Seedling Guide – Spring 2023

Leafy Greens & Brassicas

These cool-season staples will thrive in almost any condition. Safe to plant out now and will even sweeten through light frosts.

Spinach, Lettuce, and Lettuce Heads will perform best in a cooler spot with some shade–they won’t go to seed as quickly.

Green Curly Kale

Start picking when the biggest leaves are as long as your hand. Pick outer, lower leaves and smaller leaves will keep growing for a continuous harvest. Somewhat cold hardy, sweetens with frost, and will produce into early winter.

18″ spacing

Scarlet Kale

Start picking when the biggest leaves are as long as your hand. Pick outer, lower leaves and smaller leaves will keep growing for a continuous harvest. Somewhat cold hardy, sweetens with frost, and will produce into early winter.

18″ spacing

Lacinato (Dino) Kale

Start picking when the biggest leaves are as long as your hand. Pick outer, lower leaves and smaller leaves will keep growing for a continuous harvest. Somewhat cold hardy, sweetens with frost, and will produce into early winter.

18″ spacing

Rainbow Chard

Glorious shiny leaves with fluourescent rainbow veins. Pick it at baby stage for salad or large for sauteeing and wraps. Pick at least biweekly for continuous harvest.

6″ spacing

Collard Greens

Pick like kale for continuous harvest or allow to mature fully and harvest the whole plant after a few light frosts.

10-18″ spacing depending on desired size.

Green Cabbage

“Farao” Prefers fertile, well-irrigated soil. Harvest when head is dense and firm. This is an earlier summer cabbage not intended for months of winter storage.

18″ spacing

Red Cabbage

“Red Express” Early to midseason cabbage. Harvest when head is firm and dense. Prefers rich, well-irrigated soil.

12’18” spacing

Brussels Sprouts

“Speedia,” large vigorous variety. Prefers fertile, well-irrigated soil. Will grow all season for harvest after frost. Lower sprouts will mature first. Pick when firm and fully formed.

18-24″ spacing

Broccoli “Tendergreen”

Earlier season broccoli sizes up to 6-7″ and will produce 2-3″ side shoots after you cut the head.

12-18″ spacing

Cauliflower “Snowbowl”

A champion earlier season white cauliflower with great flavor and dense texture. Watch for perfect harvest state when heads are 5-6″ across.

20-24″ spacing.

Lettuce Leaf

Plant whole plugs and either harvest outer leaves first or do several rounds of clearcutting. Plant seeds alongside plugs for a succession harvest through the summer.

Beet Greens

Plant whole plugs and begin harvesting leaves when they are 2-3″ long. Harvest continually through the season, and then in Fall pull out a giant mutant beetroot!

Spinach

Plant whole plugs and begin harvest when leaves are 3-6″ long. More frequent picking can prolong your harvest before it goes to seed.

Red Tabby Spinach

Nice upright variety with pretty red veins. Treat the same as regular spinach.

ALLIUMS

The onion family! Onion, shallot, scallion, and leek seedlings can be carefully separated from each other and planted 3-6″ apart. Although cold-hardy, bulbing alliums need a lot of heat and full sun to size up.

Red Onion

A beautiful ruby-purple storage onion.

Space 3-6″ apart.

Yellow Onion

Will size up sooner than red and reach a larger size. Best onion for winter storage.

Space 3-6″ apart

Leeks

Plant in rows 4-6″ apart. Try hilling them mid-summer to increase white bulb length. Harvest early fall through frost.

Shallots

Beautiful pink-brown bulbs with balanced onion and garlic flavor for fresh eating and fine cooking.

Space 4-6″ apart.

Scallions

Also called Spring Onions, a staple in Asian cooking. Quick to mature, so drop some seeds in with the seedlings for a succession.

Chives

A perennial that will come back early Spring every year. Pretty pink blossoms are also edible.

Garlic Chives

Flat-leafed chives with distinct garlicky flavor and edible white blossoms. Perennial.

TOMATOES!

