Image 1 of 4
Image 2 of 4
Image 3 of 4
Image 4 of 4
More Seeds
Colorful blooms in pink, lavender, red, rose and white. Bushy plants, between 2-3 feet tall, have large, bright green edible leaves. Young greens make a delicious, slightly mustardy cooked green. Flowers are stunning and continue to bloom for 4+ weeks. Each plant requires 12” spacing at least. Plant can grow in full sun all the way to part shade.
Balsam (Impatiens Balsamina) also known as touch-me-not or garden balsam, is an annual flowering plant native to the tropical regions of India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Flowers are known as Gul-Mehandi" (गुल मेहंदी) in Hindi and used in Pujas. In South Asia, the flowers are ground into a paste to apply to burns. The leaves and flowers have a long history of medicinal uses. In Nepal, China and Korea the balsam leaves and flowers are crushed and mixed with alum to dye fingernails.
Balsam is a fun, easy plant to watch grow in the garden. Typically a no fuss plant, growing prolifically throughout the summer. The seed pods ripen up on the plant and explode when fully ripe, spreading the seeds with it. Even the slightest touch on a dried pod can cause it to blow, distributing all those seeds onto the soil surface, right where they want to be. (Thus, the genus name, Impatiens, comes from the Latin word meaning “impatient.”) As a result, plant can reseed itself for years after being planted once.
60 seeds per packet.
A smooth skinned, open pollinated variety with fruits that remain extremely tender. Fruits are dark green, straight, slender pods around 5-6" long. This is the ideal variety for making bhindi masala (A South Asian spiced okra curry).
Okra is a heat loving crop, capable of thriving in dry conditions. Adaptable to most soil conditions, they can be negatively affected in heavy, waterlogged ground. Harvest window spans 6-8 weeks. Consistant harvesting (every 2-3 days) will ensure a prolific harvest through out the season.
Seeds can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before being transplanted outside or direct seeded when nighttime temperatures are steadily above 55 degrees. We recommend direct transplanting in May or June for optimal success.
Our seeds are originally from the awesome farmers at Xiong Farms. We were delighted to find this Indian Okra variety being sold at the Old Oakland Farmers Market and they were generous enough to share seeds with us over 3 years ago! They initially received these seeds from someone at an Indian store over 9 years ago and have been growing them and saving seeds for their own usage. Our seeds are highly adapted to cooler climates and this is especially due to Xiong Farms’ stewardship!
Each packet contains 20 seeds.
A prolific producer of the tender, light green bean known as Gawar. This plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and may require staking. Harvesting often will encourage the production of more beans. Gawar is typically cooked with onions and spices in South Asia. The dried bean is crushed and used as the primary ingredient in Guar Gum.
Gawar thrives in warm temperatures. The plant can be slow growing at first. It’s best to plant when the temperatures are steadily warm (night time temps steadily above 50 degrees). They are sensitive to transplant shock so take extra care if starting indoors and planting outside. It's possible to direct sow the seeds but wait until the nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees before seeding outside.
Provide consistant irrigation when the plants are first planted to allow the roots to develop. Once plants are larger, they can handle less frequent waterings. Avoid watering leaves and provide a stake if plants begin falling over.
Our seeds were originally gifted to us from one of our customers who brought them back from the Sindh province of Pakistan. This is our first year stewarding this variety on our farm.
20 seeds per packet.
Kala Channa, or black chickpeas, is an easy to grow legume that is both delicious and great for the soil. It is high in protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals. As a legume it fixes Nitrogen back into the soil.
Seeds are best direct sown into the soil once last frost has passed. Seeds can also be started indoors and transplanted out. The plant grows as a compact small bush (~12” wide) and produces dozens of green seed pods. The green seed pods are delicious when harvested and roasted young and fresh. If left on the plant, the seed pods will turn brown and dry up and the dried kala chana can be harvested. We recommend growing these for the fresh green pods, as it would require a lot of plants and effort to grow enough dried kala channa to actually make a meal with. And since the green pods can be difficult to find in stores, growing them yourself is a great way to keep the cultural legacy of this food alive.
Spiritually, kala chana is typically eaten during Navratri. A Hindu festival that celebrates the divine feminine and the triumph of good over evil.
20 seeds per packet.