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The year 2017 proved a success for Seed Savers Exchange ’s new Citizen Science Corps ( CSC ) , a revamp of the Member - Grower Evaluation internet . Myriad SSE members serve the call to participate in one ( or more ) of the CSC programs — ADAPT , SHARE , and RENEW .
ARTICLE UPDATES : CSC programs are now known as Community Science programs , which now include ADAPT and RENEW . Participation in ADAPT and RENEW is now unresolved to both members and non - phallus .
The spicy (and photogenic) ‘Leaf Heading’ mustard was one of 13 varieties grown by ADAPT program participants.
player in theADAPTprogram explored how variety in the Seed Savers Exchange aggregation acquire in different region of North America , while those in the SHARE programme gave more in - depth analysis of varieties in our assembling . RENEWparticipants aid the organization regenerate seed partake in with members .
ARTICLE UPDATE : Seeds from the collection are now available to both members and non - members through the Exchange .
In 2017 , the ADAPT program guide 56 participant from 28 states and Canada ; these phallus grew 13 varieties from the Seed Savers Exchange collection and report back vital data on vigor , yield , and deplete calibre using an online survey .
The spicy (and photogenic) ‘Leaf Heading’ mustard was one of 13 varieties grown by ADAPT program participants.
Learn more about the Seed Savers Exchange collection .
They also gave each variety they produce an overall score . Some 79 percent of player reported they would urge the varieties they grew to other gardeners , while 80 per centum responded that they would regrow the varieties they train .
Basil 1: ‘Tony Scavo’
Twenty participants tended this basil , making it the most democratic variety grown in the 2017 ADAPT program .
The majority of growers get laid its aroma and taste . One grower reported that it had more flavour than commercial varieties , and another mentioned that it was the best - tasting Basil of Caesarea the member had ever consume .
However , the change seemed to be more prone to disease , especially in wet conditions , and one grower take down that it required a bit more “ babying ” than other basil varieties .
‘Bronze Arrow’ lettuce thrived in the garden of Cathryn Thomas, former SSE member and ADAPT participant.
Another agriculturist said that despite the issues with its energy and health , the basil had attractive culinary properties that merited growing it again .
‘ Tony Scavo ’ is available from SSE through theExchange .
Bean 4037: ‘Blue Bloom’
Geographic location was a central broker in determining when this mixture prosper . One Tennessee gardener reported that ‘ Blue Bloom ’ was a undecomposed former bush bean , while another in New Mexico said this noodle assortment took longer to take over yield than the other bush beans grown in 2017 .
Many who cultivated it noted that ‘ Blue Bloom ’ was an excellent snap bean ( eaten fresh or used for canning ) , both nippy and delicious . ( The assortment , however , does have twine . )
One gardener mentioned this variety was good for smaller spaces as the plant are compact , while another noted that it required more water system than other noodle planted in raised beds .
‘Giant Pink’ celery, shown in the garden of former SSE member (and ADAPT participant) Daniel Brisebois.
Lettuce 204: ‘Bronze Arrow’
Several growers mentioned that this variety was not as vigorous as other varieties , and some experienced germination issues .
Many participants , however , enjoyed grow this variety , as its bronze colour and pointer - mould leaves abide out in comparison to other gelt mixture .
‘ Bronze Arrow ’ also get eminent mark for taste — many who develop it said the leaves were delectable , with a smack that was not biting and even somewhat perfumed .
Summary of results, 2017 ADAPT program
‘ Bronze Arrow ’ is usable from SSE through theExchange .
Mustard 17: ‘Leaf Heading’
One of our favorite sort in the Seed Savers Exchange aggregation , this table mustard is fun as a fall crop and sweetens up after a frost . As the name suggests , it forms a big mind of tightly curled leaves just like a crisphead shekels .
However , it is rather piquant . One cultivator mentioned that it was good eaten both raw and cooked — and had leaves that were not as acrid as expected upon due date . Another gardener described its texture as tender .
A Montana - based player who noted that the table mustard absquatulate before transplanting would like to try direct - sow it .
A agriculturist in California ( zone 7a ) mentioned that while most brassica crops do not flourish in that surface area due to widespread temperature fluctuations , ‘ Leaf Heading ’ leaf mustard grew quite well .
