Seeds - Vegetables

Everyone is always curious about this cucumber so we added it to our Minipack Collection. This way for $2 you can try it. The cucumber family is diverse and this is one variety to celebrate its diversity.  The Seed Savers Exchange - Originally from Poona, India, this very unusual cucumber matures into what looks like a large russet potato. Smooth-skinned fruits turn from white to golden-yellow to russet brown and may be eaten at any stage, skin and all. Tender, crisp, and delicious. Hardy disease-resistant vines produce an early crop with good yields. 55 days. ±1,000 seeds/oz. Organic & Open-Pollinated Smooth white skin matures to russet brown Tender and delicious Disease resistant 55 days 25 Seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after the last frost when soil is warm. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. Can also be started indoors 2-4 weeks before the last frost for an earlier harvest. Cucumbers benefit from consistent moisture. Provide support for vines to save space. Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: 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 - Porto Spineless Cardoon are grown for their artichoke flavor. You eat the midrib and leaf stalks of the cardoon plant.  They should be blanched before harvesting.  You can use this as a side dish or is in used in stuffing, soups or stews.  Blanching involves wrapping leaves in newspaper, burlap, or black plastic for a few weeks before harvesting. This prepares the stem for eating. These are also grown for their thistle like flowers and serrated silver green leaves.  Perennial in Zones 6–10. Cynara cardunculus Characteristics:  Non-GMO, and open-pollinated  Plants grow 3-4' tall  Perennial in Zones 6–10. 100 days  25 seeds   Not available to ship to California 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: 8-10 weeks before the last frost Germination: 10-20 Days Plant Rows: 3-4' apart Plant Spacing: 2-3'  Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Potawatomi Lima Bean - A vigorous and heavy producer. In our zone 4 garden we plenty to eat and plenty to raise for seed.   If you want to try limas for the first time, this would be one of my top choices. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.  The Potawatomi lima was stewarded by the Potawatomi Nations of southern Michigan. They are one of the top limas for the north. They can be braised, boiled, or sauted fresh. They always provide us with creamy and delicious dishes.   Characteristics:  Good for the North and Great for the South Prolific producer Pole Lima bean 85 days for eating, 105 for dried 10 or 25 seeds or enough to do 10-12' of fence 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

The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) (aka Courge Châtaigne) A small winter squash from France, inversely pear-shaped, with a flavor like chestnuts. The name is derived from the French: potiron (pumpkin) and marron (chestnut). Superb table quality in a small (3-4 pounds) manageable size. 85-95 days.  Characteristics:  Organic Fruits grow to 3 to 4 pounds Chestnut-like flavor Long shelf life 85-95 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.  Direct Seed: 1" Deep Seeds to Hill: 6-8 Seeds Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Drumhead, Surehead) Introduced to the U.S. by German immigrants around 1840; listed in the 1924 catalog of D. M. Ferry & Co. Solid blue-green flat heads with white interior weigh 10-15 pounds. Excellent for late fall or winter use. 100 days from transplant. ±9,000 seeds/oz. Blue-green flat heads White interior Heads weigh 10-15 pounds Excellent for late fall or winter use 100 days from transplant 100 Seeds per pack Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant out just before the last frost. Make sure cabbage has a regular supply of water. Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination: 7-12 Days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Light: 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)

The Seed Savers Exchange - Documented by Vilmorin in Les Plantes Potageres (1883). This cantaloupe was once a favorite of French market gardeners. Fruits weigh 4-9 pounds and have beautifully warted skin and dense sweet flesh. Almost too pretty to eat! The fragrance when fully ripe is incredible. Like all rockmelons, Prescott will not slip from the vine. Good drought tolerance. 85-95 days.  Characteristics: Fruits grow to 4-9 pounds Dense orange flesh and strong, sweet fragrance Good drought tolerance 85-95 days 25 Seeds per packet  Instructions - Melons love the heat. Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost. Plant 1" deep Plant hills, 6-8 seed Thin: To 3-4 Plants Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

