![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluesgardenA few days ago, we discovered that the outside refrigerator had frozen some of its contents. I had brought in the seeds to finish this list, so I don't know if I saved them from too cold temperatures or not. It also depends on how much moisture they might have had in them at the time as to whether or not they sustained any damage.
To clarify: If the seeds have too much moisture in them when they're frozen (usually if you've saved them yourself or if they've picked it up during humid weather), the water inside will expand and damage the seed. Like freezing a full bottle of liquid. Seeds can be frozen, but only if they're been properly prepared and dried. So, in general, do not store your seeds in the freezer, or anywhere it gets below freezing (like, say, a gardening shed in areas where the outside temperatures drop that low). The fridge is nice and cool and relatively dry, if you've the room.
The point is, all the ones I'm planting this year from seeds on hand have suddenly become slightly more questionable as far as whether they'll germinate or not. None of it was self-saved or irreplaceable, and considering the amount of seed listed below that's started arriving, I think it'll work out just fine regardless.
The bulk of the seeds arrived yesterday and today in two orders - Johnny's and High Mowing - although there are a few items on backorder. Seed availability is the reason I order in January in the first place, and this way even the backorders should be here in plenty of time to get things started. I've noted if seeds were backordered (I'm not sure when those 2 words became 1, but that seems to be the case in common usage, so I feel like I should be consistent), and you'll notice that some of them should be shipped any day now. The backorders can be extended, though, and I haven't received notice of any additional shipments yet, so they're still pending. I always imagine the amount of stress in a seed company office this time of year - especially anyone dealing with getting the backorders in and filled - and wince.
Note that in case of a seed no longer being carried by the seed company I ordered it from or if I purchased it from a store seed rack (because I'm weak), then I used an alternate link.
Previous Years
2009
2010
2011
2012
Seed House Source Codes & Main Links
HMS - High Mowing Seeds
JSS - Johnny's Selected Seeds
VB&S - Vermont Bean & Seed Company
SSE - Seed Saver's Exchange
.: Asian Greens :.
Essentially all bok choy types. I preferred for larger, more tightly packed stems/bases (besides flavor, obviously). Generally, they'll be picked as baby bok choy.
Black Summer [JSS $3.45/250] - I was planning on Mei Qing Choi, then ran across a note that I didn't like it. Whoops. So I'm going with Black Summer instead. (This is why I need better cultivar records)
Da Cheong Chae [JSS Fall 2011]
Prize Choy [HMS $2.75/375] - I keep second guessing myself on this one, but it's called out for a mild flavor - the reason I usually prefer the baby versions - and slow bolting, so I'm giving it a try.
Red Choi [JSS $3.45/250] - Very pretty and tasty at all sizes, hopefully. (Why did I have Shiro down initially? What was I thinking?)
Shanghai Green [HMS $2.75/375] - A good example of what I like and enjoy from the store.
Yukina Savoy [HMS $2.75/375] - Much like Prize Choy, I'm not sure on this one, but I'm giving it a try, and for much the same reasons. It gets blistering here in the height of summer, so although we're at the north end of things, bolt resistance can be crucial for extending harvest seasons of greens.
.: Basil :.
Genovese [HMS $2.75/875] - For drying and various tomato based endeavours.
Holy Red & Green [JSS 2011] - This came and went from Johnny's catalog in the space of year, which isn't promising, but no sense in not trying it. Dave's Garden plant files came through for a link, but the comments/information on it dates back to 2004/2005 and nothing since. Hmm.
.: Beans :.
"Fresh" beans could also be called "green" beans, although they're aren't all actually green. They can also be called snap beans. Some varieties can be used in multiple stages but most are grown specifically as one of the three: fresh/green/snap beans, shelling beans (like shelling peas), or dried beans. (Actually, there are more types than that, but let's stick with the basics and lessen the confusion.)
