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Heirloom varieties deliver exceptional flavor
Master Gardener Richard Warnock at Adena Mansion and Gardens believes there is a
good reason why many modern gardeners are turning to heirloom vegetables and herbs:
they simply taste better. And that is also why the Ohio Historical Society’s Heirloom
Plant Sale is back this year by popular demand.
"The flavors of heirloom fruits, vegetables and herb are stronger and richer than
today’s market varieties, because today’s hybrids are grown for shipping, not for
flavor," he explains.
This year, all sales take place at Adena, the early 19th-century home of Ohio’s
sixth governor, Thomas Worthington, and the gardening jewel of the OHS site system.
No sale will be held at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus, as in previous years.
Shoppers won’t be disappointed, though: new this year is a large variety of heirloom
vegetables and a modest selection of best-loved heirloom roses. Vintage tomatoes,
herbs and flowering annuals, perennials, biennials and scented geraniums also will
be featured.
So get there early! Come fill your garden cart with a variety of heirloom goodies
for your garden and see why these old-fashioned favorites are making a comeback.
Sale dates and location
April 25–May 3
Wednesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday noon–5 p.m.
Adena Mansion and Gardens
847 Adena Rd.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Note: there is no online pre-sale as in previous years.
Admission
Plant sale: free
Mansion and museum tour: $8/adult, $4/children 6-12, free/children 5 and under.
Free to OHS members.
Start your wish list with this preview of featured plants.
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African Daisy, Buff Beauty (Dimorphotheca sinuata)
“Buff Beauty” has unique, apricot-salmon flowers. Blooms in summer and continues
until frost if deadheaded. Half-hardy annual that needs full sun and well-drained
soil to thrive. The bushy plants are perfect for bedding, edging or containers.
Grows to 10 inches.
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Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
Prefers sun or partial shade. Produces blue flowers in the summer and fall. Grows
2–3 inches high.
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Amaranth, Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthus tricolor)
Add an explosion of color to your garden with this vivid rich red, yellow and green
foliage. Ideal as a temporary shrub or even hedge. Flowers are excellent for cutting
or drying. Grows to 3 feet high. Also called Perfecta.
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Bachelor Button, Blue Boy (Centaurea cyanus)
Cultivated by Thomas Jefferson in his gardens at Monticello. Blooms throughout the
growing season. Extremely easy to grow, dries well. Self-seeding and grows 2–3 feet
tall.
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Balsam, Heirloom (Impatiens balsamina)
Blooms all summer and prefers full sun. Cultivated from the 1800s - a real show
stopper. Easy to grow. A must for Victorian gardens. Grows 12–13 inches high.
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Balsam Apple (Momordica balsamina)
Running vine that stretches to 10 feet or more. The egg-shaped fruit grows 4–6 inches
long.
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Bells of Ireland (Molucella laevis)
Produces unusual pale green to emerald green, funnel-shaped “bells” along green
stems in summer. Can grow to 2-3 feet high. Prefers full sun and regular watering.
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Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata)
Produces yellow or orange, five-petalled flowers with dark centers. A good choice
for pillars, trellises and hanging baskets. Can grow to 10 feet or more. Grows best
with rich, moist, well-drained soil and prefers regular watering and fertilizing.
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Bunny Tails (Lagurus ovatus)
Also known as Hare’s Tail Grass, this ornamental grass produces a cream-colored
bloom. Fun and easy plant to grow. Prefers full sun and is drought tolerant. Blooms
late spring through mid-summer. Reseeds itself. Flowers good for drying. Good container
plant. Grows 12–18 inches.
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Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Used for culinary and medicinal purposes since the Middle Ages. The seeds are a
representation of the wild type of Calendula with its single yellow and orange flowers.
Prefers full sun or partial shade.
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Cardinal Climber Vine (Ipomea x multifida)
An 1800s climbing plant that prefers full sun. Produces red, single tubular flowers
on fern-like foliage. Blooms all summer. Good in hanging baskets, on a trellis or
as ground cover. Fast grower that reaches 10–15 feet high.
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Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)
Loves full sun and reaches 6–8 feet high. Introduced into English gardens during
the 16th century, this stately plant has enormous, lobed burgundy leaves and brilliant
red seed pods. Extremely poisonous seeds or “beans.” Not recommended in areas where
children play.
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Caterpillar, Prickly (Scorpiurus muricatus)
Prefers full sun and blooms all summer. Historic novelty — fun plant, but poisonous.
Reaches 8–10 inches high.
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Celosia Varieties
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Cockscomb, Amish (Celosia cristata)
Plant produces beautiful large red heads (up to 10 inches across) on a compact,
1-foot-tall plant. Introduced to Europe in the 1570s. Thought lost but discovered
in an Amish garden. Blooms all summer. Great cut flowers. Grows to 12 inches. Prefers
full sun.
