New Vegetable Seeds

Paprika is so much more flavorful when grown and dried from your home garden. The freshness of the peppers and using your paprika powders right when ready will spoil any cook. This collection is all about paprika with one exception, the Beaver Dam Pepper. The Beaver Dam Pepper is recognized as a Slow Food The Ark of Taste variety so we want to do our part and share it. Also Included in this collection is our Black Hungarian Pepper, Magyar Paprika Pepper, Hungarian Paprika Pepper, Feherozon Paprika Improved Pepper, plus the aforementioned Beaver Dam Pepper which has Hungarian roots.  Characteristics:  Black Hungarian Pepper, Magyar Paprika Pepper, Hungarian Paprika Pepper, Feherozon Paprika Improved Pepper, Beaver Dam Pepper All Open-Pollinated and Non-GMO 10 seeds of each variety, except Magyar which has 7 seeds. It is a rarer variety.  Instructions -  Peppers prefer light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil with pH 6.5-6.8. Use a high phosphorus starter fertilizer when transplanting to give young peppers a good start. Keep nitrogen levels in moderation, as high amounts can reduce yields.  Start transplants 6-8 weeks before the planting date. Sow seeds into flat ~4 seeds/inch and then pot up into 2” or larger cells after the first set of true leaves appear. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 85°F.  For growing transplants, maintain the temperature at around 75°F during the day and 65°F at night. Harden off plants by slightly reducing the temperature to 60-65°F and reducing water for 2-3 days before transplanting. Plant 1/4" deep  Plant Spacing: 12-18"  Row Spacing: 18-36" or double rows 18" apart on 5-6' centers  Harvest & Storage - Harvest first peppers promptly to stimulate further fruit production. Peppers can be harvested and eaten at either the unripe (green) or ripe (colored) stage.  Colored peppers generally require 2 – 4 weeks longer.  Store peppers at 50° - 54°F and 95% percent relative humidity. Chilling injury occurs at temperatures below 45°F.  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Sweet Lorane Fava Beans are a rare treat in the fava bean world.  We are glad to offer them. They are slightly smaller than your Broad Windsor and sweeter. The skins contain less tanins thus removing much of the bitter flavor, favas can be known for. They are a more modern open-pollinted variety from the 1980's, As with all favas they do not care for the heat and can tolerate cold temperatures down to zero degrees hence why it is important to sow in early spring when peas, lettuces, kales can be sown. Favas feed the soil and are often used as a cover crop as well.  Bush Bean Open Pollinated 65-100 days 25 seeds Grown on Small Farms Instructions - Plant in fall in mild climates or plant as soon as the soil is workable as its hardy down to 10 degrees F.  Direct Seed 6-8" apart Planting Depth 1-2" We like to space them 8" at least to allow good air circulation in case late spring is warmer than usual Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Burgundy Wine Lima Bean - Gorgeous lima and a heavy producer. In our zone 4 garden we plenty to eat and plenty to raise for seed.  This is a pole lima that excelled for us. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.  The origin of the Burgundy Wine Lima is of interest for Dr. John Wyche fans. It is thought this was one he raised. The lineage of this seed is not direct but that is part of Seedsaving! Mary Schultz of Monroe, Washington donated to Seedsavers Exchange (where I requested my original seedstock from). She received it from Lloyd Duggins of Indiana. And he received it from Dr. John Wyche is how it is understood. However it came to be, it is a beast of a producer.  Characteristics:  Good for the North and Great for the South Prolific producer Pole Lima bean 75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.  Instructions:  Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.  Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.  Planting Depth 1" Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.  Full Sun

Aubrey Deanne Lima Bean - A wonderfully delicious and productive lima. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.  Aubrey Deanna Butterbeans are recorded from Green County, VA before 1890. Our initial seedstock came from Southern Exposure and Seedsavers Exchange. The history is a bit scarce on this one so we welcome any stories or interesting tidbits on this precious heirloom Characteristics:  Prized for its disease resistance Heavy Yields Prolific producer Pole Lima bean 75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.  Instructions:  Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.  Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.  Planting Depth 1" Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.  Full Sun