Black Turtle [JSS $5.25/1125] dry bean/bush habitat
Blue Coco [HMS $2.75/145] fresh bean/pole habitat; I actually have no idea where the pole beans I wanted to try last year ended up. I don't think I planted them. My garden wasn't good for much of anything last year (so not kidding - the pumpkins didn't even germinate and I didn't do it by hand, either), so who knows. It's very odd. But here we go, pole beans! Pretty ones, too. Bonus: They should be much easier to find on the vine than the green models. Backordered Until Feb 1st
Blue Lake 274 [VB&S 2011] fresh bean/bush habitat; Just half a packet to plant out.
Coban Haricot Vert [HMS 2012] fresh bean/bush habitat; Another half a packet planting. Must remember to pick these small - medium to large sizes result in strings and coarser flavor.
Jacob's Cattle [HMS 2012] dry bean/bush habitat; A soup bean.
Jade [JSS $6.95/1000] fresh bean/bush habitat; This will be the main production variety for canning this year.
Low's Champion [VB&S 2012] dry bean/bush habitat; Dark red kidney beans! Failed last year, as did virtually everything through a combination of weather and neglect, so I'm looking forward to an actual harvest.
Silver Cloud Cannellini [HMS $2.75/~145] dry bean/bush habitat; I cannot find cannellini beans around here anywhere, so obviously I have to grow them.
Vermont Cranberry [HMS $2.75/~145] dry bean/bush habitat; A soup bean. Backordered Until Feb 1st
.: (Sprouting) Broccoli :.
Hon Tsai Tai [HMS $4.50/1,250] - Experiment time. I do love sauteed sprouting broccoli, so I'm giving growing it a try.
Santee [JSS $11.50/100] - It does seem to be an improvement over older types and, crucially, appears to have more head area than most. This is more broccolini than sprouting broccoli, which is how I'd prefer it, so, given the amount of the stuff I've been eating this winter, I'm grudgingly shelling out the money for the seeds (that I can't even save as it's a hybrid).
.: Cabbage :.
Both are storage varieties that should hold well. I'm not 100% of the time frame involved in cabbage holding well yet, but months in a proper root cellar seems to be possible. Not that I have a proper root cellar. That's one for the fall to do list.
Drago [HMS $4.10/25]
Impala [HMS $4.10/25]
.: Carrots :.
These things are right up there with spinach for me, but I'm not the only one. Germinating carrots seems to generally be a pain in the tail until you get a system down.
Danvers [Seed Rack 2011]
Dragon [HMS 2012]
Napoli [JSS 2011]
Red Cored Chantenay [HMS $2.75/758]
Scarlet Nantes [Seed Rack 2011]
Vitana [JSS 2011]
Yaya Pelleted [JSS $4.95/250]
.: Corn :.
Why, yes, I am allergic to corn pollen! But I can still eat it, and harvest to table timing is crucial to the taste of sweet corn. I'd like to grind my own cornmeal, too, but finding anything other than standard dry field corn around here is well nigh impossible. They'll all have to be hand pollinated to avoid cross-breeding (with each other or with the neighbor varieties) and to ensure that the ears actually develop; this does mean that I don't have to worry about planting them in a block, however.
Jerry Petersen Blue (flour) [JSS 2012] - The nice thing about the hand pollination is that it'll make it easier to save this seed for next year. I only have 2 packets, but that's 200 seeds, so, if I'm lucky, that will provide enough ears for flour and for saving for next year.
Bling (sweet) [HMS $4.95/75]
Luscious (sweet) [HMS $2.75/75]
.: Garlic :.
To be determined, but most likely Silver Rose [HMS $18.60/1 lb, approx 50 seed cloves]. The only reason it's still a question is because I won't order it until fall, so it isn't bound by the 2 catalog restriction and thus I have a lot more choices that I haven't yet investigated. Plus, I know how good I am at making and sticking to decisions. (Hint: not very.)
.: Herbs :.
Calendula, Resina [JSS $3.45/200] - Medicinal
Chamomile, German [HMS $2.75/pkt] - Medicinal
Cilantro, Calypso [JSS $3.45/200] - Going by the published numbers, it should be very slow to bolt, which is always an issue with cilantro.
