my favorite melon in 2003. I GOLDEN JENNY #AML133 just love the sweet flesh that is so firm. Pkt $3.00 or 500 seeds $7.00 An outstanding golden meated version of Jenny The Iraqi 1000 YEAR OLD MELON Lind, developed by long time friend and the late, master seed saver, Merl Neidens. Short vines just go wild producing these succulent, sweet 2 lb. beauties. Give this one a try at upscale markets. Early and productive. Pkt $3.00

MADHU RAS, RAJASTHAN HONEY MELON #JS257 This is a small but delicious melon from Rajasthan, India. The name Madhu Ras ’S PRIDE #AML141 GOLDEN HONEYMOON #AML119 means honey melon, an appropriate name for The largest melon we carry. Huge, oblong fruits average 92 days. A honeydew melon with a brilliant, such as sweet fruit. These melons thrive in the 14-22 lbs. each! The skin is green, turning yellowish hot and dry conditions of Western India, and when ripe. The flesh is very sweet, melting and of excel- gold rind and delicious green flesh; unique they will grow in similar conditions in the U.S. lent quality. The vines set heavy yields. This variety was flavor. Two weeks earlier than regular Honey- This is a rare find brought to us from botanical sent to us by a retired minister from Indiana. It has been dew; excellent yields. Will rarely sunburn; a great explorer, Joseph Simcox who found this special in his family for many years, originating in Kentucky. keeper, unique and rare! Pkt $2.75 heirloom at a market in Delhi, India. Pkt $4.00 This is a melon to give any grower pride. Pkt $3.00 58 GROW THESE SWEET TREATS OF SUMMER! TRY ALL THE DIVERSE VARIETIES! BOULE D’OR #ML106 (Golden Perfection) Very sweet, pale green flesh is just marvelous. Lovely yellow fruit has a unique, lacy netting, like a work of art. This was one of our top melons in our 2003 trials, truly incredible; my all-time favorite honey- dew type. Sugary flesh is so flavorful and rich. This variety is a dream for market growers and will command high prices with gourmets and chefs alike! It was listed in Vilm- orin’s book, The Vegetable Garden, in 1885 but it is very rare now. Let’s make this variety a market favorite again! Pkt $3.50 KAJARI #JS235 This amazing early Indian melon was collect- ed by Joseph Simcox. The fruits are a brilliant copper-red and are striped in green and cream, making this an extremely unusual and beautiful melon. The pale green flesh is sweet, aromatic and slightly musky in taste. Joe believes that this melon originated in the Punjab, and Joe spent more than 8 years trying to find seeds of this KIKU CHRYSANTHEMUM extremely interesting variety. Vine produces lots MELON #OML117 of 2 lb fruit. Pkt $4.50 or 200 seeds $11.00 Rare Marvel from Japan! This historic melon is named for the Japanese Chrysanthe- mum flower, which it is said to resemble. One of the best melons we found in Japan with an incredibly unique flavor. A very rare, early and beautifully productive, small, white, creamy melon that has mellow flesh. It tastes SWEET PASSION #AML149 like Greek yogurt with a hint An Ohio heirloom that has been grown since the of lychee; the flavor has also 1920s. According to legend, the sweet orange been compared to pear. The flesh is said to cause a state of passion if eaten origin of Kiku melon is the straight from the garden on a moonlit summer Makuwa Uri melon which night. It has succulent flesh that is very sweet, came from China to Japan aromatic and very finely flavored. Fruit weighs sometime in antiquity. 3-4 lbs, and is produced on vines that have some Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 drought and wilt resistance. Pkt $3.00

TOMMY APPLE #AML131 New! A gourmet cantaloupe that has been tended by Mr. Tommy Apple in his home garden by the banks of the Snake River in eastern Oregon since the 1970s. Tommy received the seeds for this silky sweet melon from a local Oregon nurseryman in the early 1970s. The melons were introduced to Tommy as oriental melon and were quite late maturing but remarkably tasty. The fruit of this eastern Oregon landrace is oblong and varies in size from football-sized to jumbo. Over the decades, Tommy has selected for earlier matura- tion, but he says the incredible, sweet, mellow flavor and refined texture are just as good as the original melons he received almost 50 years ago. Tommy is our seed grower for this amazing variety and says that he harvests fruit by hand, visiting the garden each morning barefoot with a fruit sack slung around his shoulder. He says harvest is easy: the fruit picks itself! Indeed, the mature fruit turns a golden color and slips from the vine when perfectly ripe. Thanks to the hard work of Mr. Tommy Apple for this amazing heirloom. Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 59 NOIR DES CARMES #ML109 80 days. A beautiful and rare heirloom from France, the famous “Black Rock” melon pre- JENNY LIND #AML117 served by the Carmelite monks. It was men- 80 days. This fine melon dates back to the 1840s tioned by Mawe & Abercrombie in 1787. Nearly and was sold by many of the seed companies of black in color, the fruit turns orange as it ripens. that day. It was named for the famous singer, Jen- They are deeply ribbed and have smooth skin. ny Lind, “The Swedish Nightingale.” This wonder- The flesh is orange in color, thick, flavorful, ful 1- to 2-lb turban-shaped melon is very sweet and perfumed. Excellent and unusual. The fruit and has light green, delicious flesh. It is becoming weighs about 3-6 lbs each. Pkt $3.50 popular again with those who try it! Pkt $2.75 HA’OGEN #OML150 75-80 days. (Also known as Israel Melon) An excel- lent-tasting, early melon. Commonly thought to have originated in Israel, where its name means “an- chor” but may have actually originated in Hungary. Flavorful green flesh; good yields of nearly round, 3-4 lb fruit; a beautiful melon! Very fragrant. A long- time favorite of the Gettle family. Pkt $2.75

RICH SWEETNESS 132 #OML126 TIGGER #OML107 Incredible little melons from the former Soviet 90 days. The most amazing looking melon we Union. The fruit is a beautiful red, striped with have grown. The fruit is vibrant yellow with bril- golden yellow and weighs only about ¼ lb! The liant fire-red, zigzag stripes (a few fruit may be flesh is pure white and quite sweet. These have solid yellow), simply beautiful! They are also the a very refreshing taste and are very fragrant. most fragrant melons we have tried, with a rich, They are perfect for single servings. These little sweet, intoxicating aroma that will fill a room. melons are so much fun and great for children’s The white flesh gets sweeter in dry climates, gardens. The vines are very productive and mild tasting. Small in size, the fruit weighs up produce all season long. One of the best new PETIT GRIS DE RENNES #ML104 to 1 lb. The vigorous plants yield heavily, even 85 days. Dense, 2-lb fruit has orange flesh that is in dry conditions. This heirloom came from an varieties we’ve discovered in the last few years. Try a few of these delicious little melons in your superbly sweet, flavorful, and perfumed. This vari- Armenian market located in a mountain valley. ety is early and well adapted to cool climates. The home or market garden. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 fruit weighs around 2 lbs and has a grey-green rind. This fine French variety is of the best quality HALE’S BEST 45 #AML101 and is the favorite melon of the French melon 85 days. A popular heirloom devel- expert and author Bruno Defay. Rare in the USA. oped around 1920 by a Japanese One of our most-requested market melons, spe- market grower in California. Sweet, cialty growers love them because they command smooth, orange flesh. A good fla- top prices! We continue to receive rave reviews vored muskmelon. Pkt $2.50 about this melon, which is surely one of the best Charentais types. Pkt $3.50

HONEYDEW - TAM DEW #AML103 100 days. Beautiful, ivory-green fruit, deep green; very sweet flesh, with classic Honeydew flavor! A superb variety. Pkt $2.75 60 BITTER MELON Bitter melon is a traditional staple in much of Asia; local cuisines appreciate the mildly bitter taste in soups and curries. As a bonus, the pulp surrounding the seeds turns brilliant scarlet at full maturity, and its sweet taste is also utilized in its native lands. Bitter melon is recognized for its value in blood- sugar regulation among diabetics in some countries. We love this tasty vegetable in soups and fried.

ABASHI BITTER MELON #BM113 An Okinawan heirloom variety with deep green skin color and a very mild bitter taste. Fruit is 3-4 inches in diameter and 8-10 inches long. This variety can tolerate high temperatures and does well up to 90 F. Harvest around 120 days after sowing. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00

SATSUMA OHNAGA BITTER MELON #BM114 Hailing from the scenic bay area of the southwestern tip of Kyushu Island, Japan, which is known for producing some of the fin- est bitter melons. This is an ideal bitter melon for making into tea or for cooking. Exceptional- ly long and slender fruit is delicious sliced and stir-fried, the bitter melons’ potent superfood powers are most appreciated when paired with BIG TOP BITTER MELON #BM104 mellow flavors like cooked garlic and beans. A unique heart shaped variety of bitter melon, the large softball-sized fruit is particularly popular in This bitter melon will produce tons of snakelike Surinamese cuisine. Bitter melon was originally introduced to Suriname by South Chinese immi- fruit on long vines and is a prolific and healthful grants in the 1850s, where the unique and highly nutritious vegetable seamlessly integrated into the addition to the kitchen garden. 16-18” long and eclectic cuisine of this South American country. An early producer, long rambling vines produce tons matures 60-70 days from sowing. The color is of smooth skinned, dark green, bumpy fruit in as few as 65 days. Thanks to a thick skin, this variety is very light green, tending to lighten to a white- considered an excellent shipper and a perfect choice for gardeners wanting to grow bitter melon for green at the tip, and the tear-drop bumps and the first time. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 ridges sometimes spiral around the long fruit. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00

苦瓜 BITTER MELON The Super, Super-food! A native of In- dia, bitter melon can be stewed, curried, steamed, braised, pickled or cooked with scrambled eggs. The bitterness is tempered by cooking and served with yogurt on the side. Many people who try bitter melon for the first time love the rich flavor. It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and twice the potassium of banana. Bitter melon is also used in Chinese cooking for GANJYU BITTER MELON #BM116 New! its lightly bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries, An extra-large light green heirloom from Japan. Fruit is large and uniform with a great flavor. The soups, dim sum, and herbal teas. It can be bitter melon is a dietary staple on the island of Okinawa, famous for its people’s longevity. The Oki- sprinkled with salt for 30 minutes, then nawan people have been known for great health and record-breaking longevity for almost 1000 rinse, this process reduces bitterness, be- years, largely in part to their healthy diet. Bitter melon, called Goya in Japan, has been identified fore cooking. as a crucial staple of the famous Okinawan longevity diet, which is also part of the Blue Zone Diet. Goya champuru is a popular Okinawan stir fry bitter melon recipe, very commonly eaten by Okina-

wa’s centenarian residents. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 61 Wax Melons ‘Jyunpaku’ Okinawan Pure White Bitter Melon The White Pearl of Okinawa An Incredible Discovery From The Orient

沖 縄 白 ゴ ー GIANT BULLET HEAD WAX MELON #WX111 New! ヤ A mammoth version of the ancient winter melon from Asia. Wax melon has been dated back 2700 years ago in China; thanks to its long history, countless recipes exist for this versatile fruit. A staple winter food, its waxy rind helps to preserve the fruit for up to 12 months. The flesh is candied and stuffed into dessert pastries, stewed into hearty winter soups, stir fried and used to fill moon cakes for China’s Autumn Moon Festival. Fruit can weigh up to 75 pounds each. This beautiful black type is a popular wax melon variety in China, but still unknown here. Named for the long dark fruit which resembles a bullet. Excellent storage quality and snow white flesh. An excellent substitute for zucchini squash, but these are tastier! Thin (and eat) young fruit to get ‘JYUNPAKU’ OKINAWAN PURE WHITE BITTER MELON #BM117 New! giant-sized fruit. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 Extra large, mild Japanese bitter melon. This pearly white, mellow-flavored fruit is still quite nutrition- ally potent with a more refined, less bitter flavor. Fruit averages 8-10 inches long and is quite thick. The melons are typically cut thick and added to soups and stir-fries or shaved thin and eaten raw. Expect a Jelly Melon great summer treat, as this variety contains an extra-large, pulp sack around the seeds. This pulp is su- per sweet, cherry flavored and nutritious, packed with the antioxidant lycopene. It is great for desserts or snacking. Pkt (5 seeds) $5.00 Cassabanana CASSABANANA or MELOCOTON #MC101 (Sicana odorifera) Wow, this is exciting! I saw this crop along the roadside in Guatemala. The fruit was brilliant flaming red and about 2’ long—one KIWANO or AFRICAN HORNED of the most beautiful things I had ever seen! They have bright orange flesh that is sweet and is used CUCUMBER #JM101 in drinks, jellies and other desserts; it has a unique (Cucumis metuliferus) Very unusual fruit with tropical fruit taste. The fruit is fragrant and keep spiny “horns.” The green-yellow skin turns a bright for a long period, like squash, making this a hot deep orange when ready to harvest, and the pulp item for fall sales for pumpkin growers. Huge inside the fruit resembles lime green Jell-O. The vines can grow to 50’ and are quite ornamental, fruit has a sweet-sour, banana-lime-tropical fruit but they do require a very long season and are mostly grown in Florida and the Deep South. Here taste; good juiced and sweetened; delicious with in southern Missouri the fruit almost ripened, yogurt. This fruit is showing up quite often in US but we ran short of days. This plant was first markets. Native to Africa, it is hardy and easy to mentioned in Europe in 1658 as a popular plant in grow; can be grown just about anywhere you can Peru. We are happy to have located a small supply grow melons. Beautiful vine and fruit! Tiny seed. of seed. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 62 OKRA LOTS OF DELICIOUS PODS ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS (Abelmoschus esculentus) 30-75 seeds per packet. This African native and staple of the Deep South really thrives on heat! Slaves from Angola called okra “ngumbo”, which became gumbo, a popular name for several okra dishes to this day. Does best when direct-sown into warm soil but can be started earlier indoors and CLEMSON SPINELESS #OK103 transplanted, so long as the young plants aren’t 60 days. Plant is spineless; tasty green pods, best allowed to become root bound. Soil for okra picked small. Developed in 1939. Still a standard need not be especially rich; plants are drought in many home gardens. Pkt $2.50 or tolerant but produce more with adequate 300 seeds $5.00 moisture. Keeping pods picked encourages further production.

HILL COUNTRY HEIRLOOM RED #OK112 Fat pods are very tender and full of good “Okree” flavor that is so popular in the hill STAR OF DAVID #OK106 regions of eastern Texas. The pods are reddish 70 days. Israeli variety. Short, very thick pods are green in color, and the plants have red stems, quite delicious. The pods are twice as big around very productive and high quality. Pkt $3.00 as most okra. Pkt $2.75

ALABAMA RED #OK132 A delicious heirloom from Alabama, this variety has fat, red-tinged pods that are great fried or in gumbo! One of our most popular varieties, it is unique and rare. Pkt $3.00

JING ORANGE #OK126 Our most popular! BURGUNDY #OK102 60 days. Our favorite Okra! Lovely pods are a deep reddish-orange and are quite colorful. This Asian 55 days. Pods are a beautiful, deep red, and variety produces lots of flavorful 6” -8” pods early, even in dry conditions. An exciting new variety stems are also red. Very tender and delicious. that is unique and beautiful. One of the most tender we offer. Pkt $3.50 Ornamental; tasty. Pkt $2.75 or 300 seeds $6.00

BURMESE #OK111 We are proud to offer this heirloom variety PERKINS LONG POD #OK108 BOWLING RED #OK120 from Burma (Myanmar). Large pods are tender, Very green, extra-large pods are tender and Great-tasting red pods are long and thin, being spineless, and finely flavored. The plants start delicious, the perfect okra for canning and quite tender even when longer than most. This yielding early and production lasts until frost. gumbo. Vigorous and productive plants are 5’ in heirloom has been grown by the Bowling family Pkt $3.00 height; an old favorite. Pkt $2.50 of Virginia since at least the 1920’s. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 63 ONION GROW ONIONS FOR YEAR-ROUND FLAVOR (Allium cepa) 300+ seeds per packet. A very ancient Old World crop—records exist telling how many onions were allocated to the laborers building the pyramids, and they were a basic ration to Greek hoplites. Long-day onions tend to do best in the north and short-day types do best in the south; the dividing line is at about the 35th parallel. Onions grow best in mellow soil, rich and possessing much organic matter. The tiny seeds are usually started indoors, although they may be direct sown if conditions and timing are suitable. Spring-planted onions are started about 9-12 weeks prior to setting out, which may be several weeks before the last frost date. When setting onion plants in their final location, allow about 6-8 inches from their neighbors, if in beds, or 4 inches, if in rows, spacing rows at least a foot apart. Apply a heavy mulch to control weeds, as onions will not grow large in competition with weeds. Harvest onions when the green tops begin to fall over; cure several weeks and store at cool room temperature.

FLAT OF ITALY #ON104 Intermediate day. Beautiful red “cipollini”-type, BIANCA DI GIUGNO #ON123 flat gourmet onion from Italy. They are bright red in color and very flat, perfect for fresh eating Here is a later maturing cippolini type onion. The or cooking. This is a very old Italian variety that small, flat shape is ideal for pickling and grilling. was mentioned by Vilmorin in 1885. A good Cippolini onions are sweeter than most other choice for fresh market. Early. Pkt $2.75 onions, this is an easy-to-grow variety. Pkt $2.75

HE SHI KO-BUNCHING #ON111 RED OF FLORENCE #ON103 AILSA CRAIG #ON122 (Allium fistulosum) An heirloom Japanese, pe- Long day. Oblong-shaped, bright red onions, Long day. Very well-known globe-shaped rennial bunching onion. Stalks grow and divide great for planting spring or fall; seem to do well heirloom onion that reaches a really huge size—5 in many areas. They are very mild and sweet, lbs is rather common! The skin is a pale yellow from the base. Mild and tasty. These are an es- great for salads and pickling! A delicious Italian and the flesh is relatively mild and sweet, so is sential ingredient in both Oriental and American recommended for fresh use—not a storage type. foods. A non-bulbing white type. Pkt $2.50 or heirloom. Very rare. Pkt $2.75 or Introduced in 1887 by David Murray, gardener for 5,000 seeds $8.00 5,000 seeds $9.00 the Marquis of Ailsa, at Culzean Castle in Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Pkt $3.50 ZEBRUNE SHALLOT #ON129 (Cuisse de Poulet du Poitou) Gorgeous heir- loom French eschalion or “banana” type shallot yields plump, long, torpedo-shaped bulbs. Bulbs are brown tinged with pink. The flesh is very mild and sweet, and large yields may be had starting AUSTRALIAN BROWN #ON101 the first year from an Intermediate day. Introduced in 1897 by W. Atlee early planting. Excel- Burpee. This variety produces extra fine large lent keeping quality bulbs that have superb flavor! The yellow-brown makes these gourmet roots are a standard on our farm for their sure- shallots useful over a ness to produce quality. Pkt $2.75 very long season! Pkt (150 seeds) $3.00 64 STUTTGARTER #ON116 Long day. A tasty old favorite that sets medi- um-large, yellow onions with a good, pungent flavor. This variety is among the best keepers and produces well. Plant some of these for win- ter eating and store them clear through to next SOUTHPORT RED GLOBE #ON124 spring. Pkt $2.75 Long day, 120 days. First released in 1873, and still one of the best. Firm fleshed, medium sized, globe-shaped, deep red roots are one of TROPEANA LUNGA #ON108 the best keepers of any red onion. Carries some Intermediate day. Long, tall bulbs are unique resistance to fusarium rot. Truly a top-notch and popular with Mediterranean chefs. Harvest producer for the North! Pkt $2.50 this gorgeous onion in mid-summer for your own delight, or sell this winner for top prices at market. They are a lovely shade of red. This heir- loom from Tropea is rare in America. Pkt $3.00

WETHERSFIELD RED #ON127 Long day. This variety dates to the 1700’s. Popular from New York to Bermuda and it brought much wealth to the onion growers of New England, as well as to the Yankee traders who sold ship-loads of it. The 1856 Comstock-Ferre catalog states, WHITE CREOLE ONION #ON133 “It is the kind mostly grown at Wethersfield. It Short day, medium-sized, round bulbs have a grows to large size, deep red, thick, approaching translucent white flesh that is very firm. This -va to round shape, fine-grained, pleasant flavored, YELLOW OF PARMA #ON105 riety is an excellent choice for southern growers; and very productive. It ripens in September, and Long day. Large, golden onions are oblong forms perfect bulbs and has excellent storage keeps well.” It is a slightly flattened, deep blood- globe-shaped. This late onion makes an ex- quality. Excellent fresh or cooked, White Creole is red onion of renowned quality. A true piece of cellent keeper; a rare and hard-to-find Italian a top choice for dehydrating and has a pungent horticultural Americana that deserves to be more variety. Pkt $2.50 or 5,000 seeds $8.00 flavor. Pkt $2.50 widely grown. Pkt $2.50

YELLOW SWEET SPANISH #ON135 New! Long day. One of the best yellow onion varieties. Excellent choice for beginner gardeners, this is one of the easiest and most adaptable onions to grow. The large roots easily grows to 1 pound each and with good storage quality. Large Sweet Spanish is a staple for the home gardener and market farmer looking for a reliable and flavorful heirloom onion. Pkt$3.00

VIOLET DE GALMI #ON117 Short day. The Galmi onion comes from the village of Galmi, a small community in the Ader Valley of southeast Niger. It is here where this flavorful onion was developed and is believed to have been grown for over 100 years, selected and passed down. It is now a popular onion in several other African countries as well. Flat, thick bulbs are of good quality and are a beautiful pinkish-purple color; it also keeps well, making it a perfect choice as a short day onion. Pkt $4.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 65 PARSNIP GARDEN PEAS

IMPROVED MAESTRO #GP109 60 days. Heavy crops of 4-to 5-inch pods are produced on plants that seldom reach 3 feet in HOLLOW CROWN #PR101 height, do not require staking. Peas are medi- Tasty, white, long roots, sweet flavor. um-sized, very sweet, and good for freezing, Harvest after frost; a standard in all fall and the pods often contain up to 12 peas each. gardens. A popular variety in the 1820s. Tolerant to a number of common pea diseases. Pkt $3.00 Pkt (600 seeds) $2.50 ALASKA #GP101 50-60 days. Very early, great for short-season areas; good yields of delicious soup peas. An heirloom from 1880. Pkt $2.75

KELVEDON WONDER #GP112 75 days. (Also known as First Early) Super-early dwarf variety reaches only about 18” tall, requir- ing no staking. Highly recommended for succes- sion sowing; also a great variety for container HARRIS MODEL #PR102 DESIREE DWARF BLAUWSCHOKKERS planting or cold-frame growing. Produces heavy Delicious, tender, white, 12” roots have a #GP108 Stunning violet-blue pods are crops of sweet, small peas, often eight per pod; sweet flavor; refined in appearance. Great produced on lovely little bush plants that do not typically yields two fat pods per node. Resistant boiled, fried, or used in “Parsnip Bread.” A require staking. The delicious peas are perfect to pea wilt and downy mildew. Pkt $3.25 good producer and popular variety. for soups and stews, or the pods can be picked Pkt (600 seeds) $2.50 small and these can be used as a snow pea. A great addition from Holland. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.50

LAXTON’S PROGRESS No. 9 #GP105 A popular heirloom pea for home gardeners. Large pods are produced on hardy, productive vines with sweet and delicious peas. Pkt $3.00

TOM THUMB #GP110 50-55 days. Tom Thumb is absolutely the best pea variety for container planting! Reaching LINCOLN #GP104 only 8 to 9 inches in height, it’s grown mainly as An old-time pea introduced in 1908. High-yield- a shelling type, but the pods are also sweet, ten- ing and tasty, this pea does better than many in TENNESSEE RED #PE102 der and delicious when harvested very young. warmer weather. The tightly-filled pods are easy A treasured heirloom that has been grown This variety excels when tucked into small to shell, and compact vines are a good choice since before 1930, each pod contains from spaces around the garden, and for cold frame for small gardens. Pkt $2.75 2-5 red-skinned, mild, sweet kernels. A Valen- production very early or very late in the season. cia type, earlier than the Virginia strains. This unusual heirloom originated in England “The regenerated do not go to war, nor engage Superior for roasting or boiling, which is a and was first introduced in the US by Landreth in strife. They are children of peace who have preferred method of preparing them in the Seeds, Philadelphia, in 1854. Even more frost beaten their swords into plowshares and their Deep South. Pkt (1oz in shell) $3.50 tolerant than most other pea varieties, and, spears into pruning forks, and know no war.” naturally, it requires no staking! Pkt $3.50 — Menno Simons 66 ABOUT PEAS (Pisum sativum) Whether grown for green peas, or for edible pods garden peas are all grown the same way. They should be planted in earliest spring or even in late winter, as soon as soil can be worked. They require a very mellow soil, as the roots are shallow and not especially vigorous. Plant about 1” deep. Most types require support—a trellis, fence, etc. (Bush types are really short vines and will support each other when planted fairly close together.) The trick is to get them going early enough to take a crop before late spring weather turns really warm, as heat shuts the plants down. Pick edible podded types frequently, as they are best before the pods become tough. 75-125 seeds per pkt.

WANDO #GP103 This pea was introduced in 1943 and is a great pea for the South, being somewhat heat resistant and can be planted later than most peas. Medi- KING TUT PURPLE PEA #GP114 um-sized peas are great fresh or frozen. Pkt $2.75 A very rare and amazing garden pea! One of the most historical peas known, this particular variety is said to have been taken out of the tomb of famed Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, or King Tut. The story is that his servants planted and harvested these peas to help provide for his afterlife. LITTLE Though some claim to have debunked the story, Lynn McKee’s family tradition asserts that her father MARVEL received the seeds found in the boy King’s tomb where they had been undisturbed for nearly 5,000 #GP102 years until Howard Carter found the tomb on Nov. 4, 1922. From there, as the legend goes, the seeds 60 days. Vigorous were taken to England where they were propagated and shared with friends. “The conditions within bush plants, Egyptian pyramids are very dry and would permit seed longevity in certain species to extend to heavy yields, and thousands of years,” one document said. Some claim though, it is likely the seeds originated in early fine-flavored 20th century English gardens. The Fortean Times says “It is sometimes said that Tutankhamen’s Pea originated on the country estate of Lord Caernarvon, who financed Howard Carter’s search for King peas. A great Tut’s resting place and was subsequently named in honor of Caernarvon’s claim to fame, rather than home garden the plant’s origin.” As an interesting turn to the story, we located the seed and found the story from variety. An heir- Japanese seed collectors during our travels there. Stunning purple flowers give way to tasty, loom from 1908. fat purple pods on strong and vigorous plants that love cool weather. This variety has proven highly Pkt $2.75 productive and makes a delicious soup pea, or picked young as a purple snow pea. Try this piece of living history in your garden! Pkt (25 seeds) $4.50

SNOW & SNAP PEAS SWEET EDIBLE PODS

CAROUBY DE MAUSSANE #SN111 65 days. This time-honored variety produces some of the largest pods we’ve ever seen in snow peas—often reaching 5-6” in length! The robust plants vine to 5 feet. The bi-colored flowers, borne in pairs, are pink and burgundy, maturing through purple to nearly sky blue, distinctive and pretty enough to merit a spot SUGAR MAGNOLIA TENDRIL PEA #SN120 in the border. The succulent pods are of robust A marvelous innovation in sugar snap pea breeding from Dr. Alan Kapuler, the first ever purple flavor and vary somewhat from plant to plant, podded sugar snap pea! We love the dusty purple blue pods that really pop in a sea of green foliage. which makes this variety all the more interesting These vigorous vines can reach up to 8 feet tall in the garden and cover a trellis so nicely, the purple in stir-fries and salads. Originated in Maussane, blossoms and profuse tendrils make this an incredible edible ornamental-- so dainty! The flavor is near Avignon in southern France. Pkt $2.75 perfect, not too sweet, with a great snap! Pkt (50 seeds) $3.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 67 DELIGHTFUL IN SALADS AND STIR-FRIES

DE GRACE #SN110 A lovely dwarf variety that was grown in America before 1836, and likely much longer ago in Eu- rope. This variety has been extinct to the North American seed trade for more than 20 years, so SUGAR ANN #SN107 we are happy to bring back this great pea. The An early, edible-pod pea ideal for small gardens. pods are medium sized and sweetly flavored, Its short, bushy vines do not need support, and crisp and tender. The vines produce over a long MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM TENDRIL PEA it produces about 10 days earlier than other season and are more frost hardy than many #SN122 70 days. An innovative hyper-tendril snap peas. Delicious pods are a joy sautéed, modern varieties. Pkt $3.00 snap pea bred by Dr. Alan Kapular PhD. Hy- fresh or steamed. An AAS winner from 1984. per-tendril plants make enlarged tendrils in Pkt $3.00 or 1/2 lb $6.50 place of some leaves. The tendrils make for a more open habit, allowing better air flow and reducing diseases. And they are also great to eat! They are wonderful in salads or as a garnish, and they taste just like peas! Sturdy 5-6’ plants are very productive. The plants yield deliciously sweet snap peas for weeks. Vigorous 5-8’ vines produce bi-color flowers. Flavor peaks just be- fore the string turns red. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.75

GREEN BEAUTY #SN123 60 days. A magnificent purple-flowered snow SUGAR SNAP #SN106 pea. Medium-green pods are tender even This is the wonderfully sweet, edible-pod pea harvested at their full size of 5-8 inches long. so popular with consumers and gardeners. The Vigorous plants are productive and reach 6-8’ delicious, tender pods are great raw (eaten be- tall in ideal conditions. Bred by eminent pub- fore you ever leave the garden), stir-fried, or in lic-domain plant breeder, Dr. Alan Kapuler PhD. salads. They also freeze very well. An AAS winner Delicious, tender pods are likely the largest of all! MAMMOTH MELTING SUGAR #SN102 from 1979. Pkt $2.75 Pkt (50 seeds) $3.75 70 days. Large, sweet-flavored pods; tall, 4’ plants. Needs cool weather to give good yields. Pods are tasty stir-fried or in salads. Pick before the peas inside start to get large. An heirloom variety that has been popular for many years. Pkt $3.00

SPRING BLUSH TENDRIL PEA #SN121 70 days. Incredible new blushed green and pink podded snap pea. Flowers are stunning in bi-color purple and white, but the amazing thing about the plants is their hyper-tendril habit—a new type in pea breeding. Spring Blush GOLDEN SWEET #SN104 OREGON SUGAR POD II #SN105 throws an occasional green-podded plant, but Large, thick, 4.5” pods are superbly tender and the flavor, two-toned and unusual Amazing brilliant color! This variety produces flat pods that are a beautiful, bright lemon-yellow, delicious. This is Jere’s favorite snow pea-type. habit are too good to wait any longer! (If you Bush plants are high yielding and stay compact. save your own seed, select only plants that have great in stir-fries. Tall 6’ vines with purple flowers. Developed by Dr. James Baggett, of Oregon the pink blushed pods). Another superior variety Collected from a market in India; rare and tasty. State Univ. A winner. Pkt $3.00 or 1/2 lb $6.50 from Alan Kapuler PhD. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.75 Always a favorite in our garden. Pkt $3.00

68 HOT PEPPERS (Capsicum annuum, C. baccatum, C. frutescens) Native to the Americas, peppers come in thousands of varieties, many unusual flavors, and all shapes and sizes. Heirloom peppers are often more flavorful than the modern-types, and most give huge yields. They are one of the easiest crops to grow and are not much bothered by pests. All types of peppers are frost-tender and are usually started indoors several weeks before the last frost date, although they may be direct-seeded in gardens in long-season climates. Set transplants out after warm weather has really settled. Peppers prefer rich and moist soil and full sun, although they will tolerate some shade, and some, especially C. frutescens, actually prefer a break from hot summer sun. Most types can be used green or ripe, and hot types tend to become more pungent when fully ripened in hotter conditions. 25 seeds per packet.

