Zone 3 Specific Seed Varieties

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Tomato Variety: Floradade Family: Solanaceae Botanical Name: Lycopersicon Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  3         Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.0 Fertilizer Requirements: 10-20-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10               Soil Temp for Germination: 80-85°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  75 - 85 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  18 - 36” Row Spacing: 36 - 48” Sowing Instructions (SEE STARTING INDOORS) Starting Indoors START INDOORS 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST, SOIL TEMP 75°-80°F Growing Tips When starting tomatoes indoors, plant the seeds at ¼” deep in individual cells. Make sure to provide enough lighting, as the tomato plants do require light and warm soil to properly germinate. Once the second set of leaves forms, you may transplant the tomato plants into individual plots or larger containers. Roughly a week before transplanting into the garden, make sure to harden your plants off. Start by taking your tomato plants outdoors for several hours each day to acclimate them to current weather conditions. Tomatoes do not tolerate cold weather, so make sure to bring them inside if the temperatures turn colder. Once the soil temperature has reached around 70°F, it is safe to transplant into the garden. A trellis or cage is recommended for tomato plants, otherwise the fruits will weigh the plant down and may cause damage and hinder growth. Culinary Uses Tomatoes have a wide variety of uses. Use them in salsas, slice them fresh for sandwiches, or whatever you can imagine. Harvesting Crops Gently press the flesh of the tomato to determine ripeness, the flesh should yield just slightly. If they are firm/hard to the touch, they are not ready yet. A bright red color is a good indicator of ripeness. Pull on the stem slightly to release the entire vine of tomatoes, if it fails to release, use a sharp pair of garden shears or a knife to remove the entire vine. Vine ripened tomatoes have the best flavor. Make sure to harvest all your tomatoes by the time the first frost arrives, even if they are still green. Green tomatoes will ripen on the vine if kept in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Harvesting Seed Tomatoes are not at risk for cross-pollination like many other vegetables, so you do not need to worry about isolation from other tomato plants. Pick you fully ripe tomatoes and cut them in half horizontally. Squeeze them to release the pulp and seeds into a bowl. Allow the pulp and seeds to ferment for several days and produce a layer of mold (this will remove the gelatinous layer on the seeds). Rinse the mold and debris to expose the seeds. Your best seeds will be on the bottom of the mixture. Rinse these seeds a final time in a strainer with running water until they appear clean. Spread your seeds on a flat dry surface out of direct sunlight. Stir them a couple times each day for about a week to make sure they are fully dried. Once dried, store in a cool, dry location. Tomato seeds are usually viable for up to four years, depending on storage methods.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Carrot Variety: Scarlet Nantes Family: Carota Botanical Name: Daucus carota subsp. sativus Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Growing Difficulty:  4             Soil PH:  7.0 Fertilizer Requirements:  10-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 8 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 40-60°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  65 – 75      Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  2" Row Spacing: 12"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW WHEN SOIL TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 40°F Starting Indoors DO NOT START INDOORS Growing Tips Carrots like the Scarlet Nantes can be started 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost. Make sure to plant the seeds about 1/2in deep in a deeply worked soil that is fine in texture and weed-free. We recommend planting carrots just 2 inches apart and thin to 4 inches once established (optional). Culinary Uses Commonly served fresh or steamed. Harvesting Crops Once the top of the carrot turns a bright orange, it is ready to harvest. For a smaller and continual harvest, it is recommended to use a hand trowel to selectively harvest only a few carrots at a time. If you have allowed the entire harvest to reach maturity at once, using a pitchfork and shovel is the quickest way to harvest your carrot crop. Insert the pitchfork at an angle beside your carrots (being careful not to pierce your carrots) and pry the soil upwards. This should break the soil up and expose your carrots. Harvesting Seed Each carrot can produce over 1,000 flowers and seeds. A small crop in the beginning could produce thousands of carrots if you harvested all the seeds. Because carrots are biennial plants, they will not produce seeds the first year and must be overwintered. You will harvest your carrot seeds the second growing season. Leave the largest and best appearing carrots in the ground over winter after their first season of growing. Prune the tops in the spring of the second year to remove any dead or damaged sections of leaves. The seeds will mature about 4-6 weeks after the flowers are pollinated. Watch for seeds to turn brown and detach from the umbels. Cut stalks when about 80-90% of the seeds are matured. (The seeds nearest the top will be the highest quality) Place stems upside down in a paper bag to dry for several days. Shake the stems inside of the paper bag to collect your seed stock. Store the seeds properly in a cool dry area for planting your next crop.