Vegetable Variety Descriptions for 2025 Plant Sale
All varieties are open-pollinated unless hybrid. Most are heirloom.
*Indicates a test variety.
Tomatoes – Cherry
Black Strawberry Cherry- The gorgeous 1-ounce fruits are beautifully marbled in shades of blue, scarlet, and gold, and their mild flavor is a balance of sugar-sweet, tart, and fruity. Voted “Most Beautiful Tomato” at Tomato Fest 2022. The plants are early and productive and may do well in larger sized containers if staked. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 60 days
Cherry Bomb Hybrid– A vigorous grower, this cherry tomato produces great tasting, and beautiful deep red fruit in large attractive clusters. It won “Sweetest Tomato” at Tomato Fest 2023. Indeterminate. 64 days.
Esterina Hybrid– This vigorous, bright-yellow cherry tomato is sweeter and more crack-resistant than Sungold. Voted “Best Tasting Cherry Tomato at Tomato Fest 2023. Indeterminate. 60 days.
Gardener’s Delight AKA Sugar Lump-This vigorous German heirloom produces many clusters of 6-12 red extra-sweet and flavorful cherry tomatoes all summer long. Crack-resistant. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 65 days
Green Grape Cherry Tomato– This heirloom is a cross between Yellow Pear and Evergreen, resulting in 1”, yellow-green fruit borne in clusters. The flavor is a blend of spicy and sweet. This variety stays fairly compact and is very productive. Semi-determinate. 60-70 days
Large Red Cherry-Large, extremely productive heirloom variety that yields large, red 1 1-2″ cherry tomatoes that have great full flavor, perfect for snacking or salads. The green tomatoes can be pickled. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 72 days
Sun Sugar Hybrid- This is an extraordinarily sugar-sweet golden cherry tomato. The fruit is thin-skinned and crack resistant, and the plants are vigorous and productive. Indeterminate. 62 days.
Supersweet 100VF Hybrid- This improved cousin of Sweet 100 bears the same deliciously sweet red tomatoes but with increased disease resistance. The plant requires staking and will produce long clusters of tomatoes until frost. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 65 days.
Tumbler Hybrid-Tumbler is a perfect tomato for hanging pots and containers. This very productive, extremely early, cascading plant will produce up to 6 lbs. of 1.25″ scarlet cherry/saladette tomatoes. A determinate hybrid variety. 45 days
*Washington Cherry– Washington Cherry tomato was developed by Washington State University. The high-yielding, compact plants produce deep-red, meaty and thick-walled 1 ounce fruit. Good keeping quality on and off the vine. Tasty and perfect for container gardening. Open-Pollinated. Determinate. 60 days
Salad Tomatoes (2-10oz.)
Ace 55- This heirloom variety produces good yields of red, low acid tomatoes, perfect for fresh eating. The plants are 4-6’ tall and are semi-determinate. Open-pollinated. 75 days.
Better Bush VFN Hybrid- This compact red tomato is perfect for small gardens or large containers because it rarely needs staking. It produces 4” meaty fruits with “real tomato” flavor all season long. Indeterminate. 68 days.
Black Sea Man– A semi-determinate Russian heirloom tomato that will need staking. The 6-12oz. tomatoes are deep burgundy with olive green shoulders and are very juicy. The intense flavors of savory, smoky, sweet, and tart win taste competitions against other black tomatoes! Plants are short, potato leafed, and very productive. Open-pollinated. 75 days.
Bonny Best AKA Bonnie Best AKA John Baer-This heirloom commercial tomato was available in 1897 in the Vaughan’s Seed Store catalog! It produces bright red, 6-10 oz., globe shaped fruit that have a classic rich and acidic tomato flavor. Great for cooking, canning, and eating. Indeterminate plant that does well in a short, cool growing season. Open-pollinated. 72-80 days
Early Girl Hybrid- Expect large, dependable and early harvests of round, red, meaty tomatoes with lots of flavor. Indeterminate. 52 days.
Green Zebra– Bred in Everett, Wa and introduced in 1983, this beautiful 3-5 oz. green tomato ripens to a yellow-gold with dark green stripes. The flavor is tangy and tart, with a touch of sweetness. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 75 days.