AJI CHARAPITA #HPP221 Selling for very high prices to Lima’s best chefs, this pepper is the most expensive in the world! The north Peruvian jungle native is a wild bushy plant which produces APOCALYPSE SCORPION #HPP145 New! hundreds of hot, small (.25 inch), round Tepin-like peppers. The pepper has a distinct fruity, citrus One of the world’s hottest peppers! Ugly, but aroma and is equal in heat to a cayenne pepper. Due to its rarity and hefty prices, it is often known as beautiful warted fruit sure packs a punch! This the "Mother of All Chilis" and is very hard to source outside of Peru. We are happy here at Baker Creek punishing pepper was developed by the Italian to bring such an amazing pepper to light! Used fresh, this tiny pepper is known to have a strong Pepper Lovers’ Association. Thanks to over 5 fruity flavor that gives salsas and sauces a unique tropical taste. More often, it is used as powder for grueling years of breeding for intense heat, this various dishes. Baker Creek's Shannie McCabe and Deb Vlietstra found this variety growing in a pot super hot scorpion type pepper stands a chance in a Peruvian friend's house. Indeed, the Aji Charapita is a popular house plant in Peru, where the to be a record breaker! Pkt (10 seeds) $6.50 delicious peppers are harvested as needed right in the kitchen. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 BUENA MULATA #HPP500 A very rare, extremely productive, and stunning hot pepper being offered exclusively through Baker Creek! William Woys Weaver introduced us to this pepper from his grandfather's collec- tion. His grandfather received the pepper from African-American folk artist Horace Pippin in 1944. A chameleon-like pepper that undergoes color changes during ripening; violet to pink- ANAHEIM #HPP103 ish-flesh color, then orange changing to brown, 80 days. Delicious mildly-hot flavor, excellent for and eventually to a deep red. The long, round roasting or frying; good yields of very large chili pods reach 6 to 7 inches in length and undergo peppers. Pkt $2.50 a unique flavor change as they ripen, with the being more sweet and meatier than the violet. The stunning plants also make wonderful potted specimens. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00

BRAZILIAN STARFISH #HPP203 NEW! Unique, star-shaped fruit. The baccatum pep- per species originated in Peru, but this variety was domesticated in Brazil. Brazilian starfish boasts complex floral and fruity tones that are BHUT JOLOKIA , RED #HPP171 perfectly offset by medium heat. Expect surpris- 100-120 days from transplant. Also known as es when snacking on this pepper. The fruit var- Ghost Pepper, Naga Morich. Legendary variety, ies in heat but often medium spicy, sometimes one of the world’s hottest peppers, with readings exceeding that of jalapeños. Fruit is always juicy in excess of 1,000,000 Scoville units! Bhut Jolokia and quite sweet. Curious-looking fruit reaches starts out slow but eventually makes tall plants, ex- 2” in width, ripening to brilliant red at maturity. ceeding 4 ft in favored locations. The thin-walled, Plants are vigorous and unusual, having an wrinkled, pointed fruit reaches 2-3” in length, almost weeping, vine-like habit. ripening mostly to red. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (10 seeds) $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 69 FULL OF FLAVOR, SPICE AND VITAMINS! ENJOY THIS EASY-TO-GROW FRUIT!

BLACK HUNGARIAN #HPP101 75 days. Unique, black-colored fruit that is the shape of a jalapeño. They are mildly hot and have a delicious flavor. The tall plants have beautiful purple flowers that make this variety very ornamental. Rare and colorful! Pkt $2.50 or 1,000 seeds $9.00 CHOCOLATE SEVEN POT #HPP223 (Capsicum chinense) A supremely spicy take on the super hot Seven Pot pepper, it is believed CHINESE FIVE COLOR #HPP121 Screaming-hot little that the darker the color, the hotter peppers turn a rainbow of vibrant colors, from purple, cream, the pepper--making Chocolate Sev- yellow, orange to red as they ripen. Need I say ornamental? en Pot one of the rarest and hottest The plants are great for containers inside. Just pick a few any peppers. A pepper originally bred in time to liven up your . Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 Trinidad, this fireball is now popular among home pepper who Blazing hot! are competing to create the world’s 190 times hotter than a Jalapeno! FISH PEPPER #HPP122 next hottest pepper. Will you be the 80 days. An African-American heirloom popular in the next champion pepper breeder? Philadelphia/Baltimore region. A chilli pepper notable for Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 its unique history. Fish pepper plants are like no other, with striated and speckled white and green leaves. The fish pepper more than likely originated in the Caribbean and was introduced to the mid-Atlantic region in the 1870s, where it gained a strong a foothold in the oyster and crab houses of the area. The young cream-colored peppers were used for adding a kick to the creamy sauces that topped seafood. The pepper was kept as a secret ingredient in these dishes and its part in recipes CAYENNE LONG THIN #HPP117 handed down orally. The peppers were grown exclusively Slender, long peppers turn bright by black farmers and fell out of favor in the early 1900s as red and are very hot. The 2’ plants the people of that era began to a more urban are vigorous and quite productive. lifestyle. This one-of-a-kind pepper would be lost to us if Very popular for drying and using not for an unusual exchange. Horace Pippin was a black as a spice; also used medicinally. folk painter who served during World War I in the 369th This heirloom has been popular for Infantry called the “Harlem Hellfighters.” He lost the use many years. Pkt $2.50 CAROLINA REAPER #HPP219 of his right arm after being shot by a sniper, and this 120 days. Believed to be the hottest pepper in the world, left him with arthritic pain. Searching for some relief, he the Carolina Reaper is a serious scorcher! For those extreme resorted to an old folk remedy that called for bee stings. pepper eaters, Carolina Reaper is a must. For those less Horace began giving seeds to a bee keeper named H. adventurous, they make a great conversation piece in the Ralph Weaver. Horace’s seeds sometimes came from his far flung old-time gardening friends, who sent wonderful garden. These devious little peppers are fiery red with a and rare varieties. H. Ralph Weaver saved the seed in his little scythe shaped tail at the base of many fruit, hence private seed collection, where it remained until 1995 the name reaper. The heat rating on these monsters can be when his grandson William Woys Weaver released it to over 1,500,000 Scovilles; in comparison the spicy habanero the public. Every fish pepper seed sold today can be is a mere 100,000 Scovilles! Pkt (10 seeds) Pkt $5.00 traced back to that fateful exchange. Pkt $2.75 FILIUS BLUE DATIL #HPP191 New! #HPP143 (Capsicum chinense) Renowned A wonderful, ornamental pepper originating from St. Au- pepper. These compact gustine, Florida. Local legend says plants have a wonderful the peppers were brought there bluish tinge and produce from Spain, where they do enjoy a lovely, small violet-blue following in Minorca. However, they fruit that is quite hot. may also have originated in Chile. Production is heavy, Blazing hot, blunt little 3.5-inch fruit thus creating a stunning ripens to a brilliant orange yellow. display of color that can’t 70 days. HUNGARIAN HOT WAX #HPP125 The heat is vicious, being compara- be missed! Perfect for A Hungarian heirloom that is excellent for short season ble to habanero types, but the flavor ornamental landscaping areas, very popular for canning and pickling. Medium is more complex, sweeter and more or in pots. So pretty. Pkt to very hot fruit. Good yields. Pkt $2.25 fruity. Pkt (15 seeds)$3.00 (10 seeds) $2.75 70 LEMON SPICE JALAPEÑO #HPP144 New! PUMPKIN SPICE JALAPEÑO #HPP146 ORANGE SPICE JALAPEÑO (NuMex) A stunning burst of fruity flavor and vibrant New! (NuMex) A a lovely glowing-pumpkin #HPP147 New! color makes this a super exciting new hot pepper! variety from New Mexico State University. (NuMex) A colorful new “heir- This colorful jalapeño was introduced by New Mexico This bright pumpkin-orange colored vari- loom” introduced by New Mexico State University. A sunny lemon yellow variety, it ety was bred using natural back-crossing State University. This vibrant, was bred using natural back-crossing techniques, techniques, resulting in an lightly spicy and tangerine-orange variety was resulting in fruity tasting, super eye-catching fruit. super eye-catching fruit. Ornamental and bred using natural back-crossing The NuMex series was created in response to Amer- extremely prolific, well adapted to the hot techniques, resulting in an extra ica’s increasing appreciation for eating a rainbow of New Mexico climate. This pepper stands rich tasting and super eye-catch- nutrition. Super ornamental and extremely prolific, out for ornamental quality and supreme ing fruit. The NuMex series was these peppers produced huge harvests! This variety fruity flavor. This a sweet/hot jalapeño with created in response to Americans’ has major eye appeal and stands out in salsas and a stunning bright pumpkin-orange colored increasing appreciation for eating other fresh preparations; the color is stunning and re- fruit that absolutely pops in fall mixed a rainbow of nutrition. Super ally pops. Edible landscaping is a breeze with Lemon plantings. We love to incorporate brightly ornamental and extremely prolific, Spice; the sturdy plants are covered in sunny color. colored peppers to accent mixed plantings. these have a wonderful fruity-cit- Great for mixed-bed or container planting. Thanks to The pumpkin spice colored fruit ripens rus taste and are packed with Jim Duffy of Refining Fire Chiles for bringing this -ex early and are a favorite in our kitchen. nutrition, and are only moderately citing new find to our attention! Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50 Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50 spicy. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50 SWEET, NO-HEAT!

CRAIG’S GRANDE JALAPEÑO #HPP150 A big, fat jalapeño that is perfect for making lots of salsa. Perfect for anyone who loves jalapeños. It has thick, flavorful, hot flesh. Developed at Redwood City Seeds. We love this one! Pkt $3.00 or 300 seeds $9.00 POBLANO #HPP184 75 days. One of the most popular chilis in Mexico! 3- to NADAPEÑO- The Heat-less Jalapeño! #HPP151 6-inch heart-shaped fruits are usually of gentle New! Love the flavor and crunch of jalapeño, but can’t heat, at around 2000 Scovilles. Used green, take the heat? This truly heat-less jalapeño is perfect for after roasting and peeling, it is the classic those with sensitivity or aversion to the heat of tradition- pepper for chili rellenos. Dried, the fruit turns TAM JALAPEÑO #HPP104 al jalapeño peppers. Great for pickling, stuffing, poppers a rich dark red-brown and may be ground into 70 days. A very tasty, mild jalapeño type, with and salsa. This variety is very early and prolific! Pkt $3.50 an authentic red chili powder. Pkt $2.50 the same delicious flavor but a lot less heat. JALAPEÑO PEPPERS FOR EVERY TASTE! JALAPEÑO PEPPERS FOR EVERY Great yields. Pkt $2.50 or 1,000 seeds $9.00 LEUTSCHAUER PAPRIKA #HPP129 A lovely drying pepper that comes from Matrafured, Hungary. It has been grown there since the 1800s when it was brought from Leutschau (Slovakia). The short, erect plants grow fast and are loaded with me- dium-hot paprikas sporting a sweet aroma and crisp texture. Its great flavor, uniform shape, and thin walls SERRANO TAMPEQUINO #HPP102 make it terrific for smoking, drying, and grinding to a 75 days. Large plant bears club-shaped fruit; very delicious spicy powder. Very rare and not often found hot and pungent, distinctive flavor. Pkt $2.50 outside of its native Hungary! Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 71 LEMON DROP #HPP172 (C. chinense) 100 days. Seasoning pepper from Peru ripens to a clear lemon yellow, sometimes with a dark purple blush. The flavor is a very clean, uncomplicated, slightly citrusy heat. 2-foot plants are covered with the thin-walled, conical fruit which reaches 2-3 inches in length, with very few seeds. Pkt $2.75 or 300 seeds $9.00 SUGAR PEACH #HPP111 Amazing Sugar-Sweet Flavor and Some Fire Too! A sumptuous snacking pepper, Sugar Rush Peach is by far the most fun pepper to eat. The long, peach-colored fruit is packed with loads of super sweet, tropical flavor, and the seeds bring a smoky, complex heat that when used together, creates a wild flavor experience unparalleled in any pep- per we have tried. This exciting new open-pollinated variety was bred by hot pepper prodigy Chris Fowler of Wales. Chris credits this amazing variety as being a happy accident courtesy of adventur- ous pollinating insects buzzing between various varieties of capsicum baccatum, or Aji Peppers. The PEACH HABANERO #HPP179 result: super early, high yields of these exquisite sweet-hot peppers. Pkt $4.00 90 days. Typical bullet-shaped slightly wrinkled habanero type fruits, but with a difference. This variety ripens to a clear bright salmon color. Amazingly beautiful and richly flavored. Hot, Hot, HOT!! Pkt $3.00

TRINIDAD SCORPION, YELLOW #HPP211 REZHA MACEDONIAN #HPP197 95 days. (Capsicum chinense) Yellow to orange 80 days. The name means “engraved.” Another fruit often bears the infamous scorpion “tail”. A PIMIENTO DE PADRON #HPP168 local name, Vezeni Piperki, means “embroidered.” natural variant of the classic Trinidad Scorpion These small-fruited peppers originated in Galicia, Both names refer to the curious lines on the but with considerably less heat. Fruit is pleasant- northwest Spain, where the bite-sized green fruit skins of the tapering, long, thin peppers. The ly citrusy, but still plenty hot. More productive is sautéed in olive oil and served with coarse- fruit, which ranges from mild to sometimes very than other Scorpion types. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 ground sea salt in tapas bars across the country. pungent, is to be seen hanging in great clusters, Most of the peppers are relatively mild, but an drying in Macedonian warm late autumn sun. occasional unpredictable hot one led a New York The traditional farmers save seed from the hot Times writer to call eating the dish a game of peppers that also show the most pronounced “Spanish Roulette!” Also fine for pickled peppers; striations. Our foundation seed was donated by the heat increases as they ripen to red. An au- school children from the villages of Kalugeritsa thentic regional variety. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 and Zleovo. Pkt $3.00

TABASCO PEPPER #HPP106 (C. frutescens) 90 days. This famous heirloom was introduced into Louisiana in 1848 and became the main ingredient TRINIDAD SCORPION #HPP178 in Tabasco Pepper Sauce. This pepper is 90 days. Former record holder for heat—nearly very hot and has a delicious flavor. The the hottest chili on the planet! Wrinkled, lan- plants grow up to 4’ tall and are covered tern-shaped fruit ripens to a searing red-orange. with small, thin peppers. Needs a warm Was named as the world’s hottest pepper by summer or can be grown as a potted the New Mexico Chile Institute, edging out the plant. Fruit ripens from green to orange, previous record holder, Bhut Jolokia. Trinidad then red. Pkt $2.75 Scorpion averaged at 1.2 million Scovilles. Who needs pepper spray? Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 72 SWEET PEPPERS GROW A RAINBOW OF SWEET JEWELS! (Capsicum annuum) 25 seeds per packet. Heirloom peppers are often more flavorful than the modern-types, and most give huge yields. BANANA #PP183 60 days. We’re thrilled to offer this classic, sweet wax pepper that has been grown by generations of gardeners. Sleek, tapered fruit reaches 6-7” long, 2” wide and a translucent ivory color when immature, ripening quickly to stunning red-orange. Superb pickled or stuffed, in salads, and more. A treasure! Pkt $2.50

AJVARSKI #PP185 BULL NOSE #PP124 75 days. Here’s a really outstanding roasting pepper from eastern Mace- The original Bull Nose pepper was popular in early donia. Two-foot, stocky plants are covered in 6- to 7-inch, broad- America and was grown by Thomas Jefferson. It is ly wedge-shaped pods that ripen green to deep, rich red. These still grown at Monticello today. This is one of the first CALIFORNIA WONDER peppers are incredibly fragrant and tasty. When you throw half medium-large “bell”-type peppers, although this #PP106 70 days. The stan- a dozen on your grill, everybody in your neighborhood will smell strain may be larger than the strain grown by Mr. dard green bell pepper. A them! These thick-fleshed traditional peppers are roasted on Jefferson and more likely date back to the Bull Nose nice size with very good yield; flat metal stoves, peeled, then ground into a traditional relish of mid-to-late 1800s. Delicious good-sized fruits are a popular old-time variety. called ajvar, which is eaten spread on bread, often with sirenje, great in salads or for cooking. Pkt (10 seeds) $2.50 Pkt $2.50 a local cheese similar to feta. Nearly every rural household puts up a supply of ajvar for winter eating. In autumn, Macedonians flock to the markets in fertile valleys in the east to buy bushels of the best aromatic roasting peppers from the local villages. The original seed was a gift from the students in the villages of Kalugeritsa and Zleovo. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00

CHOCOLATE BEAUTY #PP172 70 days. Blocky, medium to large, green, 3-4 lobed fruit ripens to a rich chocolate-brown. The green fruit is good but is spectacular when fully ripe--crisp, juicy, and very sweet! Productive enough to make a good variety for market growers, and so early! Pkt $3.00

ARROZ CON POLLO #PP169 NEW! CORBACI #PP157 80 days. Originated in eastern Cuba. An exciting Caribbean “sea- 80 days. A unique and wonderful soning pepper!” Looks like a habanero but remove the seeds and sweet pepper. Very long 10-inch there is no heat, just delicious flavor. Two or three will season a fruit is curved and twisted, very whole quart of dry beans when cooked. Plants have high yields, slender, like a Turkish sabre. This best harvested orange to red. For an authentic Cuban recipe, rare heirloom from Turkey has a sauté with onion, garlic, annatto, and add with fresh chopped very rich flavor, perfect for pickling cilantro to a pot of beans. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 or frying. One of the most produc- tive of all peppers, out-yielding all “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your others in tests by the University of possessions and give to the poor, and you will have CA. Pkt $3.00 or 500 seeds $10.00 treasure in heaven.” -Jesus Christ

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 73 DOUX D’ESPAGNE OR SPANISH MAMMOTH #PP138 This variety was introduced before 1860. In the 1880s, this pepper was shipped to the large markets CUBANELLE #PP115 in Paris from warmer areas like Algeria and Valencia. In the 19th Also known as “Cuban pepper”, the Cubanelle is a variety of sweet pepper commonly century the 6-7” long fruit was among the largest offered, and used in Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican cuisine. Many cooks prefer it to bell popular with cooks. It produces long, cone-shaped peppers that types. Sweet Cubanelle peppers can some times be slightly hot, but with only a touch are perfect for frying and salads. They are sweet and flavorful, of heat. This 6-8” pepper is prized for its sweet, mild flesh, rich flavor, and pretty but hardly ever offered in America. A good-producing pepper colors. The thin-walled pepper is especially suited for quick cooking and has a low that is reported to be disease resistant. Pkt $2.75 water content. Best picked when yellow-green for use in roasting, stuffing, as a pizza topping, for frying, a substitute for Anaheim peppers, or in a yellow mole sauce, and is one of the traditional ingredients in sofrito. They can also be left to mature and harvested when bright orange-red. In the garden, in addition to their famed taste and colors, the Cubanelle peppers are also known for their unique, imperfectly curled, wrinkled, and twisted shapes--no two seem to ever be alike. 65 days. Pkt $3.00

GOLDEN CAL WONDER #PP108 78 days. Colorful golden bells that are very sweet and tasty. Gold peppers are superb for fresh eating, great for kitchen or market gardens. The productive plants produce early & are good for the North. Pkt $2.50

HABANADA #PP202 THE SWEET HABANERO! CUSTOMER FAVORITE! The world’s first truly heat-less habanero! Bred by well-known organic plant breeder Michael Mazourek. Habanada is the product of natural breeding techniques. This exceptional snacking pepper has all of the fruity and floral notes of the habanero without any spice (even the seeds are sweet and add to the flavor). These 2-3 inch ITALIAN PEPPERONCINI #PP111 tangerine fruits stole the show at the 2014 Culinary Breeding Network Variety Show- A popular, thin, little pickling pepper, this heirloom comes from case, where the fruit was made into a stunning sherbet. This exotic new pepper is southern Italy. The 3”-5” fruit has a superb flavor and just a little sure to be the darling of the culinary scene, making it an excellent choice for market heat. Small plants. Pkt $2.75 farmers, chefs and foodies. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 74 Red peppers contain lycopene, have twice the Vitamin C and nine times more carotene than green peppers.

JIMMY NARDELLO ITALIAN #PP143 LILAC BELL #PP188 75 days. Fruit is a stunning medium lilac-purple. A customer favorite! This fine Italian pepper MINI BELL PEPPER MIX #PP204 NEW! Crisp, juicy, and sweet! What a lovely addition was grown each year by Giuseppe and Angella This colorful mix of dainty bell peppers is an to a relish tray! Medium-sized fruit starts out Nardiello at their garden in the village of Ruoti, old Ohio family heirloom. This of mini red, yellow-green, ripens to purple, then finally to in Southern Italy. In 1887 they set sail with their yellow and chocolate bell peppers was intro- red. Pkt $3.00 one-year-old daughter Anna for a new life in the duced to the Seed Savers Exchange by member U.S. When they reached these shores, they set- Lucina Cress. Lucina received the seeds from an tled and gardened in Naugatuck, Connecticut, elderly neighbor woman and began to grow and grew this same pepper that was named for them out. The 2-inch mini bell peppers became their fourth son, Jimmy. This long, thin-skinned locally famous, as Lucina would sell hundreds frying pepper dries easily and has such a rich fla- of jars of cabbage-stuffed pickled peppers at vor that this variety has been placed in “The Ark her local church bazaar each year. We love these of Taste” by the Slow Food organization. Ripens little peppers for snacking, stuffing or pickling. to a deep red, is very prolific, and does well in Plants produce an abundance of tiny colorful most areas. Pkt $2.75 or 500 seeds $7.50 orbs, easy to grow and so rewarding. Pkt $3.00 or 300 seeds $9.00

MURASAKI PURPLE PEPPER #PP207 NEW! An old Japanese pepper from the Nara Prefecture. Tapered black pods are highly ornamental and look deceptively like a fiery hot pepper. In fact, the beautiful fruit is totally heat-less. A new favorite at Baker Creek for its dramatic, dark purple fruit and flowers; even the KING OF THE NORTH #PP131 foliage has a purplish haze. Very productive. 68 days. Early, good-sized peppers of a heavy Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 yielding habit. The variety thrives in the cooler summer weather so prevalent in New England and yields crisp bells, green ripening to red, right up until frost. Pkt $2.75 or 500 seeds $7.50

MIRA #PP194 Super-early Polish variety yields very large, very thick-walled fruit, crisp, sweet and mild. The col- ORANGE BELL #PP137 or is sublime; it starts very pale cream, ripening LIPSTICK #PP151 Super sweet, brilliant orange fruit is blocky and in due course to bright red. The smooth, sleek 70 days. A delicious pepper with 4” long tapered, good-sized with thick flesh that is flavorful and fruit is bullet-shaped, to almost a perfect wedge, pimiento type fruit that is super sweet. This fine among the best tasting of all peppers. Plants very wide at the shoulder. Compact plants are pepper is early and ripens well in the North. A produce large yields of this most magnificent an especially good container subject. Pkt $2.75 flavorful favorite with thick, red flesh. Pkt $2.75 pepper. Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 75 REWIA #PP123 NEW! 90 days. A gorgeous, colorful pepper from Poland. This oblong bell pepper turns an incredible tangerine color when fully ripe. A favorite bell pepper, flesh is thick and super sweet and juicy. Tall plants are productive and adaptable. We love peppers from Poland for their productivity and high-quality fruit that still has a home garden style flavor. Amazing citrus taste! Pkt $3.00 or 250 seeds $9.00

RED MINI BELL #PP120 60 days. Oh, so cute! Tiny, red bell peppers are only about 1-1/2” tall and wide; they have thick red flesh that is very sweet. 2’ tall plants produce loads of these little winners, and early, too. Great for stuffing. Pkt $2.75

YELLOW MONSTER #PP156 90 days. Gi- OZARK GIANT #PP154 gantic, behemoth elongated yellow bell peppers can grow 8 inches long by 4 inches wide! These What a pepper! This variety produces huge, impressive peppers are really sweet, meaty and long bell peppers that have delicious, thick wonderful; so pretty after they turn from green flesh. They start out green and turn bright to bright sunshine-yellow. These are great fresh, red. Very productive plants and great flavor fried or roasted, so you will be happy the plants will make this old Ozarks variety a favorite. produce plenty of these colossal beauties. Pkt $3.00 Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 ODA #PP190 70 days. Very strong, compact plants crank out ta- pered, pointed bells from early summer on. The fruit has the loveliest shade of plum purple, ripening to a lustrous red-brown. Crisp, juicy, thick-walled fruit is very sweet. The short stature makes it a great choice for cloche or low-tunnel production. Pkt $2.75

VIOLET SPARKLE #PP167 75 days. SHISHITO #PP144 Pointed, wedge-shaped fruits are purple streaked with A favorite old Japanese variety which produces 3” pale yellow. We originally received a few seeds of this va- long, slightly wrinkled fruit that is perfect for making riety from a Russian seed trader. Ripens red. Very lovely tempura and other traditional recipes. Fruit is emer- and delicious, sweet, crisp and thick-walled. One of the ald green in color, ripening to red, and mildly flavored finest and prettiest peppers we have tried! Pkt $3.00 with just a bit of spice. It really is superb and is the standard with many chefs. Pkt $3.00 76 RADISH The “Beauty Heart” Radish of ANcient China (Rhaphanus sativus) Cabbage relatives that come 美 originally from Asia. Radishes are at their best in cooler weather, but will take more heat than most cabbage relatives. Salad-types are quick 心 to mature, often in 28-35 days, and should be succession planted every 2-3 weeks from early spring well into fall to keep a continual harvest. 萝 Winter or storage types take longer (60-75 days) and should be planted in mid to late summer for harvest in the fall. 200-500 seeds per Pkt. 卜

CHINA ROSE #RD104 CHINESE RED MEAT “BEAUTY HEART FRUIT RADISH” #RD114 One of the oldest types of radish. A very hardy Mei xin: 美心萝卜 The colorful “Beauty Heart” radish of historic China has 4” round roots with fall/winter variety. Roots are about 5” long and a white-and-green skin, but the magic is in their rose-red center, which is sweet, crisp, and delicious. A rose color. Pkt $2.50 good radish to add color to salads and stir fries; must be grown in cool weather and does best when fall planted. These taste incredible when harvested in the late fall or early winter, sweet and flavorful, almost like a crisp fruit. Sometimes called “Watermelon Radish” at market. Among the most important vegetables in our kitchens each winter. It is a root that most kids love and packs an extra load of antiox- idants in its sweet, red flesh. Pkt $3.00 SICHUAN RED BEAUTY EARLY SCARLET GLOBE #RD111 RUBY RED ROOTS ARE CELEBRATED IN CHINA 22 days. The classic round red radish. Crisp white flesh is mild and tasty. Has better warm weather tolerance than many. Pkt $2.25 or 1,500 seeds $6.00

DE 18 JOURS #RD138 18 days. Old French variety gives unbelievably rapid yields! The name translates as “of eighteen days,” and this radish will yield roots in 18 days, under ideal conditions! Round to cylindrical roots are red with white tips; flesh is crisp and SICHUAN RED BEAUTY RADISH #RD161 NEW! juicy. A French breakfast type, often grown un- Sichuan fully red radish. This traditional red radish from the Sichuan region of China is an unbe- der glass for off-season production. Pkt $2.50 lievable find! Locally called Chinese rouge radish for its resemblance to a blushed cheek, it is fully red from skin to heart, making for beautiful red pickles. We found this exciting local variety from southwestern China on a recent seed research trip. While the Sichuan Red Radish is most famously pickled in its native region, it is also excellent eaten fresh in salads. The Sichuan region of China is famous for its cuisine, and lacto fermented pickles are a cornerstone of its culinary profile. Pickles are traditionally served as a free appetizer; restaurants are typically judged by the quality of their pickles. Sichuan households and restaurants take great pride in their collection of fermentation crocks and in their signature ferments. Aside from pickling, this variety makes an exemplary fresh veggie snack. This variety is also high in antioxidants, making it a nutrient-dense veggie perfect for the cool season when the winter vegetable selection dwindles. Market gardeners will love this early-maturing fall FRENCH BREAKFAST #RD108 radish. Long, slender roots have a fantastic flavor. Winter radishes have become a staple for market A pre-1885 French heirloom; mild, spicy flavor gardeners, easy to grow and cool-weather loving. For sweet flavor and root development, be sure to with a red top and a white bottom. An attractive plant in the late summer to early fall. Expect a bit of variation in this variety; some roots will produce gourmet variety. Pkt $2.00 or 1,500 seeds $6.00 white centers. Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 77 About Chinese chinese SHAWO FRUIT RADISH Lovely, lime-green roots are delicious fresh, LIKE FRUIT or pickled Fruit Radishes Beijing is located in the far north 青萝卜 of China. With harsh, long winters the region experiences a scarcity of fresh fruit in the cold months. Beijing culture has adopted an unlikely and delicious winter fruit substitute-- radish! These are not the spicy little radishes in your sal- GIANT OF SICILY #RD118 ads. Two very special, sweet winter radish varieties are grown to satisfy Large, 2”, round, summer radishes are bright the sugar craving in Beijing. Chinese red in color, with great taste and good quali- Red Meat radish aka Beauty Heart ty. We offer pure Italian seed for this heirloom radish and Shawo Green radish from Sicily. Pkt $2.50 can be found sliced ¼ inch thick and served at the famous fine tea parties thrown to celebrate Beijing Opera. The juicy and crisp roots are often compared to pear; indeed, the texture and flavor are similar. These radishes taste best when harvested in winter, after the frost has turned the roots’ starches into sugar. Throw JAPANESE MINOWASE DAIKON your very own traditional Beijing #RD112 Popular old Japanese favorite, tea party with these gourmet Chi- the giant white roots grow to 24” long and nese radishes. 3” wide. Sweet and very crisp, this radish is a delight pickled, stir-fried, steamed, or raw. CHINESE SHAWO FRUIT RADISH #RD160 NEW! Pkt $2.50 or 1,500 seeds $7.00 Unique bright green radish from North China with sweet flavor. Known in Beijing as a fruit radish, the sweet roots are crisp and sweet, considered a tasty fruit substitute similar in texture and taste to pear. Northern Chinese winters are notoriously harsh; these long cylindrical radishes sweeten up when exposed to frost and make a nutritious mid-winter snack. This variety is traditionally offered as a sliced fresh “fruit” at Beijing tea parties in wintertime. These opulent tea parties are thrown to celebrate the famous Peking Opera. We also love this super sweet root as a winter time snack. Grows well only in cool weather and is great for a fall planting only. Plant about 50-60 days before frost in the late summer. Beautiful green goodness! Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 Grow a rainbow of spicy color!

