A few weeks ago we asked our staff what their favorite varieties that we carry are, and we've compiled them in the list below. While we were sitting around talking about all these wonderful different vegetables that we love, we thought it would be great to hear from you, our customers - about which varieties you love and why! So, leave us a note in the comments below about your favorite variety that High Mowing Organic Seeds' carries, and one lucky commenter will win a $50.00 High Mowing Organic Seeds gift certificate!
  • Tell us the name of the variety you love, and why you like it so much!
  • Include the URL (web page address) of that variety from our website.
  • Make sure you use an accurate e-mail as that's how we'll be contacting you if you win!
  • Contest ends midnight (EST) 4/18/12
  • We would love to share your comments with other gardeners and farmers! By commenting below, you give us permission to re-print your comments. Rather not be quoted? Send us an email to questions@highmowingseeds, with the subject line "My Favorite Variety" with the info requested above to be included in our contest and we’d be glad to add you to the pool of contestants.
The contest is now over - Thank you for everyone who entered - we truly appreciate all your comments. Pamela H. is our winner! - congratulations!
The fine print: High Mowing Organic Seeds is giving away one $50.00 gift certificate towards any of our products to one lucky winner! To enter the contest, leave a comment describing your favorite High Mowing Organic Seeds variety, why you like it, and the URL for that variety from our website on our blog post entitled "Win a $50 Gift Certificate".  (To qualify you need to make sure your favorite variety is one that High Mowing sells!), or send us an e-mail at questions@highmowingseeds.com with subject line, "My Favorite Variety".  The contest runs from 4/10/12 through midnight (EST) 4/18/12.  The winner will be selected using random.org. The winner will be notified via e-mail, so please ensure that your e-mail is accurate. Winners must respond within 96 hours of the e-mail announcing that they have one being sent. If the winner fails to respond within that time, High Mowing Organic Seeds will select another winner through random. org and will send out another e-mail to the next winner.

High Mowing Staff Picks - Our Favorite Varieties!

Beans:

“The Black Turtle dry beans are wonderful. I was very happy with their upright growth habit. They produced so many beans and I found that they were easy to clean. They dried well on the plant. After harvesting the beans, I dried them a little more indoors and then put them in a tote and stepped on them to break the pods open. Afterwards, I separated the beans from the organic matter. Now I have dry beans that will store a long time!” Brigitte Derel, Sales AssociateDragon Langerie shell beans - They are beautiful and delicious. I love them in salads.” Meredith Martin Davis, General Manager “I discovered Tavera Haricot Vert beans last summer. They’re tender and sweet and I picked them for weeks- we froze bags full of them! They were the first thing my eight month old son ate, and he loves them just as much as I do.” Andrea Tursini, Retail Sales and Marketing Manager

Organic Chioggia BeetBeet:

“The Guardsmark Chioggia beet. Raw or cooked, shredded or sliced, its unique spiral interior is a vibrant addition to any plate or dish and best of all, it is a beet! Beets are the best, nothing better than a beet. I have nicked named it ‘the cat in hat’ beet.” Maxine Kelly, Accounting Manager

Broccoli:

“I like the Belstar F1 broccoli for full size heads, they have a nice dome to shed water and a tight bead that does great in the fall. Also stands up to the heat, but I usually slot it for the fall.” Paul Betz, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Cabbage:

Kaitlin F1 cabbage: It holds well in the field…and makes good kraut!” Holly Simpson, Sales Assistant

Carrot:

Napoli F1. My first carrot of the season. They are quick to size up, and have great flavor. The tops are strong for bunching, and stay green and beautiful for a long time in the field.” Paul Betz, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Cauliflower:

“I like the Veronica Romanesco for its flavor and uniqueness.” Amber Gillespie, Accounting Assistant

Cucumber:

“The Suyo Long is also an amazing eating cuke; thin skin and small seed cavity, once people try them they are hooked.” Paul Betz, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Specialty Greens:

Yukina savoy Asian greens.  I plant in the fall for full size heads. The leaves are large, the stems are tender and they can take the cold pretty well. Hong Vit radish green is a favorite as well; super tender as a young green. Let it get bigger and it can be bunched for a braising green, leave some longer and it’s a nice quality radish. Amazing!” Paul Betz, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Lettuce:

