Seeds - Vegetables

Renee's Garden - Our high-yielding, Sweet Spanish onions germinate and grow strongly, producing heavy yields of big, crispy, white-fleshed bulbs that have handsome copper-colored wrapper skins. They are great tasting raw or cooked because they have a fine mild, sweet flavor. These versatile onions are perfect for salads and sandwiches, in stirfries, or roasted to caramelized perfection. Enjoy sweet Spanish onions within several months of harvest. Characteristics:  High-yielding  Big, mild, sweet onions  90-95 days  Approx 300-310 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked; in mild winter areas, seeds can also be sown in fall to overwinter for a head start in spring growth. Before planting, thoroughly work compost or well-aged manure and bonemeal into the soil. Keep onions well weeded and mulch plants once the soil warms up to conserve moisture. Feed onions lightly with an all-purpose fertilizer several times during the growing season. The “bite” or spiciness of onions depends on your soil type and composition. Plant In: February - April for cold winters or January - April / September - October for mild winters Full Sun  Plant rows 1 inch apart  Plant 1/4" deep 10-14 days to germinate  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Seed Savers Exchange - Golden Treasure’s peppers are so beautiful that we have even included them in flower arrangements. This Italian variety bears 9"-long fruits that ripen from green to shiny yellow and are excellent for frying, roasting, and fresh eating. Sweet medium-thick flesh and tender skin. 80 days from transplant. Sweet. Characteristics  Fruits grow to 9 inches long Fruit ripens from green to shiny yellow Excellent for frying, roasting, and fresh eating Sweet pepper 50 Seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost Plant Rows 12-24” Apart Germinates in 14 days Full Sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

The Living Seed Company -This wonderful heirloom bean is considered to be one of the oldest wax beans and was believed to have been introduced around the 1870's! Known for its rich buttery flavor, stringless properties and delicious taste!  This steady and productive bush bean variety will keep continue to provide excellent yields!  Excellent for preservation in canning, freezing and as a dry shelly bean! Organic Stringless Bush Bean 15-24" tall 50-65 days 40 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after 2-3 weeks of last frost as beans do like the ground to be warmer. Direct Seed 3-6" apart Planting Depth 1/4' Thin 6" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. pepo) Introduced in 1973 by W. Atlee Burpee of Philadelphia, bred from genetic material supplied by Dr. Oved Shifress. This vivid yellow fruit was the first commercial B (bicolor gene) cultivar. Crisp and mild-flavored zucchinis are borne prolifically on bush plants. 50-55 days. Characteristics:  Organic Bright yellow skin Best when eaten under 8 inches Heavy yielding bush plants Summer squash 50-55 days 25 seeds per packet    Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed. Hills should be spaced 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 3 weeks before transplanting out. Plant 1/2" deep Hill 6-8 seeds together Thin to 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Sweet, tropical-tasting gold berries wrapped in paper husks add magic to your garden. Bushy plants grow 2.5-3' tall. When ripe, the husk around the fruit becomes papery dry and the fruit falls off the plant to be picked up from the ground. Some people place a tarp underneath the plants to make harvesting easier, but either way the husks keep the fruit clean. Organic Trellis or let sprawl Bushy, spreading habit Open-Pollinated Stores well Very Sweet 70 days from transplant 1/10 gram of Seeds  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep 4-6 weeks before last frost. Plant out when the danger of frost has passed. Excellent results when grown on landscape cloth, which suppresses weeds and makes collecting the fruits easier. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14 days Plant 2-3' apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

The Seed Exchange - One of the 1,186 beans given to SSE in 1981 by bean collector John Withee of Massachusetts. Named for Carrie Belle Stallard of Wise County, Virginia. This variety dates to at least the 1930s. Maroon beans splashed with white, 5-6 seeds per pod. Wonderful rich meaty flavor, great for soups. Very productive. Pole habit, dry, 85-95 days. ±680 seeds/lb.  Pole bean  Maroon and white beans  Open Pollinated Meaty flavor  Very productive  Dry bean  85-95 days 50 Seeds per packet   Instructions -  Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1" deep Support: Trellis, tepee, or fencing Full sun  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability We are always adding new varitities so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