IndigoTM Apple-Indigotm Apple was bred from the OSU Blue Fruit series which started with IndigoTM Rose. The sprawling indeterminate plants produce large clusters of 3-4oz. purple/black/red tomatoes which are ripe when soft to the touch. Flavor is sweet, tart and has a long shelf life. Open-pollinated. 70-75 days
Jubilee AKA Golden Jubilee-Introduced in 1943 by Burpee, this mild flavored, golden-orange tomato is a great choice for juice, as well as sauce and salsa. The 3” fruit are meaty with few seeds, and the medium sized, indeterminate plants are very productive. Open-pollinated. 72 days
Karen’s Orange – Very high yields of 6-8 oz. fruits on a small 24-30” plant. The fruits are sweet, juicy, low acid and a beautiful orange color, and will set in both cool and hot weather. This heirloom is determinate and great for small spaces. It is also unique to Yakima and found nowhere else. Saving seeds is critical to its survival. Open-pollinated. 65 days.
Rutgers– This New Jersey heirloom was introduced in 1934, and still is popular because of its versatility. The 8 oz. fruits are large, bright red, and full flavored. Bred for canning and excellent for eating. The variety is a determinate grower that typically stays compact (4’ -5’). Open-pollinated. 75 days.
Silvery Fir Tree-A compact, 24” tall old Russian heirloom that bears early, heavy crops of 2-4” red tomatoes. Flavor is balanced, pleasant, and tangy. Delicate, carrot-like, silvery-grey foliage is beautiful in a container, and holds up well in windy situations with staking. Open-pollinated. Determinate. 55-60 days.
Solar Flare- This variety from Wild Boar Farms produces abundant amounts of gorgeous 6-10 oz. beefsteak tomatoes that are red with gold stripes, lusciously sweet, and very meaty. Open-Pollinated. Indeterminate. 75 days.
Paste Tomatoes
Martino’s Roma- Fantastic yields of richly flavored, 2 to 3 oz., plum tomatoes are produced by this Italian heirloom variety. The fruit is dry fleshed, very meaty, and have few seeds. The compact plants require very little staking. Great for drying, salsa, sauces, and pastes. Open-pollinated. Determinate. 75 days.
*Pony Express Hybrid– This is a very early and productive paste tomato. The tomatoes are deep-red, medium large, firm, and elongated. The plants are compact and very disease resistant. Determinate. 69 days.
San Marzano-This is the classic heirloom paste tomato. The red fruit are thinner and more pointed than Roma tomatoes and are much thicker with fewer seeds. The flavor is strong, sweet, and less acidic. Vigorous, productive plants. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate. 82 days.
Beefsteak/Large (10oz.+)
*Big Beef Hybrid- This tomato was the AAS Winner in 1994 for good reason. The fruit is extra- large, extra meaty, and tastes like old time tomatoes. The plants are robust, resistant to many diseases, and very productive. Requires staking or caging. Indeterminate. 73 days.
Black Krim-This heirloom tomato originated in Crimea. The beefsteak fruits are a dark red-purple, and in sunny conditions will turn nearly black. The flavor is rich and sweet with a hint of saltiness. Prone to cracking but a very heavy indeterminate producer. Open-pollinated. 80 days
Brandywine (Landis Valley Strain)-This variety is legendary for its large, pink-red, richly flavored beefsteak tomatoes. This potato leaf heirloom dates to the 1880’s and is still considered one of the world’s best flavored indeterminate tomatoes. Open-pollinated. 85 days
Cherokee Purple– A pre-1890’s Tennessee Valley heirloom variety, this tomato is known for its deep dusky purple-pink, sweet, spicy, and huge beefsteak fruit. The plants are indeterminate, and vigorous growers. Open-pollinated. 80-85 days
Glorious– A very large heirloom variety most recently from Ellensburg, WA. This unidentified tomato’s journey started with seeds given by Mennonites to Larry, a gardener in Pennsylvania, who gave them to a friend who gave them to Gloria who sold seedlings at the Farmers Market in Ellensburg. The 1lb gold tomatoes are juicy with few seeds. Good for sandwiches and sauces. Ripens early for a large tomato. This is a critically endangered variety because of its rarity so be sure to save and share its seeds. Open-pollinated. Indeterminate.72 days.