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Pink Spike (Celosia cristata)
Heirloom from 1804. Prefers sun or partial shade. Produces lilac-pink blooms all
summer when deadheaded. Grows to 24 inches high.
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Chrysanthemum, Court Jester (Chrysanthemum carinatum)
An extravagant range of contrasting colors arranged in concentric rings on each
of the large 3" single blooms. 18- 20 inches high.
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Cleome, Spider Flower (Cleome hasslerana)
Introduced from the West Indies to England in 1817. Stems resemble a rose bush in
appearance. Flowers are followed by narrow 4-inch to 5-inch seedpods that resemble
spider legs. Low maintenance. Self-seeding plant that grows 3–4 feet tall.
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Cosmos Varieties (Cosmos bipinnatus)
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Mix
Large, sturdy plant with beautiful ferny foliage and a wide mixture of colors. Grows
4–5 feet tall in light, dry soils. Great cut flower.
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Peppermint Twist
Prefers full sun. Grows to 24 inches high. Produces crimson daisy-like flowers with
white edges. Blooms all summer.
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Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit)
Produces masses of five-pointed small flowers. A favorite with hummingbirds. Prefers
sunny spots, fences or pots. F eathery or fern-like foliage reaches 15–20 feet high.
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Dahlia (Dahlia)
Annual northern climates unless the tubers are lifted in the fall and stored in
a frost-free place for replanting the following year.
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Four O’Clocks, Country Garden (Mirabilis jalapa)
Discovered by Conquistadores in the 16th century and named Marvel of Peru. Abundant
flowers in several colors open after 4 p.m. and attract hummingbirds and moths.
Grows 2–3 inches tall.
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Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa)
Thrives almost anywhere and attracts butterflies. Easy to grow from seed and reaches
24–30 inches tall.
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Hyacinth Bean, Purple (Dolichos lablab)
Showy rose purple orchid-like flowers and pods. Unusual black and white seeds grow
on a tender plant of purplish-green leaves. Grows to 20 feet. Prefers sunny garden
soil with plenty of room. Blooms all summer.
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Jasmine Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)
Grows in containers or the landscape and reaches 3–5 feet tall. One of the most
fragrant of the tobaccos, very showy and easy to grow. All plant parts are considered
poisonous.
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Job’s Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)
This tropical Asian grass was introduced in Europe by the late 1500s. Considered
old-fashioned by the end of the 19th century. Hard “beads,” which are clusters of
seeds, form at the tips of the stems. These can be strung or dyed and made into
jewelry. A natural teardrop bead. Used as a food crop in Asia. This annual prefers
full sun or light shade and grows 2–3-feet. Plant after last frost.
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Love in The Mist (Nigella damascena)
Lilac pink flowers amid delicate, lacy foliage. Hardy 12-inch-high plant cultivated
since the late 16th century. Originally from 300 B.C. Greece. Plants prefer full
sun to light shade. Seed capsules are used in dried arrangements. Great cut flowers.
Flowers before mid-summer.
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Love Lies Bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus)
Produces unusual, cascading red flowers that droop almost to the ground during the
summer. Likes sunny, warm location and grows 4–5 feet high.
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Malva, Braveheart (Malva sylvestris)
Produces mauve pink flowers with dark purple eye and dark veins, 2 inches or more
across. Prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Also called French Mallow or Braveheart
Tree Mallow. Grows 3–5 feet high.
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Marigold Varieties (Tagetes patula)
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French Stripe
This easy-to-grow plant blooms until the first frost in the fall. Grows to 3 feet
high.
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Mix
This easy-to-grow plant blooms until the first frost in the fall. Grows to 3 feet
high.
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Mimosa, Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
Spreading plant known for its mimosa-like foliage. Lilac-pink globular blooms in
midsummer. A tender annual that grows to 12 inches. Fascinating leaves curl up to
the touch. Prefers sun.
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Morning Glory Varieties
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Chocolate (Ipomoea imperialis)
Climbing annual that grows to 5 feet high. Prefers full sun. Produces huge chocolate
single flowers. Blooms all summer.
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Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor)
Produces impressive, large, sky-blue flowers. Grows 6–8 feet high.
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Mini Bar Rose (Ipomoea nil)
Rosy blooms with a white throat and outer edge attracts hummingbirds. Great ground
cover that grows best in full sun or partial shade.
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Mt Fugi Mix (Ipomoea x imperialis)
Blooms spread to 6 inches across in a variety of colors: sky-blue, violet, royal
purple, pink and deep crimson. Prefers full sun but tolerates a bit of shade and
dry soil. Vines grow to 6 feet high.
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Nasturtium, Alaska mix (Tropaeolum majus cv)
Easy-to-grow plants come in reds, salmons, oranges and yellows. Flowers are edible
with variegated foliage. Seeds can be used as substitute for capers. Plants grow
to 12 inches high and spread to 18 inches. Blooms all summer. Prefers full sun.
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Painted Tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata)
Produces petunia-like flowers from yellows to purples. Great garden fillers and
container plants. Blooms early summer to fall. Deadheading recommended for maximum
blooms. Plant grows 12–24 inches high with flowers around 2 inches across. Best
in full sun.
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Petunia Varieties
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Double Cascade Blue
Large, double blooms hold up well to rain and wind and bloom better under partial
shade than single petunias. Early bloomers with good branching and flowers often.
Blooms in 14-16 weeks and grows 12–16 inches high.
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Double Pirouette, Purple or Rose
Comes in purple, red and rose. Double flowers with white picotee on these petal-packed,
carnation-flowered varieties with 3-1/2 to 4-inch blooms on compact plants. Heat
tolerant. Great for hanging baskets or windowboxes. Grows to 12 inches high.
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Pincushion Flower, Red (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
Has velvet-like flowers that appear on slender stalks through the summer months.
Grows to 12 inches high.
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Poppy Varieties
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Corn (Papaver rhoeas)
These were planted originally at Monticello in 1807 and then at Adena. This double
variety of the poppy was immortalized in Flanders during WWI. Dark red, double blooms
continue all summer. Prefers full sun.
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Heirloom Lorraine (Papaver)
These were planted originally at Monticello in 1807 and then at Adena. This double
variety of the common European field poppy was immortalized in Flanders during WWI.
Dark red, double blooms continue all summer. Prefers full sun.
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Salvia, Victoria (Salvia farinacea)
One of the most popular bedding annuals. Has spikes of dark, violet-blue flowers.
Grows to 16 inches high.
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Snail flower (Vigna caracalla)
Annual in the north. Grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. Produces beautiful,
pale-purple flowers with cream and yellow markings that are extremely fragrant.
Can be grown in pots.
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Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
Hardy, self-seeding heirloom variety that tolerates a light frost. Beautiful as
long-lasting cut flowers. Grows 18–20 inches tall.
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Sweet Pea Mix (Lathyrus odorata)
Produces small, scarlet-orange tasseled flowers. Prefers warm, moist conditions.
Self-seeding plant blooms until the first frost. Grows 16–20 inches tall.
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Tassle Flower (Emilia coccinea)
Produces small, scarlet-orange tasseled flowers. Prefers warm, moist summer conditions.
Self-seeding plant blooms all summer until the first frost. Grows 16–20 inches tall.
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Zinnia Varieties
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Red Spider (Zinnia tenuiflora)
Mentioned in botanical documents as early as 1801. Produces sturdy habit, single
spider-like bright red 1-inch blooms from mid-summer until frost. Grows 2 feet tall.
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Peruvian (Zinnia peruviana)
Although zinnias did not become popular until late in the 19th century, it was grown
in 18th-century gardens. Produces yellow and orange pastel flowers throughout the
summer. Grows 3–4 feet high.
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Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Perennial. Native wildflower grows in open meadows and sunny sites. Bright yellow
flowers with a distinctive black eye. Prefers full sun and grows 2 feet high.
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Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Perennial. Valued for its summer flowers in brilliant shades of orange to red. Well-suited
for dry places. Does not transplant easily.
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Dianthus Varieties
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Pink Pheasant Eye (Dianthus plumarius)
Biennial. A 1930s mounding perennial with fragrant, pink flower clusters. Grows
12–14 inches and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Blooms early summer until
fall. Deer resistant. Heat and drought tolerant. Prefers sun to light shade.
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Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)
Biennial. Associated with early American gardens and has large clusters of red,
pink and white blooms. Prefers sun, but also thrives in partial shade. Grows 2 inches
high.
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Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Biennial. Cascades of 2 to 3-inch flowers in shades of purple, rose and pink with
spotted throats, borne on 1 to 2-foot spikes. Requires good sun, but cannot tolerate
heat and drought. Blooms in late June and July. Grows to 2–3 feet.
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Globe Centaurea (Centaurea macrocephala)
Perennial. Golden yellow, thistle-like flowers are 3 inches across. Hardy plant
used for background borders or fresh and dried cut flower. Grows to 36 inches high.
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Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum)
Perennial. Prefers sun. Slow growing, spreading plant that produces mostly pink
flowers. Blooms in summer and grows 1– 4 inches. Prefers poor, well-drained soil.
Rosette form succulents are perfect for rock gardens and pots.
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Hollyhock Varieties (Alcea rosea)
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Peaches ‘N Dreams
Biennial. Best in sun. Grows 5–6 feet.
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Carnival
Biennial. Double blossoms (3–5 inches across) grow in long, wand-like clusters.
Prefers full sun to partial shade. Grows 5–9 feet high.
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Dwarf
Biennial. Dwarf variety of Hollyhock with masses of double flowers in a bright range
of colors. Grows 2 inches high.
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Nigra
Self-seeding biennial. Grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, but mentioned even
earlier by John Parkinson in 1629, who described this single hollyhock as being
“of a dark red like blackblood.” Appears black on overcast days, but will have a
hint of red in the bright sun. Grows 5–6 feet tall.
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Lobelia/Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Perennial. This native plant produces brilliant scarlet flowers on 4-foot-high stalks
from mid-to-late summer. Thrives in very moist, partially-shaded sites but also
satisfactory in full sun if the soil is not too dry.
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Maltese Cross (Lychnis chalcedonica)
Perennial. Blooms in early summer with bright scarlet flowers. An early import to
the American colonies. Plants need a sunny location and are winter-hardy. Grows
4 feet high.
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Native Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Perennial. Pendulous yellow and red flowers are among the most attractive of all
native plants for a partially-shaded site.
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Pansy, Historic (Viola x wittrockiana)
Biennial. Vigorous, self-seeding plant. The flowers are reminiscent of little happy
faces. Very easy to grow. Grows 6–8 inches high.
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Perennial Flax (Linum perenne)
Perennial. Produces funnel-shaped, clear blue flowers on slender stems in early
to mid-summer. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grows 2–3 feet high.
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Pumpkin on a Stick (Solanum Intergrifolium)
Perennial. Produces orange blooms all summer. Small scarlet ribbed fruit is great
for cut flower arrangements and holiday decorations. Grows 16 inches high.
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Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)
Perennial. Prefers full sun. Produces magenta and white flowers and silver foliage
that resembles Lamb's Ears. Grows 2–3 feet high.
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Burgundian (Pompom de Bourgogne)
Cabbage rose or Centifolia (1664). Perhaps the oldest miniature rose still in commerce;
the exquisite flowers with their 'hundred petals' are like carved high centered
antique buttons. A miniature Centifolia with deep pink to violet double blooms with
a paler pink center and button eye. 1-1/2 inch blooms in early summer. The bush
forms a dense 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide mound with small, dark green leaves, attractive
in the landscape even when not blooming. Blooms once, fragrant.
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Konigin von Danemark
Alba (Booth, 1826). Called the “Queen of Denmark”. Very full, beautifully quartered
long-lasting flowers are deep pink with pale edges. Height reaches 5 to 6 feet with
spreading, sturdy canes and blue-green foliage. Blooms once, fragrant.
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Seven Sisters (Rosa multiflora f. platyphylla)
Hybrid Multiflora/Rambler (1817). Quite popular in the mid 1800's. Cascades of double,
pink flowers in varying shades ranging from deep pink buds aging to ivory white
flowers, presumably in seven shades. A rambler, the canes can reach 10 feet with
clean, bright green foliage. Blooms once, fragrant.
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Sydonie
Damask Perpetual (Dorisy, 1846). Very fragrant, medium pink, densely double flowers
in summer and autumn. A bushy, 3 to 5 foot plant with long, narrow leaflets. It
has the most reliable repeat and continuous bloom of all the Damask Perpetuals.
Repeat blooms, very fragrant.
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Variegata di Bologna
Bourbon (Bonfiglioli, 1909). The rounded purple and creamy-white striped blooms
are fragrant and full, occasionally producing canes with solid purple blooms. The
canes can spread 5 to 9 feet, depending on pruning and climate, and have neat, nearly
evergreen foliage. Blooms once, fragrant.
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Ananas Noir
(Mid-season bloomer – 80 days) Also known as the Black Pineapple. Yields heavy crop
of 1 to 1 1/2 lb., round, dark-purple, fruit. Interior color is a tie-dye like mix
of pink, red, green yellow colors. Has a sweet & smokey flavors with a whollop of
acidity.
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Anna Russian
(Mid-season bloomer – 70 days) Heart-shaped tomato producing 16-ounce, pink-red
fruit. Superb, rich, old-fashioned tomato flavor with lots of juice.
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Arkansas Traveler
(Late-season bloomer– 70 days) Great hot weather producer of 8-ounce, round fruits.
Flavorful, rose-pink tomatoes.
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Aunt Ruby's German Green
(Mid-season bloomer – 79 days) Heirloom beefsteak variety. Slightly flattened, 16-ounce
fruit that ripens to a pale greenish-yellow with a slight pink blush that extends
to the inside. Superb, fruity sweet and slightly spicy taste.
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Black from Tula
(Mid-season bloomer – 75 days) Deep purplish color. Delicious full flavor, sweet
and spicy. A Russian heirloom upright, grows 3–4 feet high and bears an 8-ounce
to 12-ounce fruit. Largest of the black tomatoes.
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Brandywine, Red
(Late season bloomer – 90 days) Considered by many as the best tasting tomato in
the world. Old Amish heirloom, dating from 1885. Upright plant that produces fruit
weighing 8–16 ounces. Great flavor, thin skinned.
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Cherokee Purple
(Late season bloomer – 80 days) Produces loads of 12- to 16-ounce dusty rose-colored
tomatoes with green-to-purple shoulders. Drought and heat resistant. Rivals the
Brandywine in flavor. Crack free and disease resistant. Heirloom from Tennessee
cultivated by the Native American Cherokee tribe.
