{"title":"Philadelphia Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a collection of seed varieties that help us tell the story of the historic Philadelphia area through our gardens and our dinner plates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese seeds come to us thanks to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLenni-Lenape people (the original people of our area).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHorace Pippin, the now-famed painter, who shared beautiful peppers from the Black catering communities of Philly and Baltimore with H. Ralph Weaver in the early 1940s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe thriving seed and nursery world of our city starting with John Bartram in the 1700s and later in the 1800s with companies like Upsal Botanic Garden, Moore and Simon, and David Landreth \u0026amp; Sons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Pennsylvania Dutch communities of the region. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRussian plant breeder Marina Danilenko who named a beatiful, delicious tomato after Philly's hometown hero Paul Robeson.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClick on the varieties to read more about their stories and connections to Philly. Thanks also to all of the people who first formed relationships with these food plants around the world, and who shared these varieties with people in the Philadelphia area. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor varieties grown for our catalog by Philadelphia area farmers (or anywhere else!), see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/pages\/meet-the-farmers\"\u003eMeet the Farmers\u003c\/a\u003e page and click on the growers in your region.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"purple-kingsessing-bean","title":"Purple Kingsessing Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eAlso known as Lenape Blue Bread Beans, these dry beans have a delicious meaty flavor and are used for stews and baking into bread. Six foot vines yield an abundance of purple pods filled with dark purple seeds, with a fair amount of tannish brown off-types. If saving seed for replanting, consider sowing only the purple seeds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam Woys Weaver was entrusted with these beans when the seed keeper who cared for them in Oklahoma passed away. Many Lenape people now reside in Northern Oklahoma because the U.S. government forced them there in the 1860s. The seed has been brought back to its original land. Kingsessing is derived from the Lenape word \"Chingsessing,\" meaning “a place where there is a meadow.” Originally, this was the name for the land between the Schuylkill River and Cobbs Creek, in what is now West and Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These seeds were grown once again in Kingsessing for Truelove Seeds by staff at the historic Bartram's Garden. If you are Lenape, please reach out so we can rematriate these seeds to you free of charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70-95\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 96% on 11\/04\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every four to six inches. Provide a sturdy trellis as the vines can grow six to eight feet tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of \u003cem\u003eP. vulgaris\u003c\/em\u003e by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":753978245133,"sku":"BN-003","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/tumblr_nxvjndSY1E1se7haqo1_1280.jpg?v=1571609431"},{"product_id":"aunt-mollys-ground-cherry","title":"Aunt Molly's Ground Cherry","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Slow Food Ark of Taste variety is a delightful combination of sweet and tart, with notes of vanilla and pineapple. Ground cherries are sweet cousins to tomatoes and tomatillos. Kids of all ages love finding tiny wrapped packages and eating the yellow fruits like candy right in the garden, or several weeks later in fruit salad or over ice cream, as they store well in their husks. Naturally high in pectin, they make great preserves and pies as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAunt Molly's Ground Cherry has been designated by Slow Food as an outstandingly tasty, culturally important, and endangered heirloom from Pennsylvania, and is listed in their Ark of Taste as a way to invite everyone to take action to help protect it. This particular strain was named and further improved by Territorial Seed Company after they received this landrace originating in 1850's America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 95% on 06\/12\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSow indoors 1\/4\" deep around 6 weeks before the last frost date. Germination can take as long as 20 days, but can be sooner if set on a heat mat with a temperature between 75 and 80 degrees F. Transplant in the garden in rows about every 18\"-24\". Plants will form blousy bushes like tomatillos. Keep well weeded until they fill in the space in order to best find the fallen fruits later in the season; some growers put down weed barriers (plastic, cloth, or newspaper) under the plants to prevent those weeds and more easily see the fallen fruits. Harvest when the husks turn brown and the fruits are yellow. For winter use, store the fruits unhusked in a dry, airy place (like a basket). To eat, remove the husk and eat the yellow fruit raw or bake in pies or stew with sugar for jam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: Unripe, green ground cherries and their leaves and husks are bitter and toxic. Do not eat!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGround cherries are self-pollinating, but different varieties of the \u003cem\u003eP. pruinosa\u003c\/em\u003e should be isolated by several hundred feet to prevent unwanted cross-pollination. Seeds are ready for harvest when fruit is ripe. A single fruit can have 100 seeds! You can remove seeds by hand, rinse, and dry. We use a blender on the lowest setting with plenty of water. When the fruits have been broken open, pour the mixture into a large container and add water. Allow the fruits to float and the seeds to sink. Pour off everything except the seed (you may have to add more water and repeat this process a few times) and then strain and rinse the seeds, and dry. However, you may never need to replant ground cherries after your first year - they tend to reseed themselves!