Kellogg’s Breakfast-Darrell Kellogg, not the cereal company, preserved this superbly flavored West Virginia heirloom. One pound, pale-orange, meaty and almost seedless tomatoes are produced all season long by this indeterminate variety. Requires staking. Open-pollinated. 79-85 days.
Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye- In a taste comparison, people preferred this beautiful tomato over Cherokee Purple 10 out of 10 times! The flavor of this fruit is extremely robust: sweet, rich, tart, and salty. It won “Best Tasting Tomato” at Tomato Fest 2021.The beefsteak tomatoes are port wine colored with metallic green stripes and are ripe early to mid-early. A productive and somewhat compact indeterminate plant. Open-pollinated. 65-75 days.
Striped German-The fruit of this very productive variety is ribbed, shaded in stripes of yellow and red, has a sweet and fruity flavor and a texture that is described as smooth. Winner of the “Most Beautiful Tomato” at Tomato Fest 2023. Great for slicing and canning. Open-pollinated. 70-75 days.
Super Fantastic Hybrid- Vigorous hardy vines produce prolific yields of dark-red beefsteak tomatoes with a rich, hearty tomato taste. Indeterminate. 70 days.
Squash
Bush Table King Acorn -This winter squash is perfect for a small garden. Each compact bush can yield 5 to 8 flavorful, orange fleshed, 2 lb. fruit. The squash are excellent keepers so they can be enjoyed all winter long. An All- America Selection in 1974. Open-pollinated. 85 days.
Honey Boat Delicata-One of the most popular heirloom squashes, this delicata variety was bred at OSU, and introduced in 1990. Vines reach up to 6’ and the 6-8” fruits average 1lb. The flavor is deliciously sweet and nutty. This squash is fantastic baked, and excellent in pasta and soups. Plus, it stores well. Open-pollinated. 100 days
Golden Zucchini– Golden zucchini, unlike yellow squash, has classic zucchini shaped fruit. They are a bright golden yellow and taste like slightly sweet green zucchini. This heirloom is a bush variety and needs plenty of room to grow. Open-pollinated. 54 days.
*Red Kuri (Hokkaido)- This high yielding winter squash was brought back from Fukushima, Japan in 1933. The red-orange fruit is 5-8 lbs., shaped like a teardrop and keeps well. The golden flesh is smooth, dry, sweet, and richly flavored. Open-pollinated. 92 days.
Spaghetti – A fantastic substitute for pasta because of its spaghetti-like strands of flesh, this heirloom winter squash originated in Japan in the 1930’s. The vigorous plants produce 2-3 lb. delicately flavored fruit that are ready to harvest when they turn tan or yellow. Open-pollinated. 95-100 days
Waltham Butternut- This butternut squash was an AAS winner in 1970. The high-yielding vines produce 3-to-6-pound fruit that have straight necks, yellow-orange flesh and a sweet, nutty flavor. Excellent keepers. Open-pollinated. 83-100 days
Yakima Marblehead -Marblehead squash was bred in 1854 from seeds that originated in the West Indies. Eastern WA homesteaders grew this Hubbard variety, and between 1928 and 1931, “Yakima Marblehead” seed was commercially available out of Portland, OR. Full sized fruits weigh from 20 to 30 pounds and have sweet, dry, slightly stringy flesh that make it perfect for breads, soup, or even vegetable noodles. Develops sweetness in storage and easily stores for a year. This variety is considered critically endangered so be sure to save and share the seeds. Open-pollinated. 100 days.
Zucchini-Black Beauty -An heirloom summer squash dating back to the 1920’s that made zucchini popular. The classic, black-green fruit is straight and best eaten when less than 8” long. Delicious raw, fried or baked. The productive bushes are open in the interior, allowing fruit to be easily seen. Open-pollinated. 50 days
Zucchini-Golden– Golden zucchini, unlike yellow squash, has classic zucchini shaped fruit. They are a bright golden yellow and taste like slightly sweet green zucchini. This heirloom is a bush variety and needs plenty of room to grow. Open-pollinated. 54 days.