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Egyptian
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) Red tomato with a 3-inch-by-3-inch round tapered
meaty fruit. A good canner. A descendent from seed found in a 4,000-year-old Egyptian
tomb.
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Favorite
(Late bloomer – 90 days) Bright red, 6- to 8-ounce fruit produced in bunches. Very
productive plant introduced in 1883 by the Livingston Seed Co., Columbus, Ohio.
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Garden Peach
(Mid-season bloomer – 70 days) Produces small, 2-ounce, delicate, meaty fruit with
peach color outside and a hint of red inside. Light fuzz on fruit and leaves. Mild-sweet
taste.
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Giant Belgian Pink
(Late season bloomer – 90 days) Developed in Ohio and known for its size and flavor.
Dark pink fruit that averages 32 ounces but can grow to 5 pounds. Fruit is meaty
with few seeds and is great for cooking and canning.
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Golden Queen
(Mid-season bloomer – 75 days) Waxy, yellow-orange, 8 to 10-ounce fruit with a mild,
yet superb, sweet full tomato flavor. Introduced by Livingston in 1882. Disease
resistant. Excellent for salads and sandwiches.
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Great White
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) A large white beefsteak tomato with sweet, almost
melon-like flavor.
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Green Zebra
(Mid-season bloomer – 75 days) Green, 2-inch round fruit with dark green, zebra-like
stripes. Yields 3-ounce tomatoes with old-fashioned lemon-lime flavor. An heirloom
variety from the United States. Good for salads, sandwiches, pickling and sauces.
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Hillbilly Leaf
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) An Ohio, low acid beefsteak, producing 16- to 32-ounce,
heavily-ribbed, orange-yellow fruit with red mottled skin and red streaks inside.
Sweet, fruity flavor.
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Italian Heirloom
(Late season bloomer – 90 days) Beautiful upright heirloom from Italy with fruit
weighing over 16 ounces. Full flavor and easy to peel. Good for slicing and canning
with little waste.
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Marglobe
(Mid-season bloomer – 80 days) Developed in 1917, the Marglobe tomato became one
of the parents to the Rutgers tomato in 1925. Produces a huge crop of perfectly
round, smooth, solid fleshed red tomatoes. Excellent tomato for home use.
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Mortgage Lifter
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) One of America's favorite heirlooms. Produces 16-
to 32-ounce, meaty, red, beefsteak fruit with sweet flavor. An ideal sandwich tomato.
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Mule Team, Red
(Mid-season bloomer – 79 days) Cultivated since 1856. Moderate yield of 3-inch,
8- to 12-ounce globes with mild sweet flavor. Great in humid conditions and can
withstand disease, stress and drought conditions. Plant bears until frost.
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Paragon Livingston
(Mid-season bloomer – 79 days) Red 8- to 10-ounce slightly flattened fruit. Introduced
in 1870 by the Livingston Seed Co. Used by the canning industry and home gardeners.
Known for high yield and good flavor.
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Riesentraube Cherry
(Mid-season bloomer – 75 days) This cherry variety from East Germany means “giant
bunch of grapes.” Excellent flavored cherries grow in bunches of 20–35 small oval
red fruits with pointed ends. Grown by the Pennsylvania Dutch as early as 1856.
Good for wine and salads.
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Rose
(Mid-season bloomer – 78 days) A large leafy heirloom that produces deep, rose-pink,
3-inch, meaty globes with a taste that rivals those varieties heralded most for
their luscious taste.
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Soldaki
(Mid- to late-season bloomer – 75 days) Dark pink, slightly flattened globes up
to 16 ounces. Originally from Krakow, Poland, and came to Cleveland around 1900.
Vigorous potato-leaf variety with intensely luscious sweet flavor in a beefsteak
like tomato. Low acid.
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Tobolsk
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) Originally from Tobolsk, Russia, this 100-year-old
heirloom yields 3-inch, round, light-yellow-to-orange fruit with sweet flavor. Perfect
balance of acid for its deliciously sweet flavors.
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Yellow Pear
(Late season bloomer – 85 days) Produces clusters of small, bright yellow, pear-shaped
fruit.
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Yellow Perfection
(Mid- season bloomer – 75 days) 1 1/2 to 2-inch, round, brilliant-yellow, thin-skinned
and delicious fruits. This potato leaf heirloom originally from an old British seed
company.
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Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
Grows about 18 inches high. Likes dry, light soil, on a warm, sunny border. Seeds
are often used in applesauce, breads, soups, and teas for licorice-like flavor.
Leaves can be used in salads.
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Basil, Marseille (Ocimum basilicum Marseille)
Annual. Strongest, most delectable scent of any Basil. This dwarf, just 10 inches
high and 8 inches wide, has extra-large leaves on well-branched plants. Perfect
for containers as well as beds and the veggie patch. Sweet, strong flavor. Prefers
full sun and well-drained soil. Used in cooking and potpourris.