Magenta head lettuce. Delicious, holds up well to rain, flooding, heat. Beautiful, crisp, dependable, and did I mention tasty?” Sara Schlosser, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Organic Cortland OnionOnion:

Cortland F1 onion. I love onions and especially onions that I can store and eat all winter long. I’m still eating these in late February and plan to keep on eating them into April.” Andrea Tursini, Retail Sales and Marketing Manager

Peas:

Sugar Ann snap pea - The first thing the kids and I get to eat right out of the garden. Summer days munching on these sweet snap peas are the best.” Meredith Martin Davis, General Manager

Peppers:

Oranos F1 pepper is my all-time favorite--the best sweet pepper I have ever tasted!  Peppers are the sweetest treat out of the field and this one is my favorite to snack on.  The flavor is sweet and full, and the color is so pretty.  It has been the favorite pepper by the Trials staff for all the years we’ve grown it -- several of us were so excited to finally be able to get the seed for ourselves this year when we added it to the catalog. Yum!” Kathryn Donovan, Marketing and Trials Assistant “I also love Oranos F1 pepper – don’t get sticker shock!  This is the sweetest, most beautiful pepper we grew in trials last year.” Gwenael Engelskirchen, Trials Manager “Have to have NuMex Joe E. Parker Anaheim peppers. Cut in half and put in a baking pan, stuff with a sharp cheddar cheese (preferably Vermont), sprinkle bread crumbs over top, bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with steamed corn, fresh sliced tomatoes and basil.” Barbara Conn, Sales Associate

Spinach:

Tyee F1 spinach has always been a standby for me. Holds up to the heat that we can get in early summer.” Paul Betz, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Summer Squash:

Partenon F1 zucchini. Dependable in any weather or conditions, early, long season harvest compared to other zucchinis, perfect fruit and delicious. I also really like the Segev F1 squash. It produces for the whole season if you give it space to vine. Tender and nutty, a wonderful squash that is little know or appreciated in this country.” Sara Schlosser, Market Grower and Sales Associate

Winter Squash:

Organic Crown Pumpkin “I really like the Crown Pumpkin winter squash because it has a great color contrast with the muddy green outside and bright rich orange inside, the taste is nutty and the flesh is dense. Also it is very lovely in the garden growing next to other squash of different colors. The history of the Crown Pumpkin also interests me.” Brigitte Derel, Sales AssociateSugar Dumpling F1 winter squash:  An easy to grow, sweet and nutty flavored squash that works well as a main meal when stuffed, but can easily cross over to dessert with a little butter and maple syrup!” Sarah Zettlemeyer, Wholesale Sales Associate

Tomato:

Cosmonaut Volkov tomato:  The flavor and texture is out of this world!  Rich and sweet that never hides in any kind of sandwich or salad, always a great compliment to everything I add it to.  This tomato takes me to the moon!” Sarah Zettlemeyer, Wholesale Sales Associate Matt's Wild cherry tomatoes - Sweet, plentiful, and so easy to grow.” Meredith Martin Davis, General Manager  Rose de Berne! Great flavor, texture, size, and good uniformity for an open pollinated heirloom tomato.  Worlds better than Brandywine, the almighty heirloom of choice!” Megen Hall, Sales Associate “I absolutely love Rose de Berne tomato – it has wonderful flavor, smooth skin, dense texture, excellent slicing and salad tomato and not prone to cracking.” Gwenael Engelskirchen, Trials Manager

Flowers:

“I really enjoy the Jasmine-Scented Nicotiana flower. The scent of jasmine fills the air in the early evening hours. It is so pleasant to be in the garden as the sun is setting with such a lovely aroma in the air.” Brigitte Derel, Sales Associate “I love the scent of the Old Spice Sweet Peas. And I always plant Dark Orange Marigolds in our garden because that’s what my mother does - the smell of marigolds always reminds me of pulling weeds in her garden when I was little.” Andrea Tursini, Retail Sales and Marketing Manager