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Watermelon Variety: Crimson Sweet Family: Cucurbita Botanical Name: Cucurbita citrullus Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Growing Difficulty:  3 Soil PH:  5.5 to 6.5 Fertilizer Requirements: Nitrogen Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 3 to 10               Soil Temp for Germination: 80-95°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  80-85 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  6-8ft Row Spacing: 6-8ft Sowing Instructions IN WARM CLIMATES – DIRECT SOW WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 75°F Starting Indoors IN COOL CLIMATES – 3 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST – TRANSPLANT 1 WEEK AFTER LAST FROST Growing Tips Plant your watermelons in full sun, with rich and loose soil. Young starts may benefit from black plastic to bring the soil up to temperature quicker. Once the vines begin to develop, spread a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist, control weeds, and prevent the melons from too much contact with the soil. Keep the soil moist until the fruits begin to grow, only water the plants once the soil dries out completely after fruiting. Make sure to keep an eye out for pests, as they can be harmful to developing melons. Culinary Uses Watermelon makes the best summertime treats, harvest your melons and bring them directly inside to be sliced or balled. Harvesting Crops Everyone has their own way of determining when a watermelon is ripe, but there are a couple sure-fire ways to know that you are harvesting the melon at the peak of maturity. Turn the melon slightly to see the color of the skin touching the mulch, if it is yellow, the melon is ready to be harvested. You may also knock on the melon, listening for a dull thump instead of a hollow ring. The last way to check ripeness is to look at the tendril closest to the stem. If this is turning brown, your melon is ripe and ready for picking. Watermelons will keep for several weeks in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Harvesting Seed Be cautious when planting your watermelons, as they will cross-pollinate with other watermelon varieties easily. When the watermelon is ripe and ready for harvest, the seeds are mature enough to save. Cut the melon to remove the seeds. Wash them thoroughly to remove the sticky residue. Spread them out on a flat dry surface to dry for roughly one week. Once dried and safely stored, they should be viable for up to four years depending on how you store them.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Melon Type: Cantaloupe Variety: Hale’s Best Jumbo Family: Cucurbits Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  5         Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.0                 Fertilizer Requirements:  10-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 60-80°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  70 – 75    Planting Depth:  1” Distance Apart (in row):  24" Row Spacing: 48-72"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW 1-2 WEEKS AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST Starting Indoors 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST IN BIO-DEGRADABLE POTS Growing Tips Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe is a favorite of most gardeners. If you are planting directly in the garden, wait at least a week or two after last frost. Hill planting works best, you can place up to 6 seeds per hill and thin to the best 3 plants per hill after they get established. If starting indoors, these melons will need to be started in peat pots as they do not transplant well. Use mulch around the plants once transplanted or once seedlings sprout in the garden. This keeps the soil moist, warm and helps to suppress weed growth. Culinary Uses Commonly served cut or balled, great on a hot summer day. Harvesting Crops Wait until the harvest date approaches, your cantaloupe should turn a yellowish orange color. Check the end where the stem attaches to see if it is just slightly soft (if so, it's ready for harvest). When the melons are ripe and ready to pick, they should come off the stem quite easily. Melons will need harvested daily once they begin to ripen. Make sure to refrigerate the melons immediately after harvesting. Harvesting Seed Harvest your seeds from the best performing melons. Wash the seeds off and allow to dry in a paper bag for a few weeks. Once completely dried, safely store your seeds in a cool dry place for use next season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Squash Variety: Zucchini Black Beauty Family: Curcubitaceae           Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  6.2 – 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements: 24-8-16 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 3 to 10               Soil Temp for Germination: 68-95°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  45 - 65 Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  36-48” Row Spacing: 10-12ft Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW IN WARM, FERTILE SOIL WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 65°F Starting Indoors 4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST, TRANSPLANT 2 WEEKS AFTER LAST FROST IN PEAT POT Growing Tips IMPORTANT - When planting Zucchini, choose an area where you have not planted squash or related crops within the past 2 years. If starting indoors, make sure to harden off the seedlings by introducing them to the outside weather conditions for several hours per day for at least a week before transplanting. When the soil temperature reaches an average of 65°F, you can transplant or directly sow your squash seeds. We recommend planting