Pumpkins
Connecticut Field Pumpkin -This is a truly old heirloom variety, grown by Native Americans prior to the arrival of Europeans. The traditional American pumpkin, it is globe-shaped, deep orange, and weighs up to 25 lbs. The flesh is dark orange, flavorful, and coarser than modern pumpkins. Delicious for pies and makes a great Halloween pumpkin. The sprawling vines yield many fruits. Open-pollinated. 100 days
Small Sugar -Sometimes called New England Pie Pumpkin, this heirloom is considered the ultimate pie pumpkin. The beautiful, small, 5-8 lb. pumpkins are very fine-grained, sweet and sugary, and exceptionally flavorful. Vigorous vines produce 4-6 fruits and can be trellised or grown on a support. Fantastic for pies! Open-pollinated. 95 days
Wee Be Little -A true pumpkin in miniature, the fruits on this AAS winner developed by WSU are softball sized and weigh up to 1lb. The petite pumpkins are great for decorating but are also good for eating. The flesh is thick, tasty and sweet, perfect for baking, and store well too. The plants are bushy and compact and perfect for a smaller garden. Open-pollinated. 90 days
Melons
Hale’s Best Jumbo- The 3-to-5-pound cantaloupe produced by this very old heirloom are exceptionally sweet and thick-walled. The plants are strong and vining. Open-pollinated. 85 days
Rocky Ford Melon aka Eden’s Gem– This famous heirloom cantaloupe variety dates back to the 1880’s where it was developed in the Rocky Ford region of Colorado. The skin is netted, and the green flesh is deliciously sweet and spicy. The melons average 2-3 lbs. and 5” in diameter. Open-pollinated. 85 days.
Honey Rock AKA Sugar Rock -An heirloom and 1933 AAS winner, this melon is vigorous and early to ripen. The plants produce 5 to 7 cantaloupe that have aromatic, sweet, and salmon-colored flesh. Open-pollinated. 80 days.
Sugar Cube Hybrid -A personal-sized cantaloupe that is intensely sweet, juicy, and extremely aromatic. Plus, its very disease-resistant, productive, and has a long shelf life. Perfect for a small garden space. 80 days.
Tommy Apple– The hard work of Mr. Tommy Apple has resulted in this unique Eastern Oregon heirloom cantaloupe. The fruit is oblong, medium to jumbo in size, and is sweet and silky in taste. A mature melon is golden in color and slips easily from the vine when ripe. Open-pollinated. 65 days.
Watermelons
Blacktail Mountain -Developed in Northern Idaho where the nights get cold, this watermelon is perfect for our region. The 6 to 12 lb. fruit are round and green-black, and the red flesh is super-sweet, crisp, and juicy. Vines reach 10’ and are very productive. Harvest just before ripe and melons will finish ripening in storage. Stores up to 2 months! Open-pollinated. 70-75 days.
Crimson Sweet -This heirloom watermelon is a classic. The fruit is large, green-striped and has dark -red sweet and crisp flesh. Each plant is a vigorous grower and bears one to two 15-25 lb. melons. Open-pollinated. 85 days.
Cucumbers
*Gherkin Hybrid– This burpless gherkin is great for fresh eating and for pickling. The 3–5-inch cucumbers are dark green with white spines and stay bitter-free. Excellent disease resistance to powdery and downy mildew. 53 days.
Lemon-This heirloom cucumber originated in Australia and was introduced to the U.S. in 1894. The fruit is thin-skinned, burpless, has excellent flavor and can be used for slicing or pickling. The highly productive plants are more drought tolerant than other varieties. Open-pollinated. 60 days
Marketmore 76- The original Marketmore cucumber was developed in 1968, and in 1976 this vigorous disease and pest resistant variety was introduced. The delicious thick-skinned fruit averages 8-9 inches long and is dark green. Open-pollinated. 65 days.