Oregano, Greek [JSS $3.45/200]
Papalo [JSS $4.95/100] - One I'm unfamiliar with, but reportedly similar to cilantro, so I'm trying it.
Rosemary [Seed Rack 2011]
Sage, Extrakta [JSS 2012] - I didn't get a chance to try it last year, so here we go. Reportedly quite high in volatile oils compared to the common varities.
Sage, Common [Seed Rack 2011]
Thyme, German Winter [JSS $3.45/200]
.: Kohlrabi :.
Korridor [HMS $4.95/25] - Standard, quick growing variety.
Kossak [HMS $4.95/25] - Giant, storage variety of kohlrabi. It's harvested at about an 8" diameter and can keep for months in cold storage.
.: Lettuce :.
Jericho Romaine [HMS $2.75/100] - Returnee and an excellent romaine that's relatively heat tolerant.
Optima Pelleted [HMS $2.75/100] - I wanted a butterhead in the mix, and this is the one I settled on.
Red Sails [HMS $2.75/100] - Pretty! Supposed to have good flavor that doesn't easily go bitter and is bolt resistant.
Winter Density [HMS $2.75/100] - Another returnee, for the early season.
.: Melons :.
Ambrosia (Cantaloupe) [VB&S 2011]
Diplomat (Galia/Tropical) [JSS 2012] - I always read and want to type it as "Gaila". Yes, as in Star Trek. Now I keep thinking it's canon that Galia survived Vulcan and goes on to become a diplomatic envoy.
Fast Break (Cantaloupe) [VB&S 2011] - A melon that ripens earlier in the season than some others.
Hale's Best (Cantaloupe) [HMS $7.40/281] - I swear, I didn't pick this one for the Teen Wolf reference. Noted for its "old fashioned melon flavor".
Sun Jewel (Asian) [JSS 2012]- Did I even plant this one last year? If so, it didn't germinate, but then, none of the melons germinated, so. (Partially because of the weather, partially because I didn't water them enough. Not necessarily because of the seed.)
Rona (Galia/Tropical) [HMS $7.25/50] - The ratio of the overall size of the melon to the size of the seed cavity originally caught my attention on this one. It has a bit more edible flesh than average.
Tasty Bites (Cantaloupe) [JSS $4.45/30] - I originally had down Sarah's Choice, but it looks to be unavailable for the foreseeable future, so I swapped it out for this one. This is a small, "personal size" melon.
.: Onions :.
Calibra [HMS $4.10/100] - White storage onion that stores well for up to 10 months or so.
Red Wing [HMS $4.10/100] - Red onion.
Rossa di Milano [HMS $2.75/~109] - Yeah, white with ruddy red wrappers, so they're just pretty. But should be moderately good keepers, too. (I'll use these one's first since Calibra should store better for a longer time span.) Backordered Until Jan 25th
.: Peas :.
Yeah, I dunno. But I have the seeds, so if the weather cooperates, I'll give them a go. Possibly under the hot caps.
Dwarf Gray Sugar [SSE 2011]
Mammoth Melting [HMS 2012]
Oregon Giant [JSS 2011]
Oregon Sugar Pod II [HMS 2011]
Sugar Snap [HMS 2012]
.: Peppers :.
Ancho Poblano [HMS $2.75/63] - One of the mildest hot pepper types for adding to recipes, especially corn and black bean chili. They'll be frozen for winter use.
Black Hungarian (jalapeño type) [HMS $2.75/63] - Jalapeño type, primarily for salsa.
Corno di Toro (sweet) [HMS $2.75/63] - A frying/stuffing pepper. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a feasible preservation method to prep, stuff, and then freeze them for roasting later in the year. Also, what I might want to stuff them with.
Stocky Red Roaster (sweet) [HMS $3.95/63] - Same as Corno di Toro. Backordered Until Feb 8th
.: Potatoes :.
German Butterball [HMS $11.50/2.5 lbs] - In theory: an excellent potato for multiple purposes (roasted, mashed, fried, baked) that stores well. I'm not sure where I'll store them if I have more than a few, but *handwaves*.
.: Pumpkins :.
Baby Pam - The quintessential "pie pumpkin". I'm not actually sure where these seeds came from.
Kakai Hulless [HMS $7.90/~70] - Being grown for their seeds, which are hulless and therefore more easily eaten.
Long Island Cheese [JSS $3.45/30] - I'm growing more eating/pie pumpkins than I need this year (possibly a lot more) because they're fun and with an eye to selling them at the flea market this fall.
Long Pie [HMS $8.75/~70] - Not your standard round pumpkin! They're reputed to be very tasty, have flesh with little stringiness (making an even smoother puree that needs little water to process), and improve with storage. It should also add a nice shape contrast to the others.
Musque de Provence/Fairytale [HMS $7.50/~140] - These can grow quite large for an eating pumpkin (25 lbs). They store well, which means I can wait until the dead of winter when it's cold and quiet to roast them and freeze the puree.
Winter Luxury [JSS $3.45/30] - These are pretty and supposedly tasty, but unlike Fairytale, they don't store well. They'll be sold and the remaining processed into frozen puree.
.: Spinach :.
Arrrgh. I have the seed, so. Maybe they'll do better actually in the garden soil under the hot caps we picked up at the last auction. (Speaking of, I don't have a picture because they're not here at the moment - they've been living at D's aunt's house - but they're very nice homemade ones that are much larger and sturdier than the homemade varieties. You can see them in the background of this picture of the seed cleaners.) But that's a story for another post.
Emu [JSS 2011]
New Zealand Spinach [King's Seeds 2011/2012]
Space F1 Treated [JSS 2011]
Tyee [JSS 2011]
Tyee Nat II [JSS 2011]
.: Sunflowers :.
Firecracker [JSS 2011]
Lemon Queen [SSE 2012]
Moulin Rouge [JSS 2012]
Purple - From a friend. They are, in theory, going to result in purple sunflowers. :D
.: Tomatoes :.
Heavy on the sauce/canning types this year. It would figure that the first year I didn't can any tomatoes is the year I figure out I can't eat most of them from the store. Not for right now, at least. At this point, though, food from my own garden makes me less nervous. Because eating is complicated. (er, If you've only been following the gardening tag, I should explain: I found out that I'm allergic to soy, and that it is indeed in everything. For reasons unrelated to tomatoes, I am hypersensitive to its presence right now. Why are tomatoes a problem then? They're not, but the citric acid usually used in commercially canned tomato products could be.)
Amish Paste [JSS $3.95/40]
Cosmonaut Volkov [HMS $2.75/28]
Gilbertie Paste [HMS $2.75/35]
Emmy [SSE 2012] - Left over from last year. It grew well despite the weather and neglect.
Green Zebra [SSE 2012] - A running favorite now.
San Marzano [HMS $2.75/35]
Sunkist [HMS $5.50/10] - To compare to Emmy, primarily. Supposedly an excellent flavor for an orange tomato.
.: Tomatillo :.
Purple [HMS $2.75/35] - Mostly for sale, actually. I'm going to be running on my current batch of salsa verde for a, uh, while.
.: Watermelon :.
Ali Baba [HMS $2.75/47]
Klondike Blue Ribbon [HMS $2.75/47]
Moon & Stars [SSE 2010]
Oh So Sweet [SSE 2012]
Orange Crisp Seedless [JSS 2012]
Osh Kirgizia [SSE 2010]
Sugar Baby [Seed Rack 2011/HMS 2012] - For its own sake and as a pollinator.
Triple Crown [HMS $8.30/10] - Seedless watermelons can be tricky to germinate, need a different "pollinator" plant to actually produce fruit (Sugar Baby is a common one), and the seed for them is relatively expensive (not surprising since the seeds they do contain are small, fragile, and infrequent). I'm not sure I'd be giving them another go were it not for D.
To clarify: If the seeds have too much moisture in them when they're frozen (usually if you've saved them yourself or if they've picked it up during humid weather), the water inside will expand and damage the seed. Like freezing a full bottle of liquid. Seeds can be frozen, but only if they're been properly prepared and dried. So, in general, do not store your seeds in the freezer, or anywhere it gets below freezing (like, say, a gardening shed in areas where the outside temperatures drop that low). The fridge is nice and cool and relatively dry, if you've the room.
The point is, all the ones I'm planting this year from seeds on hand have suddenly become slightly more questionable as far as whether they'll germinate or not. None of it was self-saved or irreplaceable, and considering the amount of seed listed below that's started arriving, I think it'll work out just fine regardless.
The bulk of the seeds arrived yesterday and today in two orders - Johnny's and High Mowing - although there are a few items on backorder. Seed availability is the reason I order in January in the first place, and this way even the backorders should be here in plenty of time to get things started. I've noted if seeds were backordered (I'm not sure when those 2 words became 1, but that seems to be the case in common usage, so I feel like I should be consistent), and you'll notice that some of them should be shipped any day now. The backorders can be extended, though, and I haven't received notice of any additional shipments yet, so they're still pending. I always imagine the amount of stress in a seed company office this time of year - especially anyone dealing with getting the backorders in and filled - and wince.
Note that in case of a seed no longer being carried by the seed company I ordered it from or if I purchased it from a store seed rack (because I'm weak), then I used an alternate link.
Previous Years
2009
2010
2011
2012
Seed House Source Codes & Main Links
HMS - High Mowing Seeds
JSS - Johnny's Selected Seeds
VB&S - Vermont Bean & Seed Company
SSE - Seed Saver's Exchange
.: Asian Greens :.
Essentially all bok choy types. I preferred for larger, more tightly packed stems/bases (besides flavor, obviously). Generally, they'll be picked as baby bok choy.
Black Summer [JSS $3.45/250] - I was planning on Mei Qing Choi, then ran across a note that I didn't like it. Whoops. So I'm going with Black Summer instead. (This is why I need better cultivar records)
Da Cheong Chae [JSS Fall 2011]
Prize Choy [HMS $2.75/375] - I keep second guessing myself on this one, but it's called out for a mild flavor - the reason I usually prefer the baby versions - and slow bolting, so I'm giving it a try.
Red Choi [JSS $3.45/250] - Very pretty and tasty at all sizes, hopefully. (Why did I have Shiro down initially? What was I thinking?)
Shanghai Green [HMS $2.75/375] - A good example of what I like and enjoy from the store.
Yukina Savoy [HMS $2.75/375] - Much like Prize Choy, I'm not sure on this one, but I'm giving it a try, and for much the same reasons. It gets blistering here in the height of summer, so although we're at the north end of things, bolt resistance can be crucial for extending harvest seasons of greens.
.: Basil :.
Genovese [HMS $2.75/875] - For drying and various tomato based endeavours.
Holy Red & Green [JSS 2011] - This came and went from Johnny's catalog in the space of year, which isn't promising, but no sense in not trying it. Dave's Garden plant files came through for a link, but the comments/information on it dates back to 2004/2005 and nothing since. Hmm.
.: Beans :.
"Fresh" beans could also be called "green" beans, although they're aren't all actually green. They can also be called snap beans. Some varieties can be used in multiple stages but most are grown specifically as one of the three: fresh/green/snap beans, shelling beans (like shelling peas), or dried beans. (Actually, there are more types than that, but let's stick with the basics and lessen the confusion.)
