Ecological Crop Improvement For and By Farmers

We are an organic seed farm in the Pacific Northwest, established in 1994, owned and operated by Frank and Karen Morton. We are known for farm-original varieties of many salad greens, vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

in cooperation with allies at Avoca and Gathering Together Farms, in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley,

a world class place to grow specialty seeds.
Few places on Earth have the climate, latitude, soil, water, and intellectual resources found in this rare north-sloping river valley. Seed companies from every continent come to the Willamette Valley to contract quality seed production. We are fortunate enough to live and farm here.

Many of these varieties originated in our on-farm breeding program for organic conditions and fresh market quality, denoted by our farm-original  mark. Other varieties have come to us over thirty-odd years of farming, either as heirlooms or good commercial standards, now with generations of selection on the farm. All seed at risk of GMO contamination has been tested and found free of genetic engineering components.

Our ecological approach to plant breeding and crop protection generates superior varieties for farmers who don’t use chemical crop protectants and fertilizers. The small-scale care and authentic fertility of our farm fields yield fat seed with exceptional seedling vigor, a key trait for organic crop success. This seed is organically bred to be organically grown, just like your crops.

We are partners in the Open Source Seed Initiative, and have dedicated all of our original varieties and breeding populations to the Open Source Seed Pledge:

“You have the right to use these OSSI-pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others’ use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this Pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.”

New Additions for 2024

Gift Certificates are now available! Click here for more information.

These are a few of our new offerings. Be sure to check out all our new additions on our New Products Page, and our Collection Of Flowers!

