Heirloom Varieties: Golden Oldies in the Garden

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Heirloom Varieties Golden Oldies in the Garden

• Joran Viers
• Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service

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(No Transcript)
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Definitions

• What is an heirloom variety?
• An open-pollinated variety having some
  considerable ancestry and history of use.

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Definitions, cont.

• Open-pollinated a true-breeding line not a
  hybrid variety seeds from OP plants will grow
  plants that exhibit the desired varietal
  characteristics (provided proper care has been
  taken to prevent out-crossing with other
  varieties).

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Definitions, cont.

• When plant breeders create a hybrid variety, they
  cross two lines and come out with progeny
  exhibiting desired characters. This hybrid
  generation is termed the F1 generation, and it
  has a very uniform set of characters. However,
  when the F1 is allowed to set seed, the resulting
  F2 generation exhibits a very wide and
  unpredictable set of characters.

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• Parental plants round, yellow and wrinkled,
  green.
• F1 generation all uniformly round and yellow.
• F2 generation four different phenotypes, nine
  different genotypes.
• Saving seed from the F1 will not yield uniform
  plants in subsequent generations.

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Definitions, cont.

• Variety a named type of a vegetable species,
  having certain distinguishing characteristics
  (taste, shape, color, size, length of season,
  etc.), being adapted to certain climates and
  soils, being resistant (or not!) to certain
  pests/diseases
• Also termed cultivar (cultivated variety).
• A variety can be OP or hybrid.

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Definitions, cont.

• Considerable ancestry and history of use decades
  or centuries of use. Often, long history in
  limited geographic area before becoming more
  widely available. Often, cultural connection
  with human society of origin.

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Flour corn Hopi Yellow Tarahumara Maiz
Rojo Vadito Blue Mayo Tosabatchi Images
courtesy of Native Seeds/SEARCH
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How are heirloom varieties different?

• From hybrids these are specific crosses of two
  distinct lines, having very uniform
  characteristics. Seed from the F1 generation,
  when grown out, exhibit wide variability and few
  come true to the F1 type. Often bred for high
  performance under optimum conditions (water,
  fertilizer, pest control materials), may not
  handle stress well.
• From newer open-pollinated varieties these dont
  (yet) have a history, a record of use and
  approval, a connection to a group of
  peoplehowever, from todays new open pollinated
  varieties come tomorrows heirloom varieties.

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Why grow heirloom varieties?

• Given that many hybrids do quite well in garden
  settings, taste fine, and may have more
  pest/disease resistancethis is a good question.
• The challenge
• The performance
• The variety of varieties
• The biodiversity
• To save seeds

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The challenge

• Many gardeners appreciate a challenge. Some of
  the tastier heirloom varieties may require extra
  love and care to be successful.

Waltham 29 broccoli
New England Pie pumpkin
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2. The performance

• Under less-than ideal conditions, the heirlooms
  may outperform the hybrids that require the top
  level of fertilizer, water, etc.
• Hopi corns can germinate in six inches of sand
  and survive to produce some harvest on very
  little water.

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3. The variety of varieties

• Many gardeners like to grow multiple types of
  certain crops, to revel in the variety.
  Different colors, shapes, tastes, usesits easy
  to get lost in the bounty! Market gardeners
  benefit from offering their clientele a nice
  range of choices.

Red Core Chantenay, Japanese Imperial Long,
Scarlet Nantes and Oxheart carrots. Images
courtesy of Seeds of Change.
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4. The biodiversity

• The greater the range of genes available in a
  crop plant species, the more secure the future of
  that crop. Just a few large corporations control
  the majority of crop seeds, and they offer
  relatively few choices.
• Smaller, independent seed companies, certain
  non-profit organizations and backyard gardeners
  are vitally important to the maintenance of the
  incredible genetic diversity that humanity has
  fostered in our cultivated plants.

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5. To be able to save seeds

• Many gardeners like to save seeds from their own
  gardens, to plant again next year and to share
  with friends. Seed saving is a fun hobby and a
  useful art. Depending on the species, seed
  saving is relatively easy (beans, tomatoes) or it
  may require considerable planning and care
  (squash, peppers).

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Seed saving a brief discussion

• Heirloom varieties can inspire the latent
  seed-saver in a gardener. Simplistically,
  successful seed saving relies upon four steps
• 1. Ensure proper pollination
• 2. Allow plants to mature seeds
• 3. Harvest seed, process as appropriate
• 4. Store seed properly until next planting
• Seed to Seed, by Suzanne Ashworth an excellent
  treatment of seed production requirements for
  various species.

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Following is a discussion of some different plant
families, some important crop species in those
families, some of the heirloom varieties
available and specific seed-saving guidelines.
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Family Amaryllidaceae

• Crop species
• Allium ampeloprasum leek
• A. cepa common onion, shallot, potato onion
• A. sativum garlic
• A. schoenoprasum common chives
• A. tuberosum garlic chives (Chinese chives)

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• Variety names
• Leek Giant Musselburgh, Blue Solaize,
  Prizetaker.
• Seed saving self-incompatible, insect
  pollinated. Isolate varieties by 1-3 miles, or
  cage and hand pollinate. Biennial, produce
  flower stalks after 4-6 weeks cold weather. Can
  overwinter here under mulch. Overwintering leeks
  often produce side shoots which can be used to
  vegetatively reproduce the variety.

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Poncho Giant Musselburg Images courtesy
Seeds of Change
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• Variety names
• Onion Texas Grano
• Shallot French, Dutch Yellow, Gray
• Multiplier Yellow, Potato
• Seed saving similar to leeks for purity,
  isolate well from other A. cepa that will flower
  at same time. Shallots, multiplier/ potato
  onions often reproduced vegetatively (no
  isolation required for propagation this way).

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Yellow shallots red shallots (de Groot)
Texas Grano (Thompson Morgan)
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• Variety names
• Garlic Inchelium Red, Georgian Crystal, Chets
  Italian Red, California Early, Spanish Roja,
  Killarney Red, German Brown, Persian Star, Red
  Czar, Brown Rose, Jovak, Rosewood, Georgia Fire,
  Wild Buff, Susanville, Nootka Rose, Mild French,
  Idaho Silver, St. Helens, Asian Tempest, Red
  Janice, China Stripe, Lotus, Uzbek Turban,
  Burgundy, Cuban Purple, Pescadero Red
• Seed saving garlic does not make true seed.
  Plant cloves or bulbils. No need to isolate.

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Asian Tempest Georgian Crystal Inchelium
Red Persian Star
(Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange)
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Family Brassicaceae

• Crop species
• Brassica juncea mustard greens
• B. oleracea broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
  cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi
• B. rapa turnip, Chinese cabbage, broccoli raab
• Raphanus sativus radish
• Seed saving insect pollinated, largely
  self-incompatible. Save seed from more than one
  plant. Isolate by ½ mile or cage.

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• Variety names
• Mustard Osaka Purple, Giant Red, Green Wave
• Cabbage Early Jersey Wakefield, Mammoth Red
  Rock, Premium Late Flat Dutch
• Broccoli Waltham 29, Calabrese, De Cicco
• Cauliflower Early Snowball, Purple Cape
• Kale Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, Lacinato
• Kohlrabi Supershmeltz, Dyna
• Collards Champion, Vates
• Brussels Sprouts Long Island Improved

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Calabrese Early Jersey Wakefield Mammoth
Red Rock Early Snowball Vates Dwarf Blue
Curled Scotch
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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• Variety names
• Turnip Purple Top White Globe, Shogoin, Scarlet
  Ball
• Radish China Rose, French Breakfast, German
  Beer, Round Black Spanish, White Icicle
• Broccoli Raab Sorrento, Zamboni

Courtesy Seeds of Change
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French Breakfast
Round Black Spanish
White Icicle
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Family Chenopodiaceae

• Crop species
• Beta vulgaris beet, Swiss chard
• Spinacia oleraceae spinach
• Seed saving wind pollinated, self-fertile.
  Isolate in time or space, or cage, or bag
  inflorescence.
• Spinach is monoecious, need a ratio of 1 male
  per two female plants.

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• Variety names
• Beet Burpees Golden, Chioggia, Cylindra,
  Detroit Dark Red, Lutz Green Leaf, Bulls Blood
• Swiss Chard Fordhook Giant, Rhubarb, Five Color
  Silverbeet
• Spinach Bloomsdale Long Standing, Viroflay

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Bulls Blood Burpees Golden
Chioggia Cylindra Fordhook Giant Rhubarb
5 Color Silverbeet America
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Family Asteraceae

• Crop species
• Lactuca sativa lettuce
• Seed saving grown in Egypt by about 4500 BC.
  Largely self-pollinating, as flower opens. Can
  be insect pollinated, chance of cross-pollination
  by neighboring varieties not well known. Cage to
  ensure complete purity, or stagger planting
  times. USDA recommends 12 feet between varieties.

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• Variety names
• Amish Deer Tongue, Australian Yellowleaf, Baby
  Oakleaf, Bronze Arrowhead, Bunte Forellenschuss,
  Buttercrunch, Crisp Mint, Flame, Gold Rush, Green
  Oakleaf, Lollo Rossa, Mascara, Merveille des
  Quatre Saisions, Pablo, Pirat, Red Coral, Red
  Leprechaun, Red Rapids, Red Romaine, Red Salad
  Bowl, Red Velvet, Reine des Glaces, Rossa di
  Trento, Rossimo, Rouge dHiver, Rubin, Slobolt,
  Tango, Tennis Ball, etc., etc., etc

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Amish Deer Bronze
Bunte Flame
Tongue Arrowhead
Forellenschuss Merveille des
Pirat Red Romaine
Tango Quatre Saisons
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Family Cucurbitaceae

• Crop species
• Citrullus vulgaris watermelon
• Cucumis melo muskmelon, cantaloupe, honeydew,
  casaba
• Cucumis sativus cucumber
• Cucurbita maxima squash (banana, hubbard,
  buttercup)
• Cucurbita mixta squash (cushaw, silver-seeded
  gourds)
• Cucurbita moschata squash (butternut, cheese,
  golden cushaw)
• Cucurbita pepo squash (acorn, crookneck,
  scallop, spaghetti, zucchini, pumpkin)

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• Seed saving
• All species in this family have separate male
  and female flowers on each plant. All are insect
  pollinated and readily outcross with other
  varieties in same species. Isolate by ½ mile, or
  do hand-pollinating (flower bagging is easier
  than caging).

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• Variety names
• Watermelon Blacktail Mountain, Chelsea, Chris
  Cross, Cream of Saskatchewan, Melitopolski, Moon
  and Stars, Mountain Sweet Yellow, Orangeglo,
  Picnic, Sweet Siberian, Acoma, Hopi Red, Hopi
  Yellow, Jemez, Jumanos, Mayo, Navajo Red-seeded,
  San Juan, Rio San Miguel, Santo Domingo Winter,
  Tohono Oodham Yellow meated.
• Melons Acoma, Chimayo, Hopi Casaba, Isleta
  Pueblo, Jemez, Melon de Castillo, Navajo Yellow,
  New Mexico (from Alameda!), San Felipe, Santo
  Domingo, Amish, Banana, Bidwell Casaba, Burrells
  Jumbo, Cavaillon Espagnol, Collective Farm Woman,
  Crane, Early Hanover, Edens Gem, Green Nutmeg,
  Hearts of Gold, Hollybrook Luscious, Haogen,
  Jenny Lind, Minnesota Midget, Noir des Carmes,
  Piel de Sapo, Prescott Fond Blanc, Pride of
  Wisconsin, Sakatas Sweet, Schoons Hard Shell.

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• Variety names
• Cucumber A C Pickling, Boothbys Blonde, Bushy,
  Double Yield, Early Fortune, Japanese Climbing,
  Longfellow, Miniature White, Parade, Snows Fancy
  Pickling, True Lemon, White Wonder, Clinton,
  Telegraph Improved, Wautoma, Homemade Pickles,
  Marketmore.
• Squash (C. maxima) Amish Pie, Anna Swartz
  Hubbard, Australian Butter, Galeux dEysines,
  Golden Hubbard, Guatemalan Blue Banana, Iran,
  Kikuza, Queensland Blue, Rouge Vif dEtampes,
  Calabaza del Norte, Indian Pumpkin, Mayo Blusher,
  Minnies Apache Hubbard, Mormon Squash, Navajo
  Hubbard, Peñasco Cheese, Taos.
• Squash (C. mixta) Tennessee Sweet Potato,
  Waltham Butternut.
• Squash (C. moschata) Magdalena Big Cheese, Mayo
  Segualca, Middle Rio Conchos, Pima Bajo, Kikuza,
  Long Island Cheese.

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• Variety names
• Squash (C. pepo) Cheyenne Bush Pumpkin,
  Cornfield Pumpkin, Fordhook Acorn, Nimba,
  Pattison Panache, Summer Crookneck, Table Queen,
  Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato, Woods Prolific Bush
  Scallop, Acoma Pumpkin, Hopi Pumpkin, Pacheco
  Pumpkin, Tarahumara, Cocozelle Zucchini, Ronde de
  Nice Zucchini, Zucchetta Rampicante.

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Blacktail Mountain Chris Cross
Moon and Stars Orangeglo Banana
Collective Farm Early Hanover
Prescott Fond Blanc Woman

Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Boothbys Blonde Miniature White Snows
Fancy True Lemon
Pickling Galeux dEysines Guatemalan Blue
Long Island Cheese Summer Crookneck
Banana
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Family Fabaceae

• Crop Species
• Phaseolus acutifolius tepary bean
• P. coccineus runner bean
• P. lunatus lima bean
• P. vulgaris common bean
• Pisum sativum garden pea
• Vicia faba fava bean
• Seed saving largely self-pollinating, may be
  crossed by insects. For purity grow one variety,
  cage, or isolate by some distance.

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• Variety names
• Tepary Big Fields White, Big Fields Brown,
  Black, Blue Speckled, Brown Speckled, Cocopah
  Brown, Cocopah White, Colonia Morelos Speckled,
  Guarijio White, Hopi White, Kickapoo White,
  Little Tucson Brown, Menagers Dam Brown, Paiute
  Mixed, Paiute Yellow, Pima Beige and Brown,
  Pinacate, Sacaton Brown, Sacaton White, San
  Felipe Pueblo White, San Ignacio, San Pablo
  Balleza, Santa Rosa, Sonoran White, Tohono
  Oodham Brown, Tohono Oodham White, Yoeme Brown,
  Yoeme White.

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• Runner Four Corners, Scarlet Runner, Painted
  Lady, Sunset Runner.
• Lima Christmas Lima, Henderson Bush Lima, Sieva,
  Thorogreen.
• Common Arikara Yellow, Bountiful, Brittle Wax,
  Brockton Horticultural, Cherokee Trail of Tears,
  Dragons Tongue, Hidatsa Shield Figure, Kentucky
  Wonder Bush, Jacobs Cattle Gasless, Lazy
  Housewife, Mayflower, Rattlesnake Soup, Speckled
  Cranberry, Swedish Brown, Oregon Blue Lake,
  Tongue of Fire, Four Corners Gold, Frijol Gringo,
  Hopi Black, Hopi Light Yellow, Hopi Pink, Hopi
  Pinto, Hopi red, Milta Black, Mt. Pima Burro
  Caballito, New Mexico Bolitas, Oodham Pink, Taos
  Red, Vadito Bolita

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• Garden pea Amish Snap, British Wonder, Dwarf
  Gray Sugar, Green Arrow, Little Marvel, Suttons
  Harbinger, Tom Thumb, Cascadia Snap, Sugar Ann,
  Oregon Giant.
• Fava Aquadulce, Sweet Loraine, Broad Windsor,
  Banner (used for cover crop/green manure),
  Friedrichs (used for cover crop/green manure).
• (certain people, mostly men of southern European
  descent, may have potentially fatal allergy to
  fava beans)

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Courtesy Native Seeds/SEARCH
Big Fields White Blue Speckled
Tohono Oodham Paiute Mixed
Brown Christmas Sieva
Painted Lady
Sunset
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Arikara Yellow Dragons Tongue Mayflower
Brittle Wax True Red
Cranberry Brockton Swedish
Brown Jacobs Cattle Hidatsa Shield
Cherokee Trail Horticultural Gasless
Figure of Tears
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Dwarf Gray Sugar Little Marvel
Tom Thumb Green Arrow Edible
Podded British Wonder Amish Snap
Aquadulce Broad Windsor
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
Courtesy Territorial Seed Company
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Family Solanaceae

• Crop species
• Capsicum anuum sweet and chili peppers
• Lycopersicon escultentum tomato
• Solanum melongena eggplant
• S. tuberosum potato

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• Variety names
• Peppers Alma Paprika, Aji Crystal, Ancho
  Gigantea, Balloon, Beaver Dam, Black Hungarian,
  Bulgarian Carrot, Candlelight, Chervena Chushka,
  Cyklon, Fatali, Fish, Garden Sunshine, Georgia
  Flame, Golden Treasure, Jimmy Nardellos Sweet
  Italian Frying Pepper, Hot Portugal, Lemon Drop,
  Marconi Red, Napolean Sweet, Orange Bell,
  Quadrato Asti Giallo, Santa Fe Grande, California
  Wonder, Staddons Select, Italian Pepperoncini,
  Gourmet, Red Bulls Horn, Buran, Anaheim, Mulato
  Isleno, Ancho 101, Big Jim, etc.
• Seed saving all are capable of self-pollinating,
  but will also easily out-cross with insect
  assistance. Isolate by at least 500 feet, or
  cage. May need flower agitation or hand
  pollination. Bag individual flowers to prevent
  crossing.

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• Tomato SSE members offer 2,980 varieties!!
  Amish Paste, Angora Super Sweet, Aunt Rubys
  German Green, Austins Red Pear, Basinga, Black
  Krim, Black Plum, Black from Tula, Brandywine,
  Cherokee Purple, Cherry Roma, Czechs Bush,
  Druzba, Dr. Wyches Yellow, German Pink, Giant
  Syrian, Golden Sunray, Green Zebra, Hillbilly
  Potato Leaf, Hungarian Heart, Isis Candy Cherry,
  Juane Flamme, Kelloggs Breakfast, Lemon Drop,
  Long Tom, Martinos Roma, Nebraska Wedding,
  Nyagous, Opalka, Orange Banana, Principe
  Borghese, Peron, Purple Russina, Red Fig,
  Riesentraube, Russian Persimmon, Soldacki,
  Stupice, Tommy Toe, Tiger Tom, White Beautythe
  list goes ever on!
• Seed saving Most tomatoes can be grown side by
  side with no trouble. To save seed, squeeze ripe
  fruit into container to collect seeds and
  surrounding gel. Allow gel to ferment for a few
  days. After this time, rinse resulting smelly
  goop to clean and isolate seeds, and then allow
  them to air dry.

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• Eggplant Applegreen, Casper, Diamond, Florida
  High Bush, Listada de Gandia, Pingtung Long,
  Rosita, Thai Green, Udumalapet.
• Seed saving primarily self-pollinating isolate
  by 50 feet or cage. To collect seed, fruit must
  ripen far past edible stage. Grate bottom
  portion of fruit (greatest seed density) into a
  bowl. Add water to within 2 inches of rim,
  squeeze gratings to release good seeds (which
  will sink to bottom).
• Potato All Blue, Butte, Caribe, Carola,
  Cranberry Red, Rose Gold, Russian Banana, Yukon
  Gold, Elba, Red Cloud, Island Sunshine, Swedish
  Peanut, Rose Finn Apple, Onaway, Reddale.
• Seed saving mostly reproduced vegetatively, no
  chance of crossing.

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Chimayo Alcalde Lemon
Drop Alma Paprika Jimmy Nardellos Ancho
Gigantea Isleta
Bulgarian Carrot
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange, Native Seeds/SEARCH
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Dixie Golden Giant Druzba Costoluto
Genovesee Evergreen Indische Fleish
Hazel Mae Martinos Roma Hillbilly
Lemony Peacevine Cherry Orange Russian
Oregon Spring
Courtesy Tomatofest
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Amish Paste Basinga Black from Tula
Cherokee Purple
Golden Sunray Green Sausage Red Fig
Roman Candle
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Striped Cavern Tiger Tom Garden
Peach German Pink
Gold Medal Isis Candy Cherry Kelloggs
Breakfast Lemon Drop
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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With so many varieties, some may offer disease
resistance

• Peron Sprayless tomato about 50 of plants grown
  three years ago in my garden were un-affected by
  curly top virus. I saved seed from fruit of the
  un-affected plants. Experiment with this and
  other varieties.

70 days. (Indeterminate) Introduced in 1951 by
Gleckler's from Argentina. A main-crop variety
notable for its tasty red tomatoes produced on
disease-resistant vines. Produces a high
percentage of uniform, defect free fruits,
averaging 3" to 4" in diameter. Flavor is sweet
with some intricacy. Reliable, flavorful, and a
garden mainstay. From Southern Exposure Seed
Exhange.
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Applegreen FL High Bush
Listada de Gandia Ping Tung Long All
Blue Russian Banana Cranberry Red
Yukon Gold
Courtesy Seed Savers Exchange
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Family Apiaceae

• Crop species
• Apium graveolens celery
• Anethum graveolens dill
• Coriandrum sativium coriander (cilantro)
• Daucus carota carrot
• Foeniculum vulgare fennel
• Seed saving Seed saving perfect flowers,
  self-incompatible. Insect pollinated. For
  purity, isolate by three miles, or cage, or hand
  pollinate.

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• Variety names
• Celery Ventura, Giant Red, Brilliant (celeriac)
• Dill Long Island Mammoth, Dukat, Fernleaf,
• Bouquet Seed
• Coriander Slo Bolt
• Carrot Nantaise, Amstrong, Yellowstone, Royal
  Chantenay, Danvers, Rodelika, Thumbelina,
  Kuttiger, Oxheart
• Fennel Perfection, Fino, Romy

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Japanese Imperial Long Oxheart Red Core
Chantenay Scarlet Nantes
Courtesy Seeds of Change
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Family Poaceae

• Crop species
• Zea mays corn
• Seed saving wind pollinated, readily cross
  between varieties. For good pollination plant is
  blocks, not rows. Large population sizes guard
  against inbreeding depression. Isolate by two
  miles for purity, or bag and hand-pollinate.
  Sequential planting can provide isolation in
  time, but you must have a good idea of the
  maturity time of the varieties involved.

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Golden Bantam Improved Painted
Mountain Manzano Yellow Stowells
Evergreen Bloody Butcher Santo Domingo
Posole
Courtesy Native Seeds/SEARCH Seed Savers Exchange
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• Family Rosacea
• Crop Species
• Malus domestica Apple
• Seed saving propagation is by grafting onto root
  stock. Apple seeds will not come true to type,
  may yield a great new plant or a yucky one.
• Varieties
• Red Belle de Boskoop, Roxbury Russet, Chehalis,
  Foxwelp (cider apple), Baldwin, Spitzenberg,
  Winter Banana,

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Melrose Red Boskoop Williams
Pride Chehalis Queen Cox
Bramley
Courtesy Raintree Nursery
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Resources and Sources

• Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.org
  563-382-5990. Membership organization also
  selling to general public.
• Native Seeds/SEARCH www.nativeseeds.org fax
  520-662-5591. Non-profit preserving SW heirloom
  varieties.
• Raintree Nursery www.raintreenursery.com
  360-496-6400 many heirloom fruit varieties, good
  quality stock.
• Tooley Trees 505-689-2400 many varieties, very
  knowledgeable and friendly owner (Gordon Tooley),
  located in Truchas, NM.