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899361570829,"sku":"PHYS-001","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/auntmollysgroundcherriesarranged.JPG?v=1568676656"},{"product_id":"fish-pepper","title":"Fish Pepper","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Fish Pepper is an extremely flavorful, productive, and decorative variety that makes an excellent hot sauce. The white unripe fruit were used to flavor seafood dishes in the Black catering community of Baltimore in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The foliage is variegated white and green, as is much of the unripe fruit, which is 2-3\" long and turns from white with green stripes, to orange with brown stripes, and then bright red. The heat is a 3 on a scale from 1-5.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA note on the variegation: We've found that many plants in our Fish Pepper population are less variegated on their leaves and fruits, and we leave these in as they tend to be healthier, stronger, and more productive, improving the long-term health of this population.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHorace Pippin, the now-famed painter, shared this variety (and many others) with H. Ralph Weaver in the early 1940s in exchange for bee-sting therapy. Weaver's grandson (William Woys Weaver) found the seeds in a baby food jar in his grandmother's deep freezer a couple decades later, many years after his grandfather's death, and was able to reintroduce via Seed Savers Exchange. For years, we have been making gallons of delicious fish pepper sauce from the ripe red fruits after deseeding. Soilful City in Washington DC also makes \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/soilfulcitydc.wordpress.com\/soilful-store\/\" title=\"Buy Pippin Sauce\"\u003ePippin Sauce\u003c\/a\u003e from fish peppers grown by black farmers and urban gardeners in the DC and Maryland areas, and now offers their seeds through Truelove Seeds. The fish pepper has been designated by Slow Food as an outstandingly tasty, culturally important, and endangered heirloom from Philadelphia and Baltimore, and is listed in their \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/ark-of-taste\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArk of Taste\u003c\/a\u003e as a way to invite everyone to take action to help protect it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 93% on 11\/26\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater. Transplants should be initially watered in well, and plants will be most productive with regular irrigation and full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeppers are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by at least 50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. There are several important species of peppers, so check your scientific names! Pepper seeds are ripe when the fruits have turned their final fiery color - in this case, red. Cut the fruit (consider wearing gloves), scrape out seeds, and lay them out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two. Drying the peppers before seed extraction can slightly lower your germination rates, but works fine for home seed saving as long as the peppers do not rot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899364061197,"sku":"CAP-002","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/fishpepperarranged.JPG?v=1571609431"},{"product_id":"landis-winter-lettuce","title":"Landis Winter Lettuce","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an extremely winter-hardy butterhead with pleasant, mild, velvety leaves. It is excellent for salads anytime, but especially exciting to have something green and crunchy while snow is still on the ground. Last year, starting on the first day of spring, we sold this variety to Johnny Brenda's kitchen in Philadelphia while they waited for their regular farmers' early lettuce crops to mature. It's a Pennsylvania Dutch selection of the now-extinct late 1700s variety known as White Tennisball. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/roughwood\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRoughwood Seed Collection\u003c\/a\u003e acquired this seed in 1994 from renowned Lettuce seed collector Mary Schultz of Monroe, Washington.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e overwinter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 200\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90% on 12\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeed every 1\" in rows 8-12\" apart, 1\/4-1\/2\" deep. Keep watered until germination. Thin to every 8\". Harvest when you can't wait anymore!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLettuce is very much self-pollinating, but give at least 10 feet between plants (we give at least 35 feet) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. Allow the plants to bolt and flower. Often, flowering lettuce benefits from simple staking (we tie several plants together) so that the flowers and seedheads do not fall to the ground. Seed is ripe when the flowers turn to 'feathers,' which are fluff balls like dandelions. In the moist summers of Pennsylvania, we harvest the entire seedheads when at least 50% of the plant has gone to seed. If there are dry days in the forecast, feel free to wait longer for more ripe seed. Cut the seedheads a few feet down, and allow to dry about a week in a sunny dry place like a greenhouse, sunny window, or even a car seat. Later, wearing a handkerchief or mask to avoid breathing in the feathers and dust, bang the seedheads in a bucket allowing the seed to fall to the bottom. The ripest seeds fall, the least ripe stay in the plant, so do not over do it. Sift through strainers to remove the large chaff, and then use your breath, a fan, or the wind to carefully blow off the smaller dust.