The Seed Savers Exchange - A fabulous Midwest historic variety introduced in 1937 by the Robert Buist Company. Heavy yields of football-shaped 4-8 pound muskmelons. Hard-shelled with firm sweet flesh. Great old-fashioned flavor associated with roadside stand melons. If you can only grow one melon and do not want to be disappointed, this is the variety to grow.  Characteristics:  Football shaped fruits grow to 4-8 pounds Firm, orange flesh Heavy producer Old-fashioned muskmelon flavor 90-100 days 25 Seeds per packet    Instructions - Melons love heat. Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 2-3 weeks before last frost. Plant 1" deep Plant hills, 6-8 seed Germinate 7-14 days Thin 3-4 plants Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability 

If you are looking for a determiniate tomato that is flavorful and verstaile, Principe Borghese Tomato is a good candidate. It has smaller compact plants that will need staking becasue of the vast amount of 1-2 ounce plum tomatoes it will produce. We source this from various places and try to show whats available as we strive for organic when available.  Characteristics:  Fruits grow to 1-2 ounces Red, plum-shaped fruits Well suited for drying Fruit ripens over a 2 week period Bushy plants need support due to the heavy yields Determinate - Fruit ripens over a 2 week period 70-75 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep 4-6 weeks before the last frost. 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" Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Prismatic Rainbow Chard - Originally from Australia, this is a more recent selection by Siskiyou Seeds.  A real rainbow – stalks in vivid shades of orange, pink, white, yellow, and red, with some striping. Also selected for upright leaves and for resistance to leaf miners.  Characteristics:  Gorgeous colors that add beauty to any dish Upright, easy to harvest Open-Pollinated 30 days baby, 60 days full size  4 grams approx. 200 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in mid-spring through mid-summer and into fall in warmer regions. The transplant can be started indoors or in a cold frame 4-6 weeks before planting. Grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade.  Plant 4-8" apart depending on desired leaf size  Plant 1/2" Deep Plant Rows 18-24" apart (or can be grown closer if you like the leaves smaller and harvest for salads vs cooking - we start out at 10" spacing for late spring leaves to munch on then pull up every other one to grow them larger) Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Seed Exchange - Beautiful upright Pac Choy with succulent white stems and lush green leaves. This strain is especially uniform, vigorous, and bolt resistant. Delicious mild flavor. Excellent in stir-fries. 45-50 days Organic Mild flavor White stems and green leaves Bolt resistant 45-50 days ±500 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed to prevent premature flowering. Can also be planted in late summer for a fall crop. Seeds will germinate in 4-7 days. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Direct Seed 1" apart Planting Depth 1/4" Rows 18" Apart Thin 6-12" apart

The standard fresh market variety for green beans. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Provider comes through every year with early, heavy yields of attractive, uniform beans. Plants are vigorous and productive with strong root systems, even under adverse conditions. Good resistance to mildew and virus. Purple seeds. 5-6" pods Open-Pollinated Stringless 1 ounce of seeds 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 2" apart Plant 1" deep Plant Rows 36-48" apart 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)