We plant our tomatoes shallow, with the roots at the same depth as they are in their pots not, because we want to harvest ripe fruit sooner rather than let them establish a larger root system in our short growing season. We prune larger-fruited tomatoes to one leader and cherry and plum types to two leaders. We trellis on a single vertical string in the greenhouses and with a basket method in the field. Everyone grows tomatoes a little differently, and you should experiment with how you like to raise them in your particular space. Plant spacing: 2+ feet apart.

Slicing Tomatoes

Celebrity

Highly disease-resistant plants. Classic slicer flavor and texture, medium round fruits. Determinate variety-no need to prune.

Jet Star

All-around great slicer with a little less acidity. Medium-to-large fruits and somewhat more compact plant habit.

Big Beef Plus

Nice combination of large size, earlier ripening, and good flavor. Chunky, oval fruit.

Heirloom Tomatoes

German Johnson

Larget, pinkish-red, aromatic, and delicious. More productive than other heirloom types and earlier to mature.

Valencia

Smooth, meaty flesh, sweet low-acid flavor in medium round fruit.

Cherokee Purple

Very large fruit, dusty rose color, the best heirloom flavor according to many.

Moskvich

Extra early and a little more cold-hardy. Great tomato flavor, medium round fruits. Good for slicing.

Green Zebra

Phenomenal sweet and tangy heirloom flavor. Smaller 3-4oz fruit. Ripe when yellow blush starts to form and flesh softens.

Speckled Roman Paste

Our favorite paste! Excellent producer with dense, drier fruits that keep for weeks on the counter. Pretty orange stripes and great red sauce flavor.

San Marzano Paste

Classic paste tomato prized for its dense flesh and perfect red sauce flavor. Late to fully ripen but worth the wait.

Amish Paste

Popular heirloom plum tomato with great flavor and meaty flesh. A dependable staple for salads as well as canning and preserving.

CHERRY TOMATOES AND MORE

Sungold Cherry

Everybody’s favorite juicy cherry tomato with the perfect balance of sweetness. Golden-orange when ripe.

Super Sweet 100

Small red cherry tomato, extremely productive plants with earlier ripening tender fruit.

Washington Cherry

Larger size red cherry tomatoes with punchy tomato flavor growing in dense clusters. Our favorite for sun-dried tomatoes.

Black Cherry

A pretty addition to your salads and pastas with a dark maroon color and divine, heirloom-like flavor.

Juliet Mini Plum

Saladette size fruit grows in productive clusters on a disease-resistant plant. Rich red flavor for fresh eating, salsas, etc.

Toma Verder Tomatillo

A very productive plant! Use the fruit in salsa verde, to temper your homemade hot sauce, etc.

Goldie Husk Cherry

An unexpected favorite of many children. Oddly earthy-sweet flavor with the texture of a cherry tomato. Plants grow low to the ground and take up a 2-3′ radius.

BELL PEPPERS, ITALIAN PEPPERS, HOT PEPPERS

Ace Bell Pepper

Nice early large peppers! Ripens from green to red with juicy, medium-thick walls.

King of the North

Bigger, blockier green-to-red bell pepper. Great long season workhorse.

Gilboa Bell Pepper

Classic orange bell, thick and juicy with lots of flavor. Very productive plants.

FLAVORBURST BELL PEPPER

Large, thick and juicy golden yellow bell with aromatic sweet crunch!

Carmen Italian Pepper

A corno di toro “bullhorn” shaped Italian pepper prized for its phenomenal flavor.

Escamillo Italian Pepper

Carmen’s yellow counterpart with equally amazing sweet flavor.

Shishito Pepper

Popular Japanese snack-size pepper with occasional mild spiciness, crunchy thin walls on extremely productive plants that just keep going.

Hot Peppers – From mildest to hottest.

Poblano/Ancho “Sargento”

It’s an Ancho when it’s dried and a Poblano when fresh. Dark and stormy green pepper flavor with milder spice level. This variety sizes up well, perfect for stuffing. 1k – 1.5k SHU

Anaheim “Highlander”

Nice productive plants with bright fresh flavor and milder spice level. We love to freeze them right along with bell peppers and use them in salsa. 500 – 2.5k SHU

Jalapeño “El Jefe”

A classic jalapeño with nice size and good production. Best combination of earliness and high yield. 2.5 – 8k SHU

Cherry Bomb

A milder hot pepper with thick flesh. Sweet & spicy when ripe. Great for pickling or eating fresh. 2.5 – 5k SHU.

