With this lovely spring weather in California comes the excitement of planting seeds for spring and summer vegetables and flowers. What better way to spend the weekend than in the dirt, turning rows of composted soil and building trellises for peas and beans to come. Now is a great time to plant seeds, whether from those saved from last years crops or a simple purchase online from organic heirloom & open pollinated sources. While there are plenty of vendors with fine quality seeds, we suggest some of our favorite seed sources: Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa, Bountiful Gardens in California, and Seeds Of Change in California.
If you have an Amazon account, you can also support 'Taproot Garden Design' by purchasing from our online store 'Brand Taproot' by visiting our site and clicking on the 'seeds' section @ BrandTaproot.com.
If you are unable to find what you are looking for, you can also visit these seed companies directly:
Seed Savers Exchange - http://www.seedsavers.org/
Bountiful Gardens - http://www.bountifulgardens.org/
Seeds Of Change - http://www.seedsofchange.com/
We've already begun our yearly garden tasks and are providing a well composted environment for our seeds. Our menu this spring and summer includes (and in no means limited to) seeds from Seed Savers Exchange:
(Phaseolus vulgaris) Heirloom variety discovered by Henry Fields in an Ozark garden in the 1930s. Plants climb vigorously to 6' and are extremely productive. High quality, meaty, stringless 5-7" reddish-purple pods that blanch to light green. Pole habit, snap, 68 days.
(Solanum lycopersicum) Introduced as Ruby Gold by John Lewis Childs of Floral Park, New York, in his 1921 catalog. Ben Quisenberry renamed it Gold Medal and listed it in his 1976 catalog: “The sweetest tomato you ever tasted. The yellow with streaks of red makes them very attractive and a gourmet’s joy when sliced.” Our finest bi-colored tomato—orange-yellow splashed with tomato pink. Winner of the 2008 SSE Tomato Tasting. Indeterminate, 75-90 days from transplant.
Cucumber, Longfellow Organic
(Cucumis sativus) Introduced in 1927 by Jerome B. Rice Seed Company of Cambridge, New York. Preferred by market growers as a “straight pack” sort for shipment to high grade markets. Green-black tapered fruits are 12" long by 2½" in diameter. 62-80 days.
(Phaseolus vulgaris) This was once the most widely grown French climbing bean in England according to The Beans of New York (1931). Lilac flowers, 4-7" stringless pods. Excellent fresh eating qualities. Shiny dark purple seeds. Pole habit, snap, 65-75 days.
(Lotus tetragonolobus) (aka Winged Pea) A legume not related to either asparagus or peas; most likely from northwest Africa. Mentioned as early as 1734 by celebrated gardener and botanist Philip Miller. Beautiful red flowers on low growing plants that spread laterally along the ground. Uniquely flavored pods are best steamed whole when small. Thrives in poor soil. Edible podded, 60-75 days.
(Cucurbita maxima) Introduced in 1932 by Burgess Seed & Plant Co. of Bloomington, Illinois. Buttercup has set the benchmark over the years for all other small winter squash. Flattened dark green turbans with a distinctive button on the blossom end. Typical fruits weigh 3-5 pounds. Super sweet brilliant orange flesh with very fine eating qualities. Rind is thin but very hard, medium length keeper. 85-100 days.
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