Mary Washington asparagus is a classic and highly regarded variety of asparagus known for its exceptional taste and historical significance. This asparagus variety, scientifically known as Asparagus officinalis 'Mary Washington,' has a rich and earthy flavor that is often described as sweet and nutty. It's a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts for its delectable taste and tender texture when cooked. With roots tracing back to the early 20th century, Mary Washington asparagus has a storied history. It was first developed by a breeder named J. Arthur Thomson in Maryland, USA. This heirloom variety has since gained popularity for its reliable and consistent performance in home gardens and commercial farms. Mary Washington asparagus typically produces medium to large-sized spears that are deep green in color. It takes approximately 2 to 3 years from planting to reach maturity, at which point it can be harvested for many years to come. A single plant can yield numerous spears, making it a rewarding addition to any garden. To grow Mary Washington asparagus successfully, it requires specific conditions. It thrives in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. This variety prefers full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade. Adequate spacing is essential, as mature plants can spread up to 4 feet in width. It's important to provide consistent moisture and weed control to ensure healthy growth. With proper care and attention, Mary Washington asparagus can be a delicious and enduring addition to your garden.
De Cicco broccoli, known for its exceptional taste, is a popular heirloom variety of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) that hails from Italy. This Italian heirloom has been cultivated for generations, making it a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike. De Cicco broccoli is classified as a compact, semi-dwarf type of broccoli, and it is highly prized for its versatility in the kitchen and its relatively quick maturity. De Cicco broccoli boasts a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Its tender, dark green florets are surrounded by a profusion of lush leaves. The compact plant typically reaches a height of 18-24 inches, making it suitable for smaller gardens or container growing. De Cicco is known for its relatively short days to maturity, typically taking around 48-65 days from seed sowing to harvest. This broccoli variety is characterized by its vibrant, dark green color, which is indicative of its high nutrient content. De Cicco broccoli exhibits strong disease resistance, particularly against common broccoli ailments like downy mildew and clubroot, which can be a relief for growers. When properly cared for, De Cicco broccoli can yield a bountiful harvest of small to medium-sized heads, often producing side shoots after the main head is harvested. For optimal growth, it's recommended to sow De Cicco broccoli seeds in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing them about 18-24 inches apart to provide enough room for the plants to mature and thrive. Additionally, consistent watering and adequate fertilization can help ensure a successful De Cicco broccoli crop.
Seaside produces very uniform and great tasting baby leaf spinach. Stays baby size for extended period of time extending the season. Seaside has a nice, smooth, thick, very dark green, spade-shaped leaf making it a perfect choice for baby leaf growers. Seaside has great downy mildew resistance.
Navy beans, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris, are small, oval-shaped beans that are a popular and versatile member of the legume family. They are often referred to as navy beans due to their association with the United States Navy, where they were a staple food for sailors in the 19th century. These beans have a rich history dating back to ancient times when they were cultivated by indigenous peoples in the Americas. They were later introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers and became an essential part of global cuisine. Navy beans have a mild, nutty flavor and a smooth, creamy texture when cooked. They are known for their ability to absorb the flavors of the ingredients they are cooked with, making them a favorite in soups, stews, and baked bean dishes. These beans are typically small, about half an inch in length, and are usually white or off-white in color, although there are variations with speckled or colored coats. In terms of plant characteristics, navy bean plants are relatively compact, reaching a height of about 18 to 24 inches. They have a bushy growth habit and produce small, white or lavender flowers before developing pods that contain the beans. Navy beans typically take around 80 to 90 days to reach maturity, making them a relatively quick-growing crop. They thrive in well-drained soil with good moisture retention and prefer full sun for optimal growth. Adequate spacing and support may be needed to ensure healthy plant development, and they are generally grown as annuals in most regions.
The Pinto bean is a great tasting bean, very popular in many Mexican dishes! The Pinto bean plant is a half-runner type that produces 20 inch plants with light tan seeds with brown speckles. Eat young when green for delicious flavor. Great bean for using for refried beans.
The Best Tasting Collection has the most popular and best tasting home garden tomatoes we have! These six varieties have been chosen by the people at Urban Farmer as the tastiest tomatoes for home gardens. We have grown all of these varieties and several others and these had the best taste and juiciest flesh we could find. Enjoy! Golden Jubilee - Meaty, thick, golden-orange walls that have an excellent flavor. Cherokee Purple - Plump, juicy, purple tomatoes that are probably the best tasting of all tomatoes. Brandywine - Looking for a nice beefsteak tomato that can be sliced for sandwiches, burgers and more! SunSugar - A golden cherry variety that is just mouth watering. A high sugar content makes you coming back for more. Black Krim - A dark purple-black skin and flesh that holds a juicy, mouth watering flavor. Roma - Roma is a very popular and flavorful Italian tomato. It is an old fashion heirloom that makes great salsa and tomato paste.
The Scarlet Nantes is popular as a sweet baby, slicer, or fresh market variety. A sweet and tender carrot with a cylindrical shape and blunt-tip. Scarlet Nantes have a bright orange-red color throughout. Very popular variety of carrot for eating fresh or cooked. Slow bolting and very popular among gardeners.
Waltham Butternut squash is a highly regarded heirloom variety known for its rich flavor and impressive storage qualities. Originating from Waltham, Massachusetts, this variety was developed in the 1960s and has since become a staple in home gardens and markets due to its exceptional attributes. The squash is characterized by its smooth, tan skin and bell-shaped, orange flesh that offers a sweet, nutty flavor with a creamy texture when cooked. Waltham Butternut squash typically takes about 90 to 100 days to reach maturity, with the plants exhibiting a sprawling, vine-like growth habit that requires ample space or trellising. The plants produce small, pale yellow flowers that bloom in mid-summer, eventually giving way to the mature fruit. They thrive in warm, well-drained soil with full sun exposure and are known for their ability to store well throughout the winter months, making them a valuable crop for extending the harvest season. With its rich taste, excellent storage capabilities, and reliable growth, Waltham Butternut squash remains a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike.
The Early Purple Sprouting broccoli is an heirloom broccoli bred for overwintering! This variety produces lots of beautiful purple broccoli sprouts in the spring. The Early Purple Sprouting grows slowly through the winter; very frost hardy.
The Large Red Cherry Tomato is the perfect little mouth watering fresh eating tomato that grows in clusters and is the perfect addition to salads! This variety grows on hardy vines, with green foliage that produces green fruits that may be picked early for pickling, while the ripe ones are used fresh or for preserves.
The Homemade Pickles is a trusted heirloom cucumber great for pickling at home. This variety is the most popular pickling cucumber raised by home gardeners and pickle lovers! The Homemade Pickles Cucumber, also known as the Southern Homemade Pickles Cucumber, is a very vigorous bush type plants and is very resistant to common cucumber diseases and produces a large abundance of wonderful little, medium green colored cucumbers. This variety produces over a long season and is ideal for container gardening or growing where space is very limited!
Bush Champion II is an improvement from earlier varieties with big, meaty, extra-early maturing fruit is produced on compact, 24" plants. More productive and widely adapted. Can be grown staked, but not essential. Determinate.
Black Beauty zucchini seeds produce one of the most popular and reliable heirloom summer squash varieties, first introduced in the 1920s and known for its high yields and dark green, glossy fruits. The plants are bush-type, compact, and fast-growing, typically producing fruit about 6–8 inches long within 50–60 days of planting. Black Beauty zucchini thrives in full sun and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil, with consistent watering to support steady growth. Harvesting young zucchinis encourages continuous production throughout the season. The flavor is mild, tender, and slightly sweet, making it versatile for grilling, sautéing, baking, or eating raw in salads.
Phenomenal bicolor eating quality. An attractive husk, excellent holding ability in the field, strong husk cover, and great ear size for quality driven fresh markets. Early-midseason with good shelf life once harvested.
The King of the North Pepper is the most reliable bell pepper for northern gardeners. These sturdy plants produce heavy yields of blocky, thick walled, 3-4 lobed peppers that ripen from green to red. This pepper variety is excellent cooked in any recipe or raw for fresh eating. King of the North is sure to be the new KING in your garden!
The large, red stalks of the Giant Red celery have a wonder flavor, some prefer it over green stalks! The Giant Red celery is a hidden gem. This variety is by far the best tasting celery you can grow! The yellow-pink hearts of the Giant Red are great in salads or soup and it grows great throughout the United States.
Clemson Spineless 80 Okra is the most popular okra found in home gardens and markets and an All American Selections winner for a reason! This high yielding plant produces dark green, grooved pods that stay spineless and non-woody. Clemson Spineless grows to 4' tall and pods are most tender and flavorful when harvested at 3-4". This okra is excellent for pickling or cutting up or using in some fresh gumbo or strews!
The Congo Watermelon is a wonderful tasting, gigantic sized, long, dark green watermelon that can grow to be up to 50 lbs.! This variety produces a firm and sweet flesh that has 9.4% sugar. As a fully grown watermelon, it can be over 2' long and 1' wide! It's skin has deep green stripes on a medium green body.
