Heirloom seeds are more than the promise of next summer's crookneck squash or jewel-colored zinnias. They're living antiques handed down from one generation to the next, a rich inheritance of flavor a
Heirloom seeds are more than the promise of next summer's crookneck squash or jewel-colored zinnias. They're living antiques handed down from one generation to the next, a rich inheritance of flavor and beauty from long ago and, often, far away. They are sometimes better adapted to pests and harsh conditions than many modern varieties and often simply smell or taste better. Gardening with Heirloom Seeds serves as a resource for gardeners, cooks, and plant lovers of all levels of expertise who want to know more about finding, sharing, and propagating the seeds of heirloom flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
In these beautifully illustrated pages, Lynn Coulter describes fifty treasured heirloom species, from Frenchman's Darling, a flowering herb whose seeds were pocketed by Napoleon Bonaparte when he invaded Egypt in 1798, to Snow White beets, an old Dutch favorite that will not stain the cook's fingers. Most of the plants included here will grow throughout Canada; a few are best suited for warmer climates.
The text is sprinkled throughout with practical advice from heirloom gardeners and lists sources for finding the seeds of many old varieties. Because it also provides ample room for making notes, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds can be used year after year and can become an heirloom in its own right-a personal journal to pass along to the next generation of gardeners.
"Suitable for both the novice and the experienced gardener."
-- Library Journal
"[Coulter's stylish, interesting text, an exhaustive listing of sources for heirloom seeds and numerous color and band illustrations make this a welcome addition to every gardener's bookshelf."
-- Publishers Weekly
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Contents
Acknowledgments
A Celebration of Seeds
The Garden in Spring
Beet
Cabbage
Columbine
Garden Pea
Larkspur
Lettuce
Pink
Poppy
Radish
Snapdragon
Spinach
Sweet Pea
The Garden in Summer
Amaranth
Carrot
Corn
Cornflower
Cosmos
Cucumber
Cuphea
Eggplant
Four O'clock
Foxglove
Garden Bean
Heliotrope
Hollyhock
Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate
Lima Bean and Runner Bean
Melon
Mignonette
Morning Glory
Nasturtium
Nicotiana
Nigella
Onion
Pepper
Petunia
Salvia
Scabiosa
Southern Pea
Squash
Sunflower
Tomato
Watermelon
Zinnia
The Garden in Fall
Aster
Chard
Kale and Collards
Pansy
Pumpkin
Turnip
The Garden in Winter
Bibliography
Where to Find Heirloom Seeds or Visit Heirloom Gardens
Index
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Lynn Coulter
is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in Delta Sky, Family Circle, Southern Living, and other publications. She lives with her husband and son in Georgia.
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