{"title":"Crop Archive","description":"This is where we keep listings for crop varieties we no longer currently sell. They may or may not return to the catalogue, but we feel it's important to keep them listed here as a record. (This is a work in progress. We will continue adding to the archive as we go through our records.)","products":[{"product_id":"rinon-rippled-delight-tomato","title":"'Riñon Rippled Delight' Tomato","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolanum lycopersicum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eCuba, via New Jersey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImp\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003erovement Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024:\u003c\/strong\u003e 97%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN ORIGINAL.\u003c\/strong\u003e Tomatoes across the Americas are known as \"Riñon\", which means kidney, but the earliest in the USDA's collection came from Cuba in 1932. Already less than uniform when it was collected from the wild in Cuba (according to the original notes), nearly a century in the USDA's collection seems to have made the government's variety even more variable. When we first grew it out, we found at least a dozen different types, ranging in size, shape, flavor, color, and vigor. With a little selection, we've basically stabilized this wonderful little tomato from the 'Riñon' genepool: a reddish-pink, flat, fasciated (deeply ribbed), flavorful and incredibly productive tomato. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMore information on OSSI can be found at\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\" title=\"Open Source Seed Initiative\" data-mce-href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\"\u003eosseeds.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eAs with other tomatoes, start indoors in March or early April and transplant outdoors after danger of last frost. Plants should be 2-3 feet apart. This is a fast-growing, very tall tomato, so it will benefit from a tall trellis or long stakes. Expect some variation to still crop up, but only save seeds from the plants producing the most ribbed, best-tasting tomatoes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1796069031959,"sku":"0415","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/rinon_rippled_delight_tomato_picture.png?v=1507671151"},{"product_id":"new-hanover-ground-cherry","title":"'New Hanover' Ground Cherry","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhysalis spp. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(probably \u003cem\u003eP. pruinosa)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e New Hanover, Pennsylvania\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003c\/b\u003e ~50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e83%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGround cherries are close relatives of tomatillos, considered a type of \"husk tomato.\" The flavor is often more tangy than sweet, and can taste more like a vegetable than a fruit, but not the 'New Hanover': it's sweet, fruity, and addictive. It can be hard to save seeds from these because you'll want to eat every fruit! At a tasting held by the American Institute of Wine and Food, it beat all other ground cherries tested. Try them in jams, jellies, sauces, pies or other baked goods, and they're also good raw or dried. The berries grow in profusion on upright, sprawling, drought-resistant plants, but the fruit are not worth eating until they've hit the ground (hence the name).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut as wonderful as this plant is itself, the story of the 'New Hanover' ground cherry makes it even more special. You should pull up a chair though... this is a long one...:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'New Hanover' is one of the first varieties we ever sold. We were given the seeds by William Woys Weaver, famed author and seed saver, steward of the Roughwood Seed Collection, and a founding board member of EFN. Will initially told us that the seeds came from the late Katie Hoffman Slonaker (1903-1983) of New Hanover, Pennsylvania, so that's about the only information we wrote in our description of the variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA few years later, I (this is Nate) was talking with Will at Roughwood, and we were marveling at how popular this variety was becoming. Will mentioned that he'd like to honor the young man who gave him the seeds by at least telling his story in the description. It turned out Will actually received the seeds from Katie Hoffman Slonaker's grandson. Back in the \"80s or 90s\", Jonas Slonaker managed the garden at Roughwood. Will remembered him as a hard worker and a kind soul who would, as he worked, sing the religious hymns of his conservative Pennsylvania Dutch childhood — but with hilarious and often lewd lyrics in place of the originals (little did I know then, I would eventually get to hear some of those lyrics). Will told us that Jonas quit one day and soon moved \"out west\", never to be heard from again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe next day while revising some of our seed descriptions, I googled Jonas Slonaker. In no time I learned that a character in \u003cem\u003eThe Laramie Project\u003c\/em\u003e — the famous play by the Tectonic Theater Project about the murder and torture of Matthew Shepard and the town where that horrible hate-crime took place — was called Jonas Slonaker. I soon learned that Jonas (like all of the \"characters\" in the play) was a very real person, and all of the biographical details I could find matched what I knew about Will's long-lost gardener: a middle-aged gay man, from a deeply conservative Pennsylvania Dutch community, \"gone West\" for personal healing in wide-open spaces. Jonas was inspired to come out of the closet after the murder of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man whom he had never met, and interviews with Jonas form some of the emotional core of the play. As it turned out, Jonas Slonaker was living in Laramie and working at the University of Wyoming!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA few months later, I happened to be driving from Nebraska (Meadowlark Hearth Farm) to Oregon (for the Organic Seed Growers Conference) with EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz and our friend and grower Clint Freund. A road sign alerted me that our trip would take us right through Laramie in just half an hour! I had emailed Jonas to put him in touch with Will, and his reply included a phone number, so I dialed him up right away and in short order we were knocking on his door. Culminating a seed-story so far-fetched I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there for it, we soon reunited him with the long-lost seeds of his \"Memmy\" — who taught him the original lyrics to those hymns all those decades ago, and who cultivated in him a lifelong love of gardening. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eJonas told us that his grandmother called them “Juddekaersche,” or “Jew Cherries,” and since he was never sure why she called them this, he always assumed it was a “Wandering Jew” reference (they are very prone to self-seeding and do tend to wander around the garden from year to year). Will later told me that \"Juddekaersche\" is simply the Pennsylvania German name for them, and it's because \"they're like cherries, but slightly off\" (Will says Pennsylvania Germans commonly used \"Jew\" as a modifier to mean \"slightly off\"!). As a Jew myself, I confess I like Jonas's theory better.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEven in the dead of winter, Dusty, Clint and I had a great time touring Jonas's frozen garden, examining the skeletal frames of his bush cherries, plums, currants, and gooseberries, and tasting his delicious purple carrots (we spent quite a bit of time admiring his beautiful artwork too!). I'm grateful to report that we've stayed in touch — he is a truly wonderful man, generous and fun, and an excellent artist to boot — and I happily stayed in his basement when I again passed through Laramie a year later. I very much look forward to my next visit and I will be forever grateful to this plant for bringing Jonas Slonaker and his inspiring story into my life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a blessing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eGround cherries can take a while to germinate, so don't give up on them! They may take two weeks to sprout, or more. We recommend starting seeds indoors in March or early April \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— surface sown and kept moist —\u003c\/span\u003e and transplanting them to the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Plants could be two feet apart, maybe more. Prefers full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1796729372695,"sku":"0343","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/23406050_1984629615125860_1961895799814097400_o.jpg?v=1547179276"},{"product_id":"legend-tomato-late-blight-resistant","title":"'Legend' Tomato (Late Blight Resistant)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolanum lycopersicum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eOregon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e93%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeterminate. The late-blight-resistant tomato you've been looking for! Developed by Drs. Jim Myers and Jim Baggett at Oregon State University and released in 2008, 'Legend' is a big, early, productive, great tasting tomato. It would be worth growing even without its resistance to the killer late-blight fungus, simply for being the earliest big slicing tomato out there (fruits can reach 4-5\" across). You should note that \"resistance\" is not the same as \"immunity,\" but growers can expect two or three additional weeks of harvest from their 'Legend' plants beyond when late-blight infestation fully destroys the crops of other tomato varieties. This is also an uncommon \"parthenocarpic\" tomato variety, meaning it sets seed without fertilization, making it a great tomato for colder areas, where cool nights might otherwise make tomato flowers shrivel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStart seeds indoors in March or early April, transplant outside after danger of last frost. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart. inches apart. They will benefit from a trellis or tomato cage. Full sun preferred.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1797833162775,"sku":"0287","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Legend-Tomato.jpg?v=1520610444"},{"product_id":"patience-dock","title":"Patience Dock","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Rumex patientia)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eElmer, New Jersey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eWild\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e88%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePatience Dock is a perennial vegetable commonly found growing as a weed in disturbed areas. In Spring, when the leaves are tender, they are are commonly added to soups, salads, casseroles, and stir fries. It has a tangy flavor similar to its cousin sorrel (both are in the buckwheat family), due to the presence of oxalic acid and tannins. Too much oxalic acid consumption is bad for human health, so the leaves are often boiled quickly before eating. In Romania, large leaves are par-boiled and stuffed with a variety of fillings then cooked in sauce (like stuffed cabbage). Also known as \"monk's rhubarb,\" it is purported to have many medicinal qualities. Flower stalks should be cut before seeds ripen to prevent Patience Dock from taking over your garden. Once plants are well established, the whole plant can be cut down to produce new tender leaves during the growing season. In temperate climates it will die back come Winter and re-grow quite early in the Spring.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1822526701591,"sku":"0927","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Rumex_X_patientia_Sturm55.jpg?v=1520610556"},{"product_id":"kandahar-pendi-okra","title":"'Kandahar Pendi Landrace' Okra","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbelmoschus esculentus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eKandahar, Afghanistan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Landrace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2021:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN EXCLUSIVE.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you've struggled with growing okra in the past, this may be the okra for you. As opposed to most named varieties, which are bred for uniformity, this is a diverse landrace population. Plants may produce green, red, pink, or white pods, which may be long, short, fat, or thin. Most will be slightly spiny, which okra's characteristic invisible spines (best harvested with gloves). The seeds of some plants have very high oil content. Originally collected by the little-known but prolific USDA agricultural explorer E.E. Smith in 1954, \"pendi\" is not a cultivar name, but simply the name for okra in one of the many local languages used in Kandahar (note the similarity to \"bhindi,\" the Hindi word for okra). If you want to try your hand at plant breeding, using a diverse population like this is a great way to start. Given Kandahar's location at roughly 3000 feet above sea level, this okra is well worth trying in places where the common varieties of okra often refuse to grow. You may have losses in your first year, but as you save seed through the years you will develop your own landrace!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz and Zach Binsfeld in Minnesota.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eDirect seed in late May or early June after things have warmed up a bit. Or transplant healthy plant starts around this time. Plants should end up 8-18 inches apart.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1824672841751,"sku":"0264","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/kandahar_pendi_okra_efnpic.png?v=1507741050"},{"product_id":"criolla-de-cocina-pepper","title":"'Criolla de Cocina' Sweet Pepper","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCapsicum annuum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eNicaragua\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2021: \u003c\/strong\u003e95%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Criolla de Cocina' is a unique \u003cem\u003echiltoma\u003c\/em\u003e pepper from Nicaragua. It is a sweet pepper characterized by a strong flavor, thin walls, and wrinkled appearance (like an oversized \u003cem\u003ehabañero\u003c\/em\u003e). These types of peppers are used in Nicaragua for the classic sauce known as \u003cem\u003esalsa criolla campesina\u003c\/em\u003e, which combines thinly sliced onions and peppers with tomatoes, salt, sugar, and vinegar, and is served with grilled or fried fish or chicken throughout Nicaragua. You won't find another pepper like this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDusty trialed this variety in 2019 in central Minnesota. In the relatively short season here, 'Criolla' produced early and often, and was great to have on hand for all kinds of cooking! Very crisp and firm, great flavor, and lasted a while in the fridge too. Two thumbs up!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz in Farmington, Minnesota, at the farm of legendary Minnesota organic farmer, Jeff Adelman, aka \"The Herb Man\". \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStart seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seeds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1826056601623,"sku":"0111","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/criolladecocinaoncuttingboard.jpg?v=1640685226"},{"product_id":"maypop-passionfruit","title":"Northern Maypop Passionfruit","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePassiflora incarnata\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eMid-Atlantic U.S.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eWild\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe maypop is the only passionfruit\/passionflower native to the temperate US East Coast, with a natural range stretching from southern New Jersey to Florida in the East and from Texas to Kansas in the West. It has naturalized in other parts of the country and in Europe. Popular as an herbal sleep aid and anxiety treatment (usually in the form of a tea made from the leaves), maypops also produce a delicious fruit which ripen in autumn and follow one of the most beautiful flowers on the planet. A perennial vine, it dies back to the ground each winter and grows back bigger each summer. It benefits from having a trellis or some other structure (like a tree) to climb, which increases fruit production, but they will also sprawl along the ground and grow a foot or two into the air using its own vines as support, if no other support is provided. The sweet-and-sour fruit pulp (with a flavor reminiscent of pineapple, lemon, tropical passion fruit, caramel, and banana, though entirely unique) can be made into jam or jelly, eaten raw, or used as a flavoring for homebrews, kombucha, wine, or drinking vinegar. You can even press the seeds for a tasty edible oil if you grow enough!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur seeds come from populations at the northern reaches of its \"natural range\" (which was likely extended this far north by Native Americans many centuries ago), in southern New Jersey and Delaware. We've begun including seeds from 2nd generation improved selections from our breeding program. This means there's a strong likelihood some of the plants will be able to thrive — and produce tasty fruit — far north of that. We have heard reports of growers having success (mainly in protected spots, such as next to a house) as far north as Maine and even into parts of Canada. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can tell the fruit are ripe by holding one to your nose and sniffing. The luscious tropical fruit scent is unmistakable. If you can't smell it, you either can't smell, or they're not ripe. Wrinkly skin is a tell-tale sign, along with a softness to the fruit (though occasional fruits will be fully hollow). They are quite firm before they ripen. The flesh around the seeds should be yellow, not white, for full ripeness. Before it does ripen, the flesh is very sour, and at this time the juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice. But the best rule of thumb for finding ripe maypops is this: only harvest them off the ground. As soon as they ripen they fall to the ground, and often continue ripening there for days (until the critters find them).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote on germination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Whenever we've sent these seeds away for germination testing, the test comes back a few weeks later with a low number. In our experience, even seeds from lots that test very low will end up with a much higher germination rate as long as they are planted in a good seed-starting medium and kept moist for up to two months. Patience is necessary. Many will germinate much sooner than that, but they germinate over time. If you end up with no seeds germinating, we will be happy to replace them at no charge. But even one successful sprout is enough for a lifetime of maypops!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eWe like to start these in flats, but they can probably be direct seeded as well. As mentioned, they can take a while to sprout.  Plants in good soil with something to climb have been known to bear fruit in their first year! Established plants will quickly begin to spread via underground roots, so only plant where you don't mind them taking over (or can mow around them to keep them contained). If you plant near a tree or a drainpipe, they will reward you with copious fruits for a long time. Since vines die back to the ground, you can pull down a whole vine after frost to get the rest of the fruit. The vines have been known to grow over 30 feet in a season.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4110808481815,"sku":"0901","price":4.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/2015-09-03_19.57.34_1066230939302568503_1701867631.jpg?v=1517296374"},{"product_id":"zipser-turkenspitz-pepper","title":"Zipser Turkenspitz Pepper","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003cspan id=\"mce_marker\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\"\u003e​\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan id=\"__caret\"\u003e_\u003c\/span\u003e\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCapsicum annuum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eSlovakia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2019: \u003c\/strong\u003e97%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGorgeous little upright-growing sweet peppers ripen from green to bright purple to red-orange. The name means \"Turks' Shoes of the Zips.\" The Zips were (and to a small extend still are) a German-speaking minority in what is now Slovakia with many centuries of tradition. They largely abandoned the area during and after World War II. They're a part of a larger minority called Carpathian Germans. Dr. William Woys Weaver got these seeds from a Zipser preacher in Hungary in 1983. It is a uniquely beautiful sweet pepper with a lovely, fruity taste. It only ripens to orange-red after spending quite a while in its purple phase. Sometimes the end has a bit of a curve, which inspired the \"Turkenspitz\" part of its name. This very rare pepper with a fascinating provenance is destined to become quite popular.