Black Turtle [JSS $5.25/1125] dry bean/bush habitat
Blue Coco [HMS $2.75/145] fresh bean/pole habitat; I actually have no idea where the pole beans I wanted to try last year ended up. I don't think I planted them. My garden wasn't good for much of anything last year (so not kidding - the pumpkins didn't even germinate and I didn't do it by hand, either), so who knows. It's very odd. But here we go, pole beans! Pretty ones, too. Bonus: They should be much easier to find on the vine than the green models. Backordered Until Feb 1st
Blue Lake 274 [VB&S 2011] fresh bean/bush habitat; Just half a packet to plant out.
Coban Haricot Vert [HMS 2012] fresh bean/bush habitat; Another half a packet planting. Must remember to pick these small - medium to large sizes result in strings and coarser flavor.
Jacob's Cattle [HMS 2012] dry bean/bush habitat; A soup bean.
Jade [JSS $6.95/1000] fresh bean/bush habitat; This will be the main production variety for canning this year.
Low's Champion [VB&S 2012] dry bean/bush habitat; Dark red kidney beans! Failed last year, as did virtually everything through a combination of weather and neglect, so I'm looking forward to an actual harvest.
Silver Cloud Cannellini [HMS $2.75/~145] dry bean/bush habitat; I cannot find cannellini beans around here anywhere, so obviously I have to grow them.
Vermont Cranberry [HMS $2.75/~145] dry bean/bush habitat; A soup bean. Backordered Until Feb 1st
.: (Sprouting) Broccoli :.
Hon Tsai Tai [HMS $4.50/1,250] - Experiment time. I do love sauteed sprouting broccoli, so I'm giving growing it a try.
Santee [JSS $11.50/100] - It does seem to be an improvement over older types and, crucially, appears to have more head area than most. This is more broccolini than sprouting broccoli, which is how I'd prefer it, so, given the amount of the stuff I've been eating this winter, I'm grudgingly shelling out the money for the seeds (that I can't even save as it's a hybrid).
.: Cabbage :.
Both are storage varieties that should hold well. I'm not 100% of the time frame involved in cabbage holding well yet, but months in a proper root cellar seems to be possible. Not that I have a proper root cellar. That's one for the fall to do list.
Drago [HMS $4.10/25]
Impala [HMS $4.10/25]
.: Carrots :.
These things are right up there with spinach for me, but I'm not the only one. Germinating carrots seems to generally be a pain in the tail until you get a system down.
Danvers [Seed Rack 2011]
Dragon [HMS 2012]
Napoli [JSS 2011]
Red Cored Chantenay [HMS $2.75/758]
Scarlet Nantes [Seed Rack 2011]
Vitana [JSS 2011]
Yaya Pelleted [JSS $4.95/250]
.: Corn :.
Why, yes, I am allergic to corn pollen! But I can still eat it, and harvest to table timing is crucial to the taste of sweet corn. I'd like to grind my own cornmeal, too, but finding anything other than standard dry field corn around here is well nigh impossible. They'll all have to be hand pollinated to avoid cross-breeding (with each other or with the neighbor varieties) and to ensure that the ears actually develop; this does mean that I don't have to worry about planting them in a block, however.
Jerry Petersen Blue (flour) [JSS 2012] - The nice thing about the hand pollination is that it'll make it easier to save this seed for next year. I only have 2 packets, but that's 200 seeds, so, if I'm lucky, that will provide enough ears for flour and for saving for next year.
Bling (sweet) [HMS $4.95/75]
Luscious (sweet) [HMS $2.75/75]
.: Garlic :.
To be determined, but most likely Silver Rose [HMS $18.60/1 lb, approx 50 seed cloves]. The only reason it's still a question is because I won't order it until fall, so it isn't bound by the 2 catalog restriction and thus I have a lot more choices that I haven't yet investigated. Plus, I know how good I am at making and sticking to decisions. (Hint: not very.)
.: Herbs :.
Calendula, Resina [JSS $3.45/200] - Medicinal
Chamomile, German [HMS $2.75/pkt] - Medicinal
Cilantro, Calypso [JSS $3.45/200] - Going by the published numbers, it should be very slow to bolt, which is always an issue with cilantro.