The Seed Savers Exchange - Donated to SSE in 1988 by Pam Andrew of Arizona. It was given to her by her 85-year-old great-aunt, Flossie Cramer, of Crawford County, IL. Flossie's grandmother, Emma Hadley, grew the lettuce when Flossie was a child (around 1915). It was a family favorite used in a wilted lettuce salad with hot bacon dressing. The dark purple-tinged leaves are buttery, crisp, and slightly sweet. Butterhead, 40-50 days. Characteristics:  Organic Heavy dark purple tinge on leaf edges Buttery and crisp leaves are slightly sweet Butterhead 40-55 days to maturity 500 Seeds   Instructions - Sow continuously for a constant supply of lettuce. Best grown in cooler weather. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Direct Seed 1" apart Plant 1/4" deep Germinate 7-14 days Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.

Grandpa Admire's Lettuce Is Back! Get those orders in, seeds are arriving. This is a fantastic summer lettuce! The Seed Savers Exchange - From the family of George Admire (1822-1911) a Civil War veteran who migrated west to Putnam County, Missouri during the 1850s. Bronze-tinged leaves form large loose heads. Mild flavor, slow to bolt, even in extreme heat. Butterhead, 60 days.  Characteristics: Organic Bronze-tinged leaves Slow to bolt, even in extreme heat Butterhead lettuce 60 days 500 Seeds   Instructions - Sow continuously for a constant supply of lettuce. Best grown in cooler weather. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Direct Seed 1" apart Plant 1/4" deep Germinate 7-14 days Thin 6-8" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.

Granny Cantrell's Tomato- 69-80 days. The only tomato grown by Lettie Cantrell of West Liberty since the '40s.] Large beefsteak, 1+ lb, tasty fruit on large, vigorous plants. Lettie died in January 2006, at the age of 96. Her tomato was voted best flavor at the 2010 Monticello Tomato Tasting.  Organic & Open-Pollinated Indeterminate Produces fruits over 2lbs 75 Days 40-50 Seeds per Packet, .16g 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 last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Savers Seed Exchange - (aka Green Shaft) An English main crop variety and standard home and market variety. Slim pointed pods are 4-5" long and contain 8-11 small deep green peas. Pods are almost always borne in doubles. Very heavy reliable production. Medium vines grow 24-28" tall. Shell, 62-70 days. ±2,200 seeds/lb. Characteristics:  Organic Pods are often borne in doubles with 8-11 peas each Vines grow to 28 inches Shelling pea 62-70 days 75 Seeds Instructions - Peas thrive in cool weather. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Double rows of peas can be planted on each side of a trellis. Direct Seed 2-3" apart Plant 1/2" deep Plant Rows 24" apart Support: Trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