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eStart seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 12-18 inches between plants. They tend to grow up tall and not out, so a foot or slightly more between plants should work, especially if you have limited space. Trellising may help the plants, but is not necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4112394485783,"sku":"1152","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/2016-06-30_08.52.35_1284053733168225463_1701867631.jpg?v=1547671037"},{"product_id":"tracy-rhubarb","title":"'Tracy' Rhubarb","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eRheum rhabarbarum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eGreentown, Pennsylvania\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\/Breeding material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 11\/2022:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e74% (Below standard)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN EXCLUSIVE.\u003c\/strong\u003e We love this rhubarb. If not for Nate, his late great mother Barbara Wolfson, and her old friend Barbara Tracy, plus a whole lot of luck, this wonderful rhubarb would likely have been lost forever. And if not for Nate's sister and brother-in-law in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we might not ever have seeds to offer (because it has never so much as flowered here in the Mid-Atlantic). Here's the full first-person account from Nate:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"For many years during my childhood, my family spent most of our summers up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania (with my mother, who was a radiologist at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in North Philly, driving up to join us on weekends). I loved being a free-range kid there, able to explore the forests, fields and streams of that beautiful region. My folks chose the Poconos for one reason: that's where Barbara Tracy and her family spent their summers. Barbara was my Mom's best friend from college. During our years in the Poconos, which ended when I was 14, all of the Tracys — including Barbara's in-laws, the late Lazelle and Bill Tracy Sr. — treated us like a part of their extended family. We shot fireworks off at Elizabeth's horse farm, ice-skated on the lake behind Barbara and Billy's house, and picked blueberries from the enormous bushes behind Lazelle and Bill's. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMany years later, circa 2013, when my mother was slowly dying of cancer, she made a final trip to visit the Poconos and stay with her old friend Barbara. It was late summer, and my friend Eliot and I joined her and my Dad for the trip. I was still something of a vagabond at that point in my life — in my late 20s, living in a friend's barn — but EFN was already on the horizon, and I was already a profligate hoarder of plants. After showing me her own patch of ramps (begun decades earlier from plants she'd transplanted from North Carolina), Barbara mentioned to me that there was probably still some rhubarb growing at Lazelle and Bill's farmhouse. Her in-laws had both recently passed on, and their house was now up for sale. I asked if the blueberries were still there, which of course they were (in the acidic soil of the Poconos, blueberries need hardly any care), so we all hopped in a van and took a ride to Greentown. While I was marveling over the massive mayapples at the edge of the yard (which we now call \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org\/project\/7\"\u003e'Tracy' mayapples\u003c\/a\u003e, and are still the largest I've ever seen) Barbara was pacing through one portion of grass looking for any signs of rhubarb. The lawn had long since taken over the old vegetable patch, and every couple weeks a lawnmower was driven over it, so when she finally found the rhubarb, it looked quite pathetic: little more than two pencil-thin stems each with a leaf not much bigger than a half-dollar coin. Nevertheless, we put shovel to soil and revealed a massive clump of roots. It was promptly placed in a garbage bag and we triumphantly returned to Barbara \u0026amp; Billy's for a delicious dinner. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBarbara believes that rhubarb was growing there for over fifty years, and it was likely started from seed. When I returned a few days later to my friend's farm in Yellow Springs, PA, I divided the clump into three sensible pieces, planted them in her garden, and spent the rest of the summer watching Lazelle and Bill's rhubarb spring back to life. The following year, upon arriving at the Deitrich farm in New Jersey, I was able to plant six clumps, and they soon became full-size, beautiful rhubarb plants. Divisions were soon dispatched to friends in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and to my sister Molly and her husband Piet in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was their plant that bloomed last year [2017] and produced thousands of beautiful seeds. We've all grown to love and appreciate this plant so much, not only for its deeply personal story, but also for its wide, thick, well-flavored stalks, its hilariously huge leaves, and especially for its amazing resistance to Japanese Beetle infestation. Even when every other rhubarb at the farm is struggling in mid-summer, with beetles munching through every leaf, the 'Tracy' plants just keep on growing, practically untouched by the beetles. The strength and power of this singular clone is undeniable.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne note on growing rhubarb from seed: like most other typically clonally-propagated perennial vegetables (like asparagus, seakale, etc) rhubarb seeds will not grow \"true to type,\" meaning the seedlings will turn up in an array of diverse forms. Ages ago, seed companies would explain the traits of the parent variety and urge customers to select for them as a way to \"maintain\" the variety, but in the end they really ended up creating more genetic diversity (which is why 'Victoria' rhubarb doesn't always look the same). As you can see in the side-by-side photo, with 'Tracy' on the left and a seedling of 'Glaskins Perpetual' on the right, this variety is typified by thick stalks and huge leaves. Seedings will take two or three years to get established, at which point the seedlings with the worst traits should be culled, while the best seedlings should be named and nurtured, on their way to becoming your own treasured heirlooms, divided and shared with the people you love for generations to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eStart plants in trays with potting mix. This could be in a greenhouse or outside after it warms up. Transplant to garden maybe a foot between plants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4219916681239,"sku":"0490","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/double_rhubarb_photo.jpg?v=1517294858"},{"product_id":"homs-landrace-watermelon","title":"'Homs Landrace' Watermelon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCitrullus lanatus\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eHoms, Syria\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eLandrace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 01\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 88%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN INTRODUCTION.\u003c\/strong\u003e We are honored to be once again offering this diverse population of Syrian watermelons, though we're profoundly disappointed that the civil war in Syria remains ongoing. We had hoped, when we first started growing these watermelons six or seven years ago, that we would one day soon be able to return them to growers in Homs during a time of peace. We will simply hold on to that hope for now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all landraces, these watermelons display a wide range of traits, and this diversity is their greatest strength. If you've never successfully grown a watermelon, try this variety. It is very forgiving. Given its provenance, it is incredibly drought tolerant, so this is a great watermelon for marginal areas. Fruit range from round to oblong (with the occasional pear shape), solid green to beautifully patterned, with flesh in various shades of pink, and varying degrees of sweetness. Even the seeds vary, with some off-white and a few black, but most off-white with a dark line around the edge. They are quite striking, and also quite delicious themselves (watermelon seeds, known as \"egusi\" in parts of Africa, are an incredibly nutritious and underrated food). Some of these fruit have thick rinds excellent for pickling, and many have relatively dense flesh, making them excellent for candying. One fruit rolled under a piece of furniture in Nate's house once, unbeknownst to him, and remained there until its discovery in Spring. Shockingly, with no refrigeration, it was as good as the day it was harvested — if not sweeter. (There is a long tradition of Arab storing watermelons — see the 'Small Jadu'i' description.) As with all landraces, plant breeders could have a field day with these.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is part of our mission to preserve and spread useful varieties from endangered communities, and no community on earth is more endangered than Homs, Syria. In the early days of the war — before it was clear that there would even be a war — Homs was considered the \"Capital of the Revolution.\" Today, by all accounts, it is a hellscape. The population has been decimated. In 1949, when C.O. Eyer of the Near East Foundation collected these seeds, Homs was a veritable breadbasket. We remain hopeful that it will one day return to that status — and we look forward to returning these and other Syrian seeds to the people who return to rebuild.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese seeds were grown by our friend Olivia Gamber in Philadelphia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eDirect seed or transplant healthy plant starts in May or early June after things have warmed up a bit. Plants will sprawl, but they are not overbearing. Plants should be 2-3 feet apart. Be careful with plant starts, as transplanting watermelon is a bit more precarious than transplanting other things, and sometimes it does not respond well. Nonetheless, it can still be successful. Direct seeding is the safer bet. Wants full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4252823912471,"sku":"0234","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/homs_landrace_watermelon_3_photo.jpg?v=1641413872"},{"product_id":"white-queen-tomato","title":"'White Queen' Tomato","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolanum lycopersicum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shenandoah, Iowa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 08\/2024:\u003c\/strong\u003e 97%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tomato was introduced in 1941 by the Earl May Seed Company, of Shenandoah, Iowa. Eventually they fell into obscurity, but thankfully some were donated in 1963 for preservation to the USDA research station in Cheyenne, Wyoming. (They remain part of the USDA's core tomato collection and are now preserved at the Northeast Regional PI Station in Geneva, New York.) Some decades later, tomato guru Craig Lehoullier got a sample of seeds from the USDA, then shared them with another tomato guru, microbiologist Dr. Carolyn Male, and in 1995 Dr. Male re-introduced 'White Queen' to the world through the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. And are we ever glad she did. This is one of the most delicious tomatoes on the planet. Though it looks like a tomato that encountered Bunnicula (look it up), drained of all color, it has most certainly not been drained of flavor. 'White Queen' is sweet, juicy, and fruity. Like other light-colored tomatoes, it is relatively low in acidity, but it still has a complex flavor. Some fruit may have a slight yellow coloration, but in general this is considered the whitest of the white tomatoes — and seeds should only be saved from plants with the whitest tomatoes to best preserve the variety. Most people, when they see their first white tomato have absolutely no idea what to do with it — but after just one taste each and every one of them figures it out. Enjoy!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStart seeds indoors in March or early April, transplant outside after danger of last frost. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart. They will benefit from a trellis or tomato cage. Full sun preferred.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhoto credit:\u003c\/strong\u003e EFN board member Owen Taylor, of Truelove Seeds\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4345525338135,"sku":"0511","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/whitequeentomatodusty.jpg?v=1640312796"},{"product_id":"robuschka-beet","title":"'Robuschka' Beet","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBeta vulgaris\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eGermany\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~110\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2022: \u003c\/strong\u003e82%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Robuschka' is a classic red beet with long-lasting storage capacity. The roots are lovely and round, and were clearly selected for vigorous growth as well as sweetness. As far as we can tell, this variety originated with the famous German biodynamic cooperative known as Demeter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur seeds were grown by Clint Freund, Kass McKinnon, and Dusty Hinz, in collaboration with Rising Sun Farm in River Falls, WI, known for their pioneering efforts in naked gardening. Teamwork makes the dream work!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDirect seed 1\/2-3\/4 inch deep after danger of last frost. Plants should end up 3-5 inches from each other. Row spacing could be 12-18 inches. It's more time and energy, but beets also transplant relatively well, so for example, if you have a situation with really bad weeds or you are notoriously bad at staying up on weeding, you could start seeds in flats and transplant to freshly prepared ground to get ahead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4348491071511,"sku":"0417","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/robuschka_beet_group_photo.jpg?v=1576621569"},{"product_id":"ashwaganda","title":"Ashwagandha","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWithania somnifera\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin:\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"South Asia\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":15389148},\"12\":0}' data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSouth Asia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Cultivated wild material\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":16773836},\"12\":0}' data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCultivated wild material\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/b\u003e~100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGermination tested 09\/2025:\u003c\/b\u003e 82%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLife cycle:\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Annual or tender perennial\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAnnual or tender perennial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-textstyleruns='{\"1\":0}[null,961,{\"5\":1}]{\"1\":975}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":65280},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Ashwagandha is a tropical perennial in the nightshade family with a reputation as powerful medicine. Despite being native to arid parts of India, the Middle East, and northern Africa, it is easy to grow across most of the continental US — though it is typically grown as an annual. Surprisingly, it can handle cold temperatures down to 15 degrees, so can often survive for many years as a perennial in USDA Zone 8 or above. The dried roots are used as an adaptogen, helping the body deal with stress. It's also said to be great as a sleep aid (the botanical name \\\u0026quot;somnifera\\\u0026quot; means \\\u0026quot;bringer of sleep\\\u0026quot;), for minor aches and pains, and to boost the immune system. It has been a pillar of Ayurvedic medicine for millenia. The red berries — which develop inside small husks that resemble ground cherries — can be used as a vegetarian rennet substitute for chees-making. Our seed comes from Eileen Wallding and Nicholas Pandjiris at Whistle Down Farm in Hudson, NY.\\n\\nGROWING TIPS: The seeds require some light to germinate, so we recommend surface sowing indoors 4-8 weeks before planting out after danger of frost has passed. They prefer arid, alkaline soil, so don't overwater or plant in acidic soil. Plants can be brought indoors, trimmed back, and kept alive as a house plant for many years.\u0026quot;}\"\u003eAshwagandha is a tropical perennial in the nightshade family with a reputation as powerful medicine. Despite being native to arid parts of India, the Middle East, and northern Africa, it is easy to grow across most of the continental US — though it is typically grown as an annual. Surprisingly, it can handle cold temperatures down to 15 degrees, so can often survive for many years as a perennial in USDA Zone 8 or above. The dried roots are used as an adaptogen, helping the body deal with stress. It's also said to be great as a sleep aid (the botanical name \"somnifera\" means \"bringer of sleep\"), for minor aches and pains, and to boost the immune system. It has been a pillar of Ayurvedic medicine for millenia. The red berries — which develop inside small husks that resemble ground cherries — can be used as a vegetarian rennet substitute for chees-making. Our seed comes from Eileen Wallding and Nicholas Pandjiris at Whistle Down Farm in Hudson, NY.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e The seeds require some light to germinate, so we recommend surface sowing indoors 4-8 weeks before planting out after danger of frost has passed. They prefer arid, alkaline soil, so don't overwater or plant in acidic soil. Plants can be brought indoors, trimmed back, and kept alive as a house plant for many years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4364434472983,"sku":"0566","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/ashwagandha2.jpg?v=1547670200"},{"product_id":"badenjan-sesame-eggplant-coming-soon","title":"'Badenjan Sesame' Eggplant","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolanum melongena\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eKandahar, Afghanistan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e98%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN INTRODUCTION.\u003c\/strong\u003e This very unique and rare eggplant is from Kandahar, Afghanistan. It was collected by a USDA plant explorer named E.E. Smith, during a time when it would not have been unusual for a scientist from the United States to travel to Afghanistan. The name means, as far as we can tell, \"Sesame Eggplant,\" and indeed — though it might be our imaginations at work — the cooked fruit has a flavor somewhat like a milder version of tahini. They are a pale green when best for eating, and ripen to a bright vivid yellow when ready to be harvested for seed. Many attributes make this a worthy variety to grow, but its drought resistance may be most notable. To growers with cooler seasons and in other places where eggplants are a challenge to grow: give the \"Sesame Eggplant\" a try! You won’t be disappointed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot as early as the Chi Yei Eggplant that we sell, but does ripen in time in Minnesota from our experiences in a multiple years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start seeds indoors in March. Plant out in field after danger of last frost. Plants should be 18-24 inches apart. Full sun preferred. Harvest at decent size when pale green.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":33357162414133,"sku":"0033","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/47683418_2205253403129471_4583045840762830848_n.jpg?v=1547441844"},{"product_id":"vine-peach-melon","title":"'Vine Peach' Melon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCucumis melo\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eChina\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e97%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Annual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVining Chinese melon with yellow skin and pale, fruity tasting but not too sweet flesh, reminiscent of honeydew melon mixed with peach when made into dessert. Used for pickling, or cooked as a fruit or vegetable -- such as mixed 50\/50 with apples to make apple pie!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got our original seeds from Dr. William Woys Weaver's Roughwood Seed Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Direct seed after danger of last frost or transplant healthy plant starts after danger of last frost. Plants could be 12-18 inches apart, in rows 4-6 feet apart. Plants will sprawl. Could be trellised.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":6886405144599,"sku":"0500","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/vine_peach_melon.png?v=1547322522"},{"product_id":"vineland-hardy-prickly-pear","title":"'Vineland Hardy' Prickly Pear","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOpuntia spp.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eVineland, New Jersey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eUnknown\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;EFN INTRODUCTION. This unique prickly pear cactus was found growing in a front yard in Vineland, New Jersey. It's very different from the small, low-growing prickly pears commonly found growing as far north as Massachusetts. This species (which somewhat resembles Opuntia stricta) grows to about two feet tall, has large flashy pads, and produces medium-sized tasty fruit. It survives winters outdoors here in Zone 7, and may prove to thrive even farther north. The Opuntia genus is notoriously challenging to categorize, as there is wide natural diversity and many species also hybridize easily. Taxonomists really have their hands full with this genus. When we get a positive identification for this species, we will be sure to spread the word. \\n\\nWhatever it is, the fruit are juicy and delicious, more sour than supermarket prickly pears, lending a welcome complexity to the flavor. If you've never tasted a cactus fruit, the closest comparison is to watermelon. The pads are surely also edible, though we haven't tasted them yet. These cacti are easy to grow from seed, requiring no special treatment. Simply surface sow, then cover with a dusting of soil, and keep watered until they sprout. Once they start fruiting, watch out for the teeny tiny spines (called glochids) which are present on all prickly pears. Wearing cloves, they can be scrubbed off before use, or — so we've been told — burned off!\\n\\nWe're running a long-term breeding project to improve this crop, looking especially for even bigger fruit, fewer seeds, and more cold hardiness, so we urge anyone buying these seeds to sign up to EFN and join this project (www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org\/project\/16) or at the very least keep us posted about how it performs for you.\\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were collected in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}'\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;EFN INTRODUCTION. This unique prickly pear cactus was found growing in a front yard in Vineland, New Jersey. It's very different from the small, low-growing prickly pears commonly found growing as far north as Massachusetts. This species (which somewhat resembles Opuntia stricta) grows to about two feet tall, has large flashy pads, and produces medium-sized tasty fruit. It survives winters outdoors here in Zone 7, and may prove to thrive even farther north. The Opuntia genus is notoriously challenging to categorize, as there is wide natural diversity and many species also hybridize easily. Taxonomists really have their hands full with this genus. When we get a positive identification for this species, we will be sure to spread the word. \\n\\nWhatever it is, the fruit are juicy and delicious, more sour than supermarket prickly pears, lending a welcome complexity to the flavor. If you've never tasted a cactus fruit, the closest comparison is to watermelon. The pads are surely also edible, though we haven't tasted them yet. These cacti are easy to grow from seed, requiring no special treatment. Simply surface sow, then cover with a dusting of soil, and keep watered until they sprout. Once they start fruiting, watch out for the teeny tiny spines (called glochids) which are present on all prickly pears. Wearing cloves, they can be scrubbed off before use, or — so we've been told — burned off!\\n\\nWe're running a long-term breeding project to improve this crop, looking especially for even bigger fruit, fewer seeds, and more cold hardiness, so we urge anyone buying these seeds to sign up to EFN and join this project (www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org\/project\/16) or at the very least keep us posted about how it performs for you.\\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were collected in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN INTRODUCTION.\u003c\/strong\u003e This unique prickly pear cactus was found growing in a front yard in Vineland, New Jersey. It's very different from the small, low-growing prickly pears commonly found growing as far north as Massachusetts. This species (which somewhat resembles Opuntia stricta) grows to about two feet tall, has large flashy pads, and produces medium-sized tasty fruit. It survives winters outdoors here in Zone 7, and may prove to thrive even farther north. The Opuntia genus is notoriously challenging to categorize, as there is wide natural diversity and many species also hybridize easily. Taxonomists really have their hands full with this genus. When we get a positive identification for this species, we will be sure to spread the word. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhatever it is, the fruit are juicy and delicious, more sour than supermarket prickly pears, lending a welcome complexity to the flavor. If you've never tasted a cactus fruit, the closest comparison is to watermelon. The pads are surely also edible, though we haven't tasted them yet. These cacti are easy to grow from seed, requiring no special treatment. Simply surface sow, then cover with a dusting of soil, and keep watered until they sprout. Once they start fruiting, watch out for the teeny tiny spines (called glochids) which are present on all prickly pears. Wearing cloves, they can be scrubbed off before use, or — so we've been told — burned off!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe're running a long-term breeding project to improve this crop, looking especially for even bigger fruit, fewer seeds, and more cold hardiness, so we urge anyone buying these seeds to sign up to EFN and join this project (www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org\/project\/16) or at the very least keep us posted about how it performs for you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13114923253783,"sku":"0501","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/VinelandPricklyPear.jpg?v=1547444739"},{"product_id":"cape-may-beach-plum","title":"Cape May Beach Plum","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrunus maritima\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Beach plums are native to the US northeast coast from Virginia to Maine. They are most widely known and consumed in New Jersey and Massachusetts, especially in Cape May and Cape Cod, where they are both harvested wild and cultivated on a small scale. The fruit of beach plums are small and round, varying in size from penny to quarter, and varying in color from yellow-orange to red to blue to purple. The flavor — sour with a touch of sweetness and sometimes slight bitterness — is usually quite nice out of hand, but is greatly improved by cooking or brewing. It makes an utterly delicious jam or jelly, a fine wine, and a lovely vinegar too. As a wild plant native to highly exposed dune environments, beach plums are very easy to grow and take to garden cultivation quite well. In fact, due to their wild nature, they thrive with near complete neglect. In our area, they produce delicious fruit with no spray, no fertilizer, and no watering. Being a dune plant, they root themselves very deeply.\\n\\nA beach plum can grow into a tree up to 10 or 12 feet tall, but typically becomes a shrubby-looking bush. Wild beach plums are noted for having off-years when none of the beach plums in an area produce any fruit. Sometimes this is due to very late frosts, but sometimes the reason is unclear. This beach plum improvement breeding project seeks to identify or develop cultivars with more regular bearing, larger fruit, and more productivity. Anyone who purchases these seeds is encouraged to sign up for the project here: www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org.\\n\\nSeeds are more likely to sprout with 60-90 days of cold moist stratification (kept in a sealed plastic bag or glass jar with peatmoss or potting soil in the fridge should do the trick). The seeds we're selling were wild harvested last year by Nate in Cape May County, New Jersey. \\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were grown in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eCape May, New Jersey\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Beach plums are native to the US northeast coast from Virginia to Maine. They are most widely known and consumed in New Jersey and Massachusetts, especially in Cape May and Cape Cod, where they are both harvested wild and cultivated on a small scale. The fruit of beach plums are small and round, varying in size from penny to quarter, and varying in color from yellow-orange to red to blue to purple. The flavor — sour with a touch of sweetness and sometimes slight bitterness — is usually quite nice out of hand, but is greatly improved by cooking or brewing. It makes an utterly delicious jam or jelly, a fine wine, and a lovely vinegar too. As a wild plant native to highly exposed dune environments, beach plums are very easy to grow and take to garden cultivation quite well. In fact, due to their wild nature, they thrive with near complete neglect. In our area, they produce delicious fruit with no spray, no fertilizer, and no watering. Being a dune plant, they root themselves very deeply.\\n\\nA beach plum can grow into a tree up to 10 or 12 feet tall, but typically becomes a shrubby-looking bush. Wild beach plums are noted for having off-years when none of the beach plums in an area produce any fruit. Sometimes this is due to very late frosts, but sometimes the reason is unclear. This beach plum improvement breeding project seeks to identify or develop cultivars with more regular bearing, larger fruit, and more productivity. Anyone who purchases these seeds is encouraged to sign up for the project here: www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org.\\n\\nSeeds are more likely to sprout with 60-90 days of cold moist stratification (kept in a sealed plastic bag or glass jar with peatmoss or potting soil in the fridge should do the trick). The seeds we're selling were wild harvested last year by Nate in Cape May County, New Jersey. \\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were grown in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eWild\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Beach plums are native to the US northeast coast from Virginia to Maine. They are most widely known and consumed in New Jersey and Massachusetts, especially in Cape May and Cape Cod, where they are both harvested wild and cultivated on a small scale. The fruit of beach plums are small and round, varying in size from penny to quarter, and varying in color from yellow-orange to red to blue to purple. The flavor — sour with a touch of sweetness and sometimes slight bitterness — is usually quite nice out of hand, but is greatly improved by cooking or brewing. It makes an utterly delicious jam or jelly, a fine wine, and a lovely vinegar too. As a wild plant native to highly exposed dune environments, beach plums are very easy to grow and take to garden cultivation quite well. In fact, due to their wild nature, they thrive with near complete neglect. In our area, they produce delicious fruit with no spray, no fertilizer, and no watering. Being a dune plant, they root themselves very deeply.\\n\\nA beach plum can grow into a tree up to 10 or 12 feet tall, but typically becomes a shrubby-looking bush. Wild beach plums are noted for having off-years when none of the beach plums in an area produce any fruit. Sometimes this is due to very late frosts, but sometimes the reason is unclear. This beach plum improvement breeding project seeks to identify or develop cultivars with more regular bearing, larger fruit, and more productivity. Anyone who purchases these seeds is encouraged to sign up for the project here: www.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org.\\n\\nSeeds are more likely to sprout with 60-90 days of cold moist stratification (kept in a sealed plastic bag or glass jar with peatmoss or potting soil in the fridge should do the trick). The seeds we're selling were wild harvested last year by Nate in Cape May County, New Jersey. \\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were grown in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBeach plums are native to the northeast US coast from Virginia to Maine. They are most widely known and consumed in New Jersey and Massachusetts, especially in Cape May and Cape Cod, where they are both harvested wild and cultivated on a small scale. The fruit of beach plums are small and round, varying in size from penny to quarter, and varying in color from yellow-orange to red to blue to purple. The flavor — sour with a touch of sweetness and sometimes slight bitterness — is usually quite nice out of hand, but is greatly improved by cooking or brewing. It makes an utterly delicious jam or jelly, a fine wine, and a lovely vinegar too. L\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eeaves can be used as a yellow or green dye\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, and a dark grey to green dye\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e can be obtained from the fruit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a wild plant native to highly exposed dune environments, beach plums are very easy to grow and take to garden cultivation quite well. In fact, due to their wild nature, they thrive with near complete neglect. In our area, they produce delicious fruit with no spray, no fertilizer, and no watering. Being a dune plant, they root themselves very deeply.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beach plum can grow into a tree up to 10 or 12 feet tall, but typically becomes a shrubby-looking bush. Wild beach plums are noted for having off-years when none of the beach plums in an area produce any fruit. Sometimes this is due to very late frosts, but sometimes the reason is unclear. This beach plum improvement breeding project seeks to identify or develop cultivars with more regular bearing, larger fruit, and more productivity. Anyone who purchases these seeds is encouraged to sign up for the project here: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ewww.ExperimentalFarmNetwork.org\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeds are more likely to sprout with 60-90 days of cold moist stratification (kept in a sealed plastic bag or glass jar with peatmoss or potting soil in the fridge should do the trick), though half of the seeds in this year's lot were pre-stratified, so they should pop pretty quickly. The seeds we're selling are a mix of wild harvested seed from Cape May County, New Jersey and seed grown by EFN (Nate) in Elmer, New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were harvested in 2023 and processed appropriately. If buyers are dissatisfied, please contact us.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13115262795799,"sku":"0644","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/PXL_20210803_182804879.jpg?v=1641495130"},{"product_id":"pine-barrens-cranberry","title":"Pine Barrens Cranberry","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eVaccinium macrocarpon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eBurlington County, New Jersey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Cranberries have grown in the New Jersey Pine Barrens since long before humans arrived to appreciate them. Native Americans harvested them by hand and dried them for future use. European settlers fashioned wooden scoops to harvest the berries. Since the 1960s, most berries have been \\\u0026quot;wet harvested\\\u0026quot; by flooding cranberry fields, knocking off berries with special machinery, then harvesting the berries that float to the surface. The berries have played a critical role in the culture of the Pine Barrens. Elizabeth Coleman White domesticated the blueberry at her family's cranberry farm in Whitesbog, NJ. Elizabeth Lee invented and popularized \\\u0026quot;Cranberry Sauce\\\u0026quot; from her farm in New Egypt, NJ, and was one of three founding members of the Ocean Spray cooperative.\\n\\nFor those who have never been to the Pine Barrens, do yourself a favor and take a trip there someday. New Jersey has a reputation as a small state, but the Pine Barrens wilderness is truly vast. One can hike or bike or even drive for hours within its boundaries and not see another person. But it's hard to travel very far without finding extraordinary animals and plants, including some that exist nowhere else. Since much of the land now preserved for nature was formerly cultivated, evidence of human use is all around, from artesian springs that still bubble up from rusty pipes to abandoned blueberry fields and cranberry bogs.\\n\\nThese seeds were collected from cranberries harvested from abandoned cranberry bogs in the NJ Pine Barrens. We assume they come from different heirloom varieties, and likely from seedlings of such varieties. Cranberries are evergreen perennial tuft-forming ground-covers. They are easy to grow from seed if protected from weeds in their first couple years.\\n\\nNOTE: Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were collected in 2018 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}'\u003eCranberries have grown in the New Jersey Pine Barrens since long before humans arrived to appreciate them. Native Americans harvested them by hand and dried them for future use. European settlers fashioned wooden scoops to harvest the berries. Since the 1960s, most berries have been \"wet harvested\" by flooding cranberry fields, knocking off berries with special machinery, then harvesting the berries that float to the surface. The berries have played a critical role in the culture of the Pine Barrens. Elizabeth Coleman White domesticated the blueberry at her family's cranberry farm in Whitesbog, NJ. Elizabeth Lee invented and popularized \"Cranberry Sauce\" from her farm in New Egypt, NJ, and was one of three founding members of the Ocean Spray cooperative.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor those who have never been to the Pine Barrens, do yourself a favor and take a trip there someday. New Jersey has a reputation as a small state, but the Pine Barrens wilderness is truly vast. You can hike or bike or even drive for hours within its boundaries and not see another person. But it's hard to travel very far without finding extraordinary animals and plants, including some that exist nowhere else. Since much of the land now preserved for nature was formerly cultivated, evidence of human use is all around, from artesian springs that still bubble up from rusty pipes to abandoned blueberry fields and cranberry bogs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese seeds were collected from cranberries harvested from abandoned cranberry bogs in the NJ Pine Barrens. We assume they come from different heirloom varieties, and likely from seedlings of such varieties. Cranberries are evergreen perennial tuft-forming groundcover plants. They are easy to grow from seed if protected from weeds in their first couple years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Because we have a limited amount of these seeds and each seed is unique and potentially precious, we do not conduct germination tests (which would require sacrificing hundreds of seeds) on breeding mixes like this one. But these seeds were collected in 2022 and processed following our typical best practices. If buyers are unsatisfied, please contact us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13115346845719,"sku":"0941","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/pinebarrenscranberry.jpg?v=1547444290"},{"product_id":"koronis-purple-bean","title":"'Koronis Purple' Bean","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhaseolus vulgaris\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003ePaynesville, Minnesota\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2021: \u003c\/strong\u003e96%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003eBred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz. \u003c\/span\u003eBob used to say \"Beans are a poor man's jewels,\" and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, and make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom what we understand, Koronis Purple was bred to be the ideal small-scale, homesteader's dry bean. This variety is very productive, and its bush habit allows for the ease of no trellis. A good portion of the beans will ripen uniformly, however, if you want to get every last bean, you may want to do a few rounds of harvesting, especially if lots of rain is in the forecast as pods start to dry. If you are looking to avoid all that bending over and make things a bit easier for yourself, there should be a sweet spot when you can pull the entire plant and get most of the beans all at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003eDusty is particularly excited to be offering this variety, as it was developed in his current and home state: the land of 10,000 lakes (he also grew these in Minnesota this past year!). Dusty even has a little Koronis Purple anthem he sings, especially during harvest: just replace Sharona with Koronis in \"My Sharona\" by The Ramones. Dusty \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003ewould eventually like to have a 'Minnesota' collection page in our seed store, so if you happen to know of any good Minnesota heirloom or Minnesota-bred varieties, please reach out and let him know.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE\u003c\/strong\u003e: Through the years of growing this variety we have noticed a range in the shade of these beans (even in the same year), from very light purple to very dark purple. For a while we wondered if we were failing to keep the variety \"true to type\" by not being selective enough with the seed that we replanted with each year. However, we recently learned from another grower and gushing admirer of Koronis Purple that the shade of purple in this bean can be highly variable and almost certainly a result of an individual pods maturation in conjunction with the amount of rainfall that a given plant received that year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"arial,sans,sans-serif\"}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bred by the late Robert Henry Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, 'Koronis Purple' is a favorite of everyone who grows it. Bob used to say \\\u0026quot;Beans are a poor man's jewels,\\\u0026quot; and with the 'Koronis Purple' he created a true gem. With an intensely bright purple color, these beans are beautiful to look at, but they also make a wonderful dry kidney-type bean. The plants are very productive, with a bush habit, and easy to grow even in wet years. We've found a few interesting rogues in our 'Koronis Purple' population — including shiny yellow beans and mottled purple and black beans — each a testament to the great diversity present in Bob's collection. If you find any particularly exciting rogues, be sure to let us know!