Oregano, Greek [JSS $3.45/200]
Papalo [JSS $4.95/100] - One I'm unfamiliar with, but reportedly similar to cilantro, so I'm trying it.
Rosemary [Seed Rack 2011]
Sage, Extrakta [JSS 2012] - I didn't get a chance to try it last year, so here we go. Reportedly quite high in volatile oils compared to the common varities.
Sage, Common [Seed Rack 2011]
Thyme, German Winter [JSS $3.45/200]
.: Kohlrabi :.
Korridor [HMS $4.95/25] - Standard, quick growing variety.
Kossak [HMS $4.95/25] - Giant, storage variety of kohlrabi. It's harvested at about an 8" diameter and can keep for months in cold storage.
.: Lettuce :.
Jericho Romaine [HMS $2.75/100] - Returnee and an excellent romaine that's relatively heat tolerant.
Optima Pelleted [HMS $2.75/100] - I wanted a butterhead in the mix, and this is the one I settled on.
Red Sails [HMS $2.75/100] - Pretty! Supposed to have good flavor that doesn't easily go bitter and is bolt resistant.
Winter Density [HMS $2.75/100] - Another returnee, for the early season.
.: Melons :.
Ambrosia (Cantaloupe) [VB&S 2011]
Diplomat (Galia/Tropical) [JSS 2012] - I always read and want to type it as "Gaila". Yes, as in Star Trek. Now I keep thinking it's canon that Galia survived Vulcan and goes on to become a diplomatic envoy.
Fast Break (Cantaloupe) [VB&S 2011] - A melon that ripens earlier in the season than some others.
Hale's Best (Cantaloupe) [HMS $7.40/281] - I swear, I didn't pick this one for the Teen Wolf reference. Noted for its "old fashioned melon flavor".
Sun Jewel (Asian) [JSS 2012]- Did I even plant this one last year? If so, it didn't germinate, but then, none of the melons germinated, so. (Partially because of the weather, partially because I didn't water them enough. Not necessarily because of the seed.)
Rona (Galia/Tropical) [HMS $7.25/50] - The ratio of the overall size of the melon to the size of the seed cavity originally caught my attention on this one. It has a bit more edible flesh than average.
Tasty Bites (Cantaloupe) [JSS $4.45/30] - I originally had down Sarah's Choice, but it looks to be unavailable for the foreseeable future, so I swapped it out for this one. This is a small, "personal size" melon.
.: Onions :.
Calibra [HMS $4.10/100] - White storage onion that stores well for up to 10 months or so.
Red Wing [HMS $4.10/100] - Red onion.
Rossa di Milano [HMS $2.75/~109] - Yeah, white with ruddy red wrappers, so they're just pretty. But should be moderately good keepers, too. (I'll use these one's first since Calibra should store better for a longer time span.) Backordered Until Jan 25th
.: Peas :.
Yeah, I dunno. But I have the seeds, so if the weather cooperates, I'll give them a go. Possibly under the hot caps.
Dwarf Gray Sugar [SSE 2011]
Mammoth Melting [HMS 2012]
Oregon Giant [JSS 2011]
Oregon Sugar Pod II [HMS 2011]
Sugar Snap [HMS 2012]
.: Peppers :.
Ancho Poblano [HMS $2.75/63] - One of the mildest hot pepper types for adding to recipes, especially corn and black bean chili. They'll be frozen for winter use.
Black Hungarian (jalapeño type) [HMS $2.75/63] - Jalapeño type, primarily for salsa.
Corno di Toro (sweet) [HMS $2.75/63] - A frying/stuffing pepper. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a feasible preservation method to prep, stuff, and then freeze them for roasting later in the year. Also, what I might want to stuff them with.
Stocky Red Roaster (sweet) [HMS $3.95/63] - Same as Corno di Toro. Backordered Until Feb 8th
.: Potatoes :.
