Winter Seedlings for a donation (to support The Almost Eden Garden Project!)
Did you know that you can grow amazing, organic produce in our mild California winters? The weather is (thankfully) cooling down a bit this week, so it's time to think about pulling your tomato plants and preparing your garden beds (or pots!) to grow some amazing winter greens and veges! Greens do especially well in containers, and the winter rains will (hopefully) keep everything sufficiently watered, so if you haven't yet tried gardening in the winter, this is the time to think about doing so!
You aren't likely to find many of the varieties we're offering in the nurseries or big-box stores, and all are highly nutritious and delicious. We have 9-packs of most varieties, with a suggested donation of $6/pack, and 4-packs of some varieties, with a suggested donation of $3.50/pack. Of course if you'd like to donate more, we'd be very thankful :). All proceeds go to benefit The Almost Eden Garden Project!
***Seedings will be available Sunday, October 13th from 2-4pm in my driveway at 3833 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto (mark your calendar!), and by pre-order before 10/12.***
We do have a limited amount of some varieties, so if you know what you want, put your order in soon by emailing [email protected]! Pre-orders must be paid for before Sunday, 10/13, and will be available for pick-up between October 13th-17th. Venmo - @Pamela-Chesavage PayPal - [email protected]
Here are our offerings:
Komatsuna Spinach/Mustard “Old Tokyo” – As an excellent spinach substitute, it might be hard to believe that Komatsuna is actually a mustard! The leaves combine the best qualities of spinach and mustard - a mild and sweet flavor reminiscent of spinach, but with the powerful nutrition of a mustard! The leaves are very high in vitamins A and C, and it is a good source of vitamin K, folate, and minerals such as calcium and iron. (9-packs only)
Chinese Broccoli “Yod Fah” – These tender stalks taste like a cross between asparagus and broccoli, only sweeter. This is a very easy-to-grow broccoli-like plant, with gorgeous blue-green, glossy leaves similar to kale but better J. The broccoli-like inflorescences are buttery soft and nutty in flavor. So tasty! A must-have for those who long for broccoli but struggle to grow it.(9-packs only)
Buttercrunch Lettuce - Setting the standard for the classic butterhead-type lettuce for many years, this lettuce boasts soft, buttery-textured leaves that enclose a crisp, juicy, loose inner head of blanched, sweet-tasting leaves. Very heat tolerant and slow to bolt, Buttercrunch stays mild long after others have turned bitter. Excellent for salads or for wrapping up savory fillings! (9-packs only)
Georgia Southern Collard Greens - A great old Southern favorite heirloom. Has good resistance to heat and cold and will produce well for a long time. Huge yields and very flavorful - delicious sauteed with onions and garlic or chopped up in soups and stews.(9-packs and 4-packs)
Chijimisai Greens - This stunning new superfood contains a high amount of vitamin A and is a great source of minerals and protein. A cross between tatsoi and komatsuna, the lightly savoyed leaves have a velvety texture and lightly umami flavor that make it a remarkable spinach substitute. Easy to grow and both heat and cold tolerant, it’s suitable to grow year-round in northern California. Phenomenally tasty and more versatile than other greens, it is equally happy in stir fries and soups as it is in salads, lasagna or atop pizzas.(9-packs and 4-packs)
Chinese Narrow Leaf Lettuce - One of the sweetest lettuce varieties available, with a silky texture and delicious flavor! This bolt resistant and fast-growing romaine is very popular in China, especially in cooked recipes! Use the young leaves raw in salad (like a classic romaine) or allow the leaves to grow larger and add them to cooked dishes – it’s traditionally stir fried with garlic. (9-packs only)
Japanese Mountain Spinach – A favorite due to its resistance to heat and flavorful rich leaves, this orach (an amaranth relative) has the hardiness of Swiss chard in perfect balance with the tender sweetness of spinach. Very easy to grow in warm and hot weather, but it is also frost hardy. Extremely nutritious and quite adaptable in the kitchen. (9-packs and 4-packs)
Merlot Lettuce – This lettuce is reputed to be absolutely the darkest red lettuce in existence, making it tops for anthocyanin (antioxidant) content, but it’s also a rich source of potassium and vitamin A. Leaves are wavy/frilly and very crisp. Excellent bolt resistance, and good cold tolerance. Recommended for cut-and-come-again harvesting. (9-packs only)
Broccoli Rabb “Natalie’s Fasano Cima Grande” - A nutritious, richly flavored and high-yielding broccoli rabe (also known as rapini or broccoli raab) from Italy. Abundant yields of delicious heads, with plants averaging 2-3 feet tall. A delicacy in Puglia, Italy, where it is used in a range of savory dishes.(9-packs only)
Minestra Nera Liscia (Salad Broccoli or Leaf Broccoli) - An Italian classic from the Campania region with a curly-leaved, multi-headed crop. Medium-sized plants produce a heavy yield of thin, dark, bushy leaves. Absolutely delicious stir fried with a bit of garlic and olive oil! (9-packs only)
Mache (Corn Salad) - Small, low-growing rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves are easy and quick to grow fall through early spring. Vigorous and mildew-resistant, with glossy green leaves that give a tender, delicate nutty flavor. Although a staple for winter salads, mache can also be cooked like spinach. (9-packs and 4-packs)
Bulgarian Giant Leek - A popular North European long, thin and fast maturing leek variety of the highest quality with light green leaves and great flavor. One of the longest stemmed varieties available.(9-packs only)
Hope to support you all in some happy winter gardening! :)