MULTILINE CROSS-LI Hardy Leek Blend We searched for leeks in Europe and found many distinct older cultivars. We planted these and wintered the hardiest over in the field then allowed them to cross. Some of these are rapid growers and just great for summer greens; all are nice winter storage varieties. There is quite a bit of diversity here. Long white shanks are blanched when hilled or mulched as they grow in the field. Included is St. Victor and it's crosses that will develop a purple tinge to the foliage in cold weather. You may find some oddities as we do; those leeks that produce especiallly large and tender bulbs at the base (like elephant garlic) and an occasional leek that produces a mix of flowers and bulbils on the flower head. When we have more time both of these would be nice to isolate. (150 seeds)
Scallion, Onion Greens (Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum )
BLEND-Long Island Scallion Mix Mixture of green onions or scallions. Summer kinds as well as perennials that have proven very winter hardy. Some may reseed for you, some will keep dividing. Some are simply the "greens" of milder bulbing varieties. From our production. Not too diverse. We are hoping that some new kinds we have in the field will overwinter to produce more diversity in this mix for fall 2010. (200 seeds)
Family: Amaranthaceae (The Amaranth Family)
Genus: Amaranth
Annual. Some species self sow. Establish seedbeds by lightly scattering seed in full sun in spring or plant out seedlings in early summer. Keep soil moist until the young seedlings are up and established. After that they can tolerate dry conditions. Seeds will germinate when soil temperature is 60°F. Wind and also insect pollination. Hybridization is well known but usually maintains it's integrity as a species. Likes warmth. Cut seed-heads when seeds are full and mature, lay on tarp in protected, dry area and allow to shatter. We use screens and a breezy day to remove chaff from seed.
Amaranth Spinach aka tampala, hon-toi-moi, chinese spinach (Usually A. tricolor, A. lividus, A. gangeticus, A. creuntus and hybrids)
BLEND- LI Amaranth Leaf MixBetter than pigweed (which is also an amaranth). This is a blend of vegetable amaranths some which are grown in the Orient, tropical Africa and the Caribbean especially for the production of leaves that can be harvested and prepared like spinach (it is excellent steamed and stir-fried with seasoning. You will see some attractive variation in leaf color, greens and reds mostly. This group will have smooth leaves and will produce succulent growth for repeated cuttings. Select those plants that meet your criteria to save the seed of. Keep pinching back to harvest as well as maintain productive branching plants. Amaranth is as easy to produce a seed crop as our nemesis in the field, pigweed. Produce small black seeds. (400 seeds)
Amaranth Grain (A. hypochondriacus, A. cruentus, A. edulis , A. caudatus and hybrids)
BLEND- LI Amaranth Grain MixSome of the variations you will find in this blend will allow you to select for your own particular requirements. The principle grain crop of the Aztecs, it has outstanding nutritional qualities. These are all white seeded types and produce great quantities of grain given good growing conditions. Try popping some seed to serve with honey. Some gardeners will grow these as a background plant in flower beds because of the beauty of their large and sometimes colorful inflorescence. We enjoy the ornamental value as well as the edible quality as we work with this group. Many kinds including ancient cultivars. (150 seeds)
CV-
AMARANTH: Pink Tip White
This is a very productive and much branching white grain type that is especially good lightly popped and mixed with honey which is a traditional Mexican treat. (100 seeds).
CV-AMARANTH- Copper A very pretty orange amaranth which produces quantities of white grain. (100 seeds).
BLEND- AMARANTH: Red ShadesDecorative reds and burgundys, black seed. (100 seeds)
BLEND- Dusky Pink Shades
Both white and black seeded kinds with rose pink flower spikes (100 seeds)
Family: Apiaceae (The Parsley Family)
Genus: Apium
Celery is a Hardy/Half hardy biennial. Sow the seed early indoors and transfer the plants out in spring. Slow growers at first, they require care. Celery enjoys rich, moist soils. They are tolerant of a light frost and can be over-wintered with protection such as mulching or earth mounding or may be root cellared. They will produce small flowers in small umbellate clusters and copious seed. An easy seed crop. Insect pollinated, all celery will cross with one another.
Celery aka stalk celery, blanching celery, self blanching celery (Apium graveolens)
BLEND- Stalk Celery Mix
A blend of stalk (petiole) celery varieties with very good quality petioles. We continue to work with this blend of modern and heirloom types from many sources to select for mild, sweet flavor, tender stalks and vigor under our cultural practices. We make this blend from about a dozen varieties that we have (mostly from Europe) including some rare kinds we raise seedcrops of here at Flanders Bay Farm. Celery likes organic rich soils and plenty of moisture. Check the internet for cultural practices that will help you produce a taller, blanched celery. (200 seeds)
Herb Celery aka cutting celery, leaf celery (Apium graveolens)
BLEND-Herb Celery MixSmall bushy plants of thin stalks and many leaves characterize this group used for their aromatic leaves and seed when wintered over. Some varieties have mild, tender stalks. Flavor is variable. Easy to grow compared to stalk celery. European and asian cutting celerys are included in this mix although they are uniquely different. (200 seeds)
Celeriac aka knob celery, root celery. Apium graveolens)
BLEND- Knob Celery Mix (Celeriac, Root Celery)
Good storage ability, for the root cellar. Find the best kinds for your particular growing style and environment. Needs an early start to mature roots. Produces a bulbous ugly solid root which is much enjoyed by those who have tried it. Europeans shred it raw, fry it, bake it, boil and mash it. Very versitile. (200 seeds)
Genus: Daucus
Carrot (Daucus carota) Hardy biennial. Sow in the spring in the open ground. Tolerant of frosts. Roots can be harvested and root cellared for replanting and seed crops or left in the ground and mulched depending on climate to produce seed the next year. Insect pollinated. Easily crosses with wild carrot (D. carota) which will reduce root quality.
BLEND-
Orange Carrot StandardsWorld's best carrots, orange color, some variety of shapes, variable adaption to soil types and climate fresh eating, summer and fall harvest, some winter storage kinds. Many different strains of Danvers, Nantes, Chantenay, Kuroda, Oxheart and more. Select your best roots to over-winter and plant out for seed the second year. This is the diversity you need to find the best performing type for your soil and growing conditions (400 seeds)
BLEND-Carrot Color Mix
Our own mix of whites, creams, yellows, red and purple carrots with a minor percentage of orange in this blend make this an especially nice complement blend to the "orange standards". We are surprised at the availability of these carrots from such a great number of breeders but not the popularity. In the early 1980's we were hybridizing Afghan Purple and Belgium White to put into our "carrot mix" (200 seeds)
MULTILINE CROSS- Long Island Early Color MixThe objective of our breeding project was to cross many kinds of colorful carrots with the sweetest early maturing Nantes snacking types. This simple mass cross was quite a success and produced a dazzling display of snacking carrots that guests thought were quite tasty. We still have some seed from the initial mass cross and the F2 generation will be available in fall 2010. (200 seeds)
Genus: Foeniculum
Fennel is a hardy biennial or perennial which will produce seed the first season if planted early.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) aka fenocchio, florence fennel, anise fennel
BLEND-Bulb Fennel Blend
There have been some selection of bulb fennels in southern Europe where isolated regions raise their own favored selections. The varieties we blend are similar and selected to produce inflated leaf stem (petiole) bases sometimes improperly called "bulbs" which are sliced and used raw or cooked as one might use carrot strips or celery. In my household, it's a tradition to serve fennel on New Years Day. Besides the "bulbs", the finely cut leaves can be used as herb fennel to flavor greek dishes, sauces, and soups. Our fennel bed re-seeds. We maintain the quality by rouging out inferior plants before they produce their umbel shaped flowers. (100 seeds)
Genus: Anethum
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
HERB- Dill (CV- Long Island Mammoth)
Dill is a fast grower, it's feathery leaves are used to flavor dill butter and added to salads, dips, baked fish and more, seeds known best for the flavor imparted to pickles. We could not abstain to offer the genuine Mammoth Dill which can indeed grow to several feet in height. Long Island was one of the largest pickling centers in America in the 1800's when hundreds of acres of cucumbers were brined and dilled, then sent to markets in New York City and Boston. There was the last of the large "pickle works" still operating in Farmingdale when I was still a kid and I remember the wonderful aroma of dill and vinegar that greeted you when you walked into the huge wooden warehouse where the barrels of curing cukes were stacked high. There have been reports that fennel and dill are so closely related that they are capable of hybridizing. I haven't seen that. LI Mammoth Dill is an easy seed crop for the home gardener or farm. (150 seeds)
Family: Asteraceae (The Sunflower family)
Genus: Cynara
Tender perennial, treated as annual. Start early (Jan) from seed indoors, transplant into 4" pots, expose to cold weather (40°) in March/April to vernalize -produce flowers (but protect from very low temperaures). Plant in rich soil, black plastic mulch helps in accelerating growth in spring. In hot summer, mulching and irrigation helps to cool roots and prevent heat dormancy. Blossoms are insect pollinated and when flower matures and dries on stalk harvest seeds. Roots must be protected (below 20°F) for winter survival. Second year plants provide a bigger harvests, spring buds and a better opportunity for maturing ripe seed. Seeds of Cynara species will produce an interesting variable population. We provide seeds from many sources. Propagate outstanding plants you develop by suckers at base of plant.
Artichoke ( Cynara scolymus)
BLEND-Blend of Globe Artichokes We have had some success bringing artichokes to fruit (actually bud) when started sufficiently early. They produce big, beautiful thistle-like plants with great grayish foliage This blend comes from the collection of varieties that we have acquired. We haven't yet had success producing crosses- maybe you will succeed. Interesting thistle flowers when you let them bloom. We provide seed as a service to home breeders (30 seeds).
Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
BLEND-Blend of Cardoons (artichoke thistle)
Impressively large thistle-like plants which are sometimes used as a landscape accent or background plant. We grew some in planters for the tall gray foliage surrounded by colorful annuals. Related to the globe artichoke (which is also nice in the landscape). Requires a long, cool growing season, rich soil and adequate moisture for best thick stalks. In the fall these are tied in order to blanch the center stems which are prepared. Tangy artichoke flavored "stems". Watch stalks (leaf petioles) for fine spines on some varieties. We have not succeeded producing seed here on Long Island and provide seeds as a service to breeders. (30 seeds).
Genus: Lactuca
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Half Hardy Annual. Sow in the spring, tolerates light frost, transplants well. Bolts first year, produces an easy seed crop. I don''t find a lot of crossing but I'm sure it can.
