Parisienne Carrot

Free Gift from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  Available for purchase here for $2.50/800 seeds
Type: Carrot

If I didn't know better, I'd swear that Baker Creek are mind-readers, because this was actually on my short list of carrots to buy.  I ended up only picking one variety to purchase- Cosmic Purple, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this free gift tucked in with my order of bean seeds.

This is a smaller, "stubby" type carrot that is intended to be grown in less carrot-friendly soils.  I don't have too much problem with carrots at the community garden, since we use raised beds and I always do a good job of fluffing up the soil, but these would be very useful for anyone who has a heavier soil, for sure.  As for me, I'm just excited to grow something cutely-shaped and definitely excited to see how they turn out.  I think that thinly slicing a fat little carrot would make for great 'medallions' to put in salad or something, or maybe even to use as little dip-holders in appetizers or something. 

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Purple Podded Pole Bean

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for  $2.75/40-60 seeds
Type: Green Bean
Growth: Vine

I kind of like that this one doesn't have a fancy name- it's just a 'Purple-Podded Pole' bean.  There were a few solid purple varieties available and I settled on this one pretty much entirely because one of the reviewers was located in Alaska and had good luck growing it in a raised bed- I figure if they had time for it in Alaska, I should have no issues getting this puppy to grow here in Montana.

The interesting thing about this bean- and from what I can see, other purple beans as well- is that it turns green when cooked.  So you can have a gorgeous addition to your garden, but you won't creep out anyone who has a "thing" about oddly colored foods.  Of course, I would personally be happier if they stayed purple when cooked, but color changing veggies are kind of cool, too.  I am also thinking of pickling beans this year, but we'll see about that.  This is another pole bean, and another one I'll be planting both at home and at the community garden.

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Gold Marie Pole Bean

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $3.00/40-60 seeds
Type: Green Bean
Growth: Vine

It's probably funny and a bit confusing that I call this a "green bean" when it is actually golden-colored, but I use that terminology to mean that I intend to eat the pods whole rather than drying the seeds to use as dry beans.  Some of these beans can do double duty, but I don't generally use dry beans so I'll probably stick mostly to eating them when they are tender, and just save a few pods for next year's seeds.

These beans are supposedly on the larger side, and I love that they are yellow- which will make them easier to harvest as well.  I always have problems with missing beans, peas, and other green podded things that I should be harvesting young- I invariably miss a few, and they end up overripe.  That isn't necessarily the worst thing, but it helps to keep harvesting things like beans as constantly as possible to keep the plants producing for longer periods.

I'm hoping that this year's experiment with pole beans goes better than last year's- I will be just trellising them this time, as opposed to growing them up corn stalks.

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Dragon Tongue Bush Bean

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.75/40-60 seeds
Type: Green Bean
Growth: Bush

I ended up putting in a second order from Baker Creek, because I forgot to order green beans.  While the 'Montana Green' bush bean from Fisher's Seeds is fabulous and I am growing that again this year, I also wanted to try something new.  I had trouble narrowing down what I was going to plant, and I may have gone a little overboard (good thing I like green beans!), but I knew this one was going to make the cut, because, well, look at it!  So pretty!

One of the things that keeps gardening interesting for me is definitely planting varieties like this.  I love growing my own food, as well, but if I can have something pretty *and* yummy, why not go for the double whammy?  I have high hopes for this little beauty, and I'm planning on planting some both at home and at Pea Pods.

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Ananas D'Amerique a Chair Verte Melon

Source: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Free Gift.  Buyable here for $3.00/25-50 seeds.
Type: Melon
Growth: Vine

I think that Baker Creek must have assumed I am some kind of melon enthusiast, because in addition to the three types I purchased, they decided to include this free gift for me.  Supposedly famous for being grown in the US by Thomas Jefferson, this one is interesting because the name means something akin to "Green Fleshed Pineapple."  I'm interested to see what this beauty tastes like, assuming I can actually get the melons to full maturity, which is always a question mark in the north.  This one looks to have a fairly short season, but the fact of the matter is that melons generally love the heat, so I may need to take steps to ensure that the soil is warm enough.

I love the coloring and design on this packet and I wonder if they have a variety of free gifts with similar packet designs, or if this design is specific to this type of melon- who knows!  These are the weird thoughts that go through my head.

This melon brings the total I have to try up to 5- I may have a problem.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Golden Sweet Snow Pea

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  for $2.75/100 seeds
Type: Snow Peas
Growth: Vine

I love peas.  It was incredibly difficult to narrow down the varieties to just one, but I wanted to try again with the "Dwarf Grey Sugar" peas from last year (my seedlings were eaten to the roots by munchy bunnies), so I knew I couldn't go overboard.  I finally settled on these yellow snow peas, because snow peas are my favorite, and yellow will make them easy to spot.

The reviews at Baker Creek were also pretty conclusively awesome, so I'm sincerely hoping these do well.  I missed out on a crop of peas last year and I really have my fingers crossed for one this time around.  Did I mention that I love peas?  Especially snow peas.  I love to sautee them with a little butter until they are just tender but still fresh and crispy, and then munch away.  I could seriously make a main dish out of fresh snow peas and fresh green beans all by themselves.  Yum!

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Cour Di Bue Cabbage

Purchased From:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.00/300 seeds
Type: Cabbage

Cabbage doesn't seem terribly exciting to most people, and I can't say it's a favorite for square foot gardening because it does take up a bit of space, but this one looks like it will be interesting.  This cabbage has what is known as an "oxheart" shape, which I find very interesting, and is quite an old European heirloom.  I'm not the cabbage-eater in this family, but I took requests and one of the requests was for cabbage.  I will plant a few blocks of this and see how it turns out- if it is a hit, I will do more next year. I'll be starting these indoors in the next couple weeks and I think that they will end up being prime candidates for the sunny basement window.

This is another one I'd love to grow in a cold frame if I can get one built- there is a bit of flowerbed near the side door of our house that I am thinking of tearing out and replacing with a couple cold frames so that we can have easily-accessible winter veggies.  One of my projects in the coming weeks as spring starts to come upon us is to assess the areas we have for growing and see what I might be able to do.  It may end up being beneficial to convert the entire flowerbed on the kitchen side of the house into a kitchen garden.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Ching Chang Bok Choy

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.50/200 seeds
Type: Bok Choy
SFG Spacing:  9 per Square Foot

According to the description of this one, this Bok Choy variety is meant to be harvested when small, so I guess this is technically a "baby" variety.  The name just gets me- it seems a bit stereotypical for a traditionally Asian green, but if the product turns out to be worthwhile, I guess I can handle the slightly off-color name.

The main reason I'm trying this one out is a desire to expand my horizons when it comes to greens both as food and as plants in the garden.  Right now the main ones I consume are pretty much iceberg lettuce and baby spinach.  It just seems like a shame to let all the wonderful different types of greens out there go to waste!  So here goes nothing- I hope this isn't a disappointment.


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Snowball Self-Blanching Cauliflower

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.50/200 seeds
Type: Cauliflower

I'll be honest- I have not had the greatest luck with Brassicas, despite the fact that they are supposed to be fairly easy to grow.  But someone else at Pea Pods did grow cauliflower last year, and would have had great luck had they not been out of town when it needed blanching.  I'm skeptical about the self-blanching claim that this cauliflower makes, but I will be going to the garden enough to cover the heads if needed.

There's really nothing else particularly special here; I considered growing a purple cauliflower or something similar but decided against it and instead picked a classic old variety.  I plan to do both a spring and a fall planting of these as well as the other "cool-weather" crops in the garden, since sometimes a fall or spring planting will work better than the other. 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Rich Sweetness 132 Melon

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $3.00/15 seeds
Type: Melon
Growth: Vine

If you are thinking at this point that I went a little melon crazy this year, you'd be right.  I am really excited about this one, too.  This is another one you're going to want to click the link for, because the melons for this are just gorgeous- orange with yellow stripes.  And small.  And supposedly pretty tasty, also.  Same deal with this as with the watermelons- I will start a few indoors and a few out, and we'll see what happens.  This is apparently a Russian heirloom, though, so I am optimistic that we'll have luck with it here in Montana.

I also kind of like this packet design, which I think may be something they use for a "generic" type, since the website indicates that Rich Sweetness 132 is a newer acquisition for them. 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Cosmic Purple Carrot

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $3.00/300 seeds
Type: Carrot

Carrots are one of those vegetables that I could probably do an entire garden full of and still feel like I did not have enough.  I love them, and there are such wonderful colors available that it was really hard to narrow this down to just one that I wanted to grow- I may pick up a very basic variety later, but for now, this beauty is my number one choice.

These, unfortunately, are only purple-skinned, which is pretty standard for purple carrots.  I've yet to see a purple variety of carrot that is purple all the way through, though white, red, and yellow carrot varieties can indeed be colored the entire way through, as I found out several years ago when I grew a "rainbow mix" of carrots back in Rochester.

Speaking of the "rainbow mix," that is one thing I wish Baker Creek offered.  It would be so much less stressful to choose if I could just get a variety mix and roll the dice as to what I end up with! 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Golden Beet

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.50/250 seeds
Type: Beet

I'll be honest, I'm not really a fan of beets.  I keep trying them because tastes change and I may find a variety I like, but in general I find that they taste too much like, well, DIRT.  I picked this variety because it supposedly has both tasty greens and tasty roots.  I figure if I don't like the "Golden" beets any better than the red ones, I may enjoy the greens.  I'm all about new experiences.

Some of my family members enjoy beets, also, so again, no waste here!  In addition I actually do enjoy beet chips, so I'm hoping these work well for that.  It's interesting how many vegetables become palatable (or just tastier) when you dehydrate them into something crispy and wonderful.  Kale being the big one, but lots of other things as well.

One thing I have to say, also, is that Baker Creek has an insanely big selection of beets.  Seriously.  Some are considered better for feeding livestock, but still- it was a rough choice.  

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $1.50/600 seeds
Type: Turnip

If you don't click my link to the product page for any other veggie here, you should still click the link for this one.  The adorable photograph with the little girl is pretty much the entire reason I picked this variety.  I've never grown turnips, and my grandfather (my gardening inspiration- I'll have to talk about him someday) did not either.  At least, he didn't while I was helping him garden.  I'm not sure what to expect, but we'll see.  I'm sure that if no one in this house cares for the turnips that I'll be able to unload free produce on someone else, so I'm not worried about "waste."

This variety seems to be quite old- according to the description, pre-1880, which appeals to me.  I do think that "modern" varieties, hybrid or not, have a place in the world, but there is something fun about growing something from what I used to call "olden times" when I was a kid.  "Tried and True" can be better than "New and Improved" depending on the situation.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Rocky Top Lettuce Mix

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $3/1000 seeds
Type: Lettuce!

Last year's Burpee lettuce blend that I purchased from Wal*Mart was sadly a bust, which is part of the reason I'm not purchasing any seeds from physical stores this year.  Nope, not even from garden centers.  I will purchase plants from the local nurseries (Probably Bundi's, as I was quite happy with the plants I got from there last year), but all my seeds are mail-order only.  Why?  Because physical store locations, especially ones like Wal*Mart, really have no concept of keeping temperature correct for seeds, and as a result my germination rates are crap.

That little rant aside, Baker Creek claims "With more brightly colored and unique lettuces, it makes a flavorful and brilliant salad." and that the mix "Includes some non-listed rare varieties."  For a few bucks, this is a great buy for me.  Where I'm paying a premium for some of the other seeds this year, this is just a fabulous deal.  The added excitement of seeing what pops up from this little packet is just an added bonus.

Additionally, I'm also kind of hoping that I might be able to get my fiance's uncle to help me set up a cold frame or two so that I might extend the season a bit, and have fresh greens for longer.  Supposedly there is a guy nearby that grows greens from February through November.  Yum!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

White Sugar Lumps Watermelon

Purchased From: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $3.50/15 seeds
Type: Watermelon
Growth: Vine

I'm taking a bit of a risk with the White Wonder watermelon, but this beauty is the really risky one, because I've got absolutely no idea how long the season on these is supposed to be!  Unfortunately, Baker Creek does not give a harvest time on these, though the description claims that they ripen early, so I'm optimistic.  The only reviews are utterly unhelpful, as one person grew them in a greenhouse, and the other is in zone 9.

