All American Selection

All American Selection

All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new, never-before-sold varieties for the home gardener. After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals, only the top garden performers are given the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.

Dark Opal basil seeds produce a striking variety of basil known for its deep purple leaves and aromatic qualities. This cultivar has roots in the Mediterranean, where basil has been treasured for centuries for its culinary and medicinal uses. Dark Opal basil's leaves are not only visually stunning but also boast a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor that enhances a wide range of dishes, from salads to pasta. The plants typically grow 12-24 inches tall and have a bushy, compact form, making them ideal for containers and garden beds. Dark Opal basil thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, requiring regular watering to maintain its vibrant color and flavor. With a growing season of about 60-90 days, leaves can be harvested throughout the summer, with peak flavor before flowering. This variety not only serves as a delicious culinary herb but also adds ornamental beauty to gardens, attracting pollinators while deterring pests. Its unique color and robust flavor make Dark Opal basil a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike.

The Yellow of Paris Pumpkin is a large yellow to peach colored pumpkin that is an old French native that is still popular today. These large, flattened round beauties are very similar to Cinderella pumpkins and can weigh up to 50 pounds! This variety is mainly used for making pies, soup or baked. The Yellow of Paris is known for its delicious, tender flavor when cooked.

Roxanne is a hybrid radish with uniform bright red color and a beautiful creamy white interior. Roxanne is a great tasting radish with no pithiness or bleeding even at a larger size. This radish stays firm and solid even when oversized, and holds well in the garden.

The Purple Ruffles Basil is a large, heavily ruffled and fringed dark purple leaf variety with beautiful pink-purple flowers. This All-American Selections winner basil is the perfect pop of color for herb gardens or a flower border. This basil produces a sweet fragrance and flavor that is wonderful as a garnish in salads, soups, pasta or drinks.

Iochief is an old and reliable yellow corn. This variety is SU, holds well, has great drought resistance and has a wonderful flavor. The Iochief's ears are 9" long with golden yellow kernels. This variety is perfect for canning or freezing.

This pak choi's tender leaves and crisp sweet stalks are a tasty addition to recipes or eaten raw. Swap stalks for celery sticks, add to soups and stews, or grill on the barbecue. Plant every couple of weeks for successive harvests in spring and fall; Bopak retains it’s nice flavor even in warmer weather.

Thumbelina carrots are tender and sweet with no need to peel! It is the perfect bit size for fresh eating, stews and salads. Thumbelina's small size makes it a great choice for heavy or shallow soils or containers. No wonder it is an All-America Selections Winner from 1992!

Interior texture is smooth and dense with bright white color, even when roots get large. Exceptional quality and taste when picked young, but still tasty if allowed to sit in the garden longer, giving gardener an extended harvest opportunity.

The Red Salad Bowl is a very popular loose-leaf heirloom lettuce that is heat resistant. This variety is an appealing, slow bolting deep red leaf lettuce with finely divided leaves. The Red Salad Bowl has a sweet and tender flavor and is a colorful delight for many dishes and salads! This variety is a favorite for being quick grow and great for cut and come again harvesting.

The Red Sails Lettuce is a full rosette type that produces radiant bronze-red, ruffled and deeply lobed leaves that have a mild bitter-free flavor that pairs very well in salads. This slow-bolting lettuce is ready to cut early and holds its quality very well. Red Sails has six times the vitamin A and three times the vitamin C as other supermarket lettuces. This variety thrives in cool weather, but can also grow well in the spring, summer or fall.

The Radiance Cosmo is a radiant flower variety that produces very stunning rose-colored petals that have a deep crimson eye. This popular variety was the All America Selections winner in 1948. Radiance is a suitable for cutting, beds and borders, and the pollinator garden.

Fordhook 242 beans are a popular variety of lima beans known for their smooth texture and rich, buttery flavor. These beans are characterized by their large, flat, greenish seeds that mature to a creamy, pale yellow when harvested. The Fordhook 242 variety is prized for its resilience and productivity, thriving in both home gardens and larger agricultural settings. With a growing season of about 70 to 80 days, these beans are often used in a wide range of culinary dishes, from soups and stews to side dishes and casseroles. Their versatility, coupled with their excellent taste, makes them a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike.

The perfect choice for first-time kohlrabi growers as well as those kohlrabi veterans. Konan has a smooth, globe-shaped bulbs that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter and are the perfect upright size and shape for container gardening and garden plots.

Early maturing cabbage with tight heads! Stonehead is a fast grower with 6" heads that average between 4-6 lbs. when mature. Good texture and flavor. This hybrid resist yellow and black rot very well. A great market variety that matures early, won't split and holds well after harvest. Grows well throughout the United States. An All American Selection winner in 1969.

Siam Queen basil is a remarkable variety distinguished by its lush, dark green leaves and vibrant purple stems. This Thai basil cultivar is celebrated for its bold, aromatic flavor, which combines hints of anise and clove, making it a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine. The plant grows vigorously, reaching maturity in about 75 days, and is known for its attractive, glossy foliage and delicate purple flower spikes that add an extra touch of elegance to the garden. Siam Queen basil’s robust flavor profile and striking appearance make it ideal for adding depth to dishes like curries, stir-fries, and soups, while its relatively quick growth makes it a favorite among gardeners seeking a flavorful and visually appealing herb.

The Cherry Belle Radish is the earliest maturing, garden standard radish. This variety is a 1949 All-American Winner and there is no wonder why. This radish retains its fine eating quality all season. The Cherry Belle is a round, smooth, scarlet beauty. This radish is 3/4" inches across with a crisp, white flesh that is ideal for garnishes or use in salads.

Greencrop beans are a classic heirloom variety renowned for their distinctive features and reliable performance. Originating in the early 20th century, this variety has been favored by gardeners for its robust growth and high productivity. Greencrop beans are characterized by their striking green color, smooth texture, and uniform shape. The plants are typically bush-type, reaching a height of about 18 to 24 inches, which makes them suitable for smaller garden spaces and easier to manage without extensive staking. The beans themselves are known for their crisp and tender texture, combined with a mildly sweet and fresh flavor that enhances a variety of dishes. Harvesting is best done when the pods are young and firm, usually in mid to late summer, to ensure optimal taste and texture. Greencrop beans are valued for their high yield and resistance to common diseases, making them a dependable choice for both home gardeners and market growers. With their appealing flavor, compact growth habit, and consistent performance, Greencrop beans remain a popular and practical selection for vegetable gardens.

The Snow Crown cauliflower is a delicious, mild and sweet hybrid. This cauliflower's head will get to 7-8 inches across and 1-2 pounds. The Snow Crown is extra early and adaptable and can be harvested in summer or fall. Be careful not to under-fertilize or water, stress can cause a purplish discoloration on the undersides of the head.