\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS\u003c\/strong\u003e: Direct seed after danger of last frost, probably early to mid May, or as late as early to mid June. Rows could be a 12-16 inches apart, plants could be 4-8 inches apart. Harvest in waves as pods dry, or pull entire plants when most of the pods are dry, all the while watching the amount of rainfall as heavy rains can mess with drying pods.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13115510390807,"sku":"0278","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/koronis_purple_bean_photo.jpg?v=1606105093"},{"product_id":"gagon-cucumber","title":"'Gagon' Cucumber","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"EFN INTRODUCTION. This rare Bhutanese cucumber thrives in cool northern climates, but also stands up to intense heat and humidity. It was collected in 1981 at a farmstore in the Trongsa district village of Poengenang, roughly in the geographical center of Bhutan. When fruit is immature and green, it makes a great cucumber for raw eating or pickling. When mature, it resembles the more common Indian variety ‘Poona Kheera’, but is darker-skinned, much bigger (up to 20” long in our experience), and still quite tasty. The flesh of the mature fruit is reminiscent of melons (which are cousins of cucumbers, after all), and can be eaten raw, pickled, or turned into a delicious chutney. The flesh of the ripe fruit is traditionally cooked in Bhutan. For seed savers, it’s refreshing to find a cucumber that is still useful once seeds are fully ripe. Watching these giants develop on the vine is one of the joys of summer! \"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\"}'\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCucumis sativus var. sativus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003ePoengenang, Bhutan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested: 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e96%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"EFN INTRODUCTION. This rare Bhutanese cucumber thrives in cool northern climates, but also stands up to intense heat and humidity. It was collected in 1981 at a farmstore in the Trongsa district village of Poengenang, roughly in the geographical center of Bhutan. When fruit is immature and green, it makes a great cucumber for raw eating or pickling. When mature, it resembles the more common Indian variety ‘Poona Kheera’, but is darker-skinned, much bigger (up to 20” long in our experience), and still quite tasty. The flesh of the mature fruit is reminiscent of melons (which are cousins of cucumbers, after all), and can be eaten raw, pickled, or turned into a delicious chutney. The flesh of the ripe fruit is traditionally cooked in Bhutan. For seed savers, it’s refreshing to find a cucumber that is still useful once seeds are fully ripe. Watching these giants develop on the vine is one of the joys of summer! \"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\"}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN INTRODUCTION.\u003c\/strong\u003e This rare Bhutanese cucumber thrives in cool northern climates, but also stands up to intense heat and humidity. It was collected in 1981 at a farmstore in the Trongsa district village of Poengenang, roughly in the geographical center of Bhutan. When fruit is immature and green, it makes a great cucumber for raw eating or pickling. When mature, it resembles the more common Indian variety ‘Poona Kheera’, but is darker-skinned, much bigger (up to 20” long in our experience), and still quite tasty. The flesh of the mature fruit is reminiscent of melons (which are cousins of cucumbers, after all), and can be eaten raw, pickled, or turned into a delicious chutney. The flesh of the ripe fruit is traditionally cooked in Bhutan. For seed savers, it’s refreshing to find a cucumber that is still useful once seeds are fully ripe. Watching these giants develop on the vine is one of the joys of summer!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"EFN INTRODUCTION. This rare Bhutanese cucumber thrives in cool northern climates, but also stands up to intense heat and humidity. It was collected in 1981 at a farmstore in the Trongsa district village of Poengenang, roughly in the geographical center of Bhutan. When fruit is immature and green, it makes a great cucumber for raw eating or pickling. When mature, it resembles the more common Indian variety ‘Poona Kheera’, but is darker-skinned, much bigger (up to 20” long in our experience), and still quite tasty. The flesh of the mature fruit is reminiscent of melons (which are cousins of cucumbers, after all), and can be eaten raw, pickled, or turned into a delicious chutney. The flesh of the ripe fruit is traditionally cooked in Bhutan. For seed savers, it’s refreshing to find a cucumber that is still useful once seeds are fully ripe. Watching these giants develop on the vine is one of the joys of summer! \"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":4737,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\"}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct seed after danger of last frost or transplant healthy plant starts after danger of last frost. Plants should be 12-16 inches apart. 'Gagon' likes to climb and would prefer a trellis. However, they will eventually sprawl if they must. If you're trellising, rows could be 4-5 feet apart. If you're letting them sprawl, rows could be 5-7 feet apart. Prefers full sun.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13118476091415,"sku":"0181","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/2015-11-01_20.07.23_1109027847833986015_1701867631.jpg?v=1576539159"},{"product_id":"desert-spirit-landrace-squash","title":"'Desert Spirit Culinary Landrace' Squash","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCucurbita maxima\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eCarbondale, Colorado\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eLandrace\/Breeding Material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~18\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e94%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautiful and diverse new landrace created by the good folks at Wild Mountain Seeds in Colorado, 'Desert Spirit' has many varieties of Cucurbita maxima squash in its heritage, including 'Buttercup,' 'Oregon Homestead Sweet Meat,' and 'Navajo.' According to Casey Piscura, these squash are as vigorous as they are delicious — and he calls the flavor \"divine.\" \u003cspan\u003eFormer employees have told Casey they had \"squash withdrawals\" after leaving the farm because of this gem.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs with other diverse populations, the breeding potential from this gene pool is immense. Let us know what these seeds are doing for you a few years down the road!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemprop=\"description\" class=\"product-single__description rte\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eDirect seed in May or early June, or transplant in healthy plant starts around this time. Plants should end up 2-3 feet apart in rows 5-6 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13121691320343,"sku":"0126","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/desert_spirit_squash_pile_casey_photo.jpg?v=1547338892"},{"product_id":"west-indian-gherkin","title":"West Indian Gherkin","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCucumis anguria\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eAfrica, via the Caribbean \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 86%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;West Indian Gherkins are actually indigenous to Africa, though they're now widely naturalized in the tropical Americas. We got these seeds from our friend Edmund Frost of Common Wealth Seeds in Virginia, who focuses on growing and breeding cucurbits with resistance to Downy Mildew.\\n\\nFrom Edmund: \\\u0026quot;Another Downy Mildew-resistant cucumber-like crop. Pick the green and white fruits when 1-1.5” long, before any seed development starts, and they make really good crisp pickles. Flavor is similar to cucumbers. Shaped like a tiny football, with lengthwise ridges.\\\u0026quot;\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":14851,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,16777215],\"12\":0,\"14\":[null,2,5592405],\"15\":\"Roboto, \\\"Helvetica Neue\\\", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif\",\"16\":11}'\u003eBurr Gherkins, or West Indian Gherkins, are actually indigenous to Africa, though they're now widely naturalized in the tropical Americas. We got these seeds from our friend Edmund Frost of Common Wealth Seeds in Virginia, who focuses on growing and breeding cucurbits with resistance to Downy Mildew. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom Edmund: \"Another Downy Mildew-resistant cucumber-like crop. Pick the green and white fruits when 1-1.5” long, before any seed development starts, and they make really good crisp pickles. Flavor is similar to cucumbers. Shaped like a tiny football, with lengthwise ridges.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eDirect seed or transplant in healthy plant starts after danger of last frost. Plants could be 12-18 inches apart in rows 3-5 feet apart. These could be grown on a trellis (which should be strong), or they can sprawl on the ground. Harvest before seeds are ripe like you would a cucumber.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13125905350679,"sku":"1111","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/west_indian_gherkin_edmund_photo.JPG?v=1547407961"},{"product_id":"lofthouse-astronomy-sweet-corn","title":"'Astronomy Domine' Sweet Corn","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eZea mays subsp. mays\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eParadise, Utah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Landrace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e96%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65-75 days\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Joseph Lofthouse of is a genius plant breeder based in Paradise, Utah. He calls himself a \\\u0026quot;landrace seedsman\\\u0026quot;, and his focus as a seed grower is on incredibly diverse populations of staple crops suitable for his very short season. Joseph has created some amazing landraces and we're honored to be selling some of them.\\n\\nFrom Joseph: \\\u0026quot;Promiscuously pollinated. Multi-colored. Mid-season (~65 to 75 days). Selected for colorful cobs at milk stage and for resistance to predation by birds and small mammals. It has that fabulous old-fashioned corn taste: Chewy and flavorful without being overly sweet. A robust landrace that is reliable and easy to grow. Developed for subsistence level growing conditions without cides or fertilizers. An excellent choice for tough growing conditions and for people wanting to save their own seeds or to develop their own variety of sweet corn. I consider this to be the best sweet corn I have to offer for an emergency survival stash. Descended primarily from Alan Bishop's Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn which is descended from hundreds of varieties of heirloom and modern sweet corns. It has been in my garden for a long time, and has drifted significantly away from the original, so a new name seems appropriate. Very tolerant of cold spring soil. OSSI-pledged.\\\u0026quot;\u0026quot;}\"\u003eJoseph Lofthouse of is a genius plant breeder based in Paradise, Utah, and we are very excited to be offering this sweet corn bred by him. He calls himself a \"landrace seedsman\", and his focus as a seed grower is on incredibly diverse populations of staple crops suitable for his very short season. Joseph has created some amazing landraces and we're honored to be selling some of them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom Joseph: \"Promiscuously pollinated. Multi-colored. Mid-season (~65 to 75 days). Selected for colorful cobs at milk stage and for resistance to predation by birds and small mammals. It has that fabulous old-fashioned corn taste: Chewy and flavorful without being overly sweet. A robust landrace that is reliable and easy to grow. Developed for subsistence level growing conditions without cides or fertilizers. An excellent choice for tough growing conditions and for people wanting to save their own seeds or to develop their own variety of sweet corn. I consider this to be the best sweet corn I have to offer for an emergency survival stash. Descended primarily from Alan Bishop's Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn which is descended from hundreds of varieties of heirloom and modern sweet corns. It has been in my garden for a long time, and has drifted significantly away from the original, so a new name seems appropriate. Very tolerant of cold spring soil.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Joseph Lofthouse of is a genius plant breeder based in Paradise, Utah. He calls himself a \\\u0026quot;landrace seedsman\\\u0026quot;, and his focus as a seed grower is on incredibly diverse populations of staple crops suitable for his very short season. Joseph has created some amazing landraces and we're honored to be selling some of them.\\n\\nFrom Joseph: \\\u0026quot;Promiscuously pollinated. Multi-colored. Mid-season (~65 to 75 days). Selected for colorful cobs at milk stage and for resistance to predation by birds and small mammals. It has that fabulous old-fashioned corn taste: Chewy and flavorful without being overly sweet. A robust landrace that is reliable and easy to grow. Developed for subsistence level growing conditions without cides or fertilizers. An excellent choice for tough growing conditions and for people wanting to save their own seeds or to develop their own variety of sweet corn. I consider this to be the best sweet corn I have to offer for an emergency survival stash. Descended primarily from Alan Bishop's Astronomy Domine Sweet Corn which is descended from hundreds of varieties of heirloom and modern sweet corns. It has been in my garden for a long time, and has drifted significantly away from the original, so a new name seems appropriate. Very tolerant of cold spring soil. OSSI-pledged.\\\u0026quot;\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states:\u003ci\u003e “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” \u003c\/i\u003eMore information on OSSI can be found at \u003ca title=\"Open Source Seed Initiative\" href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\" data-mce-href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\"\u003eosseeds.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis corn was bred by Joseph Lofthouse but was grown out by our friend Olivia for seed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct seed after danger of last frost in rows about 3 feet apart, plants could end up 10-15 inches apart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13126014304279,"sku":"0029","price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/astronomy-domine-sweet-corn-2011_320.jpg?v=1547415963"},{"product_id":"dazzling-blue-kale","title":"'Dazzling Blue' Kale (Breeder Selects)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrassica oleracea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oregon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 09\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e81%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":65280},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Dazzling Blue' is a remarkable kale bred by Hank Keogh of Avoca Seed Farm in Oregon, who worked as a farmer for years with Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds and collaborated with Frank to produce this gem. It resulted from Hank's backcrossing a variant of 'Rainbow Lacinato' with its ancestor, Wild Garden Seeds' strain of 'Lacinato' (also known as 'Dinosaur' kale or 'Nero di Toscana', meaning 'Black Tuscan'). This variety has taken the seed and culinary worlds by storm, and has begun showing up at markets around the country due to its striking appearance and wonderful flavor. Seed farmers in particular love it because it's considered to be the most winter hardy lacinato-type kale, so it makes it easy to over-winter in most climates. In milder areas, it can be picked from and eaten all winter.. \\n\\nWe're very excited to be offering Hank's latest \\\u0026quot;breeder selects\\\u0026quot; — the same seed he is currently growing out to produce the next generation, from plants individually selected by Hank to meet his exacting standards. Like any great plant breeder, Hank realizes there's always room for improvement, so he despite its popularity, he still considers this a work-in-progress. His latest selection criteria focused on large second-year leaves to provide more \\\u0026quot;hunger gap\\\u0026quot; calories between winter and flowering (most kales produce much smaller leaves their second year, but Hank noticed some plants with larger leaves and decided to lean into this trait for the next generation). We only have a limited amount of this seed — and we know plenty of market farmers, seed growers, and gardeners will be itching to get the very best 'Dazzling Blue' seeds around — so snag some before it's all gone! \\n\\nThis variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative pledge.\u0026quot;,\u0026quot;6\u0026quot;:1}\"\u003eDazzling Blue' is a remarkable kale bred by Hank Keogh of Avoca Seed Farm in Oregon, who worked as a farmer for years with Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds and collaborated with Frank to produce this gem. It resulted from Hank's backcrossing a variant of 'Rainbow Lacinato' with its ancestor, Wild Garden Seeds' strain of 'Lacinato' (also known as 'Dinosaur' kale or 'Nero di Toscana', meaning 'Black Tuscan'). This variety has taken the seed and culinary worlds by storm, and has begun showing up at markets around the country due to its striking appearance and wonderful flavor. Seed farmers in particular love it because it's considered to be the most winter hardy lacinato-type kale, so it makes it easy to over-winter in most climates. In milder areas, it can be picked from and eaten all winter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe're very excited to be offering Hank's latest \"breeder selects\" — the same seed he is currently growing out to produce the next generation, from plants individually selected by Hank to meet his exacting standards. Like any great plant breeder, Hank realizes there's always room for improvement, so despite its popularity, he still considers this a work-in-progress. His latest selection criteria focused on large second-year leaves to provide more \"hunger gap\" calories between winter and flowering (most kales produce much smaller leaves their second year, but Hank noticed some plants with larger leaves and decided to lean into this trait for the next generation). We only have a limited amount of this seed — and we know plenty of market farmers, seed growers, and gardeners will be itching to get the very best 'Dazzling Blue' seeds around — so snag some before it's all gone! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states:\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” \u003c\/i\u003eMore information on OSSI can be found at \u003ca title=\"Open Source Seed Initiative\" href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eosseeds.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Dazzling Blue' is a remarkable new kale bred by Hank Keogh of Avoca Seed Farm in Oregon, who worked as a farmer for years with Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds and collaborated with Frank to produce this gem. Dazzling Blue resulted from Hank's backcrossing a variant of 'Rainbow Lacinato' with its ancestor, Wild Garden Seeds' strain of 'Lacinato' (also known as 'Dinosaur' kale or 'Nero di Toscana', which means 'Black Tuscan'). This variety is taking the seed and culinary world by storm, and has begun showing up at markets around the country due to its striking appearance and wonderful flavor. Considered to be the most winter hardy lacinato-type kale. Our seed was produced by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Madison, Wisconsin. This variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative pledge.\u0026quot;,\u0026quot;6\u0026quot;:1}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct seed 1\/4-1\/2 inch deep after danger of last frost, or transplant in healthy plant starts. Plants could be 12-18 inches apart in rows 18-30 inches apart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13127431421975,"sku":"0116","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/hank_s_dazzling_blue_kale.jpg?v=1576536188"},{"product_id":"luobo-radish","title":"'Luobo' Radish","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eRaphanus raphinastrum subsp. sativus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eChina\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e10\/2024: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e90%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual or Biennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA smaller daikon-type radish with green tinted flesh (like 'Green Meat'), noted for having a most excellent sweet flavor for a winter radish. This variety has become increasingly popular among market farmers and chefs over the past few years. Unlike many other radishes, this one stands up well to cooking. It can also be eaten raw, but is perhaps best utilized fermented (such as for kimchi or sauerkraut, or simply lacto-fermented on its own with nothing added but salt). Sow for fall production in July or August. Our seed was grown by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Madison, Wisconsin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct seed after danger of last frost spring, or potentially ideally in late summer for a fall harvest. Seed 1\/4-1\/2 inch deep. Plants should be 3-5 inches apart in rows 12-24 inches apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13127629176855,"sku":"0842","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/luobo_radish_photo.jpg?v=1547438780"},{"product_id":"golden-grex-beet","title":"'Golden Grex' Beet","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBeta vulgaris\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oregon, via Maine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eGrex\/Breeding material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~120\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 11\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 91%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;A vigorous, delicious, and brightly colored gold beet. This variety was selected from Fedco's golden breeding stock of Dr. Alan Kapular's triple cross of Yellow Intermediate, Crosby Purple Egyptian and Lutz Saladleaf. \\\u0026quot;Grex\\\u0026quot; is a term originally coined for orchid breeding that implies a constant reshuffling of traits in a highly diverse population of interbreeding varieties. Grexes are invaluable for plant breeders, but also for subsistence farmers who can rely on them to produce a resilient crop. Interior is a mix of white and golden rings, with the possibility for red and golden rings as well. The diversity of this population means it is ripe for further breeding and selection. Seed was grown for us by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Madison, Wisconsin, who call this their farm's \\\u0026quot;go-to\\\u0026quot; golden beet.