German Butterball [HMS $11.50/2.5 lbs] - In theory: an excellent potato for multiple purposes (roasted, mashed, fried, baked) that stores well. I'm not sure where I'll store them if I have more than a few, but *handwaves*.
.: Pumpkins :.
Baby Pam - The quintessential "pie pumpkin". I'm not actually sure where these seeds came from.
Kakai Hulless [HMS $7.90/~70] - Being grown for their seeds, which are hulless and therefore more easily eaten.
Long Island Cheese [JSS $3.45/30] - I'm growing more eating/pie pumpkins than I need this year (possibly a lot more) because they're fun and with an eye to selling them at the flea market this fall.
Long Pie [HMS $8.75/~70] - Not your standard round pumpkin! They're reputed to be very tasty, have flesh with little stringiness (making an even smoother puree that needs little water to process), and improve with storage. It should also add a nice shape contrast to the others.
Musque de Provence/Fairytale [HMS $7.50/~140] - These can grow quite large for an eating pumpkin (25 lbs). They store well, which means I can wait until the dead of winter when it's cold and quiet to roast them and freeze the puree.
Winter Luxury [JSS $3.45/30] - These are pretty and supposedly tasty, but unlike Fairytale, they don't store well. They'll be sold and the remaining processed into frozen puree.
.: Spinach :.
Arrrgh. I have the seed, so. Maybe they'll do better actually in the garden soil under the hot caps we picked up at the last auction. (Speaking of, I don't have a picture because they're not here at the moment - they've been living at D's aunt's house - but they're very nice homemade ones that are much larger and sturdier than the homemade varieties. You can see them in the background of this picture of the seed cleaners.) But that's a story for another post.
Emu [JSS 2011]
New Zealand Spinach [King's Seeds 2011/2012]
Space F1 Treated [JSS 2011]
Tyee [JSS 2011]
Tyee Nat II [JSS 2011]
.: Sunflowers :.
Firecracker [JSS 2011]
Lemon Queen [SSE 2012]
Moulin Rouge [JSS 2012]
Purple - From a friend. They are, in theory, going to result in purple sunflowers. :D
.: Tomatoes :.
Heavy on the sauce/canning types this year. It would figure that the first year I didn't can any tomatoes is the year I figure out I can't eat most of them from the store. Not for right now, at least. At this point, though, food from my own garden makes me less nervous. Because eating is complicated. (er, If you've only been following the gardening tag, I should explain: I found out that I'm allergic to soy, and that it is indeed in everything. For reasons unrelated to tomatoes, I am hypersensitive to its presence right now. Why are tomatoes a problem then? They're not, but the citric acid usually used in commercially canned tomato products could be.)
Amish Paste [JSS $3.95/40]
Cosmonaut Volkov [HMS $2.75/28]
Gilbertie Paste [HMS $2.75/35]
Emmy [SSE 2012] - Left over from last year. It grew well despite the weather and neglect.
Green Zebra [SSE 2012] - A running favorite now.
San Marzano [HMS $2.75/35]
Sunkist [HMS $5.50/10] - To compare to Emmy, primarily. Supposedly an excellent flavor for an orange tomato.
.: Tomatillo :.
Purple [HMS $2.75/35] - Mostly for sale, actually. I'm going to be running on my current batch of salsa verde for a, uh, while.
.: Watermelon :.
Ali Baba [HMS $2.75/47]
Klondike Blue Ribbon [HMS $2.75/47]
Moon & Stars [SSE 2010]
Oh So Sweet [SSE 2012]
Orange Crisp Seedless [JSS 2012]
Osh Kirgizia [SSE 2010]
Sugar Baby [Seed Rack 2011/HMS 2012] - For its own sake and as a pollinator.
Triple Crown [HMS $8.30/10] - Seedless watermelons can be tricky to germinate, need a different "pollinator" plant to actually produce fruit (Sugar Baby is a common one), and the seed for them is relatively expensive (not surprising since the seeds they do contain are small, fragile, and infrequent). I'm not sure I'd be giving them another go were it not for D.
