Vicki and I decided to try heirloom seeds from Seed Savers this coming spring, after our inspirational meeting with Blackberry Farm’s Master Gardener, John Coykendall. We haven’t figured out all of the logistics yet, like where we’re going to get our trays, what kind of potting mix we’re going to use, where we’re going to house our planted seeds while they mature or what we’re going to do with all of the plants we generate, but we will.
Seed Savers is now offering their fresh catalog of new seeds for 2017 and you should consider getting them while you can. It’s incredibly hard to choose from all of the choices because they all sound wonderful. Reading their description of individual seeds is like reading short biographies of people. They’re wonderful to read.
Ideal Market Bean, Phaseolus vulgaris
One of the bean seed packets I purchased was Ideal Market – and here’s the description: Introduced to the seed trade in 1914 as Black Creaseback by Van Antwerp’s Seed Store of Mobile, Alabama. Reintroduced in 1924 by Chris Reuter Seed Co. of New Orleans, Louisiana as Reuter’s Ideal Market. Very early and productive 5″ snap bean. Excellent quality, stringless, fine texture. Pole habit, snap, 65-70 days. ±1,900 seeds/lb.
Here is the list of what I purchased for this coming spring. You’ll notice a couple of things. Yes, I have way too many seeds, but I hope to share them with Vicki and others. And I did not purchase tomato or cucumber seeds because I plan to buy those from Forni-Brown again this year. I think it would be overambitious to do everything from seed the first time around.
Lolla Rossa Lettuce (250 seeds)
Bunte Forellenschluss Lettuce (250 seeds)
Flame Lettuce (250 seeds)
Tennis Ball Lettuce (250 seeds)
Merveille des Quartre Saisons Lettuce (250 seeds)
Diamond Eggplant (25 seeds)
Early Scarlet Globe Radish (250 seeds)
French Breakfast Radish (250 seeds)
Plum Purple Radish (250 seeds)
Holmes Royal Red Radish (150 seeds)
Waltham Butternut Squash (25 seeds)
Black Beauty Zucchini (25 seeds)
Danvers Carrots (250 seeds)
Paris Market Carrots (250 seeds)
Scarlet Nantes Carrots (250 seeds)
Burpee’s Golden Beet (100 seeds)
Detroit Dark Red Beet (100 seeds)
Kentucky Wonder Bush Bean (50 seeds)
Provider Bean (50 seeds)
Ideal Market Bean (50 seeds)
Empress Bean (50 seeds)
Climbing French Bean (50 seeds)
Check out Seed Savers for your own special vegetables this year and let us know how it goes for you!