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}'\u003eA vigorous, delicious, and brightly colored gold beet. This population was selected from Fedco's golden breeding stock of Dr. Alan Kapular's triple cross of Yellow Intermediate, Crosby Purple Egyptian and Lutz Saladleaf. \"Grex\" is a term originally coined for orchid breeding that implies a constant reshuffling of traits in a highly diverse population of interbreeding varieties. Grexes are invaluable for plant breeders, but also for subsistence farmers who can rely on them to produce a resilient crop. Interior is a mix of white and golden rings, with the possibility for red and golden rings as well. The diversity of this population means it is ripe for further breeding and selection. Seed was grown for us by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Madison, Wisconsin, who call this their farm's \"go-to\" golden beet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eDirect seed 1\/2-3\/4 inch deep after danger of last frost. Plants should end up 3-5 inches from each other. Row spacing could be 12-18 inches. It's more time and energy, but beets also transplant relatively well, so for example, if you have a situation with really bad weeds or you are notoriously bad at staying up on weeding, you could start seeds in flats and transplant to freshly prepared ground to get ahead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13127749304343,"sku":"0207","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/gold_grex_beet_photo.jpg?v=1547440187"},{"product_id":"caucasian-mountain-spinach-breeding-mix","title":"Hablitzia (Caucasian Mountain Spinach) Breeding Mix","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHablitzia tamnoides\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/b\u003eEurasia (via Colorado)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement Status:\u003c\/b\u003e Grex\/Breeding material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/b\u003e~45\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN EXCLUSIVE.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hablitzia, or Caucasian Mountain Spinach, is a perennial, vining vegetable, hardy to zone 3, grown for its tasty leaves and shoots. It prefers full sun, but can also do well in partial shade, as its native habitat is in the understory of temperate forests. It can grow six to nine feet tall and will appreciate a trellis or bush\/tree to climb up. Still relatively new to gardeners in this country, Hablitzia is quickly making a name for itself among agroecologists and permaculturists who desire low-input, high-yield perennial crops.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis breeding mix comes to us from our friend Andy Hahn in Colorado, who has brought together four different accessions, all of which are growing in close proximity to each other, therefore each seed packet will contain a high degree of genetic diversity. We hope many new varieties of this exciting plant will be brought forth from these seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe urge all growers who order these seeds to sign up to Andy's Hablitzia Improvement Project on the EFN website so we can expand the community of amateur plant breeders working with this awesome perennial vegetable!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe best way to germinate seeds (from our experience) is to plant them just below the surface of moist seed starting mix in a small, covered dish (or even a ziplock bag with a finger-thick layer of soil at the bottom) and place in the refrigerator. The seeds will sprout within about a month, at which point they should be removed from the fridge and brought outside (but watch they don't get fried in the sun those first few days). Seeds require cool temperatures to germinate. If they don't sprout after a month, take them outside anyway, and they will probably sprout soon after. Young seedlings are tiny and fragile, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out or overheat. Plants will be small their first year, but will grow larger in each subsequent year, eventually forming a big clump. Put in a location where they can climb extensively.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13128545959959,"sku":"0773","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/hablitzia2.jpg?v=1607635665"},{"product_id":"andys-green-mountain-multiplier-onion","title":"Andy's Green Mountain Multiplier Onion","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAllium cepa var. aggregatum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/b\u003eColorado\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/b\u003eGrex\/Breeding material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/b\u003e~40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e95%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN EXCLUSIVE.\u003c\/strong\u003e Kelly Winterton of Utah created the original 'Green Mountain Multiplier' following a chance flowering of his perennial potato onions (\u003cem\u003eAllium cepa var. aggregatum\u003c\/em\u003e). Potato onions are a lot like shallots, only they keep for much longer and are generally fleshier and without the purple pigmentation in each layer. The main disadvantage compared to standard biennial onions is their small size. Kelly's potato onions flowered after being overwintered in the ground outdoors, rather than being stored inside and replanted in the spring. The seedlings proved to be incredibly diverse, and some of them paired the best traits of potato onions with sizes closer to a supermarket onion. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome of Kelly's onions made their way to EFN grower Andy Hahn in Colorado, who one year produced a bumper crop of true seed — and the 'Green Mountain Multiplier' onions had flowered at the same time as his yellow potato onions. The resulting seed is what we're proud to be offering here. Every seedling will be unique, so each will be something new.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere's been a lamentable loss of potato onion varieties over the past century, such that old heirlooms are now incredibly hard to come by. Kelly's work, furthered by Andy, has the potential to produce countless new potato onion varieties. Their perennial growth habit and long-storing ability will make these new varieties valuable to anyone looking to become independent from the supermarket. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStart these seeds early if you can, and you'll be well on your way to nurturing your own new easy-to-grow staple crop. And when you find that perfect new variety, give it a name and start spreading it around!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Start in flats as early as possible (February or March). Transplant to a well-prepared bed once seedlings are a few inches tall and sturdy enough to stand up to the weather. Keep an eye on them throughout the season as they will likely ripen at different times. Bulbs can be removed from the ground once the leaves are no longer green. You may also want to leave some bulbs in the ground to see if they will perennialize in your area. If you've never grown potato onions before, you'd be wise to do some internet sleuthing to learn what to expect!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13128563490839,"sku":"0556","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Andy_s_Green_Mountain_Multiplier_Onion.JPG?v=1547447303"},{"product_id":"perennial-korean-celery","title":"Seombadi (Perennial Korean Celery)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDystaenia takesimana \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/b\u003eUlleongdo Island, South Korea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement Status:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultivated wild material\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e~40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGermination tested 12\/2025: \u003c\/b\u003e45% (likely higher under better conditions)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eKnown in Korea as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eseombadi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esobadi, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eor \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003edwaejipul\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, and also called wild celery, Ulleung Giant Celery or Korean Pig Plant, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDystaenia\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e is an exciting perennial plant that has been traveling under the radar In this country for the past few decades but is poised to become much more popular (it has thus far spread mainly in Maine and New England through the MOFGA — Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association — community). It has a somewhat stronger flavor than celery (but not as strong as lovage), makes a great addition to soups, and stays green through even some very harsh winters. It is very nutritious and incredibly cold hardy. As one of its names implies, it has value as a forage plant for animals, but many people love it too. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe plant first came to the notice of non-Koreans after it was collected on Ulleungdo Island, off the coast of South Korea, in 1953 by the famous University of New Hampshire plant breeder Dr. Elwyn Meader. Professor Meader is one of the most important 20th-century figures in the world of plant breeding. He was a generalist who worked with a huge range of species, and his developments include the 'Royalty Purple Pod' green bean, 'Golden Midget' watermelon, 'Prestige' raspberry, 'Sweet Chocolate' pepper, 'Applegreen' eggplant, 'Meader Male' hardy kiwi, 'Reliance' peach, and 'Mericrest' nectarine, among dozens of others. Meader was a deeply religious Quaker, and he was firmly opposed to patenting plant varieties. He also refused to take royalties for his creations, and instead gave them away \"as payment for [his] space on the planet.\" Of his years at UNH, he said \"I was working for the taxpayers and the results of my work belonged to them.\" \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur first stock of this seed came from Eric Toensmeier of Holyoke, Massachusetts, the noted author of books including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eParadise Lot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePerennial Vegetables, Edible Forest Gardens, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eand \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Carbon Farming Solution. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt was a 2013 lecture by Eric on perennial industrial crops and carbon farming that gave Nate the idea to start EFN! This year's seed was generously donated to us by Jack Kertesz, MOFGA's Landscape Coordinator and founder of the Maine Tree Crop Alliance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAs far as we know there has been precious little breeding work done on this species — a wild plant on Ulleungdo — so it's likely there's room for improvement with respect to flavor, size, growth habit, etc. Let us know if you find any particularly interesting individuals out there!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e[Steven Barstow has written a wonderful article about this species, available at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.edimentals.com\/blog\/?tag=seombadi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ethis link\u003c\/a\u003e. And the second photo here shows Eric's friend and colleague Jonathan Bates with some \u003cem\u003eseombadi\u003c\/em\u003e at \"Paradise Lot.\"]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Germination rates start low and decline quickly, so we recommend planting all of the seeds you receive as it's not worth saving them for another year. Surface sow and keep moist until sprouting (you could try direct-seeding, but we recommend starting in flats or pots). Plant in full sun or partial shade. \u003c\/span\u003eThey prefer cool weather, but will stand up to summer heat once they get going. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13128600453143,"sku":"1011","price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/IMG_20210322_121641.jpg?v=1644679406"},{"product_id":"perennial-thicket-bean","title":"Perennial Thicket Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhaseolus polystachios\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/b\u003ePennsylvania\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement Status:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultivated wild material\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e~20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerennial thicket bean is a legume native to eastern North America. It is the only true bean (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhaseolus \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003egenus) native to a temperate region, while all of the others are tropical or sub-tropical. It is actually a close cousin of the Lima bean (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhaseolus lunatus). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThicket beans grow on twining vines and can often be found growing on roadsides or in other disturbed areas in their native range. While the beans are smaller than most domesticated beans, they are equally edible and quite tasty when cooked. Archaeological evidence from sites in Arkansas and Oklahoma indicates that they were eaten historically by indigenous peoples, and that domestication for non-shattering seed pods was likely to have occurred. We believe there's great potential for breeding work to be done to improve this valuable addition to the perennial vegetable garden. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur seed comes from Prairie Moon Nursery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Start in flats, as germination may be uneven. Seed coats are said to be \"impenetrable,\" so they benefit from being nicked with a knife and then soaked for a day before planting. \u003c\/span\u003eThis plant is known for taking over whatever space is offered to it. It thrives even in partial shade, especially with damp woodland soil. You may want to plant it in a bed where it can grow by itself so it doesn't choke out other plants. As a native plant, it is very resistant to pests and diseases, so if you find you have no use for it you will need to control it by mowing or by digging it up. It is a climber.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13128791687191,"sku":"0937","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/phaseoluspolystachiosperennialthicketbean.jpg?v=1641420629"},{"product_id":"purple-stemmed-arugula-colorado-naturalized","title":"Purple Stemmed Arugula (Colorado Naturalized)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eEruca vesicaria subsp. sativa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eCarbondale, Colorado\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~500\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e92%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"A beautiful purple-stemmed arugula with diverse leaf shapes and exceptional vigor. Resists bolting and grows quickly, allowing it to out-compete weeds. It also has a delicious flavor. This arugula is excellent for both the veggie garden or more perennial-based agroecological plantings. In some parts of the country it might even overwinter successfully, but it will readily self-seed in most soil. Direct-sow for a cut and come again crop. Our seed came from Casey Piscura of Wild Mountain Seeds.\\n\"}'\u003eA beautiful, purple-stemmed arugula with diverse leaf shapes and exceptional vigor. Resists bolting and grows quickly, allowing it to out-compete weeds. It also has a delicious flavor. This arugula is excellent for both the veggie garden or more perennial-based agroecological plantings. In some parts of the country it might even overwinter successfully, but it will readily self-seed in most soil. Direct-sow for a cut and come again crop. Our seed came from Casey Piscura of Wild Mountain Seeds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"A beautiful purple-stemmed arugula with diverse leaf shapes and exceptional vigor. Resists bolting and grows quickly, allowing it to out-compete weeds. It also has a delicious flavor. This arugula is excellent for both the veggie garden or more perennial-based agroecological plantings. In some parts of the country it might even overwinter successfully, but it will readily self-seed in most soil. Direct-sow for a cut and come again crop. Our seed came from Casey Piscura of Wild Mountain Seeds.\\n\"}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e In early spring direct seed 1\/4 inch deep. Plants could be 3-10 inches apart depending what you are going for. Could also be planted late summer for fall harvest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13130671783959,"sku":"0965","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/purple_stemmed_arugula.jpg?v=1547669994"},{"product_id":"virginia-blue-bells","title":"Virginia Bluebells (SE Minnesota Ecotype)","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eMertensia virginica\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winona, Minnesota\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e~36\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Virginia Blue Bells is a perennial native to eastern North America from the mid-Atlantic through the Midwest. It is a spring ephemeral, dying back to the ground after flowering. Virginia Blue Bells is a beloved garden plant, thriving in shade gardens and producing beautiful baby blue flowers that usually start out pink (occasional plants will produce pink or white flowers instead of blue). There is truly nothing else like it. It's a little-known fact that this gorgeous ornamental plant is also medicinal and edible! One of its vernacular names points to both its purported medicinal use and the flavor of the tasty leaves: \\\u0026quot;lungwort oysterleaf.\\\u0026quot; It's hardy to Zone 3, meaning it can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees! Butterflies are the most common pollinators, feasting on its sweet nectar. Grown from seed, expect the first-year plants to be rather small, but over time they will grow and spread. Our seed was collected by our great friend C. Dale Hendricks in southeastern Pennsylvania.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}'\u003eVirginia Bluebells is a perennial native to eastern North America from the mid-Atlantic through the Midwest. It is a spring ephemeral, dying back to the ground after flowering. Virginia Bluebells is a beloved garden plant, thriving in shade gardens and producing beautiful baby blue flowers that usually start out pink (occasional plants will produce pink or white flowers instead of blue). There is truly nothing else like it. It's a little-known fact that this gorgeous ornamental plant is also medicinal and edible! One of its vernacular names points to both its purported medicinal use and the flavor of the tasty leaves: \"lungwort oysterleaf.\" It's hardy to Zone 3, meaning it can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees! Butterflies are the most common pollinators, feasting on its sweet nectar. Grown from seed, expect the first-year plants to be rather small, but over time they will grow and spread. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Virginia Blue Bells is a perennial native to eastern North America from the mid-Atlantic through the Midwest. It is a spring ephemeral, dying back to the ground after flowering. Virginia Blue Bells is a beloved garden plant, thriving in shade gardens and producing beautiful baby blue flowers that usually start out pink (occasional plants will produce pink or white flowers instead of blue). There is truly nothing else like it. It's a little-known fact that this gorgeous ornamental plant is also medicinal and edible! One of its vernacular names points to both its purported medicinal use and the flavor of the tasty leaves: \\\u0026quot;lungwort oysterleaf.\\\u0026quot; It's hardy to Zone 3, meaning it can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees! Butterflies are the most common pollinators, feasting on its sweet nectar. Grown from seed, expect the first-year plants to be rather small, but over time they will grow and spread. Our seed was collected by our great friend C. Dale Hendricks in southeastern Pennsylvania.