‘ Leaf Heading ’ is available from SSE through theExchange .
Melon 147: ‘Granite State’
One of our pet melon from SSE ’s 2016 evaluation trial , ‘ Granite State ’ was a natural scene for the ADAPT programme . The melon is on the small-scale side , but we noticed great yields at Heritage Farm .
The few gardeners who grew this for the ADAPT program all also said it was an excellent yielder , though one bring up that it was susceptible to vine borers . ( Thankfully , their ducks took aid of the borers . )
participant described the melon as very odorous - savoring with first-class melon flavor . One gardener like it enough to relieve seeds for next class !
‘ Granite State ’ is usable from SSE through theExchange .
Celery 40: ‘Giant Pink’
This is not your distinctive stock - buy celery . Pink or red cultivated celery varieties tend to be rather strong - flavored ( like black liquorice ) and a fleck more sinewy . ‘ Giant Pink ’ Apium graveolens dulce is no exception .
The gardeners who grow this variety all take down that it was rather fibrous and had small stems . Some really liked the strong flavor , especially add together to soup and stews ; others said it was not their favourite .
‘ Giant Pink ’ is available from SSE through theExchange .
Pepper 1420: ‘Bolivian Rainbow’
The SSE valuation team had no success farm the ‘ Bolivian Rainbow ’ pepper in 2015 and 2016 . During both attempts , the plants farm poorly and often wilt and died before mature . Including it in the ADAPT program allowed Seed Savers Exchange to learn if it fare better in dissimilar climates .
Nine participants grew it , and only one had any success . Most participant pick up pitiable germination , and the seedlings that did sprout eventually droop and died .
Given these answer , we ’re look to source this variety to exchange our existing stock . ( Although this trial run was unsuccessful with heed to growth and return , the information reported back was fabulously useful for stock list - management purposes . )
Onion 347: ‘Cochrane Old Time’
As the ‘ Bolivian Rainbow ’ pepper demo , not all trials are successful . The Seed Savers Exchange evaluation team loves the taste of this Wisconsin heirloom onion plant but have had members and customers ask about the kind ’s public presentation .
Specifically , those who have grown it recently have had egress with energy , return , and the sudden die - off of seedling . The ADAPT participants who grow ‘ Cochrane Old Time ’ also have these issues .
Perplexed , we re - tested the seed at Heritage Farm ( our HQ ) to make trusted that sprouting was still satisfactory . Expecting poor termination , we were pleasantly surprised to see a sprouting pace of 90 percent . The SSE rating team will raise this variety again to check that the seed stock is acceptable for others to grow .
‘ Cochrane Old Time ’ is available from SSE through theExchange .
Want to Participate?
We ’re already looking forward to working with next community scientist — and we trust that include you !
ADAPT
TheCommunity Science ADAPTprogram is a sport and exciting way to get take in Seed Savers Exchange ’s mission of preserving and share our food harvest heritage . Participants in this program trial change from the source bank in their own garden and institutionalise us feedback on their performance . This info help us well understand the adaptability of these varieties to different environments and head our survival process for new presentation into the Seed Savers Exchange catalog . ADAPT is desirable for gardeners of all levels
Sign - ups for the 2025 ADAPT political program have closed . If you ’d wish to get together us next twelvemonth , pleasefill out the shape , and we will be in touch in early January 2026 with more information on what trials we ’re offering and how to participate .
Renew
Are you an experient seed rescuer ? Then sign up for theRENEW programand help us rectify rare varieties from the collection .
Seed Savers Exchange ’s location in northeast Iowa presents challenges to regenerating certain varieties . Some variety may call for a longer uprise season than this mood affords , while others do not overwinter well ( or at all ) here . The metre and care expect to participate in this curriculum are significant , but they go to the heart of our mission .
If this program interests you and you feel that you are an experient source recoverer , please email Briana Burke , seed bank managing director , at bsmorstad@seedsavers.org or call ( 563 ) 387 - 5685 .
If this is your first yr , foreknow a 20 - 30 moment phone call to mouth about the program and see if this is a good scene for your system .
primitively post April 12 , 2018 . Updated February 7 , 2025 .
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