The Crosby Egyptian Beet, a classic heirloom variety, has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. Originating in Egypt, it was introduced to the United States in the 1860s and quickly gained popularity among gardeners and farmers. This beet variety has stood the test of time due to its exceptional taste and versatility in the kitchen. Crosby Egyptian Beets are known for their sweet and tender flesh, making them a favorite for both raw and cooked applications. They have a distinct earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness, making them perfect for salads, pickling, roasting, and even juicing. These beets typically mature in about 55-60 days, making them a relatively quick-growing option for gardeners. In terms of appearance, Crosby Egyptian Beets are small to medium-sized, usually reaching about 2-3 inches in diameter. They have a round to slightly flattened shape and a vibrant deep red or purplish skin. Disease resistance is moderate, with some resistance to common pests and diseases like aphids and leaf miners. In terms of yields, you can expect a good harvest of beets from each plant, especially if you space them adequately (about 2-4 inches apart) in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. These beets thrive in cool weather conditions, making them suitable for spring and fall planting. With its rich history and delightful flavor, the Crosby Egyptian Beet continues to be a treasured addition to vegetable gardens.
Bull's Blood beet, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris, is a striking and versatile variety of beetroot that has gained popularity for its unique characteristics. This heirloom variety has a fascinating history, dating back centuries to Europe, where it was initially cultivated for its edible leaves rather than the root. Its name, "Bull's Blood," is derived from the deep burgundy-red color of its leaves, which resemble the color of ox blood. Over time, its sweet and earthy flavor profile has made it a favorite among chefs and home gardeners alike. In terms of appearance, Bull's Blood beets typically grow to a medium size, roughly 2-3 inches in diameter, and have a round to slightly flattened shape. The seeds of this variety are easy to come by and can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors. Bull's Blood beets are relatively quick to mature, taking about 50-60 days from seed to harvest. The leaves are a deep red, while the root itself is a dark purplish-red, making it visually appealing on the plate. Bull's Blood beets exhibit some resistance to common beet diseases like Cercospora leaf spot and Downy Mildew, although specific resistance levels may vary depending on growing conditions. When properly cared for, they can yield a plentiful harvest. To ensure optimal growth, it's recommended to space the beet plants about 2-4 inches apart in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Adequate moisture and consistent watering are essential for healthy growth. Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your garden or enhance your culinary creations, Bull's Blood beets are a delightful choice with a rich history and vibrant character.
Bobcat is a high producing fresh-market variety that has long storage life. Excellent flavor and good resistance to disease. Due to its high yield potential, Bobcat is suitable for coleslaw production.
This cabbage is known for its solid head and excellent flavor. Late Flat Dutch is a big cabbage, it is a good keeper and the standard late season variety. Heads form up to 12 inches and weigh as much as 15 pounds. Late Flat Dutch has an excellent flavor.
The Premier Kale, or also known as Early Hanover, is a high yielding kale with delicious and nutritious green leaves. This kale is early maturing that produces high amounts of smooth, dark green leaves. Plant Premier in the fall so that it produces higher yields and resists bolting 4 weeks longer. This kale's taste is a favorite and is extremely high in antioxidants and beta carotene!
Storage #4 is a great producer of dark green color cabbage that have excellent storage life. This versatile variety also works great in the late fall for fresh market, especially in muddy and rainy conditions. Due to its earliness when used for storage, we recommend later season plantings for best storage results.
Continuity is an extra early iceberg type of lettuce that has thick dark-green leaves that fades to a bronze-red tip. This lettuce is crisp with a fine flavor! This reliable header has some tendency to bolt in hot weather, and is firm and solid.
The Midnight Ruffles Lettuce gets its name for being one of the darkest red loose leaf lettuces around! This variety is a delicious new lettuce variety that has extra crinkled leaves, with toothed edges. The Midnight Ruffles hearts are very densely packed for a leaf type, but are so sweet and delicious any salad or dish!
Happy Rich Baby is an excellent summer producing baby broccoli. Produces uniform, vigorous, dark-green florets that look like baby broccoli heads. One of the best flavors broccoli flavors with hints of sweetness. Produces generous amounts of side shoots when first floret is pinched out and plants are spaced 12-18" apart.
The Blush Butter Cos Lettuce is a very popular and tasty butterhead variety with beautiful pink blushing and cos qualities. This lettuce has a good, sweet flavor with dense, buttery sausaged leaves. This variety is most known for its easy to remove leaves without any tearing or bruising.
The Rudolph Radish is known for being a "cute" smaller variety that has a very deep red hue and a nice uniform globe shape. It is only 1.5 inches round! Rudolph might be tiny, but it is bursting with lots of flavor! These crisp, sweet radishes will give any salad or dish an extra kick.
The Bloomsdale spinach is such an attractive, tasty, and a popular garden standard spinach. Bloomsdale spinach is an old favorite amongst gardeners and is now available in organic seeds! It has excellent flavor and produces large quantities of delicious leaves. Spinach is also very nutritious with lots of Vitamin A, C, and iron and is low in calories. Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.
The Optima Lettuce is a large-framed Boston type that produces dark green leaves that have excellent heat tolerance and will resist bolting. This variety is known for being resistant to tip burn as well as races 1-4 of mildew. This great lettuce also has a juicy, crisp flavor that is amazing cut up in salads or on sandwiches!
The Orange Dream cauliflower performs like a dream in outdoor and greenhouse growing conditions. This cauliflower is a medium-large plant. Orange Dream is a pastel orange cauliflower that exhibits great tolerance to heat and stress.
The Sweet Valentine Lettuce is a beautiful bronze-red variety that turns apple-green in the center, making it look and taste sweet! This lettuce starts out as a head lettuce before forming a looseleaf romaine excel. Sweet Valentine holds long into the heat without bolting and is one of the sweetest lettuces around.
The Dwarf Romaine is just like its name, a dwarf romaine lettuce type. This variety has a dark green color with a crispy and tender texture. The Dwarf Romaine is adapted to indoor & outdoor production. This romaine lettuce is mainly for cool season production.
The Noble Giant is an old heirloom that was an All-America Selections Winner in 1933. This spinach variety produces huge, dark green leaves with a very delicious flavor. This spinach is great in salads, cooked, canned or frozen. The Noble Giant is slow to bolt and is very easy to grow, making it perfect the perfect spinach for the home gardener!
The Purple Italian Globe Artichoke, scientifically known as Cynara scolymus var. scolymus, is a stunning and delectable vegetable that has a rich history dating back to ancient times. Originating in the Mediterranean region, this particular variety of artichoke has been cultivated for centuries and is prized for both its ornamental appearance and culinary value. Its striking purple and green hues make it a unique addition to any garden or dinner table. In terms of taste, the Purple Italian Globe Artichoke boasts a mild, nutty flavor with a slightly sweet and earthy undertone. The tender inner leaves and heart are the most sought-after parts and are often used in various dishes, from salads and dips to braised or roasted preparations. The artichoke can grow to a substantial size, typically reaching diameters of 4 to 6 inches, making it a substantial vegetable for cooking. The Purple Italian Globe Artichoke is known for its longer days to maturity, typically requiring around 150 to 180 days from planting to harvest. Each plant typically yields multiple artichokes, and they can be propagated from seeds or offsets. These plants thrive in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and prefer full sun exposure. Adequate spacing and regular watering are essential for optimal growth. Overall, this variety of artichoke offers not only a delicious addition to your culinary endeavors but also a visually striking and historical component to your garden.