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}'\u003eOur seed for this SE Minnesota Ecotype Virginia Bluebells comes from Prairie Moon Nursery in Winona, MN. We also offer a Pennsylvania Ecotype of Virginia Bluebells from our friend Zach Elfers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Virginia Blue Bells is a perennial native to eastern North America from the mid-Atlantic through the Midwest. It is a spring ephemeral, dying back to the ground after flowering. Virginia Blue Bells is a beloved garden plant, thriving in shade gardens and producing beautiful baby blue flowers that usually start out pink (occasional plants will produce pink or white flowers instead of blue). There is truly nothing else like it. It's a little-known fact that this gorgeous ornamental plant is also medicinal and edible! One of its vernacular names points to both its purported medicinal use and the flavor of the tasty leaves: \\\u0026quot;lungwort oysterleaf.\\\u0026quot; It's hardy to Zone 3, meaning it can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees! Butterflies are the most common pollinators, feasting on its sweet nectar. Grown from seed, expect the first-year plants to be rather small, but over time they will grow and spread. Our seed was collected by our great friend C. Dale Hendricks in southeastern Pennsylvania.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":513,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0}'\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003ePrepare a nice bed in rich soil (some compost, manure, peat moss wouldn't hurt), because you won't be tilling the bed ever again. If the plants are happy there, they will always be there. Can handle partial sun. The plant often grows at woodland edges or in clearings, but it is considered an excellent shade plant in general. Grows well from seed, but does develop slowly. Might not flower for a couple years. Best to scatter seed on the surface and gently rake it in. Important to keep the soil moist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13131080663063,"sku":"1102","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Mertvclose3.JPG?v=1547514027"},{"product_id":"sacre-bleu-bean","title":"'Sacre Bleu' Bean","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePhaseolus vulgaris\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/b\u003eApalachin, New York\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/b\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/b\u003e~10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGermination tested 12\/2022: \u003c\/b\u003e93%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEFN INTRODUCTION. \u003c\/strong\u003eWe're thrilled to again be able to offer this wonderful \"new heirloom\" bean. Our great friend Lisa Bloodnick (whom we first met after she signed up as an EFN volunteer grower our first year) bred this amazing bean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLisa and her husband Brendan are market farmers in Apalachin, New York, outside Binghamton. At Bloodnick Family Farm they use all organic methods and even use a draft horse instead of a tractor (most of the time). Lisa is a leader in the seed-saving world making a name for herself as a steward of beans in particular. Lisa simply loves beans. Every year she grows over 100 different bean varieties (often many more than that), and some of them are exceedingly rare. Every now and then a new bean will show up in her field — a rogue — the result of a chance cross-pollination or a random mutation. If the rogue is interesting, Lisa will plant it the next year to see if its offspring are also interesting, and if the plants are robust and productive. Usually such efforts lead to nothing special, but every so often a rogue will lead to something new and unique — and such is most definitely the story of the 'Sacre Bleu'!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original beans Lisa started with looked much like the beans we're offering for sale today — the farthest back she can trace them is to a friend's trade with a German gardener who had them labeled \"dwarf blue\" — but years of work were required to \"stabilize\" the line as a uniform new variety, continually \"rogue-ing out\" beans that didn't look just like the originals or perform the same way (in this case, as an unbridled climber). The result is a pole bean remarkable not only for its beauty and uniformity, but for its productivity and vigor. It's not good as a green bean, but makes a gorgeous dry bean — a dark blue kidney-type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first summer Lisa found no \"off types\" to rogue out was 2018. It was also a really rough year for farming in the Southern Tier of New York due to the weather -- a really wet year. The nearby Apalachin Creek overtopped its banks, flooding the Bloodnick farm, and even after the water subsided, it continued raining. If you've ever grown dry beans before, you know how important it is for the beans to have a chance to dry on the vine. In wet seasons they're highly susceptible to fungus. Lisa reports that of all the beans she grew in 2018 (over 150 varieties) her 'Sacre Bleu' were the \"cleanest\" at the end of the season. All that moisture stayed outside the pods and the beans to dry down perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis year's small crop — get 'em while they last! — was produced in Philadelphia by our friend Olivia Gamber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e These beans are most blue when fresh, and the color darkens as they dry down and then age, so don't be alarmed when the beans that arrive in the mail are darker than they appear in the photo!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13184118980631,"sku":"0427","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/IMG_8123.jpg?v=1641454766"},{"product_id":"good-king-henry","title":"Good-King-Henry","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlitum bonus-henricus\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eEurope (via Montana)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~60\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED (Fresh 2025 Seed)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood-King-Henry, also known as Perennial Goosefoot, or Lincolnshire Spinach, is a classic perennial vegetable. It was once widely grown in kitchen gardens across Europe and the United States, and may yet be again. Good-King-Henry was long placed in the same genus — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChenopodium — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eas quinoa and lamb's quarters, but it is now considered more closely related to spinach, and is classed in the genus Blitum. But regardless of what we call it, it is an exceptionally useful perennial vegetable. In spring the growing tips can be used much like asparagus. Once the plant matures, the leaves can be harvested for use as a leaft vegetable, with a flavor and texture similar to spinach. The young flowering tips can also be eaten, as can the seeds, which are somewhat similar to quinoa. No vegetable garden should be without this perennial staple!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur seed comes from Michael Billington of Nourishing Roots Farm in Montana, who grows all kinds of perennial edible plants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eCold stratification improves seed germination. Plant in weed-free position where it can remain in perpetuity. Prefers a sunny spot, but will also grow in partial shade. Don't harvest during first year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13201013243927,"sku":"0763","price":4.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Screen_Shot_2019-02-11_at_5.11.15_PM.png?v=1549923764"},{"product_id":"common-boneset","title":"Common Boneset","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEupatorium perfoliatum\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eEastern North America\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommon boneset is native to the eastern half of North America. Indigenous people reportedly taught European settlers of its use as a treatment for fevers, and it has remained popular as an herbal medicine from colonial times to the present day. Recent studies have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory abilities. It is even being studied as an anti-parasitic for the treatment of malaria. (However it is not recommended to aid in setting bones: the name apparently comes from the mistaken belief that since its leaves look fused to each other around the stem, it might help bones fuse together.) Tea made from the leaves is said to be very bitter. The frilly white flowers are well-loved by pollinators, and the foliage is a preferred food for some beautiful butterflies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur seed was produced by Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eBoneset prefers damp soil and pond edges, so keep it well watered. It can handle full sun, but also quite a lot of shade. Seeds should be sown in fall or winter or artificially cold stratified for 30+ days before sowing. Seeds should be surface sown, as they are quite small. Because of the small seed starting in containers, indoors or out, is recommended. The small windblown seeds easily self sow, so deadheading is worthwhile if you don't want them popping up here and there.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13201060298775,"sku":"0665","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/Screen_Shot_2019-02-11_at_5.29.27_PM.png?v=1549926247"},{"product_id":"honesty","title":"Honesty","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLunaria annua\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eBalkans \u0026amp; SW Asia\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement Status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated wild material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~60\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e86\u003c\/span\u003e%\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKnown mainly for its beautiful seed pods (resembling coins and commonly used in dry flower arrangements) this annual or biennial plant native the Balkans also shines as a low maintenance edible. The young leaves, flower buds, flowers, and seeds are all edible, with a spicy mustard flavor. The purplish-pink flowers make a delicious and beautiful addition to salads. Once established, Honesty easily self-sows, so if you don’t want them to come back be sure to harvest the lovely seed heads before they break open. It self-sows so readily that many people assume it's a perennial! It has naturalized across North America to such an extent that many people assume it's a native plant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur seed was produced by Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/b\u003eVery easy to grow. Thrives in partial shade or sun. Plant 1\/4” deep, in spring, either in containers or directly in place. If direct sowing plant 2-3 seeds in each placement, with placements 12”+ apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHonesty grows well in sun, but tolerates partial shade. They will grow fine in most soils. Being a biennial they do not flower until the second year. If self-seeding is not desired deadheading is advised, these ornamental seed pods are often the primary harvest from this plant.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":13201182982167,"sku":"0785","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/LunariaAnnuadryseedpods.png?v=1549931060"},{"product_id":"over-the-rainbow-carrot-mix-minnesota-over-wintered","title":"'Over The Rainbow' Carrot Mix (Minnesota Over-Wintered)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaucus carota subsp. sativa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eMaine via Minnesota\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\/Grex\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e89%\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Biennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003eAward-winning, long-time, Minnesota organic farmer Greg Reynolds swears by this carrot mix. He received the seed several years ago from Fedco, and has since had two separate populations over-winter in his field and produce seed the following year. Very hardy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003eThis is a main season carrot, and Greg says they have remarkable carrot flavor, cream of the crop. Greg is an exceptionally talented market vegetable grower, who is getting into more serious seed work. We are excited to be developing a relationship with him, and hope to offer more of Greg's stuff as time goes on.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003eThis is the original description from Fedco: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003e\"(48-75 days) If there’s a better carrot mix than this one, it must be somewhere over the rainbow, way up high. We took a good formula called Rainbow Mix, especially strong in the lighter shades of yellow and orange, and boosted it with our own choice of dark orange, purple and red varieties. In doing so, we sacrificed some of the uniformity our European supplier maintains, so not all the roots are perfectly slender and tapered, nor will they all mature at the same time. But oh the colors!\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003eThis could be a great population to begin with for breeding purposes. There is a lot of genetic diversity. Our seed was grown by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/ctcseeds.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCultivating The Commons\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCarrots can take a long time to germinate, sometimes up to three weeks, and at least 7-10 days. Keep soil wet so the seeds don't dry out. Direct seed in late April, May, or June. Thin to 1 inch apart in rows that 12-14 inches apart.\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":27845555585047,"sku":"0365","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/20210118_143933.jpg?v=1639503195"},{"product_id":"bloody-dock","title":"Bloody Dock","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRumex sanguineus\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eEurope\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eLandrace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~60\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bloody dock, also known as bloody sorrel, is a perennial green in the rhubarb\/buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is grown as both an edible and ornamental plant. It forms a small clump of beautiful green leaves with vivid red veins. The plant contains high levels of oxalic acid, which gives it a lemony flavor but means that it should only be enjoyed in moderation (as too much oxalic acid inhibits the body's ability to absorb some important nutrients like calcium). The leaves taste best when young and tender, getting tougher and somewhat bitter with age. In cold winters it dies back to its roots, but in mild winters might produce a few small leaves all winter. Performs best in zones 6 through 8. \\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Direct sow or start indoors a couple weeks before last frost. Space plants 8 inches apart. Good for container culture as well.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":65280},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eBloody dock, also known as bloody sorrel, is a perennial green in the rhubarb\/buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is grown as both an edible and ornamental plant. It forms a small clump of beautiful green leaves with vivid red veins. The plant contains high levels of oxalic acid, which gives it a lemony flavor but means that it should only be enjoyed in moderation (as too much oxalic acid inhibits the body's ability to absorb some important nutrients like calcium). The leaves taste best when young and tender, getting tougher and somewhat bitter with age. In cold winters it dies back to its roots, but in mild winters might produce a few small leaves all winter. Performs best in zones 6 through 8.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Bloody dock, also known as bloody sorrel, is a perennial green in the rhubarb\/buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is grown as both an edible and ornamental plant. It forms a small clump of beautiful green leaves with vivid red veins. The plant contains high levels of oxalic acid, which gives it a lemony flavor but means that it should only be enjoyed in moderation (as too much oxalic acid inhibits the body's ability to absorb some important nutrients like calcium). The leaves taste best when young and tender, getting tougher and somewhat bitter with age. In cold winters it dies back to its roots, but in mild winters might produce a few small leaves all winter. Performs best in zones 6 through 8. \\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Direct sow or start indoors a couple weeks before last frost. Space plants 8 inches apart. Good for container culture as well.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":65280},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eOur seed comes from our friend Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Falmouth, Maine. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow or start indoors a couple weeks before last frost. Space plants 8 inches apart. Good for container culture as well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488349634613,"sku":"0608","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/bloody_dock_photo_1.jpg?v=1576519710"},{"product_id":"black-hungarian-pepper","title":"'Black Hungarian' Hot Pepper","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCapsicum chinense\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eKiskenfelegyhaza, Hungary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 11\/2023: \u003c\/strong\u003e90%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-textstyleruns=\"[null,0][null,1022,[null,null,null,null,null,1]][null,1035]\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Black Hungarian is an old Hungarian heirloom from the town of Kiskenfelegyhaza. It has become perhaps the most famous black hot pepper around the world. While it ripens to a vivid red, on its way to ripe it becomes such a deep purple color it's hard not to see black. The fruit is not best to eat at this stage but it is quite hot, and then when it ripens to red the heat reduces and the berry-fruit-like flavor fully emerges. While it has some heat, it is relatively mild, more along the lines of a jalapeño than a habañero. It has a wonderful sweet fruitiness, making it excellent for fresh uses, like salsa. Being from Eastern Europe, these are a relatively short season pepper, maturing in 70-80 days.\\n\\nThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz and Zach Binsfeld, of EFN, in Delano, Minnesota. Zach specifically sought out and sourced these seeds from Restoration Seeds because of his Hungarian ancestry. What he found was a unique and versatile pepper that he is excited to continue experimenting with for years to come.\\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e'Black Hungarian' is an old Hungarian heirloom from the town of Kiskenfelegyhaza. It has become perhaps the most famous black hot pepper around the world. While it ripens to a vivid red, on its way to ripe it becomes such a deep purple color it's hard not to see black. The fruit is not best to eat at this stage but it is quite hot, and then when it ripens to red the heat reduces and the berry-fruit-like flavor fully emerges. While it has some heat, it is relatively mild, more along the lines of a jalapeño than a habañero. It has a wonderful sweet fruitiness, making it excellent for fresh uses, like salsa. Being from Eastern Europe, these are a relatively short season pepper, maturing in 70-80 days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-textstyleruns=\"[null,0][null,1022,[null,null,null,null,null,1]][null,1035]\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Black Hungarian is an old Hungarian heirloom from the town of Kiskenfelegyhaza. It has become perhaps the most famous black hot pepper around the world. While it ripens to a vivid red, on its way to ripe it becomes such a deep purple color it's hard not to see black. The fruit is not best to eat at this stage but it is quite hot, and then when it ripens to red the heat reduces and the berry-fruit-like flavor fully emerges. While it has some heat, it is relatively mild, more along the lines of a jalapeño than a habañero. It has a wonderful sweet fruitiness, making it excellent for fresh uses, like salsa. Being from Eastern Europe, these are a relatively short season pepper, maturing in 70-80 days.\\n\\nThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz and Zach Binsfeld, of EFN, in Delano, Minnesota. Zach specifically sought out and sourced these seeds from Restoration Seeds because of his Hungarian ancestry. What he found was a unique and versatile pepper that he is excited to continue experimenting with for years to come.\\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eGreat hot sauce choice! EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz and his hot sauce-making aficionado friend, Zach Binsfeld (Off Type hot sauce is his brand in the Twin Cities), have been experimenting with 'Black Hungarian' in their hot sauce ferments. Good heat, rich flavor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Black Hungarian is an old Hungarian heirloom from the town of Kiskenfelegyhaza. It has become perhaps the most famous black hot pepper around the world. While it ripens to a vivid red, on its way to ripe it becomes such a deep purple color it's hard not to see black. The fruit is not best to eat at this stage but it is quite hot, and then when it ripens to red the heat reduces and the berry-fruit-like flavor fully emerges. While it has some heat, it is relatively mild, more along the lines of a jalapeño than a habañero. It has a wonderful sweet fruitiness, making it excellent for fresh uses, like salsa. Being from Eastern Europe, these are a relatively short season pepper, maturing in 70-80 days.