The Freighter View Farms Heirloom Kitchen Garden Almanac

Cold-Soil Early Starter 55–60 Days

Solanum lycopersicum · Indeterminate (Potato Leaf)

Stupice Heirloom Tomato

Originally bred in Czechoslovakia, Stupice is our undisputed early-season champion along Saginaw Bay. Sets fruit reliably during cool 50°F May and June nights when standard beefsteaks drop blossoms.

MSU Min Soil Temp 55°F (Opt: 65°–80°F)

Maturity Window 55–60 Days from Transplant

Isolation Distance 10–20 ft (Self-pollinating)

Seed Preservation 3-Day Wet Fermentation

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Northeast spring breezes off Lake Huron chill the coastal soil through late May. Stupice's potato-leaf foliage tolerates low root-zone temperatures better than any modern hybrid, producing sweet 2-inch saladette fruit by mid-July.

Seed Saving Protocol Squeeze seed pulp into a glass jar with 2 tbsp non-chlorinated water. Allow white mycelium mold to form over 72 hours at 70°F to dissolve glycoprotein sheath and sterilize bacterial canker. Decant floating debris and dry seeds on coffee filters.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Sub-65-Day U.P. Ripener 70–75 Days

Solanum lycopersicum · Indeterminate (Regular Leaf)

Black Krim Heirloom Tomato

Hailing from the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea, Black Krim delivers unmatched smoky, complex flavor in northern climates. Features deep reddish-black skin with green shoulders that intensify in cool autumn sun.

MSU Min Soil Temp 60°F (Opt: 70°–85°F)

Maturity Window 70–75 Days from Transplant

Isolation Distance 20–40 ft (Occasional Exserted Stigma)

Seed Preservation 3-Day Fermentation & Water Rinse

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Black Krim requires even watering to prevent shoulder radial cracking when August lake rain fronts hit. The dense lacustrine clay on Saginaw Bay concentrates its sugars into an intensely savory, wine-like richness.

Seed Saving Protocol Harvest from fully soft, deep-shouldered fruit. Keep jars out of direct sunlight while fermenting. Heavy viable seeds settle to the bottom; pour off cloudy liquid, rinse in fine mesh, and dry away from direct heat for 10 days.

Seed Saving Lab → Tomato Timing Guide

Heritage Flavor Anchor 80 Days

Solanum lycopersicum · Indeterminate (Regular Leaf)

Cherokee Purple Tomato

Preserved by the Cherokee Nation for over a century, this legendary beefsteak produces 12–16 oz dusky rose fruits with green-tinged gel. Dense, rich flesh with sweet, earthy complexity.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 70°–85°F)

Maturity Window 80 Days from Transplant

Isolation Distance 20–30 ft (Self-pollinating)

Seed Preservation 4-Day Controlled Ferment

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Because it requires an 80-day window, plant transplants under high tunnels or row covers immediately after our mid-May Saginaw Bay frost threshold. Saginaw Bay's warm water extends September ripening well past inland freeze dates.

Seed Saving Protocol Select mid-season fruit from multiple vines to maintain genetic breadth. Cherokee Purple produces ample seed gel. Ferment 3–4 days until mold layer breaks apart easily. Rinse thoroughly with cold well water.

Seed Saving Lab → Variety Matchmaker

Grand Heritage Heirloom 85 Days

Solanum lycopersicum · Indeterminate (Potato Leaf)

Brandywine (Sudduth's Strain)

Traced back to Ben Quisenberry and Mrs. Doris Sudduth in 1891, this potato-leaf strain sets the international benchmark for tomato flavor. Creamy pink beefsteaks weighing over a pound with pure sweet-acid balance.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 75°–85°F)

Maturity Window 85 Days from Transplant

Isolation Distance 30–50 ft (Exserted Stigma Prone)

Seed Preservation 3–4 Day Wet Fermentation

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Brandywine demands patience in Michigan. While low-yielding compared to hybrids, its vigorous potato-leaf canopy handles high-humidity bay mornings without early defoliation if pruned to two main leaders.

Seed Saving Protocol Potato-leaf varieties carry slightly exserted stigmas that increase bee cross-pollination rates. Isolate 30 to 50 feet from other tomato varieties or bag blossoming clusters with organza jewelry bags before flowers open.

Seed Saving Lab → Gardening Hub

Canning & Sauce Champion 75–85 Days

Solanum lycopersicum · Indeterminate (Acorn / Oxheart)

Amish Paste Heirloom Tomato

An 1870s Wisconsin Amish heirloom prized for making thick, sweet tomato sauce with minimal boiling time. Dense 8–12 oz oxheart-shaped fruits with few seeds, meaty walls, and low water content.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 70°–80°F)

Maturity Window 75–85 Days from Transplant

Isolation Distance 10–20 ft (Self-pollinating)

Seed Preservation Wet Fermentation & Pulp Separation

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Because it has so few seeds per fruit, saving seed from Amish Paste requires harvesting at least 6 to 8 prime fruits. Its heavy flesh makes it our go-to sauce base for preserving northern winter pantries.

Seed Saving Protocol Core the tomato, squeeze the small seed cavity into a mason jar, and use the flesh immediately for sauce or stewing. Ferment seeds in the collected juice for 3 days; seeds are clean, plump, and retain 95%+ germination for 5 years.

Seed Saving Lab → Zone 6a Calendar

Cold-Soil Early Starter 50 Days

Phaseolus vulgaris · Bush Habit (Self-Supporting)

Provider Bush Green Bean

True to its name, Provider germinates in cooler, damper soil than any other green bean. Produces heavy flushes of straight, stringless 5–6 inch cylindrical pods with rich beany crunch.

MSU Min Soil Temp 55°F (Standard beans: 65°F)

Maturity Window 50 Days from Direct Sow

Isolation Distance 10–20 ft (Perfect Selfer)

Seed Preservation Vine-Dry Pod Curing (No Water)

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes While other bush beans rot in 55°F damp clay, Provider emerges in 7 to 9 days. We sow our first direct outdoor block in mid-May and pick our first fresh pods by July 4th on Saginaw Bay.

Seed Saving Protocol The easiest crop for beginners. Flowers self-pollinate before opening. Leave a 5-foot stretch of the row unpicked until late summer. When pods turn parchment tan and seeds rattle, pick, shell by hand, and freeze 48 hrs to stop weevils.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Beginner Seed-Saver 65 Days

Phaseolus vulgaris · Indeterminate Climbing Vine

Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean

First recorded in 1864 as Old Homestead, Kentucky Wonder has climbed Great Lakes trellises for 160 years. Produces tender, deeply flavorful 7–9 inch pods continuously until hard frost.

MSU Min Soil Temp 60°F (Opt: 70°–80°F)

Maturity Window 65 Days to Green · 90 to Dry

Isolation Distance 15–20 ft (Self-pollinating)

Seed Preservation Trellis Pod Desiccation

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Vigorous 8-foot vines require sturdy cedar teepees or wire fencing to resist Saginaw Bay thunderstorms. Excellent for drying as brown shell beans if autumn arrives early.

Seed Saving Protocol Allow bottom pods to mature fully on the trellis. If autumn brings heavy coastal rain, pull entire vines and hang upside down in an airy barn or garage until pods are brittle. Brown oval seeds store viability for 4+ seasons.

Seed Saving Lab → Planting Calendar

Cold-Soil Early Starter 55 Days

Beta vulgaris · Biennial Taproot

Detroit Dark Red Beet

Introduced in 1892 in Detroit, Michigan by D.M. Ferry & Co., this hometown heritage root is globally recognized for uniform globe shape, smooth skin, and deep blood-red interior without white ringing.

MSU Min Soil Temp 45°F (Opt: 55°–75°F)

Maturity Window 55 Days (Roots) · Biennial (Seed)

Isolation Distance 1–2 Miles (Wind-pollinated Outcrosser)

Seed Preservation Root Overwintering & Vernalization

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Direct sow in late April as soon as Saginaw Bay coastal mud can be worked. Outstanding winter keeper in damp root cellars; roots stay sweet, crisp, and dense through March without turning woody.

Seed Saving Protocol Biennial: roots must experience 10 weeks under 40°F to trigger flowering in Year 2. Overwinter selected unblemished mother roots in moist peat moss at 34°–38°F. Replant in spring. Wind-pollinated: isolate 1 mile from Swiss chard and other beets.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Heavy Clay Penetrator 70 Days

Daucus carota subsp. sativus · Biennial Taproot

Danvers 126 Half Long Carrot

Refined in 1947 from the classic 1871 Massachusetts heirloom, Danvers 126 features broad conical shoulders that penetrate dense northern clay where long Nantes types fork and stunt.