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899365797901,"sku":"LET-001","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/landiswinterlettuceheads.jpg?v=1571609431"},{"product_id":"paul-robeson-tomato","title":"Paul Robeson Tomato","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease also check out the \u003ca title=\"AFRICAN DIASPORA COLLECTION SEED PACKETS AND POSTCARDS\" href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/print-shop\/products\/african-diaspora-collection-seed-packets-and-postcards-regular-size\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Diaspora Collection Seed Packets and Postcards\u003c\/a\u003e bundle.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis dusky-red, juicy heirloom is sweet and earthy, dense and smoky, tangy and rich - full of flavor! 7-10oz fruits grow on an indeterminate vine. This Russian variety was introduced by Marina Danilenko, a seed seller from Moscow, and was named in honor of Paul Robeson (1898-1976). Robeson was an African American actor, athlete, singer, linguist and an outspoken crusader for racial equality and social justice for African Americans and all colonized peoples. He spent his final years in our very own West Philadelphia!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70-80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 88% on 10\/03\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. We recommend you prune the suckers that form in the crotches of the branches by the main stem. Water tomatoes at the soil level, keeping the leaves dry. Stake tomatoes so that their leaves and branches are kept off the ground, for good airflow between plants, and for easier harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomatoes are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties by 35-50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Tomato seeds are ripe when the fruits are ready to eat! Cut the fruit at the equator and squeeze or scrape out seeds from each of the cavities. In a cup or bucket, add a little water (1\/2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePhoto by Lan Dinh.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899367043085,"sku":"TOM-005","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/PaulRobesonTomatoPhotobyLanDinh.jpg?v=1578691525"},{"product_id":"plate-de-haiti-tomato","title":"Plate de Haiti Tomato","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease also check out the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/print-shop\/products\/african-diaspora-collection-seed-packets-and-postcards-regular-size\" title=\"AFRICAN DIASPORA COLLECTION SEED PACKETS AND POSTCARDS\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Diaspora Collection Seed Packets and Postcards\u003c\/a\u003e bundle.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProlific, vermilion red, apple-shaped tomato that has been associated with Hispaniola since the 1550s. Right up until frost, this indeterminate tomato produces endless 2-inch fruits that are flavorful when eaten fresh, and even better in sauce. According to William Woys Weaver who shared the seeds with Pentridge Children's Garden, this variety was first documented in Conrad Gessner's Historia Plantarum in 1561. In 1793, the Creole refugees who fled the successful uprising of enslaved people in Haiti brought this tomato with them. Dr. Weaver was able to find this tomato depicted in paintings of that time period made by the Peale family of Philadelphia, well before it became a popular food in North America (see \u003cem\u003eStill Life: Balsam Apples and Vegetables, 1820\u003c\/em\u003e by James Peale). The kids at Pentridge Children's Garden in West Philadelphia explore the history of the Haitian Revolution while growing and eating this tomato. Our packets were illustrated by Jasmine Hamilton, and feature \u003cspan\u003eMarie-Jeanne Lamartiniére of of the revolutionary Haitian soldiers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoul Fire Farm remits 100% of their proceeds from the sales of their seeds to the Stockbridge Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 86% on 12\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. We recommend you prune the suckers that form in the crotches of the branches by the main stem. Water tomatoes at the soil level, keeping the leaves dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomatoes are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties by 35-50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Tomato seeds are ripe when the fruits are ready to eat! Cut the fruit at the equator and squeeze or scrape out seeds from each of the cavities. In a cup or bucket, add a little water (1\/2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soul Fire Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":899367206925,"sku":"TOM-002","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Plate_de_Haiti_15_maybe_fave_square.jpg?v=1571609432"},{"product_id":"pippins-golden-honey-pepper","title":"Pippin's Golden Honey Pepper","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis colorful sweet pepper ripens from a deep dark purple to a bright honey-mustard, to a cheerful golden orange. The 3-4\" fruits have thin walls, making it great for stuffing, pickling, or eating fresh. This is one of the many peppers traded by Philly Area folk artist Horace Pippin for bee stings from H Ralph Weaver's hives in West Chester in the early 1940s. In a deep freezer, nearly half a century ago, William Woys Weaver found these seeds (as well as those of the Fish Pepper and many others) in labeled baby food jars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 91% on 11\/27\/2024\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater. Transplants should be initially watered in well, and plants will be most productive with regular irrigation and full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeppers are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by at least 50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. There are several important species of peppers, so check your scientific names! Pepper seeds are ripe when the fruits have turned their final fiery color - in this case, sunset-orange. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds, and lay them out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two. Drying the peppers before seed extraction can slightly lower your germination rates, but works fine for home seed saving as long as the peppers do not rot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ucandoit Farms","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":3105491943464,"sku":"CAP-004","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/pippinsgoldenhoneybasket.jpg?v=1571609432"},{"product_id":"buena-mulata-pepper","title":"Buena Mulata Pepper","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease also check out the \u003ca title=\"AFRICAN DIASPORA COLLECTION SEED PACKETS AND POSTCARDS\" href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/print-shop\/products\/african-diaspora-collection-seed-packets-and-postcards-regular-size\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Diaspora Collection Seed Packets and Postcards\u003c\/a\u003e bundle.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeautiful, spicy, and flavorful cayenne pepper that starts purple and then passes through salmon and orange on the way to turning a gorgeous red. The tall striking plants are laden with 4-5 inch fruits, which are tasty at all stages, but we prefer the added sweetness of the fully red fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuena Mulata Pepper was the name on the baby food jar next to the name \"Pippin\" in the bottom of the deep freezer in William Woys Weaver's grandmother's basement, a decade after his plant-loving grandfather's untimely death. If you've heard of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/products\/fish-pepper\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFish Pepper\u003c\/a\u003e, this story probably sounds familiar. There were many other seeds besides those of the beautiful, delicious, and now widely-available Fish Pepper in that frozen trove, and many that passed through Horace Pippin's hands, including this Buena Mulata. Horace Pippin is now a well-known artist who beautifully depicted everyday life, landscapes, religion, WWI, and themes of the injustices of slavery and segregation. In the 1940s, he traded seeds from his friends in the Black catering communities of Philly and Baltimore in exchange for bee sting therapy for WWI arm injury from William Woys Weaver's grandfather H. Ralph Weaver's hives. Seeds stay viable longer in the freezer; our heirlooms only survive if someone removes them from storage and places them in soil; and stories only live when they are told.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 75-80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 81% on 12\/17\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater. Transplants should be initially watered in well, and plants will be most productive with regular irrigation and full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeppers are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by at least 50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. There are several important species of peppers, so check your scientific names! Pepper seeds are ripe when the fruits have turned their final fiery color - in this case, fully red. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds, and lay them out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two. Drying the peppers before seed extraction can slightly lower your germination rates, but works fine for home seed saving as long as the peppers do not rot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":3105978023976,"sku":"CAP-003","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/buenamulata2_17d694bf-4d30-43ef-a1f3-5b5b31bd6365.jpg?v=1614107837"},{"product_id":"landreth-stringless-bush","title":"Landreth Stringless Bush Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003eA historic variety that stands up to the test of time! Reliable, productive, fast-growing bush bean produces 5\" green beans without stringy parts. Delicious meaty flavor in a hearty bean that is great for canning and freezing. This old heirloom variety was first offered by David Landreth \u0026amp; Sons in 1885. David Landreth was an Englishman from near the Scottish boarder who moved his nascent seed company from Canada to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1784. His first building was on the spot of what is now 1210 Market Street in Center City, and he and David Landreth Jr. were among the founders of the still-important Pennsylvania Horticultural Center. Other Landreth varieties that have become important heirlooms include Green Glaze Collards, Jackson Wonder Bush Limas, and Bloomsdale Spinach. This heirloom bean is part of the Roughwood Seed Collection of William Woys Weaver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 55\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 93% on 01\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows twelve inches apart. Thin to one plant every eight to twelve inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. vulgaris by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhoto used with permission from Dickinson Farm, National City, California.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winnetuxet Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":3449754812456,"sku":"BN-009","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/landrethstringlessbyDickinsonFarm.jpeg?v=1571609433"},{"product_id":"blue-shackamaxon-bean","title":"Blue Shackamaxon Bean","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eStriking deep purple dry beans. According to William Woys Weaver in his recently re-released Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, Blue Shackamaxon Pole Bean is named for a Lenape meeting and fishing place along the Delaware river, which is now known as the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods of Philadelphia. It is said to be a pre-1800 Lenape pole bean that was preserved by Quaker farmers in the area - and is said to have been cooked in black mush - a polenta made with blue or black cornmeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo honor and support the work of generations of indigenous North American seed keepers and plant breeders, a portion of sales from this seed will be shared with indigenous seed sovereignty projects. More details soon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 35\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 93% on 12\/16\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart. Thin to one plant every six inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. vulgaris by at least 25 feet (we do 75 feet to be sure) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21395525042256,"sku":"BN-013","price":6.