Rivals Brandywine is the best-flavored heirloom tomato with a silky texture. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Pruden's is not really purple, but rather a deep pink with slight shoulder ribbing. Fruits are large, often close to 1 lb each, but smaller with a more refined shape than Brandywine and without the hard core. Plants have potato-shaped leaves. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated Indeterminate 12-16 oz fruit 72 days  1/10 gram  Instructions - Tomatoes are warm-season tender annuals. Tomatoes yield best in clay or loam soils that are well-drained and high in organic matter. They can tolerate acid soil as low as 5.5, but they prefer to grow in the 6.0-6.8 range. Days to maturity are from transplants. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the planting date.  Planting depth: 1/8-1/4"  Plant spacing: for determinate varieties 12-18", for indeterminate 24-36" Row Spacing: 4-6’ centers"  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - We are excited about this one. It is always fun sourcing new corns to try.  Corn gets a bad wrap for health but corns like this are filled with minerals and nutrients and part of a well rounded diet, heirloom corns deliver nutrition.  Pungo Creek Butcher Corn - Eastern Shore heirloom from Bill Savage, grown for 165 years by Pungo Creek, VA farmers. Genetic analysis shows it to be descended from Bloody Butcher.  A tall, hardy corn with sturdy stalks up to 11 ft. Ears are a mixed rainbow of red, brown, yellow, and sometimes purple. 9-12 in. ears in tightly wrapped husks. Rough milled this is a nutritious feed for your flock, or the corn can be ground into a meal with rich flavor and unusual color. Pretty enough to grow just for looks, this corn is delicious baked into muffins or cornbread. Certified Organic  Heirloom  Especially well-suited to the South-East  100 seeds on average, 28g Instructions - Requires a soil temperature of 65 degrees F to germinate well. Succession plantings can then be made 2-3 weeks apart.  Harvest and dry popcorn down as you would grinding corn. Thorough drying is important in getting kernels that will pop. Popcorns are resistant to ear damage by birds.  Sow seed 1" in deep  Rows: 36 in" apart  Thin: 6-12 in. apart  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Seed Savers Exchange - This absolutely stunning purple bell pepper has a tender, crisp texture and low-key, sweet flavor. The large, four-lobed, thick-walled fruits remain purple for some time before ripening to a radiant purple-red and are borne on sturdy, compact plants. 70-75 days from transplant. Sweet Characteristics:  Mild sweet flavor Holds purple color well Sweet pepper 50 Seeds 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 soil is warm. Sow indoors 8 weeks before the last frost Plant 1/4" deep Germinates in 14 days Plant Rows 12-24" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - 80 days. Beautiful regular-size purple carrot bred by John Navazio. Bright orange or yellow interior, sweet almost "wild" spicy flavor, can be used just like any regular carrot, good storage. Our favorite purple carrot, with better flavor and more consistent color than "Cosmic Purple." Pkt (1 g) Organic and Open-Pollinated Specialty Appeal 6-8" Coreless Nantes Style 75 days 1 grams, ~500 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors before 3-4  weeks of last frost or soil can be worked. Optimal temperature is 65 degrees. Plant 1/2" apart Plant 1/4" Deep Plant Rows 16-24" apart Thin 2-4" Apart  

The Seed Savers Exchange - Traditional Italian variety used for making eggplant relish or for fresh eating. Pear-shaped fruits (up to 8" long) are borne in abundance on purple-stemmed thornless plants. 90 days from transplant. ±6,000 seeds/oz. Organic Pear-shaped fruits grow up to 8 inches Purple stems Thornless 90 days from transplant 25 Seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Transplant outdoors once the danger of frost has passed and soil is warm. Using landscape fabric or black plastic can accelerate growth and productivity in cooler climates. Start Indoors: 8 weeks before the last frost Germinate for 14 Days Plant Outdoors: 18-24” Apart Light: 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)

Seed Exchange - Plants of this historic variety climb vigorously to 6' to show off an abundance of reddish-purple pods that are high-quality, hearty, and stringless. The pods grow 5-7"-long and turn to light green when cooked. Henry Field discovered this variety in an Ozarks garden in the 1930s. Do not confuse this with our Blue Coco Bean, they may be one in the same but only history will know for sure. This variety is said to be stringless while Blue Coco when more mature does have strings. For the taste, I side with Blue Coco.  Conventional Pole beans Snap bean Reddish Purple, stringless pods Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently to increase yield. Pods can be left on the vine to mature and then harvested as dry beans. Direct Seed 2" apart Planting Depth 1" Support with trellis, teepee, or fencing

The Seed Savers Exchange - Dark purple fruits are smaller (1½-2") and have a sweeter flavor than green tomatillos. Makes an attractive purple salsa, also great grilled. Noticeably less sticky than most tomatillos. 90 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Purple fruits are very sweet Fruits grow to 1-2 inches Less sticky than other tomatillos 90 days from transplant 25 Seeds Instructions -  Culture is very similar to tomatoes. Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Transplant outdoors when the soil has warmed. Plants are self-supporting, but sprawl over a large area. Cage or trellis when space is limited. Start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germinate 14-21 days Plant 24-36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability