Spaghetti Squash, pre 1930's Heirloom
$3.45
$3.95
Seed Exchange - This historic variety originated in Japan and was introduced to the United States by the mid-1930s by seedsmen such as Henry A. Dreer of Philadelphia. Plants bear cream-colored, cylindrical shaped fruits filled with spaghetti-like strands of delicately flavored flesh. 80 days
New for 2021
Productive plants bear 3 - 4 lb fruits
Cream-colored fruits are filled with spaghetti-like strands
80 days
25 Seeds
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
Spanish Black Round Radish, 1500s Heirloom
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Europeans have savored this easy-to-grow winter radish variety, also known as ‘Noir Gros Rond d’Hiver,’ since the 1500s! Its large, 3"-4" globes boast stunning black skin and crisp, pungent, spicy white flesh—and will also keep all winter in good conditions. Grown in the United States since the 1800s, this radish adds spiciness to raw or cooked dishes; spiciness declines when cooked. 60-70 days.
Characteristics:
New for 2022
3"-4" round roots
Black skin and spicy white flesh
Fall/winter and spring radish
60-70 days
250 Seeds per packet
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Plant in full sun. Successive plantings can be made every 3-4 weeks throughout summer and fall to provide a continual harvest.
Plant 1" apart
Plant 1/2" deep
Plant Rows 12" apart
Thin 2-3" apart
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Spanish Padron Pepper, 1500's Heirloom
$3.49
$3.59
These hard-to-find, authentic specialty peppers are from the Galicia region of Spain. Picked small, then quickly sizzled in fruity olive oil, Padron peppers make delicious traditional Spanish "Tapas" appetizers. Once you taste these savory little mouthfuls, you are guaranteed to want more! The tapered fruits begin bearing earlier than other peppers and produce in abundance over a very long harvest season.
Spanish Padrons originated from South America in the 1500's. They quickly became a staple dish throughout Spain.
Characteristics:
Renee's Garden Exclusive
Authentic Spanish starter snacks
Savory flavor
80-85 days
Approx 20-25 seeds
Instructions -
In early spring, start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are in the 55°F (13°C) range. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist but not soggy, and very warm 75°F (24°C). Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, transplant 3 inches apart into deeper containers. Maintain at 70°F (21°C). Feed with a half-strength liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. When the weather is 55°F (13°C) both day and night, gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 1 1/2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun. Peppers need full sun for at least 6 hours per day. Prepare the soil well with aged manure or compost. Plant only robust seedlings with well-developed roots and mulch well to maintain even soil moisture. Water regularly and consistently and fertilize several times a month.
Plant In: February - March
Mature height: 2 feet
10-20 days to germinate
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
Sparkler White Tip Radish, Organic
$3.25
$3.75
Southern Exposure Seed Excahnge - 24 days. Bicolored globes, bright scarlet on the upper portion, and white on the lower third. Medium tops and sweet, white flesh.
Organic and Open Pollinated
Looks like a rounded French Breakfast
24 days
7 grams (~600 Seeds)
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Plant in full sun. Successive plantings can be made every 2-3 weeks throughout summer and fall to provide a continual harvest.
Plant 1" apart
Plant 1/2" deep
Plant Rows 12" apart
Thin 2-3" apart
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Speckled Lettuce, 1800's Family Heirloom, Organic
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Family heirloom was sent to SSE in 1983 by SSE member Mark Reusser. His father obtained it from Urias Martin, whose Mennonite ancestors likely brought it in the early 1800s from Pennsylvania to Ontario. Juicy thick leaves are green tinged with red. Mild flavor. Looseleaf, 40-55 days. ±27,000 seeds/oz.
Characteristics:
Organic
Green leaves tinged with red
Mild flavor
40-55 days
250 seeds per packet
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.
Speckled Roman Tomato, organic
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Developed by SSE member John Swenson as a result of a stabilized cross of Antique Roman and Banana Legs, and introduced into the 1999 Yearbook. Gorgeous 5" long fruits with jagged orange and yellow stripes. Meaty flesh with few seeds. Great tomato taste, ideal for processing and fresh eating. Very productive. Indeterminate, 85 days from transplant.
Characteristics:
Organic
Red fruits with orange and yellow stripes
Meaty flesh with very few seeds
Great tomato taste
Ideal for processing and fresh eating
Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season
85 days from transplant
25 Seeds per 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 Outdoors: 24-36” Apart
Support: Cage, stake, or trellis
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Spicy Salad Mix Sprouting Seeds, Organic
$5.25
$5.75
A mildly spicy blend of lentils, alfalfa, red clover, radish, and black mustard.
Mild flavor, cruchy and easy to grow!
Organic
Spicy blend of lentils, alfalfa, red clover, radish, and black mustard.
Soaking Time: 6-8 hours
Sprouting time: 3-6 days
Recommended methods: Sprouting Tray or Jar Lid
Yield: 1 Tbsp = 2-3 cups
4 oz per pack
Ingredients: Lentils, alfalfa, red clover, radish, and mustard seeds. May contain wheat or soy. Produced in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, sesame, and shellfish.
Instructions - Follow Instructions on Pack - Super easy.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.
Spicy Salad Mix, Organic
$3.45
$3.95
Seed Exchange - This spicy selection of greens will enliven a salad or add a dash of flavor to a sandwich. This delectable, colorful baby salad greens mix includes Tango and Speckled lettuce but raises the taste level with Red Russian kale, peppery arugula, endive, and Asian greens Peking Ta Ching Kou Pai Tsai and Mizuna. It can be used as a cut-and-come-again crop, or some plants can be left to grow and be eaten as they mature. Baby greens, 30 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
SSE Exclusive
Developed at SSE
Cut-and-come-again greens
Baby greens, 30 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.
Spinning Gourd, Heirloom
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange -
(
(C. pepo) (aka Dancing) Sent to SSE by member Junior Gordon whose seeds were from his brother in Hickman County, Tennessee. Years ago children would carry these gourds in their pockets to play with at school where they would spin them on their desks. Hard-shelled when dried, great ornamental. 90-100 days.
Characteristics:
Used for fall decorations
Great for market growers and roadside stands
90-100 days
25 Seeds per pack
Instructions:
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in 12" diameter hills. Space hills 6' apart in all directions. In short-season areas, growth from transplants started indoors 8 weeks in advance. Gourds grow well on fences or garden trellises.
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
Spring Rapini Broccoli Raab, Organic
$3.45
$3.95
Seed Exchange - Plant this crop early…harvest it regularly…and enjoy it steamed, grilled, or sautéed! Grown for its slightly nutty, asparagus-flavored side shoots, broccoli raab (also known as rapini) is related to both broccoli and turnips but is actually closer to turnips in terms of cultivation. Large plants mature over a 1-2 week period, bearing side shoots and large, tender, abundant leaves on thin stems. 40-60 days. Organic
New for 2022
Organic
Slightly nutty, asparagus-flavored shoots
Large plans mature over a 1-2 week period
40-60 days from transplant
100 Seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Plant out just before the last frost. Broccoli prefers cool temperatures and a regular supply of water. In many regions it can be grown as both a spring and fall crop.
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
Germination 3-10 days
Plant apart 24"
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.
Spring Salad Mix Sprouting Seeds, Organic
$5.25
$5.75
Delicious mix of broccoli, radish, red clover and alfalfa that is sweet with a touch of spice.
Mild flavor, cruchy and easy to grow!
Organic
Soaking Time: 8 hours
Sprouting time: 4-5 days
Recommended methods: Jar-Lid or Sprouting Tray
Yield: 1 Tbsp = 3-4 cup
3.5 oz per pack
May contain wheat, soy or mustards. Produced in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, sesame, and shellfish.
Watch our "How to grow sprouts" video here.
Instructions - Follow Instructions on Pack - Super easy.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability.
Squash Winter Kurin Kabocha
$3.25
$3.45
Renee's Garden - We think that our Kurin Kabocha is the most scrumptious of all long-keeping winter squash. Kurin’s intensely orange flesh has a moist, fluffy texture and truly outstanding nutty-sweet, buttery flavor. Besides being absolutely delicious, kabochas are chock full of natural vitamin A, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. These beauties are a breeze to grow; you can even easily train them up a trellis. Once harvested, the squashes will keep for months.
Characteristics:
Long keeper with a fluffy texture
A sweet, nutty flavor
Easy to grow
Instructions - Long-keeping winter squash needs full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Wait to plant until nights are comfortably above 50°F both day and night. Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 2 ft. apart and 1 in. deep in rows 4 ft. apart. Thin to 1 strong seedling per group to give vines room to ramble or climb. Or make slightly mounded hills 2 to 3 ft. across and 6 ft. apart and plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, thin to the strongest 3 seedlings per hill. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering them with plastic berry baskets at sowing time, and removing them before plants get crowded. To save space, vines can be trained up fences, trellises, or tepees. Winter squashes need to mature properly, so don’t harvest until vines have died back and the squashes’ exterior rinds are fully dark green and tough enough to resist piercing with a fingernail. Then cut squashes from vines, leaving a good stem handle. Cure in the sun for about 10 days, before storing in a cool dry place where they will keep for months.
Plant in May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters
Full Sun
Space seeds in rows 4 feet apart; hills in 6"
7-10 days to germinate
95 days to harvest
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
St. Valery Carrot, 1885 Heirloom
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - Deliciously sweet and excellent for storage, the fine-grained, red-orange roots of this historic variety, also known as James Scarlet, grow up to 12" long. In 1885, the renowned French seed company Vilmorin-Andrieux stated the variety had been grown for a “long time,” and in 1924, James Vick & Sons Company of Rochester, New York, reported that St. Valery was “the best and most handsome main crop carrot... enormously productive.” 80-90 days. ±20,000 seeds/oz.
Red-orange skin
Sweet flavor and fine texture
Roots grow up to 12 inches
Excellent for storage
80-90 days
250 Seeds per pack
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors 3-4 weeks before last spring frost, or as soon as soil can be worked. Keeping the soil moist throughout the germination period is important to success. Misting the planted area daily or covering is recommended. Carrots are slow to germinate and need steady moisture until germination. Sow successively throughout the season for fresh carrots.
Direct Seed 1/2" apart
Plant 1/4" deep
Plant rows 16-24" apart
Thin 2-4" apart
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)
Star of David Okra
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Old Fashioned Okra) Tall 7' plants have purple coloration on leaves and thick pods that are best picked at about 3" long. Cross-sections of pods look like the Star of David, giving this variety its name. Like many okra varieties, this plant bears beautiful flowers and foliage that could warrant a place in the ornamental border. 60-75 days.
Characteristics:
Plants grow to 7 feet tall
Plants have purple coloration on leaves
Best harvested when pods are 3 inches long
60-75 days
100 Seeds per packet
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States but does not tolerate cold well.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors when the soil has warmed. Tolerant of heat and drought, but not of cold. Keep well picked for higher yields.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Plant 1/2" deep
Thin 6-8" apart
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Stone Mountain or Dixie Belle Watermelon, 1924 Heirloom, Organic
$3.25
$3.75
We found this popular one again! It arrives in early January 2024!
The Seed Savers Exchange - (aka Dixie Belle) Southern favorite introduced in 1924 by Hastings Seed Company of Atlanta, Georgia. One of the most popular watermelons during the 1930s and 1940s but is now scarce. Round dark green fruits with sweet pink flesh average 30 pounds. Thick rind resists splitting, a good choice for shipping or storage. The rind is also excellent for pickling. 80-95 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Round fruits grow to 30 pounds
Sweet, pink flesh
Thick, dark green rind prevents splitting and is good for pickling
80-95 days
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions -
Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability