The Heirloom Garden
_For several years now I have been carefully collecting
heirloom garden seeds that grow well in my area. These
plants are typically cultivars that were once historically important in their
region and have been left behind in the age of
industrialized large-scale farming. Many of these varieties have kept
their own unique traits through open-pollentation and are specifically
adapted to resisting local pests, illness, and weather extremes. Many
heirlooms that I grow each year are the same types that our
grandparents and great-grandparents grew to feed their families. I took
an interest in heirloom plants because I believe in organic, sustainable
farming practices, natural biodiversity, and the preservation of
heirloom varieties for the next generation to experience and enjoy.
I work with the following:
Asparagus
Mary Washington Asparagus (spring/summer)
I work with the following:
Asparagus
Mary Washington Asparagus (spring/summer)
Broccoli
Green Sprouting Calabrese (spring/fall)
Green Sprouting Calabrese (spring/fall)
Carrots
Scarlet Nantes Carrot (spring/summer/fall)
Chantenay Red Core Carrot (spring/summer/fall)
Cosmic Purple (spring/summer/fall)
Scarlet Nantes Carrot (spring/summer/fall)
Chantenay Red Core Carrot (spring/summer/fall)
Cosmic Purple (spring/summer/fall)
Cauliflower
Snowball Self-Blanching (spring/fall)
Snowball Self-Blanching (spring/fall)
Corn
Country Gentleman Sweet Corn (summer)
Early Golden Bantam Corn (summer)
Country Gentleman Sweet Corn (summer)
Early Golden Bantam Corn (summer)
Cucumber
White Wonder Cucumber (summer)
Eggplants
Black Beauty Eggplant (summer)
Rosa Bianca Italian Eggplant (summer)
Garden Beans
Bush Blue Lake 274 Garden Bean (summer)
Dragon Tongue Garden Bean (pictured below- summer)
White Wonder Cucumber (summer)
Eggplants
Black Beauty Eggplant (summer)
Rosa Bianca Italian Eggplant (summer)
Garden Beans
Bush Blue Lake 274 Garden Bean (summer)
Dragon Tongue Garden Bean (pictured below- summer)
_Royal Burgundy Garden Bean (pictured below- summer)
_Calypso Bean (summer)
Chinese Red Noodle Bean (summer)
Cherokee Trail of Tears Black Bean (summer)
Jacob's Cattle Bean (summer)
Small Red Bean (summer)
Taylor Dwarf Horticultural Bean (summer)
Uncle Steve's Italian Bean (summer)
Greens
Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach (spring/fall)
Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce (spring/fall)
Bibb or Limestone Lettuce (spring/fall)
Bright Lights Swiss Chard (spring/summer/fall)
Canton Bok Pak Choy (pictured below- spring/fall)
Chinese Red Noodle Bean (summer)
Cherokee Trail of Tears Black Bean (summer)
Jacob's Cattle Bean (summer)
Small Red Bean (summer)
Taylor Dwarf Horticultural Bean (summer)
Uncle Steve's Italian Bean (summer)
Greens
Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach (spring/fall)
Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce (spring/fall)
Bibb or Limestone Lettuce (spring/fall)
Bright Lights Swiss Chard (spring/summer/fall)
Canton Bok Pak Choy (pictured below- spring/fall)
_Melons
Hales Best Cantaloupe (summer)
Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon (summer)
Allsweet (summer)
Onions
Red Creole Onion (spring/summer)
Passion Flora
Blue Passion Flower (summer)
Peppers
Chinese Giant Sweet Pepper (summer)
Radish
Cherry Belle Radish (pictured below- spring/fall)
Easter Egg Radish (spring/fall)
Hales Best Cantaloupe (summer)
Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon (summer)
Allsweet (summer)
Onions
Red Creole Onion (spring/summer)
Passion Flora
Blue Passion Flower (summer)
Peppers
Chinese Giant Sweet Pepper (summer)
Radish
Cherry Belle Radish (pictured below- spring/fall)
Easter Egg Radish (spring/fall)
_Watermelon Radish (spring/fall)
Peas
Dwarf Grey Sugar (spring/fall)
Maestro (spring/fall)
Oregon Sugar Pod II (pictured below- spring/fall)
Peas
Dwarf Grey Sugar (spring/fall)
Maestro (spring/fall)
Oregon Sugar Pod II (pictured below- spring/fall)
Tomatoes
Purple Cherokee Tomato (summer)
Super Sioux Tomato (summer)
Yellow Brandywine Tomato (summer)
Cour di Bue Italian Tomato (summer)
Amish Paste Tomato (summer)
Yellow Pear Tomato (summer)
Carbon Tomato (summer)
Japanese Trifele Black Tomato (summer)
Principe Borghese Tomato (summer)
Chocolate Cherry Tomato (summer)
Squash
Early Prolific Straightneck Summer Squash (summer)
North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash (summer)
Zucchino Rampicante Italian Squash (summer)
Early White Bush Scallop (summer)
Sunflower
Mammoth Sunflower (summer)
I also grow various other fruits including blueberries, strawberries (pictured below), raspberries, and have an herb garden, too. I hope one day to have a sprawling fruit orchard including apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grape vines, and more when I have the acreage to do so.