LETTUCE
BLEND- Oriental Lettuce Mix Produces a beautiful bouquet of long narrow leaves (Yu Mai) and a crispy center stalk that should be harvested in the cooler days of late spring, sow it early. Wider leaved types (Asparagus or Celtuce) will produce a thicker center stalk which can be lightly peeled and steamed like asparagus. Chinese lettuce, both leaves and young stalks are most often lightly steamed and then stir-fried in a bit of oil with salt and hot pepper. Nice. We found several variations of this kind of lettuce and have selected from a mix over the years. This is also an easy variety to get a good seed crop of in case you're interested in seed self reliance. Rich organic soils and ample moisture is a requirement. Try it for both a spring crop and a fall crop. (250 seeds)
CV- Asparagus Lettuce (Celtuce)Similar to Yu Mai with wider leaves and a stalk that becomes taller and thicker and can be sripped of lower leaves, peeled and eaten as a wonderful crispy salad treat. (100 seeds)
CV- Yu Mai (Sword Lettuce)The plants resemble the head of a palm with so many narrow, long sword-like leaves emerging from the low central crunchy stalk. We find these little lettuces mild and long lasting. (100 seeds)
BLEND: Heading Lettuce Mixture
There is much diversity in this collection of heading lettuces, mostly imported heirlooms from Europe and some modern developments. Find what works for you and save the seed! (100 seeds)
CV- Vanguard 75Developed by USDA-Salinas, we received our start from NOFA-NY who distributed it as a variety to evaluate for organic systems as part of the Organic Seed Partnership. We've now grown two different strains which are both very similar. Over the past three years we've raised enough seed to make it available to others. It easily forms big leafy bright green heads but needs irrigation on our sandy soils for the best performance. A good Iceberg for organic gardeners which has not shown disease or insect damage in the field. (250 seeds)
HEIRLOOM- Tom ThumbWe enjoy these fit in your palm-sized single serving size instant salads. Soft heads known for their buttery goodness and a crispy heart are desirable traits as well as the ease of producing a good crop. Kids love to make their own salads from the tiny heads. Although seed is readily available, we produce our own quality seed since it's so easy to do. A nice sustainable variety for us. (200 seeds)
CV- Green Mignonette aka Manoa
A selection from the University of Hawaii of a popular lettuce raised in Hawaii in the 1940's and 1950's which produces buttery green leaves. Soft heads weigh up to a pound. Heat tolerant, slow bolting. Our best "summer" lettuce which is also nice stir-fried like escarole and chinese lettuces.(150 seeds)
CV- Rossimo RedUpright wide leaves are frilled, blistered and heavily textured. Bright red colored leaves have a mild sweet pleasant flavor. Tends to delay bolting more than many lettuces. (150 seeds)
MIX- Asian Wraper LettucesA mixture of Maer lettuces; red and green, Green Perilla Lettuce and others used especially where large leaves are used for holding and wrapping food. Might be good for low carb diets. Think outside the bun. (100 seeds)
SPILANTHUS (Toothache Plant, Eyeball Plant, Szechwan Buttons)
Interesting composite plant produces leaves and flowers that will surprise you with their tingling effect on your tongue perhaps like holding a battery to your tongue; some describe as a sort of effervescence like pop rocks. Add to salads when you entertain unsuspecting dinner guests. A north fork LI Dutch business is marketing the blossoms of spilanthus as "Szechwan Buttons" to trendy restaurants who dip the rim of their glasses into the shredded blossoms when serving drinks and even adding the minced blossoms to ice cream.
HERB- Spilantes SeedSow indoors and transplant to containers later or to the garden after frost and when the ground becomes warm. Requires rich soil and ample moisture for the best growth. Flanders Bay Farm seed crop (30 seeds+)
Family: Chenopodiaceae (The Goosefoot Family)
Genus: Beta
Beets and Chard are usually biennial. In mild winter areas it is possible to obtain seed by planting in summer, and allowing the plants to over-winter; they will bolt to flower the following spring. In cold climates, the plants must be mulched or dug before the ground freezes hard and then stored to replant the following spring. Beet can be planted in the spring and will survive light frosts. Beet and chard are the same species. They easily cross and are wind pollinated.
Beet aka beetroot, red beet, mangel (Beta vulgaris)
BLEND- Beet Blend A very diverse assortment of beets which include shades of red and purple, white, and yellow. Selected primarily as an assortment of colors and shapes, all sweet and tender at early stages. Roots may be small and round or long and rough. We aim for the max in gene pool. Over-winter roots to grow seed the next year. We prefer to dig and root cellar the beets over the winter, plant them in blocks according to what crosses we want to make (or isolate kinds). This year, our blend will consist of a mix of commercial kinds. Our new crosses will be available in the fall 2010 mix. (100 seeds)
Chard aka swiss chard, leaf beet, silver beet, beet spinach (Beta vulgaris)
BLEND- Swiss Chard
Mix We are not producing color chards at this time but we do bank the seed of commercial blends such as Rainbow and Bright Lights as well as a diverse assortment of green chards. (100 seeds).
Genus: Spinacia
SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea)
Hardy Annual.
HEIRLOOM- Sharp Seeded SpinachWe grow this variety mostly because of it's historical significance. It was the spinach of Thomas Jefferson's time. The seeds have prickly spines unlike most of today's varieties. Gives us great pains to harvest seed! It is an easy bolter in the spring and we have found it a far better edible when sown in fall for an early winter harvest or to overwinter. Hardy. (50 seeds)
BLEND- Spinach Mix
All round seeded types, quite a mix of leaf variations and plant characteristics that will allow you to select from and raise your own designer hybrid. Spinach produce seed at the expense of leaves during the long days of June so one has to get an early spring start or late summer start (or overwinter) to produce the best leafy plant for culinary use. When you plant the spinach and when you harvest will have an affect on your selections and make for a more adapted spinach for your needs. Select for lower bolting tendency. (100 seeds).
Family: Fabaceae (The Legume Family)
Genus: Glycine
SOYBEAN, EDAMAME (Glycine max)
BLEND- Edamame MixHave you had edamame yet? Pull the plants out of the garden and into a kettle of salted boiling water and when the pods are soft enough to squeeze out the beans, toss the plants onto newspaper placed over the picnic table outdoors and gather around with friends. Sort of like eating boiled peanuts in the American South, this long standing Japanese custom which is becoming popular here does differ. Guests jump right in and harvest the soft pods off the plants. This mix is from the most productive of our 2008 harvest. There are mostly green, black and white/tan seeded kinds. Discover the best edamame for your growing conditions. Watch date to harvest, length of harvest, growth and productivity, ease of shelling and flavor. Do your own evaluations but always allow some pods to remain to ripen, dry and produce seed so you can save the best for the next planting. These are soybean varieties developed especially for edamame. (40 seeds)
Genus: Phaseolus
Beans are sensitive to cold temperatures and frost. They should be planted after all danger of frost is past in the spring and soil temperatures reach 60°F. Plant seeds of bush beans 2 to 4 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. Plant seeds of pole beans 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 30 to 36 inches apart along a fence; or in hills around a pole (four to six seeds per hill) 30 inches apart. Beans are mostly self-pollinating so you should be able to save seed from particular plants in the row. For seed crops, let the bean pods dry right on the plant until late fall. If the climate has high humidity or your crop is in danger of being blanketed by snow, pull the plants and hang them upside down in a shed or other protected location with good air circulation. When the pods are brittle dry you can shell them.
RUNNER BEAN (Phaseolus coccineus)
BLEND- English Runner Bean MixRich soil, cool weather and ample moisture allow the European/English Runner Beans to produce bumper crops. We collect the best of the white and red flowering kinds which can put on quite a show when trellised, I do like the display of flowers; but the best part is in the production of the long tender crisp green pods. No Scarlet Runner here, these are mostly modern developments for the very best eating quality- juicy, flavorful and mostly stringless. Spray them with water during high temperatures, mulch, keep them from drying too much. This group is apt to attract pollinating insects which do have the ability to allow crossing to occur. (20 seeds)
Common Garden Bean aka French Bean, String Beans, Dry Beans, Bush Bean, Pole Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
BLEND- Bush Garden Beans (round pod) We put together quite a selection of bush garden beans (dwarf french) from many sources including our own production of the more unusual kinds. Look at each plant for the qualities that you admire and save the seed of those that you like the most for replanting next season. Mostly green, some yelllow (wax) and purple pod; all stringless kinds, very good quality pods. (100 seeds)
BLEND- Bush Garden Bean Italian Blend (flat, wide pod)
These are the bush Romano type beans that produce wide pods. We enjoy these generally large round seeded kinds which usually freeze nicely prepared whole of frenched. Some colorful pods as available but mostly green, green striped purple, yellow, purple and yellow stiped purple. Many consider these large Italian flat podded types to have the very best texture and flavor. (30 seeds).
BLEND- Pole Bean BlendThe garden wouldn't be the same without climbing pole beans. The diversity of this blend will delight you. Narrow and wide pods, purples, yellows, greens and striped kinds. All of the varieties have been selected for their good flavor and high yields. Harvest the pods young and often for the best quality and extended harvest. Provide poles or a fence to climb on. Make note of your favorites so that you can target them especially for your future seed crop. There are over a dozen varieties in this mix. (40 seeds)
Genus: Pisum
Garden Pea, Snow Pea, Snap Pea (Pisum sativum)
Hardy Annual. Sow early. Plants withstand light frost, germinate at low temperatures. Mostly self pollinating.
BLEND- Garden Pea BlendEnglish peas, shell them and enjoy them. I can't help but open the pods in the garden to nibble on the fresh, tender little green peas. All wrinkled seeded and sweet. Vines can be self supporting, less than 24" or a bit taller. This blend does not contain the taller growing varieties. Once you save the seed from this crop, next year's planting from your saved seeds will just get better. (100 seeds)
BLEND-Monk's Madness Snow Pea These are some of the peas that Gregor Mendel probably worked with and which produce nice snow peas harvested when flat and before pea seeds develop much. Yellow, Purple and Green pods in one packet. The purple is beautiful but not sweet but will look great in stir-fry with the others. Yellow is bright and refreshing and we have several interesting green podded kinds for the sweetness. Harvest young for maximum tenderness. All provide a nice garden snack and quickly stir-fry. These require a fence or netting of 48" or more to support tall vines. (40 seeds)
Genus: Vigna
Tender Annual. Prefers warm soil and growing conditions.
YARDLONG BEAN (Vigna unguiculata)
BLEND-Yard Long Bean
Blend- ClimbingThese are a kind of cowpea (Vigna) that have been selected for their long thin green (or red-purple) beans in the Orient. They are of excellent flavor and tenderness when harvested young (12-24" long) before pods swell with the developing seed. These do very well on Long Island's sandy soils, better when irrigated. Their productivity is greatest during the hot summer days. Versitile, tender leaves can be cooked as a potherb, long and thin tender green beans are good steamed or stir-fry (loop into knots and bows for culinary art) and seeds are protein rich. Seed crops are easy to produce on Long Island and we maintain about 10 different kinds. (30 seeds)
Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
HERB- Basil Blend
An impressive assortment of a dozen basils with surprising scents, flavors and growh forms. The Italian pesto kinds and other culinary favorites predominate but there will also be those with citrus undertones and very spicy indian and asian kinds. (100 seeds)
Family: Malvaceae (The Mallow Family)
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)
BLEND- Northern Okra MixThis summer our okra patch was nothing less than extrordinary. We didn't have a problem producing bumper crops even with the classic southern green heirlooms and red fruited kinds. This is exciting since we were able to produce an intentional mass cross of a dozen varieties including very early Asian varieties. This mix should provide ample genetics for new developments. Pretty mallow flowers. (40 seeds)
Family: Brassicaceae (The Mustard Family)
Genus: Brassica
Broccoli aka Calabrese (Brassica oleracea-botrytis group)
Half hardy annual.
BLEND- Broccoli BlendWe produced the first broccoli blend for gardeners in 1979 and marketed it through Long Island Seed Company. It consisted of early, midseason and late kinds. Gardeners liked the idea but the federal government didn't since I failed to list the specific percentages of each variety in the packet by weight; the rest is history. Now, it seems that every seed company markets a broccoli blend! This experimental blend includes some unusual kinds. There are well over a dozen kinds including some hybrids. (40 seeds)
BRUSSELS SPROUTS (Brassica oleracea- gemmifera group)
Hardy/half hardy biennial.
BLEND- Brussels Sprouts BlendWe found a treasure trove of sprout varieties including heirlooms and hybrids and have assembled a blend which even includes some purple types mostly as a curiosity (not known for being very productive). Find the ones that do the best for you, eat some of the sprouts if you wish and root cellar the plants to over-winter and set out for seed production the next year. See what you can develop if you want. (50 seeds)
Heirloom- Long Island Brussels Sprouts
I liked the old Long Island Brussels Sprouts available when I was a kid. It had a shorter stalk that a lot of modern varieties and always grew well, producing large firm sprouts. Somehow present strains just don't seem the same but we'll let you be the judge. This is seed is from a new seed source for us, as we continue our quest to find the Long Island sprout we remember. Not our production. (100 seeds)
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Hardy/Half Hardy biennial.
BLEND- Complete Cabbage
Blend
Cabbages of all kinds, early, mid and late, red and green, savoyed and plain leaves, pointed and drumhead. They're all here- have fun! Sow some seed early, some seed in mid-summer. Over winter your very best and grow them out for seed in the second year. (100 seeds)
Collards (Brassica oleracea)
Hardy biennial.
COLLARDS
BLEND- Collard Mix
Loosely heading, semi-heading and non-heading leafy cabbages (collards) which have good flavor and tenderness characteristics. These are nice early on when very young and then again when the cooler frosty weather sets in. A pot of collard greens with ham and warm cornbread on a cold fall day is pure pleasure even for a northerner like me. We have made up a mix for trial, evaluation and possible seed production in the second year depending on your interests. Interesting material including some southern european "leaf cabbages". (60 seeds)
Kale aka Scotch Kale, Russian Kale, Scotch Kale, Ornamental Kale, Siberian Kale (Brassica napus, Brassica oleracea)
Hardy/Half Hardy biennial.
MULTILINE CROSS-Mostly Red Kale These are compact, curly leaved scotch kales and the result of crosses made at Flanders Bay Farm in 04/05 when we over-wintered bright green and brilliant red/purple hybrids. They will develop the best color and flavor after the fall frosts and can be quite attractive into the winter. We noticed that the F1 generation produced 80% purple-red fall color with minor greens and bluegreens (not all crosses). See if you can over-winter the best and develop an even more diverse seed crop. Very winter hardy. (50 seeds)
BLEND- Diversity KaleThis is a mixture of kales from around the world that have ruffled and smooth leaves, tall and compact plants, many colors and growth forms including some that are considered so beautiful as to be considered ornamental. All edible and particularly so, after frost. There may be a minor amount of decorative leafy collards in here as well. A traditional winter meal of boiled kale and potatoes turns into a feast when the leftovers are chopped and spiced up a bit, then fried up in a butter/olive oil blend like one would prepare hash browns. (60 seeds)
CV- Cavalo nero (Black Kale, Dinosaur Kale)A very beautiful, deep gray-green colored, easy to grow and productive kale. The leaves are large enough to harvest one at a time to make a plate of kale. Enjoy it at young stages but for me, I wait until after the first frost and then harvest it into the cold of winter. Very hardy and improves in flavor as it grows colder. (100 seeds)
CV: De Lustof Kale
Lieven David sent me seed of what he calls a "Fodder Kale", the kind of kale that is grown mostlly for livestock, chickens love these kinds of greens when there isn't much else to forage. Lieven is a backyard plant breeder in Belgium. He explained, "My fodder kale story is like this: two plants emerged on my field 4 years ago. My only reasonable explanation, after eliminating all other options: some bird must have sown them. These kales grew 1 m tall, and they had white flowers. They may have come from some OP or F1 somewhere, but then there weren't any fodder kale seed crops nearby. Anyway, these two plants produced a nice load of seeds. The next generation turned out to be exactly the same...quite a lot of Lusthof customers are growing this fodder kale, and perhaps saving seeds." . Interesting! The white flowers mentioned by Lievon indicate a Brassica alboglabra or white flowered Asian Kale. I am curious if this is an Asian/European cross since B. oleracea (yellow flowered European Kales) will cross with B. alboglabra-Gailon (taxonomists; in fact, consider these to be the same species). White flowers seem dominant in crosses I have made. I grew these for the first time in summer 2009. Plants grow very large and produce a plant much like a collard. The greens are suitable to use like collards. These are original breeder seeds.
(50 seeds)
Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa-campestris, B. pekinenis)
Half hardy Annual
BLEND-Chinese Heading Cabbage Mix
We were happy to discover these great barrel, round or cylindric head cabbages with fairly compact self-blanching hearts. Shred for slaw or stir-fry. Discover their versatility. We have over a dozen cultivars that we mix for you to experiment with and we do mean experiment. You will have to determine the cultural practices that allow you to bring these to the best quality. Many kinds will bolt unless grown as a quick crop under the cooler days before frost, few will succeed in summer heat. Is there one kind in your diverse planting that does well for you; then, separate it out to produce seeds.(100 seeds)
Mustard Greens aka Mustard Spinach, Tender Green, Indian Mustard aka Leaf Mustard, Mizuna (Brassica juncea, Brassica perviridis, Brassica rapa-japonica)
Half Hardy Annual/Biennial.
BLEND-Mustard Greens Mix
A collection of mild to spicy greens from Asia as well as the US South, where cold tolerant mustard greens (and purples) provide a welcome easy to grow "greens" through the year. Somewhere between asian cabbages and turnip greens. Its difficult to draw the line since cabbages, pak choi, bok choi, mustard lettuce, mustards and turnip greens and raab are all related. It all gets blurred when you realize that there are hundreds of these interesting greens utilized in central and eastern Asia for a variety of dishes and we're just beginning to realize that mustard is no longer just "Southern Curled". This blend consists mostly of leafy kinds fine in soup or salad, boiled or steamed, layered in a sandwich with tomato, etc. (100 seeds)
Turnip aka Summer Turnip (Brassica rapa)
Half hardy biennial.
BLEND-Summer Turnip Blend
A assortment of small, quick growing turnips that produce tender, mostly white or yellowish round roots but also pink topped kinds and red ones and a few odd shapes. Some of these are considered very mild and sweet when harvested in 30 days and make better eating than salad radishes. Others take more time to size up. They are used fresh and in soups, cooked with their "greens", and stir fried. The "greens" are considered choice. (100 seeds)
HEIRLOOM-Japanese Long Turnip (Hinona
Kabu- Kabu Turnip- Cherry
Blossom Turnip)This turnip was a real hit at the farm since 2004. It has an attractive pink shoulder that grades quickly into a long white carrot- like root to 12 ". It produces a crop quickly in the summer and holds it's crisp sweet flavor into the late fall when they are at their best in our opinion. They are mild and great for snacking and salads. Originally from Kitazawa Seed Company. (50 seeds)
Turnip Greens, seventop turnip, (Brassica rapa, Brassica septiceps) Half Hardy Biennial.
BLEND- Leaf Turnip
Some consider these to be the best turnips for mild "greens" which are boiled, steamed or stir-fried. Most seed in this mix are the F2 generation of some commercial hybrid kinds. Probably best for an early spring crop or quick fall crop that can be used into the winter; when seed saving, sow in late summer, mulch and over-winter. We are not selecting for the root quality-we assume it's poor. (100 seeds)
Broccoli Raab (Brassica rapa)
Hardy Annual.
BLEND- Raab Blend
You will have to sow this blend in spring and again in fall and select out your best performers depending on your preferred harvest times. This is a blend of rather wild looking varieties imported from Italy. We haven't attempted to do any Raab selection work so far but we have some out in the field over wintering. Raab is a leaf turnip, not a broccoli and does not cross with broccoli. Harvest the greens at a young stage, certainly before the small bud clusters show color. The leafy greens and upper tender stems have a wonderful tangy flavor. We boil them for a few minutes and then stir fry them with oil, salt and cayenne; then add a squeeze of lemon. (100 seeds)
Bok Choy aka Pak Choi, Chinese Mustard (Brassica rapa)
Hardy Annual.
BLEND- Pak Choi Mix
Pak Choi and some related similar kinds that are grown for their succulent white and green petioles and leafy tops; compact and tall forms. We have collected dozens of pak choi and similar kinds of oriental petiole mustards over the years. Here is an interesting blend in which you are apt to find some especially suited to your stir fry needs. Generally quick and easy to grow especially as a spring/early summer crop. (100 seeds)
Rutabaga aka Swede Turnip, Fall Turnip (Brassica napus)
BLEND- Rutabaga Blend
The large sweet turnips (also called "swede turnips") gathered in the fall and stored through the winter are a great favorite for Thanksgiving feasts, not summer turnips which are a different species. Great when boiled and then mashed with a bit of butter and served alongside or with mashed potatoes or cubed in winter soups and stews. We have a number of nice varieties in our seed bank which we put together for this blend. Not a very diverse gene pool though, many old strains have been lost. We plant the seed in late June, roots become large in the late fall and can take frost. (100 seeds)
Genus: Raphavus
Radish (Raphavus sativus)
Half Hardy Annual/biennial.
May bolt and produce seed first year, roots of some varieties will not survive below 20°F freeze and must be wintered over in root cellar or some other way. Insect pollinated, will cross. When pods are inflated with seed, pull and lay on tarp, keep dry; over time, allow pods to become very dry and brittle to crush finely and process seed which will fall out and settle to the bottom of the chaff.
BLEND-Summer Radish
A mix of white, pink, purple, white/red bicolors, red small, yellow; all quick growing radishes. Round, oval and long kinds. These will produce within 30 days. (150 seeds)
BLEND-Winter Radishes
The biggest, longest, roundest, wildest radishes. Korean, Japanese, Spanish, German and Chinese types. Very beautiful, different colors, shapes and diversity in flavor. We prefer the sweet, crisp kinds in this collection which have become favorites. You may prefer the spicy hot ones! They're all here. You will also find a few of these produce masses of smooth tender leaves that are great in salads. These will produce from 40 to 80 days. (100 seeds)
Family: Poaceae (The Grass Family)
CORN (Zea mays)
Tender Annual. Wind pollinated, all Zea mays will easily cross if shedding pollen at the same time.
BLEND OP/F1-Sweet SU Mix
Normal sugary (su) corn varieties are difficult to find today, especially those hybrids which were developed in the days before the "supersweets" that still have the old fashioned meaty flavor of corn. You will find many mid-season varieties in this mix of both open pollinated types like Golden Bantam and traditional hybrids like Iochief. Plant them and they will continue to hybridize and diversify, then select your best for seed saving. Yellow and white kernels. Mostly middle to late larger maturing varieties (70-85 days) which can be saved together. Make your own traditional hybrids. Long period of harvest because of diversity. Quick conversion of sugar to starch, so have the water boiling when you harvest! Heterosis or hybrid vigor was first documented in the corn hybrids produced at Cold Spring Lab here on Long Island in the early 1900's. (50 seeds)
BLEND F1-Sweeter SE Mix
The sugar enhanced corns (se) varieties, mostly homozygous types, are becoming the most popular types because they are very tender, very sweet and the sugar conversion to starch happens at a much slower rate. We have varieties with a range of maturities from mid season to late (70-85 days), both yellow and white types tha will produce bicolors when grown together. You may want to intercrop this with Sweet SU corn mix which can give you the best of both worlds. These have slower conversion of sugars to starch. No need to isolate se and su types. (50 seeds)
Corn- Decorative Ears- Ornamental- Indian Corn
BLEND- Indian Corn BlendA fine fall decorative corn, ears are harvested when the plant dries in the field, wrapper leaves are pulled back to expose the colorful kernels making up the ear. Increasing demand between Halloween and Thanksgiving. This is a flint corn which can be used as a fair quality "hard" corn meal and is more resilient to molding in the field during wet autumn weather. (100 seeds)
Corn- Decorative Foliage Types
CV- Old Gold Stripe Leaved CrossA truly great corn developed from Old Gold, a great corn that came to us via the Maize Genetics Cooperation Stock Center. This is a field corn, mostly dent which produces large ears of cattle corn. Leaves are green with bright gold stripes. Can grow 5-6 feet tall. Rouge out plants that don't have the expected coloration before their tassels produce pollen that will deteriorate the quality of the others if allowed to cross. Limited. (10 seeds)
Corn- Popcorn
SELECT: Autumn DelightFull sized popcorn kernels on a full size 8" cob and in a variety of autumn colors. Developed at FBF primarily as a popcorn of good quality and expansion ratio as well as an ornamental and festive "Indian Corn", a decorative variety of long-lasting flint corn for Thanksgiving Holiday decor. Tall sturdy stalks. Shows promise as an early and productive kind which resists borers and racoon damage. (40 seeds)
Sorghum
Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)
HEIRLOOM BLEND- Sweet
Sorghum BlendAn assortment of sorghums which produce delicate, tall grassy stalks similar to sweet corn. Use as a background and in the fall there will be seed heads in colors in shades of cream, rusty reds, tan and black that will last into late fall. Very nice for fall decoration and bird feed on the stalk. Late in the season (100 days), the sugary juices accumulate in the stems. A pleasant snack to chew on or crush to produce molasses or syrup. Folks around here are always surprised to try chewing on the stalks. We cut some really sweet stems up to sell as tea stirrers at the farmstand which created quite a bit of interest during pumpkin season. Our blend has been selected for high sugar stalks as well as decorative seed-heads. Many varieties of historic importance. (30 seeds)
Family: Cucurbitaceae (The Melon and Squash Family)
CUCUMBERS (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumber- Kirby (Pickle)
MASS CROSS/BLEND- Pickle Cucumber BlendMore than a dozen varieties of small kirby size cucumbers used for salads or whole pickles were mass crossed and the results are included in this mixture. Both white and black spined varieties were used in the cross, all green skin color. A few new kinds collected recently also added. There is plenty to work with here. (30 seeds)
BLEND- Small Vine Cucumber Mix
Restrained vines and small fruit make this an appealing gene pool for patio and container gardeners, harvest when small salad use or pickles and for continual production. Vines spread generally less than 24". (30 seeds)
Cucumber- Slicer
BLEND- Slicing Cucumber Blend
These are medium to large long cucumbers that are mostly used as slicers. More than a dozen standard sized cukes make up this mixture. Mostly American slicers such as Marketmore types. We are also including some heirloom/hybrid crosses and american/mideastern crosses that we made and are excited about. These are fine for ground culture especially with drip irrigation. (30 seeds)
Cucumber Slicing- Asian
BLEND-Long Fruit Cucumber Blend
Sweet and crisp (when freshly harvested) longer and thinner fruited cucumbers. These have been developed in Japan, China, Korea and southeast Asia. Thin skins make fruits easy to digest. In Asia, cucumbers aremostly trellised to conserve space and produce straight fruit. Included are asian-american crosses selected for longer than average length fruit; tender and sweetness without bitterness. Some interesting genetics in one packet. (20 seeds)
Cucumber- White
SELECTIONS- Touch of Gold Selections from the Cornell cross: Boothby x Marketmore made to impart greater disease resistance in Boothby, a small creamy white heirloom cuke. Seed production at Flanders Bay Farm is the result of the Organic Seed Partnership (OSP) which encouraged the development of varieties bred and selected for organic systems. You may want to eliminate any plants producing non white fruit and select for white cukes (black spine) or harvest the light green- yellowish fruits that sometimes appear and which are quite refreshing. Limited (10 seeds)
CV- Long Asian White OPThis is our open pollinated selection of an Asian long white (white spine) hybrid. Selected for long bright white fruits, slight taper or neck at stem end. Sample (20 seeds)
Cucumber- Melon Cucumber aka Armenian, Yard Long, Serpent Melon- (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus)
Cucumber- Italian Carosello
BLEND- Carosello Mix These are the small cukes that are regional specialties in parts of Italy. They are mostly round to oval shaped, light to dark green and with varying amounts of light fuzziness. A few resulting from experimental crosses. Refreshing when harvested at a small size. These are not cucumbers but are used like cukes. They will develop a musky fruitiness as they mature and look more like canteloupes which they will cross with (both are C. melo). Keep carosellos away from your melon patch. Crossing with each other doesn't benefit either group. (20 seeds).
BLEND- Armenian Long Cucumber
Tend to be long fruited, smooth skinned kinds that are moderately ribbed. Good vining kinds that are often trellised to produce straight fruit. Ground culture will result in serpent shaped cucumbers. Fine quality, mild flesh when harvested young. They require rich soil, plenty of warmth and ample water. Not particularly diverse but there are white and green kinds included. These are C. melo and will cross with other C. melo species. (20 seeds)
Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra)
CV- Mexican Sour Gherkin This is now the fourth year that we have produced a crop of the tiny grape-sized gherkins. Tangy and crunchy when they fall to the ground from their vines, a bit sweeter when harvested before drop. Some folks like these others don't care for the slight bitterness and chewy skins. We think they're a nice addition to salads along with cherry tomatoes. Vines are thread-like but grow in a vigorous sprawl over anything they can climb. (20 seeds).
Gherkin (Cucumis anguria)
CV- West India Gherkin
Roundish soft spined fruit look a bit like hedgehogs are best an inch or so in size. They are a curiosity to those who never grew them but were one of the most common pickles a century ago. Fine fresh eating, even better when pickled whole. Productive vines sprawl over the ground. Always a hit at the farmstand. Easy seed crop to produce and won't cross with melons or cucumbers! (30 seeds).
CANTALOUPE & MUSKMELON (Cucumis melo )
BLEND- Cantaloupe: Orange
BlendA very diverse blend of dozens of cantaloupe / muskmelons. Mostly conventional orange fleshed. Heirlooms, new developments and experimental crosses. Many of the best. There is a lot here to select from. (30 seeds)
BLEND- Cantaloupe: Green BlendMostly green-fleshed or crosses with green -flesh parents. Refreshing, melting, fruity sweet flesh. There may be some orange kinds in the mix. (30 seeds)
SELECTIONS- OSP Golden CharentaisSelections from a Cornell cross between a powdery mildew resistant Charentais and the american melon, Golden Gopher. The selections are still rough and in need of additional selection but we think it's already a winner. We'll continue to work on perfecting this and invite you to help by sending us a few seeds of any outstanding tasting melon that you raise from this seed. Seed of the original cross was made available through the courtesy of the Cornell-Nofa-NY Organic Seed Partnership to develop varieties for organic systems. (20 seeds)
CV- Delicious 51 PMR
A new release of an old development from Cornell which imparts even more disease resistance to a popular mainstay, Delicious 51. Cornell added powdery mildew resistance to Delicious 51 many years ago but the seed wasn't brought into commerce until interest in the organic farming community prompted a few small seed producers to raise a seed crop. Once again demonstrating the need to reginalize small seed production and get some of the great varieties sitting on breeder's shelves out into the farming community. Sweet, thick aromatic orange flesh, moderate netted 2-3 lb. fruit are produced early. (20 seeds)
SELECTIONS- Minnesota Honey
A sibling of Minnesota Midget with honeydew parentage. It is early and has a dark green skin that lightens up just before it is ready to harvest. Melting orange flesh. Productive. We obtained the seed courtesy of USDA/NSSL. It may have been crossed and shows some variability. Might prove interesting to work with to develop stable lines with more disease resistance. (20 seeds)
SELECTIONS-Corky Cross
Produced small round 4" melons with a corky, crinkly netting, no ribs, mostly bright orange flesh, bright green at rind, tends to have a cluster of fruit near the center of the plant similar to Far North, one of the early old-time "birdnest" melons. Breeding material from China. Interesting, variable, possible interest to breeders with time on their hands.