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Beebalm (Monarda citriodora)
Biennial. Grows in ordinary garden soil. or even in heavy clay. Requires a part
shade to sunny area. Grows around 3 feet high. Can spread like a mint. Used in teas
and potpourri.
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Borage (Borago officinalis)
Annual that grows to 2 feet high with 1-1/2 inch star-shaped, purple-blue flowers
that can be added to hot and cold drinks. Hollow stem has celery-like flavor and
can be used as straw. Attracts bees.
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Catmint (Nepeta cataria)
Perennial ground cover with light, grayish-green leaves. Displays soft blue flowers
in summer. If the plant is cut back when it is finished flowering, it will produce
new blooms. Spreads like a mint. Repels insects and attracts bees. Cats play with
it like a toy but kittens seem to ignore it.
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Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Annual, though it can reseed. Low growing plant with blooms that appear from the
end of July to September, Chamomile also likes full sun and soil moist. Does well
between pavers and stepping-stones. Used in teas but if you have hayfever allergies
it is not a good plant to have.
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Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Perennial that grows to 10 inches high. Has decorative, light purple flowers. Cut
fresh leaves for use as they grow. Great for cooking because of its light onion-like
flavor.
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Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Annual that grows to 2–3 feet high. Difficult to transplant. Plants should be staked
as they grow. Pick leaves just as flowers open and pick seeds when they are flat
and brown. Leaves and seeds of dill are popular for flavoring pickles, sauerkraut
and many dishes.
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Fennel, Sweet Florence (Foeniculum dulce)
Annual that grows 3–4 feet high. Needs full sun and space rows 3 feet apart. Should
be staked when it reaches 18 inches. Best stems for eating are the tender flower
stalks just before they blossom. The leaves have an anise-like flavor and the stems
can be eaten like celery. Seeds can be used in cheese spreads and vegetable dishes.
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Lamb’s Ears (Stachys lanata)
Perennial with soft wooly leaves that can be invasive. Grows to 12 in. high. Needs
full sun and well drained soil. Adds texture and color to the perennial garden.
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Lavender, English (Lavandula angustifolia)
Perennial. Grows to 2-4 feet high. Needs well-drained, almost dry soil. Produces
white, lavender-colored flowers and grey-green foliage. Used as fragrance for linens,
sachets and potpourris, as a flavoring herb in cordials and as a medicinal herb
in aromatherapy for sleep.
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Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)
Perennial from the mint family that grows to 2 feet high. Small light blue to white
flowers. Has culinary, cosmetic and medicinal uses. Fresh sprigs are used to top
drinks and as garnishes on salads and main dishes. Fresh or dried leaves make a
refreshing tea, either iced or hot. Dried leaves are used as an ingredient in potpourri
and the oil is used in perfume.
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Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
Tender perennial that grows 3- 4 feet high. Likes sun to partial shade. Has a clean,
sharp lemon scent, often considered the best of the lemon-scented herbs. Can be
used in cooking and scented products.
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Mother of Thyme (Thymus serphyllum)
Perennial. Likes both full sun and partial shade. Blooms in early summer with lavendar
blossoms. Low growing, creeping plant that likes moist, well draining soil. More
of a groundcover than a cooking herb but can be used that way. Strong flavor.
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Oregano Varieties
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French (Origanum)
Perennial. Has sprawling stems that can grow to 2 feet high. Grows well in poor
soil and produces small pink or white flowers. Replant when plants become woody
in 3–4 years. Use fresh leaves as needed. Preserve leaves by drying. Leaves are
used as a flavoring on pizza. Sprinkle leaves over lamb or steak, rubbed with lemon
juice. Add to other Italian-type sauces.
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Greek (Origanum vulgare hirtum)
Perennial. Likes both full sun and partial shade. Likes moist, well draining soil.
Grows about 12 inches high and spreads quickly. Has a strong flavor but it doesn't
hold up well to prolonged cooking, especially when used fresh. Better used dried.
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Parsley Varieties
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Favorit (Petroselinum crispum)
Annual, rapid growing herb that likes sun. Grows to 12 in. high and prefers dry,
good soil. Plants have curled double leaves.
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Triple Curled (Parsley hortensis)
Annual, that grows 10–12 in. high. Closely curled dark green leaves. Fast growing
uniform strain. High in vitamins and minerals.
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Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Perennial that grows 6–12 in. high. Produces pale-bluish flowers. Strong mint-like
odor and pungent taste. Tolerates most soils and prefers direct sun. Repels insects
but is not for eating.
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Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Perennial that spreads rootstalks and many upright stems 2 feet or higher. Grows
in sun or shade and produces tiny purple flowers. Best in a rich, moist soil. It
is best to renew beds every 3–4 years. Spreads quickly, and is difficult to contain.