\\n\\nThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz and Zach Binsfeld, of EFN, in Delano, Minnesota. Zach specifically sought out and sourced these seeds from Restoration Seeds because of his Hungarian ancestry. What he found was a unique and versatile pepper that he is excited to continue experimenting with for years to come.\\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0}' data-sheets-textstyleruns=\"[null,0][null,1022,[null,null,null,null,null,1]][null,1035]\"\u003eThese seeds were grown by EFN co-founder Dusty Hinz and his long-time friend Zach Binsfeld in Delano, Minnesota. Zach specifically sought out and sourced these seeds from Restoration Seeds because of his Hungarian ancestry. What he found was a unique and versatile pepper that he is excited to continue experimenting with for years to come.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-textstyleruns=\"[null,0][null,1022,[null,null,null,null,null,1]][null,1035]\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Black Hungarian is an old Hungarian heirloom from the town of Kiskenfelegyhaza. It has become perhaps the most famous black hot pepper around the world. While it ripens to a vivid red, on its way to ripe it becomes such a deep purple color it's hard not to see black. The fruit is not best to eat at this stage but it is quite hot, and then when it ripens to red the heat reduces and the berry-fruit-like flavor fully emerges. While it has some heat, it is relatively mild, more along the lines of a jalapeño than a habañero. It has a wonderful sweet fruitiness, making it excellent for fresh uses, like salsa. Being from Eastern Europe, these are a relatively short season pepper, maturing in 70-80 days.\\n\\nThese seeds were grown by Dusty Hinz and Zach Binsfeld, of EFN, in Delano, Minnesota. Zach specifically sought out and sourced these seeds from Restoration Seeds because of his Hungarian ancestry. What he found was a unique and versatile pepper that he is excited to continue experimenting with for years to come.\\n\\nGROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488595132469,"sku":"0058","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/black_hungarian_pepper_photo_2.jpg?v=1576528732"},{"product_id":"blue-vervain","title":"Blue Vervain (Maine Ecotype)","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Verbena hastata\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":45569,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":12,\"18\":1}'\u003eVerbena hastata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Verbena hastata\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":45569,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":12,\"18\":1}'\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Verbena hastata\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":45569,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":12,\"18\":1}'\u003eEastern North America\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wild\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~300\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eBlue vervain (also known as American vervain or swamp vervain) is beautiful perennial herb native to eastern North America with an array of culinary and medicinal uses. The seeds are edible and can be roasted and ground into a powder or cooked whole. The mildly bitter flavor (which some find pleasing) can be removed by leeching. The leaves make a fine tea substitute, with milder medicinal effects compared to the roots. According to Plants for a Future the plant is \"antiperiodic, diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, tonic, vermifuge, and vulnerary.\" It has pretty purple flowers and is well-suited to pollinator gardens and ecological restoration projects. Hardy to Zone 3. Vervain refers damp sites in full sun to part shade, but is very adaptable. It's liable to self-sow, so deadhead if you don’t want them to spread.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur seed comes from our friend, Aaron Parker, of Edgewood Nursery in Maine. This is a Maine ecotype accession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eSeeds should be sown in fall or winter or artificially cold stratified for 60+ days before sowing. Seeds should be surface sown, as they are quite small. Starting in pots is probably preferable due to small seed size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrows best on damp soils in full sun, but does fine in part shade and\/or mesic soils. Prolific self-seeder, deadheading recommended where expansion is not desired. Very nice addition to a meadow or ditch edge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488619348021,"sku":"0614","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/files\/PXL_20230704_150007248.jpg?v=1704785339"},{"product_id":"doe-hill-pepper","title":"'Doe Hill' Sweet Pepper","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCapsicum annuum\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eHighland County, VA\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~30\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 12\/2024: \u003c\/strong\u003e84%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'Doe Hill' is a classic, golden-yellow, pumpkin-shaped heirloom sweet pepper from the Doe Hill area of Highland County, VA. While the plants and fruit are small in stature, they are big on flavor! The fruit's thick walls make it great for stuffing or pickling. It matures relatively early and produces over a long season.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eStart seeds indoors in March. After danger of frost transplant to garden with 14-18 inches between plants. They tend to grow up tall and not out, so a foot or slightly more between plants should work, especially if you have limited space. Trellising may help the plants, but is not necessary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488817856565,"sku":"0133","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/DoeHillpepper.jpg?v=1639503643"},{"product_id":"dolciva-carrot","title":"'Dolciva' Carrot","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaucus carota\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eSwitzerland\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025: \u003c\/strong\u003e75%\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"Dolciva is a relatively new Nantes-type carrot bred by Sativa Seeds, a biodynamic seed company located in Switzerland. It is getting rave reviews in this country for being a uniform, easy-to-grow, great tasting open-pollinated carrot able to compete with the commercial hybrids. It stores well too, maintaing its excellent flavor and crunch for a very long time (even into the next summer!). One of the sweetest, tastiest carrots around. Our seeds were Midwest-grown by EFN.\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":515,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0}'\u003eDolciva is a relatively new Nantes-type carrot bred by Sativa Seeds, a biodynamic seed company located in Switzerland. It is getting rave reviews in this country for being a uniform, easy-to-grow, great tasting open-pollinated carrot able to compete with the commercial hybrids. It stores well too, maintaining its excellent flavor and crunch for a very long time (even into the next summer!). One of the sweetest, tastiest carrots around. Our seeds were Midwest-grown by EFN.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCarrots can take a long time to germinate, sometimes up to three weeks, and at least 7-10 days. Keep soil wet so the seeds don't dry out. Direct seed in late April, May, June, or maybe sometime in July. Thin to 1 inch apart.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488830341173,"sku":"0139","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/dolciva_carrot_photo_1.jpg?v=1576532077"},{"product_id":"dyers-woad","title":"Dyer's Woad","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIsatis tinctoria\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Europe\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCultivated material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~50\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 11\/2023: \u003c\/strong\u003e70%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial or Perennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Woad is the most famous \\\u0026quot;Old World\\\u0026quot; blue dye plant, once used throughout the \\\u0026quot;Western World\\\u0026quot; until it was largely replaced by indigo in the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries (in fact, the dye from woad is also called indigo). It was used mainly for dying fabric, but also for body paint. It is experiencing something of a revival as a natural dye for artisanal fabric-makers. It is in the brassica family and has pretty yellow flowers. The roots of woad have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, for a wide range of ailments, commonly made into tea. The leaves are edible, though quite bitter (the flavor is said to improve after prolonged soaking\/leaching). It is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe. It has naturalized and become a problematic invasive plant in Western North America, so we will not send seeds to western states. Please check your state's regulations before ordering this fascinating plant. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eWoad is the most famous \"Old World\" blue dye plant, once used throughout the \"Western World\" until it was largely replaced by indigo in the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries (in fact, the dye from woad is also called indigo). It was used mainly for dying fabric, but also for body paint. It is experiencing something of a revival as a natural dye for artisanal fabric-makers. It is in the brassica family and has pretty yellow flowers. The roots of woad have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, for a wide range of ailments, commonly made into tea. The leaves are edible, though quite bitter (the flavor is said to improve after prolonged soaking\/leaching). It is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe. It has naturalized and become a problematic invasive plant in Western North America, so we will not send seeds to western states. Please check your state's regulations before ordering this fascinating plant. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Woad is the most famous \\\u0026quot;Old World\\\u0026quot; blue dye plant, once used throughout the \\\u0026quot;Western World\\\u0026quot; until it was largely replaced by indigo in the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries (in fact, the dye from woad is also called indigo). It was used mainly for dying fabric, but also for body paint. It is experiencing something of a revival as a natural dye for artisanal fabric-makers. It is in the brassica family and has pretty yellow flowers. The roots of woad have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, for a wide range of ailments, commonly made into tea. The leaves are edible, though quite bitter (the flavor is said to improve after prolonged soaking\/leaching). It is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe. It has naturalized and become a problematic invasive plant in Western North America, so we will not send seeds to western states. Please check your state's regulations before ordering this fascinating plant. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003e[NOTE: Photo of flowers comes from Matt Lavin, made available under a Creative Commons \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/deed.en\"\u003eAttribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic\u003c\/a\u003e license.]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soak seeds at room temp for 24 hours before direct sowing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31488933363765,"sku":"0692","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/dyerswoad.jpg?v=1578377641"},{"product_id":"eds-red-shallot","title":"Ed's Red Shallot","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAllium cepa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eNampa, Idaho\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGermination tested\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e09\/2025: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e85%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;This is an excellent open-pollinated shallot, improved by farmer\/breeder Beth Rasgorshek of Nampa, Idaho, and re-introduced by Fedco. It has red skins and purple\/white flesh. Besides tasting great and growing to a large size, its biggest selling point is its ability to keep will in storage for up to a year! That's right, you could still be eating these shallots as you're picking next year's! If you're interested in breeding onions or shallots, this is a reliable seed producer so would be great to add to your genepool. Matures in 105 days. Our seed was produced by Cass McKinnon and Clint Freund in Wisconsin.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eThis is an excellent open-pollinated shallot, improved by farmer\/breeder Beth Rasgorshek of Nampa, Idaho, and re-introduced by Fedco. It has red skins and purple\/white flesh. Besides tasting great and growing to a large size, its biggest selling point is its ability to keep well in storage for up to a year! That's right, you could still be eating these shallots as you're picking next year's! If you're interested in breeding onions or shallots, this is a reliable seed producer so would be great to add to your genepool. Matures in 105 days. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;This is an excellent open-pollinated shallot, improved by farmer\/breeder Beth Rasgorshek of Nampa, Idaho, and re-introduced by Fedco. It has red skins and purple\/white flesh. Besides tasting great and growing to a large size, its biggest selling point is its ability to keep will in storage for up to a year! That's right, you could still be eating these shallots as you're picking next year's! If you're interested in breeding onions or shallots, this is a reliable seed producer so would be great to add to your genepool. Matures in 105 days. Our seed was produced by Cass McKinnon and Clint Freund in Wisconsin.\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eOur seed was produced Brennan Henry Allsworth, a talented organic seed grower who now lives in Decorah, Iowa, but got his start with seed production in Boise, Idaho with Snake River Seed Cooperative.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDefinitely best to transplant healthy onion starts in early spring. Start them indoors or in greenhouse. We typically put 3-4 seeds per cell in 50-cell or 72-cell trays, transplanting out the entire cell block with 3-4 onion starts in it together. Plant out individual cells every foot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31489008697397,"sku":"0699","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/ed_s_red_shallot.jpg?v=1576536378"},{"product_id":"evergreen-hardy-white-scallion","title":"'Nebuka' Perennial Scallion","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAllium fistulosum\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eJapan via Maine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~60\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eAlso known sometimes as \"Evergreen Hardy White,\" this is an ancient Japanese landrace bunching onion, great for cut-and-come-again scallions. Our seed comes from our friend and collaborator Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Falmouth Maine. Here's what he says about it:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Cold hardy and pest resistant, this perennial bunching onion is an old variety from Japan. They divide at the base while also producing large ornamental flowers and lots of true seed. You can harvest the green tops several times in a season or harvest whole plants on a slower rotation. Seeds should be planted in spring. Starting early indoors is nice as alliums can be a bit slow to establish and are easy to lose if direct sown. Barely cover seeds. Can be grown as an annual in typical rows, or allowed to establish as a perennial. Divides somewhat slowly at the base, so plant lots of seedlings or avoid harvesting bulbs until well established. Best size is achieved in full sun and rich soil (i.e. vegetable garden conditions), but tolerates sub-par conditions too. I find other perennial alliums preferable to low-investment situations and this scallion preferable for the vegetable garden. Sow in early spring, in short season climates start in Feb\/Mar for annual production.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep an eye out for rogue weirdos in your crop, because Aaron grows lots of other allium species, so you might find a cool accidental cross!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seeds should be planted in spring. Starting indoors is nice as alliums can be a bit slow to establish and are easy to lose if direct sown. Barely cover seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCan be grown as an annual in typical rows, or allowed to establish as a perennial. We recommend the latter. Divides somewhat slowly at the base, so plant lots of seedlings or avoid harvesting bulbs until well established. Will reach it's best size in full sun and rich soil (ie vegetable garden conditions), but tolerates sub-par conditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31489206288437,"sku":"0730","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/files\/nebuka_scallion_d759970f-7e08-4480-8328-1166f7c9bb3d.jpg?v=1734994753"},{"product_id":"monarch-celeriac","title":"'Monarch' Celeriac","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApium graveolens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eTurtle Tree Seed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 09\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 73%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity: \u003c\/strong\u003eIt wants a long growing season. Get them in early.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Celeriac is the same species as celery, but it was bred for its knobby swollen root. Both share the same rich flavor, though celery root has more complexity and sweetness. Celeriac, as a garden plant, has the bonus being quite hardy and less picky when it comes to climate. 'Monarch' is a common variety known for its uniform roots and excellent flavor, in addition to agronomic qualities that make it easy to grow and resistant to pests.\\n\\nThe roots store well in the cellar. It's best to harvest before the ground freezes. We like to harvest the tops for soup stock, and to use the roots in a range of dishes, from soups and stews to salads and even breads. The roots roast well, fry well, and mash well (adding a wonderful flavor to mashed potatoes). Nate likes to shred the fresh root along with beets and carrots for a simple salad (with nothing but lemon juice as dressing). These seeds were grown for EFN by Cass McKinnon and Clint Freund in Wisconsin.\\n\u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eCeleriac is the same species as celery, but it was bred for its knobby swollen root. Both share the same rich flavor, though celery root has more complexity and sweetness. Celeriac, as a garden plant, has the bonus of being quite hardy and less picky when it comes to climate. 'Monarch' is a common variety known for its uniform roots and excellent flavor, in addition to agronomic qualities that make it easy to grow and resistant to pests.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe roots store well in the cellar. It's best to harvest before the ground freezes. We like to harvest the tops for soup stock, and to use the roots in a range of dishes, from soups and stews to salads and even breads. The roots roast well, fry well, and mash well (adding a wonderful flavor to mashed potatoes). Nate likes to shred the fresh root along with beets and carrots for a simple salad (with nothing but lemon juice as dressing). These seeds were grown for EFN by Kass McKinnon and Clint Freund in Wisconsin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Starts plants indoors ten weeks before last frost. Transplant to garden early spring after danger of last frost, with 14-18 inches between plants.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31489919320117,"sku":"0322","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/monarch_celeriac_photo.jpg?v=1576553661"},{"product_id":"new-england-aster","title":"New England Aster","description":"\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSymphyotrichum novae-angliae\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eWild\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeds per packet:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e~150\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested\u003cspan\u003e 10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/2024: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e20%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"New England Aster is a gorgeous native perennial with vivid little purple daisyesque flowers produced in profusion. As a rare fall-blooming flower, it is a critical food plant for bees and other nectar-eating insects at a time when little else is in bloom. In some parts of eastern North America, it fills fields and meadows every fall, but it is becoming less common as cow-pastures on abandoned farms turn into forests. It does not do well in shade.\\n\\nAccording to Wikipedia, it has a long history of medicinal use by indigenous people: \\\"The Cherokee use a poultice of the roots for pain, an infusion of the roots for diarrhea, and sniff the ooze from the roots for catarrh. They also take an infusion of the plant for fever. The Chippewa smoke the roots in pipes to attract game. The Iroquois use a decoction of the plant for weak skin, a decoction of the roots and leaves for fevers, the plant as a \\\"love medicine\\\", and an infusion of whole plant and rhizomes from another plant to treat mothers with intestinal fevers. The Meskwaki smudge the plant and use it to revive unconscious people,] and the Prairie Potawatomi use it as a fumigating reviver.