MALAGA #RD142 35 days. Round roots are a very unusual color--deep plum purple/violet, so pretty in contrast with the snow-white flesh! Mild roots stay firm and crisp over a long season. We are very excited to offer this choice Polish variety. Pkt $2.50

ZLATA #RD146 30 days. The name means “gold’ in Czech, and the silky, russeted yellow roots look like orbs of pale gold. This variety is fairly spicy--Euro- EASTER BASKET MIX #RD159 NEW! A magnificent mixture of some of the most colorful spring peans love it! It resists splitting and bolting; radishes on the planet. These easy-to-grow roots add lots of color and flavor to early spring salads. A excellent bunching type, and the young rainbow of color that consists of about 15 different heirloom varieties. Jumbo Pkt (750 seeds) $5.50 leaves are especially nice for greens. Pkt $2.75

78 PINK BEAUTY #RD109 29 days. A beautiful, round, pink radish that has become hard to find. It is sweet and tasty. Popular at specialty markets; a must for all radish growers! Wonderful and unique. Pkt $2.50 or 1,500 seeds $6.00

PURPLE PLUM #RD122 28 days. Here is one lovely radish, with its bright purple skin that makes this one of the most colorful varieties for marketing. 1½” globes have sweet, crisp, white flesh which does not get pithy. Pkt $2.50 or 1,500 seeds $6.00

RAT’S TAIL, SINGARA RADISH #RD150 Amazing bean-like pods! A delicacy in India, this radish does not produce an edible root, but a delicious, bean-like seed pod. The rat’s tail radish caused a sensation when introduced to the 1866 International Horticultural Expedition in London; wild claims of pods that can grow 3 inches a day and up to four feet in length astounded visitors, when discovered that the pods grow to just a few inches long, the rat’s tail radish’s 15 minutes of fame was mostly over. We are proud to introduce a truly unique rat’s tail variety from India that may be able to live up to the wild legend. These pods grew to over 14 inches in length at our Missouri trial gardens this year! Perfect for beginner or market gardeners; very heat tolerant and an SAXA 2 #RD130 extremely generous producer. Pkt $3.00 Popular European radish that matures in just 18 days; wow, they are quick! The earliest radish we have grown. Bright red, smooth, round, perfect globes are crisp and delicious. Pretty and produc- tive. Ready when tops are just 4” tall! Pkt $2.50

SAKURAJIMA GIANT RADISH ROUND BLACK SPANISH #RD101 #RD155 No other vegetable stirred my (Noir Gros Rond D’hiver) Large 5” winter childhood imaginations like the “Giant type, probably grown since the 16th Radish” of Japan. It was grown on the century or before. Deep, near-black skin Island of Sakurajima since around 1800, and snowy-white flesh; will keep all winter and is still famous in South Japan for in good conditions. Fine, fairly hot flavor; its fine flavor and mammoth size. Some good raw or cooked. Pkt $2.25 specimens have reached 100 lbs! But it commonly grows to 15 pounds in its native land. It is started around the first of It is the working man who is the WHITE HAILSTONE #RD106 September and harvested in mid-winter. happy man. It is the idle man who An early, old-time, white spring radish, this one is superb! Simply Fine texture and size make this the “King is the miserable man. the best tasting radish we have tried, and many of our custom- of Daikons” . Pkt (100 seeds) $4.00 -Benjamin Franklin ers agree. Very mild and crisp. Pkt $2.25 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 79 THE TASTIEST ROOT CROP! (Rheum rhabarbum) Central Asian native that has been grown in Europe for centuries, for (Brassica napus) 90-120 days. Cabbage relative medicinal and food use. It is at its best in cooler grown for its roots, which are similar to summers with cold winters but can be grown but larger, sweeter and milder. Requires a longer in warmer climates with some afternoon shade. season but can tolerate cool temperatures as it Seeds are started indoors or outside in a nursery matures. 400 seeds per packet. bed, and transplanted to their final location. Mature rhubarb plants are quite large, so space them at least 2 feet apart. Requires rich soil and ample moisture. Harvest the succulent stalks starting the second year. 25 seeds per packet. ROSELLE 15 seeds per Pkt. RED ROSELLE #RS101 (Hibiscus sabdariffa) A super plant for making cranberry-flavored bright red beverages, jelly, pie, and tea. Much is grown in Asia, tropical America and the Mideast, as the flavor is wonderful. A tasty sauce can be made by boiling and sweetening the fleshy calyxes. The NAVONE YELLOW CABBAGE #RT111 leaves are also used to make a drink. The plant is Also known as or Swedish turnip, this root crop is a delicious winter treat. This very large variety has red and very beautiful. Start very early indoors, deep golden-yellow colored roots that are sweet and rich unless you live in the far South. Citrus-flavored tasting. They are excellent when roasted, sautéed, baked, flowers are delicious on frozen desserts. This fried, boiled, mashed, and added to soups, casseroles, plant has too many uses to name here. Pkt $3.00 and stews. When raw they have a peppery taste and are typically grated into salads or coleslaw. In northern areas, they can be sown in the late winter for an early summer harvest. In warmer parts of the South, sow in August SALSIFY or September so that they can use the cooler autumn months for their growing season. Pkt $2.75 (Tragopogon porrifolius) A European favorite known in Roman times and cultivated since at least the 13th century.

VICTORIAN #RH101 Perennial. This variety was offered in 1856. Thick stalks are popular for making delicious pies, cobblers and preserves. This variety can be harvested starting as soon as the second CHAMPION PURPLE TOP #RT109 season. Rhubarb is very popular in Canada and (AKA Best of All) 80 days. Large, smooth roots are pale the northern U.S. Do not eat the leaves as they ivory with purple tops. The yellow flesh is fine-textured, contain poisonous oxalic acid. Pkt $3.00 mild, sweet and very tasty. Widely available in Europe, SALSIFY MAMMOTH SANDWICH ISLAND where its excellence is recognized, but rare in this country, #SF101 Heirloom, native of Europe. Tasty in soups and deserving of greater appreciation here. Pkt $2.75 and stews, or cooked alone. Plant in spring, dig in fall; a non-sweet parsnip-like root. This variety dates back to the 1800s. Young plants look like grass. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.50 AMERICAN PURPLE TOP #RT101 Very tasty, mild, and sweet; great cooked or raw. Bright GLASKIN’S PERPETUAL #RH103 yellow flesh; This English heirloom has for generations enjoyed top quality. a well-deserved place in American gardens. The A pre-1920 thick stalks are bitter-free, deep red at the base heirloom, SCORZONERA DUPLEX RUSSIAN GIANT and shading to green toward the leaf. Started a great fall #SF103 A popular European variety that has indoors very early, a light harvest is possible the vegetable. flavorful black roots that are extra long. Much like first year with heavy yields each year thereafter. Pkt $2.50 salsify, but Scorzonera has dark roots. This old- Hardy throughout the continental US but prefers fashioned vegetable is great harvested in the fall areas with cooler summer weather. Pkt $3.00 after frost. A favorite variety with chefs. These have a delicious sweet taste. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.75 80 SPINACH EASY TO GROW WINTER HARDY VITAMIN RICH (Spinacia oleracea) True spinach is very cold tolerant, one of the first crops planted at winter’s end as well as one of the last in early fall. In zone 6 and above, it’s possible to harvest at least a few leaves occasionally all winter long, and farther north, it may be possible with row cover or high tunnels. We list some warm weather spinach substitutes here as well, and these are quite the opposite: they yield abundant greens in summer’s heat, when growing true spinach would be out of the question. Spinach, whether true or warm-season substitutes, requires lots of nitrogen and water. 250 seeds per packet

MONSTRUEUX DE VIROFLAY #SP104 50 days. Big leaves to 10” long, smooth and deep green in color. Very fast growing plants are popular for fall planting. A gourmet French heirloom that was developed prior to 1866. Pkt $2.25

RED MALABAR SPINACH #SP107 70 days. This beautiful plant is not a true spinach but a different species (Basella rubra). This BLOOMSDALE LONG STANDING #SP101 heat-loving Asian vine has lovely red stems and 50 days. The old standard since 1925, does better delicious, succulent leaves that are great in salads in hot weather than most. Glossy, deep green, and stir-fries. A delicious green that can be grown delicious leaves. So popular with fine chefs. Pkt as an annual in many areas or as a perennial in $2.75 or 1,000 seeds $6.00 sub-tropical areas. Pkt (35 seeds) $3.00

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH #SP102 (Tetragonia tetragonioides) 60 days. Not the same species as common spinach, this variety MERLO NERO #SP105 takes the heat and keeps producing all summer. A fine-flavored Italian spinach that has dark- Tasty. Was listed by Fearing Burr in 1863 in his green, savoyed leaves. This productive variety is GIANT NOBLE #SP103 book Field and Garden Vegetables of America. Not fairly early. Rare in the USA. Pkt $2.75 frost hardy. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 This is the giant of the spinach clan. Plants spread to 25”! Tender leaves are great for canning, steaming, or salads; for those who want quantity and quality. Introduced in 1926. Pkt $2.50

GALILEE #SP109 35 days. Galilee is a heat tolerant spinach, but still needs to be grown in the cool season. A true spinach hailing from Israel, plants resist STRAWBERRY SPINACH #GR107 (Chenopodium capitatum) An old-fashioned plant that dates back to 1600 in Europe. This curious bolting and retain a sweet mild flavor. Leaves plant produces greens that are picked and cooked like spinach, but it also are triangular with pointed tips and a dark produces attractive, mildly-sweet red berries. These add a nice touch to green color that indicates high nutrient levels. fruit salads. Easy-to-grow plants are similar to “Lamb’s Quarters”, a wild Fabulous flavor eaten raw or cooked, harvested relative. Found in a monastery garden. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 for both baby spinach or large leaves. Pkt $3.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 81 Our favorite! SUMMER SQUASH FRESH SQUASH IN 50 DAYS!

Many of these are also used for winter too! YELLOW SCALLOP or Golden Custard The species is C. pepo on all squash listed here, Beautiful, bright yellow fruit with unless otherwise noted. Minimum 20 seeds per #SSQ108 a rich, mellow flavor. Likely predates Columbi- packet. Summer squash are grown for immature an times; a rare Native American squash. Bush fruits which can be harvested all summer long. plants with good yields. Pkt $2.75 or 200 seeds $5.50

CROOKNECK, EARLY GOLDEN SUMMER #SSQ116 50 days. An old favorite heirloom, this is one of the oldest types of squash dating back to pre-Columbus times, and it has been popular ever since. Easy to grow and good tast- ing. Pkt $2.50 or 250 seeds $6.00

BENNINGS GREEN TINT SCALLOP #SSQ109 50 days. Colorful, light green, scallop-shaped fruit; tender and good quality; excellent yields, easy to grow. We have grown this variety for many years, in fact it was the first squash Jere ever grew at age 3! Scalloped “patty pan” varieties have a long history of being EARLY PROLIFIC STRAIGHTNECK grown on the East Coast of America by Native #SSQ115 50 days. AAS Winner from 1938, uni- Americans and in Europe tracing back to the form lemon-yellow, club-shaped fruit; firm flesh is 16th century. Benning’s Green Tint Scallop was of excellent quality, tasty. Pkt $2.50 or PATISSON GOLDEN MARBRE SCALLOP developed by Charles N. Farr, who selected for 250 seeds $6.00 #SSQ104 A unique French scallop squash. its uniform scallop shaped fruit and a “greenish Fruit is a beautiful bright golden-orange color. cream” color at the early stages of fruiting. The Young fruit is very tender and well flavored! variety was introduced in 1914. Pkt $2.75 Also makes good . Tall bush plants are very attractive and yields are good. A favor- ite of mine. Pkt $3.00

LEMON SQUASH #SSQ102 The shape, size and color of a lemon, it grows great here, has huge yields and the best re- sistance to insects we have seen in a summer CASERTA #SSQ138 squash. Very tasty, great fried! A favorite, this is a 60 days. All America Selections winner in 1949. superb market variety and is very attractive. Our Here’s an early bush cocozelle type, popular in most popular summer squash. Pkt $3.00 or Italy where they favor a rich, full-flavored zuc- 300 seeds $10.00 chini. Fruits slightly club-shaped with mottled striping in olive-green and darker green. Can reach a fairly large size and still be quite tender and delicious as a summer squash. Pkt $2.50

RONDE DE NICE #SSQ111 50 days. This is a delicious French heirloom variety. The flesh of this round, green zucchini COSTATA ROMANESCO #SSQ122 is very tender and fine-flavored, making it an COCOZELLA DI NAPOLI #SSQ121 The famous Italian/Roman ribbed zucchini. The ideal squash for stuffing. A popular variety for 55 days. Long, slender fruit, ribbed, pale green- distinctive, long fruit is ribbed; medium green- home gardens and specialty growers. Vigorous, ish-yellow, striped with dark green; very firm striped skin; rich and very flavorful. The cut quick-growing plants. Pkt $2.50 and flavorful flesh. A unique Italian heirloom; slices are lightly scalloped. It is also popular to fry this squash whole, when it is small with the tasty. Pkt $2.50 “Take only memories, leave nothing but flower still attached. Pkt $3.00 footprints.” - Chief Seattle 82 Our favorite! 玉 溪 姜 柄 瓜

YUXI JIANG BING GUA #SQ308 (C. moschata) 60-100 days. One of the easiest and best squash you can grow, it actually thrives in our Missouri climate. This incredibly versatile selection of squash is from southwest China and has incredible flavor. A very similar variety of squash can still be found in Central American markets from Mexico to Belize, where its originated. Unlike its Mexican counterpart, the Yuxi Jiang Bing Gua squash from China is NOT day length sensitive, making it much easier to grow in the U.S. Baker Creek’s founder Jere Gettle first saw this similar type of squash in mar- GELBER ENGLISCHER CUSTARD kets in Mexico, where the green flattened fruit is typically eaten as a tender summer squash. He was #SSQ136 Staff Favorite! Clear, lemon-yellow surprised to see the same type at markets in Fang, Thailand, and in China. Later research explained fruits ripen to a nice orange, and are a patty-pan that in China, this variety is called Jiang Bing Gua, and is most popular in the city of Yuxi, where the type, but with a bizarre twist. Fruits are oddly fruit is harvested when young and tender and used as a summer squash. In northern China, the fruit flattened—impossible to describe. Productive is left to mature into a delicious and sweet winter squash. We love this squash at both stages; the bush plants yield over a long season if kept picked. young fruit is tender with a nutty flavor and buttery texture, while the mature fruit is delectable, Recommended for cooler climates like the Pacific creamy, with sweet, deep orange flesh. Squash has been a major staple of the Maya since ancient Northwest. This unique variety originated in Gater- times, when all parts of the plant were used, from the nutritious seeds to the fruit and even the sleben, Germany. Young fruit has incredible flavor! young vines. The unusual ribbed fruit makes a beautiful display in autumn. Each 3- to 8-pound fruit Much better than most zucchini! Pkt $3.00 is incredibly deeply ribbed; most unusual of all is the way the top of each fruit dramatically recurves toward the stem, sometimes completely enfolding it! Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00

RUGOSA FRIULANA #SSQ137 ZUCCHINI, BLACK BEAUTY #SSQ120 50 days. The classic dark-green summer squash Common in northeastern Italy, and nearly the only that has made modern zucchini of this type variety seen in the Venetian shops and markets. popular. Introduced in the US markets in the The name means “wrinkled of Friuli,” but the light 1920s, and seed companies started listing it in yellow fruits are beyond wrinkled, being fantasti- the 1930s. Delicious fried or baked; best picked cally warted even when very young. Rich and full young. Pkt $2.50 or 100 seeds $5.00 flavored, as Italian varieties usually are. Pkt $3.00

WHITE SCALLOP #SSQ107 TATUME #SSQ127 50 days. A very ancient Native American heirloom A must in , and also popular squash, grown by the Northern Indians for hun- in certain parts of Texas. This old heirloom is dreds of years. This type was depicted by Europe- ZUCCHINI, FORDHOOK #SSQ139 picked small and used like zucchini, but these ans back to 1591, and is one of the best-tasting 57 days. Classic, cylindrical, dark-green straight are so much better than standard supermarket and highest-yielding varieties still around today! to slightly curved . Tender, creamy- zucchini! Round to slightly elongated, flavorful Great fried or baked. Flat fruit with scalloped white flesh freezes well. Vigorous and produc- fruit is green in color; vigorous vining plants are edges --beautiful! Pkt $2.50 or 150 seeds $5.50 tive bush plants. Pkt $2.75 fairly resistant to disease. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 83 AN EASY-TO-GROW NATIVE AMERICAN CROP

ZUCCHINI, GRAY #SSQ114 49 days. Great-tasting, high-quality, gray zuc- PATISSON STRIE MELANGE #SSQ134 chini squash. Yields are very good; flesh is firm, We are so excited to finally list this incredible mix of mild, and very tasty. We have been getting favor- French scallops. This mix contains fruit in many colors, ZUCCHINI, GREEN BUSH #SSQ141 able reports from customers about this squash. with many being striped and warted! One of the most (C. pepo) A classic deep-green fruited A real favorite. Pkt $2.50 or 150 seeds $5.50 ornamental varieties we have seen. Fruit is good picked zucchini that yields abundantly and young and cooked, or used when hard for decorations. tastes delicious. Bush plants are great Add lots of style to your summer and fall displays. for smaller gardens. Pkt $2.50 Pkt $3.00

DESI SQUASH #SSQ143 OUR EARLIEST SQUASH! 40 days. The Desi summer squash was one of the most incredible discoveries of 2015! We grew these out at the Baker Creek Trial Garden and were extremely impressed by how quickly the small bush-type plants started to flower and produce loads of yummy squash. In taste tests in the Baker Creek restaurant, guests overwhelmingly appreciated the nutty rich flavor of this summer squash that is a hit in India. It produces loads of round-baseball-size fruits that are great to use as you would any zucchini! A really amazing vegetable and so easy to grow. One of Joseph Simcox’s favor- ite finds in summer squash in years! Pkt $3.00 or 300 seeds $9.00

ZUCCHINO RAMPICANTE #SSQ103 (C. moschata) 70 days. The famous Italian heir- loom vining zucchini; long slender 15-inch fruit have a flat bulb at the bottom. They are one of the best eating summer squash: very tender, mild and sweet tasting. The flavor is superb! This squash is also great as winter squash. The Italians use it for stuffing in gnocchi and ravioli; the flesh is rich and flavorful, great for baking and pies! The vines produce good yields of this great all-purpose squash. The mature fruit grow very long. This one is in very high demand at ZUCCHINI, GOLDEN #SSQ118 specialty markets. Pkt $3.00 Slender fruit is bright golden-yellow. They are as delicious as they are attractive; bush plants. Pkt $2.50 or 100 seeds $5.00

ZUCCHINI, NIMBA #SSQ117 58 days. This early and hardy zucchini comes from Poland; nice medium-green color. Great for cool, short-season areas and anyone who wants early squash. Tasty fried. Great yields. Pkt $2.75

84 SQUASH & FOR YEAR-ROUND GOOD EATING! 20-35 seeds per packet. Harvest in autumn when skins are too tough to be easily punctured with a thumbnail. Plant in spring or early summer; harvest in fall before a hard frost. Many types will store in cool, dry conditions for up to 1 year. Grow these for a wonderful year round healthy, food supply.

GIANT SHOW KING #SQ177 (Premium Giant Seed) New! (C. maxima) Break records and impress your garden pals with this mammoth squash developed by the king of giant pumpkins himself, Howard Dill. Massive green/grey fruit rivals “Dill’s Atlantic Giant” in size and weight. Show King is a record- breaking variety in giant squash competitions, and is excellent for novelty, as the behemoth fruit has a fantastic ghostly green color! Pkt (5 seeds) $7.50

“PREMIUM” ATLANTIC #SQ175 New, Giant Select Seeds! (C. maxima) 110-125 days. We offer select seeds from pumpkins that weighed 500-1000 pounds #SQ123 each! Lovely, giant, pale pink to deep orange BOSTON #SQ221 (C. maxima) 110 days. Huge pumpkins can grow pumpkins can weigh over 1000 lbs, and do so (C. maxima) Lovely 15 lb fruit is Hubbard- well over 100 lbs! Nearly round, bright orange every year, with some select fruit reaching over fruit is stunning and good for pies and canning. 2000 lbs! This variety was introduced by the late shaped and a brilliant red-orange in color. This Very thick, orange flesh. Good for county fairs and Howard Dill of Nova Scotia in 1978, and has since variety was first documented back to 1831 by displays. Pkt $3.00 broken all records. Pkt (5 seeds) $7.50 Fearing Burr, the author of Field & Garden Vege- tables of America. This variety was first men- TAHITIAN MELON SQUASH #SQ282 tioned being grown by Mr. J.M. Ives of Salem, (C. moschata) 110 days. This near-legendary butternut-type MA. Mr. Ives had received seeds from a friend in was one of the first rediscovered heirlooms that fueled the Northampton, MA, who had obtained his seeds early heirloom movement. Fruit is large, to 40 lbs or more, from a friend in Buffalo, NY. This variety came to though 12-20 pounds is more common. The orange flesh be grown in the Buffalo area after a tribe of Na- is richly fragrant, very sweet and delicious--so sweet the tive Americans traveled through the area and juice caramelizes when baked--one of the sweetest squash distributed seed. From this historic introduc- anywhere! Fine for use in pies, soups or desserts, and keeps tion, Boston Marrow soon became one of the for up to nine months. Has been known to produce as much most important commercial squashes for 150 as 100 pounds of squash per plant. The plants are rugged and huge. They grow over a wide range of conditions, even years. As the 21st century approached, nearly in the scorching-hot summers of the Southwest. Introduced every seed company had dropped this unique by Thompson and Morgan in 1977 from seed grown by our treasure. In 1881 D.M. Ferry’s catalog said, friend Steve Spangler of Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery in Vista, “Very dry, fine-grained, and for sweetness and California. Steve was among the earliest people to grow excellence, unsurpassed; a very popular variety Tahitian Melon squash in this country from seed originally in the Boston market”. It has rich, orange flesh brought from the exotic Islands of Tahiti by a sailor in the that won it a place in Slow Foods’ “Ark of Taste” 1960s. I remember these from the 1980s Gurney’s catalogs. for having superior flavor and taste! Pkt $3.00 It helped inspire my dream of exotic seeds and places, a love of cultures and their foods. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 85 そ め ん か BUTTERNUT–ORANGE #SQ321 (C. moschata) A delicious and beautiful butter- ぼ nut squash, highly prolific with an orange rind. Used in savory soups, sweet desserts, side dishes or cut into medallions and fried. Loaded with ち beta-carotene. 110 days. Pkt $4.00 ゃ CONNECTICUT FIELD #SQ129 SOMEN OR KINSHI (C. pepo) 100 days. The heirloom pumpkin of (Japanese Noodle Squash) #SQ141 New! the New England settlers and Native Americans, (C. pepo) 85 days. We are excited to offer the true several hundred years old. Golden fruit weigh Japanese strain of this incredible squash intro- about 20 lbs each. This is a truly old variety; can duced by Sakata Seed Company of Yokohama, be used for pies; the traditional American pump- Japan. It produces wheat-free, low-carb noodles kin. Pkt $2.50 or 100 seeds $5.00 in abundance on productive vines. According to some sources, Sakata Seed Co. in Japan developed BUTTERNUT–WALTHAM #SQ112 an improved strain of a Chinese spaghetti type (C. moschata) 100 days. An old favorite. Good squash. It is said that Burpee picked up this seed yields with excellent-tasting, rich, orange-col- and began selling it as Vegetable Spaghetti in ored flesh. Great baked! Pkt $2.50 or 200 seeds 1936. In Japan, is most common- $6.00 ly called ‘Somen Kabocha’ or ‘Kinshi Uri.’ Somen means skinny noodles and Kinshi means golden thread, and it is very popular to eat the ‘noodles’ cold during the hot summer. Pkt $3.00

DELICATA #SQ111 (C. pepo) 100 days. High sugar content. Fruit is 1-3 lbs each, and skin color is rust-white with green stripes. Delicate sweet flavor. This old heir- loom was introduced in 1894 by Peter Hender- son and Co. Pkt $2.50 BUTTERNUT– ROGOSA VIOLINA “GIOIA” #SQ153 (C. moschata) 100 days. An Italian Butternut-type squash, these have a violin shape and wrinkled tan skin. The flesh is deep orange FLAT WHITE BOER #SQ207 and sweet, perfect for desserts, roasting, stuffing (C. maxima) Attractive, very flat, pure white pump- and baking. WONDERFUL! Pkt $3.00 kins that are unique and tasty. Very sweet orange fleshis perfect for pies and baking. A wonderful decorating and eating variety that was historically popular in South Africa and was named for the Dutch Boers who were once the colonial power. We are glad to finally have seeds for this rare treasure. Fruit can grow to 30 lbs. Pkt $3.00 TABLE QUEEN CANDY ROASTER—NORTH GEORGIA GALEUX D’EYSINES #SQ156 ACORN #SQ126 #SQ240 (C. maxima) Here is a smaller strain of (C. maxima) 95-100 days. Possibly our most (C. pepo) 80 days. Dark beautiful heirloom squash. This flattened, round, Candy Roaster from northern Georgia. This type green Acorn-type fruit. 10-15 lb fruit has gorgeous, salmon/peach-col- Iowa Seed Co. introduced of squash is famous among the people of the ored skin covered with large warts! The deep this variety in 1913 and is Southeast. Pink, banana-shaped fruit has a blue orange flesh is flavorful, smooth and sweet, mak- tip and weigh around 10 lbs. Delicious, smooth ing it good for baking. It’s also popular among possibly of Native Ameri- orange flesh is perfect baked, fried and makes the French for making soup. This is one of the can origin. The small fruit great pies; hard to find and quite beautiful. tastiest squash I have tried, and we are delighted has sweet, orange flesh. Pkt $3.50 to offer this French heirloom. Pkt $3.50 Pkt $2.75 86 GREEN STRIPED CUSHAW #SQ163 HOPI PALE GREY #SQ202 (C. maxima) Here is a unique and colorful native (C. mixta) 95 days. Big, white fruit with small, Hopi Indian variety. The 10 lb round fruit has a green stripes; oblong with crooked necks and lovely pale gray rind that is very hard, making bulbous bottoms. The large vines are vigorous this a great keeping variety. Orange flesh is both JARRAHDALE #SQ119 and are good for the South. A Native American sweet and dry; large vines are quite vigorous. A (C. maxima) 100 days. Slate, blue-grey, 6- to squash that has an ancient history. Great for fall Southwestern heirloom from the Hopi people 10-lb pumpkins of superb quality. Their shape pumpkin sales. Pkt $2.75 that has nearly become extinct in recent years. A is flat, ribbed, and very decorative; also a good favorite for flavor! Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 keeper. Popular in Australia, an excellent variety. Pkt (10 seeds) $2.75

HONEY BOAT DELICATA #SQ159 GETE-OKOSOMIN #SQ317 (C. pepo) 105 days. One of the sweetest squash (C. maxima) This is the squash that gained fame varieties in existence. Oblong, Delicata-shaped online and became known as the “800 year squash has tan skin with green stripes. Excellent old squash” which, according to legend, seed quality and produces early. Developed by Dr. was found in a “clay ball” at an historic site in James Baggett, Oregon State University. Pkt $3.00 Wisconsin. But, other stories state that this squash was found in a cave by the Miami Nation. Whatever the story is, we know that squash of this type have been grown by Native people in North America for hundreds of years and likely JUMBO PINK BANANA #SQ138 came from the Guatemala area, possibly over (C. maxima) 105 days. Large, pink, ba- 1000 years ago. This fabulous Native American nana-shaped fruit can weigh over 40 lbs. This squash first came to our attention in 2015, at the variety is over 100 years old. We have grown this 5th annual Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa, squash for many years. Fine-flavored, dry, sweet, California. The magnificent fruit runs about 2-3 orange flesh that is superbly fine tasting, one of feet long and weigh up to 18 pounds. The color is my favorites. Popular on the West Coast; large a rich, bright orange, with lighter orange striping yields. Pkt $3.00 running the length of the banana-shaped fruit. The surface is mildly bumpy; the overall appear- ance is amazingly beautiful. Gete-Okosimin also proves to be delicious--sweet, with hints of mel- on, and possessing a wonderful smooth texture. We thank Roger Smith for bringing this squash to IRAN #SQ268 our attention. Pkt (10 seeds) $6.00 (C. maxima) One of the most unusual and beau- tiful squashes you will ever see! We have been trying for several years to get this variety into the catalog. Collected in 1940 in the north- eastern Iranian city of Torbat-e-Heydarieh, and preserved at the USDA seed bank ever since. Not known to the public until a few years ago, KOGIGU #SQ304 when our friend Glenn Drowns introduced it. (C. moschata) Exquisite gem of traditional Japa- This squash is super ornamental, with its unique, nese squash breeding! Fruits are oblate shaped, foam-green rind that’s mottled in soft peachy JACK BE LITTLE #SQ160 very deeply ribbed, with a rough texture and orange. Round and slightly ribbed fruit is medi- (C. pepo) 90 days. This tiny, cute pumpkin weighs waxy bloom—the very picture of squash volup- um to large in size. It keeps for a year or more, just 8 ounces; flat and ribbed. These are highly tuousness! Fruits start out green, upon maturity and is perfect for fall decorating. popular and a top-selling fall crop. The flesh is mellowing to medium brown. The fruit weighs Pkt (10 seeds) $2.75 good to eat and the skin is bright orange. This a very practical 1-2 lbs, ideal for smaller families. type of squash may have been developed in The dark orange flesh is sweet and fruity tasting, “A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor the Orient as pumpkins of this type are offered with a nutty flavor, and fine grained. Quality is very must we ever do evil, that good may come of it.’’ to the ‘Spirits’ by many in Thailand, where they high. Keeping quality is excellent, too; fruit can be -WILLIAM PENN come in 4 or 5 colors. Pkt $2.50 stored for up to 8 months! Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 87 MORANGA #SQ505 (Cucurbita maxima) 95 days. We are so excited to at last have seeds for the wonderful “Pink Pumpkin”. Very hard to find traditional squash from Brazil. Fruits are ribbed, light pink to salmon in color and weigh in at a modest 4-8 pounds. Traditionally used to make a dish called ‘Camarão na Moranga’ which means ‘shrimps in a squash’. Pkt $3.50

LADY #SQ217 (C. pepo) 105 days. The popular naked-seeded pumpkin that produces seeds without the hard shell that develops on most pumpkin seeds. MARINA DI CHIOGGIA #SQ133 They are ready to eat straight from the fruit, or (C. maxima) 95 days. The heirloom sea pump- better yet, roast with a little olive oil and sea kin of Chioggia, on the coast of Italy. The large salt and enjoy! High in nutrition and protein, turban-shaped fruit is deep blue-green. It is one they are nature’s perfect snack. The pumpkins of the most beautiful and unique of all squash. themselves are quite attractive, with yellow-or- A perfect variety for market gardeners. The ange rinds that are striped with green; perfect rich, sweet flesh is a deep yellow-orange and of for decorations. Pkt $3.00 good quality, delicious baked or in pies. The fruit weighs about 10 lbs each and are produced on vigorous vines. Stunning! Pure Italian seed from one of Italy’s best heirloom growers. Pkt $3.50

LAKOTA #SQ245 (C. maxima) This colorful variety was grown by the Lakota Sioux. It is pear-shaped, flame-red with BLUE HUBBARD #SQ180 green streaks at the bottom. So attractive for fall (C. maxima) 110 days. Huge, teardrop-shaped decorations. The flesh is fine-grained and sweet fruit weighs 15-40 lbs and has sweet, fine- with a great nutty taste. A wonderful squash that grained, golden flesh. Great for baking, pies, and soups. The hard, blue-gray shell helps these keep ranks among the most beautiful. Pkt $3.00 MUSQUEE DE PROVENCE #SQ152 (C. moschata) 120 days. These gorgeous, big, for long periods in storage. Gregory Seed Com- flat pumpkins are shaped like large wheels of pany introduced this fine New England variety cheese and are heavily lobed and ribbed. The in 1909, and Mr. Gregory considered this his best skin is a beautiful, rich brown color when ripe. introduction. Pkt $3.00 The flesh is deep orange, thick, and very fine fla- vored; fruit grows to 20 lbs each. This traditional variety from southern France is great for fall markets. Pure European seeds. Pkt $3.00 or 100 seeds $7.00

LONG ISLAND CHEESE #SQ128 (C. moschata) 105 days. A longtime favorite on Long Island, very popular for pies. Flat, light- NEW ENGLAND SUGAR PIE #SQ131 RED KURI (HOKKAIDO) #SQ101 ly-ribbed fruit looks like wheels of cheese, with (C. pepo) 100 days. The noted small sugar pump- (C. maxima) 92 days. A red-orange Japanese buff-colored skin. A very good keeper, of excel- kin of New England. The orange fruit weighs 4-5 winter squash, fruit is 5-10 lbs each and tear- lent quality, 6-10 lbs each; a beautiful heirloom lbs and has fine, sweet flesh that is superb for drop-shaped. The golden flesh is smooth, dry, variety. Pkt $2.50 pies. Described by Fearing Burr in 1863. Pkt $2.50 sweet, and rich; a great yielding and keeping or 150 seeds $5.50 variety. Pkt $2.75 88 MUSQUEE DE MAROC #SQ286 (C. moschata) 90 days. This variety was a big hit at the Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, California. The stunning, round to bell-shaped fruit is ter- ra-cotta to buff-colored, and warted very attractively. You’ll want to use this one in centerpieces and displays before you consign it to the kitchen! A commercial variety in north Africa. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00

WINTER LUXURY PIE #SQ167 BUTTERCUP #SQ110 (C. pepo) This beautiful pumpkin was introduced (C. maxima) 95 days. Very sweet, by Johnson & Stokes in 1893. Lovely 6-lb golden KABOCHA #SQ206 dry flesh of excellent quality. Deep fruit has white netting and are perfect for pies. In (C. maxima) A popular green- orange flesh with green skin. Fruit fact, this is one of the best tasting pie pumpkins skinned Japanese squash that’s is around 3 lbs each. Pkt. $2.75 you can grow; with very sweet and smooth flesh, shaped like a buttercup, but with- it’s a favorite of all who grow it. Pkt $3.00 or out the “cup” on the bottom. Rich 150 seeds $6.00 yellow-orange flesh is of excellent quality, being sweet, fine-textured and nutty tasting. Perfect for VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI #SQ102 making delicious pumpkin curries, (C. pepo) 88 days. This is the popular squash breads and baking. A leading type with stringy flesh that is used like spaghetti. in much of Asia. One of the best Introduced by Sakata Seed Co. of Japan, in eating squash of all time! Pkt $3.50 1934. May have originated in China. Pkt $2.75 or 100 seeds $5.50

THAI KANG KOB #SQ204 東 (C. moschata) A lovely sea green-colored squash SWEET DUMPLING #SQ137 that turns chestnut color in storage; pump- (C. pepo) 90 days. One of the sweet- kin-shaped, very ribbed and warted. Weighs 京 est; 1lb fruit has white skin with about 6-8 lbs and a favorite here at Baker Creek; green stripes. The sweet, tender, vines produced well and had good resistance to ブ orange flesh makes this variety the squash bugs and other pests. The orange flesh is favorite of many. Pkt $2.50 richly flavored, sweet and fragrant; great for cur- ル ries, soups, stir-fries and more. A favorite here and ー is sure to make you love squash! Pkt $3.00 TOKYO BLUE #SQ139 (C. maxima) 120 days to maturity. Nicknamed aromatherapy chestnut pumpkin for its incredible sweetly scented flesh, this traditional variety was so popular in Tokyo that it is known throughout Japan simply as the Tokyo pumpkin. Originally introduced by a farmer in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, it became a popular market variety thanks to early maturity, attractive blue skin and an YOKOHAMA #SQ108 exceptionally fine grained, aromatic, (C. moschata) Introduced to Amer- bright yellow flesh. Seeds were first ica about 1860 by James Hogg, made available by Watanbe Seeds of Yorkville, New York, from seeds of the Miyagi prefecture in 1931, his brother Thomas sent him from and Tokyo markets were quickly Japan. We are so happy to reintro- filled with these signature scented duce this piece of American history. squash. The virtues that made this an exemplary market variety of The beautiful fruit is very flat, ribbed ROUGE VIF D’ ETAMPES #SQ118 (C. maxima) 95 days. Most beautiful, pre-WWII Japan, from early maturity and dark-green-to-tan in color. The flattened, and ribbed large fruit is a gorgeous deep red-orange. A very old French to exceptional eating quality, are ex- orange flesh is dry, fine-grained and heirloom, this was the most common pumpkin in the Central Market in Paris back actly what makes a fantastic farmers sweet. Listed by both Burr (1863) in the 1880s. The flesh is tasty in pies or baked. Like summer squash, this one can market variety in today’s slow food and Vilmorin (1885). RARE! Pkt also be picked small and fried. As a bonus, it’s a good yielder, too. Pkt $3.00 renaissance. Pkt $4.00 $5.00 or 250 seeds $10.00

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 89 SWISS CHARD EXCELLENT ALL-SEASON GREENS! (Beta vulgaris) Chard is actually the same species as beets, but these varieties are grown for leaves rather than roots. The plants put all their energy into making large, tender leaves, with succulent mid-ribs massive enough to be a vegetable in their own right. The range of colors comes as a spectacular bonus! Chard is usually direct-seeded into the garden as early as a couple of weeks before the last frost. It can be sown anytime until midsummer, since the plants tolerate both heat and moderate cold of late fall, and even grow into the winter in milder climates. Prefers rich soil, full sun and ample moisture. 100 seeds per pkt.

BIONDA DI LYON #SC110 Our Favorite! 50 days. Pale green leaves, almost golden in color, and thick white midribs, give this chard a different look. Makes exquisite baby greens at 25 days. A great new addition to the ever- expanding color range of this old-fashioned veggie. Lovely and delicious! Pkt $3.00 FIVE COLOR SILVERBEET #SC101 (Rainbow Chard) 60 days. A beautiful chard, its colors are brilliant (pink, yellow, orange, red, and white). This chard originated in Australia. Very mild, ornamental, and tasty. Great for market growers and specialty markets. Pretty enough to plant in the flower garden; so delicious and one of our favorite greens! Pkt $2.75 or 700 seeds $7.00

BARESE SWISS CHARD #SC112 This compact, meaty, dwarf Swiss chard originates from Italy and matures super fast PERPETUAL SPINACH #SC107 with large yields! Produces incredibly tender VERDE DE TAGLIO #SC109 (Beta vulgaris var cicla) 50 days. Belongs to the baby greens or when grown out, a very unique Very thin stems support large leaves of unusual same species as chard and beets, but it has substance. Outstandingly sweet and tender looking and tasty spinach-like chard with dark distinctive differences. The taste is more like green, slightly curled uniform leaves. This variety. Excellent for “cut and come again” style a true spinach than ordinary chard, and the harvesting. One of the best-tasting chards. A variety is not susceptible to flea beetle damage leaves look like spinach too—flatter and more delightful, traditional Italian variety. Pkt $3.00 or black rot. Typically harvested at 10” and good pointed than chard, with slimmer stems. Very steamed or raw in salads. Pkt $2.75 longstanding in the garden, yielding from late spring through autumn if planted early. Seldom bolts during its first year. Pkt $2.25

FORDHOOK GIANT CHARD #SC102 ORIOLE ORANGE CHARD #SC103 VULCAN CHARD #SC106 60 days. Introduced in 1924 by W. Atlee Burpee, 60 days. This stunning golden selection, named 60 days. An improved rhubarb chard developed large green leaves and white stems. Tasty. for the Oriole bird, is beautiful in your garden. in Switzerland. Very attractive and uniform red Pkt $2.50 Use the young leaves in salads or the mature chard, this variety has great flavor and is perfect leaves as steamed greens. Pkt $2.75 for marketing. Pkt $2.50 90 TOMATILLO A MUST FOR SALSA AND SAUCES! (Physalis ixocarpa) Also called “husk tomato,” for the paper-like calyx or husk that encloses each fruit. They are grown much like tomatoes, except that they are seldom staked; they do tend to grow a bit faster from seed than most tomatoes, and are a little more tolerant to cold weather. Tomatillos are used in fresh salsas and cooked in any number of sauces, including Mexican-style chili verde. 30 seeds per packet.

RIO GRANDE VERDE #TL104 85 days. This special selection of tomatillo yields large, apple-green fruits. The medium-sized, determinate plants need no staking. The globe shaped fruit reaches 3-4 ounces, very large for a tomatillo, and the yields are very high. Recommended for fresh market. Pkt $2.75

PURPLE COBAN #TL103 70 days. A flavorful tomatillo that is 1 inch in diameter, being green with varying degrees of purple on many fruit. Very popular in Guatemalan cuisine; we collected this heirloom at Coban, Guatemala, a beautiful mountain town. Pkt $3.00

the heirloom AMARYLLA #TL109 60 days. A Polish twist on an old Mexican staple vegetable! Immature fruit is green, morphing to pretty seed collection yellow as they ripen and begin to split their protective husks. The fruit is firm, juicy and very sweet; This is the perfect way perfect for jams, jellies and don’t forget the salsa! We also love these in the garden for fresh snacking and to save money and salads. Bred to thrive in the cooler summer conditions of inland eastern Europe. Pkt $3.00 acquire a safe, secure food supply. Most of the seeds in this package will store 4-10 years if kept cool and dry. What a great way to try many of our favorite, easy-to-grow varieties! It contains 25 full-sized packets of seeds and Clyde’s Garden Planner—all packaged in a sturdy, resealable mylar bag for long lasting storage. Varieties in this package are chosen TOMATILLO PURPLE #TL101 to be productive in most climates throughout (Physalis ixocarpa) 70 days. Beautiful purple the United States. We selected early, hardy TOMATILLO VERDE #TL102 fruit, large size. Many are a bright violet color varieties that are always popular. throughout their flesh. Much sweeter than the Deep green fruit; a standard, richly-flavored type. #HSC105 Seed Collection $48.00 green types, it can be eaten right off the plant. Huge yields as with most tomatillos. Pkt $2.50 Turns purple when ripe; rare! Pkt $3.00 Tomatillos are a major source of withanolide--a powerful anti-oxidant that may be useful for depression, Alzheimer's, obesity and migraine headaches. More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 91 TOMATO AMERICA’S FAVORITE GARDEN CROP (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) This crop, native to the Americas, has become the most popular garden crop over the last 200 years. We offer an amazing selection of many of the finest old varieties in lots of delicious colors! A few heirloom varieties have plants that don’t get quite so large; called “determinate” varieties, these get to a certain size and then set all their fruit more or less at once. Determinates may be a better choice where tomatoes are grown in a very small garden or in containers. All varieties are believed to be ‘indeterminate’ (long vines) unless specified ‘determinate’ (short vines). The best tasting varieties tend to be indeterminate. 25 seeds per Pkt, unless otherwise noted. GREEN TOMATOES GREEN GIANT #TG126 85 days. Potato leaf. The most productive and best tasting tomato in our trials! Large em- erald-green fruit is over one pound in weight, they are uniform, very smooth and blem- ish-free. Color stays pure green even when dead ripe! Plants are very robust and require staking. Very few seeds; outstanding, complex flavor—very sweet and juicy. Pkt $2.75

AUNT RUBY’S GERMAN GREEN #TG101 85 days. One of the largest green beefsteaks. Can grow to over 1 pound and are just delicious. They have brilliant, neon-green flesh with a strong, sweet, and fruity flavor, much tastier than most red tomatoes. This family heirloom from Germany is beautiful. The winner of the 2003 Heirloom Garden Show’s taste test. Pkt $2.50

EMERALD APPLE #TG116 85 days. A rare variety from Russia where it is used for fresh eating, cooking and canning. Very large green fruit often exceeds a pound and a half. This tomato is deliciously tart yet with a sur- prising sweetness. A wonderful eating tomato that has become a favorite here at the farm. It is one of the best and biggest green tomatoes we’ve tried. Pkt $2.50

GREEN ZEBRA #TG103 75 days. One of my favorite to- matoes. Beautiful chartreuse with deep lime-green stripes, very attractive. Flesh is bright green and very rich tasting, sweet with GREEN DOCTORS #TG118 a sharp bite to it (just too good A favorite green cherry variety, having a good to describe!). A favorite tomato of sweetness and yet still has lots of tart flavor. many high class chefs, specialty Named after Dr. Amy Goldman and Dr. Carolyn markets, and home gardeners. Male who have both written great tomato books. Yield is excellent. The most strik- Fruit is yellowish-lime green with kiwi-green ing tomato in our catalog, a real colored flesh. Large vines produce huge yields of beauty. Around 3 ounces. This is these little cherries. Some plants produce bright the tomato colored for the Green green fruit others produce “frosted” fruit which Bay Packers. Pkt $2.75 are lighter in color and even sweeter. Pkt $2.50 or 700 seeds $8.50

92 ORANGE TOMATOES

BRANDYWINE, YELLOW #TO102 90 days. Superbly rich and delicious-tasting large fruit, the golden variety gives good yields and, in our opinion, the fruit is better tasting than Pink . Large potato-leaf plants are very sturdy and deep green. This heirloom is delicious any way you eat it! Pkt $2.75

KELLOGG’S BREAKFAST #TO101 A beautiful orange beefsteak preserved by our friend Darrell Kellogg, a railroad supervisor from Redford, Michigan. Its fruit is very flavorful and superbly sweet! This delicious heirloom originat- ed in West Virginia. A favorite of Dr. Carolyn Male, DR. WYCHE’S YELLOW #TO108 author of “101 Heirloom Tomatoes.” Pkt $2.75 80 days. 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. The 1 lb fruit is solid and smooth; the color is a glowing tangerine-orange that always stands out in the kitchen or on the vine. One of the best heirloom orange types for market, with its smooth texture and tropical, sweet taste. Heavy yields. Pkt $3.00

ORANGE ICICLE #TO124 Sweet, rich and flavorful with strong citrus overtones made this Jere’s favorite eating variety last season. He just couldn’t get enough of the sweet, luscious, glowing orange icicle-like fruit that is like an extra long paste tomato. This variety also makes a lovely or- ange ketchup and a superb salsa. It was a definite winner, and plants were quite productive. In our opin- DAD’S SUNSET #TO103 ion, this is some of the Ukraine’s The perfect orange tomato! Large 10 oz. fruit is finest tomato breeding. Fruit has very smooth, uniform, and a beautiful, glowing relatively few seeds. Pkt $2.75 orange in color. It keeps very well. One of the best flavored tomatoes we have tried. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 93 PINK TOMATOES

MUSHROOM BASKET #TK164 75 days. A favorite variety, introduced from Russia. One of the most beautiful and attractive tomatoes we have ever grown. It is very ribbed and pleated, but otherwise very uniform, large and perfect looking, being a vibrant watermelon-pink col- REBEKAH ALLEN #TK175 or with cream colored speckles that really make the fruit 70 days. The first tomato we harvested in our 2014 Missouri garden. This pink slicer boasts sparkle and glisten. Short, determinate plants produce positively superb flavor—everyone who tried it was impressed! The flavor is perfect—an a large mass of these fruit in a thick clustered area in the ideal balance of sweet to tart, with complex “old fashioned” undertones. Heavy yielder of center of the plant. The flavor is sweet, mild and good; large pink fruit, on vines that appeared to have some disease resistance. Pkt $2.75 flesh is firm and the seeds are very few. Pkt $3.00

BRANDYWINE (SUDDUTH’S STRAIN) #TK115 80 days. The most popular heirloom vegetable! A favorite of many gardeners, large fruit with superb flavor. A great potato-leafed variety from 1885! Beautiful pink fruit up to 1½ lbs each! Pkt $2.75 or 700 seeds $8.50

DESTER #TK170 75 days. A large pink beefsteak variety that reaches 1 to 1.5 pounds. Its rich sweet flavor makes it an excellent slicer. The seed came to us from an Amish lady just a few miles from our Baker Creek farm. Anna worked as a house cleaner for Dr. Dester and his wife in Indiana in the 1970s. Having acquired the seed from Germany, the Desters shared their favorite tomato seed with Anna, who treasured it and now shares it with us. One of our best tasting tomatoes. Pkt $3.00

RASPBERRY LYANNA #TK166 GERMAN JOHNSON #TK117 One of the best tomatoes, ever! Smooth fruit and huge production. Great for canning! 80-90 days. Very large, 1 to 2-lb fruit is deep A heavy producer that keeps on giving. Simply stunning, raspberry-pink fruit is of medium size. pink, very flavorful, and crack-resistant. The Firm flesh is very sweet and richly flavored. This variety from Russia is perfect looking, one of the plants are very productive; the superb quality prettiest tomatoes we have grown. It is almost free of imperfections, making it perfect for market- fruits are great for farmers’ markets or home ing. An employee favorite and a new classic tomato. Pkt $2.75 gardens. Delicious. Pkt $2.50 94 GERMAN LUNCHBOX #TK129 70-80 days. This heirloom was brought into the seed store a few years ago by a local gentleman who had been saving this tomato for many years. His family brought this variety to the USA when they immigrated here. The fruit is the size of a small egg, vibrant pink, sugar sweet, and begging to be eaten. Perfectly sized for salads or putting in the lunchbox! A favorite! Pkt $2.75

GERMAN PINK #TK173 85-90 days. One of the tomatoes that originally ignited the heirloom movement in America, this variety originated in Bavaria. It made its US debut in 1883, brought here by Michael Ott, a great-grandfather of Seed Savers Exchange co-founder Diane Ott Whealy. The luxuriant potato-leaf plants give high yields of 1- to 2-lb, nearly seedless meaty fruit. The prestigious Slow Foods USA Ark of Taste enthused: “a full sweet flavor, even floral, and...tender skinned.” These gorgeous pink fruits are extremely versatile, excellent for canning and freezing but also for slicing and juicing. This one is sure to become a favorite in your garden! Pkt $3.00 HUNGARIAN HEART #TK171 80 days. Brilliant reddish-pink oxheart type fruit is large—frequently exceeding one pound! The fruit of this heirloom is firm and meaty like all oxheart types—great for paste, canning or fresh use. The crack-resistant fruit contains very few seeds and shows very little tendency to develop cores—just rich tasting, solid flesh across each hefty slice! Heavy production all season long. Originated outside of Budapest, Hungary around 1900. Pkt $2.75

MORTGAGE LIFTER #TK120 85 days. Large, smooth, 1-lb pink fruit has a deli- cious, rich, sweet taste. This variety has become very popular in recent years, and was developed by M.C. Byles of Logan, West Virginia. After cross- ing varieties for 6 years and selecting the best, he introduced this beauty that he named Mortgage HENDERSON’S “PINK PONDEROSA” #TK107 Lifter in the 1940s, after he sold plants for $1 each 85 days. Huge size, some over 2 lbs; a meaty pink-red beefsteak introduced by Peter Henderson and paid off the $6000 mortgage on his house. & Co. in 1891, and the most famous of their varieties. In 1903 their catalog said “Quality Beyond Pkt $2.50 or 700 seeds $8.50 Praise, Rich and meaty-sliced. Thick and delicious canned.” Still popular with gardeners. Pkt $2.50

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 95 PURPLE, BLACK AND BROWN TOMATOES

BLACK ICICLE #TP132 Stunning, perfectly shaped, deep purplish-brown fruit that is almost black. A great variety for both home gardeners and chefs. This tomato has the PAUL ROBESON #TP110 incredible rich taste that is in many of the large, 90 days. This famous tomato has almost a cult dark beefsteak types, sweet, rich with earthy following among seed collectors and tomato overtones. This variety has so much potential for connoisseurs, who simply cannot get enough of BLACK CHERRY #TP106 introduction commercially and was among our this variety’s amazing flavor that is so distinctive, 75 days. Beautiful black cherries look like large, best tasting varieties last season. Another variety sweet, and smoky. 7 to 10-oz fruit is a red-brick dusky purple-brown grapes; they have that rich we are introducing from the Ukraine along with color. Named in honor of the famous black opera its other jewel-toned icicle sisters. Pkt $3.00 or flavor that makes black tomatoes famous. Large singer, star of King Solomon’s Mines, 1937. Paul 700 seeds $8.50 vines yield very well; very unique and delicious. Robeson, an American, was also a Russian Equal Rights Advocate for . This Russian variety Pkt $3.00 or 700 seeds $8.50 was lovingly named in his honor. We are proud to offer such a wonderful variety. Pkt $3.00

CARBON #TP112 90 days. Winner of the 2005 “Heirloom Garden Show” best-tasting tomato award. These have #TP102 won taste awards coast to coast in the last few 80 days. Dark red-purple fruit, rich sweet flavor. years, so we were proud to locate a small supply #TP101 One of the best. It always places high in tomato of seed. The fruit is smooth, large, and beautiful, 80 days. An old Cherokee Indian heirloom, pre- taste trials. It’s very juicy. An heirloom from being one of the darkest and prettiest of the 1890 variety; beautiful, deep, dusky purple-pink Russia with very unique looking, large fruit. I purple types we have seen. They seem to have color, superb sweet flavor, and very-large-sized really like the wonderful flavor. It’s popular at an extra dose of the complex flavor that makes fruit. Try this one for real old-time tomato flavor. many markets on the West Coast; also a favorite dark tomatoes famous. Pkt $3.00 Our favorite dark tomato and one of our best of many fine chefs. The top tomato in our 2014 selling varieties. Pkt $3.00 or 700 seeds $8.50 nutritional study. Pkt $2.75

ROSELLA #TP163 VIOLET JASPER or TZI BI U #TP127 70 days. Massive trusses of pink to purple cher- When these little Oriental jewels ripen, your eyes will be stunned with color. They have pretty CHOCOLATE PEAR #TP155 ries with a smoky blush. The tiny cherries are a 70 days. Expect huge crops of “black,” pear- half-inch across, contain very few seeds--superb violet-purple fruits with iridescent green streaks! Fruit weighs 1-3 ounces, are smooth and have shaped tomatoes over a very long season. for fresh eating, yet solid enough for cooking or good tasting, dark purplish-red flesh. This variety Chocolate Pear has the rich tomato flavor that for making a deep, rich red tomato paste. Su- will also amaze you with its yield: it’s not only has made heirlooms so popular! A great variety perior balance of sweetness and acidity, with a high, but incredibly high, being one of the most for CSAs and market growers. Light red in color, rich, lingering aftertaste. We’re crazy about it for productive tomatoes we have grown. A great overlaid with swirls of varying hues of green or snacking right in the garden! Bred for superior variety for marketing. Introduced to you from brown. Very unusual and decidedly one of the flavor by Gourmet Genetics. Pkt $4.00 China. Pkt $2.75 best! Pkt $2.75 96 Celebrate heirloom history with THORBURN’S TERRA-COTTA. Since 1893.

THORBURN’S TERRA-COTTA #TP500 NEW! Incredible flavor, color and history! Introduced in 1893 by James Thorburn of New York, this is one of the most sensational tomatoes we have ever grown. With honey-brown skin, orange-pink flesh, and green seed mass, this is an eye-catching slicer with an out-of-this-world flavor. The tomato produces heavily during mid-season and then drops off quickly once cool weather sets in. As a cooker it will yield a pumpkin-orange sauce with a floral aroma. We are excited to have this tomato that was painted in color in Thorburns 1893 catalog. Very limited seeds this year. From the collection of Dr. William Woys Weaver. A percentage of each sale goes to support Dr. Weaver’s work. Pkt (10 seeds) $5.00

RED TOMATOES

A GRAPPOLI D’INVERNO #TM205 TRUE BLACK BRANDYWINE #TP114 This is the “Winter ” tomato of old Italy, where farmers would hang 80-90 days. Potato leaf. This fine variety was sent to us by our friend, famed seed the fruit-covered vines and the fruit would stay fresh well into the winter. collector and food writer, William Woys Weaver, of Pennsylvania. It was passed They also dry perfectly and resemble little “Roma” tomatoes. The flavorful down to him from his Quaker grandfather’s collection dating back to the 1920s. fruit is delicious and great for snacking, fresh or dried. Pkt $2.50 As to its history, Will states “The ‘true’ Black Brandywine was bred sometime in the late 1920s by Dr. Harold E. Martin (1888-1959), a dentist turned plant breed- er who is best remembered today for his famous pole lima with huge seeds. Dr. Martin lived in Westtown, PA, only a few miles from my grandfather’s place in West Chester, and the two were gardening buddies. It was through that connec- tion that his grandfather managed to wheedle seed out of the good doctor, as well as the details on how he created it. Dr. Martin always had a high opinion of his plant creations and did not like to share them. He charged 25 cents a seed for his lima, unheard of in those days. And he never released his Black Brandywine to a seed company, nor did he share it with many people, so I am fairly certain it never circulated among growers like his popular lima bean. According to my grandfather, Black Brandywine was a controlled cross between Brandywine and the original brown otherwise known as Fejee Improved. Fejee Improved is probably extinct.” We thank Will for entrusting us with this great-tasting tomato that is extra large in size and full of the deep, earthy and sweet flavor that has made blackish-purple tomatoes so popular. Some fruit #TM126 tended to crack, but the yield was heavy, and the plants were vigorous and did 80 days. Many seed savers believe this is the ultimate paste tomato. well in our hot Missouri summer. Superior for salsa and cooking. We enjoyed Giant, blocky, Roma type tomatoes have delicious red flesh that is per- these all summer, both fresh and in countless recipes. A great home garden fect for paste and canning. It has world-class flavor and comes from an variety that will surely become a favorite. Pkt $2.75 Amish community in Wisconsin. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 97 Tomatoes are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that is good for the heart, and are packed with vitamins A & C, calcium, and potassium.

