New in 2015 Variety Highlights
Here are a few highlights of the NEW varieties in our 2015 catalog that we are really excited about! To see the full list, click here.
Shiraz Beet - Open-Pollinated
The first disease-resistant OP beet developed for organic production. This exceptionally smooth, sweet round 3-4” red beet variety is derived from three different heirlooms. Tall, succulent tops provide high quality greens. Rhizoctonia-resistant variety bred through a collaboration including several farmers, Dr. John Navazio & the Organic Seed Alliance. Tall tops • Excellent for processing (Beta vulgaris)
Yankee F1 Yellow Onion- HYBRID
Very productive storage variety with medium sized round bulbs. Our first variety with strong resistance to Downy Mildew! Yield and excellent storage qualities similar to Copra. Dark brown skins and bulbs will remain hard and sound until spring. From our partners at Bejo Seeds. Downy Mildew • Long day • Stores well. (Allium cepa)
Valencia Sweet Onion - Open-Pollinated
Versatile day-neutral sweet Spanish onion for all regions. Mild to sweet flavor. Excellent for bunching when young or for fresh market sales of large bulbs with warm golden-brown skin. Stores moderately well. Day neutral • 4-6” bulbs. (Allium cepa)
Gemstone Greens Mix - Open-Pollinated
An eye-catching, flavorful mix of deep maroon and emerald green leaves and stems. A mix of mustards with an emphasis on colorful red and purple stems for a mix as pretty on the plate as it is in the field. A tasty, mildly spicy blend for salad conoisseurs. Colorful blend • Colors deepen in late summer.
Mirage F1 Sweet Corn - HYBRID
Attractive ears with wonderfully tender, sweet kernels that melt in your mouth! Ears start 2.5’ from the ground for easy harvest and are well-wrapped in dark green husks. Plants are 7’ tall and average 2 ears per plant with 16 rows of kernels each. Intermediate resistance to NCLB, rust, and Stewart’s bacterial wilt. WHITE • Synergistic (sy) • 8-9” ears. (Zea maize)
German Johnson Tomato - Open-Pollinated
Deep pink Brandywine-type fruits with excellent flavor on vigorous, high yielding plants. A standout in our trials! Medium-sized fruits with rich tomato flavor and tender, creamy texture. Earlier, more uniform, higher yielding and slightly smaller than Brandywine. Indeterminate • 8-16 oz. fruit. (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Dwarf Green Curled Kale - Open-Pollinated
Compact variety with very frilly, tightly curled leaves and excellent flavor. A frost-tolerant variety from north Germany that can be harvested long into winter. Similar to Ripbor with a slightly smaller frame and light to medium green leaves. High yielding • Robust 18” plants. (B. oleracea.)
Bangor F1 Carrot - HYBRID
Large, crunchy cylindrical roots ideal for juicing. Very productive variety with good flavor and heavy yields of juicy bright orange roots with blunt tips. The perfect juicing carrot! Excellent commercial grower variety that resists greening and splitting. Weaker tops are not suited to bunching. From our partners at Bejo Seeds. Storage • 6-7” Nantes/Berlicum-type. (Daucus carota)
Eleonora Basil - Open-Pollinated
Growers rejoice! The first organically-available basil with Downy Mildew resistance. Innovative European breeding resulting in upright plants with more elongated stems for better airflow and intermediate DM resistance. Large, medium green, lightly serrated leaves with good flavor. Well-suited to field or container production. Not as bolt-tolerant as other basils. 18M seeds/oz Upright habit • Suitable for containers. (Ocimum basilicum subsp)
Ostergruss Radish - Open-Pollinated
Unusual carrot-shaped magenta radish with crisp texture and spicy flavor. German variety translated as “Easter Greeting”. Firm bright white interior flesh is enclosed in beautifully contrasting thick pink skin. Dark green foliage ideal for bunching. Beautiful addition to salads and perfect shape for dipping. Very quick to size up and holds quality even when large. Spring/fall crop • 5-6” roots. (Raphanus sativus)
Preludio F1 Fennel - HYBRID
Very early, heavy bulbs with superb flavor - a major improvement in hybrid fennel. This variety stood out in our trials with its lightly sweet flavor, uniformity and ability to hold in the field without bolting. Upright plants are easy to harvest. Early variety recommended for spring and summer harvest with good fall performance as well. Bolt-resistant • Large bulbs. (Foeniculum vulgare)
Indigo Apple Tomato - Open-Pollinated
Beautiful and early variety with fruits that start deep purple-red and turn nearly black in the sun. Sweet, rich flavored fruits resist cracking and sunscald. A larger Indigo tomato with exceptionally high anthocyanin content; firm, meaty fruits are delicious sliced on sandwiches. Bred by Brad Gates using an original cross made by PKS Heirlooms in Copemish, MI. Indeterminate • Resists cracking • 2-4 oz.. (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Encino Green Oakleaf Lettuce - Open-Pollinated
Huge, fine heads of buttery, lightly savoyed leaves. Heads are densely packed with lightly serrated wavy leaves and have paler centers. In our trials it had sweeter and more buttery flavor than Panisse, with larger heads and slightly less lobed leaves than Ocate. Uniform size • Slow to bolt. (Lactuca sativa)
Disease Resistance: Downy Mildew (races 1-26, 28), Aphids, Lettuce Mosaic Virus, MTO-30