Muncher -The fruit of this Middle Eastern variety is smooth skinned, almost spineless, and delicious. Each plant produces a large crop of 6-9” burpless, crisp, and never bitter cucumbers. Vines are strong and compact, making it a perfect choice for small gardens or containers. Open-pollinated. 60 days
National Pickling- One of the best pickling cucumbers on the market, this variety was developed decades ago by the National Pickle Packers Association and Michigan Ag Experimental Station. The blocky, dark-green, crisp and delicious cukes fill jars perfectly, and are also good eating. Vines are heavy yielding and can be trellised. Open-pollinated. 52 days
Suyo Long -A Chinese heirloom, the fruit grows 10-18” long and will curve if not grown on a trellis. The flesh is sweet, crisp, burpless, and excellent for slicing. The skin is thin skinned and ribbed. Somewhat heat tolerant. Open-pollinated. 65 days
*Sweet Success Hybrid– This English cucumber won AAS in 1983. The 12 to 24-inch long, straight fruit is burpless, sweet, and nearly seedless. The plants are high yielding, have excellent disease resistance or tolerance, and don’t need a pollinator to set fruit. 56 days.
Cucumber Melon
Armenian Cucumber AKA Serpent Cucumber AKA Snake Melon-Technically, the “Serpent Cucumber” is a relative of a honeydew melon not a cucumber. This heat tolerant heirloom originated in Armenia in the 1400’s. The beautiful fruit is crunchy, mild- flavored, thin-skinned, and nearly seedless. They grow 2-3’ long, 2” wide and are best when eaten when 12-18 “. Trellis for straight fruit. Open-pollinated. 65 days
Eggplant
Black Beauty-Introduced by Burpee in 1902, this prolific eggplant remains a favorite with gardeners. The plants are sturdy and upright, making it ideal for small gardens and containers. The fruits are large, flavorful, and gorgeous. Expect 8-12 fruits per plant so be sure to stake it. Open-pollinated. 80 days.
Ping Tung- This heirloom originated in Ping Tung, Taiwan. The glossy-skinned, slightly curved, bright magenta eggplants are perfect for pickling or eating when 9 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. The flavor is sweet and never bitter, and the vigorous plants produce steadily over the season. Compact and great for containers. Open-pollinated. 70 days
Tomatillo
**Grow 2 or more plants to ensure good pollination**.
*Rio Grande Verde- The fruit of this tomatillo is large and apple-green. This high yield variety has compact, 2 ft. tall plants that don’t need staking. Determinate. Open-pollinated. 85 days
Ground Cherry
Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry -Easy to grow, prolific, with super sweet fruit that can be eaten fresh, used for preserves, pies, or dried like raisins. The plant grows 2’ tall and 4’ wide, and when the marble- size fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground. This Polish heirloom originated in the mountains of South America. Great for containers. Open-pollinated. 65 days.
Peppers – Hot
Big Jim (NuMex)- Big Jim lives up to its name with huge 12”, mildly hot Anaheim-type peppers. The flesh is thick, and the flavor is incredible. The determinate plants produce 24-30 fruit on sturdy 24” to 36” high bushes. Introduced in 1975, this New Mexico State University chili is perfect for Chili rellenos. Open-pollinated. 75-80 days
Cayenne: Large Red Thick- These brilliant scarlet peppers are quite hot and thick fleshed. The delicious 6” fruits are borne in concentrated sets on strong upright plants. Great dried, pickled, or in sauces. Open-pollinated. 75 days.
*Chinese 5- Color– This plant is so pretty and compact that is often grown as an ornamental. The peppers are small and conical and mature from purple to cream to yellow to orange and finally to red, gaining in heat as they mature. The flavor is sweet yet bitter, with an earthy undertone, and is screaming hot. Open-pollinated. 75-85 days.
*Fresno- Fresno peppers were bred in the 1950’s by Clarence Hamlin in Fresno Co., California, and are almost impossible to find. They are a jalapeno-style pepper but hotter and sweeter. The plants reach 24-30 inches tall and are very productive. Peppers evolve from green to red as they ripen. Open-pollinated. 75-80 days.