Fresno “Flaming Flare”

Adorable conical peppers with sweet, mild heat when ripe. Great for fresh eating or hot sauce. 2.5 – 10k SHU.

Serrano “Impala”

Nice big productive plants with traditional dark green fruit. Similar flavor to jalapeños but smaller and spicier. 10 – 23k SHUCayenne “Red Ember”

A thicker, juicier cayenne with excellent balanced spicy flavor on very productive plants. Dry them for your own organic chili powder. 30 – 50k SHU.

Thai Chili “Bangkok”

Small, thin pepper on extremely productive plants. Use green, fresh and red, or dried. Fruity and very spicy. 30 – 60k SHU

Habanero “Helios”

Gorgeous waxy-looking fruit ripens from light green to bright orange. Hot and spicy with slight fruitiness. Works well as the heat in sauces and ferments. 100-350 k SHU

Ghost Pepper

The spiciest! Can be used in small amounts to heat up curries and pickles, good with pork and fish. Fun fact: also used as an elephant repellant on farms in India–maybe it works on deer too! Proceed with caution! 800k – 1.1m SHU

EGGPLANT

Galine

Large, dark purple classic eggplant. Harvest when flesh start to feel tender when squeezed.

Diamond

Medium-sized cylindrical, dark purple eggplant. Early and fast-growing.

Orient Express

Mostly spineless, dark purple, long and thin, and more tender asian-type eggplant.

Ping Tung

Mostly spineless, light purple, long and thin, tender asian type eggplant.

MELONS

Watermelon “Sugar Belle”

Early to mature, very sweet, and crack-resistant. 2+ feet spacing

Cantaloupe “Hannah’s Choice”

Prized for flavor, sweet and juicy. Harvest when fruit slips off the vine easily. 2+ feet spacing.

CUKES, ZUKES, SUMMER SQUASH

Zucchini

Dark green straight zucchini, very productive. Experiment by harvesting at different sizes to experience range of flavor. 24″ spacing.

Zephyr Summer Squash

Adorable with yellow necks and light green striped ends. Great nutty flavor especially when picked small. 18-24″ spacing

Pickling Cucumber

Medium-size picklers are crunchy and a little drier than a slicer, with milder flavor. Harvest small for best flavor.

Slicing Cucumber

Early and vigorous plants produce smooth-skinned juicy fruits in abundance. Harvest small for less seediness and medium size for milder flavor. 12″ spacing.

EDIBLE FLOWERS

Nasturtium- Jewel, Trailing, or Alaska

Calendula

Gem Marigold – Lemon or Tangerine

Marigold – Lemon Drop or Durango Outback

Borage

Chives

Mexican Marigold

Bee Balm

OTHER FLOWERS & PERENNIALS

Echinacea (perennial)

Long-lived perennial beloved of pollinators. Deadhead or harvest for continuous blooms mid summer through frost. Tolerates drought, prefers well-drained soil. 2-3′ tall.

Bee Balm (perennial)

Long-lived perennial, favorite of pollinators and will spread. More sun, more blooms. Petals are edible. 3-4′ tall.

Delphinium (perennial)

Magic Fountains mix. Perennial with intricate fluffy blooms on 3-4′ stems. Tolerates wind well. Entire plant is toxic, take precaution with children and pets. Buyer assumes all liability.

Hollyhock

Charter’s Double Mix. Biannual: will spend this year growing a root system, come back next spring and produce 5-7 foot stems of fluffy double blooms! Easily self-seeds.

Benary’s Giant Zinnia

Humongous flowers up to 6″ diameter. Plants are vigorous and productive. Cut or deadhead for continuous blooms early summer-frost. 3-4′ tall.

Cactus Zinnia

Large flowers with quilled, fringe-like petals. Plants will produce continuously early summer through frost if cut or deadheaded. 2-4′ tall.

