Amish Pie Squash
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Introduced to Seed Savers Exchange in 1982 by James Robinson, who is said to have acquired it from an Amish gardener in Maryland. Pale-orange flesh measures up to 5" thick, and the largest fruits weigh 60-80 pounds. Firm moist flesh is excellent for making pies and for freezing. 90-105 days.
Characteristics:
Pale orange flesh
Flesh grows up to 5 inches thick
Squash grow up to 60-80 pounds
Winter squash
25 Seeds per packet
Instructions -
Since squash takes a long time to mature, try starting your plants indoors 3-4 weeks before planting them outside. Plant your seeds 1 inch deep in soil trays or pots and when you plant them in the garden you can use rows 4-6 feet apart instead of hills. If you choose to directly sow your seeds in the garden, start by building up a hill of loose soil 12 inches across and plant 6-8 seeds at the top. As your plants grow, thin them to 3-4 plants per hill. These squash should be mature in about 90-105 days.
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
Anna Swartz Hubbard Squash, Heirloom, organic
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (Curcubuta maxima) Given to Seed Savers Exchange by Anna Swartz of Pennsylvania who originally received it 40 years earlier in the 1950s. Introduced commercially by SSE in 1999. Anna loved this variety because of its extremely hard shell and excellent storage ability. High quality flesh is the color of a sweet potato with similar flavor. Fruits weigh 5-8 pounds.
Characteristics:
Organic
Dark Blue, almost black squash
Sweet potato flavor
Extremely productive
Winter squash
90-100 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
Australian Butter Squash, Organic
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) From our friends at Digger's Garden Club near Melbourne, Australia. A ribbed salmon-colored drum-like pumpkin with wall-to-wall starchy high-quality flesh. Excellent for baking, a great keeper. Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds. 90-100 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Salmon-colored ribbed fruits
Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds
Extremely thick, starchy flesh
Excellent for baking
Winter squash for storage
90-100 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
Baby Pam Pumpkin, Organic
$3.25
$3.50
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Commercial standard for pie pumpkins with long handles and dry, bright orange skin.
Stringless, sugary flesh cooks down to a smooth, superior pie filling. Slightly smaller and more uniform than New England Pie. Great for painting and carving, too!
Characteristics:
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
Uniform size
Reliable harvest
3-4 lb fruit
Vining habit
Instructions - Pumpkins grow best in fertile, well-drained soil, with a pH between 5.8-6.8. Sidedressing is recommended one week after blossoming and again 3 weeks later, especially if there are signs of deficiency. Nitrogen deficiencies cause yellowing, and bronze leaves are a sign of potassium deficiency. Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. Seeds can be direct seeded after the danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 70°F. Start transplants indoors 3-4 weeks before the last risk of frost. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 85-95°F.
Plant 1/2-1" deep
Plant Spacing:
For bush varieties 18”, for vining 24-36”. Tighter plant spacing will result in yields of smaller, but more numerous, fruit.
Row Spacing:
Row spacing: for bush/semi-bush and short vine types 6’, for vigorous vining types use 9-12’
Harvest & Storage - Harvest by cutting the stem near the vine or at least 2-3” from the fruit. Too many days of sun on fruits after maturity will bleach handles and cause sunscald on the fruit. A short or broken stem can lead to rot. Cure after harvest by keeping in a warm, dry location for a few days then store at 50-55°F with 55-75% relative humidity and good air circulation. Delicata and acorn squash do not need curing, but will not store as long as other varieties.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Benning's GT Summer Squash, Organic
$3.25
$3.55
Prolific patty pan with striking pale green fruits that mature to a creamy white.
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Bush's habit of plants provide good coverage for dense clusters of scalloped edge fruits. Listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste as a distinctive food facing extinction. Excellent flavor profile when sauteed or stuffed and beautiful addition to squash mixes for market or kitchen harvests.
Characteristics:
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
Patty pan-type
Bushy habit
Harvest at 3-4" diameter
52 days
1/8 oz approx.
Instructions - Summer squashes are warm-season annuals. Plants need loose, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves are yellow. Days to maturity are from direct seeding. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF. Best quality fruit is harvested at 5 – 8” or smaller.
Plant 1/2-1" deep
Space plants 12-24"
Plant rows 5-6'
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Big Max Pumpking, organic
$3.25
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Big Max Pumpkin Extra large pumpkin often grown for county fairs and Halloween. Weighs up to 100 lbs. or more when well grown. Bright orange fruits with orange flesh good for pies. Pkt (6 g, ~22 seeds), (C. maxima) 115 days.
Characteristics:
Beautiful Orange Pumpkin
Baking, Eating or Canning
115 days
6.5g 22 seeds per packet on average
Planting 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
Black Beauty Zucchini Squash, 1957 variety, Organic
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - A 1957 All America Selections winner developed by John Scarchuk at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Compact everbearing bush plants are loaded with glossy green-black fruits with firm white flesh. Best eaten when under 8" long. Excellent variety for freezing. 45-65 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Glossy, green-black skin
Best when eaten under 8 inches
Excellent variety for freezing
Summer squash
45-65 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
Black Futsu Pumpkin, Organic, Japanese Heirloom
from $3.00
$3.95
Firefly Farm & Mercantile -Our local customers have asked for really cool pumpkins so we brought this one in bulk and offer it. The pumpkins are gorgeous to use for decor and equally delicious. The pumpkins will ripen while in storage. The fruit will turn chesnut. They are eaten raw, cooked, roasted and any other way you can think of will be delicious.
We bring in organic seed to offer and are working on our organic handling license so it can be kept organic all the way to you.
Characteristics:
Organic Seed, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
100 Days from seeding to harvest
3-5 lb fruit
Vining habit
Packet is 2.5g or 30 seeds
Instructions - Pumpkins grow best in fertile, well-drained soil, with a slighlty acidic pH.
Plant 1/2-1" deep
3-5 seeds per 6' hill or plant 2 seeds every 3' in rows
Harvest & Storage - Harvest by cutting the stem near the vine or at least 2-3” from the fruit. Too many days of sun on fruits after maturity will bleach handles and cause sunscald on the fruit. A short or broken stem can lead to rot. Cure after harvest by keeping in a warm, dry location for a few days then store at 50-55°F with 55-75% relative humidity and good air circulation. Delicata and acorn squash do not need curing, but will not store as long as other varieties.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Boston Marrow Squash
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) From our friends at Digger's Garden Club near Melbourne, Australia. A ribbed salmon-colored drum-like pumpkin with wall-to-wall starchy high-quality flesh. Excellent for baking, a great keeper. Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds. 90-100 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Salmon-colored ribbed fruits
Fruits weigh 7-15 pounds
Extremely thick, starchy flesh
Excellent for baking
Winter squash for storage
90-100 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
Bradshaw's Birdhouse Gourd Seeds, Heirloom, Organic
$3.25
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Bradshaw'sBirdhouse Gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) For over 50 years, Dr. David Bradshaw has been selecting the strongest and best-shaped gourds for Purple Martin (Progne subis subis) birdhouses. This species, the largest American swallow, suffered a population crash in the 20th Century due to the spread of European Starlings, and the birds now rely on humans for nesting houses. It is thought that without our assistance, Purple Martins would be in danger of extinction. Monitor your birdhouses to prevent take-over by aggressive, non-native birds. Purple Martins eat mosquitoes and many other insect pests. The sprawling plants produce up to 12 gourds each. Check out our Purple Martin Condominiums guide by David Bradshaw. (Click for PDF.) Small 2g packet has about 22 seeds.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 14 inches by 12 inches
Vines grow 15-35 feet
Make excellent birdhouses
95 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 6 weeks before transplanting out in shorter season areas.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute based on supplier availability
Brûlée Butternut Winter Squash, Organic
$5.50
$6.15
A prolific and early producer of stout, personal-sized squashes with traditional butternut color.
Earlier and better storing than the popular Honeynut, Brûlée was also developed by Dr. Michael Mazourek at the Vegetable Breeding Institute at Cornell University. Uniform, squat fruits have a rich and savory flavor profile, with just the right amount of sweetness. Very high yields on vigorous plants. A portion of the sales of this variety is paid to the breeder.
Early mini butternut
Stores well
0.5-1 lb squashes
BR
Vining habit
Open-Pollinated
1/8 ounce of seed
(C. moschata)
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
Burgess Buttercup Squash, 1952 Heirloom, Organic
$3.45
$3.95
The Seed Savers Exchange - (C. maxima) Introduced in 1952 by Burgess Seed & Plant Co. This is a bush version of the original Buttercup variety introduced in 1931. Flattened dark green turbans with a distinctive button on the blossom end. Typical fruits weigh 3-5 pounds. Super sweet brilliant orange flesh with very fine eating qualities. The rind is thin but very hard, medium-length keeper. 85-100 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Turban-shaped fruits with a distinctive button on the blossom end
Fruits weigh 3-5 pounds
Super sweet brilliant orange flesh
Medium length keeper in storage
Winter squash
85-100 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
Bush Delicata Winter Squash, Organic
$3.45
$3.75
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Compact, tidy plants with sweet, oblong fruits.
Delicious smooth, nutty flesh with hints of butter and brown sugar. Skin starts creamy white with green stripes and flecks, curing to striped light yellow. Compact plants spread only 4-6 feet. All-America Selection (AAS) winner bred by Molly Jahn and George Moriarty at Cornell University. This variety is Plant Variety Protected.
Characteristics:
Semi-vining habit
1.5-2 lbs
AAS Winner
PVP
Open-Pollinated
Disease Resistance Details
Intermediate Resistance: Powdery Mildew
Instructions:
Plants need loose, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH of 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves are yellow.
Days to maturity are from direct seeding. The optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF.
Plant 1/2-1" deep
Plant Spacing: for bush varieties 18-24”, for vining 24-36”
Row Spacing: 5-6'
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Cinderella Pumpkin, 1880 Heirloom, Organic
$3.25
The vivid red French heirloom was reminiscent of the fairytale with its beautiful, whimsical appearance. We will have High Mowing Seeds back in late March but look for our Rouge Vif D’Etampes Pumpkin or Cinderella Carriage for the same pumpkin.
High Mowing Organic Seeds - (C. moschata) Large, flattened fruits with exceptionally deep orange flesh and strong, sweet flavor delicious in soups and purees. Shell is commonly used as a soup tureen. It can also be named Rouge Vif D'Etampes Pumpkin.
Characteristics:
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
15-20 lb fruit
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
Connecticut Field Pumpkin, Heirloom, pre-1700 Native American origin, organic
$3.25
Connecticut Field Pumpkin sometimes goes by Yankee Cow Pumpkin, Orange Yankee or Big Tom Pumpkin but its origins go back well before 1700.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - Still the most popular variety of large Halloween pumpkins. 15-20 lbs fruits are bright orange, slightly ribbed, and vary in shape and size. Good for canning, baking, and pies. 110 days. C.Pepo
Characteristics:
Beautiful Orange Pumpkin
Fruits grow to 15-20 pounds
Sturdy stems rarely break off
Baking, Eating or Canning
110 days
2.5g 20 seeds per packet on average
Planting 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