Discover Diversity in Your Garden
by Steve Peters

One of the greatest joys of gardening is to discover something new! No matter how knowledgeable or experienced we may be in the garden, there will always be wonderful surprises waiting for us if we are open to them. 

This year Seeds of Change has added about 70 seed and plant varieties to our already extensive list—our largest number of new introductions ever. Many of these are variations of crop types that we already offer, but many others are brand new crops for Seeds of Change. Some of these new introductions are easy to grow, while others may present unique challenges. In either case, we hope you enjoy these interesting offerings to excite your taste buds, provide color and beauty, and add to the vibrancy and health of your garden. Here is a summary of the new offerings with their outstanding qualities. Let's celebrate nature's gift of bio-diversity!

Additional varieties of crops already offered

1. Fresh Snap Bush Beans (4): one yellow and three green pod varieties; all with exceptional tenderness; high uniformity; slender pods; long harvest period
2. Beet (1): golden roots
3. Carrot (1): bright yellow roots
4. Chard (1): deep orange stalks
5. Collard (1): very robust; old favorite from the South
6. Flour Corn (1): venerable, traditional Native American variety
7. Eggplant (1): small, slender, uniform fruit
8. Garlic (1): hardneck type with good storage; very large cloves; distinctive, lavender color
9. Leek (1): extremely winter-hardy; uniform shanks
10. Lettuce (10): wide diversity of shapes, colors and sizes - oak leaf, romaine, batavian, red leaf, butterhead, looseleaf-types
11. Okra (1): superb selection of tender pods from Louisiana
12. Onion (2): classic, yellow short-day type and white, long-day storage type
13. Chile Pepper (2): Anaheim types from the New Mexico Chile Institute
14. Quinoa (1): unusual, brilliant-colored leaves and seed heads
15. Radish (3): two varieties with unusual colors - pink and purple; one red variety with very uniform color and shape
16. Rutabaga (1): bright yellow flesh; vigorous and disease resistant
17. Squash (3): two summer squash with novel shapes and colors; one winter squash that is particularly uniform and productive
18. Tomato (2): highly flavorful heirlooms
19. Chicory (1): unique; dandelion-leaf type
20. Garden Cress (1): vigorous; uniform strain
21. Endive (2): different leaf shapes
22. Radicchio (2): superior uniformity of head shape and color
23. Basil (1): consistent purple leaf color
24. Chives (1): highly vigorous; thick-leaved
25. Thyme (1): greater winter hardiness
26. Tobacco (1): traditional, Native American, ceremonial type; more cold hardy
27. Flax (1): drought-tolerant; perennial wildflower
28. Campanula (1): drought-tolerant biennial; long bloom period
29. Marigold (1): new variety; brilliant double maroon and orange flower petals
30. Safflower (1): spineless stems; great cut and dried flower

New crops never before offered by Seeds of Change

1. Globe Artichoke (1): highly adaptable cultivar produces fruit in first year, so it can be grown in climates with cold winters
2. Asparagus (3): first organic asparagus crowns (roots) offered on the market; green and purple varieties
3. Upland Cress (1): different species than standard garden cress; more cold hardy; more pungent with shiny leaves
4. Groundcherry (1): tomato-like fruits with intense, sweet flavor
5. Maruba Santoh (1): related to Chinese cabbage with broad, succulent white stalks
6. Pumpkin-On-A-Stick (1): ornamental eggplant; for fresh or dry bouquets
7. Stevia (1): natural sweetener; suitable for children and diabetics
8. Strawberries (6): first organic strawberry crowns offered on the market; everbearing and June-bearing varieties
9. Sweet Pea (1): old favorite cottage garden plant; fragrant scarlet, purple, rose, white, and cream blossoms
10. Yarrow (1): ornamental perennial with diversity of colors; cut and dried flower

Steve Peters
Seeds of Change Commercial Seed Manager