CHADWICK CHERRY OR CAMP JOY #TM179 80 days. Delicious, sweet flavor makes this 1-ounce cherry popular with home garden- BETALUX #TM134 ers. Large vines set huge yields and are disease 60 days. Determinate. Early Polish variety whose resistant. Developed by the late horticultural “rigid stem” habit doesn’t require staking or expert Alan Chadwick. He sure had a winner pruning. Handsome potato-leaf vines are very with this one! Pkt $2.75 productive, yielding 3- to 6-oz round to oblate fruits. These were very smooth and blemish-free in our trials. The fruit is well flavored and excel- COUR DI BUE #TM121 lent for canning, sauces or paste. Pkt $2.50 70 days. A wonderful, Oxheart-type heirloom has been a favorite in Italy for many years. Beautiful, 12-oz, heart-shaped fruit has a delicious sweet taste. Great for fresh eating or cooking. Large vigorous vines. One of the best tasting tomatoes, these have perfect flavor! Hard to find and so beautiful looking. Pkt $2.75 or 700 seeds $8.50

ST. PIERRE #TM107 A beautiful French heirloom, the tender fruit has a full, rich tomato flavor and are large in size; great for canning or fresh eating. They are BONNY BEST #TM181 deep red and excellent producers, even in bad The famous old canning tomato that was select- conditions. Popular in Europe. Pkt $2.50 ed out of Chalk’s Early Jewel by one George W. Middleton and introduced in 1908 by Walter P. JERSEY DEVIL #TM235 Stokes seed house. It became one of the most 90 days. Pendulant, pointed, pepper-like fruits respected canning varieties in America in the are slow to set on but yield very heavily. 5-6-inch, first half of the twentieth century. Medium-sized ruby-red, paste-type fruit is very meaty and has fruit is round, red, meaty and loaded with flavor. A good producer that makes a fine slicer too. but few seeds. Incredible flavor. This variety was Becoming hard to find due to modern, flavorless another pillar of the New Jersey tomato industry, hybrids. Pkt $3.00 and is an ancestor to “Jersey Giant.” Jere has been growing these for 20 years and they are a favorite! Pkt $3.00

micro tom the world’s smallest tomato

ABU RAWAN #TM232 MICRO TOM #TM105 NEW! Determinate. Another variety contributed to Astounding! The worlds shortest tomato plant, fit the tomato world by our friend, expatriate Iraqi for a fairy garden, reaching a mere 6-8” tall! These dainty, dwarf determinate plants were developed seed collector Nael Aziz. He stated that it is a COSTOLUTO GENOVESE #TM210 by the University of Florida and are the ultimate The fluted, old Italian favorite that has been bit unusual for an Iraqi type, because in Iraq the potted vegetable plant. Super productive little people tend to favor tart tomatoes, while this plants are completely enveloped in bright red, around since the early 19th century. Fruit is rather one is sweeter. Having solid, all-purpose flesh, tasty 1 oz fruit. The tidy, round plants covered in flattened and quite attractive with their deep it will take the heat, like Iraqi types generally. red orbs make an eye catching hanging basket ribbing. This variety is a standard in Italy for both Named for the onetime caretaker of the green- or container plant. Ideal for urban gardening, fresh eating and preserving, and known for its houses at the Agricultural College at Al Ghraib. indoor plants, patios or for the tiny house garden! intensely flavorful, deep red flesh. This variety Maintained in cultivation in private gardens The possibilities are endless with this novel dwarf has also become very popular with chefs in this there since the 1970s. Pkt $3.00 tomato. Pkt (10 select seeds) Pkt $5.00 country. Pkt $2.75 98 MARTINO’S ROMA #TM247 70-80 days. Determinate. Fantastic yields of rich- CLASSIC BEEFSTEAK #TM111 NEW! ly flavorful plum-shaped tomatoes, on compact The classic beefsteak tomato of yesteryear is back! Massive fruit, easily reaching 1- 2 lbs has deep red plants that require very little staking! Resistant to early blight, reliable for home or market flesh and good old-fashioned tomato flavor. These are the tomatoes that grandma grew, meaty and gardens! The paste-type fruit weighs in at 2-3 firm, perfect on sandwiches or served straight up with a pinch of salt. A particularly good producer ounces, dry-fleshed and very meaty with few in the Northeast, but well adapted to the entire U.S. as well. Scientists recently determined that Beef- seeds. Great for sauces, salsas and pastes. steak’s massive fruit was originally caused by a chance mutation. This happy accident created a much Pkt $2.75 or 1/8 oz $8.50 larger tomato. Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez, brought samples of a larger, flattened tomato back to Europe. From this seed was developed many larger tomatoes we know today. Pkt $2.75

MINIBEL #TM248 PRINCIPE BORGHESE #TM122 65 days. Determinate. Bite-sized fruits are sweet 70-75 days. Determinate. The Italian heirloom and flavorsome. Tiny ornamental plants reach only that is famous for sun drying. Small 1-to 2-oz, to about a foot in height and require no support. grape-shaped fruit is very dry and has few seeds. Covered in tasty little tomatoes. Excellent choice They have a rich tomato taste that is wonderful for containers, pots or hanging baskets; pretty for sauces. Vines yield clusters of fruit in abun- enough for the patio or deck. So cute! Pkt $2.75 dance, perfect for selling in fresh markets and making specialty products. We offer pure Italian seed. Pkt $2.75 RUTGERS #TM102 60-100 days. Determinate. Good for canning, also excellent fresh; large red 8-oz globes. Good yields and flavor, large vines. A fine N.J. heir- loom. Pkt $2.50

REISETOMATE #TM198 The most novel tomato we have seen, this tomato is like a big bunch of cherry tomatoes all fused together: an amazing trait that had everyone here asking questions about the alien-looking, bumpy TAPPY’S HERITAGE #TM112 tomatoes. Also called “Traveler Tomato” (“reise” is 85 days. Beautiful, smooth, large red fruit is German for “travel” or “journey”) for the ability to globe-shaped. With good disease resistance, tear it apart a piece at a time, with no need for a great yields, perfect shape, and wonderful flavor; knife. This type of tomato traces its roots to Central it’s superb for market growers. This variety was SAN MARZANO LUNGO NO. 2 #TM213 America where the native people would carry developed by Merlyn and Mary Ann Niedens, This is a newer selection of this famous Italian traveler tomatoes on trips, to eat as they walked. longtime seed growers in Illinois. Bred from heir- cooking tomato. Long, cylindrical fruit is filled Bright red tomatoes taste—well, rather sour, loom varieties, it has fantastic taste and is one of with thick, dry flesh and few seeds. This heavy strong and acidic. The perfect tomato for those our all-time best-selling varieties. Try it and you producing variety is a standard for many Italian who love raw , but who cares? They are still will see why! Pkt $2.50 farmers and chefs. Pkt $2.50 far-out and groovy. Pkt $4.00

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 99 STRIPED TOMATOES The Lucky tiger

Our supreme salad tomato supero sweet

Amazing flavor! o

LUCKY TIGER #TS161 Customer Favorite! Elongated 2” fruit comes in stunning, jew- VINTAGE WINE #TS142 New! el-toned and red, with hints Beauty and subtle sweet flavor marry perfectly to make Vintage Wine tomato. This masterpiece looks of gold. This tomato gets top marks for flavor: stunning at the farmers market stand and will hold up better than other heirlooms. The large fruit is an tangy, sweet and complex with tropical notes elegant pink with gold striping on the skin. A perfect blend of gourmet flavor and good keeping and balanced acidity. Lucky Tiger has great quality makes this potato leaf variety a top for home gardeners and market farmers alike! Pkt $3.00 market gardening potential. It stands out in the market display and is well suited for both green- house and field growing. The best snacking tomato we grow! Pkt $3.50

BERKELEY TIE-DYE GREEN #TS155 75-80 days. Incredibly colorful and delicious large-fruited slicing variety! Fruit runs 8 to 16 ounces. Exterior color is green with stripes in red GOLD MEDAL #TS112 and yellow. But the flesh is truly tri-color! Creamy BERKELEY TIE-DYE PINK #TX105 75-90 days. The 1-3 lb fruit is among the smooth- green flesh infused with various shades of red 65-75 days. Compact plants produce beautiful est, bi-colored tomatoes we carry and are one and yellow. Each of these colors has a different 8-12 ounce fruit with a very sweet, rich, dark of the most beautiful we have seen. Yellow fruit flavor resulting in a spicy, sweet, tart tomato with tomato flavor. 10 out of 10 people liked the is blushing with rosy red that radiates from the good acid all in one fruit. Discovered in a planting port wine colored beefsteak with metallic blossom end. Lovely! The firm flesh is of superior of Beauty King. Fair to good production. A truly green stripes better than Cherokee Purple in a quality, being sweet and mild. They have very little incredible open-pollinated variety, and a favorite farmers market taste off. Pkt $3.50 acid; great for fresh eating. From the late, legend- of many chefs. Pkt (15 seeds) $3.25 ary seed collector, Ben Quisenberry. Pkt $2.75

LARGE BARRED BOAR ISIS CANDY CHERRY #TX102 65-70 days. This #TS128 65 days. Delight- regular leaf tomato grows ful, round, one-inch fruit may fairly stocky and not as tall vary in shades and blush as most indeterminate va- patterns of reds to , rieties. Flattened beefsteak usually with golden flesh. fruit is pink-brown with Typically carry an intriguing metallic green stripes and “’s eye” or star in yellow on weighs 8-12 ounces. Very the blossom end. The flavor meaty pink flesh is flavorful. is outstandingly sweet and Pkt $3.50 fruity. Kids adore them. Pkt $2.75 100 world class flavor! The Amazing Bumble Bee Tomatoes! super sweet

TIGER “CHERRY-ROMA” MIX #TS167 NEW! 60-70 days. Stunning, jewel-toned colors combine with a translucent quality to give these elongated cherries serious visual appeal! Similar shape to a mini roma, but tastes much better! Some of the best tomatoes ever in taste tests. This is a mix of three, fantastic colored Tiger tomatoes: Pink, Green and Blush Orange. These were bred by Fred Hempel, thrive outdoors or in the greenhouse. A wonderful PURPLE BUMBLE BEE #TS149 “Cherry-Roma” collection. Pkt $4.00 60-70 days. Slightly elongated little cherries with the most outrageous striping in lime green and bronzy-purple! Crack-resistant fruit is produced all season long on plants that are unfazed by temperature extremes. The flavor is complex but sweet. Excellent holding quality makes this newer type outstanding for market. The bar for quality just got higher! From Artisan Seeds. Pkt $3.50

ANANAS NOIRE OR BLACK PINEAPPLE #TS117 A most exciting new tomato, it is wonderful in every way. This unusual variety was developed by Pascal Moreau, a horticulturist from Belgium. The multi-colored, smooth fruit (green, yellow and purple mix) weighs about PINEAPPLE #TS103 1½ lbs. The flesh is bright green with deep red 75-95 days. Very large, up to 2 lbs each. The yel- streaks. Everyone loves its superb flavor that is low fruit has red marbling through the flesh and outstanding, being both sweet and smoky with PINK BUMBLE BEE #TS148 is one of the most beautiful tomatoes we sell. a hint of citrus. The yield is one of the heaviest 60-70 days. A stunning cherry tomato, of recent The flavor is very sweet and fruity; good yields! we have ever seen! Be the first at your farmer’s breeding from Artisan Seeds. The fruit has a A Gettle Family favorite. Pkt $3.00 or 700 seeds market to have this new classic. Pkt $3.00 bright, sweet flavor, and the color is vibrant $8.50 fire-engine-red with golden orange striping. Vig- orous vines yield crack resistant fruits over a very long season. Tolerates cool nighttime temps and hot days. Salad will never be the same! Pkt $3.50

GET STUFFED #TS110 NEW! A spectacular stuffing tomato with gorgeous PORK CHOP #TX106 golden streaked skin. This crisp fleshed and hol- 75-85 days. While most “yellow” tomatoes are low variety is perfectly suited to stuffing, superb actually orange, this is a true yellow that starts when eaten raw but also holds up beautifully off yellow with green stripes that ripen to gold. when baked. Fruit averages 5-7 ounces each. The medium sized, slightly flattened beefsteaks The skin of this variety is gilded in light streaks SUNRISE BUMBLE BEE #TS150 have sweet tomato flavor with hints of citrus. of gold. Medium large with a strawberry-like 70 days. Chefs love the luminous swirls of reds Wild Boar farmer Brad Gates says it is the “best seed cluster in the middle that is easy to scoop and oranges, inside the fruit and out! Everyone yellow I have ever had.” Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 out. Delicious stuffed with various stuffings raw loves the sweet, fruity taste, too! Oblong little 75-85 days. Here is a red version of our popular or cooked. Shaped like a bell pepper with crispy fruit weighs barely an ounce, sometimes show a . Fire-engine-red fruits are covered texture but great tomato flavor. Stands up well pronounced beak at the blossom end. Another with bright yellow stripes. Sweet and flavorful, to . Originally bred by incred- member of the incredible new ‘Artisan’ series. this variety should prove very popular for both ible plant breeder Tom Wagner! Pkt (10 seeds) home and specialty markets. Pkt $3.50 $2.75 Pkt $3.50 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 101 VERNISSAGE “ART COLORS” MIX #TS166 NEW! A “vernissage” is a pri- vate, special advance screening before a public exhibition. It’s a celebration of the completion of a piece of artwork. The Vernissage series is both a work of art and a celebration! This Ukrainian variety makes gorgeous salad tomatoes that weigh about 2 oz. This mix of these little jewels consists of SOLAR FLARE #TX107 Pink, Green, Yellow This 6-10 ounce beefsteak is red with gold stripes and has and Black fruited very meaty flesh with luscious sweet red tomato flavor. types. Tasty and so Developed by Brad Gates and selected for flavor, produc- productive! Beautiful tion, increased earliness and scab resistance, he says the and delicious. variety is one of his “work .” Pkt $3.50 Pkt $3.50

DARK GALAXY TOMATO #TX134 75 days A Delicious Galactic Beauty-- With mottled skin resembling a scene from deep space, each fascinating fruit depicts the depth and beauty of the night sky. Dark Galaxy bears 2-8 ounce fruit that is flattened, with red and orange stripes covered in random speckles, and layered by deep blue. The vines themselves display a purple blush and grow 5-6 feet tall while producing good amounts of the stunning tomatoes that begin to ripen in about 75 days. The taste is a perfect balance of tangy- sweetness--so juicy and refreshing! Each fruit is a unique work of art, sure to be a garden and tabletop centerpiece! Another stunning tomato from Brad Gates. Pkt (15 seeds) $5.00

102 CHESTNUT CHOCOLATE #TX127 75 days. Great flavor, high yields, and NAPA CHARDONNAY BLUSH #TX132 marked disease resistance. The The Wild Tomato Man 65-70 days. Yellow mutation from Napa Rosé coloring (high anthocyanin content) tops it Brad Gates-- Owner of Wild Boar Farms in St. Blush, Brad says this one has “a super-amazing Helena, California. Gates started saving his own flavor.” Many who tasted it for the first time off, making this new release from Brad Gates seeds and crossbreeding many years ago. Wild proclaimed it the very best cherry type they a wholly superior offering. Cherry-sized fruit Boar Farms varieties often have some whimsical had ever tasted. Also, this variety is very easy weighs 1-2 ounces and offers the sweet, rich reference to pigs in their names. But the whimsy to grow, and does especially well in containers. flavor you’d expect from such a dark-fruited extends to the tomatoes themselves. “It’s like a... Christmas present that takes a year to open,” he Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00 type. Great keeper too, whether on the shelf adds, referring to the colors, shapes and flavors. or right on the vine. Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00

Our Best Tasting Tomato! BRAD’S ATOMIC GRAPE #TX133 Our Favorite tomato! 75 days. Elongated, large cherries in clusters. The color (and flavor!) is a full-blown assault on the senses— lavender and purple stripes, turning to Technicolor olive-green, red, and brown/ blue stripes when fully ripe. Really wild! Fruits hold well on the vine or off, making this amazing variety a good candidate for market growers. Olive green interior LUCID GEM TOMATO is blushed with red when #TX128 80 days. This Brad Gates selection dead-ripe. Crack-resistant is an absolute masterpiece! Slicing-type fruits are extraordinarily fruits are stunning, inside and out! This sweet! Wispy foliage looks sister selection to Blue Beauty yields loads delicate but belies these of 5-ounce, beefsteak-type fruit, very plants’ rugged constitution meaty and containing few seeds. First they and high productivity. This ripen yellow, then more toward orange release from Wild Boar when very ripe. Incredibly attractive with Farms won best in show at the black anthocyanin splashes really contrasting with the lighter colored skin. the 2017 National Heirloom The sweet, juicy flesh is marbled yellow Expo! These range in size to red, and the flavor is fruity and superb. from a large grape to plum- Unusually heat-tolerant; the fruits are great sized. AMAZING! keepers. You can’t go wrong with this one! Pkt (15 seeds) $4.50 Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00 Our #1 best selling seed, ever! More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 103 BLUE TOMATOES BLUE BEAUTY TOMATO #TX110 80 days. This recent Brad Gates introduction was selected from a cross between ‘Beauty King’ and a blue tomato. Fruits are modest beefsteak- type slicers, weighing up to 8 ounces, and the flavor is as good as their outstanding BLUE BERRIES #TX111 antioxidant content! 75 days. Here’s a new, small cherry variety from Gorgeous, deep blue- Brad Gates, Wild Boar Farms. Very dark purple black shoulders make color, which means it’s super-rich in anthocyanins. this unique among Unripe, the fruit is a glowing amethyst purple. At slicing types. Excellent maturity they turn deep red where the fruit was potential for market, shaded; the areas that received intense sunshine as the fruit holds well are a purple so deep it’s almost black! The flavor on the vine. Sunburn is intensely fruity and sugar-sweet! Plants are and crack resistance very productive, yielding all season in elongated are a welcome bonus. clusters that look so beautiful. A new favorite here Pkt $4.00 at Baker Creek! Pkt $4.00

WAGNER BLUE GREEN #TX122 This great “Blue” tomato comes from renowned heirloom/OP breeder Tom Wagner. Color is an incredible blue, with green flesh! We were impressed with its beauty and great flavor! The round fruit is around 3 inches in diameter, and are very smooth and blemish-free. Pkt $4.00 BLUE GOLD BERRIES #TX121 80 days. Incredibly beautiful cherry type in purple and yellow. Long clusters are packed with small, half-inch bright yellow cherry fruit. BLACK BEAUTY TOMATO Each has indigo shoulders, bursting with loads #TX125 80 days. of antioxidants, anthocyanin in this case. The flavor is very sweet and rich, and the plants are World’s Darkest Tomato-- so productive. Sunburn and crack resistant, the the darkest tomato we fruit holds well on the vine or in storage. A choice know of! A dark, meaty, selection out of the original Wild Boar Blue very rich-fleshed tomato Berries. Pkt $4.00 with extreme anthocyanin sugary-sweet tropical expression (same fruit flavored berries antioxidant in blueberries and blackberries). So dark that some tomatoes turn solid blue-black on the skin. Deep red flesh is among the best tasting of all tomatoes. Rich, smooth and savory with earthy tones. Hangs well on the vine and stores very well, and the flavor improves with room- temperature storage. Our own Dave Kaiser tasted it at BLUE CREAM BERRIES #TX124 A super-sweet cherry tomato, cream berries the 2015 National Heirloom are super prolific. These boast a delicate but Exposition and proclaimed complex flavor and a beautiful cream color with it as the BEST tomato he purple-blue splashes on the shoulder. A Wild had ever eaten! Boar variety. Pkt $4.00 Limited seeds. Pkt $5.00 104 WHITE TOMATOES

WHITE BEAUTY OR SNOWBALL #TW108 80 days. Parchment-white tomatoes are extra CREAM SAUSAGE #TW105 smooth and beautiful. Renowned for their 70-75 days. Determinate. Here is a new and stun- sweet, citrus taste that is richer and more ning tomato; an elongated paste tomato that is complex than many white types. This variety is creamy white to pale yellow in color. The sweet perfect for making a delicious white sauce or for flavor should be a hit with gourmet chefs. Bushy eating fresh out of hand. In 1927 Isbell’s Seed plants are quite productive. Think of the new Co., of Jackson, Michigan, said that this was the sauce colors this beauty will create! Pkt $3.00 best white variety that they had ever grown. Some sources say it may have been introduced BARRY’S CRAZY CHERRY #TX130 as early as 1850. This eight-ounce variety is a 75 days. Pale yellow cherries are delicious, and wonderful piece of American history that is just grow on some of the largest clusters known! too great to be lost. Chefs and market garden- Sweet fruits are oval, each with a tiny “beak” at ers, take notice! Pkt $2.50 the blossom end. Flavor is good, the fruit keeps well, and the sight of the 40- to 60-fruit trusses on the large plants is positively mind-boggling. YELLOW TOMATOES A stunning new Wild Boar Farms release. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00

GREAT WHITE #TW101 80-85 days. Large, 1-lb giant with creamy white fruit. This tomato is superbly wonderful. The flesh is so good and deliciously fruity, it reminds one of a mixture of fresh-cut pineapple, melon YELLOW PEAR #TY122 80 days. Very sweet, 1½” yellow, pear-shaped and guava. One of our favorite fresh-eating GOLDEN KING OF #TY128 fruit has a mild flavor, and are great for fresh tomatoes! Fruit is smoother than most large This tomato is one of the real favorites here. Big, eating or for making tomato preserves. Very beefsteak types, and yields can be very high. lemon-yellow fruit is a delightful heart shape. productive plants are easy to grow. One of the Introduced by Gleckler’s Seedsmen. Pkt $3.00 The flesh is smooth, creamy and has a nicely bal- first tomatoes Jere grew as a child. Pkt $2.00 anced sweet taste. I always find myself “snack- ing” on these one-pound beauties. Plants are very productive and seem to have some disease resistance. Thanks to Russia for this really great yellow type. Pkt $3.00

WHITE CURRANT #TW104 A favorite variety in our own garden! The fruit is tiny, barely an inch across, and creamy white, with skins having a pale yellow tint. One of the sweetest tomatoes we have ever grown, with superb flavor. The fruit grows in clusters, and the HARTMAN’S YELLOW GOOSEBERRY yield is huge! We have more than we can pick, #TY142 Believed to be the same yellow cherry right up to frost. Large vining plants. A perfect as listed by seedsmen since pre-1830s, this was PILCER VESY #TY137 cherry for home and market gardeners. A wild reintroduced by the John Hartman Seed Com- A classic, huge, yellow beefsteak type that we type. Pkt $2.75 pany. The very long vines bear clusters of 1-inch received from Russia. The fruit is a lovely lemon “Gooseberries” that are sweet, mild, tasty and yellow and are flattened and ribbed. Fantastic It is the working man who is the happy man. light golden-yellow in color. One of the largest flavor and thick flesh. This is now one of our It is the idle man who is the miserable man. yielding tomatoes we have ever grown! Pkt $2.50 favorite large tomatoes as they are also quite -Benjamin Franklin productive. Pkt $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 105 TURNIP A MUST FOR SPRING AND FALL PLANTING (B. rapa) European crop, used for its leaves, roots, occasional blossoms, and as a fodder crop since at least Roman times. Turnips are under-appreciated by today’s gardeners, but, properly grown, they make a superb storage crop for use through the winter. They should be direct-sown in ordinary garden soil, well-worked and free of stones, about two months prior to first frost of autumn. Thin to 6 inches apart; thinnings may be used as greens. Roots are ready in 35-70 days, depending upon the variety, and may be stored in the fridge, an unheated garage, root cellar, or right in the ground if properly mulched. (600 seeds per packet) 飛騨紅かぶ

HIDA BENI RED TURNIP #TN124 Supremely crisp and mild, the white and red, fine grained flesh makes this a top fresh-eating salad turnip. These beautiful, large, red-skinned turnips are cultivated mainly in Takayama City, Japan. Its origin was from a former part of Takayama called Hachigago, where a local turnip of reddish-purple hue was widely PURPLE TOP WHITE GLOBE #TN103 grown. In 1918, this red colored mutant was discovered from these Hachiga turnips and named Hida A popular market variety, heirloom (pre-1880), Beni-Red Turnip. It is excellent for making pickles and matures in just 45-50 days. Pkt (300 seeds) $3.00 productive and easy to grow; giant roots. Skin is purple-white. Pkt $2.25 or 3,000 seeds $6.00 長 崎 日 野 赤 菜 NAGASAKI AKARI KABU #TN119 蕪 か A stunningly beautiful and delicious turnip traditionally grown in lovely Nagasaki, Japan. This turnip has a dark plum to wine color skin with a hint of delicate purple in the sweet, crisp flesh. Great for pickling and a delicious ぶ raw turnip for fresh eating and salads. Ready 50 days from sowing. Incredibly good! Pkt (300 seeds) $3.00 HINONA KABU #TN108 This magnificent, mild and delicious turnip is TOKINASHI #TN121 two-toned with a lovely, violet-colored top and This 50 day white turnip is a traditional brilliant white base. The long, slender roots can vegetable of Japan and listed among the grow from 1’ to 2’ in length. These also taste illustrious group of Dento Yasai, or tradi- amazing pickled, raw, or cooked. Lord Gamou tional cultural vegetables of Japan. Father Sadahide, builder of the Otowa castle in Japan, of forest gardening, Masanobu Fukuoka, found this turnip in Hino around 1470. The tur- grew this variety as a wild understory nips are typically eaten pickled, which is called crop. With a reluctance to bolt or become Sakura Zuke (Cherry Blossom Pickles). Because pithy, this popular type has an incredible of the pale pink color and flavor, the pickled tur- sweet taste and rich flavor. The roots are nip was gifted to Emperor Kashiwabara (1500- nice and smooth with crisp, white flesh 1526) for naming. The Emperor then wrote a of excellent quality. Can be planted in poem about the pickles in return. Noguchi Seed early spring or late summer, into fall, and Company says the seed was spread by a seed enjoyed all year long! The crunchy, juicy seller Genbei in the Hokan era (1751-1763). roots are enjoyed fresh or pickled. Pkt Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 (300 seeds) $3.00 106 WATERMELON TASTE REAL WATERMELON FLAVOR AGAIN! (Citrullus vulgaris) We’re #1 in watermelons—check our selection! Thrives in summer heat. A long-standing crop in the South and originally was transport- ed from Africa. 25 seeds per packet. In northern climates, try growing small fruited types or the Orangeglo variety often works.

GEORGIA RATTLESNAKE #WM113 90 days. A longtime Southern favorite, thought ALI BABA #WM152 to have been developed in Georgia in the 1830s. Our favorite watermelon! We introduced this CRIMSON SWEET #WM115 Its stripes resemble those of a Rattlesnake, fine variety about 12 years ago after we were hence the name. Sweet, light crimson-colored sent seed by Aziz Nael, an Iraqi gentleman who 85 days. AAS Winner from 1964, very popular. Crisp and sweet, medium-red flesh, mild flavor. A good flesh and large size. Used as a shipping melon; a had collected this fantastic variety in Iraq. It is great old variety. Pkt $2.50 now nearly impossible to get seeds from this an- producing type that is still quite popular. Pkt $2.50 cient country whose people have lost much of their genetic heritage in the long, bloody war. Now our corporate agriculture has been “kindly” suggested to native farmers who are losing thousands of years of work. The 12-30 lb melons have hard light-green rinds that make them perfect for shipping and storage; the light color makes them resistant to sun burning. Plants are large, vigorous and give heavy yields of oblong fruit which do well in many condi- STRAWBERRY #WM196 tions. The flavor is superb, being very sweet and 85 days. Flesh is a gorgeous strawberry pink, luscious; and the texture is very crisp. This is ripening to within a half-inch of the rind, and a best seller and is a favorite of Dr. Amy Gold- usually has very few seeds. Fine grained, dis- man and featured in her book “Melons for the tinctively flavored and super sweet; it is classed Passionate Grower”. Ali Baba has received much among the best-tasting by those who have acclaim online “as the best tasting watermelon,” tried it. The oblong, striped fruits reach 15-25 and it will forever win a spot in any melon lover’s pounds. With moderate disease resistance, this heart. Pkt $3.00 variety deserves to be the star of your sum- mer garden. Originally selected from a Florida JUBILEE #WM130 heirloom by Walt Childs, and introduced in 1989 90 days. Long, oval-shaped fruit with very sweet by our good friends at Southern Exposure Seed flesh that is deep red and very crisp. A popular Exchange. Outstanding! Pkt $3.50 old favorite. Large size. One of all-time best tasting melons! Pkt $2.75

BLACKTAIL MOUNTAIN #WM129 70 days. One of the earliest watermelons we

Customer, Joseph Miller with his 126.5 Carolina Cross Joseph Miller with his 126.5 Carolina Customer, know of; superb for the North, but it also grows well in heat and drought. The flesh is red and de- CLAY COUNTY YELLOW MEAT #WM171 CAROLINA CROSS 180 #WM199 liciously sweet. Fruit has a dark rind and weighs Extremely rare heirloom from Clay County, Ala- 90 days. One of the largest types we sell--oblong 8-12 lbs each. This excellent variety was devel- bama. Our original seed has been stored in a freez- fruit has reached over 200 lbs! Bright red flesh oped by our friend Glenn Drowns, owner of the er since 1976. Yellow-fleshed watermelons reach 50 is sweet and remarkably fine-grained for such a Sand Hill Preservation Center in Iowa. A favorite lb, and are reputed to be the sweetest, best-tasting large melon. Needs a long hot summer to reach of many gardeners across the USA. One of the yellow-fleshed watermelons grown. Has been its full potential. Grow this one for bragging best we have ever tried! Pkt $3.00 or grown for at least 100 years. Produced well in spite rights! Pkt (15 seeds) $4.50 200 seeds $9.00 of drought in our trials. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 107 Sugar-sweet salmon-colored marvel from Japan--perfect 2-4 lb size!