A classic main-crop pea with slim, densely packed pointed pods. High Mowing Organic Seeds - High-yielding variety with plenty of pods for easy harvesting. Each pod is filled with up to eleven delicious peas. Plants are 24-30" tall. Peas are excellent for freezing. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  4-5" pods Excellent for freezing  Shelling pea 68 days 1 oz approx. 145 seeds  Instructions - Peas thrive in cool weather. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Double rows of peas can be planted on each side of a trellis. Direct Seed 2-3" apart Plant 1-2" deep Plant Rows: 18-24" apart Support: Trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - This magnificent, purple-flowered snow pea variety produces tender, delicious pods ideal for steaming. Vigorous vines grow 6-8' tall and yield plentiful amounts of pods measuring 7-8" at maturity. Bred by Alan Kapuler, Ph.D., of Peace Seeds from one plant found by Carl Jones among hundreds of all different crosses. Pods remain tender and tasty even when harvested at their full size. 60 days. Characteristics:  Snow pea produces tender, delicious pods Vines grow to 6-8 feet 60 days Instructions - Peas thrive in cool weather. Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Double rows of peas can be planted on each side of a trellis. Direct Seed 2-3" apart Plant 1/2" deep Plant Rows 24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Thin, tender skin, crisp flesh, and a small seed cavity. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Green Finger blew away hybrids in our trials for quality and yield. Unusually durable for this type; no wrapping needed! A field or open tunnel variety bred by Cornell University; requires pollination for fruit set. Beit Alphas are similar to European/Dutch types with the same ribbed skin but smaller. Firefly Farm & Mercantile: A great cucumber for us in zone 4, bears fruit to harvest within 54 days or so. The cucumber is a smaller variety, larger than pickling and best when as thick as a banana. We grow this variety every other year as the kids love the thin skins.  Because of its thin skin it needs to go into a cooler and wrapped in a bag or container to prevent moisture loss just like most cucumbers preferred. It grows flawlessly for us.  Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  6-8" fruit  High disease resistance  60 days  1/16 oz approx.    Instructions:  Plant 1/2" deep  Plant Spacing: For slicing cukes 12-24", for pickling cukes 8-12”, for greenhouse cukes 20”. Row spacing: for slicing and greenhouse cukes 5-6’, for pickling cukes 3-6’. Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Back in Stock!  It sells out fast so order today.  Renee's Garden -  Our own selection of this classic high-yielding heirloom that produces long, dark green fruits with a crunchy texture and a mild sweet flavor. Weather tolerant and resistant to many viruses and disease.  Characteristics:  Glossy dark green  Highly productive vines Disease-resistant vines  Heirloom slicing cucumber Instructions -Plant heat-loving cucumbers only when the weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Amend soil well with aged manure or compost.  Cut rather than pull fruits from vines before seeds are large inside. Harvest every few days for the longest fruit production. Sow groups of 2-3 seeds  Plant 1 1/2 feet apart Plant 1" Deep Thin to 1 seedling per group  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - Available as early as 1825 from seedsmen such as Sinclair & Moore of Baltimore, MD. This hardy variety of artichoke is productive even in climates as cool as zone 3. Grows 3-5' tall with multiple 3-5" flower heads that have a purple tinge to the green buds. The artichoke hearts are flavorful and mature around 75 days from transplant. Plants grow to 3-5 feet 3-5 flower buds per plant in the first year A beautiful flower with purple-tinged edible buds Perennial in zones 7+ 75 days from transplant 25 Seeds per pack   Instructions -Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant outdoors after danger of frost has passed but the days are still cool. Fertilize liberally for best results. An annual in zones 3-6 (vernalization recommended) or perennial in zones 7+ Sow Indoors - 8-12 weeks before the last frost Germination: 10-20 Days Plant Rows 36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Many of us dream of finding a unqiue tomato to bring to market and while some of us dream, some folks set to work.  Green Grape is from Tater Mater Seed Company established by Tom Wagner in 1983.  During this time he introduced some wonderful varieties including this one called Green Grape Tomato.  The Green grape sets on an baundance of fruit and then simmers down a bit giving a steady supply of 1" size grape tomatoes all season long. The outside of the tomato will be slightly yellow and the flesh is green.  You may ask yourself what do you do with a green grape tomato and the culinary possibilities are endless. The flavor of this tomato is exceptional and you will be able to tell it apart from other tomatoes just by the taste alone.   We source from various seed companies as it is dependent on the time of year and supply. We currently have organic seed from Southern Exchange.  Characteristics:  Olive-yellow fruits grow to 1 inch Spicy, sweet flavor Very productive Determinate - Fruit ripens over a 2 week period 80-90 days from transplant ~20 seeds in packet 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 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

The Seed Savers Exchange - Big, thick, glossy dark-green leaves have a slightly peppery, slightly citrusy flavor that make them a great substitute for true spinach when the summer heat hits. Malabar spinach works well in any recipe that calls for true spinach—including in green salads or stir-fries—but, because of its slightly gelatinous texture, is most frequently used to thicken soups and stews. Slow-bolting plants grow fast, tolerate heat well, and produce new leaves throughout the season. ‘Green Malabar’ also makes a mark as an ornamental, producing lush foliage on vines that can grow up to 10' long. 50-60 days. Characteristics:  Conventional  Not a true spinach, but similar in flavor and usage Soft, rounded leaves Green leaf veins and stems Fast growing vines Dark green glossy heart shaped leave Heat tolerant 50-70 days 50 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the danger of frost has passed. Can also be sown indoors. Transplant outdoors after air temperatures are consistently between 70 and 80°F. For best yields, harvest continually. Plant in full sun or partial shade. Plant 1" apart Plant 1/2" deep Thin 6" apart Support: Trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability