SILVER HEIGHTS FARM Certified Organic, Open Pollinated Unusual & Heirloom Vegetable Plants DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HEIRLOOM PLANTS BY GROWING GOOD GARDENERS 2013 Catalog Featuring varieties to dazzle the gardener’s imagination Multitudes of Tomatoes, Tomatillos, & Ground Cherries Peppers & Eggplants & Okras galore Glorious Cucumbers, Squashes, & Melons Other fun Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers NURSERY HOURS Always closed on Sundays. Mondays are heavy “work” days. You can come, but we can’t give you as much attention. April By chance, best Tuesday-Saturday, 10-3. Never on Sunday. May & June-July 3 Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4; Monday by chance, 10-3. Never on Sunday. July 5-mid September By chance, best from 10-3. Closed July 4. Never on Sunday. There is NO PHONE service at the nursery – no land lines and little to no cell service. Instead, the phone rings at Trina’s home, 10 miles away. Inconvenient, we know, but we are in the “boonies.” Payment is by cash, check and money orders only, as we do not accept any credit or debit cards. Sorry, we do not ship or deliver. All prices are subject to change after July 3, 2013. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION The nursery moved in 2005 away from Trina’s backyard outside of Jeffersonville. The nursery for Silver Heights Farm is now located at the Gorzynski Farm at 7381 State Route 52 in Cochecton Center, NY. The nursery is at the front of the fields, next to the big grey block 4-storied barn with a red roof. Parking is alongside Route 52. Please do not park in front of the barn or in the driveway, as the Gorzynski Farm folks need that space for their operation. We are now much easier to find! Directions on page 4. Please do not go to Trina’s farm in Jeffersonville! By the way, if you are interested in joining a CSA, the Gorzynski Farm offers this opportunity. You may pick up a brochure when here or contact John or Sue Gorzynski at 845-252-7570 for more details. FARMERS’ MARKETS Silver Heights Farm can be found at 4 farmers’ markets this year. On Wednesdays we will be at the west side of Union Square in Manhattan from 8 AM – 6 PM, mid-April until mid-September. On Saturdays we will be at Union Square from mid-April through June 29. On Sundays we will be at the Callicoon market, Creekside Park on Audley Dorrer Road, 11 AM – 2 PM, mid-May –early-July. On Saturdays we also can be found at the Barryville market, 10 AM – 1 PM, until early July. We can bring your “wish list” order to any market, with at least 2 day’s notice. Due to severe lack of space, please limit your “wish list” to 8 plants. We really want to bring a large selection to market for our other shoppers. You may drop your list at any market or you may e-mail at [email protected]. Also, you may leave a message at 845-482-3608 and we will return your call as soon as we can. Farmers’ market prices will be charged (usually catalog price, plus sales tax, plus transportation costs, all rounded to nearest $0.25). THE SAFE SEED PLEDGE “Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately people and communities.” COVER PICTURE: Special thanks go to my friend, Leona Willis, for the cover art. 2 Welcome to Silver Heights Farm’s twelfth catalog of certified organic, heirloom & unusual, open pollinated vegetable transplants. We grow Butterfly Bushes every year because they tickle our fancy and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and other pollinators. We also grow a very rich line of culinary and medicinal herbs and several dye plants. The flowers we grow are all old-fashioned varieties difficult to find in most markets. There are a few NEW selections this year that hold the promise of performing well in the Northeast, especially in the shorter, cooler summers of the Catskill region of New York. Regional and backyard differences in flavor and productivity will abound. Each year we find certain varieties of seeds are no longer commercially available and heritage vegetables disappear from the commercial market. However, demand from gardeners continues to help keep most seed varieties available commercially. We make great efforts to find rare seeds of wonderful vegetables. Open pollinated plants are the unheralded champions of our agricultural heritage. Their amazing genetic diversity has been developed and shepherded through the centuries by families and farmers alike. Gardeners and farmers once routinely saved a seed crop every year for the next year’s bounty. Folks selected seeds from plants