Guinea Bean or Snake Gourd Seeds (Lagenaria siceraria var.). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.A member of the bottle gourd tribe, Guinea Bean bears light green, cylindrical fruits up to 5' long with creamy-white flesh similar to squash. It was believed to originate from New Guinea, hence the name, but it is now known to hail from Africa and is also considered a traditional Italian vegetable called cucuzza. For cooking, pick the green fruits when less than 2' long and prepare like squash. Direct sow seeds outdoors after... - Guinea Bean or Snake Gourd Seeds (Lagenaria siceraria var.).
Spinning Gourd Seeds (Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera). In a letter to his granddaughter Ann Cary Bankhead, dated Dec. 29, 1809, Thomas Jefferson mentioned a present he had for her younger sister Mary from "Miss Thomasa |the minutest gourd ever seen." Jefferson sketched the gourd in the ... - Spinning Gourd Seeds (Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera).
Yellow Guinea Flint Corn Seeds (Zea mays indurata cv.). Thomas Jefferson grew a dozen varieties of "Indian Corn" (Zea mays) at Monticello, starting in 1774. While serving as Minister to France, Jefferson requested seed from home for "homony-corna |which we used to make 20 barrels a year for ta... - Yellow Guinea Flint Corn Seeds (Zea mays indurata cv.).
Hyacinth Bean Seeds (Dolichos lablab). Harvested from the gardens at MonticelloThe Hyacinth Bean is featured on the arbor in the Monticello vegetable garden and draws countless questions from visitors every year. In his Garden Book in 1812, Thomas Jefferson mentioned, "Arbor b... - Hyacinth Bean Seeds (Dolichos lablab).
Hidatsa Red Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.A primary goal of the Jefferson-sponsored Lewis and Clark Expedition was botanical exploration of North America. In 1805 the members of the 'Corps of Discovery' spent six winter months at Fort Mandan on the Mi... - Hidatsa Red Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.).
Refugee Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.The Refugee Bean may be synonymous with the "Switzerland gray" bean Thomas Jefferson sent home from Paris in 1786. Refugee, a snap bean named for the French Huguenots who introduced it into general culti... - Refugee Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.).
Yellow Arikara Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.). Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.Arikara Beans were named for the Dakota Arikara tribe encountered by Lewis and Clark during their "Voyage of Discovery." Dried Arikara beans helped sustain the members of the Expedition through the arduous For... - Yellow Arikara Bean Seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris cv.).