BLEND-Italian Cross Cantaloupe
These are cantaloupes grown by our Italian neighbors in Deer Park, NY who brought the seeds over from near Parma, Italy. Variable, medium large netted, moderately ribbed melons with orange aromatic flesh. We added stable, similar disease resistant cultivars from Italy to cross, which will produce some spontaneous F1's, extra vigor and disease resisance in the future. (20 seeds)
BLEND- Oriental Melon (Cucumis melo )
Our collection of a number of sweet oriental "pear" melons. These have thin edible golden skin sometimes with delicate silver stripes. The crisp white flesh is like as asian pear and makes a nice addition to fruit salads. These are early producers of palm sized oval fruit. One variety of Oriental Melon was sold as "apple pie melon" by an enterprising seed company in the 1800's and used just like sliced apples in a crust. (20 seeds)
BLEND- Exotic Melon BlendOnly somewhat exotic, these are crenshaw, honeydew, casaba and a number of other kinds that don't fit your normal definition of "cantaloupe" and are more familiar to gardeners in the warmer southwest. There are also some interesting crosses that have been made in order to develop more regional lines. Can't grow the "exotic" melons? Don't be so sure. Start them early in peat pots if you have doubts. There will probably be something in our blend that works for you! (30 seeds)
Genus: Citrullus
WATERMELON (Citrullus lanatus)
BLEND- Watermelon
BlendA selection from dozens of watermelons in our seed bank including red, orange and yellow fleshed kinds. Mostly midseason kinds; very diverse, all sweet, nice kinds including some from our breeding program. (30 seeds)
CV-Cream of SaskatchewanA nice lemon ice white fleshed melon that is juicy and thirst-quenching, seeds received from melon collector and breeder Curtis Slyvester Showell from Muskrattown, MD many years ago who probably is responsible for preserving this variety. (20 seeds)
SELECTIONS-Crimson Extra EarlyMedium sized green stiped skin, slightly oval, sweet red flesh. liseed bred.(20 seeds)
MASS CROSS-Early Moon and Stars Icebox
BLEND-Summer Moschata
BLEND- Colorful Long Zucchini Mix
HEIRLOOM-Odessa White
SELECTIONS- OSP Sprawling Greens
SELECTIONS- OSP Sprawling Whites
SELECTION- OSP "Yikes Stripes"
Selection
SELECTION- OSP
Super Caserta (Shades of Green)
MULTILINE CROSS/BLEND- Orbit Round
Zucchini
MULTI-LINE
CROSS/BLEND-Asteroids Scallop
ENGLISH HEIRLOOM- Long
Green Black Trailing
(vining)
ENGLISH HEIRLOOM- Table Dainty Squash
(vining)
CROSS F2- Summer Pumpkin
NATIVE- Tatume Summer Squash (vining)
SOUTH AFRICA-Little Gem-
(vining) 
Blend F2 -Tatume Crosses (vining)
MASS CROSS- Small
Hubbard
Color Blend
BLEND- Kabocha Mix
F2 CROSS- Ultra F2 
Mix/ F2/F3 - 2008 Acorn
Gene Pool
CV-Acorn-OSU 19 
BLEND- Medium
Pumpkins: Maxima Mix
HEIRLOOM- Turks Turban Mix
CV- Rouge Vif d'Etampes
HEIRLOOM- Long Island Cheese
CV- French Cheese aka Fairytale,
Muscade de Provence
MASS CROSS-Naked Seed Pumpkin Blend
SELECTION- Little
Greenseed
CV-Styria
SELECTIONS/BLEND- Ornamental
Edible Miniatures
CV-Pumpkin- White Pepo aka
Cotton Candy
SELECT BLEND: Edible
Pumpkin/Gourds Mix
BLEND- Edible Luffa Mix
BLEND- Edible Gourd Mix
BLEND-Sweet Bell Pepper Mix
F3 CROSS- LI Bell F3
F3 CROSS- Little Bell F3
CV- Large Sweet Banana
CV- Italian Sweet Fryer
CV- Sweet Cherry
CV- Chili Japonica
CV-
Suave Red 
CV- Cheiro Red 
BLEND-Hot Cayenne Color
Blend
CV- Pico de Gallo
CV-Yasufasa/Chicken Claw 
CV- Hotcha Red
BLEND- Habanero Type Blend (Capsicum
chinense)
CV-Lemon Hot Pepper (Capsicum baccatum)
CV-
Purple Pequin
CV- Numex Twilight
CV- Purple Szechwan Hot Pepper
CV- NuMex Centennial
CV- Purple Foliage Hot Pepper
BLEND-Large Beefsteak Types Mixed
BLEND: Red Standards
BLEND: Zebra Mix
BLEND- Cluster Tomatoes Mixed
BLEND- Determinate
Canning/Processing
Mixed
SELECTIONS: Miniature Sweet
Tomatoes
BLEND- Dwarf Champion Mix
SELECTION- Red Bullet
SELECTION-
Dwarf Orange
BLEND-Very Dwarf Small Fruit Mix
HEIRLOOM- Alberto's Currant
BLEND- Mexi Pear Mix
BLEND- Currant Crosses: All
Colors
BLEND- Most Excellent Red and
Yellow Currant
BLEND-Eggplant Mix 
CV- Long Island Ground Cherry
BLEND-Tomatillo Mix
CV- Tomatillo: Golden Sweet
CV- Garden Huckleberry 
CV- Burbank Sunberry 
CV- Chichiquelite 
CV-
Jaltomata 
CV- Mixed Wolfberry 
NATIVE- Devil's Claw aka
bird plant,
martynia- var. Piaute