that exhibited valued characteristics so that they could enjoy this year’s bounty in the following years. Saving seeds once had a recognized, valuable place in the circle of life. To encourage you to continue this tradition please check page 61 about how to save tomato seeds. Once again, we are highlighting ARK plants – those that have received Slow Foods distinctive recognition for the need to preserve endangered foods and their associated economic, social and cultural heritage. Go to www.SlowFoodUSA.org to learn more. Through learning and then teaching others how to save seeds, the rapidly disappearing genetic diversity of our plants can be preserved by gardener and farmer alike. The plants offered in this catalog provide the basic growing stock for seed saving – as well as enrich our table fare. Quite a few of these varieties have been grown for 50 or more years. These are recognized as treasured heirlooms. These are plants that were selected and bred by individuals and their families, some that entire communities maintained over the years, and some that institutions intentionally developed to meet specific needs. When an heirloom’s “story” is known, it is included in our brief description. Here you will find the names of many dedicated plant breeders and backyard gardeners, of seed companies that introduced varieties from the many corners of the world, and of seed saving organizations that strive to ensure the preservation of older breeds of plants. We are always interested in learning any details you can share with us, including your triumphs and disappointments. When you stop by the nursery or one of our market stands, please take the time to ask your growing questions. We are happy to help you with your gardening issues. Weeds, bugs, diseases, spacing, watering, fertility…. It is very important to us to help you be successful. At Silver Heights Farm we strive to “GROW GOOD GARDENERS.” ABOUT THIS CATALOG Our plants are grown organically, certified by NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC (producer #200123). Each plant has a short description of unique characteristics. Synonyms of a variety are listed when known. Vegetables have listed a maturity date, which is the approximate number of days from transplanting into your garden before you get to pick something ripe. If a variety is at least 50 years old, it is an heirloom, which is noted and where it is from, when known. At the heading for each kind of vegetable is a listing of available pots sizes and their corresponding prices. All pots and packs have deeper than normal root space, unlike most bedding plants. Deeper roots give your transplants a greater boost when moved to the garden site. Plants with delicate roots are in peat pots. Experimentation also becomes more feasible when a gardener can select individual plants, instead of entire packs. Pot sizes generally are 2-1/2”, 4” and quarts. Some larger sizes are available, too. Packs come in several sizes and you may purchase them either as single packs or as entire trays: 804s 4-packs, with 8 packs to a tray; 32 cells per tray 806s 6-packs, with 8 packs to a tray; 48 cells per tray 606s 6-packs, with 6 packs to a tray; 36 cells per tray Nursery Location: 7381 State Route 52 Cochecton Center, NY 12727 Mailing Address: Telephone and Fax: 845-482-3608 216 Eggler Road E-mail: [email protected] Jeffersonville, NY 12748 Website: www.silverheightsfarm.com 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Artichoke and Cardoon 5 Melon 25 Asparagus 5 Okra 26 Beans, Limas, Cowpeas 5 Onion 27 Beets 8 Peas 28 Broccoli, Broccoletti 9 Pepper 29-36 Brussels Sprouts 10 Hot 29 Cabbage 10 Ornamental Paprika, Seasoning 33 Cauliflower 11 Sweet, Bell 34 Celeriac, Celery 11 Sweet, Non-Bell 35 Corn, Popcorn 12 Pumpkin 36 Cucumber, Gherkin 13 Rhubarb 37 Eggplant 15 Strawberry 37 Greens, Assorted 16-22 Summer Squash 38 Amaranth 16 Tomatillo, Ground Cherry, Collards 17 Huckleberry, Litchi 39 Fennel 17 Tomato 40-57 Kale 17 How to Grow Tomatoes 40 Kohlrabi 18 Containers, Tolerances 42 Misc. Asian & Ethnic 18 Small, up to 2 oz. 42 Mustard 19 Medium, 2-8 oz. 46 Odds & Ends 20 Large, 8-16 oz. 49 Pak Choi, Choi Sum 21 Very Large, 1 lb.+ 52 Spinach 21 Processing 55 Swiss Chard 22 Watermelon 57 Leeks 22 Winter Squash 59 Lettuce, Lettuce-Likes 23-25 How to Save Tomato Seeds 61 Arugula 23 Wish List 62 Cutting Chicory, Dandelion 23 Notes 63 Escarole 24 Contact Information 64 Frisee 24 Radicchio 24 HOW TO FIND THE NURSERY – DIRECTIONS – THE WAY TO GO! From NYC: Take NY Thruway I-287 North towards Albany.