\\\"\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12803,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}'\u003eNew England Aster is a gorgeous native perennial with vivid little purple daisyesque flowers produced in profusion. As a rare fall-blooming flower, it is a critical food plant for bees and other nectar-eating insects at a time when little else is in bloom. In some parts of eastern North America, it fills fields and meadows every fall, but it is becoming less common as cow-pastures on abandoned farms turn into forests. It does not do well in shade.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccording to Wikipedia, it has a long history of medicinal use by indigenous people: \"The Cherokee use a poultice of the roots for pain, an infusion of the roots for diarrhea, and sniff the ooze from the roots for catarrh. They also take an infusion of the plant for fever. The Chippewa smoke the roots in pipes to attract game. The Iroquois use a decoction of the plant for weak skin, a decoction of the roots and leaves for fevers, the plant as a \"love medicine\", and an infusion of whole plant and rhizomes from another plant to treat mothers with intestinal fevers. The Meskwaki smudge the plant and use it to revive unconscious people,] and the Prairie Potawatomi use it as a fumigating reviver.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seeds should be sown in fall or winter or artificially cold stratified for 60+ days before sowing. Seeds should be surface sown, as they are quite small. Starting in pots is probably preferable due to small seed size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrows easily in sun on most soils. Tolerates part shade, drought and weed competition. While a very pretty wildflower with late season blooms, potentially a bit rambunctious for a flower garden. Ideal for a meadow or ditch planting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31489983053877,"sku":"0892","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/files\/Newenglandaster2.jpg?v=1703369948"},{"product_id":"opopeo-grain-amaranth","title":"'Opopeo' Amaranth","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmaranthus hybridus\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Americas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 09\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 71%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eAnnual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Opopeo' is a Mexican amaranth variety used for both its leaves and seeds. It has a beautiful magenta-red seed head bearing tiny tan-colored seeds which can be used as a grain (for cookies, cakes, crackers, bread, porridge, or \"polenta\"), and even popped for a traditional Mexican snack (typically mixed with honey and known as \"alegria\"). The grain has a unique, earthy taste which many people adore. Nate likes to boil amaranth until well-done and then mix it with a little cream (or sour cream) and honey. The purple-tinted leaves of this amaranth are also quite tasty, though much better cooked than raw. Amaranth is very easy to grow, and a single plant can produce a pint of seeds and many pounds of leaves over the course of a season. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003eMay need support in loose soils. Starting seeds indoors or in a hoop house before the frost will give you a edge in short season areas. Plants should be 10-12 inches apart.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31490401861685,"sku":"0362","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/opopeo_grain_amaranth_photo_1.jpg?v=1576558886"},{"product_id":"sweet-cicely","title":"Sweet Cicely","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMyrrhis odorata\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Central Europe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivated wild material\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~15\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePerennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Sweet Cicely is an herbaceous perennial in the carrot family, also known as \\\u0026quot;garden myrrh\\\u0026quot;, used as flavoring and for edible leaves, seeds, and roots. The leaves and especially the unripe seed pods taste very much like licorice (think \\\u0026quot;Good and Plenty\\\u0026quot;), while the roots are sweet and delectable. The white, Queen Anne's Lace-like flowers are much beloved by various pollinators and beneficial insects. It is easy to direct seed, and even enjoys shady locations. If you know you have its poisonous lookalike cousin hemlock nearby, be very certain to remove any intruders from your patch of Sweet Cicely that don't look quite right. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine. \u0026quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":6723,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"9\":0,\"12\":0,\"14\":[null,2,0],\"15\":\"Arial\"}'\u003eSweet Cicely is an herbaceous perennial in the carrot family, also known as \"garden myrrh\", used as flavoring and for edible leaves, seeds, and roots. The leaves and especially the unripe seed pods taste very much like licorice (think \"Good and Plenty\"), while the roots are sweet and delectable. The white, Queen Anne's Lace-like flowers are much beloved by various pollinators and beneficial insects. It is easy to direct seed, and even enjoys shady locations. If you know you have its poisonous lookalike cousin hemlock nearby, be very certain to remove any intruders from your patch of Sweet Cicely that don't look quite right. Our seed comes from Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Maine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Expect slow and erratic germination. Soak seeds in room temperature water for 24 hrs, then move to cold stratification for 30+ days before sowing. Germination may be helped by fluctuating temps, so starting in containers outdoors or direct sowing in fall are good tactics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Sweet Cicely is widely adaptable growing well in full sun to shade in most soil types. Weed potential is low in Maine, but potentially much higher elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31495943651381,"sku":"1059","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/sweet_cicely.jpg?v=1576619773"},{"product_id":"uw-purple-carrot","title":"WI-OSC Purple Carrot","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaucus carota\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eWisconsin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImprovement status: \u003c\/strong\u003eCultivar Composite\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per packet: \u003c\/strong\u003e~200\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination tested 10\/2025:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife cycle: \u003c\/strong\u003eBiennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Our friend Dr. Claire Luby — plant breeder, organizer, and Executive Director of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) — recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her thesis assessed genetic variability and \\\u0026quot;freedom to operate\\\u0026quot; among U.S. carrot cultivars. In short, Claire attempted to find out whether or not there are enough carrot cultivars without intellectual property restrictions attached to them to enable open-source plant breeders to develop the resilient, delicious, nutritious carrots of the future. As part of her studies, in collaboration with UW-Madison's Dr. Irwin Goldman, one of the founders of OSSI, Claire developed eight intellectual-property-free populations of carrot germplasm and released them as OSSI-pledged varieties. Our collaborators Clint Freund and Cass McKinnon were given some Claire's 'WI-OSC Purple' (which stands for \\\u0026quot;Wisconsin Open Source Composite\\\u0026quot;) and produced these seeds for us, selecting only for flavor and more purple skin.\\n\\nClint says these carrots are \\\u0026quot;Vigorous growers with sturdy greens, multi-colored cores and purple skins.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nClaire's OSSI entry for this population states the following: \\\u0026quot;The goal of breeding the Wisconsin Open Source Composite populations was to take commercially available cultivars that had freedom to operate for breeding and create diverse carrot populations based on market class and root color. These composite populations are meant to represent some of the diversity present in commercially available carrot germplasm that is available to use in breeding. The WI-OSC Purple population has purple exterior color (anthocyanin accumulation) with a variation of purple, orange, and white interiors. Roots are generally quite large in diameter with a significant taper. Tops are very vigorous. Parental material included: Cosmic Purple , Deep Purple, Dragon, Purple Haze, and Purple Sun. The roots in this population most clearly resemble the Cosmic Purple and Dragon varieties. This population has been developed for two generations under organic growing conditions.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nWe're very excited to be the first commercial source of this composite population, which should offer a great deal of genetic diversity for future purple carrot breeders, and is already market-ready for farmers or home gardeners. We recommend seed savers assess every plant to be saved for seed for root color, plant vigor, and taste (carrot roots can be sampled from before replanting for seed production).\\n\\nThis carrot population carries the OSSI pledge.\u0026quot;}\"\u003eOur friend Dr. Claire Luby — plant breeder, organizer, and Executive Director of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) — recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her thesis assessed genetic variability and \"freedom to operate\" among U.S. carrot cultivars. In short, Claire attempted to find out whether or not there are enough carrot cultivars without intellectual property restrictions attached to them to enable open-source plant breeders to develop the resilient, delicious, nutritious carrots of the future. As part of her studies, in collaboration with UW-Madison's Dr. Irwin Goldman, one of the founders of OSSI, Claire developed eight intellectual-property-free populations of carrot germplasm and released them as OSSI-pledged varieties. Our collaborators Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon were given some of Claire's 'WI-OSC Purple' (which stands for \"Wisconsin Open Source Composite\") and produced these seeds for us, selecting only for flavor and more purple skin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClint says these carrots are \"Vigorous growers with sturdy greens, multi-colored cores and purple skins.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClaire's OSSI entry for this population states the following: \"The goal of breeding the Wisconsin Open Source Composite populations was to take commercially available cultivars that had freedom to operate for breeding and create diverse carrot populations based on market class and root color. These composite populations are meant to represent some of the diversity present in commercially available carrot germplasm that is available to use in breeding. The WI-OSC Purple population has purple exterior color (anthocyanin accumulation) with a variation of purple, orange, and white interiors. Roots are generally quite large in diameter with a significant taper. Tops are very vigorous. Parental material included: Cosmic Purple , Deep Purple, Dragon, Purple Haze, and Purple Sun. The roots in this population most clearly resemble the Cosmic Purple and Dragon varieties. This population has been developed for two generations under organic growing conditions.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Our friend Dr. Claire Luby — plant breeder, organizer, and Executive Director of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) — recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her thesis assessed genetic variability and \\\u0026quot;freedom to operate\\\u0026quot; among U.S. carrot cultivars. In short, Claire attempted to find out whether or not there are enough carrot cultivars without intellectual property restrictions attached to them to enable open-source plant breeders to develop the resilient, delicious, nutritious carrots of the future. As part of her studies, in collaboration with UW-Madison's Dr. Irwin Goldman, one of the founders of OSSI, Claire developed eight intellectual-property-free populations of carrot germplasm and released them as OSSI-pledged varieties. Our collaborators Clint Freund and Cass McKinnon were given some Claire's 'WI-OSC Purple' (which stands for \\\u0026quot;Wisconsin Open Source Composite\\\u0026quot;) and produced these seeds for us, selecting only for flavor and more purple skin.\\n\\nClint says these carrots are \\\u0026quot;Vigorous growers with sturdy greens, multi-colored cores and purple skins.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nClaire's OSSI entry for this population states the following: \\\u0026quot;The goal of breeding the Wisconsin Open Source Composite populations was to take commercially available cultivars that had freedom to operate for breeding and create diverse carrot populations based on market class and root color. These composite populations are meant to represent some of the diversity present in commercially available carrot germplasm that is available to use in breeding. The WI-OSC Purple population has purple exterior color (anthocyanin accumulation) with a variation of purple, orange, and white interiors. Roots are generally quite large in diameter with a significant taper. Tops are very vigorous. Parental material included: Cosmic Purple , Deep Purple, Dragon, Purple Haze, and Purple Sun. The roots in this population most clearly resemble the Cosmic Purple and Dragon varieties. This population has been developed for two generations under organic growing conditions.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nWe're very excited to be the first commercial source of this composite population, which should offer a great deal of genetic diversity for future purple carrot breeders, and is already market-ready for farmers or home gardeners. We recommend seed savers assess every plant to be saved for seed for root color, plant vigor, and taste (carrot roots can be sampled from before replanting for seed production).\\n\\nThis carrot population carries the OSSI pledge.\u0026quot;}\"\u003eWe're very excited to be the first commercial source of this composite population, which should offer a great deal of genetic diversity for future purple carrot breeders, and is already market-ready for farmers or home gardeners. We recommend seed savers assess every plant to be saved for seed for root color, plant vigor, and taste (carrot roots can be sampled from before replanting for seed production).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Our friend Dr. Claire Luby — plant breeder, organizer, and Executive Director of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) — recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her thesis assessed genetic variability and \\\u0026quot;freedom to operate\\\u0026quot; among U.S. carrot cultivars. In short, Claire attempted to find out whether or not there are enough carrot cultivars without intellectual property restrictions attached to them to enable open-source plant breeders to develop the resilient, delicious, nutritious carrots of the future. As part of her studies, in collaboration with UW-Madison's Dr. Irwin Goldman, one of the founders of OSSI, Claire developed eight intellectual-property-free populations of carrot germplasm and released them as OSSI-pledged varieties. Our collaborators Clint Freund and Cass McKinnon were given some Claire's 'WI-OSC Purple' (which stands for \\\u0026quot;Wisconsin Open Source Composite\\\u0026quot;) and produced these seeds for us, selecting only for flavor and more purple skin.\\n\\nClint says these carrots are \\\u0026quot;Vigorous growers with sturdy greens, multi-colored cores and purple skins.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nClaire's OSSI entry for this population states the following: \\\u0026quot;The goal of breeding the Wisconsin Open Source Composite populations was to take commercially available cultivars that had freedom to operate for breeding and create diverse carrot populations based on market class and root color. These composite populations are meant to represent some of the diversity present in commercially available carrot germplasm that is available to use in breeding. The WI-OSC Purple population has purple exterior color (anthocyanin accumulation) with a variation of purple, orange, and white interiors. Roots are generally quite large in diameter with a significant taper. Tops are very vigorous. Parental material included: Cosmic Purple , Deep Purple, Dragon, Purple Haze, and Purple Sun. The roots in this population most clearly resemble the Cosmic Purple and Dragon varieties. This population has been developed for two generations under organic growing conditions.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nWe're very excited to be the first commercial source of this composite population, which should offer a great deal of genetic diversity for future purple carrot breeders, and is already market-ready for farmers or home gardeners. We recommend seed savers assess every plant to be saved for seed for root color, plant vigor, and taste (carrot roots can be sampled from before replanting for seed production).\\n\\nThis carrot population carries the OSSI pledge.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"catalog-desc\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGROWING TIPS: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCarrots can take a long time to germinate, sometimes up to three weeks, and at least 7-10 days. Keep soil wet so the seeds don't dry out. Direct seed in late April, May, or June. Thin to 1 inch apart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":12931,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"4\":[null,2,65280],\"10\":2,\"12\":0,\"15\":\"Arial\",\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value=\"{\u0026quot;1\u0026quot;:2,\u0026quot;2\u0026quot;:\u0026quot;Our friend Dr. Claire Luby — plant breeder, organizer, and Executive Director of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) — recently completed her PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her thesis assessed genetic variability and \\\u0026quot;freedom to operate\\\u0026quot; among U.S. carrot cultivars. In short, Claire attempted to find out whether or not there are enough carrot cultivars without intellectual property restrictions attached to them to enable open-source plant breeders to develop the resilient, delicious, nutritious carrots of the future. As part of her studies, in collaboration with UW-Madison's Dr. Irwin Goldman, one of the founders of OSSI, Claire developed eight intellectual-property-free populations of carrot germplasm and released them as OSSI-pledged varieties. Our collaborators Clint Freund and Cass McKinnon were given some Claire's 'WI-OSC Purple' (which stands for \\\u0026quot;Wisconsin Open Source Composite\\\u0026quot;) and produced these seeds for us, selecting only for flavor and more purple skin.\\n\\nClint says these carrots are \\\u0026quot;Vigorous growers with sturdy greens, multi-colored cores and purple skins.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nClaire's OSSI entry for this population states the following: \\\u0026quot;The goal of breeding the Wisconsin Open Source Composite populations was to take commercially available cultivars that had freedom to operate for breeding and create diverse carrot populations based on market class and root color. These composite populations are meant to represent some of the diversity present in commercially available carrot germplasm that is available to use in breeding. The WI-OSC Purple population has purple exterior color (anthocyanin accumulation) with a variation of purple, orange, and white interiors. Roots are generally quite large in diameter with a significant taper. Tops are very vigorous. Parental material included: Cosmic Purple , Deep Purple, Dragon, Purple Haze, and Purple Sun. The roots in this population most clearly resemble the Cosmic Purple and Dragon varieties. This population has been developed for two generations under organic growing conditions.\\\u0026quot;\\n\\nWe're very excited to be the first commercial source of this composite population, which should offer a great deal of genetic diversity for future purple carrot breeders, and is already market-ready for farmers or home gardeners. We recommend seed savers assess every plant to be saved for seed for root color, plant vigor, and taste (carrot roots can be sampled from before replanting for seed production).\\n\\nThis carrot population carries the OSSI pledge.\u0026quot;}\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states:\u003ci\u003e “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” \u003c\/i\u003eMore information on OSSI can be found at \u003ca title=\"Open Source Seed Initiative\" href=\"http:\/\/www.osseeds.org\/\"\u003eosseeds.org\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ci\u003e.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31495949025333,"sku":"1122","price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2333\/6781\/products\/uw_purple_carrot.jpg?v=1576620028"}],"url":"https:\/\/store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org\/collections\/crop-archive.oembed?page=13","provider":"Experimental Farm Network Seed Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}