I'll admit, too, that I kind of am growing this one just for the sake of rarity.  The description on the website took me in, I'll admit, and I just want to try it out.  If it works out, I'll save seeds and be able to give my friends this rare beauty so they can try it out in their gardens.  If it doesn't work out?  C'est la vie!  Which is why I think gardening is a great pasttime for people who have trouble "going with the flow."  No matter how well you plan, you're going to have to just roll with the punches because some things are just beyond your control.

As with White Wonder, I'll be starting these indoors and outdoors to experiment with the best method for getting them going.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Laurentian Rutabaga

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $1.50/400 seeds
Type: Rutabaga (aka Swede)

"Laurentian" isn't exactly an uncommon variety, but when it comes to rutabagas, there isn't exactly a lot of choice in the first place.  I am a fan of roasting these bad-boys, and my grandmother used to slice them and fry them, which was also very tasty.

This is the second type of seed packet I got in my order, and as you can see it has a bit more of a vintage feel than the black seed packets with photos on them, and has some lovely artwork of the bulb that I'll be growing.  I can say that they don't generally look quite as pretty as the picture, but really, it's a rutabaga!  It isn't that exciting in the first place, though I'm not any less excited to be growing them.

I have grown rutabagas in the past, and I'm pretty relaxed about it.  My grandfather used to let his get GIGANTIC.  I mean, HUGE.  I wish I had some photos, but alas, I do not.  They would be way bigger than softballs, though, which seems to be the metric used with this particular root vegetable.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

White Wonder Watermelon

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds $2.50/15 seeds
Type: Watermelon
Growth: Vine

This one.. I am taking a risk on.  According to the description, this should be ready to go in about 80 days, which should give me enough time here in Great Falls.  I'll be starting them indoors, even though melons are notoriously not good about that sort of thing, and I will also start a plant or 2 outside after frost has passed.  I figure this will cover my bases.

A few things- I enjoy watermelon, and I LOVE the small watermelons, so I'm really hoping this one turns out well.  If it does, of course, I'll be sure to save my seeds so I can share the love.  According to reviews, the flavor is light and sweet, which in my book is just another bonus.  You don't see these melons much even at farmer's markets because they have a very thin rind, which you can see even in the picture.  I'll admit that I'm imagining them as kind of being like a pawpaw, but that's the way my brain works.  I hope you'll send me oodles of good vibes, because I really want these to work!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Poona Kheera Cucumber

Purchased from: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $2.50/25-35 seeds
Type: Cucumber
Growth: Vine

I can't just grow a "normal" vegetable, can I?  No plain cucumbers for me, no siree- I had to try something new.  The reviews for this cucumber were what sold me on giving it a try.  I pretty much exclusively eat cucumbers fresh, though I am not averse to pickles, I tend to not actually be up for making my own (though I'd love to try). 

This cucumber is supposed to not only be very productive, but also very tasty, which are two things I'm looking for after a disappointing year last year in regards to cucumbers.  I'm hoping this year will turn out better, and in addition to these I'll also be trying again with the Lemon cucumbers from Fisher Seeds.  Of course my seeds could end up being completely bad, but I'm optimistic that I'll be able to get enough to germinate that I can also grow them.  Last year, my cucumbers were all but shaded out when I stupidly planted them nearby tomatoes, which I should have, of course, known were going to be problematic since those were transplants.  That isn't a mistake I'll make this year.

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Patisson Strie Melange Squash

Purchased from: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds $3/20 seeds.
Type: Summer Squash
Growth: Bush, according to reviews

I'm pretty excited about this one- I mean, wouldn't you be?  Just look at it!  I adore summer squash for eating, so I WILL be picking these young, but I am also going to probably leave some to get bigger for ornamental use, because it's a shame to *only* have something so pretty go for food.

The picture on the right is the seed packet- as you can see, it's fairly basic, but I kind of like the design.  I've never seen a black seed packet before.  Not all of their seed packets look like this, as you'll see in the coming weeks- some are white with hand-drawn artwork and more "old timey" font on them.  For once, though, I am actually planning to save the seed packets past the point when they are filled with seeds- so that says something.  I like that they're a bit different.

I will of course try to keep you updated on how this little beauty actually ends up growing, but I can say this is one of the plants I'm really looking forward to trying this year!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!