MSU Min Soil Temp 45°F (Opt: 55°–75°F)

Maturity Window 70 Days (Edible) · Biennial (Seed)

Isolation Distance 1/2 Mile (Crosses with Queen Anne's Lace)

Seed Preservation Mother Steckling Vernalization

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Heavy lakeside soils challenge straight taproots, but Danvers 126 pushes down 6 to 7 inches with thick, sturdy girth. Withstands hard autumn freezes; leave in ground under 6 inches of straw for mid-winter candy-sweet harvests.

Seed Saving Protocol Warning: Carrots readily cross with wild Queen Anne's Lace (same species). Cut down all roadside wild carrots within a half-mile or bag Year-2 umbels with pollinating fly mesh. Strip brown prickly seeds when primary umbel curls into a bird's nest.

Seed Saving Lab → Gardening Hub

Frost & Sub-Zero Champion 45 Days

Spinacia oleracea · Annual Foliage & Biennial Overwinter

Bloomsdale Long Standing

Selected in 1925 by D. Landreth Seed Co., Bloomsdale is the quintessential savoyed heirloom spinach. Thick, crinkled dark-emerald leaves hold sweet flavor through heavy freezes and resist bolting in early summer warmth.

MSU Min Soil Temp 35°–40°F (Germinates in mud)

Maturity Window 42–48 Days from Direct Sow

Isolation Distance 1/4 Mile (Wind-pollinated Dioecious)

Seed Preservation Seed Stalk Maturation & Threshing

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Sow in September along Saginaw Bay for spring overwintering. Under a light layer of snow and floating row cover, Bloomsdale crowns survive sub-zero polar vortexes, surging with sweet, succulent greens the moment April thaw arrives.

Seed Saving Protocol Spinach is dioecious (separate male and female plants). Maintain at least 20–30 plants for genetic vigor. Allow stalks to bolt in June; pull males once pollen sheds. Strip papery seed clusters from female stems when brown and dry.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Frost Sweetener 60 Days

Brassica oleracea var. palmifolia · Biennial Brassica

Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale

Documented in Tuscany since the 1700s (Cavolo Nero), this strap-leaf heirloom features deep blue-green, heavily puckered foliage with an upright palm-tree growth habit. Tender and nutty with zero bitterness after frost.

MSU Min Soil Temp 45°F (Opt: 60°–75°F)

Maturity Window 60 Days from Transplant · Biennial

Isolation Distance 1/2 Mile (Crosses with Cabbage, Broccoli)

Seed Preservation Overwintered Silique Pod Drying

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Freezing Great Lakes air converts starches in Lacinato's leaves directly into natural sugars. We harvest crisp, snow-dusted leaves straight from our Saginaw Bay garden throughout November and December.

Seed Saving Protocol Brassica oleracea outcrosses easily with cabbage, kohlrabi, and collards. Overwinter 15+ plants in a cold frame. In Year 2, yellow flowers yield slender silique pods. Harvest when pods turn parchment yellow; crush and screen black seeds.

Seed Saving Lab → Gardening Hub

High-Yield Summer Workhorse 50 Days

Cucurbita pepo · Bush Summer Squash

Black Beauty Zucchini

An All-America Selections winner from the 1920s, Black Beauty remains the premier open-pollinated summer squash. Semi-spineless bush vines produce glossy, cylindrical dark-green fruits with tender creamy-white flesh.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 70°–85°F)

Maturity Window 50 Days to Table · 90 Days to Seed

Isolation Distance 1/2 Mile (Cucurbita pepo Crosser)

Seed Preservation Over-Matured Fruit Wet Scoop & Rinse

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Wait until MSU soil sensors register a true 65°F before direct seeding; cold soil invites seedcorn maggot attack. Once established, three hills supply endless fresh squash and blossoms for the entire neighborhood.

