SI HO-TA SEED LIBRARY
The Si Ho-ta Seed library is Quapaw Nation’s own seed library. Our goal is to preserve packets of quality seeds to provide to community members. Select up to five FREE packets of seeds. Our seeds are open-pollinated, non-GMO, heirloom varieties.
The list of seeds for 2025 is:
- Coming Soon
Pick up at the Quapaw Farmers Market & Food Hub at 326 Main St., Quapaw, OK.
Call 918-238-3168 to inquire about availability.
LEAF LETTUCE
(Lactuca sativa)
One of the best-tasting loose-leaf lettuce varieties available. This light green, crumpled lettuce has remained a favorite of gardeners and market growers ever since. Sweet and tender!
When to plant: Fall, Spring
Days to Maturity: 45 days
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Sun: Part Sun
Sow Method
Lettuce can be started indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost dates. Seeds can also be sown. Seeds should be planted 1/4-1/2 inch deep into the soil about 4 inches apart. Each row should have 12-15 inches between them.
Pollination
Insect pollinated
Seed Collection
Allow the lettuce to bolt and flower. Once the flower head is dry, take the seed head and dislodge the seeds into a paper bag and then separate the chaff from the seeds by placing the seeds into a bowl and gently blowing the chaff off the top. Once you have separated the chaff, you are ready to store the seeds.
Seed Storage
Place your seeds in a jar, seal it, and store it in a cool dry place.
MAMMOTH GREY STRIPE SUNFLOWER
(Helianthus Annuus)
The standard giant variety produces huge blooms and delicious seeds. Extremely fun to watch grow.
When to Plant: Summer
Days to Maturity: 80-120 days
Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Directly sow after the last frost date or germinate a week and a half before transplanting after last frost date.
Sowing Directions
Sow into a 1” deep hole spaced 8-10” apart.
Pollination
Insect Pollinated
Seed Collection
Collect seeds when they are plump and have a stripe down the middle. The sunflower heads should be dried out on the back and front. To dry, hang the sunflower heads upside down in a warm, dry place for 4-5 days. Then, deseed the flower head into a bucket before rinsing the seeds off in a colander to remove the debris from deseeding. Lay out the seeds on a paper towel an allow them to dry overnight.
Seed Storage
Store seeds in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
SUGAR BABY WATERMELON
(Citrullus Lanatus)
A great plant for gardeners with limited space. The vines of sugar baby bush only reach around three feet in length. This is an early producer. It is just the right size for fitting in the fridge. Skin is dark green with no striping.
When to Plant: Spring
Days to Maturity: 85 days
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Direct seed 1 to 2 weeks after last frost when soil is 70F or warmer. Plant 1” deep, 6 seeds per hill, hills should be 4 to 6 feet apart; or 1 foot apart in rows 5 feet apart. Can plant at closer spacings if trellised. Thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill.
Pollination
Insect Pollinated
Seed Collection
Scoop out the seeds from a ripe melon, loosen and remove the stringy fibers, spread the seeds out in a single layer and allow to air dry. Make sure all sides are exposed to fresh air. Allow to dry for a week or two before packing them for storage.
Seed Storage
Place your seeds in a jar, seal it, and store in a cool, dry place.
RUTGERS TOMATOES
(Solanum Lycopersicum)
Rutgers Tomatoes are great for canning, but also excellent sliced. They are a heirloom favorite. They produce great yields and have a fantastic flavor.
When to Plant: Summer
Days to Maturity: 70-75 days
Hardiness Zone: 3-11
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. For best results, sow seeds ½ “deep in a well-drained, soilless starting mix. Seeds require warm soil 65F – 90F. Plant the seeds no more than an inch deep and about 6 inches apart. Thin the seedlings once they hit 6 inches tall, leaving the strongest plants about 12 inches apart. For continuous blooms, stagger your planting, sowing a new row of seeds every two to three weeks, beginning in the spring.
Pollination
Wind/insect pollination
Seed Collection
Choose fully ripe-or even over-ripe fruit, and harvest the best-looking tomatoes from healthy, vigorous plants. Slice the fruit in half and simply scoop out gel and seed into a kitchen strainer and rinse thoroughly. Transfer to a paper towel and begin rubbing off the gel like sac encasing the seed. Spread rinsed seeds on a non-stick plate allowing the tomato seeds to air dry for 7-14 days in a dark, well-ventilated area.
Seed Storage
Store clean, dry seeds in a paper envelope and place in a cool, dark, and dry location for the next growing season. Seeds can be refrigerated, but not necessary. DO NOT FREEZE SEEDS.
POLLINATOR MIX
(Eastern Region)
This mix was created to include a wide range of varieties that will bloom at various times. It gives you the widest range of colors for the longest season. Many of the varieties are pollinators and will attract birds, bees, and butterflies.
When to Plant: Early Spring or Late Fall
Days to Maturity: Varies
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Sow in areas that have moderate to good sun exposure. Lightly cultivate the site you choose, then rake the topsoil to ensure good seed to soil contact. Use care that the seed is covered no more than ¼” to promote the best emergence. Water your seedbed thoroughly and keep it consistently moist until your wildflowers begin to grow. For proper reseeding the next season, mow plants after they have matured completely, allowing the clippings to remain on the seedbed. Always use caution when applying herbicides consider the possible effects on future and growing wildflowers.
