Seed Catalogs

[Ji...@nwveg.org]

Hi Group,

 

And a belated welcome to a few newcomers.  As you can see, we don't generate a lot of discussions.  But that doesn't mean we aren't interested in hearing from everyone! 

 

I've been going through my cache of seed catalogs in fits and spurts, and was finally ready to order a couple of weeks ago, when a latecomer, "Seeds of Change," arrived.  It had a couple of varieties I've run out of and really miss, and haven't seen elsewhere.  It got me thinking of some of my other favorites that I would go out of my way to buy.  The two from Seeds of Change: Rossa Di Milano, a red storage onion; and  Ed's Red Shallot.  I grow both from seed, and they've performed better in my garden than any other red storage onions or shallots I've tried.

 

Other varieties I don't want to lose are:

Thelma Sander's Sweet Potato Squash -an acorn type winter squash with good flavor, no stringiness, good storage ability AND the skin is edible too.

Touchstone Gold Beet - much prettier and I think tastier than Golden.

RedHead Quinoa - I don't know that this variety is better than others, but it is my favorite new veggie from last year.  It germinated quickly in both cool and warm weather, grew fast and produced lots of tasty greens!  That's right, I grew it for the greens, but the young seedheads are also tasty in stirfrys.  I bought the seed from Wild Garden Seeds - you all should check out their online catalog if you haven't seen it.

 

And one I've lost - Portofino Zucchini.  I got it from Territorial probably 5 years ago, and I think I have one seed left.  Our garden group did a zuke taste test a few years ago and this won, hands down.  I've grown two other similar Romanesco types, but while better than standard zukes, they're not as nutty tasting. None of the Romanescos produce heavily, but that probably is a bonus!

 

What are some of everyone else's favorite varieties and catalogs?

[Stephanie Lucas]

Thanks for sharing Jill.  It’s so great to have the benefit of your experience.  I’ve written down the names of your favorites in case I run across them.  I’ll also keep a lookout for the Portofino Zucchini.  I know you kindly shared a few seeds with me several years ago, and I really enjoyed growing that particular squash also.  I wish now that I had tried to produce some viable seeds (or was it a hybrid?).  Maybe that last seed you have is our only hope.  Hard to believe that it’s not being produced commercially somewhere.

 

Last year I also tried growing some quinoa.  I used the red/brown variety from the bulk bins at Whole Foods.  It grew readily.  And you’re right, the young seed heads are really tasty, and no doubt nutritious.

 

Here are some other favorites:

Boothby’s Blonde Cucumbers from Seed Savers Exchange – a prolific, pale yellow cuc with a great crunchy taste and no bitterness to the peel.

 

Black Plum Tomato from Seed Savers Exchange – very prolific, tasty and great for drying.

 

Brown Berry Tomato also from Seed Savers – also prolific, tasty

.

Long Keeper Tomato from Nichols – an acidic, great storage tomato.  I wrap them in torn newspaper and store in a cool (enclosed) porch.  I ate my last one (fresh) last week.

 

Early Butternut Hybrid from Territorial – as the name implies, an early producer.  I found when there was some pilfering of squash at the community garden that I could pick these while still slightly green and they would continue to ripen nicely off the vine.  After removing them I was surprised to find that the vines quickly put out another crop that also matured.  These store very well and are tasty/creamy when cooked.

 

Thai Basil – by far my favorite.  Easy to grow.  Delicious, often described as tasting of anise, which I dispute and don’t particularly like.  Leaves stay tender and freeze well when fresh.  The flower heads are quite pretty with deep purple bracts and pale pink flowers.  These, plus the immature seed heads are tasty and pretty sprinkled in salads, etc.

 

Hope to hear what other people like and have success with.  I’m looking in particular for a good producing, mild pepper and a productive eggplant.  Any suggestions?

 

Stephanie

[Stephanie Lucas]

Hi Ole,

 

I just purged myself from a lot of seed catalogs, but from what I have left I note that Nichols carries a “Sweet Meat Oregon Homestead.”  And Seed Savers Exchange has an “Amish Paste.”  I find that most of the major nurseries carry seed packets from these and other major seed producers—saving on shipping costs.

Thanks for your input!  You’ve given me some ideas.  Spring can’t come too soon for me.

 

Stephanie

 

Hint: You need to hit “Reply All” for the email to be posted on the googlegroup site.

 

 

From: Ole Ersson

Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 4:56 AM

To: Stephanie Lucas

Subject: Re: [VEG] Seed Catalogs

 

Great discussion.

Here are a few of my favorites:
New England Pie, also called, Small Sugar Pie, pumpkin. Small, relatively good keeper. edible skin. (We just used our last ones last week.)
Golden Jubilee sweet corn. Unfortunately, a hybrid, so you pretty much have to buy seed for this every year. But I have not found any heirloom or non hybrids that have such great performance: large, high quality, ears.
Blue lake bush snap beans: good local producer, easy to grow, almost foolproof, very productive

These varieties are very easy to locate, and are available in most local garden centers.

Here are a few varieties Carol Deppe mentions in her recent book, The resilient gardener:
Oregon Homestead sweetmeat squash. Purportedly, an excellent keeper, but definitely NOT early. Harvest after Thanksgiving. Can seed directly in the ground.
Amish Paste tomato: bigger, earlier, cool tolerant
Yukon Gold potato: a generally productive, very tasty, and fairly good keeping variety
Dried Beans: Gaucho and Black Cow: early varieties, finish in August, giving plenty of time to get an early start on that winter garden of kale.

I have not tried any of these varieties but plan to do so this year. David and Pearl Omick have recommended Etna as a good dried kidney type bean which they have grown in Corvallis, but I believe it does not finish until later, which can delay the winter garden start. We are trying to devise a planting method that allows our garden space to be fully used year round.

We will be looking for sources of these so if anyone sees these varieties, please let us know.