Snapdragons

Continuous cutting will yield a second and possible third flush of blooms until frost. 2-3′ tall.

Coleus

A very tender perennial that will die at first hint of frost but if you bring it indoors it will live all year as a colorful houseplant. Prefers dappled or morning-only sun. Short, 6-12″

HERBS

Genovese Basil

Classic Italian basil with a peppery bite and strong aroma.

Opal Basil

Beautiful dark red plants with more sweet, less peppery basil flavor.

Tuscany Basil

Lettuce leaf type basil produces huge salad-size leaves with mild basil flavor.

Thai Basil

Sweet, flavorful with anise/clove spiciness. Excellent as a garnish in asian cooking or any dessert.

Tulsi / Holy Basil

Sweet and spicy aroma and flavor with hints of coffee. Multitude of medicinal uses, great for tea.

Shiso

Asian culinary heb with bright savory flavors. Gorgeous plants grow 4-5′ tall and make a great garden addition. Can be dried for tea.

Zaatar

Sweet Marjoram. Essential Mediterranean herb. Treat it as a tender perennial and bring it inside for the winter!

Mexican Marigold

A vigorous substitute for tarragon. Heat and drought tolerant. Small gold flowers are also edible.

Curly Parsley

Classic garnish and savory ingredient. Keeps bright light green color.

Italian (Flat) Parsley

Stronger flavor, leaves stay smooth and dry well in a dark place with good airflow.

Summer Thyme

Lush and vigorous, this fast-growing thyme produces a lot in one season. Great for drying.

Winter Thyme(German) P

Perennial that will come back early spring every year.

Dill

Ferns with vibrant flavor will continue growing through the season and begin to form dill heads in full summer heat. Harvest heads when brown for pickling or dill seed.

Cilantro

Quick-growing plants can be harvested stem by stem to delay bolting. When it bolts, let flowers mature to seed and harvest when brown for fresh ground coriander all winter.

Sage P

This woody perennial is productive and reliable. Leaves are easy to dry with a strong flavor when eaten fresh.

Rosemary

Thick and hearty upright type is a good producer. Treat it as a perennial by bringing it inside for winter when temperature drops below 20.

Chives P

A perennial that comes back early spring every year for the first fresh onion taste! Pretty pink blossoms are also edible.

Garlic Chives P

Flat-leafed chives with distinct garlicky flavor. The shallot version of chives.

Chervil

Very mild sweet anise flavor, fresh plants are slow to bolt. Use in salads or as a garnish.

Lovage P

“Mountain Celery” Sweet, aromatic celery flavor for savory cooking. Perennial plant will die back and return in spring.

Sweet Lavender

Tender, lush, vigorous, and exceptionally fragrant with nice long dark purple flowers. Mounding shrub.

Greek Oregano P

Perennial herb with lots of flavor. Easy to dry for year-round cooking.

Mint P

Multiple varieties of mint.

Extremely vigorous perennial that WILL SPREAD.

Catnip P

Attract even more stray cats to your life with this magic plant. Cut back before frost to dry for tea/feline treat.

Patchouli

Tender perennial can be treated as a houseplant. Bushy herb with myriad uses. Prefers low light, dry conditions.

WINTER SQUASH

Butternut

“Waldo” a variety with small seed cavities, thick necks, good flavor, long storage life, and consistent, medium-large fruits. 12-36″ spacing

Buttercup

“Bonbon” a 4-5lb drier squash with nutty, flaky flesh and probably our favorite flavor. 12-36″ spacing

Red Kuri

3-4lbs. Delicious moist flesh. Great for pies and purees because skin is smale color as flesh and flecks won’t show. Also known as Orange Hokkaido. 12-36″ spacing.

Delicata

Everyone’s favorite for its sweet flavor and tender-enough-to-eat skin! 1.5-2lbs. Productive plants. 12-36″ spacing.

Jack O’Lantern

For the kids! Nice and early, will be ready before Halloween even in our short season. 16-24lb fruit. Although edible, this isn’t a super sweet pie pumpkin–choose Red Kuri or Butternut for pies.