ART COMBE’S ANCIENT WATERMELON #WM187 Amazing Flavor! This melon has a green rind and succulent red flesh that is of excellent flavor and sweetness. It is a beautiful melon and a favorite on our farm, easy to grow and producing fruit up to 20 lbs. One of the most fascinating seed discoveries in modern history! In the early 1920s, Art Combe, a South Western plant expert and amateur prospector KAHO WATERMELON #WM214 Our favorite mini melon! found a small woven pot filled with bright red 75 days. This is one of the best finds from our trip to Japan. The Kaho watermelon has gorgeous watermelon seeds in an abandoned sandstone salmon-orange flesh that is delicious right up to the super thin rind, making this one of the most cave in Arizona’s Mogollon Rim. The red seeds unique watermelons we trialled this year. It was also one of the best we’ve tasted. Elongated fruit are believed to be hundreds, if not thousands, weighs about 2-4 pounds and is perfect for 2 servings. This rare heirloom was originally brought to of years old! Art planted the seeds and just a Japan from China around the year 1912. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 few germinated; the fruit was small and crook- necked unlike any other watermelon he had ever seen before, but the flavor was incred- ROYAL GOLDEN ible! Art grew this ancient Native American #WM160 watermelon for several decades, selecting the A Family Favorite! largest and most round specimens. The result of The most beautiful water- decades of selecting is a superb extra large wa- melon we carry; the rind termelon with bright red, extra sweet flesh. Art of this heirloom turns bril- used a dry farming technique that allowed him liant golden-yellow when to grow extra sweet watermelons with almost ripe! The distinctive color no irrigation in the searing hot desert; these makes it a snap to know watermelons are extremely heat and drought when to harvest and is so tolerant! Pkt $3.50 beautiful in your garden. The tasty pinkish-red flesh is super-sweet, crisp and refreshing. This variety is much larger than ‘Golden Midget’, with fruit weigh- ing 8-25 lbs. We are so happy to offer seed for this great old melon that used to be offered by Willhite Seed of Poolville, Texas, until they discontinued it from their catalog in the 1970s and it almost disap- peared. It was developed from “Pumpkin Rind” va- riety, a now extinct, early American watermelon. The JANOSIK #WM204 Royal Goldens still do 80 days. Yellow-fleshed Polish variety. Oblong remind us of big glowing fruit to about 10 lbs. The extra sweet, yellow pumpkins and their vines flesh is lovely in contrast with the dark green are even mostly yellow. rinds. Crisp and delicious! Beautiful, uniform One of the best tasting fruit and one of the best eating bright yellow watermelons ever! Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 types! Pkt $3.00 108 MOON AND STARS #WM121 95 days. Legendary heirloom variety rediscov- ered in Macon, Missouri. Can grow to over 40 lbs. The dark green rind has bright yellow spots on it! Spots range in size from tiny to several inches across. Leaves are also specked in yellow. It has very sweet, brilliant red flesh. This is becoming one of the most popular heirloom varieties, a winner! Originally introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1926, it was called “SUN, MOON AND STARS.” The catalog says, “... YAMATO CREAM #WM108 New! an extraordinary variation...and that it has such A Taste Test Favorite! An outstanding Japanese a delicious taste.” It was sold then for 20 cents a variety bred by renowned watermelon expert pkt. Unique variety! Pkt $3.00 of the early 20th century, Mr. Takeshi Kanda. Yamato cream was bred in what is now the Nara Prefecture in Japan. Buttercream colored flesh is a bit citrusy, sweet and complex. It was ORANGEGLO #WM127 a run-away winner in our 2018 taste test trials 85 days. Beautiful, deep orange flesh; very at the National Heirloom Exposition. Flavor has sweet, excellent, almost tropical flavor! The been described as Asian pear and apples with best-tasting of ALL orange varieties we tried— light citrus tones. Makes a refreshing, sweet, the favorite of many who tried it at our place. almost pear-like juice. This variety is fairly early High yields. Very resistant to wilt and insects; to mature and not ideal for shipping as it cracks strong healthy vines. These will sell at roadside easily. A perfect choice for small farmers and stands & markets! Introduced by Willhite Seed SUGAR BABY #WM132 especially home gardeners. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 Co. prior to 1965. Pkt $3.00 or 200 seeds $9.00 79 days. The most popular icebox-sized melon among gardeners! Early, 6 to 10-lb melons are great for the North and have sweet, deep red OTOME #WM216 New! flesh. These also do well in the tropics. Pkt $2.50 A perfect melon for small families! This pretty little melon from Nara Dwarf bush vines Prefecture in Japan is extra early to mature. 3-4 pound fruit has an attractive light green skin and blushed salmon-rose colored flesh. This is ideal for short season gardeners, and marketing is a breeze with pretty little melons like these. Plants are impressively productive and super sweet and delicious. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00

BENI KODIMA #WM118 New! Super tiny fruit! One of the earliest maturing watermelons of all, a pocket-sized watermelon from Japan. Perfect for short season gardeners; extra small fruit averages just 2-3 pounds. These mini melons are SUGAR BABY BUSH #WM198 ideal for those super short season An ideal plant for gardeners with limited space, gardens, and the personal sized the vines of sugar baby bush only reach 3-31/2 fruit is ideal for marketing or home feet in length. This is an early producer, the juicy use. This darling little fruit is green and sweet little 12-pound fruit will be ready to with dark stripes, and the sweet harvest in 75 to 80 days. Flesh is a deep scarlet; flesh is red. Pkt (10 Seeds) $3.00 skin is a dark green with no striping. Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 109 HERBS GROW HERBS FOR HEALTH, WEALTH & FLAVOR! We offer a great selection of flavorful culinary types and popular medicinal varieties. Everyone should experience the joy of having fresh herbs. Notice: All statements listed in our catalog are for historical information only and are not approved by the FDA. Seek the advice of a qualified health professional before using any herbs for medicinal purposes. Blue spice basil Our most fragrant plant

AGASTACHE, TEXAS MINT ‘HEATHER QUEEN’ #HB272 New! Tidy half-hardy perennial that is aromatic and attractive to pollinators. Plants fill the air with minty fra- grance; the pretty spike flowers are popular for arranging. This dynamic landscape plant is easy to grow, adds long season color and grows in neat clumps that do not spread or take over. Hardy from zones 6a-9b. BASIL, BLUE SPICE #HB200 Pollinators are drawn to its fragrance, and cannot resist the flowers! This plant can be dried A Super Fragrant Variety! for making tea and is also used make a mosquito repelling oil. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 (O. americanum) Vigorous plant with dense spikes of light purple flowers enclosed in AGASTACHE, “NAVAJO SUNSET” #HB271 New! sweet Rose showy deep purple bracts, making for an Delicious minty-citrus tea plant; a must in the herb garden and especially fine appearance in pots or in the kitchen! Southwest native perennial that is irresistible to humming- fragrance garden. Heavy fragrance with spicy vanilla birds, butterflies, bees and other beneficials. Agastache Navajo overtones that makes a pleasant contribution Sunset wafts an incredible citrus scent; the open airy plants produce to both fruit salads and savory dishes. The beautiful orange blooms. Ideal for xeriscape gardens, this variety is most fragrant basil. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75 water thrifty and thrives in poor soil. Plants reach 28 inches tall and 30 inches wide, great for the perennial border or for the tea garden! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00

AGASTACHE, ROSE MINT #HB273 New! Aromatic perennial with phenomenal minty, rose fragrance. Prepare for a super long season of heavenly scented blooms. This agastache will set flowers in June that last until September, beckoning pollinators and beneficials from across the animal kingdom! The irresistible blooms are lavender- rose colored and add drifts of soft color and heady scent to landscapes. The carefree plants BASIL, THAI SWEET #HB166 thrive in poor, dry ground. OUR FAVORITE! Popular sweet, spicy basil Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 that is essential in Thai cuisine. Very flavor- Our favorite fragrant plant! ful with a nice licorice taste. Amazing taste of Thailand! Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

110 Basil: try a cornUcopia of flavors! BASIL, EMILY #HB194 Compact version of the classic Genovese type that is superior for pot culture, having shorter stem-length between leaf nodes. Widely recognized to be longer-lasting when cut, all of which make “Emily” a better subject for market growers and home gardeners. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50

BASIL, GREEK DWARF #HB144 Cute little compact plants are only 6-10” BASIL, THAI HOLY tall and are great “KAPRAO” #HB142 for growing in A popular herb in Thai containers. It has cuisine, the fragrant pur- a spicy, slightly plish-green leaves can be anise flavor and used in potpourri and have is a must for BASIL, SIAM QUEEN THAI #HB102 a spicy, sweet, clove-like Greek cooking. Very strong, clove-scented basil. This is a must for curry and flavor. A religious herb of the Pkt (100 seeds) all Thai cooking. This selection has beautiful flowers. Very Hindus. Pkt (75 seeds) $2.25 $2.50 tasty. This improved variety produces very large and lovely flower heads. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

BASIL, LIME #HB103 A unique lime-flavored basil from Thailand. Pop- ular variety for BASIL, DARK PURPLE OPAL fresh market! #HB106 A beautiful and orna- Pkt (100 mental variety; deep purple. Italian seeds) $2.50 basil flavor. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50

BASIL, LEMON #HB107 BASIL, LETTUCE LEAF #HB108 Wonderful lemon fragrance and taste, a BASIL, GENOVESE #HB101 Amazing size and flavor! Huge 3”-5” leaves; Japanese basil real culinary delight. Used regularly in our 68 days. The famous Italian heirloom is with a great flavor. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 kitchens. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 very popular with many cooks. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 or 5000 seeds $10.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 111 BEE BALM OR MONARDA IS A FAVORITE POLLINATOR PLANT

MONARDA BERGAMO #HB279 New! BEE BALM, LEMON SPIELARTEN MIX BEE BALM #HB277 First year flowering perennial, extremely attractive to pollinators. More #HB124 (Monarda citriodora) New! A beautiful mix of this pollinator refined and floriferous than other types of monarda. Easy to grow, robust An annual, lemon-flavored va- friendly perennial. Shades of mauve, lavender, 2-3 foot tall plants will bloom all summer long, in rose-plum colored riety. Superb tea plant; striking purple, pink and more will entice butterflies, flower spikes. One of our favorite scented and ornamental herbs! Great pink-purple flowers, beautiful bees and of course hummingbirds. This showy for tea. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50 and tasty. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 mix is a top choice. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50 Amazing blue health elixir and natural food coloring!

BORAGE #HB139 (Borago officinalis) Cucumber-flavored fresh leaves are added to salads, cooked, or made into a cooling drink. The blue flowers are used as a garnish. Makes a good honey plant. Also used medicinally. Pkt (60 seeds) $2.00 or 700 seeds $7.00

THAI ‘DOUBLE’ BLUE BUTTERFLY PEA #HB276 New! Edible blue flowered vining plant native to Southeast Asia. Gorgeous, huge, double blue blooms make a natural food dye and soothing tea to calm the nerves. This double flowered type was found in Thailand, where the blooms are used to dye everything from teas to rice and desserts. A gorgeous ornamental edible flower, the vines are smothered in dazzling indigo petals. Our #HB127 favorite kid-friendly drink; when you add a drop of lemon to the deep blue tea, the color instantly The herb that drives wild is also medicinal; used in turns a bright pink, like magic! Natural Pink Lemonade, anyone? Pkt (10 seeds) $4.50 a tasty herbal tea for colds and flu. Vigorous plant. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.25 Delicious and healthy: blue desserts, drinks and teas! 112 CHAMOMILE , ZLOTY LAN #HB157 (Matricaria recutita) This Polish chamomile is bigger and higher yielding than the standard and is easy to grow at home from seed. It has a wonderful aroma and is used to make teas. Chamomile is one of the herbs used in biodynamic compost preparations and has a high level of essential oils. The compounds in this herb have been extensively studied for their health benefits, though it’s contraindicated in pregnancy or for those taking blood thinners. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.75

CHAMOMILE, GERMAN #HB118 (Matricaria recutita) Beautiful, small flowers make a relaxing tea with a sweet, fruity fra- grance; medicinal. Attractive plants. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50

CHINESE CHIVES #HB111 (Allium tuberosum) These winter-tolerant chives are great for greenhouse production. They have great garlic flavor and are popular with Asian chefs. We love ‘em. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50

CILANTRO, DWARF LEMON #HB262 CILANTRO, SLO-BOLT #HB143 Amazing, subtle citrus flavor adds a welcome (Coriandrum sativum) This is a slow-bolting ver- twist to this ancient herb. There is no limit to the CHIVES, COMMON #HB135 sion of Cilantro/ that produces flavorful culinary potential! Compact plants and seeds Wonderful, mild onion flavor. These long, thin leaves over a longer period. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 are all super flavorsome! Pkt (40 seeds) $2.75 chives are excellent in many meals; great raw or cooked. Lavender flowers. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50 INDIAN CORIANDER #HB120 (Coriandrum sativum) Highly scented with a citrus top note. The dark green leaves are regularly cut to prevent this fast growing variety of Indian Coriander from bolting. Once bolted, the seeds CUMIN #HB152 are a must in Indian (Cuminum cyminum) The flavorful seeds are an dishes and are es- important ingredient in many Mexican dishes; pecially good when also used in bread and cakes. Small, tender, used still “green” crawling plants reach about 6” tall. Pkt (100 and tender. Pkt (100 seeds) $1.75 seeds) $2.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 113 echinacea or coneflower, a native american remedy MELLOW YELLOWS #HB186 New! A pollinator-attracting perennial in a lovely range of yellow colors. A glorious palette that ranges from brilliant yellow to rich gold. Compact plants reach just 24 inches tall, perfect for containers or for the front border. Pollinators adore the nectar- rich flowers, and we love how no-fuss this pretty plant is: drought tolerant and not picky about soil. Excellent in so many applications, from the meadow to the herb garden. Pkt (15 seeds) $4.50

DILL, ELEPHANT #HB180 A very aromatic, late-flowering variety that has nice green color and is productive. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.00

DILL, BOUQUET #HB126 (Anethum graveolens) Early to flower with large seed heads. Excellent in pickles and used to flavor many other foods. Easy to grow. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50

ECHINACEA PARADOXA OR OZARK GREEN TWISTER #HB184 New! YELLOW CONEFLOWER #HB171 An ornamental medicinal beloved by Like the pale purple coneflower, but these are a butterflies, birds and bees! Green twister is a bright golden-yellow color. Brilliant blooms do wild take on our favorite immune boosting well in fairly dry, rocky soil like is found on many herb. Electrifying green and magenta petals of the Ozark hills here in Missouri and Arkansas; are like a flashing neon sign for pollinators and this is the region where this unique coneflower indeed, this variety is a hot spot for beneficial is native. Used by Native Americans as a tradi- garden visitors. Drought-tolerant and easy to tional medicine, it is being researched today for grow, this perennial will provide medicinal ECHINACEA PURPUREA #HB119 its herbal uses. It can be hard to find even here benefits and pollinator each year A beautiful, purple wildflower and well-known in Southern Missouri, but is rather easy to grow. with good looks to boot! Pkt (15 seeds) $4.50 medicinal herb with numerous uses. Excellent. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 Pkt (50 seeds) $2.50 114 WHITE STARS FEVERFEW #HB132 New! Soft, sunny clouds of lemon yellow and white make this a cheerful self-sowing perennial. Per- fect cut flower or landscap- ing plant. Ideal for borders, mass planting and contain- ers, the long lasting blooms are abundant and fill in a space with tufts of subtle HYSSOP, BLUE #HB123 color. A beautiful medicinal (Hyssopus officinalis) Excellent for attracting plant, traditionally used to bees and butterflies, bright blue flowers; treat headache. Pkt (125 a superb antiviral plant that many use to seeds) $3.00 treat flus, etc. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.25 STUNNING COLOR AND LOADS OF LOVELY INSECTS!

FENNEL, FLORENCE #HB128 (Foeniculum vulgare) Plant grows like dill. HYSSOP, KOREAN, ‘GOLDEN JUBILEE’ #HB259 New! Used in Italian cooking; tasty. Very easy to Also known as purple giant hyssop. Chartreuse, golden foliage and heavy scent grow. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 makes this an award winning perennial. All America Selection winner in 2003. This easy, adaptable perennial is attractive to pollinators and makes a lovely anise fla- amazing vored tea. The purple blooms add brush strokes of color to the perennial border all tea plant summer long. Plants average 2 feet tall and will be covered in oodles of butterflies and bees; goldfinches also love the seeds. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 Superb for tea

FENNEL, BRONZE #HB198 HYSSOP, KOREAN #HB208 HYSSOP, ANISE #HB122 A POLLINATOR FAVORITE! (Agastache rugosa) Perennial. More robust relative to Anise (Agastache foeniculum) This herb is used to (Foeniculum vulgare) Very decorative bronze- Hyssop, with similar flavor and overall appearance except that, make one of the best herb teas; the leaves hued lacy foliage. Its unusual color makes a at four feet tall, it is much larger. One of the 50 Fundamental possess a naturally sweet, wonderful anise striking accent plant, a sophisticated addition Herbs in Chinese traditional medicine, this plant has been taste and fragrance. Lovely purple flowers studied in recent times for antibacterial properties. Makes a in salads or an elegant garnish. Seeds may, of that bees love; many uses, including me- course, be used like those of any fennel. wonderful base for herbal tea blends and a definitive state- dicinal. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.75 ment in the garden! Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75 Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 115 JOB’S TEARS: Nature’s natural beads!

LEMON SCENTED GUM (EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA) #HB248 New! Wonderfully fragrant Australian JOB’S TEARS #FL345 native makes an excellent scented house or (Coix lacryma-jobi) Is it an herb, grain, vegetable, or ornamental bead? container plant. The heavily aromatic leaves This easy-to-grow plant is all these things and more! With graceful of this herb have been used in Aboriginal and flowing miniature corn-type bladed leaves, sturdy stalks, delicate inconspicuous drooping flowers, and ornamental pea-like seeds, Job’s folk medicine as a powerful antiseptic. DO Tears adds a stunning green filler to cut flower displays. A grain-bear- NOT take it internally, as it is somewhat toxic. LOVAGE #HB153 ing plant useful for food, to make necklaces, rosary beads, and even But it is used by the insect repellent industry (Levisticum officinalis) Flavorful, traditionally in folk medicine for arthritis and to remove heat! Once the for making natural bug repellent. We enjoy dark green leaves and yellow husk has been removed for cooking, the grains look more like over- growing this herb as an outdoor annual or flowers; the leaves and seeds are sized pearl barley. Great in brothy dishes and traditional Asian drinks, potted and brought indoors over winter. used for flavoring stews, soups, Job’s Tears provides a chewy, mildly sweet, and earthy flavor that has Hardy from USDA zones 8-10. Sword-shaped salads, pickles, and more. Nice caught the eye of discerning cooks. It has lovingly been called by silver leaves make a top-notch foliage for celery taste. The hardy plants cookbook authors “the next cult gluten-free grain” and an “unusual, arrangements! Easy to start from seeds and can be grown in most of the versatile, and beneficial little weirdo.” Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00 extra drought-tolerant. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 North. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 lemon balm in two stunning colors!

GOLDEN LEMON BALM #HB266 New! An ornamental version of a favorite fragrant perennial herb. Gilded foliage shimmers in the summer sunlight, as this attractive lemon balm is frequented by bees and other eager pollinators. Lemon balm is easy to grow, adaptable to many conditions, and this version adds stunning effect LEMON BALM, GREEN #HB117 to beds, borders, containers and landscapes. Perfect fragrant foliage plant (Melissa officinalis) Deliciously lemon-flavored; great in tea. A vigorous, for mixed plantings! Great lemon fragrance and flavor! Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50 hardy plant. An old cottage garden favorite! Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50 116 LAVENDER, MUNSTEAD STRAIN #HB213 (Lavandula vera) Perennial. Compact, superior LION’S EAR OR KLIP DAGGA #HB167 LAVENDER #HB112 northern-hardy strain. The plants seldom exceed (Leonotis nepetifolia) A member of the mint family, it is native to (Lavandula vera) Famous for a foot in height. Use the fragrant spikes as you Southern Africa and is used as a folk medicine among the native fragrance, the lavender-colored would any lavender—potpourris, sachets, dried peoples for treating numerous ailments, and has shown some blossoms are used in potpour- arrangements, etc. The silvery-gray foliage is promise in studies. Tall, evergreen tropical plant produces loads ris, soaps, etc. A great old-time elegant even when out of flower. A reliable, as of stunning peachy-orange flowers. Caution: this plant is a mild cottage garden plant. Pkt (100 well as beautiful, old-fashioned garden favorite. narcotic. Pkt (15 seeds) $4.00 seeds) $2.25 Pkt (100 seeds) $3.00

MARSHMALLOW #HB190 (Althaea officinalis) African native. The original source of an Egyp- tian confection that evolved into today’s marshmallows. The roots and velvety leaves have been eaten as a vegetable for centuries, often fried with onion and garlic. 3-4 foot stems of 1-2 inch, white- to-pink flowers are reminiscent of hollyhocks, to which this plant is related. The plant is also renowned in various folk cultures for its medicinal properties. Pkt (35 seeds) $2.50

MORINGA, DWARF #HB245 Easy to grow as an annual in the North! Moringa contains 46 antioxidants, 18 amino acids & is a complete protein. This is a very special dwarf variety from India. Unlike other varieties of mo- ringa, this tree will remain short and is very well suited to container growing, which makes growing it in the U.S. much easier. Moringa is native to the tropics and the subtropics; container growing will allow you to bring your tree inside for the winter. This plant is prized for its very high-protein leaves, its rich concentration of minerals MINT- MARVELOUS MIX #HB263 and vitamins, and its heavy load of anti-oxidants! Leaves, blooms, seeds and imma- This is perhaps the most powerful perennial to invite into your ture seedpods, called “drumsticks”, are edible; seeds are source of a high-quality oil. landscape. Countless beneficial insects are absolutely enchanted WARNING: Roots are reputed to be poisonous, do not eat! Pkt (10 seeds) $3.50 by mint, while many pesky garden pests are repulsed by it. Grow- ing mint from seed is a lesson in the beauty of chaos in the natural world, as the busy activity of insect pollinators causes a wide spec- MARJORAM trum of mint flavors. We love the element of surprise in growing mint from seed. While the flavors may range from spearmint to #HB137 peppermint or applemint, the purported medicinal and pest-re- (Majorana hortensis) pelling benefits remain the same. Perennial from zones 4-9, mint A fragrant and will thrive in most gardens. It is quite competitive and belongs in flavorful herb that is the herb bed or in a contained location. Many folks simply clip the a popular seasoning. leaves and use as mulch around plants in the vegetable garden to Easy to grow. Pkt (800 harness the pest-repelling benefits without letting this aggressive seeds) $2.50 plant grow in the vegetable garden. Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 117 MILKWEED, BUTTERFLY WEED #HB228 (Asclepias tuberosa) Perennial. The hardy native milkweed is es- sential to the survival of Monarch butterflies. Mature butterflies feed on the nectar produced in the flowers, while the foliage provides food for their larvae. MILKWEED, RED OR SWAMP The brilliant orange and yellow #HB229 (Asclepias incarnata) flowers are showy in massed Perennial. Rosy-pink-flowered plantings, but fascinating up milkweed that is the best choice for close, with their intricate detail. moist locations, as it is native to wet The three-foot plant is native ground throughout much of North throughout the eastern and America. Supports the Monarch and southern regions of the country, other butterfly as well as usually preferring drier sites, and bees and hummingbirds. The sweet should be hardy except at very vanilla fragrance and large numbers of flowers support the gardener’s en- high elevations. Very durable and joyment, as well. May reach 5 feet tall long-lived once established, and in favored locations. (CAUTION: The may gently increase on its own milky sap is poisonous if ingested in in favorable locations. (CAUTION: large quantities, and contact with the The milky sap is poisonous if skin may cause dermatitis in sensitive ingested in large quantities, and individuals.) Pkt (40 seeds) $2.50 contact with the skin may cause dermatitis in sensitive individu- als.) Pkt (40 seeds) $2.50

MOLDAVIAN BALM, OREGANO, DRAGONHEAD #HB204 VULGARE (Dracocephalum moldavicum) #HB131 Eurasian native that has been (Origanum cultivated for centuries. The vulgare) This is OREGANO, WILD ZAATAR minty-lemony leaves and large a beautiful and #HB174 (Origanum syriaca) We offer purple flowers have long been delicious Italian seeds from Israel for this plant that used in a tea for reputed herbal flavoring herb. grows wild in Israel, Jordan and sur- Also medici- benefits, including “lightening a rounding areas. Doubtless a common nal. Great for discouraged heart.” Beloved by herb in Bible times, and still one of the Italian and Greek tastiest! It has great flavor that blends bees, like all the mint tribe. cooking. Pkt (400 Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 hints of oregano, thyme and marjoram. seeds) $2.50 A favorite. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00

OYSTER LEAF #HB178 Amazing Oyster Flavor! (Mertensia maritima) This delicious plant is aptly named for its toler- ance to maritime exposure and can be found growing wild along the PARSLEY, HAMBURG ROOTED Scottish coast. It received its common name because the thick, tender #HB134 This tasty heirloom dates leaves taste similar to oysters with a hint of seaweed flavor. Perfect to the pre-1600s and is grown for its in salads and other raw dishes. Because of its beauty and hardiness, PARSLEY, GIANT OF ITALY large, flavorsome roots that make some gardeners say they will never be without this amazingly aro- #HB133 A very large Italian strain of superb soups and stews, or is baked. matic plant in their garden. Hardy to zone 3; seeds can take a month parsley with great flavor. Perfect for Leaves are also delicious. Pkt (400 to germinate. Hard to find! Pkt (15 seeds) $4.50 sauces. Pkt (400 seeds) $2.50 seeds) $2.25 118 plantain: nature’s wonderful remedy! PURSLANE, GREEN #HB151 (Portulaca oleracea) Low, crawling plant produces tender stems and juicy leaves that are excellent added to salads. A popular green in Mexico that was favored by my Hispanic grandmother. Also used in herbal healing plans. Pkt (300 seeds) $2.50

ROSEMARY, ROSY #HB218 (Rosmarina officinalis) Tender perennial to 30 inches. The plant has been used for centuries both medicinally and in the kitchen. Small evergreen shrub is covered with needle-like aromatic leaves and a myriad of tiny pink or blue flowers in sum- mer. Perennial in mild winter climates; elsewhere, grow in containers for overwintering indoors. The dark green leaves may be used fresh or dried. Flowers are beloved by bees. We offer select seed that is easier to start, but it still can be somewhat challenging. The plants are lovely and can live for years with proper care. Pkt (35 seeds) $3.50 PURPLE PERVERSION PLANTAIN #HB275 New! A pretty twist on a potent medicinal plant. Extra frilly, deep plum- colored leaves and long flowering stalks. An excellent choice for those who wish to grow plantain but prefer a more refined variety without the “weedy” appearance of the naturalized green type. With edible, lightly bitter leaves this variety lends color to salads and makes a fine spinach substitute. The leaves can be used externally as a natural soothing remedy for bites, burns, rashes and poison ivy. The perfect herbal ornamental! Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00

