New Finds From Rare Seeds Catalog

New Finds From Rare Seeds Catalog CROPS Miscellaneous Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co in Mansfield Mo specializes in preserving seeds from the past     Owner Jere Gettle printed the first Heirloom Seed catalog in 1998 at the age of 17 The company now mails catalogs to more than 700 000 gardeners nationally     Baker Creek carries one of the largest selections of seeds from the 19th century including many Asian and European varieties The company has grown to offer nearly 2 000 varieties of vegetables flowers and herbs – the largest selection of heirloom varieties in the U S Their team of seed explorers visited dozens of countries last year continually searching for anything endangered and rare     Request a free color catalog at www rareseeds com ph 417 924-8917     Here are a few of the rare varieties that caught our eye Mammoth Red Mangel Beets     These are huge beets weighing up to 40 lbs each with large yields per acre They were highly used for livestock feed in the 1800’s but can also be picked small for table use Zucchino Rampicante Squash     An Italian heirloom vining zucchini it grows very long and produces a long slender 15-in fruit with a flat bulb at the bottom Described as one of the best eating summer squash it’s tender mild and sweet tasting It’s great for baking Chinese Red Noodle Bean     This unique Chinese ethnic variety has a maturity date of just 80 days Baker Creek describes it as the most stunning and unique bean they’ve ever offered It produces deep red 18-in pods that are delicious and full of nutrition and they even keep most of their color when sautéed Long vines produce all summer and do well under many conditions Produces small red seeds Brad’s Atomic Grape Tomato     This wild-looking tomato produces elongated large cherries in clusters Fruits hold well on the vine or off making this amazing variety a good candidate for market growers     The fruit’s olive green interior is blushed with red when dead-ripe and extraordinarily sweet Maiz Morado Or Kulli Corn     The darkest colored corn known Maiz Morado has a delicious flavor and is believed to have the highest amount of healthy anthocyanins of any corn Also known as Kulli it originated in Peru in the Andes Highlands It has been bred for the past 20 years in New Mexico to adapt to North American latitudes and will grow and produce ears easily in most American gardens says the company     This ancient corn is excellent as both a flour corn or picked young as a flavorful sweet corn It’s also used in South America to brew a special and highly revered drink known as chichi morado     Baker Creek says they love to make purple corn juice with cinnamon clove and pineapple – a refreshing elixir bursting with antioxidants Locals also use it to dye fabrics and cloth as well as grinding into a beautiful flour/meal Grows 8 ft or taller and has a maturity date of about 100 days Strawberry Spinach     This curious plant produces greens that are picked and cooked like spinach but it also produces attractive mildly-sweet red berries which add a nice touch to fruit salads     The old-fashioned plant dates back to the 1600’s in Europe where it was found in a monastery garden

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