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Blue_Shackamaxon_Bean.jpg?v=1571609438"},{"product_id":"moyamensing-tomato","title":"Moyamensing Tomato","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 1982, William Woys Weaver received seeds for this historic medium red tomato from Mrs. M.J. Grooms, an African American woman living in Philadelphia. Mrs. Groom's great grandfather passed down the seeds through the generations - and for good reason - it's a tried and true heirloom! He had worked as a cook at Eastern State Penitentiary on Fairmount Avenue in the Spring Garden area of Philadelphia, where this variety had been grown by incarcerated workers in the gardens since the mid-1800s. These gardeners shared the seeds with him, and it is likely he used the tomatoes in soups, catchup, and canning in the prison.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.easternstate.org\/sites\/easternstate\/files\/inline-files\/history-vol2.pdf\"\u003eEastern State Penitentiary Historic Structures Report\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (1994), abbreviated notes from 1845 state: \"invalid gardens; treatment judged individually; raising tomatoes, 6 gardens, 12 inmates\". There was also a \"warden's garden\", a \"domestics' garden\", and greenhouses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross town in 1855, black abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass both visited white abolitionist Passmore Williamson in Moyamensing Prison. Williamson worked with William Still and other black leaders of the Underground Railroad and was a member of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. Soul Fire Farm grew this seed for Truelove Seeds and in August of 2018, they had this testimony: \"Growing these tomatoes and passing down these seeds was an act of resistance and resilience, which we are thinking about as incarcerated people across the country strike against working for low wages and living in dehumanizing conditions in the wake of the death of several incarcerated people at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina in April.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking back further: the word for tomato comes from the Aztec word \"xitomatl\" or \"tomatl\". Tomatoes have been cultivated as food in what is now Mexico since at least around 500 BC, and originate in western South America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known as: Spring Garden Goal Tomato.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos by Soul Fire Farm. The photo of tomato plants draped across Soul Fire staff and farmer training program participants is not of this particular tomato, but shows the joy and care that goes into tending to all of their tomato crops, including Moyamensing!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoul Fire Farm remits 100% of their proceeds from the sales of their seeds to the Stockbridge Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 85\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 92% on 05\/11\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. We recommend you prune the suckers that form in the crotches of the branches by the main stem. Water tomatoes at the soil level, keeping the leaves dry. Stake tomatoes so that their leaves and branches are kept off the ground, for good airflow between plants, and for easier harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomatoes are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties by 35-50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Tomato seeds are ripe when the fruits are ready to eat! Cut the fruit at the equator and squeeze or scrape out seeds from each of the cavities. In a cup or bucket, add a little water (1\/2\" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Soul Fire Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21413899534416,"sku":"TOM-018","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/image_4961410a-428b-409c-bc0d-336455a10cc8.jpg?v=1571609439"},{"product_id":"halberd-leaf-rose-mallow","title":"Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis very large perennial—up to 6'—really takes off in the heat of the summer, covered with pink and white 6\" blooms with dark red centers for months on end. Halberd-Leaf Rose Mallow loves a wet sunny place to grow but is adaptable to all types of soil. Our seed was collected by historian Joel Fry near the Tensaw River where he saw the plant growing in a bald cypress swamp in 2007. It is native to swamps in eastern and central North America. Seed packets of this plant from 1800 were found in the Woodlands mansion, just upriver from Bartram's Garden where it has been offered for sale as early as 1807 under the name \u003cem\u003eHibiscus militaris\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhoto by Potomac Palms (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hibiscus_laevis#\/media\/File:Hibiscus_militaris_great_falls_park.jpg\"\u003eCreative Commons\u003c\/a\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known as: Halberdleaf Rosemallow, Halberdleaf Hibiscus, Scarlet Rose Mallow, Halberd-leaved Hibiscus, Halberd-leaved Rose-mallow\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20-25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 81% on 02\/06\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGive seeds around a 90 day cold period in a well-marked plastic baggy with a\u003cbr\u003elittle moist peat or sand in the fridge at about 40 degrees and then shift to pots in a warm bright place. Or you can just sow the seeds in the ground or in pots outdoors in the fall. They will readily sprout when the weather warms up to the seventies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(Coming soon!)