Compared to everything from mini-melons to cucumbers to fava beans, the Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra) is a small heirloom vegetable that lends itself to salads, stir fries and pickle crocks. Grow the small gems as you would cucumbers -- with a support for the vigorous vines as well as full sun and fertile soil.

Seeds may be either started indoors or directly in the garden when the soil is warm enough. Gardeners in warmer, Mediterranean climates can often skip the extra work of raising Mexican sour gherkin seedlings by direct-seeding the intriguing veggies in April or May.

Direct-seed Mexican sour gherkins into a garden bed to which a 3-inch layer of compost has been tilled into the ground. Sow about six seeds in groups, or circles, that are 12 inches apart. Within each circle, plant the seeds about 2 inches from one another.

Sow at the depth recommended on the seed packet -- generally about 1 inch. Water the ground lightly. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are 4 inches tall. Choose the strongest-looking seedling and cut the rest to the ground with garden scissors. Water the vines at least once a week, checking between watering sessions to ensure the ground is moist to a depth of at least 3 inches.

V3 - This is the classic Italian eggplant typically used in Emilia Romagna to make 'Parmigiana' with tomatoes and parmesan cheese. This is a mid-early variety, very productive. It produces long, dark and slightly curved aubergine of medium dimensions with very few seeds inside. 

BEST TO START INDOORS

In early spring, start indoors about 2 months before outdoor night temperatures are reliably in the 50-55°F (10-13°C) range. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep moist and warm 80-85°F (27-30°C) and provide a strong light source until ready to plant outside. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, transplant into deeper individual containers. Maintain at 70-75°F (21-24°C). Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until weather is warm enough to gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant 2 feet apart into rich soil in full sun.

Long, cylindrical fruit, intense dark violet color.

Firm flesh with very few seeds. Vigorous plant and very resistant to the heat.

Excellent and prolonged production. High demand from the fresh market and from the processing for easy peeling.

Variety suitable for spring-summer crop in open field.

Red Marconis have a wonderful smoky-sweet flavor that becomes richer when grilled or roasted. They taste great fresh off the plant and look great in salads. Other tasty ways to enjoy this pepper include frying, stuffing, or grilling it. Our favorite way to use the big Red Marconi is in Fajitas!

Medium early variety that particularity suitable for cultivating outdoors. It is exceptionally uniform, heavy, has consistent, sweet flesh and is bright red when ripe. Very highly appreciated by consumers. SOWING: in a nursery in November and transplant in January or alternatively, directly in January – April. Transplant when the plants are approx, 15 cm tall and place them in rows at a distance of 40 cm along the row, leaving 50 cm between the rows.

This Italian sweet pepper is an heirloom and produces large 7-8" long fruits. The giant peppers have a sweet earthy flavor and thin skin. They mature from green to red on the 30" tall plant plants. Their flavor is best when peppers mature to bright red. 

Capsicum annuum (80 days) Open-Pollinated

Heat Level: Sweet Scoville: 0

In early spring, start seeds indoors 8 weeks prior to warm nightly temperatures. Place the seeds in sterile media and cover 1/4” deep. Provide 85°F bottom heat, bright light and keep moist at all times. Seeds will germinate in 7 - 21 days. Transplant seedlings into pots and grow until there are 6 true leaves on the plant. Plant them directly into rich soil, 30” apart or into large 5 gallon containers. Harvest peppers when they are green. 

Rainbow Swiss Chard is a striking leafy green with vibrant stems in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, and white paired with broad, dark green leaves. It has a mild, slightly earthy flavor similar to spinach, with tender leaves and crisp, colorful stalks. Highly nutritious, it’s rich in vitamins A, C, and K, plus iron and magnesium—pretty and powerful.

Rainbow Swiss chard is super versatile. The leaves cook quickly and are great sautéed with garlic and olive oil, added to soups, stews, curries, or stirred into pasta and rice dishes. The thicker stems can be chopped and cooked a bit longer—perfect for stir-fries, gratins, pickling, or roasting. It’s also excellent in omelets, quiche, lasagna, and stuffed dishes, or lightly wilted as a spinach substitute.

Quick growing variety with big thick leaf, reddish in color, soft and succulent.

Very fast growing indian spinach. Leaves are broad, green and thick. The plants are very tender and attractive. Repeat harvesting can start after 25 days of planting. 

Bok choy, pak choi or pok choi is a type of Chinese cabbage. Chinensis varieties do not form heads and have green leaf blades with lighter bulbous bottoms instead, forming a cluster reminiscent of mustard greens. It has a flavor between spinach and water chestnuts but slightly sweeter with a mildly peppery undertone.

Sow bok choy in spring and again in late summer for harvest in fall. Sow in double rows, with rows spaced 10 inches (25 cm) apart. Plant seeds 2 inches (5 cm) apart and barely cover them with soil. Gradually thin to 8 inches (20 cm) apart.

Chinese cabbage is a cool-weather plant that will bolt and go to seed quickly in warm weather and long days; grow Chinese cabbage in spring or autumn in temperatures ranging from 45° to 75°F (7-24°C). Sow seed 4 to 6 weeks before the average date of the last frost in spring.

Dark-fleshed. The succulent roots are smooth skinned and uniform in shape. Crosby Egyptian can produces tops that reach 14-16". One of the best for early market.

Roots grow 3-5", are very flattened in shape, and grow virtually on the surface of the soil. The roots have a dull red skin and dark red interior. 

Extremely hot ghost pepper

se caution in handling and consumption as they are one of the hottest peppers known to man. Warning: Handling this pepper requires extreme caution. Wear hand, eye and breathing protection. 

Heat Level: Extreme, Severe and Intense.  Scoville Heat Units 1,000,000 

~ Packet contains at least 10 seeds.