VARIEGATED PLANTAIN #HB267 New! An attractive foliage plant with major medicinal benefits! This is a SAFFLOWER, GRENADE MIX #HB255 highly ornamental take on traditional plantain, a plant used in age-old Annual. Creamy ivory, lemon yellow and bright saffron orange thistle-like flowers herbal healing remedies. The striking ornamental foliage and white atop prickly plants. Individual blooms are small but produced in great numbers, flowers make an eye-catching pop in mixed plantings. Medicinal uses from midsummer on. Earlier blooming than many safflowers. Safflowers are a are much like common plantain; use the leaves externally as a natural source of healthful oilseed, which the birds like as well. Also is useful as a dye soothing remedy for bites, cuts and poison ivy. Leaves are edible and plant. Widely grown in Europe, but gaining appreciation here. 30-inch plants are make for a lightly bitter spinach substitute . Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50 equally at home in the herb garden or the border. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 119 STINGING NETTLE #HB203 (Urtica dioica) Yes, it’s the very same plant that causes unwary hikers such SAINT JOHN’S WORT #HB149 discomfort! But drying or (Hypericum perforatum) This short-lived peren- cooking eliminates the sting, AKA HON CHIRIMEN SHISO (PERILLA) #HB257 nial is a well-investigated medicinal herb that and the attractive plants have This stunning perilla was found in Japan where it is grown for the traditionally has been used for wounds, general a long history of use in herbal seed oil, and the red-colored varieties are popular for dyeing rad- aches and pains, and is more famous in its use ishes, ginger, and pickled pink garlic called Shiso Katsuo Ninniku. medicine, as a medicinal sham- with mild depression and insomnia. This plant is It is also what gives Japanese Ume vinegar its bright red color. In poo and reputed to alleviate well-suited for use in pollinator habitat resto- addition, red perilla makes an amazingly sturdy and breathtaking symptoms in cases of arthritis, ration and erosion control. Grown from seed, it border plant. One of the most attractive red plants we know! A enlarged prostate, and many will create the strongest tap roots. Caution: can must for pickles, perfect for salads and sushi. Easy to grow and other complaints. Also used become invasive in some areas, though not eas- produces super fast. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 in salt-reduced diets. Young ily in natural habitats, and can be toxic in large shoots taste like spinach and KAORI AO OBA SHISO amounts to some livestock. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.75 are rich in vitamins and iron. (PERILLA) #HB258 Nettle is one of the foundations A lovely green-leafed Shi- of Biodynamic practices. so from Japan. In Eastern Pkt (800 seeds) $2.25 medicine, Shiso is seen almost as a cure-all. The leaves are used fresh, salted, pickled, and dried in a variety of dishes, 青 but especially rice. The seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and can also be used fresh or dried. Perilla makes a good じ companion near tomatoes, but is best just outside of the STEVIA #HB175 vegetable garden. Bees and butterflies love the tiny flowers (Stevia rebaudiana) A hard-to-find herb that is そ that appear on the plants in grown for the famous Stevia leaves which, when late summer and early fall, but SAGE, BROAD LEAF dried, are used to sweeten drinks and desserts. #HB147 (Salvia officinalis) it readily self-seeds. Pkt (100 Much sweeter than sugar, stevia powder is seeds) $3.00 Used in Europe and America to reported to be 300 times sweeter! Not win- flavor many meats, stuffings, -vin ter-hardy, except in zones 8-10. From Brazil and egars, and more! Fragrant leaves Paraguay. The chemical companies who make are also used in potpourri. 20”- artificial sweeteners hate this plant and have tall gray-green plants are quite tried to make it illegal. But we just love it! attractive. Pkt (75 seeds) $2.00 Pkt (15 seeds) $3.50

SHUNGIKU EDIBLE CHRYSANTHEMUM #HB129 (Chrysanthemum cor- onarium) Delicious green leaves TOOTHACHE PLANT, YELLOW #HB250 are great in salads and stir fries. These potent little flowers are a pretty yellow The brilliant yellow flowers are throughout. Stocky plants produce a profusion of TOOTHACHE PLANT, BULLS EYE #HB160 also tasty! A beautiful Oriental canary-colored flowers that are incredibly potent. With a bright bulls eye on the tip of each flower, these funky little heirloom, very colorful. Pkt (125 Flowers retain their numbing qualities when flowers look great in a border, especially when planted en masse. seeds) $2.50 dried or made into a . Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00 As potent as they are beautiful, these flowers pack a punch. Pkt (75 seeds) $3.00

120 “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” —Mahatma Gandhi #HB221 (Valeriana officinalis) Perennial. (Also known as Garden ) Deli- cate-looking, low-growing plants give rise to 4-foot, charming clusters of tiny pale pink flowers June-September; very attractive in borders or herb gardens. Ex- tracted fragrance of the flowers was used in perfumes in the Renaissance. Valerian was touted for its medicinal properties for centuries, and modern research has confirmed its value. The root has been WORMWOOD #HB115 the part most used, having been recom- (Artemisia absinthium) Sil- mended as a pain reliever, sedative, and very-grey leaves, a beautiful to allay migraine, but most importantly plant; ornamental. Traditionally to relieve insomnia. (We make no recom- used to expel worms, and as mendation and any use of herbs should a bitter tonic; hardy. Pkt (500 be undertaken only under medical seeds) $2.00 supervision.) Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50

TANSY #HB220 (Tanacetum vulgare) Perennial, to 4 feet. Fern-like, aromatic leaves, with a fragrance reminiscent of camphor and rosemary. Mature plants produce heads of attractive yellow button-like flowers, interesting when grown at the back of an herb border. Dried tansy has historically been used to repel insects like moths and ants; the plant also yields a traditional green dye. Not recommended for culinary use. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 WHITE HOREHOUND #HB192 (Marrubium vulgare) This is the traditional remedy for coughs, having earned its place in the herb garden! Mounds of silvery foliage, around 18 inches tall and somewhat broader, last all season long in most climates. White flowers in season are pretty but not really showy. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50

YARROW, COLORADO MIX #HB235 (Achillea millefolium) Perennial. Mix of blood red, , cream, yellow and white. All the good traits of yarrow, but in an irresistible blend of colors. The large flower clusters are in reality made up of scores of tiny daisies, last a long time and bloom until very cold weather. Pkt (50 seeds) $2.75 THYME #HB113 (T. vulgaris) Very aromatic and flavorful; not winter hardy. Pkt (800 seeds) $2.50

A FAVORITE OF beneficial INSECTS. we love easy-to-grow yarrow! THYME, WILD #HB214 YARROW, PARKER’S (Thymus pulegioides) Perennial. (Also known VARIETY #FL795 (Achillea as creeping thyme) Spreading perennial that filipendulina) This hardy yar- forms thick mats with tight clusters of rose-pur- row has beautiful, feathery ple flowers. Very fragrant; useful for planting gray-green foliage and love- between stepping stones and at the edge of ly flower clusters with many COMMON YARROW #HB114 walkways, where its vigorous growth habit is a tiny yellow flowers. Makes (Achillea millefolium) Beautiful when used as a dried flower. Also popular as an herb; virtue. Used in cooking and for medicinal pur- a beautiful and long-lasting used for colds, fevers, and for healing poses; antifungal action has been documented cut flower. An easy perennial wounds. An easy-to-grow wildflower that for this species. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.25 to grow almost anywhere! provides quite a country charm over a Pkt (900 seeds) $2.50 long season. Pkt (800 seeds) $2.50

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 121 FLOWER SEED FOR BEAUTY, FRAGRANCE AND THE BEES! We are glad to be able to offer a good selection of old cottage garden flower varieties. Flowers bring so much beauty to any garden. Warning: some are very poisonous. Do not use for food unless you are sure they are edible. ASTERS-CHINA AGERATUM (Callistephus chinensis) Asters originated in China. Annual. (200 seeds per Pkt) AGERATUM MIX #FL885 GIANT Annual. Old-fash- PERFECTION ioned favorite in MIX gentle pastel tones #FL101 of lavender, blue and Beautiful, long-last- white. Ageratum flowers make a lot of ing cut flowers, an nectar and support old-fashioned fa- beneficial insect pop- vorite. Peony-type, ulations. They are also extra-large flowers a choice plant for the that are great for front of the border, cutting. This formu- in rock gardens and la mix has all the more. So precious. best colors. This Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 variety is popular PALE PINK DWARF MILADY #FL113 with home and A sweet dwarf aster with a profusion of large 3” flowers for a perfectly pink party on the patio. market growers. Suited for borders or container gardening and BACHELOR’S BUTTON Pkt $2.25 is a butterfly magnet. Heat resistant and worry (Edible) (Centaurea cyanus) Hardy annual. Often self- free. So pretty and pale pink! Pkt $2.75 sows. Bachelor’s Buttons were brought to America in the 17th century. (150 seeds per pkt) GUSFORD SUPREME #FL112 NEW! Bright and sunny blooms in brilliant magenta and soft yellow centers. Asters are reliable and florif- erous, perfect for borders, arranging and beds. Tidy and compact plants reach just 20 inches tall. Asters were sold by renowned pioneer Ameri- can gardener, Bernard McMahon. We love this vibrant new take on an old favorite. Pkt $3.00 BLUE BOY #FL160 Colorful blue, double flowers on tall 3’ plants, bloom all season. Very easy to grow. It is a self-seeding annu- BELLS OF IRELAND al, so you will not have to replant. Pkt $3.00

CLASSIC ARTISTIC MIX #FL157 Hardy annual. Balanced formula-mix of assorted Bach- elor’s Buttons of mostly two-toned color patterns. The runs from sky blue through royal blue, deep burgundy to reds, rose, , and white. Lends wonderful color to beds, borders and especially to BELLS OF IRELAND #FL140 Hardy annual. old-style cottage garden designs, and makes a perfect (Moluccella laevis) Tiny white flowers in large green bell-shaped calyxes. Great as a cut flower, fresh or cut flower too! Truly an artistic new spin to an old dried. This old-time plant has been cultivated since 1570. Very easy to grow. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.75 classic favorite. Pkt $2.75 122 BLACK-EYED CALENDULA (Edible) (Calendula officinalis) Hardy annual. Often self- SUSAN VINE sows. (125 seeds per pkt)

BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE MIX #FL917 (Thunbergia alata) Tender perennial grown as an BALL’S IMPROVED ORANGE #FL205 annual. Trumpet-shaped, 5-petaled tubular flow- Pretty, double, 3” flowers are a deep orange ORANGE KING #FL208 ers in a warm mix of yellows, oranges and golds. color. They are great as cut flowers or as a tasty Massive, double calendula flowers in a beautiful Bearing 2-inch flowers with dark purple-black garnish in salads and add color to many dishes. shade of brilliant orange make this variety a true throats, this East African native is showy trained Pkt $2.25 king of calendulas. Pkt $2.25 up a trellis, in hanging baskets, or in pots. Mature plants grown in a frost-free environment may climb 20 feet; expect 6- to 8-foot plants when grown as an annual. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 BALLOON FLOWER

SNOW PRINCESS #FL227 Behold an almost pure white calendula that will undergo a beautiful transformation right before your eyes! Unopened blooms are a lemon-curd PACIFIC BEAUTY MIX #FL200 BLUE BALLOON FLOWER #FL956 (Edible) yellow. As the petals unfurl, a brilliant almost Lovely flowers up to 4” in colors of orange, (Platycodon grandiflora) This is a lovely and pure white is revealed with a dark center-- a apricot, yellow, peach, and cream. An historic unique perennial. The blooms will expand like stunning contrast! This fascinating flowering heirloom garden plant that was known as “Pot an inflated balloon until they burst open into a show will continue from late spring through the Marigold.” A colorful addition to any garden. gorgeous blue star. Two-foot tall plants will set fall on tidy 2 foot plants. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.00 Pkt $2.25 or 1,000 seeds $7.00 off tons of explosive little blooms late into the season when many flowers are spent. The roots are appreciated for having antimicrobial, anti- bacterial and other medicinal qualities. Roots are used in Asian food. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.75 CACTUS

CACTI MIXED #FL909 Formula mix featuring diverse plant habits, flower forms and colors. Fascinating subjects for houseplant or greenhouse. Cacti are usually STRAWBERRY BLONDE CALENDULA #FL234 NEW! Calendula is incredibly versatile with boundless culinary, healing, pest repelling and ornamental slow growers and very long-lived in suitable properties. We love this new twist on the traditional calendula; soft yellow-pink petals have a sur- conditions. Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 prise cerise color on their backs. This dual color pattern gives the blooms a bold, three-dimensional effect. An excellent companion plant for tomatoes in the garden or containers! Pkt (50 seeds) $3.75 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 123 CELOSIA & TORNADO RED #FL274 Massive 8-12 inch magenta COCKSCOMB (Edible) heads teeter atop tall plants with lush foliage. The large dense combs have brilliant garnet and violet tones that shimmer in the back border or as a large focal point in arrangements. With dwarf cockscomb dominating the market in recent years, it can be difficult to find tall vari- eties. Tornado red proudly stands 2 feet tall, and will bloom from late spring until fall frost. A stunning variety DWARF GARDEN MIX #FL266 that hold its rich, crushed Beautiful color on short, dwarf plants; these can velvet color when cut. Pkt produce large heads that sometimes reach 8” (30 seeds) $3.00 across, although they vary. A perfect bedding plant that adds vibrant colors to any garden; even the smallest can fit in a few of these. Pkt (125 seeds) $2.50

ORANGE PEACH COCKSCOMB #FL269 Annual. To 48”. Stunning, large, very deeply folded crested-type cockcombs in shades from apricot to coral pink. Gorgeous at the back of a mixed border; also makes a nice dried flower. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00

amazing tie dye blooms! VARIEGATED COCKSCOMB #FL289 New! This fabulously novel variegated cockscomb from antiquity has been brought back from obscurity! This color was described as a beautiful and unusual floral oddity in “The Country Gentleman’s Magazine,” a British periodical from 1874. Other than this mention, there is no record of this vibrantly bi-colored celosia, which is a wonder, as the dueling tones are a playful riot of color. Alien-like combs sit atop three-foot tall plants. We expect this one-of-a- kind weirdo to be warmly embraced by gardeners and floral designers! Lovely 4”-6” flowers are a joy! Note: variegation varies a lot from plant to plant. Pkt (30 seeds) $4.00

124 COSMOS (Edible) BLACK MAGIC COSMOS Hardy annual. Great for salads and garnishing. #FL242 New! (Cosmos Often self-sows. atrosanguineus). Chocolate-scented cosmos, originally from the pine and oak woods in Mexico. Believed to now be extinct in much of their native range in the pine oak of the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt. The intoxicating aroma of chocolate cosmos have made them a favorite of gardeners for centuries, and until recently, plants were wild and a bit scraggly and could only be propagated by cuttings. Renowned flower breeder, Dr. Keith BRIGHT #FL241 Hammett, of New Zealand has created (Cosmos sulphureus) Brilliant flowers in shades the incredible new Black Magic cosmos. of orange, yellow, and flame-red. The plants are With larger blooms, a neater growing early to bloom and produce profusely. Colorful habit and a few viable seeds, this is and easy to grow. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.50 an exciting new heirloom innovation! Plants average 2 feet tall with blooms almost 2 inches across and the rich, velvety blooms truly look and smell like chocolate. Pkt (4 seeds) $5.00

VELOUETTE COSMOS #FL116 Annual that self sows in the garden. This stunning variety garners squeals of delight in the garden. The unusual striping creates an exciting effect, espe- cially when planted en masse. This is the perfect focal point for RUBINATO #FL152 the landscape or arrangement Super dwarf red cosmos! Here’s an outstanding as the patterns and contrasting addition to the Cosmos clan—award-winning colors keep you wanting more. color on compact plants! The color is the very A rich crimson color is offset by best of the burgundy-magenta that makes transparent white, each petal cosmos so endearing in the summer garden— subtly different from the next. varying tones from medium to super-deep. The Plants reach 2 feet tall, and the single blooms have very wide petals; the overall blooms are profuse throughout effect is reminiscent of richly pleated silk. The the season. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 18-24” plants are compact, never lanky. Recently recognized with Europe’s Fleuroselect award. Spectacular! Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00

XANTHOS COSMOS #FL153 “Xanthos” means “yellow”in Greek. This one comes in a focused range of pale ivory to soft CREPIS RUBRA PINK #FL878 Annual. Also known as pink Hawksbeard, this butter-yellow tones--absolutely new in Cosmos. stunning European classic adds a touch of whimsy to the landscape with enchanting fairy prin- No wonder it won a Fleuroselect medal! Single cess pink blooms that take on the appearance of a “pink dandelion”. Doubled petals have a faint flowers are very large and elegantly showy. Dwarf ombre from light to darker rose color. Perhaps the most charming note about this plant is that it plants, early and productive, are equally valuable thrives in rocky soil and waste areas. Freely scatter the seeds in otherwise difficult areas to invite in the landscape, in containers on porches and cheery pink blooms all season long. This is also a welcome addition to the classic cottage garden. patios, or cut. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.50 Plants average 1- 1.5 feet tall and make an excellent border. Pkt (100 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 125 DAHLIA (Edible) Annual. Tubers may be lifted and stored for planting the following spring. Flowers and tubers are both useful as food.

MIGNON SINGLE MIX DAHLIA #FL184 Compact, rounded plants are a useful size, reaching about 20 inches—perfect for bedding, large enough to make a real showing in containers or window boxes. Flowers are single, large at 3-4”, with petals of unusually heavy substance. Colors are perky dahlia tones of white, pinks, soft yellows, and reds. Pkt (30 seeds) $2.50

UNWINS MIX DAHLIA #FL300 (Dahlia hybrida) Colorful mix of rose, orange, yellow, crimson, purple, and brick red. Single and semi-double flowers; a popular garden COLEUS flower. A classic dahlia mix that has greeted Tender perennial. Overwinter indoors, or grow as an annual, starting indoors in early spring. several generations of gardeners each summer. Easy to grow. Pkt (50 seeds) $2.75 DIANTHUS (PINKS & CARNATIONS) (Edible) Perennial. Direct sow in spring. (100 seeds per pkt)

RAINBOW FLORIST STRAIN MIX #FL225 This old-fashioned plant is perfect for any shady spot. The heart-shaped leaves come in many bright colors, great for containers and borders. This plant evokes the spirit of Victorian gardens. Start inside and don’t cover seeds. Leaves are cooked in some Asian cultures. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

BLACK AND WHITE MINSTRALS DIANTHUS #FL329 Hardy annual. Dainty, fully double blooms in deepest maroon, almost black, edged in brilliant white. The margins of the CHABAUD PICOTEE MIX petals are heavily frilled, and the CARNATION #FL327 overall effect is one of great dig- (Dianthus caryophyllus) A wide mix of carnation nity and refinement, yet stunning beauty. The one-inch blooms are colors—cardinal red, pinks, violets, crimson, sweetly fragrant. Makes a fine cut salmon, and yellows—all “fantastically” flower but really shines in a massed striped or edged in brilliant contrasting tones. planting. Compact plants, the flow- Large, fully double, sweetly scented blooms ers are held above the grass-like make great cut flowers. Reaches about 2 feet in foliage, reaching about a foot in height. Pkt $2.75 height. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50

126 HOLLYHOCK (Edible) (Alcea rosea except as noted) Biennial. Delicious petals are perfect for salads. (35 seeds per pkt)

HELIOTROPE GILIA GILIA GLOBE #WF135 OGRODOWY HELIOTROPE #FL871 Hardy annual. Globe-shaped, tightly-packed Also known as Cherry Pie, Heliotrope was immense- JET BLACK OR NIGRA #FL421 clusters of sky-blue to violet flowers are ly popular during the Victorian era in England. A This variety was mentioned in 1629 and was planted sweetly scented. Held about 15” above the bouquet of Heliotrope was laid on Emily Dickenson’s in the gardens at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson. ground, the flowers come over a long season. Coffin. This deliciously fragrant flower has fallen out This traditional variety is shockingly beautiful with its Very attractive to butterflies and bees and of the spotlight in modern times. Native to Peru, near-black flowers and just a hint of red. Gorgeous makes great forage for these precious and compact plants stand 18-24 inches high, perfect for planted out by the old white outhouse or in the back beautiful insects. This West Coast native the front border. Also an excellent cut flower. We of your flower bed. A must for historical gardens. prefers hot and dry conditions. Perfect for think its high time that these diminutive flowers You’ll love this richly-colored variety. Pkt $3.00 roadside plantings, meadows and, of course, once again bring their intoxicating vanilla fragrance flower borders. Makes a fine cut flower; self- to gardens everywhere! Caution, all parts of this sows freely where the environment suits it. plant are poisonous, especially to horses! Pkt (150 Pkt (800 seeds) $2.50 seeds) $2.75

HYSSOP - AGASTACHE KISS-ME- OVER-THE- GARDEN-GATE ARCADO PINK #FL126 (Agastache X hybrida) Think Anise hyssop with a twist- -this variety blooms DWARF QUEENY MIXED HOLLYHOCK in clear pink rather #FL429 Compact form, 2-3 feet high, is ideal for than the more usual bedding use, small enough to grow in pots! Huge, lavender-purple. fully double blooms held all along the stems. Con- Incredibly free flow- tains the full range of hollyhock colors: purple, red, ering on compact rose, pink, salmon, yellow and white. These bloom plants, early summer very quickly from seed, about 65 days. Pkt $3.00 right through to hard frost, and the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love it! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 KISS-ME-OVER-THE-GAR- DEN-GATE #FL360 (Polygonum orientale) Exotic, long, flowing flower heads are a cerise-pink in color. Plants are over 6’ tall and produce many hanging, rope-like flow- ers. We are happy to offer this rare and colorful heirloom from the gardens of yester- year. Freeze seeds for a week MAJORETTE DOUBLE CHAMPAGNE #FL423 before planting, and plant Romantic, soft, blushing pink flowers with dark pink Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to very early in the spring or late centers, this dwarf variety produces fully double, large test a man’s character, give him power. winter. A nice cut or dried “powderpuff” type flowers. Such a lovely color and easy -Abraham Lincoln flower. Pkt (25 seeds) $2.50 to grow as an annual or biennial. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 127 GAILLARDIA

GAILLARDIA LORENZIANA #FL181 New! Antique, extra showy variety dating back to at least 1886. Formerly known as double sunset gaillardia. An extra-terrestrial take on our favorite pollinator- friendly prairie flower. Blooms have quilled double petals in fabulous mixed colors. (Some single blooms, too) This heat-tolerant, long-season blooming native North American wildflower is equally at home in the border or freely sown as a wild flower. Makes an exemplary cut flower. Pkt (50 seeds) $2.75

GAILLARDIA INDIAN BLANKET #WF111 GAILLARDIA LOLLIPOP MIX #FL114 New! Hardy annual. Often self-sows. Lovely, Add a touch of warmth to the color palette with this breathtaking mix of sunset red, gold, and yellow. The yellow, daisy-like flowers with red centers, lollipop mix is a delightful frilly petaled mix, a perfect self-seeding annual that is heat and drought tolerant, this annual is easy to grow. Great for sun- and thrives in poor soil. Long stems make this an ideal cutting flower for an impressive vase. Gaillardia is native ny, dry areas. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.25 to North America, making it an ideal choice as a low maintenance and showy wildflower. Most importantly, our pollinators in peril will thank you for planting it; the large disks make the most inviting landing pad for beleaguered butterflies, who will be grateful for the nutritious nectar feast! Pkt (50 seeds) $2.75 128 MARIGOLDS (Edible) (Tagetes patula) Annual. Great in salads! Thrives in heat.

CRACKERJACK MIX #FL470 The giant African type that is popular with gar- CUPID MIX MARIGOLD #FL228 deners coast-to -coast; the big double blooms The most adorable little African marigolds for bedding! Seldom exceeding 14 inches, the plants are come in shades of lemon yellow to deep orange, smothered in deep golden, soft yellow, and tangerine orange blooms. The flowers are stunning in detail. and the 30” plants are profuse. Tightly packed, extravagantly curled petals are reminiscent of quilled chrysanthemum flowers. Perfect for Pkt (200 seeds)$2.50 edging borders or walks, where their joie de vivre can be shared by all. Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75

PETITE MIX #FL474 Very dwarf mixture of the crest- ORANGE HAWAII #FL462 ed French Marigolds; plants only Large, deep-orange flowers are 4” across, very grow to 10”-12” tall. Bright col- striking and beautiful. Plants grow to 3’. Orange ors. Easy to grow, even in small Hawaii is used as a natural feed additive to pots. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 brighten the yolks of eggs. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 KILIMANJARO WHITE #FL473 ORANGE FLAME #FL883 We finally have added a unique white marigold; this variety has lovely We love the unique blooms on this dwarf French type! 2” creamy-white blooms that really stand out in a crowd. White mari- Bronzy-red to orange single petals with a bright orangey golds were long in the making; in fact, Burpee Seed Company spent plume of petals in the center. Try planting these special 56 years of searching and breeding before finding success. After years marigolds en masse or along borders for a flaming effect of trying, David Burpee offered $10,000 to the first home gardener in the garden. Don’t forget that French marigolds are nat- who sent in the right seeds to help make a real white variety; thou- urally pest resistant and make useful companion plants to sands of gardeners responded for years. One lady, Vonk of Sully, things like squash and tomatoes! Pkt (100 seeds) $2.75 Iowa, sent seeds for 21 years, and in 1975, Burpee awarded her the coveted prize for her work—after the company had spent 56 years and $250,000 testing during the contest years. Now there are several MARVEL OF PERU or FOUR O’CLOCK white varieties, including this beauty. Pkt (30 seeds) $3.00 (Mirabilis jalapa) Tubers may be lifted and stored for planting the following spring. Discovered in the 16th century, the flowers open at approximately 4:00 PM. SPUN ORANGE #FL920 Fragrant flowers come in a wide range of colors, such as pink, magenta, yellow, white, and more. Very bright and attractive. Makes another great flower for night Our Favorite! gardens. One of the easiest Extra large, attractive, flowers to grow! super-double flowers with Caution: Poisonous tubular petals. The color is a pleasing, clear orange MARBLES MIXED rather than the harsh or- #FL448 Extravagant ange-brown so often seen mixture contains all of the in African marigolds. Plants various colors and patterns are rather compact, seldom of the “Marbles” series! exceeding 20 inches. Very Yellows, reds, oranges and uniform size is ideal for whites, each flower unique- cutting, yet earns its keep ly striped and splashed in the border. Pkt (100 with contrasting hues. Pkt seeds) $2.75 (25 seeds) $2.75

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 129 JAPANESE MORNING GLORIES, IPOMOEA Annual. Easy to grow vine, this is an amazing plant that was refined in 9th century Japan. Colorful and so easy to grow! (35 seeds per packet)

SUNRISE SERENADE #FL489 Our Favorite! (Ipomoea purpurea) One of our most asked-for CHOCOLATE #FL490 Our Favorite! flowers in our trial gardens. A few vines covered KIKYOZAKI MIXED, MORNING the arbor over our garden gate. The flowers are so (Ipomoea nil) The Japanese started selecting morning GLORY #FL493 (Ipomoea nil) unique and stunning: they’re true double morn- glories in the 9th century, and this selection is one of Kikyozaki morning glories are popular ing glories! They are fully double and uniquely their most stunning. Huge, 5”-6” blooms are in the love- in Japan. These are star-shaped and shaped, plus they come in the most lovely shades liest creamy, chocolate-pink color. Large plants produce of ruby-rose. This historic heirloom has long been many will be semi-double. Fantastic loads of these beauties that are so rare and unique. out of catalogs due to the introduction of modern looking and much sought after, this Imperial Japanese morning glories were quite popular varieties, but this variety proves that some things is a true botanic treasure that we are in America during Victorian times, and we plan to make can’t be improved! Pkt (25 seeds) $3.00 proud to offer. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 them popular here once again. Pkt (10 seeds) $4.00 LOVE GIANT, EASY-TO-GROW BLOOMS? TRY THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE MORNING GLORIES!

MURA KUMO #FL386 Amazing 5”-6” blooms. Aptly nicknamed “gathering clouds” morning glory, stormy dark violet disks are streaked with clouds of white, making a bold contrast against light green, slightly variegated foliage. Japan experienced a morning glory “mania” during the Edo period, much like tulip “fever” of the Dutch. Japan’s diverse list of unique morning glories heralds from this peri- od of excitement. Pkt (10 seeds) $6.00 AMERICAN MORNING GLORIES 朝顔 KEIRYU MOUNTAIN STREAM #FL939 Amazing LIME Green Leaves & Sea-Blue colored blooms! (Ipomoea nil) This is one of the best morning glories we have grown. It was on display at our gardens in Missouri, and the inquiries were MOONFLOWER #FL483 never ending. The foliage is bright lime green and variegated. The Long, vigorous vines grow large flowers are a unique true blue with white speckles and stripes. CLARK’S HEAVENLY BLUE #FL481 to 20’; giant fragrant white (I. purpurea) Lovely, 4” pale-blue flowers; this “Glory” type flowers. Excellent Flowers were prolific and varied; a truly captivating flower. Like heirloom dates to the 1920s. Produces long 12’ for planting in night gardens. most other Japanese Imperial types, this is a shy seed producer; the vines, and flowers the full season. Pkt $2.50 Pkt (20 seeds) $2.50 rare seeds are in limited supply. Pkt (10 seeds) $10.00

130 NASTURTIUM (Edible) (Tropaeolum majus) Annual. Sow where plants are to grow. Delicious flowers and leaves, perfect for salads! (25 seeds per Pkt) ALASKA RED SHADES #FL217 Annual. Stunning round-leafed nas- turtium foliage is brightly variegated. The velvety, deep maroon blooms come as a bonus. DWARF JEWEL MIX #FL503 A bit somber and Bright, sunny colors: yellow, pink, red, and orange. very dramatic! The edible flowers are popular for salads and as a Dwarf, upright garnish; the peppery leaves are also very flavorful. plants. Pkt $3.00 A colorful garden favorite. Pkt $2.75 or 100 seeds $5.00

TALL TRAILING MIX #FL511 KING THEODORE #FL514 This heirloom favorite grows up to 10’ in a season Fashionable, dark green plants have mahoga- and is perfect for covering walls, arbors and tall ny-red blooms with chocolate overtones. Stunning fences. Bright and cheery flowers come in shades YETI #FL513 and flashy. You’ll love this heirloom from the 1890’s of yellow, orange and red. The flowers are spicy and Named after the ape-like rare creature that with its compact, beautiful blooms. Pkt $2.50 flavorful, making the most beautiful salad. Pkt $3.00 legend says inhabits the Himalayas, these white nasturtiums are rare indeed. Not just things of folklore, here is a creamy-white flowering variety that blooms on long trailing vines that have large leaves. Pkt $3.00

PETUNIA (Flowers Edible) Annual. Early start indoors recommended. Old-fashioned petunias tend to bloom longer and are more fragrant than modern varieties.

