Seeds

In 1897 Abel Steele of Ferguson, Ontario won a $25.00 prize for naming this wonderful new bean variety from Peter Henderson & Company, previously known as "Green Bush Bean #1. 'Bountiful' yields heavy crops of excellent quality, brittle, stringless pods that can be  6-7" in length.

Introduced in 1894 by W. Atlee Burpee, 'Burpee's Stringless' was claimed to be the only absolutely stringless green podded bean at that time. This tasty bush bean produces pods that are up to 5" long.

In the 1930s this was reportedly the most widely grown climbing French bean in England, according to The Beans of New York. 'Climbing French' has lilac flowers and stringless pods that grow to be 4-7".  This bean is excellent eaten fresh and has  shiny dark purple seeds.

'Dragon's Tongue' is a unique Dutch wax bean that has large 6-8" cream-colored pods with thin purple stripes that disappear when blanched. The wide stringless pods are extremely crisp and juicy.

'Empress' has incredible flavor and is one of the very best snap beans for fresh eating, freezing or processing... a true work-horse. 'Empress' produces heavy yields of large, straight, green, 5-6" stringless pods. This variety was originally introduced by Gurney’s as Experimental Bean 121 and then re-named Empress in 1979.

'Ideal Market' was introduced to the seed trade in 1914 as Black Creaseback by Van Antwerp’s Seed Store of Mobile, Alabama. It was later renamed by Chris Reuter Seed Company as Reuter’s Ideal Market. This early and productive small-podded bean grows 5-6". 'Ideal Market' is an excellent stringless, fine textured bean that is a very hardy and vigorous grower.

'Lazy Housewife' claimed to be the first completely stringless bean when it was introduced around 1810. First listed in W. Atlee Burpee’s 1888 catalog, "We presume it derived its name, which seems discourteous, from its immense productiveness making it easy to gather..." This bean is one of Seed Saver's oldest documented beans, and one of their most productive.

'Pencil Pod Wax' Bean is an old time favorite that was introduced in 1900. This is an excellent quality stringless bean with pods that grow 5–7" and is great for freezing or canning. They are vigorous plants that can grow 15–20" tall.

This bean was first offered in 1864 as Texas Pole, and then later introduced in 1877 as Kentucky Wonder by James J. H. Gregory & Sons. This bean became so popular that by 1901 it was listed by 287 companies. 'Kentucky Wonder' seeds produce vigorous 5-7' plants that yield clusters of green flat-oval 7-10" stringless pods. This is a very flavorful bean and is an all-time favorite.

'Bulls Blood' was selected by seedsman Kees Sahin in the Netherlands from the French variety Crapaudine for the darkest- colored leaves. Interestingly enough, the juice from the beets is used to make the only red food coloring allowed by Swedish law. 'Bulls Blood' has a remarkably sweet flavor and can also be used in beds and containers for it's wonderful, unique foliage. 

'Burpee's Golden' Beet was introduced to gardeners before 1828. This is a dual purpose beet grown for its roots and greens. With its orange globe-shaped roots that turn golden yellow when cooked it is tender and mild even when grown large. Since the roots on 'Burpee's Golden' do not bleed it is an excellent choice for salads.

'Country Gentleman' was first introduced in 1890 by S. D. Woodruff & Sons of Orange, Connecticut. This standard late season white corn has deep narrow small "shoe peg" (non-rowed) kernels. Its tapered ears grow 7-8" long on 7-8' stalks that often produce two ears. 'Country Gentleman' is a standard home garden variety for fresh use or canning.

The original strain of Golden Bantam was introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1902. This improved strain was selected for longer ears and greater tenderness. 'Golden Bantam Improved' has an excellent sweet flavor and is an early main crop variety for home gardeners. This corn is ideal for freezing and fresh eating.

Gourd Ten Commandments produces an exquisite mixture of bright, striped, mottled, and multicolored fruits that are great to add to your fall decor. Fruit is about the size of a softball and has 5 pairs of protruding prongs.

'Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch' Kale is a uniform, low-growing plant that grows 12-15" tall with a 20-35" spread. This Kale stands well and maintains its bluey-green color. A light frost improves the kale's flavor and sweetness. 'Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch' is very high in vitamin A.

'Forellenschuss' is an Austrian heirloom lettuce that translates literally as “trout, self-enclosing” meaning it’s a speckled romaine. With its gorgeous maroon splotched medium green leaves, 'Forellenschuss' has superior flavor and holds very well in the summer heat.

'Gold Rush' lettuce has lime-green loose thin leaves with deeply cut margins. The entire plant is extremely frilled, curly and crinkled. 'Gold Rush' adds unique texture to salads with its mild, clean flavor. This looseleaf variety is similar to Tango, but we prefer Gold Rush due to its ability to hold without bolting for an extended period in our climate.

Due to numerous requests over the years from their customers, Seed Savers has put together a mixture of cutting lettuces containing equal amounts of the following eight varieties:

'Amish Snap Pea' is a superb snap pea that was being grown in the Amish community long before present snap pea types. Its vines grow 5-6' tall and are heavy producers of 2" pods. 'Amish Snap' yields over a 6-week period if kept picked. It is delicate and sweet even when the seeds develop.

'Ancho Gigantea' has dark green, heartshaped, 3" by 4" almost black fruits. It is called Poblano when fresh and green, and Ancho when red and dried. 'Ancho Gigantea' is the standard Mexican variety used for sauces and stuffing due to its distinctive rich flavor.

'Early Scarlet Globe' is an early forcing radish that is ideal for home or market gardeners. It is has bright red skin, white flesh, and grows into about 1" diameter globe shapes. 'Early Scarlet Globe' is nice for home gardeners with its reliable early harvest.

Thompson & Morgan offered Rainbow Chard from 1970 through 1989 and then dropped the variety after the number of colors began to decrease. Fortunately Digger’s Garden Club in Australia still maintains a nice selection. All of the different colors of 'Five Color' are grown in isolation to maintain a proper balance of colors.

Pumpkin Musquee de Provence is one of the best varities for baking. It produces fruit that can reach 20 lbs. Pumpkins ripen to a deep brown color and have a deep orange colored flesh. Their flat shape makes them great for stacking!

Tomato Mortgage Lifter is a fantastic heirloom variety that produces large, 1 - 2 pound, pink, beefsteak fruits. Fruit is typically crack free and is extremely meaty. An excellent old-fashioned variety with loads of great flavor.

Tomato Sweet Pea Currant produces hundreds of small fruits per plant. Fruit has a clean tomato flavor and are borne in trusses of 10 - 12. Makes for a great little snack!