New Items for 2023!
Each year we trial thousands of varieties of vegetables, flowers, and herbs in search of the top-performing crops. We provide each variety a fair opportunity. Soil preparation is the same for all seeds and transplants so they can all show us what they've got! We are interested in qualities and attributes such as days to germination and maturity, vigor, height, width, length, flavor, texture, uniformity, etc. The list goes on and on! We are constantly evaluating because only through those evaluations can we make the right choices. This year we are excited to offer over 100 new and outstanding products that we have found to be the best of the best!
Let’s take a look at a few of our new favorites:
1. Azuma Beet – available as seed
(F1) 80–85 days. Some like it hot, and Azuma is one beet that the heat won’t beat! This outstanding variety produces flawless, smooth, dark red, globe-shaped roots with little to no zoning even in the dog days of summer. It’s a great all-around beet for baby to full size roots and greens. We’ve seen it perform in trial gardens around the country, and it always comes out the winner!
2. Quick Snack Cucumber – available as seed
(F1) 40 days. We are pleased to offer this brand-new mini cuke for your indoor vegetable garden! Right at home in a 6 or 8 inch container, Quick Snack is fast to produce handfuls of cocktail-sized snackers on compact plants. For the best countertop or patio experience, support Quick Snack with a trellis or stake and pinch when plant reaches the top. Be sure to place in an area with good light and keep moist for loads of fruit.
3. Black Hawk Lettuce – available as seed
(OP) 55 days. Our darkest, glossiest loose-leaf from baby to full-size. This new introduction from Europe eclipsed the loose-leaf lettuce trials with its color and performance. At baby leaf size, Black Hawk sported its signature, deeply pigmented sheen and maintained it throughout its development. Superior to Merlot in texture, color and bolt resistance, it develops deep puckering and darker color after cool temperatures.
4. Prism Pepper – available as seed and transplants
(F1) 85 days. An astounding new variety for the snacking bell pepper fan! Beautifully uniform, tall, columnar plants pack on lots of 3–5 lobed, 2 ¼ inch tall and 2 ¼ inch wide fruit. The peppers ripen gradually from creamy green to bright red, offering harvest at any stage depending on one’s preference. The thick walls, sweet, bell pepper flavor and satisfying crunch make Prism a crowd pleaser, and the tight seed cluster makes cleaning a breeze. Be warned, the heavy load of fruit that each plant produces warrants a tomato cage or other support to keep the crop upright!
5. Bridge to Paris Pepper – available as seed and transplants
(OP) 83 days. We consider Bridge to Paris among the best all-around pepper we’ve grown. A sweet Italian type, this marvel offers staggeringly huge yields of big, elongated fruit with very few seeds and excellent flavor. Emerging green and ripening to red, the peppers can reach 7–9 inches long with a fruity taste. Enjoy the harvests fresh, fried, dried or smoked. The plants get tall, up to 30 inches in our trials and load up with over two dozen fruit per plant. Thanks to Hudson Valley seed for offering this exceptional de-hybridized pepper.
6. Table Ace Winter Squash – available as seed
(F1) 80 days. You may recognize the name—Table Ace has been around for a long time and still holds the title for the best flavored & most productive acorn. We’re very proud to offer this treasured variety with uniform harvests of dark green-nearly black, 6 inch squash with a thick layer of smooth, solid, flavorful, golden flesh. It’s consistently the heaviest yielding variety in our acorn trials.
7. Rubee Dawn Tomato – available as seed and transplants
(F1) 60 days. Rubee Dawn is like a glistening gem on the vine. This stellar slicer produces big, 3 inch round fruit that ripen very early and boast great flavor along with an attractive, deep red color thanks to its crimson gene expression. The very robust disease resistance means you’ll be enjoying delicious harvests off the indeterminate plants throughout the long season.
8. Strawberry Blonde Calendula – available as seed
A hot new head-turning beauty, Strawberry Blonde brings a charming glow to the garden, container, floral arrangements and even salads! Glowing creamy coral petals have cheery, contrasting bright red backs, and the well-branched, fast-growing plants produce loads of blooms. At 18–24 inches tall, the stems make great cut flowers for both fresh and dried applications.
9. Sahara Rudbeckia – available as seed
A blend of brunette, warm cinnamon, golden flax, cabernet and rosy salmon, these exquisite, mostly semi-double blooms capture the hues of a summer sunset. Compact, upright plants reach about 20 inches tall and 12 inches wide for placement in the front of the border or large container. The rich palette makes stunning displays with vibrant reds and purples or wherever you need a sultry touch.
10. Madame Butterfly Snapdragon Series – available as seed and transplants
An extra fancy twist on the beloved snapdragon. The Madame Butterfly series blows the snapdragon flowers wide open with an azalea-type bloom that’s frilly and extra special. Tall, sturdy stems reach 26–36 inches and are topped with towers of vibrant, double florets. Extended vase life and a subtle perfume are a bonus!
11. Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor Zinnia – available as seed
Opening up to the world as bright red and yellow blooms before seeping into warm shades of apricot and pink, it’s no wonder this long-lasting bedding zinnia is a gold medal AAS winner. At 14–18 inches tall and 20–24 inches wide, these vivid colored flowers are a gorgeous bouquet growing straight out of the soil in beds and containers alike!
12. Fragrant Falls® Peach Begonia – available as a plant
(A) Our newest obsession for the shade. This tuberous begonia produces well-branched plants with thick, dark green leaves and a profusion of opulent blooms. The flowers in a stunning color combination of warm peach and yellow offer the added delight of a soft, exotic perfume. Fill your hanging baskets, mixed containers, and window boxes with these alluring beauties for a season-long, scented display.
We hope you’ll try something new in your 2023 garden! Happy Gardening!