Starts Shipping 1/13!   Badger Flame Beets - A Wisconsin bred beet that is known for its sweet flavor without the earthy taste. Beets are known for their earthy flavors due to geosmin in the root. Badger Flame has very low levels of geosmin so the earthly flavors are not present and all you get is the sweetness of the beet.  Supplies are limited.  Created by Irwin Goldman of the Univeristy of Wisconsin in Madison. It is open-pollinated but is a protected variety.   Characteristics:  Open-pollinated and Non-GMO Improved germination  4" long roots by 1.5-1.75 inches in width 50-65 days Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 5-10 days. Keep planting in two-week intervals for a continuous harvest.  Direct Seed: 2" apart Planting Depth: 1/2 - 3/4"  Plant Rows Apart: 12-24"  Thin: 2-4" apart depending on desired size 

Firefly Farm & Mercantile's 2026 Tasty Tomatoes Seed Collection- This collection of heirloom and wonderfully tasty tomatoes is exactly what every home gardener is looking for - tomatoes with all the flavor and easy to grow! You will recevie 10 seeds for each variety inlcuding our limited time bonus. All your tomato seeds are enclosed in our Curated Tomato Gift Envelope with planting instructions - perfect for gifting or for yourself.  The Seed Collection Includes 5 varieties + 1 bonus variety through Cyber Monday (or before if we run out)!  Artisan Tiger Blush Tomato German Pink Heirloom Tomato Indigo Apple Tomato Yellow Brandywine Heirloom Tomato Matina Heirloom Tomato Our gift envelopes are being made and will be arriving first week of December, shipping starts 12/7. 

Aji Peppers are filled with tons of flavors and mild to medium heat. Aji Cinchi Amarillo are the hottest of this collection measuring 30k-50k Scoville ratings. Aji Limon is in the middle at 15k-30k and has a beautiful citrus flavor! Aji Dulce are mild at under 1k Scoville ratings but packed with so much flavor, we find ourselves adding this to everything!  Holiday Bonus of Aji Cristal for all orders through 2025! Characteristics:  Aji Limon, Aji Dulce and Aji Cinchi Amarillo are part of this collection Open-Pollinated and Non-GMO 10-15 seeds of each variety  Instructions -  Peppers prefer light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil with pH 6.5-6.8. Use a high phosphorus starter fertilizer when transplanting to give young peppers a good start. Keep nitrogen levels in moderation, as high amounts can reduce yields.  Start transplants 6-8 weeks before the planting date. Sow seeds into flat ~4 seeds/inch and then pot up into 2” or larger cells after the first set of true leaves appear. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 85°F.  For growing transplants, maintain the temperature at around 75°F during the day and 65°F at night. Harden off plants by slightly reducing the temperature to 60-65°F and reducing water for 2-3 days before transplanting. Plant 1/4" deep  Plant Spacing: 12-18"  Row Spacing: 18-36" or double rows 18" apart on 5-6' centers  Harvest & Storage - Harvest first peppers promptly to stimulate further fruit production. Peppers can be harvested and eaten at either the unripe (green) or ripe (colored) stage.  Colored peppers generally require 2 – 4 weeks longer.  Store peppers at 50° - 54°F and 95% percent relative humidity. Chilling injury occurs at temperatures below 45°F.  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Aunt Lucy's Italian Paste Tomato - This tomato was brought to the United States many years ago by Toni Cassel's Aunt Lucy, hence the name. Aunt Lucy grew this tomato back in Italy and brought it with her when she emmigrated to the United States. The shape of the tomato is more of  large cherry with 2" round fruit but it does act like a paste tomato when cooking. The flavor is a bright and cherry tomato that will keep your taste buds satisfied with its balance of acidity and tartness, reminiscent of the old world Italian tomatoes.  It is resistant to blight and has not had any issues of blossom end rot or other fungal diseases.  Ready to harvest when soft to the touch and yellow-green steioes. Indeterminate, 80-95 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  2oz sized fruite High production paste tomato  Disease resistant  Crack resistant  80-95 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis   Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Abenaki True Cranberry Pole Bean - A beautiful bean that excels for baking and slow cooking. They are exquisite as fresh shelled bean but are excellent as a dry bean. Young pods can be eaten as a snap bean.  Cranberry pole beans are from the Abenaki Nation and was a very common garden vegetable for colonists. This bean escaped the commercialization of our agricultural system but it was widespread for gardeners from seed catalogs. Some of the earliest references are from the 1800's with Thornburg's 1829 Seed Catalog referencing cranberry beans. The earliest seed catalogs identify many of the cranberry's being crimson with mottling of white. This cranberry from John Withee's collection he donated to Seedavers in 1981 is a true red though it will produce mottled beans from time to time. John read about the Cranberry Beam in a 1796 American Cookery Book and went on the hunt. He found it 11 years later growing on Mr. Taylor's farm in Steep Falls, Maine.   Pole bean Open-Pollinated High Producing Dry, Shelling bean (snap when young) 85 days Grown at Firefly Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields. Direct Seed 3-4" apart, we like to thin to 6-8" Plant 1" deep Plant Rows 36-48" apart if doing rows.  Full sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

Willowleaf Lima Bean - A very heavy yielding lima with willow shaped leaves and Sieva sized and similar white limas. In fact this is sport from the Sieva lima. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.  W. Atlas Burpee offered the white willowleaf lima in his 1891 seed catalog but it was around for many years and is rumored to come first from Tennessee. The colored lima was said to be developed later and mentioned in catalogs in the early 1900's.  Characteristics:  Top Yielding Lima Pole Lima bean 80 days for eating, 100 for dried We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.  Instructions:  Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.  Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.  Planting Depth 1" Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.  Full Sun

Starts shipping 12/7 - Firefly Farm & Mercantile's United States Heirloom Seeds From Your State Collection- Heirlooms come from all over the world and right here in the United States we have some of hte most remarkable heirlooms. This collection focuses on providing heirlooms on a state by state basis. We do not have all states selected but we are making it our mission to find heirlooms for all 50 states to offer them here. All your seeds (2 full packets) will be in our custom United States Artwork envelope so it is perfect for gifts. We use seeds from our various seed companies or ones we grow and pack ourselves. Also included is a summary of the history of your heirloom seed. Your seed packets may contain beans, peppers, tomatoes, flowers, herbs, greens and more, our collection is diverse! Every state offers so many wonderful unique heirlooms, start discovery yours today.  Other Heirloom State Collections with their states we offer.  Northeast:  Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersy, New Hampshire Mid-Atlantic: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tenessee, Kentucky Midwest: Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, North and South Dakota Southeast: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina  West Coast: California, Washington Lower Central: Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma Our gift envelopes are being made and will be arriving first week of December, shipping starts 12/7. 

Starts shipping 12/7 - Firefly Farm & Mercantile's United States Heirloom Seeds From Your State Collection- Heirlooms come from all over the world and right here in the United States we have some of hte most remarkable heirlooms. This collection focuses on providing heirlooms on a state by state basis. We do not have all states selected but we are making it our mission to find heirlooms for all 50 states to offer them here. All your seeds (2 full packets) will be in our custom United States Artwork envelope so it is perfect for gifts. We use seeds from our various seed companies or ones we grow and pack ourselves. Also included is a summary of the history of your heirloom seed. Your seed packets may contain beans, peppers, tomatoes, flowers, herbs, greens and more, our collection is diverse! Every state offers so many wonderful unique heirlooms, start discovery yours today.  Other Heirloom State Collections with their states we offer.  Northeast:  Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersy, New Hampshire Mid-Atlantic: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tenessee, Kentucky Midwest: Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, North and South Dakota Southeast: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina  West Coast: California, Washington Lower Central: Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma Our gift envelopes are being made and will be arriving first week of December, shipping starts 12/7. 

