“ When people say they have a great savor tomato , they comare it to the Brandywine Lycopersicon esculentum , ” say Randel Agrella , a horticulturalist atBaker Creek Heirloom Seeds . “ It ’s still the criterion . ”
headquarter in Missouri , Baker Creek has become notable for offering a vivacious array of rare and intriguing heirloom germ . There , deep fleeceable Abashi bitter melons nestle next to fiery Goronong chile peppers and supersized ancient Manpukuji carrots .
We spoke to Agrella about five heirloom miscellany to conceive if you ’re looking to pep up your garden or hobby farm , including the off - kelter Toothache Plant .
1. Hopi Corn
A post shared by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds ( @bakercreekseeds )
“ I ’m in person very interested in southwest seeds , ” says Agrella when asked to pinpoint some of his best-loved varieties . “ I ’d go with some of the aboriginal American maize , like the Hopi Pink and the Hopi Blue . ”
Agrella adds that the Hopi variety of corn are n’t for fresh feeding . But they work as a treat for decorative purpose and grinding down into flour .
Read more : see about growing memory board corn in the garden for a chain of mountains of manipulation !
2. Banana Melon
Digging bass , the Baker Creek burial vault include seeds for a variety know as Banana Melon . Agrella says that these large , elongated melon vine are refer as far back as 1885 in J. H. Gregory ’s seminal fluid catalog .
Highlighting the eye - catch nature of the melons , the catalogue ’s archived submission from that time take :
“ None of the 170 varieties of vegetables parade by me at the Essex Agricultural Society in the fall of 1883 created a smashing pastime than the Banana Melon . ”
3. Brandywine Tomato
Baker Creek carry an extensive chain of tomato seed , including Purple Calabash , Black Strawberry and Pink Fangs . But Agrella ’s personal picking is Brandywine .
“ Brandywine was credibly the one that sound off off the heirloom move , ” he say . “ Although it ’s a wonderful sassy tomato , people do n’t realize that it also seduce a adequate canner . I ’ve spoken with Amish hoi polloi who insist on that one for give notice . ”
Agrella point out that Brandywines can also cavort varying smell , often veer to the “ funky ” side of thing with “ kind of lobe on it rather than a smooth round arena . ”
4. Zappalito de Tronco
Zappalito de Tronco was one of the first seed to offend Agrella ’s interest when he began his heirloom journeying .
It ’s an Argentinian summer mash that Agrella says he hear while “ drop a season reading seed magazine rather than garden . ” gustatory sensation wise , the squash skews to the angelical end of the spectrum and possess a tender lineament .
scan more : Grow fall squash to enjoy all wintertime long !
5. Toothache Plant
Finally , if you ’re really hankering after a conversation starter for your farm or garden , consider picking up some Toothache Plant ejaculate .
Agrella explain that the lore of the Toothache Plant goes back to “ olden time . ” It was prized for its medicinal power to numb the sass and was recommended to alleviate lighting issue .