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bartram's Garden","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21526120431696,"sku":"FLO-014","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/Halberd_Leaved_Rose_Mallow_-_credit_potomic_palms.jpg?v=1571609439"},{"product_id":"willings-barbados-pepper","title":"Willing's Barbados Pepper","description":"\u003cp\u003eLikely native to Yucatan and Central America, this pepper is said to have traveled to  Barbados in the seventeenth century. This attractive, prolific small hot pepper grows wild there and is a classic ingredient in the local cuisine. In the late summer through fall it is covered with tiny, upward facing peppers which are dark green, turning bright orange and red as they ripen. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe plant was given to John Bartram in the 1760s by Charles Willing, twice mayor of Philadelphia, for plant collector Sir John St. Clair’s special collection of tropical plants in Trenton, New Jersey. At this time, it was introduced into cultivation in Philadelphia as an ornamental houseplant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Dr. William Woys Weaver in \u003cem\u003eHeirloom Vegetable Gardening: \u003c\/em\u003e\"The peppers were also harvested, either green or ripe, and infused in Madeira to make pepper wine, or as some called it, \"pepper sherry.\" This was a popular Caribbean condiment in old Philadelphia and Charleston cookery, particularly as a seasoning for soups, sauces, and fricassees.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso known as Barberry or Pipperidge pepper in historic Philadelphia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotos courtesy of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.oldsalem.org\/\"\u003eOld Salem Museums \u0026amp; Gardens.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70-80\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 95% on 01\/23\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSow indoors two months early and transplant into garden soil when its 70-80\u003cbr\u003edegrees, in Philadelphia, that’s mid-May. Grow in full sun in regular garden soil. Will self sow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeppers are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties of the same species by at least 50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. There are several important species of peppers, so check your scientific names! This pepper is \u003cem\u003eCapsicum annuum.\u003c\/em\u003e Pepper seeds are ripe when the fruits have turned their final fiery color - in this case, fiery-orange. Cut the fruit, scrape out seeds, and lay them out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two. Consider wearing gloves for your protection! Drying the peppers before seed extraction can slightly lower your germination rates, but works fine for home seed saving as long as the peppers do not rot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bartram's Garden","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21526450864208,"sku":"CAP-016","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/IMG_1548.JPG?v=1571609439"},{"product_id":"spotted-aleppo-lettuce-1","title":"Spotted Aleppo Lettuce","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis speckled heirloom romaine lettuce from Syria was introduced to England in the late 1600s, and to America by the late 1700s. It was offered by Philadelphia-based Bernard McMahon in the first known seed catalog in America in 1804 (his very first catalog came out 2 years earlier). This long-leafed variety is 8-10 inches tall and can be eaten young or mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimilar to Landis Winter Lettuce, we sow this variety in late fall and harvest in late winter and early spring. You can also plant in the early spring, and early fall for cool-season harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLettuce originates in the middle-east, and is often a central ingredient in Syria's famous Fattoush (bread salad), and sometimes in the Levantine Tabbouleh. Some say romaine lettuces are also called \"cos\" because lettuce is known as khus خس in Arabic. First cultivated as early as 2680 BC, lettuce was used by Egyptians to create oil from its seeds, and later was selected for its edible leaves, likely also by Egyptians.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40-60\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 84% on 09\/29\/2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeed every 1\" in rows 8-12\" apart, 1\/4-1\/2\" deep. Keep watered until germination. Thin to every 8\". Harvest when you can't wait anymore!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLettuce is very much self-pollinating, but give at least 10 feet between plants (we give at least 35 feet) to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. Allow the plants to bolt and flower. Often, flowering lettuce benefits from simple staking (we tie several plants together) so that the flowers and seedheads do not fall to the ground. Seed is ripe when the flowers turn to 'feathers', which are fluff balls like dandelions. In the moist summers of Pennsylvania, we harvest the entire seedheads when at least 50% of the plant has gone to seed. If there are dry days in the forcast, feel free to wait longer for more ripe seed. Cut the seedheads a few feet down, and allow to dry about a week in a sunny dry place like a greenhouse, sunny window, or even a car seat. Later, wearing a handkerchief or mask to avoid breathing in the feathers and dust, bang the seedheads in a bucket allowing the seed to fall to the bottom. The ripest seeds fall, the least ripe stay in the plant, so do not over do it. Sift through strainers to remove the large chaff, and then use your breath, a fan, or the wind to carefully blow off the smaller dust.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Truelove Seeds Farm","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21627507540048,"sku":"LET-003","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/products\/D92857B5-411D-4631-B0A1-FEDE7145F18E.jpg?v=1571609439"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/collections\/spotted_aleppo_lettuce.jpg?v=1582119986","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/collections\/philadelphia-collection.oembed","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}