Crystal Beauty Celosia A vigorous crested type with iridescent peachy/sherry combs forming 2-4” wide heads atop upright stems, 3-4’ tall. Well branched plants with many sturdy stems. Pricing and More Information	Apricotta Cosmos Another new addition to the cosmos color palette. Taller than ‘Apricot Lemonade’ and more useful as a cut flower. Unique color from a beautiful blending of apricot and pink shades on plants 3-4’ tall, well branched and sturdy. Pricing and More Information	Pricing and More Information
Blue Glitter Eryngium Flower stems are iridescent sapphire blue with 30-36” long stems. Attractive and unique appearance in arrangements Pricing and More Information	White Glitter Eryngium This is the frosty white version of sea holly. Looks like an exotic construction of fine powder-finish metal. Pricing and More Information	Grace Salmon Godetia/Clarkia The Grace series includes varieties of all the colors comprising Grace Mix. The colors are so bright they defy the camera’s ability to render them. This variety grows 20-30” tall, with a dozen or more stems per plant. Sow seed 6 weeks before transplanting date. Space 9” apart, and pinch back when 6-8”tall. Pricing and More Information
Katy's Picotee Larkspur Our friend Katy Stokes is one of our local masterful gardeners, and this blue/white picotee larkspur originated in her garden of wonders. The color intensity is somewhat variable, and white types continue to appear, but this is a beautifully mutable cut flower, and so favored by bumble bees. Makes an interesting pairing with the mutably red ‘Splish Splash.’ Pricing and More Information	Lemon Tree Nicotiana A different look in Nicotiana, bushy dark green plants abundantly draped in lemon-green tubular flowers. These are unscented, being pollinated by bats rather than moths in their home range ( Brazil). But regardless, Armitage cites them as “probably the most interesting of all tobacco species” (2001) due to the intensity of their chartreuse-green color which is “magical, consorting well with all other colors in the garden.” Plants are commonly 2-3’ tall, growing to 4’ when paired with taller species that stretch its growth. Seed is very fine, but germinates readily when pressed into the planting mix without covering. Space 12-18” apart at transplanting. Self sows reliably. Pricing and More Information	Coral Nymph Salvia/Sage The species is native to Mexico, found growing wild across northern South America, the Caribbean, and SE United States. Grows from 1-3’ tall; full sun is best in the North, partial shade is preferred in the South, and Armitage suggests that afternoon shade is beneficial in any case. The native forms are scarlet red in flower (Blood sage is a common name), but the Nymph series comes in white, salmon, pink, and this white/red bicolor--the ‘Coral Nymph.’ Flowers are gracefully spaced along slender stems and are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Germination is easy, but requires light, so seed should be pressed into the starting medium. Transplant at 1-2’ apart. Pricing and More Information
Fiesta del Sol Tithonia/Mexican Sunflower This is a dwarf version of the towering Mexican sunflower that grows 2-3’ tall (rather than 6-7.’) Abundant orange flowers are 3” in diameter, densely borne, and are fine for cutting. Attractive for bumbles and butterflies, and unharvested seed heads become autumn bird feeders. An All American Selection from 2000 that can fit into any landscape. Enjoys full sun and heat. Plant directly into warm soil or transplant 12-18” apart. Pricing and More Information	Mixed Colors Xeranthemum Purple, pink, and white blossoms with papery petals held erect on wiry 18”stems. Suitable for fresh cuts or drying. Plants tolerate poor soil and dry sites. Carefree and very productive. Pricing and More Information	Balls Afire Lettuce The original working name for this project was “flaming tennis ball,” which captures pretty well the appearance as it stood out among hundreds of more staid heads. This is a small compact crisphead wrapped up in burgundy red leaves that are deeply dissected and crisped with tiny teeth. Maturing rosettes are densely pigmented and easily gathered as salad leaves. The mature head is densely convoluted into a solid heart, blanched by the red wrappers and slow to bolt. The best tasting lettuce of the summer. Farm Original Variety! Pricing and More Information
Morton's Secret Lettuce Mix 2024 Lettuce Lettuce seed from this season’s breeding projects and interesting off-types from new releases. Crisp leaf, crispheads, romaines and lanceleaf types from seven different populations. Shades of green, dark reds, splashed and spotted leaves with distinctly dissected, toothed, and wavy margins. Unique lettuce mix from productive compact plants. Farm Original Variety! Pricing and More Information	Blushing Torch Lettuce This lettuce is difficult to describe. The leaves are sea green, wavy edged with large teeth, and nearly triangular in shape. Heads begin as compact rosettes of imbricated leaves lofted by their toothy margins. With maturity and exposure to sun the toothed margins become pink-tinged and somewhat erect, like reaching flames. A very interesting and unique lettuce. Farm Original Variety! Pricing and More Information	Karen's Fave Lettuce Karen is a lettuce’s harshest critic. Two years ago she asked me what this lettuce was... “It’s the exceptional family R, dear, why do you ask?” She said it was her favorite. That was all it took to label this dark red head with the bright green insides. Full size heads with an open habit that makes harvest easy by the leaf. Toothsome and crisp, each leaf is glossy and muscular from its wine-red tip to its apple-green base. ‘Karen’s Fave’ says it all. Space these at 12” apart in the row. Farm Original Variety! Pricing and More Information
Splish Splash Larkspur A completely unique color pattern for larkspur in splashed-about streaks of red, pink and magenta on an off-white background. Another good example of transposons (“jumping genes”) having their way with petal pigmentation, creating endless iterations of color presentation. If you like red, white, and blue floral displays, pairing this with Katie’s Picotee will give it in tie-dye appeal. Pricing and More Information	Pricing and More Information	Tall Pink Larkspur I have always favored pink larkspur when I see them in mixes. I selected this one from a mix for it’s 48-60” height and darker shades of pink that reach into rose. Larkspur is at it’s best and biggest when direct seeded in autumn, and least likely to topple in the wind when grown in firm soil, whether direct seeded or transplanted. Seeding into 50-55 degree soil is optimal for germination, and seedlings are winter hardy in nearly all planting zones. Close spacing (down to 1” apart) makes for tall unbranched stems that stand firmly against the wind. Farm Original Variety! Pricing and More Information
Oklahoma Salmon Zinnia Tidy compact blooms are 1½-2½” in diameter on sturdy stems. The salmon/coral color is gorgeous and blends well with any bouquet palette. Powdery mildew resistant plants are 30-40” tall and extremely productive. Direct seed into warm soil or start 4 weeks before transplant date, spacing plants 9-12” apart. Pinch at 12” tall to increase flower number and make a sturdy base. Pricing and More Information