Pollination
Insect Pollinated
Pollinator Mixture
Native Bees, honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds will all love the Good as God Pollinator Mix! This carefully selected mix of native wildflowers and forbs consists of beneficial species that will; provide pollen and nectar for foraging pollinators thought the growing season. The hardy perennials in this blend are low maintenance and adapted to a wide range of temperatures and soil types. Besides being a crucial food source, this mix will provide years of stunning color and natural beauty to your garden.
QUAPAW RED CORN
(Zea Mays)
This traditional variety from the Quapaw Nation has been grown in the ancestral lands of the Quapaw people for generations. The seed stewardship of the Quapaw people has made this flour corn variety a standout choice for drought tolerance and shorter days to mature. The bushy stalks produce eight-inch-long ears, with striking purple kernels with hues of pink.
When to Plant: Late Spring to early Summer
Days to Maturity: 100-125 days
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Wait until all danger of frost is past and the soil warms up to the 60 degrees needed for corn seed germination. Direct sow seeds 1” deep in rich well-drained soil, plant 3 seeds together every 7 to 15 inches in rows of 18”-24” apart.
Pollination
Self-pollinated via wind
Seed Collection
It’s best to allow the ears of corn to dry and mature while still on the stalks. The ears of corn need an additional 2 months to fully dry on the mature plant. As soon as the ears are dry and the kernels have hardened up, remove the ear from the stalk. Heavy rain can cause mold to develop, try to time the harvest before heavy rains. Hand corn in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area for an additional 2 weeks or more depending on relative humidity. Once dried the kernels can easily be removed with a corn shucking tool or manually removed by twisting the ears of corn over a bucket (for capturing mature kernels) back and forth in your hands until all seeds have been visibly removed.
Seed Storage
Store seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry, area until ready to plant.
CLEMSON SPINELESS OKRA
(Abelmoschus Escutentus)
A favorite heirloom with excellent flavor. Great fried! The plants will keep growing until cool weather in the fall.
When to plant: Spring, Summer
Days to Maturity: 56 days
Hardiness Zone: 6-11
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Okra seeds need assistance in germination. The night before planting place the seeds in a freezer to help crack the seed coats. Another solution is to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. Plant at ½ “soil depth and spaced 4 “apart and in rows 3’ apart. Water and keep the seedbed moist until the seeds germinate.
Pollination
Insect Pollination
Seed Collection
Keep Okra isolated from other varieties of its species. Allow seed pods to grow and dry on the stem before picking them and splitting the pods open. The seeds will easily fall out of the pods. Let the seeds dry in the open air.
Seed Storage
Store seeds in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Seeds are viable for 4 years but plant the seeds as soon as possible.
MARIGOLDS
(Tagetes Erecta)
This plant is in the sunflower family and has the ability to self-seed. Marigolds can attract certain insects that can protect your plants from harmful pests.
When to Plant: Early Spring
Days to Maturity: 45-50 days
Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
Sow Marigold seed directly in the ground and cover with a thin layer of soil (about 1/8 “deep). Water thoroughly Thin to 8-18 “apart after seedlings have sprouted. Marigolds can also be started early indoors under grow lights for transplanting outdoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.
Pollination
Insect Pollination
Seed Collection
Carefully open the Marigold seed head. Set a paper towel on a flat surface. Then, holding the base of each bloom, pull off and discard the petals and leaves. You will see the seeds inside attached to the base. Set the prepared blooms on your paper towel for nw. Remove the marigold seeds. Marigold seeds ae long, slender, pointed and they are dark on one end and light on the other. Take each bloom and pull the seeds away from the base. Then discard the base. Separate the seeds and spread them out on your paper towel. Let he seeds dry, place the paper towel out of direct sunlight. Allow the marigold seeds to air dry uncovered on the paper towel for about a week. The seeds need to dry thoroughly, so they don’t get moldy in storage.
Seed Storage
Keep in a sealed jar, in a cool dark place.
EMERALD GIANT PEPPER
(Capsicum annuum)
A large, sweet pepper with great flavor and texture. This pepper will start out like an emerald green color before ripening to a bright red.
When to Plant: Early Spring
Days to Maturity: 60-90 days
Hardiness Zone: 4-11
Sun: Full Sun
Sow Method
If you’re sowing peppers indoors, start them off early in spring to give them more time to crip throughout the summer. Start seeds indoors 8to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Germination is quickest at 77F to 90F. If you’re planning to plant outside, this should be done 2 to 3 weeks after last frost.
Pollination
Self-Pollinating
Seed Collection
Remove seeds onto a plate. We do not recommend using a paper towel due to the porous surface. This can cause the seeds to start germinating instead of drying especially if the air is humid. It is not too common but to avoid this issue simple use a ceramic plate or anything with a smooth surface. Spread seeds and allow to dry. Keep your seeds in a well-ventilated area for 5-7 days. You can also use a small fan to provide better airflow. Test for dryness after 7 days.
Seed Storage
When your pepper seeds are dried, they must be kept dry and cool. Label your seeds and store them in a sealed container.
Photo by Nicol Ragland