Greek Pepperoncini -This is the pickled pepper commonly used in Greek salads and on pizzas. The crisp, yellowish-green fruit are crisp, slightly sweet, tangy, and mildly hot. The 2-3’ tall plants are prolific. Harvest when peppers are yellowish-green and 2-4” long for the best flavor. Open-pollinated. 75 days
Habanero: Helios Hybrid– Medium-large, high-yielding, upright plants produce sweet, large (2.75” X 1.5”), very hot peppers much earlier than OP habaneros. 67 days green, 87 days orange ripe
Jalapeno: Emerald Fire Hybrid- This pepper won the 2015 AAS award for its huge (3.5”), thick-walled fruit. Plants are compact, very productive, and disease resistant, and the fruit is hot, flavorful, and perfect for stuffing, grilling, or salsas. 70 days
Poblano (Ancho) -Referred to as Poblano when used fresh, and Ancho when dried, this is one of the most popular peppers in Mexico for stuffing and mole. This heirloom originated in the state of Puebla, Mexico. The flat, heart-shaped, 3” to 6” long peppers turn reddish-brown when mature and are mildly hot. Branched, productive plants are well-suited for containers. Open-pollinated. 80 days.
*Serrano Tampiqueno– This heirloom variety from the mountains of the Hidalgo and Puebla states of Mexico grows 3 or more feet tall and is very productive. The fruit is 3 inches long and hot and has a distinctive sweet flavor. It averages 2 to 3 times hotter than jalapeno peppers. Open-pollinated. 75 days.
Shishito- This heirloom Japanese pepper is sweet, spicy, and best when grilled or sauteed. The fruit is 3” long, thin-walled, wrinkled and can be eaten when green or red. It’s a mild pepper that can surprise you. One out of ten is surprisingly hot. Plants are prolific producers. Open-pollinated. 60 days.
*Thai Red AKA Bird’s Eye Chili– This heirloom pepper from Thailand registers 50,000 to 100,000 SHU! The cayenne-shaped fruit matures from green to red and is 1.5 to 3 inches long. The compact plants are beautiful as well as prolific. Did I mention that it is hot? Open-pollinated. 70-90 days
Peppers – Sweet
Cornito Rosso Hybrid- Cornito’s are very early, sweet, and smaller versions of Corno di Toro peppers, perfect for grilling and roasting. The fruit is 5” long and 1.5” wide, and bright red at maturity. Plants are sturdy and yield prolifically all season long. Great for small gardens.75 days.
*Doux D’Espagne AKA Spanish Mammoth– This heirloom variety was introduced before 1860, and by the 1880’s was found in the markets of Paris. The huge (6-7 inch) conical”ish” -shaped peppers are sweet and flavorful, and great for frying and eating fresh. Ripens from green to red. The plant reaches 3+ feet tall. Open-pollinated. 90 days.
Etiuda – The flavor of this beautiful Polish pepper is outstanding. The ½ lb. fruit are mandarin-orange in color, and crisp, juicy, and very sweet in flavor. This heirloom plant is tall, and an early and heavy producer of candy-sweet peppers. Open-pollinated. 75 days
King of the North -Known for its ability to produced good sized peppers in cool or hot weather, this heirloom has been popular in northern areas since the 1940’s. The fruit is large (6” X 4”), blocky, and nicely flavored whether it is green or red. The medium-sized, multibranched plant is a heavy producer. Open-pollinated. 70 days
*Mini Yellow Bell– Mini Yellow Bell peppers are 2×1 inches with sweet and firm flesh, and no heat. The fruit matures from green to bright, sunny yellow. The plant is suitable for containers and is prolific. Open-pollinated. 60 days.
Sheepnose Pimento-Pimento peppers are round and squat, and are known for their sweet, aromatic flavor and early ripening. They were widely grown before bell peppers came upon the sweet pepper scene. This variety is an Ohio heirloom that dates to 1940. The walls of the 3-4” diameter red fruit are juicy and thick, and the flavor is sweet. Great for eating or canning. Open-pollinated. 70-80 days.
Sweet Banana – A 1941 AAS winner, this Hungarian heirloom produces abundant 6” long peppers. The spicy, sweet fruit starts yellow and turns scarlet red when fully ripe. Great pickled or eaten fresh. Open-pollinated. 75 days.