Cotton, Natural Colors

	Nankeen COTTON 0g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 72201 Price:$4.80 Quantity in Basket: none
[Pre-1860 heirloom. Seed and history generously supplied by John House III of the Mansfield State Commemorative Area, Mansfield, LA. Introduced 1997 by SESE.] 'Nankeen' is a short fiber, naturally brown cotton that has been grown since the Civil War. The lint is a non-fading attractive dark copper color that actually becomes brighter as it is washed. The seed retains the lint, making it easy to spin off the seed. Branches of the plant are longer and thinner and leaves more finely divided than other cotton. Unlike modern hybrids, its blooming cycle is longer, it grows well in poor dry soil, is hardier than modern breeds, and appears to have slightly better insect resistance. 'Nankeen' is planted as an ornamental in some parts of Louisiana. This variety also makes a fine addition to flower arrangements. The white and pink-red blooms start in mid-summer and run until late fall. We include additional history of the story of the 'Nankeen' shirt with each packet of seed. Pkt. (16-20 seeds) Cannot ship to GA or CA.
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	Erlene's Green COTTON 0g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 72202 Price:$4.80 Quantity in Basket: none
[Family heirloom from Erlene Melancon in east Texas.] Erlene says that she has been spinning green cotton for years and that her grandmother loved using colored cotton in her quilts. The fibers are a light olive green and can be spun off the seed. Harvest the bolls of green cotton shortly after they open so that the fiber does not fade in the sunlight. Once it is spun and washed it turns a yellowish green. Pkt. (16 to 20 seeds) Cannot ship to GA or CA. "I would grow this plant just for its beauty alone. Fabulous foliage, pink and white flowers that look a lot like the hibiscus, and then beautiful tufts of pale green cotton." -Radish Bruce
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	Mississippi Brown COTTON 0g seed Code: 72204 Price:$4.80 Quantity in Basket: none
150 days. [Pre-Civil War variety.] Once grown by slaves, this seed came from a plantation near Natchez, Mississippi via seed saver John Coykendall. Drought-tolerant plants are about 30" tall and produce an abundance of light tan to golden brown cotton. Pkt. (16-20 seeds) Cannot ship to GA or CA.
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HISTORY: Naturally colored cottons were grown by the slaves prior to the Civil War. In many instances, slaves on plantations were not permitted to grow the white cotton of their masters. Brown cotton was the most commonly grown, but there are other naturally colored cottons such as green, blue, yellow, and pink cottons, and they all have their own subtle beauty. These heirloom cottons are now difficult to find. They have fallen out of favor because the fibers are shorter and not as suitable for spinning and dyeing as modern white cotton. Since naturally colored cottons are now quite rare, we are attempting to locate and preserve other authentic heirloom varieties. NOTE: Everyone should grow and harvest a long row of cotton at least once in their lifetime so as to understand what the plantation slaves had to endure while harvesting cotton. The bolls are borne on the plant at a back-bending level, and the bolls are sharp. Plucking cotton from numerous bolls hurts the hands. Imagine doing this all day. CULTURE: Cotton is an annual plant that requires a long, warm, growing season to mature properly. It does best on fertile soil with plenty of moisture. In zones 8 through 10 it can be sown directly after the last frost. In zones 5 through 7, start seed indoors and transplant out after the last frost. Seed germinates in 7 to 21 days at 70 deg. F. Plants take about 150 days to mature a crop of bolls and grows to a height of 48 to 60".