squash in the same way that you would plant pumpkins (mound planting). Plant two squash plants per hill, separate the hills by about 8-10’ apart. Zucchini can be companion planted with corn, but you should avoid planting your squash near potatoes. Place a layer of mulch under your squash plants to control moisture and prevent weeds. This will also protect the squash from too much ground moisture and keep the fruit clean. You should start pinching off many of the blooms during midsummer to allow the plant to focus energy on the squash production of only a few fruits per plant. Culinary Uses Zucchini has a variety of uses, many of which are like other squash varieties. Our personal favorite is sliced and sautéed with butter. You may also puree the zucchini to be used in muffins or breads. Harvesting Crops Zucchini has the best flavor when the fruits get to about 4-5” in length. After the plant starts to produce mature fruit, be prepared to pick the fruits every day or two. Zucchini keeps well in the refrigerator for about two weeks and is also a good candidate for freezer storage. Harvesting Seed Once the zucchini has reached its mature size, the seeds are ready to harvest. Like a pumpkin, you will need to cut the zucchini open to expose the seeds and pulp. Use a colander to rinse the pulp and seeds. Separate the pulp further by using a bowl of water. The seeds you will want to keep are the ones that sink in the bowl of water. Make sure to thoroughly dry your zucchini seeds by placing them on a flat surface for several weeks and turning them regularly to make sure they are completely dry. Store you seeds in a cool dry place. Zucchini seeds are usually viable for about 4 years from harvest, depending on your storage methods.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Onion Variety: Red Burgundy Family: Amaryllidaceae Botanical Name: Allium cepa Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  4         Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.0 Fertilizer Requirements: Nitrogen    Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 10 - 20 Soil Temp for Germination: 65-70°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  90 - 100 Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  4" Row Spacing: 12-18" Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW BUNCHING ONIONS WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 60°F Starting Indoors 8-10 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Growing Tips When planting indoors, cover your flats with plastic to retain moisture and place in temperatures of 65-70°F for best germination. Transplant to a 2-inch depth at about 4-6 inches apart. Clip the tops to 3 inches. Culinary Uses The Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion is similar to what you would buy as an everyday sweet onion in the grocery store. These onions go great in any recipe. Harvesting Crops Harvest by pulling bulbs out of ground when the tops are brown and dry. Harvesting Seed Allow Onion to fully mature. Allow the stalks to turn brown and dry before clipping a few inches below the head. Store heads in a paper bag for several weeks. Shake the bag vigorously to help separate seeds. Remove seeds and store properly until next growing season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Pepper Variety: California Wonder Family: Capsicum Annum Botanical Name: Unk. Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  6.0 to 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements: 5-10-10 Soil Type: Rich, Loamy, Well-Draining Germination (days): 10 to 14 Soil Temp for Germination: 75-85°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  69 - 80 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  18-24" Row Spacing: 24-36" Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST IN WARMER CLIMATES Starting Indoors 8-10 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Growing Tips We recommend starting California wonder seeds indoors roughly 8 weeks before your last danger of frost. Make sure the soil is around 80-85 degrees for proper germination. Pepper plants will need a grow light for 12-16 hours each day. Harden off seedlings before transplanting by exposing them to the current weather conditions for several hours each day before planting in the ground. Transplant the pepper seedlings once the outside temperature reaches 60-65 degrees F in the daytime and no lower than 50°F at night. Culinary Uses These peppers can be used the same way that you would use any Green Bell Pepper or Colored bell pepper from the grocery store. The more colorful the pepper, the sweeter the flavor generally. Harvesting Crops California Wonder peppers will change colors the longer you leave them on the plant. So, depending on your preference of colors and flavors (sweet or not), you may harvest at different times. Harvest once the green pepper is almost a mature size for green peppers or leave on longer for a sweeter pepper. It is best to harvest the peppers early, because if left to mature the plant will think that it is done producing. Use a sharp knife or pair of garden shears to pick the peppers as you will want to be careful not to damage the plant. Harvesting Seed You must be careful when growing pepper plants, as they will cross pollinate with many other varieties of pepper plants. You will need to isolate or cage (bee netting) your plants to preserve the strain you are growing. Allow the plant to fully mature. Remove the best peppers and cut them in half to expose their seeds. Spread the seeds out on a paper towel and dry for about 2 weeks. Once dried, store safely until next growing season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Spinach Variety: Bloomsdale Family: Amaranthaceae        Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  6.5 to 7.5 Fertilizer Requirements: None Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 6 to 21 Soil Temp for Germination: 40-75°F                Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  45 - 50 Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  2-6” Row Spacing: 12-18"   Bloomsdale Spinach Planting Instructions Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW AS SOON AS SOIL IS WORKABLE IN EARLY SPRING Starting Indoors NOT RECOMMENDED FOR STARTING INDOORS Growing Tips Bloomsdale spinach loves cooler weather and can even survive sub-zero temperatures if protected well enough. You should plant your seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring, alternatively you can plant spinach after the heat of summer has passed for a fall crop. If you are lucky enough to live in a warmer southern climate, spinach can be planted in the fall to produce a harvest all winter long. Culinary Uses Spinach is a widely used vegetable. Use it fresh, or in soups. Harvesting Crops You should begin harvesting your spinach leaves as soon as the leaves grow large enough for eating. Start by harvesting the larger leaves towards the outside of the plant. You can also harvest the entire plant by cutting it near ground level. New leaves will continue to grow after harvesting. Unlike most plants, the spinach leaves can still be used even if the plant goes to bolt. However, the flavor will be much stronger at this point. Harvesting Seed Spinach plants will easily cross-pollinate with other spinach varieties, so care should be taken to isolate spinach plants. You will want to save seeds from numerous spinach plants to preserve the best genetic diversity. Do not save your seed from plants that tend to bolt early or have other health problems during production. As the warm temperatures creep up and days get longer, spinach plants will start to bolt by sending up a flowering stalk. Soon after the leaves turn yellow, the seed pods will begin to mature. Make sure to wear gloves when harvesting the seed pods, as they can become prickly. Strip the pods from the stalk by running your hands (with gloves) up and down the length of the stalk. Separate the debris from the seeds and save your seeds in a cool dry place. Spinach seeds are viable for up to three years depending on your storage methods.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Onion Variety: Red Burgundy Family: Amaryllidaceae Botanical Name: Allium cepa Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Growing Difficulty:  4         Soil PH:  6.0 to 7.5 Fertilizer Requirements: Nitrogen    Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 7 to 14 Soil Temp for Germination: 65-70°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  100 – 105 Planting Depth:  1/2” Distance Apart (in row):  4" Row Spacing: 12-18" Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW BUNCHING ONIONS WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 60°F Starting Indoors 8-10 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Growing Tips When planting indoors, cover your flats with plastic to retain moisture and place in temperatures of 65-70°F for best germination. Transplant to a 2-inch depth at about 4-6 inches apart. Clip the tops to 3 inches. Culinary Uses The Red Burgundy Onion is excellent when used fresh in Italian salads or other even stir fried. Harvesting Crops Harvest by pulling bulbs out of ground when the tops are brown and dry. Harvesting Seed Allow Onion to fully mature. Allow the stalks to turn brown and dry before clipping a few inches below the head. Store heads in a paper bag for several weeks. Shake the bag vigorously to help separate seeds. Remove seeds and store properly until next growing season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Corn Variety: Golden Bantam Family: Poaceae (Grasses) Botanical Name: Zea mays Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  6.5 to 8.0 Fertilizer Requirements:  Nitrogen Soil Type: Deep, Well-Drained Germination (days): 7 to 14 Soil Temp for Germination: 60-65°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  70 – 85 Planting Depth:  1” Distance Apart (in row):  6" Row Spacing: 36" Treated: Seed may be treated   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW WHEN SOIL TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60°F Starting Indoors DO NOT START INDOORS Growing Tips Plant your Golden Bantam Corn directly into the ground when soil temperatures are between 60-65°F. Continuously plant corn every 2 weeks for a continual crop all summer. In sandy soil, plant your corn 2" deep, or in clay type soils, plant your seeds 1" deep. Culinary Uses Great when boiled or grilled directly on the cob. You may also sheer the kernels off the cob, blanch and freeze for a future use. This corn does particularly well when canning as well. Harvesting Crops Harvest your Golden Bantam Corn when the silk has started to turn brown, or when you have inspected the cobs and found them to be ready for use. Harvesting Seed Harvesting corn for seed is simple. Allow your corn stalks to fully dry and turn brown. Once your corn is dried, the kernels should be dry and hard to the touch. Harvest your corn cobs and twist the cobs in your hands to break off the kernels from the cob. Store you corn kernels in a cool dry area for use in next years growing season. What is Treated Seed? Treated seeds are specially coated to increase germination viability and prevent damage from fungus or insects. Depending on availability, we may substitute treated or non-treated seed for this variety. The resulting produce grown from treated seed is no different than untreated, but care must be taken when handling treated seeds. Do not allow pets or livestock to eat treated seed, also avoid having children handle seed that has been treated.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Herb Type: Basil Variety: Genovese Family: Lamiaceae Botanical Name: Ocimum Basilicum Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 Growing Difficulty:  3 Soil PH:  6.0 – 6.5 Fertilizer Requirements:  14-14-14 Soil Type: Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 – 14  Soil Temp for Germination: 70°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  60 – 90 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  6-10” Row Spacing: 30-36”   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW AFTER DANGER OF LAST FROST Starting Indoors 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE DANGER OF LAST FROST Growing Tips Genovese Basil prefer to grow in rich, fertile soil with at least six hours of sunlight per day. It is best to grow in a rich compost instead of fertilizer, as Basil will become bitter and less potent when grown with artificial fertilizers. Perennial in zones 10 and above. Culinary Uses Genovese Basil is commonly used as an herb in many Italian and Mexican dishes. You will find a variety of uses to flavor pesto, caprise salad and many other dishes that would be complimented by large fresh basil leaves. Medicinal Uses Basil is often used in medicine to treat digestion and liver problems. It can help to detoxify the body and works as a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant. Headache and migraine sufferers also praise the Basil plants healing ability. Basil is also commonly used to treat wounds and skin conditions. Harvesting Crops Continually pinch fresh leaves off the Basil plant to encourage a bushier production and prevent it from flowering too soon. You can harvest basil plants continually through the summer months if properly maintained. Harvesting Seed Allow the Basil to bolt and begin flowering. At this point, the basil plant will stop producing new leaves and the energy used will be to produce new flowers and seeds. The seeds are found in the spent flower head. It is best to use a fine colander, as the basil seeds are very small. Cut off the spent flower heads and allow them to dry for several days in a warm dry location. Crush the flower heads over the colander and pick out the flower remnants to be left with just seeds.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Broccoli Variety: Calabrese Family: Brassica Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. italica Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  3         Soil PH:  6.0 to 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements:  5-10-10 Soil Type: Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 21 Soil Temp for Germination: 40-55°F Lighting Conditions: Full Sun Days to Maturity:  60 – 90 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  18" Row Spacing: 18-24"   Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW 2 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Starting Indoors 7-9 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST Growing Tips (If starting indoors) Before planting in the garden, 'harden off' the broccoli starts by moving them to a sheltered outdoor place for a week. Protect them from hot sun and wind until they toughen up enough to transplant. (Direct Sow) Sow in full sun in early spring or midsummer for a fall crop. Keep evenly moist and water gently. Culinary Uses Broccoli is used in a variety of dishes and loaded with nutrients. Medicinal Uses Broccoli has many health benefits that you may not be aware of. The number of antioxidants in broccoli make it a great cell neutralizer to prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. Broccoli contains high levels of glucoraphanin, which is a compound that is converted into a seriously potent antioxidant called sulforaphane when it is digested. This is known to reduce blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, oxidative stress and chronic disease development. Broccoli also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are thought to prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage in your eyes. Harvesting Crops Pick broccoli when the heads appear to be tight and firm. This is usually about 50-60 days after transplant. Cutting off the central head with about 6 inches of stem will encourage the plant to produce smaller heads which can also be harvested later. You may cut and blanch broccoli to freeze it for future use. Eat heads raw or cooked. Harvesting Seed Allow the Broccoli head to mature and turn from green to yellow. It will then produce flowers that bloom and turn into seed pods. Once the pods of the broccoli plant have dried, remove the plant from the ground and hang to dry for about 2 weeks. Open the seed pods and store your broccoli seeds for your next growing season.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Tomato Variety: Cherry Large Red Family: Solanaceae Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 Growing Difficulty:  3         Soil PH:  6.5 – 6.7 Fertilizer Requirements: 10-20-10 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 5 to 10               Soil Temp for Germination: 60-80°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  65 - 70 Planting Depth:  1/4” Distance Apart (in row):  24-36” Row Spacing: 24-36” Sowing Instructions (SEE STARTING INDOORS) Starting Indoors START INDOORS 6-8 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST, SOIL TEMP 70°-75°F Growing Tips When starting tomatoes indoors, plant the seeds at ¼” deep in individual cells. Make sure to provide enough lighting, as the tomato plants do require light and warm soil to properly germinate. Once the second set of leaves forms, you may transplant the tomato plants into individual plots or larger containers. Roughly a week before transplanting into the garden, make sure to harden your plants off. Start by taking your tomato plants outdoors for several hours each day to acclimate them to current weather conditions. Tomatoes do not tolerate cold weather, so make sure to bring them inside if the temperatures turn colder. Once the soil temperature has reached around 70°F, it is safe to transplant into the garden. A trellis or cage is recommended for tomato plants, otherwise the fruits will weigh the plant down and may cause damage and hinder growth. Culinary Uses Cherry tomatoes have a wide variety of uses. Use them in salsas, roast them in olive oil, eat them raw, in a vinaigrette, or any way you wish. Harvesting Crops Gently press the flesh of the tomato to determine ripeness, the flesh should yield just slightly. If they are firm/hard to the touch, they are not ready yet. A bright red color is a good indicator of ripeness. Pull on the stem slightly to release the entire vine of tomatoes, if it fails to release, use a sharp pair of garden shears or a knife to remove the entire vine. Vine ripened tomatoes have the best flavor. Make sure to harvest all your tomatoes by the time the first frost arrives, even if they are still green. Green cherry tomatoes will ripen on the vine if kept in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Harvesting Seed Tomatoes are not at risk for cross-pollination like many other vegetables, so you do not need to worry about isolation from other tomato plants. Pick you fully ripe tomatoes and cut them in half horizontally. Squeeze them to release the pulp and seeds into a bowl. Allow the pulp and seeds to ferment for several days and produce a layer of mold (this will remove the gelatinous layer on the seeds). Rinse the mold and debris to expose the seeds. Your best seeds will be on the bottom of the mixture. Rinse these seeds a final time in a strainer with running water until they appear clean. Spread your seeds on a flat dry surface out of direct sunlight. Stir them a couple times each day for about a week to make sure they are fully dried. Once dried, store in a cool, dry location. Tomato seeds are usually viable for up to four years, depending on storage methods.

Packed in Resealable Long Life MylarMoisture Proof Packets10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Squash Variety: Winter Spaghetti Family: Curcubitaceae           Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  6.0 to 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements: 24-8-16 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 10 to 14 Soil Temp for Germination: 70-95°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  90 - 95 Planting Depth:  2-3” Distance Apart (in row):  36-48” Row Spacing: 8-10ft Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW IN WARM, FERTILE SOIL WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 65°F Starting Indoors 4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST FOR GARDENERS IN SHORT GROWING SEASONS (USE PEAT POT) SQUASH DOES NOT TRANSPLANT WELL Growing Tips IMPORTANT - When planting Squash, choose an area where you have not planted squash or related crops within the past 2 years. If starting indoors, make sure to harden off the seedlings by introducing them to the outside weather conditions for several hours per day for at least a week before transplanting. When the soil temperature reaches an average of 60°F, you can transplant or directly sow your squash seeds. We recommend planting squash in the same way that you would plant pumpkins (mound planting).  Plant two squash plants per hill, separate the hills by about 8-10’ apart. Squash can be companion planted with corn, but you should avoid planting your squash near potatoes. Place a layer of mulch under your squash plants to control moisture and prevent weeds. This will also protect the squash from too much ground moisture and keep the fruit clean. You should start pinching off many of the blooms during midsummer to allow the plant to focus energy on the squash production of only a few fruits per plant. Culinary Uses Spaghetti squash has gained popularity over the past several years as people are looking for gluten free alternatives to for their diet. As the name says (spaghetti), the inside of the spaghetti squash is similar in texture to a spaghetti noodle and can be used to supplement pasta in many dishes. Harvesting Crops Like a pumpkin, squash can be harvested as soon as its stem becomes dry and you are unable to pierce the skin of the squash with your fingernail. Squashes do not like cold weather and frost will damage your squash. Make sure that when you harvest your squash, you use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut them from the vine. Cut the squash off the vine with about 2-3” of stem length remaining on the top of the pumpkin. Allow the stem to harden and shrivel by sun curing your harvest. Squash will keep well if kept in a 45-50°F location and can last for months.   Harvesting Seed Once the squash has been cured, the stem is dried and the skin is unable to be pierced, you are able to harvest the seeds. Harvesting squash seed is like that of harvesting pumpkin seeds. Cut the squash open and remove the seeds with the pulp. Separate the seeds from the pulp with a colander and running water. Place the seeds in a bowl of water to continue separating the rest of the pulp. The seeds you will want to harvest are the ones that sink. Make sure to dry the seeds thoroughly by lying flat on a large paper towel and turning or stirring them up frequently to make sure both sides have completely dried. Safely store you seeds to use in your next crop. Squash seeds are viable for up to four years depending on your storage method.