Seed Saving Protocol Warning: C. pepo crosses with acorns, pumpkins, and gourds. Hand-pollinate male-to-female flowers and tape petals shut to guarantee purity. Leave seed squash on vine until rind turns hard and dull yellow. Scoop seeds, wash, and air dry.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Winter Storage Champion 100 Days

Cucurbita moschata · Vining Winter Squash

Waltham Butternut Squash

Developed in 1970 at the Waltham Field Station in Massachusetts, this heirloom represents the gold standard of winter squashes. Features solid stems naturally immune to squash vine borer damage and exceptional 6-month shelf life.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 70°–85°F)

Maturity Window 100 Days to Hard Rind

Isolation Distance 1/2 Mile from other C. moschata

Seed Preservation Winter Pulp Extraction

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Because Waltham belongs to C. moschata, squash vine borers cannot penetrate its solid woody runners. Cure harvested tan squashes for 10 days in 75°F ambient warmth to sweeten sugars and harden rinds for storage until April.

Seed Saving Protocol Does not cross with zucchini or acorn squash (C. pepo), making isolation simple unless growing Long Island Cheese or tromboncino. Cut open winter squash, scoop pulp, rinse in lukewarm water, and spread seeds on mesh screens.

Seed Saving Lab → Variety Matchmaker

Northern Mildew Resistant 60 Days

Cucumis sativus · Monoecious Vining Slicer

Marketmore 76 Cucumber

Bred by Dr. Henry Munger at Cornell University in 1976 specifically for northern growers, Marketmore 76 delivers straight 8–9 inch dark-green slicing cucumbers with genetic immunity to cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildew.

MSU Min Soil Temp 60°F (Opt: 70°–85°F)

Maturity Window 60 Days to Harvest · 85 to Seed

Isolation Distance 1/2 Mile (Insect-pollinated Crosser)

Seed Preservation 2-Day Fermentation & Float Test

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes August humidity off Saginaw Bay frequently triggers devastating powdery and downy mildew waves on standard cucumbers. Marketmore 76 remains vibrant, dark green, and productive well past Labor Day.

Seed Saving Protocol Allow seed fruit to mature until it turns dull orange-yellow and rind softens. Slice lengthwise and scrape seeds into a jar. Ferment 2 days to strip seed coat inhibitors. Viable seeds sink; skim off hollow floating seeds and dry.

Seed Saving Lab → Check Soil Temp

Cold-Soil Spring Starter 62 Days

Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon · Climbing Vine (6 ft)

Sugar Snap Pea

An AAS Gold Medal winner introduced in 1979 by Dr. Calvin Lamborn, crossing an English shelling pea with a snow pea to create the thick-walled, round, candy-sweet edible-pod snap pea.

MSU Min Soil Temp 40°F (Sow St. Patrick's Day thaw)

Maturity Window 62 Days to Harvest · 85 to Seed

Isolation Distance 10–20 ft (Strict Self-Pollinator)

Seed Preservation Trellis Desiccation & Pod Shelling

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Direct sow in early April when Saginaw Bay topsoil reaches 40°F. Inoculate with Rhizobium leguminosarum to fix atmospheric nitrogen directly into northern clay. Produces lush, crisp pods through mid-July heat.

Seed Saving Protocol Strictly self-pollinating. Simply leave designated trellis sections to mature past the green eating stage until pods wrinkle, brown, and dry like paper. Shell seeds by hand, discard diseased specimens, and store in airtight mason jars.

Seed Saving Lab → Zone 6a Calendar

Sub-65-Day U.P. Ripener 65–75 Days

Capsicum annuum · Compact Bush (Frying Horn)

Jimmy Nardello Sweet Pepper

Brought to Connecticut from Ruoti, Italy in 1887 by Giuseppe Nardello, this heirloom sweet frying pepper is celebrated on Slow Food's Ark of Taste. Slender 8–10 inch wrinkled red horns with intense fruity sweetness and zero heat.

MSU Min Soil Temp 65°F (Opt: 75°–85°F)

Maturity Window 65 Days Green · 75 Days Deep Red

Isolation Distance 50–100 ft (Keep away from hot jalapeños)

Seed Preservation Dry Scrape (No Fermentation)

Freighter View Farms Bay Notes Northern growers struggle to ripen thick bell peppers before October frost, but Jimmy Nardello's thin walls ripen to crimson scarlet rapidly under northern photoperiods. Unmatched pan-fried in olive oil or dried into sweet paprika.

Seed Saving Protocol Warning: Sweet peppers cross readily with hot chili peppers if bees visit both. Isolate at least 50 feet or bag blossoms. Cut fully red ripe peppers open, scrape seeds onto a paper plate, and let cure in dry air for 7 days.

Seed Saving Lab → Variety Matchmaker