Use leaves at any time. Leaves to be dried are best taken just as flowers begin
to appear. Used in tea and for other flavoring.
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Perilla, Red (Perilla frutescens)
Annual that grows 18–30 inches high, in full well-drained soil. Prefers full sun
to light shade. Harvest before seeds form, very invasive if allowed to seed. Flowers
are edible and make a fragrant tea. Deep burgundy foliage looks good as a backdrop
for white flowers. Great in containers.
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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
In Ohio, left outside it is an annual. Grown in a container, and brought inside,
it is a perennial. Evergreen shrub with pine needle-like leaves. Likes warm, humid
environment. Grows 1–3 feet high. Used in cooking and in fragrance products.
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Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Perennial that grows 2–3 feet high and has a tendency to sprawl. Needs full sun.
Space at least 2 feet apart. Plants eventually become woody and should be renewed
every 3–4 years. Pick the leaves before or at blooming. Cut back the stems after
blooming. Use in stuffings for poultry, rabbit, pork and baked fish. Also can be
used in sausage or meat loaves.
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Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Perennial that grows best in a somewhat moist soil. Renew beds every 3–4 years.
Growth is enhanced by frequent cuttings. Pick fresh leaves and leafy stem tips for
use at any time. For drying, it is best to cut leaves just as flowering begins.
Leaves are used in teas and to flavor cold drinks and make mint sauce.
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St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Perennial that grows well in full to partial sun. Tolerates shade and prefers moist
and light soils. Grows 12–24 inches high. St. John’s wort is one of the most commonly
purchased herbal products in the United States. It is used as a treatment for depression.
Because St. John's wort interacts with a wide variety of medications, take it only
under the guidance of a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about herbal medicines.
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Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Perennial that blooms in July-August above ferny leaves. Produces clusters of small
golden buttons. Known as a no-maintenance flower. Grows 36–48 inches high. Prefers
full sun to partial shade. Grows well in average or even poor soils. Natural, organic
insect repellent. Leaves give off a pungent odor that repels bugs. Poisonous to
eat.
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Woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Biennial. It is commonly called dyer's woad and produces a blue dye less concentrated
than indigo. Has yellow flowers in the second year. Grows 3-4 feet high. Prefers
full sun. Was the plant dye used to create the blue of the Zoarites, from Ohio.
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Attar Rose
A strongly rose scented plant with a sprawling growth form and large, lobed leaves.
It has pale lavender flowers in the spring. Grows 2’ high.
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Apple
The small, round, light green leaves form a mound of tart-apple-scented foliage.
Delicate, small white flowers with red veins appearing in spring and summer. Grows
12” high.
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Bitter Lemon
This is pelargoniums with a strong lemon scent and showy lavender flowers whose
two upper petals have strong burgundy markings. The coarse-textured leaves are lobed.
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Concolor Lace
Small and compact; good for pots or hanging baskets. Small, crinkly grey leaves;
great pink and red flowers; pleasant scent vaguely like filberts. Tender perennial.
Grows 12” high.
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Ginger
Small, glossy green leaves have a delightful ginger scent. Very upright growth with
showy rose-lavender flowers. Grows 12” high.
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Lady Plymouth
Lady Plymouth is a medium-large plant with deeply cut, gray-green leaves and a gold
border. The flowers are pink with purple centers and have a strong rose fragrance.
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Lemon Fizz
Lemon scented. Prefers full sun. Grows 12”–18” high.
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Orange (Pelargonium capitatum)
Very large round leaves with orangey scent. Pink flowers.
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Peppermint
An unusual large, trailing plant. Large, grey, soft velvety leaves like a Lamb's
Ear. Small white flowers and strongly peppermint scented. This is one of the very
few that does not like direct midsummer sun; prefers a spot with shade in the middle
of the day.
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Pink Capitatum
Strong fruity scent, mid green leaves and bright pink flowers. Has a habit of trailing.
A tea made from leaves was an old-time remedy for a variety of ailments. The leaves
can be rubbed into the hands to soothe calluses and scratches.
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Beans
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Painted Lady (Phaseolus coccineus cv)
Beautiful bi-colored blossoms are extremely attractive to hummingbird moths. Described
by Arrabida in Flora of Rio deJaneiro in 1827. This strain is less affected by warmer
temperatures and is a prolific bloomer. Pole habit, 68 days.
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Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus coccineus)
One of the oldest runner beans now in existence. First documented in 1750. Good
for use as either small snaps, sliced pods or green shells; used in place of limas
in cooler climates. Highly ornamental. Pole habit, 65 days.
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Broccoli, Calabrese
Brought to America by Italian immigrants in the 1880s. Popular market variety. Tight
heads can grow up to 8" in diameter. After the central head is harvested, side shoots
follow. 58–90 days from transplant.
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Cauliflower
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Early Snowball
Introduced to American gardeners in 1888 by Peter Henderson & Company. Well adapted
for forcing or wintering-over for early crops in warmer regions. Smooth 6”–7" heads
of tightly formed white curds are solid, crisp and tender; excellent quality. 60–85
days from transplant.
