Stories

  1. YOKOHAMA SQUASH: A "STUDY IN FORM AND TEXTURE"

    THE AMAZING YOKOHAMA SQUASH

    BY RANDEL AGRELLA

     

     

    Until the mid-19th century, Japan was seen as a mysterious Oriental land, closed to most westerners and virtually all Americans. In the 1850’s, with Commodore Perry’s forcible “Opening of Japan” the situation changed dramatically. Japanese trade goods and art became available, captivating the imagination of a generation of Americans.
    Plants were part of the cultural avalanche. One such is Yokohama squash, a superior winter squash that had evolved through centuries of painst

    Read more »
  2. GLASS GEM CORN: THE COVER OF OUR PAST 2016 WHOLE SEED CATALOG

    The Whole Seed Catalog

    356 pages of gardening joy!

    We're proud of our annual Whole Seed Catalog, bursting at the seams with so many features! On the cover of the past 2016 Whole Seed Catalog was a picture of the beautiful

    Read more »
  3. THAILAND'S AMAZING VEGETABLES!

    AMAZING THAILAND

    BOTANICAL WONDERLAND

    BY JERE GETTLE WITH SHANNON MCCABE

     

    In January, my family again took a  two-month trip to Thailand with short stops in Tokyo, Taipei, and Abu Dhabi. We had waited to return to Thailand until our second daughter, Malia, was about 15 months old. In early January, 2015, we packed up the kids and drove toward St. Louis to start this journey that I had been on four times before over the last 12 years. We were excited to return to this land of great food and so many traditional cultures and foods.

    Read more »
  4. PEPINO MELON AND ITS ANDEAN RELATIVES

    PEPINO MELON AND ITS ANDEAN RELATIVES

    BY JENNIE LONDON

    The Pepino Melon (Solanum muricatum) also called Pepino Dulce, Melon Pear, Melon Shrub and Pear Melon, is a fruit bearing shrub that has been cultivated by the people of the Andes region since pre-Columbian times. The cream-colored fruit with purple streaking is similar in size to a Roma Tomato. The flesh resembles a mixture of a honeydew melon and cucumber, hence the name Pepino meaning "cucumber" in Spanish, and the melon reference in its name. Despite its name, the Pepino Melon is actually more closely related to other fruits in the Solanum genus, such as the tomato and eggplant.

    Read more »
  5. THE BREATHTAKING BLACK TURTLE BEAN

    DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS: THE BLACK TURTLE BEAN

    BY RANDEL AGRELLA

    The Black Turtle bean yield does not disappoint!

    If you've traveled in Latin America, even briefly, chances are you've enjoyed the meaty texture and robust flavor of Black Turtle bean.

    Read more »
  6. ASTONISHING ALPINE STRAWBERRIES

    ALPINE STRAWBERRIES: A SWEET TREASURE IN THE SPRING

    BY JENNIE LONDON

    The

    Read more »
  7. PRESENTING PRODIGIOUS PURPLE PIPPEN PEPPERS

    BUENA MULATA: ANOTHER CLASSIC PIPPIN PEPPER

    BY WILLLIAM WOYS WEAVER

    When I began to thaw out my grandfather's seed collection back in the 1960s, many heirloom treasures emerged from the dark depths of the freezer where they had been stored.  One of the best known peppers I discovered was the popular Fish Pepper, which is now offered by many seed companies, including

    Read more »
  8. AMAZING ARTICHOKES: A NOT-SO-PRICKLY CROP

    AMAZING ARTICHOKES: A NOT-SO-PRICKLY CROP

    BY RANDEL AGRELLA

    Purple of Romagna artichoke variety is as delicious as it is beautful!

    Artichokes are the tender, delicious immature flower buds of a large thistle. This tender

    Read more »
  9. PRESENTING PEANUTS: 'TENNESSEE RED'

    Presenting Peanuts: 'Tennessee Red'

    By Randel Agrella

    Homegrown Tennessee Red and Schronce's Black Peanuts make a simply beautiful healthy snack.

    Read more »
  10. Shocking new study reveals monarchs are on the brink of extinction

    Help Save the Monarch Butterfly

    New Study: 93% decline in population!

    The Monarch butterfly is one of Mother Nature's most fascinating and beautiful gifts. They have an incredibly complex migratory journey and an awe-inspiring metamorphosis pattern. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the Monarch butterfly may go extinct within our lifetime. The Eastern and Western Monarch butterfly have both shown sharp and startling decline in the last decade, and in 2018, the populations dropped more precipitously than ever.

    Read more »
Page Page 5 of 7