Fava Broad Windsor beans, also known as Vicia faba 'Broad Windsor,' are a classic heirloom variety with a storied history and a range of notable characteristics. Originating in the United Kingdom, this variety has been cultivated for centuries and is particularly valued for its large, hearty beans and reliable yield. The plants are characterized by their robust growth habit, reaching heights of 24 to 36 inches, with broad, dark green leaves and striking white flowers often tinged with purple. The beans themselves are large and plump, typically encased in thick, protective pods that turn from green to a rich brown as they mature. Fava Broad Windsor beans are known for their creamy, slightly nutty flavor, which becomes more pronounced when the beans are cooked. The plants generally bloom in late spring to early summer, and the beans are usually harvested about 80 to 90 days after sowing. They thrive in cool, well-drained soil and prefer full sun to partial shade. The robust nature of the plants and their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil make them a valuable crop for improving soil fertility in rotation systems. With their rich flavor, historical significance, and agronomic benefits, Fava Broad Windsor beans are a cherished choice for both traditional and modern gardens.
Argent is a heterozygous sugary enhancer with excellent eating quality. It is noted for its wide adaptability and disease tolerance. High Resistance: Stewart’s Wilt. Intermediate Resistance: Northern Corn Leaf Blight.
The Catskill Brussels sprout produces numerous heads with strong stalks! Delicious flavor, extra large sprouts that grow up to 2" round with medium green color. Catskill has large yields on strong stalks (24" tall) that make it easy to pick. First introduced in 1941 by Arthur White, this heirloom is great fresh eating or freezing. Brussels sprouts are best grown for fall harvest due to cold weather giving sprouts more flavor.
Delectable RM has large well-filled ears and dark green husk. It has a wide range of adaptability and versatility in several markets. It is pleasing to the consumer for it's good texture and taste. Delectable RM has also been given an added boost with a stronger disease package, making a favorite more favorable. Intermediate Resistance: Stewart’s Wilt, NCLB
The Early Wonder beet is a popular heirloom beet plant that produces high yields of deep red roots! A popular beet that is tasty, early maturing and produces abundant greens. The beets are great for boiling, pickling, baking, and freezing. Forms 3-4" deep red globes that are sweet and tender. Also known as "Tall Top" for its tall, glossy leaves that make great greens with salads. Greens are also a great substitute for chard or spinach and have high vitamin A and C.
The White Albino beet plants produce good yields of very sweet white beets. The beets are white and will never stain again! This gourmet beet is ideal for boiling, pickling, baking, and freezing.
The Eastland bean, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris 'Eastland,' is a popular variety of bush bean that hails from the United States. It is highly esteemed for its exceptional taste and ease of cultivation. Eastland beans belong to the family Fabaceae and are a warm-season crop commonly grown in gardens and small-scale farms. In terms of taste, Eastland beans are celebrated for their tender, crisp texture and rich, earthy flavor. They are a delight to eat both raw and cooked. The pods of Eastland beans are of medium size, typically measuring around 4-5 inches in length. The plants themselves are compact and bushy, making them suitable for smaller gardens and spaces. These beans have a relatively short maturity period, typically taking around 70-75 days from planting to harvest. The beans are known for their vibrant green color, making them visually appealing as well. Eastland beans are generally resistant to common bean diseases such as bean mosaic virus and rust. They are known to provide a good yield per acre, often ranging from 800 to 1,200 pounds of beans per acre, depending on growing conditions and care. Proper spacing is crucial for their growth, with plants typically spaced 3-4 inches apart in rows that are about 18-24 inches apart. These beans thrive in well-drained soil with full sun exposure and require regular watering to maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil. Overall, Eastland beans are a favorite among gardeners and farmers for their taste, disease resistance, and relatively quick harvest time.
The Pencil Pod Black Wax bean is a highly productive and long standing bush bean. Also known as 'Eastern Black Wax', these beans are bushy, vigorous, and resistant to rust and mosaic virus. The pods are golden color and grow to 5-7" long. A great all-purpose type, that is great fresh, canned, or frozen. As the name hints, the seeds are black.
Wando pea seeds are a popular heirloom variety known for their cold tolerance and early harvest. They produce vibrant green, sweet-tasting peas that are perfect for fresh eating, freezing, or cooking. The seeds grow into plants that are typically 18-24 inches tall, making them ideal for small gardens or containers. Wando peas are well-suited for cooler climates, as they can withstand light frosts and thrive in temperatures between 55°F and 75°F. With a quick maturation time of about 60-70 days, they are a great choice for gardeners looking to enjoy peas early in the growing season. Their resilience and ease of growth make them a favorite among both beginner and experienced gardeners.
The Italian Cocozelle is a bush type of squash plant that produces high yields of the long, tender, dark green fruits. This Italian zucchini is very flavorful and tender. This variety is best when harvested at 12" long or smaller. The Cocozelle is excellent for slicing, frying, and steaming and is also a good freezing and canning variety. Pick often when the squash is young to prolong harvest. Harvesting zucchini when it is young and tender offers the best flavor and eating quality. See the second picture for what the inside should look like when harvested.
The small Woods Prolific Lima Bean is perfect for canning, freezing and as a dry bean! The bean plant produces thick green pods with small creamy white seeds. Each pod contains about 3 to 4 seeds. The Woods Prolific Lima Bean prefers full sun and has early to mid maturity and produces continuously until frost.
The Country Gentleman corn is one of the best tasting open-pollinated corns available! This heirloom variety is a sweet, delicious corn with milky kernels that was first introduced over 100 years ago. Country Gentleman is a white variety with 8” ears. Its ears have no rows, as this is a shoepeg type, and its kernels are packed in a zigzag pattern. Country Gentleman is one of the best heirloom sweet corns in our opinion!
The Viroflay Spinach is a gourmet French heirloom that was developed prior to 1866. The big, smooth leaves of this Spinach variety is a deep green color and grows up to 10 inches long. This very fast growing plant is popular for fall planting.
The red veined Red Tabby Spinach has beautiful tender smooth leaves. This variety is an excellent baby leaf spinach that does well in spring, fall and winter. Its uniform, smooth leaves grow straight and upright. Red Tabby is also resistant to downy mildew races 1-13.
The Buttergold corn has a sweet, tender and delicious flavor that is one you can't beat! This large sugary corn has a great keeping quality, making them excellent for freezing. With good cold soil emergence, the Buttergold is perfect for growing in northern climates, but it can perform well anywhere. Enjoy the mouth-watering sweet flavor of this corn in just 63 days!
The Red Russian Kale is a very tender, colorful specialty kale for salad mix and bunching. This variety is a special, refined strain. Its stems are purple and leaves are deep gray-green with purple veins. This flat, noncurled, and tooth-edged kale has a wonderful taste. Red Russian matures medium-tall and leaves are tender compared to other kales.
The Spineless Beauty means no more spiky hairs on your zucchinis! This zucchini variety is spineless so no more watering eyes when harvesting your zucchinis. This very flavorful and tender zucchini stores well and has juicy flesh that is great for cooking.
The Kentucky Wonder 125 bean is a wonderful bush bean that is above the others! Kentucky Wonder 125 Bush Bean matures early than most bush beans and produces beans in clusters over a long season. The bush beans’ meaty, medium-green pods are 8 inches and packed with delicious, extra-tasty bean seeds.