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Purple of Sicily
Beautiful, brilliant purple heads weigh 2–3 lbs. and are of a fine, sweet flavor.
The heads cook to bright green. Insect-resistant variety that is easier to grow
than white varieties; rich in minerals. 60–85 days from transplant.
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Eggplant
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Black Beauty
Since 1902, this Burpee introduction remains a standard worldwide for large-fruited
black eggplant. It was an immediate hit because the plants ripened perfect fruits
earlier than other varieties. 74 days.
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Rosa Bianca
Stunning Italian heirloom, beautiful fruits are prized by chefs. Very meaty 4”–6"
round fruits, mild flavor and almost never bitter. Well suited for all cooking needs.
80 days from transplant.
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Striped Toga
Stunning striped fruits are 1" wide by 3" long. The fruits turn from two-toned green
to two-toned orange. Holds very well in fresh or dried arrangements. Strong flavored
fruits, but not bitter.
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Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
Also known as French artichoke, this native of southern Europe has been in cultivation
since the 1500s. To grow as an annual, sow seeds in pots indoors during late winter
and transplant seedlings to the garden. Globe artichokes need rich, well-prepared
soil, plenty of sun, and even moisture. The edible "chokes" develop by mid-summer
and several can be harvested during the season. If left on the plant, they will
develop into a purple, thistle-like flower.
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Gourds
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Nest Egg (Cucurbita pepo-var. oviferis)
A small white gourd shaped just like a hen's egg. Ranges from 2"–3" long. A few
fruits will show a ridge or bumps.
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Tennessee Dancing
A tiny gourd just 2" long. Bottle-shaped and green and white striped, turning tan
when dry. Dancing gourds spin just like atop.
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Kale, Red Russian (a.k.a. Ragged Jack)
Vigorous 18”–36" plants have frilly, purple-veined, blue-green leaves tinged with
reddish-purple. Very tender, mild sweet flavor. Hardy to –10° F. Documented since
1885. 50–60 days from transplant.
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Lettuces
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Grandpa Admire's
Bronze-tinged leaf lettuce that forms large loose heads. Mild fine flavor, slow
to bolt, tender longer than most, even in extreme heat. George Admire was a Civil
War veteran born in 1822. Butterhead, 60 days.
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Tennis Ball (Lactuca sativa)
This variety was popular in the vegetable garden at Monticello. Jefferson noted
that, "It does not require so much care and attention" as other types. Tennis-ball
Lettuce was grown in America in the late 18th century, and it eventually became
the parent of our Boston lettuces still popular today. Plant the seed in rich, well-drained
soil early in the spring for an early summer crop, or in late summer for a fall
harvest.
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Melon, Delice deLa Table
French heirloom listed by Vilmorin in 1885. Translates as “Delight of the Table.”
Ribbed fruits have sweet orange flesh and weigh about 1–2 pounds. Very hard-to-find,
almost extinct. 85–90 days.
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Okra
Annual, that grows 10"–12" high. Closely curled dark green leaves. Fast growing
uniform strain. High in vitamins and minerals. Holds for a long time at harvesting
stage, even in warm weather.
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Peppers
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Texas Bird
Perennial that grows 6”–12” high. Produces pale, bluish flowers. Strong mint-like
odor and pungent taste. Tolerates most soils and prefers direct sun. Repels insects
but is not for eating. Hot.
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Bullnose Bell
Grown at Monticello by Thomas Jefferson and listed in 1863 by Fearing Burr. Good
flavor, crisp fruits ripen from green to red. Productive, sturdy plants. An unusual
characteristic of this variety is the combination of sweet and heat: the thick flesh
is sweet and the cell partitions or ribs are slightly pungent. Sweet, 58 days.
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Fish
Pre-1870s African-American heirloom. Beautiful green and white variegated foliage
on 18”–24" plants. Pendant fruits 2”–3" long, ripen from cream with green stripes
to orange with brown stripes to all red. Traditionally used in oyster and crab houses
around Chesapeake Bay. Perfect for salsa. 80 days from transplant. Mild to hot in
flavor.
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Golden Treasure
Excellent Italian heirloom variety. Large tapered fruits are 8”–9" long and 2" at
the shoulder. Ripens from green to shiny yellow. Sweet, medium-thick flesh and tender
skin. 80 days from transplant.
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Napoleon Sweet
Mild as an apple. Fruit about 8" long and 4" in circumference, standing upright
until they get so heavy they sometimes droop. Good flavor when green, sweeter when
red. 70–90 days from transplant.
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Watermelon, Star & Moon
Foliage and fruits are spotted with yellow, just like the original Van Doren strain,
but have yellow flesh and white seeds. Nice and sweet. Fruits are 18”–24" long and
weigh 10–16 lbs. 95 days.
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