TIP TOP ALASKA SALMON #FL502 New! Tiny Plants! A favorite edible flower in a soft, salmon color. Compact plants reach just 8 inches tall. The varie- gated leaves are also edible and make a spicy green in salads. The romantic-blush toned petals are perfect for fine edible flower designs. Pkt $3.25

PANSY (Edible) (Viola) Annual. Spring plant for summer bloom in cool-summer climates; plant late summer for autumn BALCONY MIX #FL562 bloom in warmer zones. Grows and blooms best when This old petunia was popular with gardeners cooler conditions prevail. throughout much of the first part of the twentieth BLACK KING PANSY #FL951 century, but has nearly been lost to cultivation be- cause of seed companies’ interests in selling newer A truly royal flower, this rich, large pansy has gorgeous varieties. This variety has delightfully fragrant petals, a satiny, deep black—like crushed velvet, with a blooms in , lavender and purple. small yellow eye. Very unique, these create an amazing Trailing plants are perfect for adding color and contrast in the flower bed; they also make quite the fragrance to window boxes and hanging baskets. statement in a mass planting. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.50 Pkt (800 seeds) $2.50

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 131 PHLOX

TWINKLES DWARF MIX #FL233 SUGAR STARS PHLOX #FL232 Annual. Deeply fringed or indented petal Annual. (Phlox drummondii) Very fragrant blooms margins give the impression of far more than in an unusual range of colors for a Phlox—pale AMERICAN LEGION #FL585 the 5 petals that are actually present. Diversity lavender to deep violet blue. White star-like cen- (Papaver rhoeas) This Flanders poppy grew in of streaks, stripes and zoning makes “Twinkles” ters and intricate contrasting striping complete Europe in World War I, and the name “American really shine. Widest possible range of phlox col- the breathtaking vision of splendor. Bushy plants Legion” honors the soldiers who died. Bright red ors, too! Compact plants rarely exceed 9 inches are incredible massed in borders, in front of walls, blooms cover plants; grows and blooms very and are perfect for edging. Makes a superior or of course for cutting gardens. Plants reach two easily. Annual. Pkt (600 seeds) $2.50 container variety, when situated so that the feet in height, blooming over a very long season. intricate details of each unique flower can be Butterflies love them, too! Pkt (200 seeds) $3.00 appreciated up close. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.75

POPPY WARNING: Some parts of many poppies are poisonous, do not use for food, unless you’re postive on their safety.

CALIFORNIA POPPY, RAINBOW MIX #WF145 The ultimate California Poppy mix! Ev- ery glorious shade on the spectrum is represented in this mix of single and double petaled blooms. Colors range from creamy yellows, vibrant orang- es, soft lilac, luxurious cherry and so much more! Try growing this mix broadcasted in meadows and along the driveway. This is the natural habit of California poppies; they have a knack for naturaliz- ing in these areas. Pkt (600 seeds) $2.50

HUNGARIAN BLUE BREADSEED #FL118 NEW! (P. somniferum) A graceful and gorgeous poppy from Hungary, beloved for its tasty seeds. This edible breadseed poppy produces dazzling purple petals that give way to large seed-filled pods. The pods are excellent for arranging, adding unique form to designs. The seeds are a light blue color with nutty BLACK SWAN #FL591 flavor. An annual that easily self sows, we love to plant this poppy in drifts, creating a swaying sea of (Papaver somniferum) Gorgeous double flowers have exotic, frilly cut petals of burgundy to al- purple color. Many Hungarian recipes call for poppy seeds, from fillings for rolls and bread. There is most black. One of the most unique and stunning even a traditional noodle dish with ground poppy seed topping. Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00 varieties you can grow! Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00

132 DANISH FLAG #FL595 (Papaver somniferum) Annual. Enormous flowers reach six inches across. Each one is intricately crinkled and feathered or frilled, of unbelievably vivid scarlet, and at the center of each is a large, snow-white Greek cross. The variety does indeed resemble the national flag of Denmark, which consists of a white cross on a scarlet field. Flowers attain a height of about 30”. Breathtaking in mass plantings! Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00

MOTHER OF PEARL #FL589 (Papaver rhoeas) A lovely mixture of misty and subtle shades. The late Sir Cedric Morris, painter and gardener, presumably years ago selected and named this mixture of pale and smoky colors as grey, lilac, mauve, pink, soft orange and white. Various flowers have flecking in the same tones and some delightful picotees. This refined mixture has a good balance of pastel colors. It is one of the most sub- tle poppy mixtures to grow in the garden. Easy, direct seeding on almost any soil, in full sun or partial shade. Stunning! Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00

PANDORA #FL222 (Papaver rhoeas) Annual. Flanders Poppy with a twist! The range of color runs from dusky rose to burgundy; when combined with silvery stripes, each double bloom resembles antique silk. Unique and very choice! This was a show-stopper in our trial gardens. Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00

LILAC POMPOM #FL590 (Papaver somniferum) Amazing double and semi-double lanciniata-type flowers in deli- cate lilac color. The large, frilly blooms are truly eye-catching when they contrast to the blue-grey FLEMISH ANTIQUE #FL583 foliage of the plants. Just scatter the seeds of this (Papaver somniferum) Beautiful, large double blooms in shades of rose, all striped with creamy white. hardy annual in early spring and wait for the color- This new poppy resembles those once seen in antique herbal books. The dried pods are filled with ful blooms. One of the most unique and beautiful seeds that can be used in baking. Simply gorgeous! Your garden will be blessed with the simple ele- poppies you can grow. Pkt (600 seeds) $3.50 gance of this stunning selection. Pkt (600 seeds) $3.00

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 133 SALVIA -SAGE Annual. (150 seeds per pkt)

BLUE MONDAY SAGE #FL700 PINK SUNDAY SAGE #FL701 (Salvia horminum) Wow, these produce long-last- (Salvia horminum) Lovely, romantic, bright-pink ing blue flower spikes over a long period! A love- flower spikes that shine in any heritage garden! ly 2’ plant that is becoming all the rage in cottage The 2’ plants are covered in pink all summer and gardens. Pkt $2.50 are very easy to grow. Pkt $2.50

SIRIUS BLUE SAGE #FL109 These stunning blue flower spikes will welcome hummingbirds, honeybees and butterflies to your garden. This se- SALVIA QUEEN MIX #FL256 New! lection produces an extra heavy crop of Cheerful blend of pollinator-friendly blooms. blooms! Native perennial from Mexico Rosy pink and violet spikes are aromatic and to Texas, Sirius blue is drought tolerant nectar rich, this mix is honey bee heaven! and will thrive in rocky soil. This compact Perennial, easy to grow, bushy 2 foot tall plants plant will only reach 12-16 inches in fill in quickly, creating a mass of color from May height, making it a great choice for the til September. Tolerates poor soil and loves full border. Pkt (60 seeds) $3.00 sun. Pkt (50 seeds) $3.50

SALPIGLOSSIS THE MOST COLORFUL FLOWER IN THE GARDEN!

KEW BLUE SALPIGLOSSIS #FL275 New! Intense deep blue, almost black blooms resemble a dark night. Flecks of pollen splash across the petals like stars in the sky. Excellent GRANDIFLORA MIX SALPIGLOSSIS #FL874 Just amazing! Annual. focal plant, plays so beautifully when planted with white blooms, like Salpiglossis caught everyone’s eye in the 2016 flower trials. Nicknamed “painted moonflower. Try in mixed plantings or containers. The rare painted tongue,” large petunia-like blooms are splashed with vibrant purple-pinks and tongue is deeply dramatic, sure to draw attention all summer long. yellows. These pretty flowers are native to southern Chile and are related to nico- Plants are 2-2.5 feet tall. Pkt (40 seeds) $2.75 tiana. Plants average 2.5 feet tall. Suitable for cut flowers. Pkt (200 seeds) $2.75

134 SNAPDRAGON

APPLE BLOSSOM SNAPDRAGON #FL911 (Antirrhinum majus) Lavish, full-sized old-fash- ioned snapdragons reaching 36 inches. Heavy trusses of large, velvety-textured blooms in true apple-blossom pink, contrasting with pale gold. TALL DELUXE MIXTURE SNAPDRAGON BLACK PRINCE SNAPDRAGON #FL621 Stunning massed at the back of the border or as #FL620 Beautiful, 30”-36” flower spikes in a One of the best, this variety has beautiful dark an accent plant. Yields a commendable cut-flow- brilliant range of colors: pink, red, yellow, lavender, leaves and stunning, very dark crimson flowers. This er, as well. Snapdragons were cherished in the and rose shades. Native to southern Europe. plant is so attractive when planted with light-col- gardens of yesteryear! Pkt (600 seeds) $2.75 Pkt (800 seeds) $2.50 ored plants. So pretty! Pkt (600 seeds) $2.75

STRAWFLOWER Annual. STATICE SWEET ALYSSUM Sow where plants are to grow. Annual. Occasionally self-sows. PACIFIC MIX #FL664 (Limonium sinuatum) Annual. This mix runs the widest possible range of rich jewel tones—purple, rose, SWEET ALYSSUM TALL WHITE and sunny lemon #FL108 Annual. This cheery white den- yellow. Plants reach izen of cottage gardens since who-knows- about 30 inches, and do when hardly needs an introduction! Tiny, double duty in borders, snow-white flowers are produced by the being lovely when in hundreds on spikes reaching just a foot bloom, before the flow- ers are cut for drying. in height. The fragrance is just like honey! TALL DOUBLE MIX #FL640 An old fashioned favor- Tuck them at the edge of borders, or along (Helichrysum bracteatum) The popular everlast- ite that is once again walks. The small plants are also great in ing flower that is easy and fun to grow. These receiving the appreci- window boxes or in pots--anywhere their come in red, pink, salmon, lemon, white, lilac, ation it deserves. Pkt sweet scent may be savored! and more! Pkt (250 seeds) $2.50 (150 seeds) $2.00 Pkt (400 seeds) $2.50

TASSEL FLOWER SWEET PEAS Caution: Poisonous.

IRISH POET #FL790 (Emilia javanica) Beautiful bright orange variety for naturalistic gardens. This annual has long stems and small, bright orange flow- AZUREUS BLUE #SW160 (L. sativus azureus) Brilliant azure- ers in clusters. These flowers were once described as blue flowers about 1 inch across, the windswept hair of an Irish poet. Suitable as a spe- borne on semi-trailing or bush plants cialty cut flower, it is a colorful filler for summer bou- OLD SPICE MIX #SW122 reaching about 2 feet in height. quets. Grow in full sun in soil with good drainage. A gorgeous and fragrant mix of the finest sweet peas. Really distinctive accent or container Tassel Flower was introduced to England from Asia Selected from varieties dating 1901-1907 has many brilliant plant! This Chinese native tolerates in 1799 and was also known as “Flora’s Paintbrush” in shades of colors. Great heat resistance. Modern varieties are heat much better than ordinary Victorian times. Pkt (150 seeds) $2.75 just not the same. Pkt (25 seeds) $2.75 sweet peas. Pkt (10 seeds) $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 135 SUNFLOWER (Edible) (Helianthus annus) Annual. (35 seeds per pkt)

FANTAZJA #FL879 A beautiful European selection, Fantazja means “imagination” in Polish. This tall, multi-branched ARIKARA #FL736 classic sunflower makes for a fantastic cover This native variety produces 10-foot tall plants with up plant for walls, fences or whatever needs AUTUMN BEAUTY #FL720 many beautiful large, bright yellow flowers with covered; the plant quickly and thickly fills a space A beautiful sunflower! Many 6” flowers in brilliant black centers. The seeds are edible and were used with vibrant multicolored blooms ranging from red, gold, yellow, rust, and burgundy. Blooms over by the Arikara nation in North Dakota. This heir- canary yellow to beautiful bronze. Heads are 4-6 a long period. Makes a wonderful display. Tall, 7’ loom produces flowers over a long period; it was a inches across, canary-yellow with a large, dark plants are a favorite. Pkt $2.00 or 300 seeds $6.00 real winner in our garden! Pkt $3.00 or brown center. Pkt $2.75 150 seeds $6.00 MONGOLIAN GIANT WORLD’S #FL721 NEW! LARGEST Behemoth sunflower vari- ety, heads are 16-18 inches SUNFLOWER across sitting atop 14 foot tall stalks! Huge, highly SEEDS!!! nutritious seeds are 1” long, more than twice the average sunflower seed size, perfect for snacking or feeding the birds! Pkt (15 seeds) $3.00 TAIYO #FL929 Annual, to 6-7 feet. An old Japanese variety, non-branching and grown for cut-flower use. Equally attractive in arrangements or in mass plantings in the garden. The tall, non-branching plants produce a single large flower in tones of yellow to orange, chocolate and sable. Florists adore the 8- to 10-inch flowers! Pkt $3.00

TITAN #FL749 A TRUE GIANT! Massive, record-setting flower heads have reached a fantastic 24” across in some areas. One of the largest you can grow, it also produces lots of really big seeds. Fun for the kids and adults as well. Pkt (10 seeds) $2.50 136 EVENING SUN #FL733 This beautiful variety has medium-large blooms in shades of burgundy, rust, bronze, bright yellow, and crimson, with many being bi-colored. The 7’ plants produce many flowers over a long season. This is one of our favorite varieties. Gor- geous! Pkt $2.50 GIANT WHITE-SEEDED #FL744 This classic giant variety produces large, yellow MEXICAN SUNFLOWER, RED TORCH heads and big, delicious white seeds perfect for #FL729 (Tithonia rotundifolia) (GOLDEN roasting. It also grows very tall, 10’-12’! Fun to FLOWER OF THE AZTECS) Brilliant, red-orange, grow and eat. Pkt (20 seeds) $2.50 2”- 3” flowers; an excellent butterfly plant. These bloom over a very long season, and the plants produce masses of blooms. The large 5’ plants are very beautiful. I enjoyed these as I traveled along the roadsides in the high mountains in central Mexico. Pkt $2.50

HENRY WILDE #FL745 The classic-looking heirloom sunflower with pure yellow petals and dark centers is perfect for us- ing as a cut flower and perfect for planting along a fence or barn. Pkt $2.75

MEXICAN SUNFLOWER, YELLOW TORCH MAMMOTH GREY STRIPED #FL735 #FL747 (Tithonia rotundifolia) Here is a yellow The standard giant variety that produces deli- version of this most popular plant with delightful cious seeds. The 10’ plants produce heads that apricot-yellow flowers that really cast a glow. This average 12” across. A stately garden plant. plant produces loads of flowers till frost. Very Pkt (25 seeds) $2.50 easy to grow. Pkt $2.75

RED SUN #FL912 Stately branching plants reaching 5-6 feet tall are covered with dozens of orna- mental blooms. Red to red-orange single flowers are highlighted with a hint of yellow around the centers. LEMON QUEEN #FL722 Best seller! Blooms over a very Beautiful, lemon-yellow blooms with choco- long season, attracting late centers. This one is very unique; tall plants bees and butterflies. produce many brilliant blooms that are a favorite Later, the tiny seeds of many bees. Pkt (25 seeds) $2.50 or 300 seeds attract birds. Pkt $2.75 $7.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 137 TEDDY BEAR #FL724 Beautiful 3”- 6” double, deep yellow blooms. Plants grow to only 18”- 24” tall, and the dou- ble blooms are very unique! This is a superb variety. Pkt $2.50 or 300 seeds $7.00

TALL ORANGE SUN #FL825 Clear yellow-orange, six-inch, fully double flowers look for all the world like super-sized chrysanthemums, perched atop plants reaching 4-5 feet in height. Pkt $3.00

ZINNIAS (Edible) (Zinnia elegans) Introduced from Mexico about 1800 and have been very popular ever since. They have huge flowers in many striking colors and are so easy to grow. Many of our zinnias are double, but many still produce fairly large numbers of single flowers. Zinnias can be more unstable than most other flowers, so expect some variation. We are working on selecting the best stock, but many need much more selection. (100 seeds per pkt.)

SCABIOSA ZINNIA #FL869 New! A vibrant mix of summery colors in cupcake flower form. These scabiosa type zinnias are extra fun with frilly pompom tops. The blooms add a different texture to arrangements. Brighten the border with these easy-to- CACTUS CHRYSANTHEMUM MIX #FL804 grow zinnias. It will A strikingly different, large zinnia profuse with curled also produce some and quilled spiky petals resembling a chrysanthemum single blooms, like or cactus flower. A bold display in a rainbow of bright all double types. colors, this eye-catching variety will be amazing in Pkt $3.00 your beds and borders. Pkt $3.00

MAZURKIA #FL862 Annual. Each scarlet petal is tipped in cream, and set off by the circular gold- en tracery at each flower’s heart—sump- tuous! Dahlia-type WILL ROGERS ZINNIA flowers, large bloom POLAR BEAR #FL810 #FL821 This variety was size, robust plants: The white dahlia-type zinnia has very named after the famous Amer- what more could a large blooms that are quite magnificent ican Will Rogers and produces zinnia connoisseur ask stunning, big, red flowers that looking. A pretty bloom that is a must for for? Pkt $3.00 really stand out. Pkt $2.25 bouquets! Pkt $2.50 138 PURPLE PRINCE #FL836 Annual. Dahlia-flowered type is one of the tallest we’ve seen! The flowers are extra large and brilliant amethyst-purple with pale green centers. Fine for cut flowers, but the lavish display is best appreciated right in the garden, especially planted en masse. Beloved in gardens since 1949. Fabulous! Pkt $2.75

RED MAN SUPER CACTUS ZINNIA #FL820 New! Magnificent, huge red-flowered variety of the giant cactus-type zinnia family. These flowers are stately, being a deep red and having the pointed cactus-type petals. An old favorite that has now become rare. Pkt $3.00

MACARENIA #FL861 Annual. Ravishing flowers look like crimson velvet laced with gold! Large dahlia-flowered blooms are very double, two- toned in gold and red. The full-sized plants are just a bit compact, and the EL DORADO #FL857 As reliable as it is beautiful, this me- generous yield of blooms dium-large double-flowered zinnia does not disappoint. The makes this an especial- striking salmon-orange color looks amazing in arrangements. ly good variety for cut The stems are super rigid and perfect for cutting. Pkt $3.00 flowers. And if it’s a trifle gaudy, well, that’s just how we like our zinnias to be! Pkt $3.00

EXQUISITE ZINNIA #FL829 New! AZTEC ZINNIA #FL824 New! Aptly named, this variety is nothing short of exquisite. Petals A brilliant orange, cactus flowering CANARY BIRD #FL805 type dahlia. These spectacular blooms burst forth with ruby-red tones, gracefully aging to a subtle Large dahlia-type blooms are a beautiful yellow, are bursting with tangerine sunshine rose blush. Expect an extra-long harvest period from this 4”-5” across. Great cut flowers for home or farm and will add pizazz to the garden and hard-working variety. Plants are sturdy and tall, ready to markets; an old favorite. Pkt $2.50 withstand a long season. Pkt $3.00 arrangements. Easy to grow. Pkt $3.00 More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 139 the fantastic queen zinnias! QUEEN LIME RED ZINNIA QUEEN LIME BLUSH ZINNIA #FL864 Art shades in zin-

#FL865 We just can’t get enough n nias? The answer is yes! This of these vibrant, dahlia-flowered large-flowered, dahlia-type beauties! Large 3-inch blooms zinnia combines ruby tones display an incredible lime green to with apple green, and the red ombre with red centers. Stems result is sophisticated ethe- reach 25 inches tall, and the plant real loveliness! Flowers are remains sturdy. These make an extra very double, borne all season long-lasting cut flower. The butter- long on productive, full-sized flies seemed to especially appreciate zinnia plants, to about three this variety! Amazing! Pkt (25 seeds) feet tall. Intriguing! Pkt (25

$4.00 n seeds) $4.00 n

QUEEN LIME ORANGE ZINNIA #FL867 We are enam- ored with this 2018 All American Selection! Perfect 2-3.5 inch blooms transform from a coral sunset to peach sorbet with a QUEEN LIME ZINNIA #FL863 hint of minty green in the center. Brilliant apple-green companion to This dynamic new heirloom has the other ‘Queens’ and stunning when been selected for splendid colors paired with them, either in the bed or as well as a sturdy compact border, or in the vase! Dahlia blooms habit. Plants stand 28-32 inches are incredibly double, tightly packed tall, with strong stems perfect with brilliant green petals. Large for cutting and arranging as well plants are believed to be sturdier and as holding up in the landscape. more robust than ‘Envy,’ our previ- With exceptionally long vase life, ous old favorite for green-flowered n these are known to stay perky for up to 3 weeks! Pkt (25 seeds) zinnias. Pkt (25 seeds) $4.00 $4.00 GROW THEM ALL FOR AMAZING BOUQUETS! 140 FALL BULBS We adore fall planted bulbs because they are so easy, and they make the first flowers each spring! These tend to be hardy from zones 3 through 8. It is important to plant bulbs soon after you receive them; don’t let them lay around outside! Pre-order now and we will ship your bulbs in HEIRLOOM VEGETABLE GARDENING: A September 2019, right before planting time! Master Gardener’s Guide to Planting, Seed Saving and Cultural History #BK101 HISTORIC DAFFODIL MIX (NARCISSUS) #BL202 There is a spectacular range of daffodil varieties; By William Woys Weaver New! they showcase beautifully beside one another 2nd Edition- An essential gardener’s resource, in mass plantings. An entire bed of daffodils will in this guide, William Woys Weaver shares range from large yellow trumpets to delicate with us an incredible wealth of heirloom seed white flowers with bright orange cups. Here you knowledge, as well as culinary and gardening will find some of the varieties that were beloved prowess. This book is sure to be a modern classic by gardeners of the past as well as a few new and is one of the most important books on varieties that are so special we just cannot help gardening in the current century. 480 Pages, sharing with you. 25 bulbs for $24 hardcover. Forward by Jere Gettle. SALE $25 (Regular $40)

PARROT TULIP MIX #BL201 The most flamboyant by-products of tulipmania HISTORIC HYACINTH #BL204 SAFFRON CROCUS #BL205 are the Parrot tulips. They arrive fashionably late, The common garden Hyacinth originated in Talk about a cash crop, the dried stigmas and usually blooming mid to late spring just after the Turkey and has been cultivated commercially styles of Crocus sativus are known as one of the more traditional, early varieties of tulips. They fin- since the second half of the 16th century. Here most expensive spices by weight; now you can ish off tulip season with a bang; colors are often are some old varieties that have withstood the grow your own saffron in your garden. Saffron test of time and remain in cultivation today. It bright flames of color with frilly, twisted or wavy is revered for its unique flavor that has been isn’t hard to understand how these fragrant old petals. Parrot tulips are a favorite of macro - described as a slightly metallic honey with hay friends have secured their place in gardeners’ notes. Saffron has a remarkable history; it is tographers for their gracefully contorted flower hearts; they are delightful! 10 bulbs for $24 said that Cleopatra liked her bath scented with forms and stark color contrasts. 25 bulbs for $24 saffron. 25 bulbs for $20

More varieties of seed available at www.rareseeds.com 141 Books for Heirloom Gardeners ORDERING INFO Our very own books... Online orders: (The quickest way!) THE BAKER CREEK VEGAN COOKBOOK: WWW.RARESEEDS.COM Traditional Ways to Cook, Preserve, & Eat the Harvest #BK267 Send orders to: By Jere and Emilee Gettle The co-founders of Baker Creek Heirloom BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEEDS Seed Company take you through more 2278 BAKER CREEK ROAD than 125 vegan recipes that are healthy and easy to make. They share tips and tricks on MANSFIELD, MO 65704 canning and preserving, as well as provide Fax orders to: 417-924-8887 a list of pantry staples to have on hand. Paperback, 194 pages. WE ACCEPT CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS, CASH AND ALL SALE $14.95 MAJOR CREDIT CARDS! If paying by credit card, please write number, expiration date and CVV on order form. PLEASE INCLUDE ITEM NUMBERS ON SEED ORDERS! THE HEIRLOOM LIFE GARDENER: The Baker Creek They are listed right after the variety name (e.g. ROMA Way of Growing Your Own Food Easily & Naturally #TM110). This will help us get your order to you quickly. #HG114 By Jere & Emilee Gettle, with Meghan YOU MAY USE OUR ENCLOSED ORDER FORM OR JUST Sutherland . A book for heirloom gardeners and want-to-be gardeners that covers all the basics, from WRITE CLEARLY ON A SHEET OF PAPER. Remember to seed starting, growing, organic methods, harvest, include your name, address and phone number and email. storage, seed saving, as well as stories of our life in the soil, and growing and eating from the land. Learn POSTAGE & HANDLING: about our seed collecting trips and stories from our FREE SHIPPING for USA, Canada and Mexico seed’s history. We wrote this book as a colorful and simple guide book that will inspire you to garden *INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE & HANDLING: the easy and heirloom way, the way our ancestors All other countries, 20% of the order total, min. $5.00 gardened! Full color, hardcover. 228 pages. Special TELEPHONE: We have limited phone lines and are no longer price for our customers! $22.00 (Regular $29.95) taking orders by phone, so please mail, fax or place your order online. You’re welcome to call if you have questions or need help. 417-924-8917 SALES TAX: California customers, please add 7.25% for all products except vegetable and herb seeds, which are non-taxable. Connecticut customers, please add 6.35% for all products except vegetable and herb seeds, which are non-taxable. CLYDE’S GARDEN PLANNER #CGP101 Florida customers, please add 6% for all products except This unique chart presents gardening events vegetable and herb seeds, which are non-taxable. in a “time-phased” format so that it is possible to see at a glance the entire planting, growing Missouri customers, please add 6.1% on all products, and harvesting period. It shows proper indoor except for vegetable and herb seeds; for these add 3.1%. and outdoor planting times relative to spring and fall frost dates for 22 common garden Other areas are not subject to sales tax. vegetables. Since frost dates vary from region *TWO YEAR GUARANTEE + TERMS AND CONDITIONS: to region, the chart will slide, making it useful in THE 2019 WHOLE SEED CATALOG All orders are shipped by the U.S. Postal Service or FedEx. most parts of the Northern Hemisphere where #WHS119 The world’s largest seed Estimated time of fulfillment is usually 1 to 5 business days. frost is a critical gardening factor. The front of It is our goal to ship all orders in 24 hours. catalog--with 355 full-color pages Seeds are guaranteed to germinate at reasonable rates for two the chart shows the spring season, and the of pure gardening delight. The years from the date of purchase. Seeds are also guaranteed to grow flip side acts as a guide for fall gardeners. Frost new Whole Seed Catalog contains true to type. Seed packets may be returned for only these reasons, dates are included in the directions. Developed the very best of our 2019 heirloom and are only eligible for an exchange or refund up to the purchase by a friend and customer, this handy chart is a price of the item. We are not responsible for return shipping costs. offerings--old favorites and new dis- We are in no way responsible for more than the purchase price. favorite of our staff and customers to our store. coveries--from about 100 countries, A must for new gardeners. Just $4.00! Merchandise is guaranteed to be free of defects. Any faulty accompanied by page after breath- or broken merchandise may be returned for a full refund or taking page of our usual stunning exchanged up to 2 years from the date of purchase. photography. But WSC offers so much We are not responsible for return shipping costs. more-- including many stories about We will never sell or give away your information. However, we Baker Creek treasured heirloom varieties. Order may contact you at any time in the future. your Whole Seed Catalog now. Allow All live plants are guaranteed true-to-type and to grow. Gift Certificates 2-5 weeks for delivery. $9.95 Please let us know if you have a problem or have questions and we will work to correct any issue. Available Online! Also find at Barnes and Noble, and many other fine newsstands We reserve the right to refuse service because of fraud or for any other reason we deem necessary. 142 ORDER FORM Phone #______Date______Name______Address______City______State______Zip Code______Email______

Cut on line # of Items Order # Name of Item Price $ 1 FR000 FREE GIFT PACKET - A gift with all orders! (Our choice) $0.00 Cut on line

More varieties of seedSatisfaction available at www.rareseeds.com GUARANTEED for 2 years! 143 Order Form Side 2 Do you have a comment or suggestion? We would love to hear from you! # of Items Order # Name of Item Price $

Request a catalog for a friend! Send orders to: USA, CAN., MEX. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds SHIPPING is FREE! Friend’s Name 2278 Baker Creek Road ______Mansfield, MO 65704 USA CA, CT, FL & MO Customers: Add Sales Tax! (See Order Info) Address Or place order online for ______quicker processing! City State Zip www.Rareseeds.com TOTAL ______$ Thanks for your order! It will help us preserve more rare seeds. 144 Our favorite garden tools and products! COPPER COBRAHEAD® MINI WATERING CAN #CDT500 New! #CWC101 Made the in USA. This beautiful indoor “Mini” Weeder and watering can is a must- Cultivator is 8 3/4” have for the serious long and gets weeds in even the tightest indoor horticulturist. spaces. It can take care Made of beautiful of the same tasks as the polished copper, its original CobraHead, but functional design with Jere loves keeping it a tall neck allows for in his pocket for quick precision watering weeding in the garden. of indoor plants We absolutely love without spillage from this new innovation in the tipped can. The handheld tools! Caution: removable watering these are sharp. $23.95 rose lets you choose a fine spray or a steady COBRAHEAD® HAND stream of water. One HOE #CDT101 Precision liter capacity. Made in weeder and cultivator is the England by the Haws closest thing to a universal garden hand tool. It weeds, company. $112 cultivates, scalps, edges, digs, furrows, plants, transplants, de-thatches, and harvests with ease. Jere’s favorite tool ever! Made in the USA. Caution: these are sharp. $24.95

NUTSCENE GARDEN TWINE #NGT101 All purpose garden twine is made of 3-ply, all natural jute from sustainable sources. Soft, pliable, and strong. Made in Scotland since 1922. COPPER PLANT Approximately 26 meters MARKERS #CPM101 Durable and attractive plant total on 2 spools. $4.50 SERIOUS HAND WEEDER #SHW101 markers made of beautiful This wonderful weeding tool is designed and built copper-plated metal. These by an engineer turned organic farmer who needed easy-to-use copper markers a hand weeding tool that could withstand the rigor can be etched with a ball of hand weeding over 4 acres of sweet potato. The point pen. Face size is 3½ x ergonomic handle enables the serious weeder to 11/8 inches. Sold in packages both push and pull, easily cutting weeds off just of 10 tags with stakes. $10.00 below the surface. This tool works especially well on tough hard clay soils that tend to bend or break many tools. We love it! Caution: these are sharp and must be kept out of reach of children. $24.95

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