Blue Coco Pole Bean or Coco Bleu de Louviers is a vigorous and high producing pole bean. Its tender and sweet beans are a hit when eating fresh, cooked as a snap bean or saved as a dry bean for soups and other dishes. Blue Coco has been documented as early as 1775 in France. Its purple blue beans also are a knockout in the yard and garden because of their bold color. This is a kid favorite for its juicy and sweet pods as much as it is for the color. We grow this each year to offer as seeds. The dried seeds are a light brown in color.  This bean is grown at Firefly Farm in our hierloom production garden.  Pole bean Open-Pollinated High Producing Snap bean 60 days Grown at Firefly Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields. Direct Seed 3-4" apart, we like to thin to 6-8" Plant 1" deep Plant Rows 36-48" apart if doing rows.  Full sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

Firefly Farm & Mercantile's Peppers of Italy Seed Collection- This collection of heirloom peppers with Italian roots will have your taste buds hopping. You will receive 10 heirloom pepper seeds of each variety. Each pepper has a unique story and is included in our Peppers of Italy Gift Envelope with your heirloom seeds.  The Seed Collection Includes 5 varieties + 1 Bonus through Cyber Monday (or before if we run out) Tolli's Italian Sweet Pepper (Sweet) Ralph Thompson's Squash Pepper (Medium heat) Golden Treasure Pepper (Sweet) Jimmy Nardello's Peppers (Sweet) Ausilio Thin Skinned Peppers (Medium heat) Bonus Marconi Peppers until 2/14  

Starts shipping 12/7 - Firefly Farm & Mercantile's United States Heirloom Seeds From Your State Collection- Heirlooms come from all over the world and right here in the United States we have some of hte most remarkable heirlooms. This collection focuses on providing heirlooms on a state by state basis. We do not have all states selected but we are making it our mission to find heirlooms for all 50 states to offer them here. All your seeds (2 full packets) will be in our custom United States Artwork envelope so it is perfect for gifts. We use seeds from our various seed companies or ones we grow and pack ourselves. Also included is a summary of the history of your heirloom seed. Your seed packets may contain beans, peppers, tomatoes, flowers, herbs, greens and more, our collection is diverse! Every state offers so many wonderful unique heirlooms, start discovery yours today.  Other Heirloom State Collections with their states we offer.  Northeast:  Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersy, New Hampshire Mid-Atlantic: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tenessee, Kentucky Midwest: Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, North and South Dakota Southeast: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina  West Coast: California, Washington Lower Central: Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma Our gift envelopes are being made and will be arriving first week of December, shipping starts 12/7. 

Aji Rico Hot Pepper  -  This is a new pepper that was released in 2017 by the Pan American Seed Company.  It ripens faster than most hot peppers for its size making it an excellent choice for short season gardens.  hard to reproduce, this one seems stable enough from year 1 and even received the prestigious American Award Selections.  Plants reach 40-48" in height, the fruit is 4-6" long and has a Scoville rating of 5,000 but can be a little higher. The flavor profile is citrusy and sweet.  Our  farm grown seed is on the 5th year and is relatively stable.  We will also offer seed from High Mowing Organics for purchase in December 2026 Characteristics:  Non-GMO, F1 Hybrid but is stable. 4-6" Long Fruits, broadshoulders and slight taper to the base. 85 days 10 Seeds Instructions - Peppers prefer light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil with pH 6.5-6.8. Use a high phosphorus starter fertilizer when transplanting to give young peppers a good start. Keep nitrogen levels in moderation, as high amounts can reduce yields. Start transplants 6-8 weeks before the planting date. Sow seeds into flat ~4 seeds/inch and then pot up into 2” or larger cells after the first set of true leaves appear. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 85°F.  For growing transplants, maintain the temperature at around 75°F during the day and 65°F at night. Harden off plants by slightly reducing the temperature to 60-65°F and reducing water for 2-3 days before transplanting. Plant 1/4" deep  Plant Spacing: 12-18"  Row Spacing: 18-36" or double rows 18" apart on 5-6' centers  Harvest & Storage - Harvest first peppers promptly to stimulate further fruit production. Peppers can be harvested and eaten at either the unripe (green) or ripe (colored) stage.  Colored peppers generally require 2 – 4 weeks longer. Store peppers at 50° - 54°F and 95% percent relative humidity. Chilling injury occurs at temperatures below 45°F.  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability